Meeting Summary
The City Council approved a consent docket covering various administrative and financial items, including several ordinances on first reading and grant acceptances. A contentious resolution to appropriate $60,000 for an economic impact analysis of the University North Park entertainment district proposal, which was later amended to include an additional $5,000 for a comparative assessment, ultimately failed by a 4-5 vote. Additionally, the council adopted an ordinance to remove the prohibition against elected city officials endorsing or opposing other candidates for office from the City Council ethics ordinance.
Key Decisions & Votes
Amendment to UNP Economic Impact Analysis Scope
1:26:00An amendment was approved to add $5,000 to the HVS contract to assess the economic impacts if the University North Park entertainment district project occurs versus if it does not, developing under the current PUD. This increased the total proposed funding to $65,000.
Funding for UNP Economic Impact Analysis
1:30:00The resolution to appropriate $60,000 (as amended to $65,000) from UNP TIF revenues for an economic impact analysis by HVS Consulting for the proposed entertainment district failed to pass.
City Council Ethics Ordinance Amendment
1:55:00An ordinance was adopted on final reading to remove the prohibition against elected city officials endorsing or opposing other candidates for office from the City Council ethics ordinance, citing First Amendment rights and enforceability concerns.
Upcoming Community Events
National Ice Cream Day Celebration
Rusty's Custard Factory, 3:00 PM, featuring live music and a banana split eating contest. Mayor Miller will be a guest judge.
Norman Conquest Bike Ride
Starts at the JD McCarty Center, offering various routes from a family-friendly town tour to 64 miles. Proceeds benefit the JD McCarty Center.
Friday Night Art Walk
Downtown Norman, featuring painter Tim Kenny's showing at The Depot.
Summer Breeze Concert Series
Lions Park, featuring The Mulligan's Brothers.
Outdoor Movie Series
Legacy Park, showing 'A League of Their Own'.
Community-wide Sidewalk Sale
Taking place across various districts including Brookhaven Village, Campus Corner, Downtown, Eastside Business Association, Lindsey Street merchants, Sooner Mall, and University Town Center.
Financial Matters
Oklahoma Municipal League Dues
Payment of FY 2019 dues assessment.
Norman Animal Welfare Center Donation
Donation from North Shore's Animal League America for the center and budget appropriation.
Special Claim by Billy Thomas
Claim for vehicle damage resulting from an accident with a Public Works Department vehicle.
Certified Local Governments Grant Funding
Grant funding for the development and support of local historic programs, including a contract with the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant Program
Grant for the police department for forensic training and associated travel.
Water Treatment Plant Phase Two Improvements Change Order
Change order with Foley Company increasing the contract amount and adding calendar days.
CDBG Core Area Sidewalk Project Phase Two Change Order
Change order with Precision Concrete Cutting of Oklahoma increasing the contract amount and final acceptance of the project.
Canadian River Water Quality and Quantity Monitoring Contract
Contract with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the US Geological Survey for monitoring for FY 2019.
Aquatic Rodent Control Contract
Contract with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services Wildlife Services for the annual financial work plan.
UNP TIF Economic Impact Analysis (Proposed)
Resolution to appropriate funds for an economic impact analysis and review of reports for the University North Park entertainment district proposal. (This resolution was denied.)
Public Comments
Public comments largely centered on the proposed University North Park entertainment district and the council's decision regarding its economic impact study. Speakers expressed concerns about transparency, the use of public funds for private development, and potential negative impacts on existing businesses. There was also discussion on the ethics ordinance amendment, with some supporting First Amendment rights and others concerned about the appearance of impropriety. Community event announcements and general philosophical thoughts on city development were also shared.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Ordinance amending the Planned Unit Development for property north of Rock Creek Road (Item 29) postponed until August 14, 2018.
Deadlines
- Norman Animal Welfare Center adoption fees waived through July 14th.
Watch For
- Further discussion regarding State Question 788 (medical marijuana) implementation on upcoming council agendas.
- A study session on July 17th regarding options for ending the TIF legally, politically, and financially.
- A Stormwater Citizen Committee Open House on July 25th at the Norman Public Library East from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
- A Ward 8 meeting on July 29th (destination to be determined).
- Final reading of items 7 and 8 (right-of-way closure and rezoning) in two weeks.
Announcements
- A moment of silence was held for Mary Hatley, former City Clerk, who served the City of Norman for 42 years.
- July 2018 was proclaimed 'Waters Worth It Month' in the City of Norman.
- Norman Animal Welfare Center is waiving adoption fees through July 14th for cats and dogs needing homes.
- Sales tax receipts for July were up $133,000, a 2.9% increase, marking three consecutive positive months.
- Westwood Family Aquatic Park attendance has increased by 90% over 2016, with nearly 65,000 participants as of July 9th.
- New playground equipment at the 12th Avenue Recreation Center is underway and expected to be completed in August, funded by room tax.
- The Emergency Communication System project, funded by public safety sales tax, has secured all six tower sites, with construction nearing completion and a system switchover expected later this year.
- A new squad truck for Fire Station 7, funded by public safety sales tax, is currently being manufactured and will replace aging equipment.
- The City of Norman website, Norman Forward microsite, Stormwater Utility microsite, and the City's YouTube channel (featuring City Council meetings) are available for public information.
Agenda Summary
Item 3
Approval of City Council study session minutes of May 29, 2018; City Council study session minutes of June 5, 2018; City Council Norman utilities authority Norman municipal authority in Norman tax increment financing minutes of June 26, 2018; and City Council meeting minutes of July 3, 2018.
Item 4
Proclamation proclaiming the month of July 2018 as Waters Worth It Month in the City of Norman.
Item 5
Consent docket for items 6 through 29.
Item 6
Ordinance upon first reading amending chapter 22 of the zoning ordinance to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in compliance with state law in theaters, to change 'liquor store' to 'retail spirits store,' to delete 'short order food restaurant,' to amend the percentage of sales required to qualify as a restaurant, and deleting the definition of 'restaurant short order food.'
Item 7
Ordinance upon first reading closing a portion of the right-of-way south of Rockford Creek Road and west of Pendleton Drive.
Item 8
Ordinance upon first reading rezoning property located at the southwest corner of West Rock Creek Road and Pendleton Drive from A-2 rural agriculture district to C-2 general commercial district.
Item 9
Ordinance upon first reading amending chapter 13 of the city code to establish regulations for the operation of non-motorized transportation for hire (pedicabs).
Item 10
Submission of Norman Regional Health System 2019 budget.
Item 11
Submission of the annual report of the Norman 2025 land use and transportation plan.
Item 12
Payment of FY 2019 dues assessment in the amount of $65,000 to the Oklahoma Municipal League for the period of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.
Item 13
Bid for the purchase of quicklime for the water treatment plant.
Item 14
Acceptance of a permanent easement donated by the University of Oklahoma to serve the Highway 9 multimodal path project phase one from 24th Avenue southeast to 36th Avenue southeast.
Item 15
Acceptance of a permanent public utility easement donated by Sooner Fashion Mall LLC for a Longhorn Steakhouse located at 201 North Interstate Drive.
Item 16
Acceptance of a permanent public utility easement donated by Sooner Fashion Mall LLC for Longhorn Steakhouse located at 201 North Interstate Drive.
Item 17
Acceptance of a permanent sidewalk easement donated by 24th Avenue Apartments for University North Park section 14 one block one A Planned Unit Development.
Item 18
Donation in the amount of $600 from North Shore's Animal League America to be used at the Norman Animal Welfare Center and budget appropriation.
Item 19
Special claim submitted by Billy Thomas in the amount of $2,202.02 for damage to his vehicle as a result of an accident with a Public Works Department vehicle.
Item 20
Acceptance of certified local governments grant funding in the amount of $11,250 to be used for the development and support of local historic programs, approval of a contract with the Oklahoma Historical Society State Historic Preservation Office, and budget appropriation from the special grant fund balance.
Item 21
Acceptance of grant in the amount of $13,064 to the City of Norman and Cleveland County from the United States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant Program with Norman's portion of $11,758 to be used by the police department for forensic training and associated travel, approval of a contract and a budget appropriation from grant revenue accounts.
Item 22
Change order with Foley Company increasing the contract amount by $207,727.96 for a revised contract amount of $30,197,892.96 and adding 87 calendar days to the contract for the water treatment plant phase two improvements.
Item 23
Change order with Precision Concrete Cutting of Oklahoma increasing the contract amount by $7,853.13 for a revised contract amount of $141,159.13 for the CDBG core area sidewalk project phase two and final acceptance of the project.
Item 24
Final acceptance and final payment of a contract with Precision Concrete Cutting of Oklahoma for the CDBG colonial estates horizontal saw cutting project.
Item 25
Contract with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the US Geological Survey in the amount of $5,900 to provide for Canadian River water quality and water quantity monitoring for the fiscal year of 2019.
Item 26
Contract with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services Wildlife Services in the amount of $12,500 for the annual financial work plan for the control of aquatic rodents effective July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.
Item 27
Contract with Capitol Cleaning to provide custodial services for the Norman Public Library East.
Item 28
Resolution acknowledging the receipt of the 2019 assessment role and assessment platform part Business Improvement District instructing the city clerk to give notice of a hearing on the proposed assessment clause.
Item 29
Ordinance amending the Planned Unit Development established by ordinance 00203-2 and amended by ordinance 00607-13 to allow development of up to 50 net acres north of Rock Creek Road for commercial uses included approximately 150,000 square feet of entertainment restaurant uses for the property generally located north of Robinson Street south of Tecumseh Road east of I-35 and west of the Westheimer Airport.
Item 30
Resolution appropriating $35,000 from accumulated University North Park tax increment financing district revenues to fund an economic impact analysis to be performed by HBS convention sports and entertainment facilities Consulting and $25,000 from accumulated UNP district revenues to compensate HBS for reviewing various reports and studies regarding an entertainment district proposal at the UNP project for a total of $60,000.
Item 31
Ordinance to remove the prohibition against elected city officials endorsing or opposing other candidates for office from the City Council ethics ordinance.
Item 32
Citizens to address City Council.