Meeting Summary
The City Council discussed potential amendments to the smoking ordinance to qualify for a $100,000 TSET grant, ultimately deciding to postpone the ordinance indefinitely due to unclear guidelines and other unmet criteria. Additionally, the council considered a request from Norman Public Schools to transfer ownership of the Whittier and Irving recreation centers, with further exploration needed regarding legal and financial implications, as well as continued city access for programs. Several proclamations were adopted, and a land use amendment and rezoning ordinance were approved.
Key Decisions & Votes
Approval of Committee Minutes
01:03:10The minutes from the City Council, Community Planning and Transportation Community Committee meeting of August 25th, 2022, were approved.
National Family Literacy Day Proclamation
01:04:00A proclamation declaring Tuesday, November 1st, 2022, as National Family Literacy Day in Norman was adopted.
Suicide Prevention Proclamation
01:07:00A proclamation emphasizing the importance of Suicide Prevention in honor of Zach Harrington was adopted.
Smoking Ordinance Amendments
00:30:00The adoption of the proposed ordinance regarding amendments to the smoking ordinance was postponed indefinitely to allow for clearer guidelines from TSET and further revisions.
Consent Docket
01:28:00Items 4 through 22, excluding items 14 and 21, on the consent docket were approved.
Land Use Plan Amendment (4000 East Robinson Street)
01:30:00A resolution amending the Norman 2025 land use and transportation plan to remove property at 4000 East Robinson Street from the Special Enterprise Zone was adopted.
Rezoning Ordinance (4000 East Robinson Street) - Second Reading
01:32:00Ordinance number 022239, rezoning property at 4000 East Robinson Street from PUD to A1 General Agricultural District, was adopted upon second reading.
Rezoning Ordinance (4000 East Robinson Street) - Final Reading
01:33:00Ordinance number 022239, rezoning property at 4000 East Robinson Street from PUD to A1 General Agricultural District, was adopted upon final reading.
Special Use Permit for Church (4600 36th Avenue North West)
01:34:00Ordinance 0-223-1-1, granting a special use permit for a church, temple, or other place of worship, was postponed until November 8th, 2022.
Upcoming Community Events
Fall Norman Fall Fester
6 to 9 PM on downtown Main Street, trick-or-treating, arts, performances, moon bounces, rides.
Sutton Place basketball court opening
4 PM, Sutton Place (Ward 6).
Veterans Day Parade
Starts at 2 PM from the OU Stevenson Research Center and goes north to the monument.
Financial Matters
TSET Healthy Incentive Grant Program
Potential grant funding of $100,000 for the city if specific criteria, including a comprehensive tobacco/vaping ban on city property, are met. Previous grants in 2012-2013 totaled $50,000.
Whittier and Irving Recreation Centers
Original bond issue in 1974 for $750,000. Land purchased for $150,000 in 1975, buildings constructed for $660,000. Appraised for $632,000 in 2011. Over $500,000 spent in capital funds over the last 10 years for improvements. Operating budgets are approximately $250,000 each annually.
City's ARPA funds for non-profits
A total of $1.9 million in ARPA funds is available for local non-profits affected by the pandemic, with applications open through the United Way.
Virtue Center ARPA award
The Virtue Center was awarded funds from the County's ARPA money.
Employee Wellness Program
A $540,000 cash incentive from Blue Cross Blue Shield is available to implement an employee wellness program, avoiding general fund expenditures.
Public Comments
Three citizens provided comments. One inquired about notification for an upcoming agenda item, another expressed concerns about pedestrian safety at crosswalks, and the third spoke about promoting oral health during Halloween and the concept of permaculture.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Ordinance 0-223-1-1 granting special use for a church, temple or other place of worship (postponed until November 8th, 2022)
Deadlines
- TSET grant application March 1st-31st (for revised smoking ordinance)
- NPS bond election notice by December 15th (for February election)
Watch For
- Revised smoking ordinance after TSET provides clearer guidelines
- Further discussions and formal agreement regarding Whittier and Irving recreation centers with Norman Public Schools
- Affordable housing topic to be taken up by the Business and Community Affairs committee
- Community Planning and Transportation Committee meeting on Thursday at 4 PM (public transit ridership, projects, long-range plan, downtown transit hub, Regional Transit Authority, road bond projects)
Announcements
- The Virtue Center was awarded $500,000 from the County's ARPA funds.
- The application for the city's $1.9 million ARPA funds for non-profits is now open through the United Way.
- Ward 2 reappointments to the Environmental Control Advisory Board, Greenbelt Commission, and Historic District Commission were recognized.
- Ward 4 committee members for Greenbelt, Historic District Commission, and Norman Election Commission were recognized.
- The inaugural City of Norman International Festival at Reeves Park was very successful.
- The affordable housing Town Hall was successful, leading to interest from an affordable housing developer.
- Fall Norman Fall Fester will take place on Friday, October 28th, from 6 to 9 PM on downtown Main Street.
- The Sutton Place basketball court opening will be on Saturday at 4 PM.
- City Manager Daryl Pyle spoke to political science students at ACCC about local government.
- Norman Regional Hospital health system held the grand opening for the new East Side Emergency Center at Highway 9 and 24th Avenue Southeast.
- The Community Planning and Transportation Committee will meet on Thursday at 4 PM to discuss public transit and infrastructure projects.
- The Veterans Day Parade will be on Sunday, November 13th, starting at 2 PM from the OU Stevenson Research Center.
Agenda Summary
Discussion regarding amendments to the smoking ordinance
Presentation on background, new information, and proposed ordinance wording related to TSET grant criteria for prohibiting all tobacco products on city-owned property. The current draft ordinance would not meet the November application window.
Discussion regarding the use and ownership of Whittier and Irving recreation centers
Norman Public Schools requested an MOU to transfer ownership of the two recreation centers to include improvements in their next bond election. The city discussed the bond issue proceeds act, appraisal needs, and ensuring continued city access for programs.
Consideration of approval of the City Council, Community Planning and Transportation Community Committee minutes of August 25th, 2022
Review and approval of previous committee meeting minutes.
A proclamation proclaiming Tuesday November 1st, 2022 as National Family Literacy Day in the City of Norman, Oklahoma
Proclamation highlighting the importance of reading and learning for families, presented to the Black Beaver chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
A proclamation proclaiming the importance of Suicide Prevention in the City of Norman in honor of Zach Harrington
Proclamation recognizing the importance of suicide prevention, especially for LGBTQ+ youth, and honoring Zach Harrington.
Consent Docket Items 4 through 22 (excluding items 14 and 21)
Approval of routine administrative and procedural items grouped for efficiency.
A resolution amending the Norman 2025 land use and transportation plan to remove property located at 4000 East Robinson Street from the Special Enterprise Zone
Applicant requested to remove the property from the Special Enterprise Zone to allow for residential agriculture zoning for building a home.
Ordinance number 022239 upon second and final reading rezoning property located at 4000 East Robinson Street from PUD planned unit development District to A1 General Agricultural District
Companion item to the land use plan amendment, rezoning the property for residential agriculture use.
Ordinance 0-223-1-1 upon second and final reading granting the special use for a church, temple or other place of worship in the R1 single-family dwelling District located at 4600 36th Avenue North West
Consideration of an ordinance for a special use permit for a place of worship.