Meeting Summary
The city council discussed and initiated contract negotiations for two key facility operations: the Boys and Girls Club of Norman for the Reeves Park Garden Center to be a teen center, and the Mary Abbott House for the current Senior Center at 329 South Peters. The meeting also included the approval of various minutes, acknowledgment of three mayoral proclamations, and the unanimous approval of a comprehensive consent docket covering numerous routine items and programming resolutions.
Key Decisions & Votes
Approval of City Council Minutes
00:56The city council unanimously approved various study session, conference, special meeting, and finance committee minutes from March through August 2023.
Proclamation of Purple Heart City
00:57The mayor's proclamation designating Norman as a Purple Heart City was acknowledged by the council.
Proclamation of Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month
01:00The mayor's proclamation designating September 2023 as Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month was acknowledged by the council.
Proclamation of National Voter Registration Day
01:05The mayor's proclamation designating September 19, 2023, as National Voter Registration Day was acknowledged by the council.
Approval of Consent Docket Items 5-41
01:17The city council unanimously approved all items on the consent docket, including numerous routine administrative and financial matters, and programming resolutions.
Upcoming Community Events
Max Westheimer Aviation Festival
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Westheimer Airport, featuring an open house, static aircraft displays, food trucks, and a children's area.
Parking Day
A global public participatory project to temporarily repurpose curbside parking spaces into public parks and social spaces.
Artwalk
Very packed, with over 40 street booths, the most ever for the event.
Solid Waste new facility ribbon cutting
4:00 p.m. on Goddard Avenue.
Griffin Park new soccer complex ribbon cutting
9:30 a.m.
Waking Up by Maria Christina Marcado and Kval opening reception
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Firehouse Arts Center, with authentic Mexican food. Exhibition runs until November 4th.
The Virtue Center grand opening
Public access at 9:30 a.m., ribbon cutting at 10:00 a.m. at 2457 Will Cox Drive.
Residential fall cleanup for Ward 3
September 30th for Monday polycart service, October 7th for Tuesday polycart service.
Event in Oklahoma City for women's right to vote
Commemorating Oklahoma's ratification of women's right to vote in 1920.
Financial Matters
Boys and Girls Club of Norman operating costs for Reeves Park Teen Center
Estimated annual operating cost for the proposed teen center at Reeves Park.
Mattoon property cleanup funding reallocation
Transfer of unused funds from the Mattoon property cleanup project to cover mold remediation and reconstruction at Fire Stations 3 and 7.
Nature Stormwater Park budget
Ongoing project with a dedicated budget for design, permitting, surveying, and hydraulic modeling.
Mary Abbott House Internet Crimes Against Children unit funding
Annual grant funding received for resources and training for local law enforcement agencies.
Programming resolutions for federal transportation funds
Council approval for applying for federal transportation funds for voter-approved bond projects, requiring a city match.
Public Comments
Public comments covered a range of topics including appreciation for police department updates, requests for public access to data, criticism of the mayor's handling of a large project, concerns about misinformation, personal announcements, and detailed discussion regarding 911 calls related to the unhoused population.
Coming Up
Deadlines
- Voter registration deadline: September 15th
- Absentee ballot deadline: September 25th
- Early voting dates: October 5th and October 6th
- Election day (for 10 Bridges project): October 10th
Watch For
- Boys and Girls Club at Reeves Park aiming for next school year (Fall 2024) opening.
- Mary Abbott House at 329 South Peters aiming for January 2024 move-in.
- Public engagement for the Nature Stormwater Park expected soon.
- Community Planning and Transportation Committee meeting on September 28th at 4:00 p.m. for updates on public transit system changes and new routes rolling out October 16th.
- Fentanyl test strips to be available soon at the Central Oklahoma Community Mental Health Center pharmacy.
- Jenkins Avenue Bond project: utility relocation this fall, project bidding summer 2024, and completion in 2025.
- Lindsay Street Bond project: federal transportation fund applications, storm water improvements, and multimodal transportation enhancements.
Announcements
- Saturday, September 23rd: Max Westheimer Aviation Festival from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Westheimer Airport.
- Friday, September 15th: Parking Day, a global initiative to repurpose curbside parking spaces into public parks.
- September is National Hispanic Heritage Month, with several local events.
- Thursday, September 14th: Opening reception for 'Waking Up' by Maria Christina Marcado and Kval from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Firehouse Arts Center.
- Changes to the always stop control at Acres Street and Jones Avenue, with stop signs removed and replaced with cross-traffic does not stop plates.
- The city manager's weekly reports are available by signing up on NormanOK.gov.
- Oklahoma now offers online voter registration, requiring an Oklahoma state license or ID, available at okvoterportal.elections.us.
- Thursday, September 14th: The Virtue Center's grand opening of its new building at 2457 Will Cox Drive, with public access at 9:30 a.m. and a ribbon cutting at 10:00 a.m.
- Thanks to Sheriff Amon and the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department for providing officers in schools.
- Condolences extended to the Sheriff's Department for the recent loss of a deputy.
Agenda Summary
Discussion regarding Request for Proposal submittals for proposed programs at the current Senior Citizen Center and Reeves Center (Boys and Girls Club)
Presentation and discussion of the Boys and Girls Club of Norman's proposal to operate a teen center at the Reeves Park Garden Center, aiming to expand capacity and provide a dedicated space for middle and high school students.
Discussion regarding Request for Proposal submittals for proposed programs at the current Senior Citizen Center and Reeves Center (Mary Abbott House)
Presentation and discussion of the Mary Abbott House's proposal to expand operations into 329 South Peters, the current Senior Center, to house their Internet Crimes Against Children unit, expand education, and provide on-site mental health services.
Approval of minutes
Approval of city council study session minutes from March 7, April 4, and May 2, 2023; city council conference minutes from May 9 and August 17, 2023; city council special meeting minutes from May 16, 2023; and city council finance committee meeting minutes from May 23, 2023.
Proclamation of the Mayor proclaiming the City of Norman as a Purple Heart City
A proclamation honoring Purple Heart recipients and designating Norman as a Purple Heart City.
Proclamation of the Mayor proclaiming the month of September 2023 as Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month in the City of Norman
A proclamation recognizing September 2023 as Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month, highlighting mental health resources and the 988 Lifeline.
Proclamation of the Mayor proclaiming Tuesday, September 19, 2023, as National Voter Registration Day in the City of Norman
A proclamation encouraging citizens to register to vote and celebrate civic unity on National Voter Registration Day.
Consent Docket Items 5 through 41
Approval of a block of routine administrative and financial items, including programming resolutions for federal transportation funds and an amendment to transfer funds for fire station mold remediation.