Meeting Summary
The City Council approved minutes and a consent docket covering routine items. A significant discussion and subsequent approval occurred for an ordinance amending a planned unit development at 765 Jenkins Avenue to remove a commercial requirement and allow for more residential units. Public comments were extensive, primarily focusing on the proposed homeless shelter bond, city finances, and a recently approved substation, highlighting community concerns about costs, location, and transparency.
Key Decisions & Votes
Approval of Minutes
02:00City Council and various authority/committee meeting minutes from October, November, and December 2025 were approved.
Consent Docket
10:40Items 2 through 36 were placed on and subsequently approved as part of the consent docket.
Postponement of Item 37
12:40Item 37, an ordinance amending a PUD, was postponed until January 27th, 2026, to be considered with the preliminary plat.
Ordinance 0-2526-21 (Second Reading)
38:00An ordinance to amend a Spud for 765 Jenkins Avenue, removing the commercial ground floor requirement and allowing for more residential units, was adopted on second reading.
Ordinance 0-2526-21 (Final Reading)
38:40The ordinance amending the Spud for 765 Jenkins Avenue was adopted on final reading.
Upcoming Community Events
Ward 1 Town Hall
4:30 PM - 7:30 PM at East Side Library
Ward 3 Listen and Learn
Norman Resource Fair
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM at The Well (210 South James Garner Avenue), includes municipal warrant clearing event.
Neighborhood and Stakeholder Meeting
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM at Alama Church of Christ, to discuss proposed shelter.
Ward 5 Town Hall
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM at East Library, focus on February and April ballot items.
Mayor's Interfaith Breakfast
9:00 AM at the Nancy O'Brien Center
Financial Matters
Homeless Shelter Bond
Proposed $8 million bond for a permanent shelter, with an estimated total cost of close to $12 million including bond debt interest. Concerns raised about long-term operating costs (estimated $2.8M to $5.5M annually) and funding plan.
Street Maintenance Bond
Proposed $35 million bond, described as a continuation of an existing program and not a tax increase.
City Deficit
City faced a $5.8 million deficit last year and is on track for a $7.6 million deficit this year, with a projected $4 million deficit next year.
City Care Contract
Norman is currently paying around $68,000 a month to City Care for a 50-bed shelter, plus utilities.
Norman Forward Projects
WYAC (Young Family Athletic Center) budget is $48 million; total Norman Forward projects are $164 million.
TIF (Tax Increment Finance)
Mentioned as a $600 million commitment, raising concerns about its impact on city finances and reliance on property owners for funding.
Public Comments
Public comments primarily revolved around the proposed $8 million homeless shelter bond, with speakers expressing both support and significant concerns regarding its cost, long-term operating expenses, location, and potential impact on neighborhoods. Other themes included reconsideration of a recently approved substation due to health and environmental concerns, city liability for a sewage issue on Dalton Lane, general city financial deficits, the fairness of ad valorem taxes, and suggestions for alternative community projects and city policies.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Item 37: Ordinance amending Section 36-201 of the City Code (postponed to January 27th, 2026).
Deadlines
- January 16th: Last day to register to vote for the February 10th election.
Watch For
- Finance Committee meeting on Thursday at 4 PM.
- Community Planning and Transportation Committee meeting next Thursday at 4 PM.
- Council meeting next Tuesday to discuss shelter ballot item and other potential ballot items for April.
- Second reading and final decision on ballot items in two weeks (public hearing).
Announcements
- Ward 1 Town Hall on January 29th, 4:30-7:30 PM at East Side Library.
- Ward 3 plans another 'Listen and Learn' session this week or early next week.
- Norman Resource Fair on Wednesday, January 14th, 1-4 PM at The Well (210 South James Garner Avenue), including a municipal warrant clearing event.
- Neighborhood and stakeholder meeting on January 31st, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM at Alama Church of Christ to discuss proposed shelter.
- Last day to register to vote for the February 10th election is January 16th.
- Ward 5 Town Hall on Saturday, January 24th, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM at East Library, focusing on upcoming ballot items.
- Ribbon cutting for Francis Energy superchargers at Crest parking lot (first of 27 in the state).
- Norman North students raised over $160,000 during Spud Week for charities.
- Ribbon cutting for the Hazmat sculpture at the household hazardous waste facility south of Highway 9, which serves residents year-round and plans to accept e-waste more regularly.
- Mayor's Interfaith Breakfast on Monday at 9:00 AM at the Nancy O'Brien Center.
- Finance Committee meeting this Thursday at 4 PM, live-streamed on the city's YouTube channel.
- Community Planning and Transportation Committee meeting next Thursday at 4 PM at City Hall, live-streamed on the city's YouTube channel.
- Council will not pursue a discussion on increasing council pay at this time.
Agenda Summary
Approval of Minutes
Approval of City Council special minutes of October 16, 2020; Council minutes of November 18, 2025 and December 2, 2025; City Council, Norman Utilities Authority, Norman Municipal Authority, and Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority minutes of November 25, 2025 and December 9, 2025; City Council Conference minutes of November 25, 2025 and December 2025; City Council Business and Community Affairs Committee minutes of November 6, 2025; City Council Oversight Committee minutes of December 11, 2025; City Council Finance Committee minutes of November 20, 2025 and December 18, 2025; City Council Community Planning and Transportation Committee minutes of December 17, 2025.
Consent Docket Items 2-36
Routine agenda items designated for approval or acknowledgment by one motion.
Item 37: Ordinance amending Section 36-201 of the City Code
An ordinance to remove part of the southwest quarter of section 15 and the east half of section 16 from a PUD and place same in a PUD, located east of US Highway 77, south of East Cedar Lane and north of Post Oak Road.
Item 38: Ordinance 0-2526-21 upon second and final reading
An ordinance amending section 36-201 of the code of the city of Norman, so as to remove lots 48 and 49 in block 4 of State University edition from a Spud simple planned unit development and place in a Spud simple planned unit development located at 765 Jenkins Avenue, to remove commercial ground floor requirement and allow for more residential units.