Meeting Summary
The City Council held a special session to vote on recommendations from the Charter Review Commission. Key proposals approved to be sent to voters include changes to the city attorney's appointment, council member stipends, council member term lengths, Norman Regional Hospital Authority board size, and ward residency requirements. Several other significant items, such as term expiration dates, filling vacancies, utility rate review, recall processes, and tax increment finance districts, were voted down to allow for further discussion and refinement in future study sessions.
Key Decisions & Votes
City Attorney Appointment and Removal
07:30The recommendation to allow the city council to appoint and remove the city attorney, making the city attorney an employee of the council, was approved to be sent to voters.
Monthly Stipend for Mayor and Council Members
12:50A proposal for an initial increase in annual stipends for council members and the establishment of a compensation commission for future adjustments was approved to be sent to voters.
Term of Office for Council Members
17:50The recommendation to change the term of office for council members from two to three years, with no change to the mayor's term, was approved to be sent to voters.
Norman Regional Hospital Authority Board Members
49:00The proposal to increase the number of Norman Regional Hospital Authority board members from nine to eleven, with at least nine being Norman residents, was approved to be sent to voters.
Ward Residency Requirement
01:13:00A recommendation requiring city council candidates to reside in their ward for a minimum of six months prior to filing, with provisions for ward boundary changes, was approved to be sent to voters.
Financial Matters
Monthly Stipend for Mayor and Council Members
Proposal for an initial increase in annual stipend and establishment of a compensation commission to determine future increases every three years.
City Utility Rate Increases
Proposal to require annual rate studies for each utility and mandate council to submit a rate increase for one or more utilities at the next council election.
Tax Increment Finance Districts (TIFs)
Discussion on requiring a vote of the electorate for approval of sales tax increment finance districts, with concerns raised about financial impact and the complexity of TIFs.
Public Comments
Public comments included suggestions for a two-person council per ward to manage workload and succession, concerns about tax delinquency for elected officials, questions regarding the clarity and fairness of new term start dates, and strong opinions on the public's right to vote on sales tax increment finance districts versus council's fiduciary responsibility. There was also discussion about voter fatigue concerning annual utility rate increases.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Term expiration dates for council members and mayor
- Methodology for filling vacant council positions
- Annual review and potential public vote on city utility rate increases
- Modifications to the recall process for elected officials
- Requiring a public vote for sales tax increment finance districts
Watch For
- Study sessions to further discuss and refine tabled charter amendment recommendations
Agenda Summary
Review of Article Seven, Section Two: City Attorney Appointment and Removal
Consider whether the city attorney should be appointed and subject to removal by the city council, making the city attorney an employee of the council for independent representation.
Review of Article Two, Section One: Monthly Stipend for Mayor and Council Members
Consider increasing the monthly stipend for the mayor and council members, providing an initial increase and establishing a compensation commission for future adjustments every three years.
Review of Article Two, Sections Two, Five, Six, and Fourteen: Term of Office for Council Members
Consider changing the term of office for council members from two to three years. No changes were recommended for the mayor's term.
Review of Article Two, Section Two: Term Expiration Dates
Consider changing the beginning and end dates of terms so that a new term ends on the first Tuesday following certification of election results, aiming to reduce the lag between election and taking office.
Review of Article Two, Section Twenty-Two: Filling Vacant Positions
Clarify that the council can either appoint someone to fill a vacancy or call a special election, and that appointments are for the remainder of the term, eliminating confusion.
Review of Article Sixteen, Section Two: Utility Rate Increases
Require staff to prepare an annual rate study for each utility and mandate council to submit a rate increase for one or more utilities at the next council election, with provisions for unexpected needs.
Review of Article Six, Section One: Norman Regional Hospital Authority Board Members
Increase the number of board members from nine to eleven, with the stipulation that at least nine members must be Norman residents.
Review of Article Thirteen: Recall of Elective Officers
Modify language to address potential timing conflicts with existing elections, ensure adequate time for the clerk to review signed petitions, and incorporate state law, including provisions for quorum in case of multiple recalls and six-month bookends for recall eligibility.
Review of Article Two, Section Two: Ward Residency Requirement
Require a candidate for city council to reside in their ward for a minimum of six months prior to filing for office, with provisions for cases where ward boundaries have changed due to reapportionment.
Review of Resolution: Tax Increment Finance Districts (TIFs)
Consider adding language to the charter to require a vote of the electorate for approval of sales tax increment finance districts, with the CRC having a split vote on the specific language and no consensus on a dollar cap.