Meeting Summary
The City Council approved the FYE 2023 operating and capital budgets with numerous amendments. Key decisions included increasing allocations for police salaries, transportation, and various capital projects such as sidewalks, a walking trail, and a stormwater park. The council also approved funding for an internal auditor position and an on-demand microtransit program, while making adjustments to water and public safety sales tax funds.
Key Decisions & Votes
Norman Convention and Visitor Bureau Budget
02:20The NCVB budget and annual plan of work for FYE 2023 was approved.
Budget Document Corrections
03:50Grammatical and typographical errors in the FYE 2023 budget documents with no financial impact were approved for correction.
Regional Transportation Authority Contribution
09:40Capital fund allocations for transportation were increased by $182,654 to support the Regional Transportation Authority, despite recent withdrawals from other cities.
Water Reclamation Fund Adjustments
12:50Projected water reclamation fund revenue was reduced by $700,000, and transfers from this fund to the general fund were reduced by $35,000.
Police Department Salary Increases
23:50General fund allocations to the police department were increased by $570,691 and public safety sales tax fund allocations by $225,850 to cover contractual police salary increases.
City Manager's Department Contingency
25:50General fund allocations to the City Manager's department were increased by $368,985 for contingency capital outlay expenditures.
Water Fund Capital Project Reduction
29:30Water fund capital project allocations for wells and distribution systems were reduced by $773,000, delaying the Robinson water tower repainting project by one year.
Internal Auditor Position
34:30Allocations to the City Manager's department were increased by $131,847 to fund an internal auditor position, with flexibility on reporting structure depending on a future charter change vote.
Pattern Zoning Programs
37:10General fund allocations were increased by $100,000 to support pattern zoning programs.
Miller Avenue Curb and Sidewalk Improvements
39:40Capital fund allocations were increased by $360,000 to fund long-promised curb and sidewalk improvements on Miller Avenue within the Miller Historic District.
Oakhurst-Wood Creek Walking Trail
42:00Capital fund allocations were increased by $425,000 to fund a walking trail connecting the Oakhurst and Wood Creek neighborhoods to the Walmart shopping center.
Carter Alameda Stormwater Park
53:00Capital fund allocations were increased by $1,500,000 to fund a new stormwater park at Carter and Alameda, which will include educational features and minor stormwater detention.
Historical Markers
59:00Capital fund allocations were increased by $30,000 to fund additional historical markers, with a focus on representing Norman's full and inclusive history.
Rock Creek Road Sidewalk Construction
61:30Capital fund allocations were increased by $60,000 to fund the construction of a sidewalk on Rock Creek Road, improving safety for pedestrians.
Meter Services Function Transfer
64:30Approved the transfer of the meter services function from the finance department to the utilities enterprise funds, involving various reallocations across multiple city funds.
Microtransit Program
68:00Public transportation fund allocations were increased by $750,000 to fund an on-demand turnkey microtransit program to supplement the existing bus system and provide ADA-friendly services.
FYE 2023 Operating and Capital Budgets
69:30The fiscal year 2023 operating and capital budgets were adopted as amended by the City Council.
Financial Matters
Regional Transportation Authority Contribution
Increase in capital fund allocations for transportation.
Water Reclamation Fund Revenue Reduction
Reduction in projected water reclamation fund revenue.
Water Reclamation Fund Transfer Reduction
Reduction in water reclamation fund transfers to the general fund.
Police Department General Fund Allocation
Increase to fund contractual police salary increases.
Police Department Public Safety Sales Tax Fund Allocation
Increase to fund contractual police salary increases.
City Manager's Department Contingency
Increase for contingency capital outlay expenditures.
Water Fund Capital Project Reduction
Reduction due to failed water rate increase vote, delaying the Robinson water tower repainting project.
Internal Auditor Position
Increase in allocations to the City Manager's department to fund an internal auditor position.
Pattern Zoning Programs
Increase in general fund allocations for pattern zoning programs.
Miller Avenue Curb and Sidewalk Improvements
Increase in capital fund project allocations for improvements in the Miller Historic District.
Oakhurst-Wood Creek Walking Trail
Increase in capital fund project allocations for a new walking trail.
Carter Alameda Stormwater Park
Increase in capital fund project allocations for a new park with stormwater elements.
Historical Markers
Increase in capital fund project allocations for additional historical markers.
Rock Creek Road Sidewalk Construction
Increase in capital fund project allocations for a new sidewalk.
Meter Services Function Transfer (Finance Dept. General Fund)
Decrease in general fund allocations to the finance department and related cost allocation revenue from utility enterprise funds.
Meter Services Function Transfer (Water Fund)
Increase in water fund allocations to the water line maintenance division.
Meter Services Function Transfer (Water Fund Cost Allocation)
Reduction in related cost allocation payments to the general fund from the water fund.
Meter Services Function Transfer (Water Reclamation Fund)
Increase in water reclamation allocations to the sewer line maintenance division.
Meter Services Function Transfer (Water Reclamation Fund Cost Allocation)
Reduction in related cost allocation payments to the general fund from the water reclamation fund.
Meter Services Function Transfer (Sanitation Fund)
Decrease in sanitation fund allocations to the water and water reclamation divisions.
Meter Services Function Transfer (Sanitation Fund Cost Allocation)
Decrease in related cost allocation payments to the general fund from the sanitation fund.
Microtransit Program
Increase in public transportation fund allocations for an on-demand turnkey microtransit program.
Public Comments
Public comments touched on several financial and infrastructure topics. Concerns were raised regarding Norman's increased financial burden for the Regional Transportation Authority due to other cities' withdrawals, the sustainability and original intent of the Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) funding, and the critical need for additional dispatcher positions. Questions were also posed about the implications of water fund reductions and the priority of a proposed stormwater park, especially given its former use as a homeless encampment. Support was expressed for funding historical markers, with a request for inclusive historical representation.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Robinson water tower repainting/resurfacing project (delayed one year)
Watch For
- Additional RTA contribution amendment if needed after Moore's withdrawal
- Voter approval of charter amendment for internal auditor reporting structure
- Future discussion on re-evaluating the Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) funding mechanism
- Discussion on the Center City Forum based code agenda item
Agenda Summary
Consideration of adoption rejection amendment or postponement of the norman convention and visitor bureau incorporated budget with detailed annual plan of work
Review and decision on the Norman Convention and Visitor Bureau's budget and annual plan of work.
Grammatical and topographical error corrections to the budget documents with no financial impact be made as necessary
Approval to make necessary grammatical and typographical corrections to the FYE 2023 budget documents without financial implications.
Increase capital fund projection allocations for transportation by $182,654 to fund a contribution to the Regional Transportation Authority
Amendment to increase capital fund allocations for transportation to support the Regional Transportation Authority.
Reduce projected water reclamation fund revenue by $700,000 and water reclamation fund transfers to the general fund by $35,000
Amendment to reduce water reclamation fund revenue and transfers to the general fund.
Increase general fund allocations to the police department by $570,691 and public safety sales tax fund allocations to the police department by $225,850 to fund contractual increases to police salaries
Amendment to increase funding for the police department to cover contractual salary increases resulting from collective bargaining.
Increase general fund allocations to the city manager's department by $368,985 for contingency capital outlay expenditures
Amendment to increase general fund allocations for the City Manager's department for contingency capital outlay.
Reduce water fund capital project allocations for wells and distribution systems by $773,000 due to the failure of the water rate increase vote
Amendment to reduce water fund capital project allocations due to the unsuccessful water rate increase vote.
Increase allocations to the city manager's department by $131,847 to fund an internal auditor position
Amendment to increase allocations to the City Manager's department to fund a new internal auditor position.
Increase general fund allocations by $100,000 for pattern zoning programs
Amendment to increase general fund allocations to support pattern zoning programs.
Increase capital fund project allocations by $360,000 to fund improvements to the miller avenue curb and sidewalk between alameda street and classen boulevard within the miller historic district
Amendment to increase capital fund allocations for curb and sidewalk improvements in the Miller Historic District.
Increase capital fund project allocations by $425,000 to fund a walking trail that connects the oakhurst and wood creek neighborhoods to the walmart shopping center
Amendment to increase capital fund allocations for a new walking trail connecting two neighborhoods to a shopping center.
Increase capital fund project allocations by $1,500,000 to fund a carter alameda stormwater park
Amendment to increase capital fund allocations for the development of a stormwater park at Carter and Alameda.
Increase capital fund project allocations by $30,000 to fund historical markers
Amendment to increase capital fund allocations for additional historical markers.
Increase capital fund project allocations by $60,000 to fund the construction of a sidewalk on rock creek road from porter avenue to hawthorne place edition
Amendment to increase capital fund allocations for sidewalk construction on Rock Creek Road.
Implement the transfer of the meter services function from the finance department in the general fund maintenance and sewer line maintenance divisions in the utilities enterprise funds
Amendment to implement the transfer of meter services from the finance department to utilities enterprise funds, involving various financial adjustments.
Increase public transportation fund allocations for transit and parking administration by $750,000 to fund an on-demand turnkey micro transit program
Amendment to increase public transportation fund allocations to fund a new on-demand microtransit program.
Approve the FYE 2023 operating and capital budgets as amended
Final approval of the fiscal year 2023 operating and capital budgets after all amendments.