Meeting Summary
The City Council adopted the FY22 operating and capital budgets with several amendments after extensive public comment and debate. Key decisions included the approval of funding for an unarmed and non-police mobile crisis response program, the extension of services for individuals experiencing homelessness, and the retention of funding for a flood control project. A proclamation was also issued declaring June 19th as Juneteenth Day in Norman.
Key Decisions & Votes
Approval of May 25th, 2021 Minutes
03:00The City Council, Norman Utilities Authority, Norman Municipal Authority, and Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority minutes of May 25th, 2021 were approved.
Juneteenth Day Proclamation
03:50Proclamation 2021-22, declaring Saturday, June 19th, 2021, as Juneteenth Day in the City of Norman, was acknowledged.
Consent Docket Approval
22:00Items 7 through 20, covering various contracts, ordinances, and appointments, were approved as part of the consent docket.
Budget Amendment: Grammatical Corrections
32:00An amendment to make grammatical and typographical corrections to the budget documents with no financial impact was approved.
Budget Amendment: Neighborhood Alliance Funding
34:00An amendment to increase the general fund City Council budget by $100,000 for membership and neighborhood alliance was approved.
Budget Amendment: Historical Markers Funding
38:00An amendment to increase capital fund allocations by $30,000 for historical markers and/or signs was approved.
Budget Amendment: Property Owner Rehabilitation Program
46:00An amendment to increase Community Development Block Grant fund allocations to the property owner rehabilitation program by $3,663 was approved.
Budget Amendment: Fire Department Allocation Correction
48:00An amendment to decrease fire department allocations in the general fund by $841,800 and reduce the general fund transfer to the public safety sales tax fund by $220,109, as a cleanup item for a double-counting error, was approved.
Budget Amendment: Workers Compensation Costs
56:00An amendment to increase risk management fund allocations by $652,700 for projected workers' compensation costs was approved.
Budget Amendment: Street Maintenance Bond Projects
01:03:00An amendment to increase Capital fund allocations by $5,353,488 for Street Maintenance Bond projects, resulting from a bond election, was approved.
Budget Amendment: East Alameda Street Safety Widening
01:04:00An amendment to increase Capital fund allocations by $745,688 for the East Alameda Street safety widening bond project was approved.
Budget Amendment: Vineyard Edition Flood Control Project
01:05:00An amendment to decrease $753,000 for the Vineyard Edition flood control project was denied, meaning the project funding remains in the budget.
Budget Amendment: Pilot Participatory Budgeting Program
01:59:00An amendment to increase general fund allocations by $1 million for a pilot participatory budgeting program was denied.
Budget Amendment: Police Data Analysis Software
02:40:00An amendment to increase general fund allocations to the police department by $6,000 for the acquisition of data analysis software was approved.
Budget Amendment: Homeless Services (Warming Shelter)
02:59:00An amendment to increase general fund allocations to the Planning and Community Development Department by $80,000 for services to individuals experiencing homelessness, specifically to extend the warming shelter operation, was approved.
Budget Amendment: Unarmed Mobile Crisis Response Program
03:52:00An amendment to allocate $500,000 from the general fund to the City Manager Department for the implementation of an unarmed and non-police mobile crisis response program was approved.
Budget Amendment: Unarmed Mobile Crisis Response Program (Carryover)
04:59:00An amendment to increase general fund allocations to the City Manager Department by $63,321 for the implementation of an unarmed and non-police mobile crisis response program, utilizing carryover funds, was approved.
Adoption of FY22 City of Norman Operating and Capital Budgets
05:45:00The FY22 City of Norman operating and capital budgets, as amended by the approved motions, were adopted.
Upcoming Community Events
Juneteenth Day Proclamation & Festival
Festival at Reeves Park with the theme 'Remember, Empower, and Celebrate'.
Second Friday Artwalk
Movie in the Park (Aladdin)
Includes vaccine opportunities.
Move with the Mayor
At Westwood, featuring Toddler Time, walking in the wave pool, lap swim, and aquazumba.
Norman's Young Professional Organization Summerfest
At Lake Thunderbird.
Jazz in June
At Andrews Park.
Financial Matters
Campus Corner parking management system upgrades
Authorization for the purchase of upgrades to the Campus Corner parking management system.
Ruby Grant Park southeast parking addition contract increase
Amendment to a contract increasing the amount for construction of the southeast parking addition at Ruby Grant Park.
Water Reclamation facility architectural services
Contract for architectural services for Water Reclamation facility Administration building upgrades and a new Maintenance building.
eSource LLC contract
Contract with eSource LLC.
Exotic animal care expenses
Appropriation from the general fund balance for payment of expenses incurred for the care of exotic animals seized by the Norman Animal Welfare division.
General fund increase for Neighborhood Alliance
Increase to the City Council budget for membership and neighborhood alliance.
Capital fund increase for historical markers/signs
Increase in fund allocations for historical markers and/or signs.
Community Development Block Grant for property owner rehabilitation program
Increase in fund allocations for the property owner rehabilitation program.
Fire Department and Public Safety Sales Tax Fund allocation correction
Decrease in fire department allocations and general fund transfer to correct a double-counting error, not an actual reduction in funds.
Risk management fund increase for workers compensation
Increase in fund allocations for projected workers' compensation costs.
Capital fund increase for Street Maintenance Bond projects
Increase in Capital fund allocations for Street Maintenance Bond projects.
Capital fund increase for East Alameda Street safety widening bond project
Increase in Capital fund allocations for the East Alameda Street safety widening bond project.
Vineyard Edition flood control project
Funding for the Vineyard Edition flood control project was retained in the budget after an amendment to decrease it was denied.
General fund increase for Police Department data analysis software
Increase in general fund allocations for the acquisition of data analysis software for the police department.
General fund increase for services to individuals experiencing homelessness
Increase in general fund allocations to the Planning and Community Development Department for services to individuals experiencing homelessness, specifically to extend the warming shelter operation.
General fund allocation for unarmed and non-police mobile crisis response program
Allocation from the general fund to the City Manager Department for the implementation of an unarmed and non-police mobile crisis response program.
General fund allocation for unarmed and non-police mobile crisis response program (carryover)
Increase in general fund allocations to the City Manager Department for the implementation of an unarmed and non-police mobile crisis response program, utilizing carryover funds.
Public Comments
Public comments were extensive and passionate, primarily focusing on budget amendments. Key themes included strong support and opposition for the unarmed mobile crisis response program, with proponents emphasizing compassion, de-escalation, and relieving police burden, while opponents raised concerns about safety, state law, lack of a detailed plan, and potential for 'defunding' the police. Discussions also covered the need for equitable storm water solutions, the role of HOAs in private property maintenance, the importance of supporting homeless services, and the transparency and accountability of city budgeting processes. Many speakers expressed frustration with perceived divisions within the community and called for collaboration.
Coming Up
Watch For
- Final opportunity for public participation in the Norman Transit study on June 9th at noon and 5:00-6:00 p.m.
- Discussions at the upcoming Council Retreat regarding ARP funds, participatory budgeting, and a permanent homeless shelter.
Announcements
- Second Friday Artwalk on Friday, June 11th.
- Movie in the Park featuring Aladdin on Friday, June 11th, with vaccine opportunities.
- Move with the Mayor at Westwood on Saturday, June 12th, at 9:00 a.m., including Toddler Time, walking in the wave pool, lap swim, and aquazumba.
- Norman's Young Professional Organization event at Lake Thunderbird on Saturday, June 12th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Summerfest).
- Jazz in June at Andrews Park before the next council meeting.
- First city Juneteenth celebration at Reeves Park on Saturday, June 19th.
Agenda Summary
Approval of the city council Norman Utilities Authority Norman Municipal Authority and Norman tax increment Finance Authority minutes of May 25th 2021
Review and approval of the minutes from the previous joint authority meeting.
Proclamation 2021-22 as Juneteenth day in the city of Norman
A proclamation by the Mayor of the City of Norman, Oklahoma, proclaiming Saturday, June 19th, 2021, as Juneteenth Day.
Consent docket
Approval of routine agenda items 7 through 20 by a single motion.
2021-topcon Center City form based code upon General Frontage located at 4:30 South James Garner Avenue
An item related to the Center City form-based code for a specific property.
Ordinance 2021 42 upon first reading by title only resoning 911 North LOM Avenue from R1 single family dwelling District to 01 office institutional District
First reading of an ordinance to rezone a property on North Lahoma Avenue.
Ordinance 2021 43 upon first reading by title only closure of rideway within block one replat of fuzzle second edition 12:30 West Main Street
First reading of an ordinance for the closure of a right-of-way on West Main Street.
Submission of the proposed nominations for appointment of Drew Nichols as presiding judge blae nice as associate judge and David porch as acting judge of the municipal Criminal Court each for a term beginning July 1 2021 and ending June 30222
Nominations for judicial appointments to the Municipal Criminal Court.
Authorization for the purchase of upgrades to the campus Corner parking management system from flowbird in the amount of $17,000 56 and budget appropriation from the capital fund balance
Authorization for upgrades to the Campus Corner parking management system and associated budget appropriation.
Amendments to the required amount of cash shity for deferral of Paving drainage and sidewalk improvements for trail roads West Edition
Amendments regarding cash surety for deferred paving, drainage, and sidewalk improvements.
Final site development plan and final plot for badison automotive Edition a planned unit development generally located near the northwest corner of West Franklin Road and Interstate Drive
Final site development plan and plat for a planned unit development.
Declaration of surplus Andor obsolete equipment materials and authorizing the sale thereof
Declaration and authorization for the sale of surplus or obsolete equipment and materials.
Amendment number three to contract 18191 33 with Crossland Construction Company Incorporated increasing the contract by $324,500 67 for a revised amount of$ 6,637,913 for the construction of the southeast parking Edition at Ruby Grant Park
Amendment to a contract for the construction of the southeast parking addition at Ruby Grant Park.
Contract 2021 67 with gy en Hansen LLC in the amount of $384,000 to provide architectural services for the Water Reclamation facility Administration ation building upgrades and new Maintenance building
Contract for architectural services for Water Reclamation facility building upgrades and a new maintenance building.
Contract 2021 75 with eSource LLC in the amount of $14,100 2
Contract with eSource LLC.
Interlocal agreement with the Cleveland County Commissioners to reconstruct the asphalt roadway on 48th Avenue Northwest from Indian Hills Road to Southwest 34 Street 1 mile North and budget transfer between accounts
Interlocal agreement for roadway reconstruction on 48th Avenue Northwest and associated budget transfer.
Resolution 20211 129 appropriating $95,774 for the general fund balance for payment of expenses incurred for the care of exotic animals seized by the Norman Animal Welfare division
Resolution appropriating funds for the care of seized exotic animals.
Adoption of the Norman convention and visitors beer Incorporated with detailed annual plan of work
Adoption of the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau's detailed annual plan of work.
Adoption of the FY22 City of Norman Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets
Consideration and adoption of the fiscal year 2022 operating and capital budgets for the City of Norman, including all approved amendments.
Amendment 1: Grammatical and typographical corrections to the budget documents with no financial impact
An amendment to correct minor errors in the budget documents.
Amendment 2: Increase the general fund City Council budget by $100,000 for membership and neighborhood alliance
An amendment to allocate additional funds for neighborhood engagement and alliances.
Amendment 3: Increase fund allocations by $30,000 for historical markers and/or signs
An amendment to provide funding for the installation of historical markers and signs.
Amendment 4: Increase Community Development block grant fund allocations to the property owner rehabilitation program by $3,663
An amendment to increase funding for a program assisting property owners with rehabilitation.
Amendment 5: Decrease the fire department allocations in the general fund by $841,800 and reduce the general fund transferred to the public safety sales tax fund by $220,109
A cleanup amendment to correct a double-counting error in the fire department's budget and general fund transfer, with no actual reduction in funds.
Amendment 6: Increase risk management fund allocations by $652,700 for projected workers compensation costs
An amendment to increase funds for anticipated workers' compensation expenses for all city employees.
Amendment 7: Increase Capital fund allocations by $5,353,488 for Street Maintenance Bond projects
An amendment to allocate funds for street maintenance projects resulting from a bond election.
Amendment 8: Increase Capital fund allocations by $745,688 for the East Alameda Street safety widening bond project
An amendment to allocate funds for the East Alameda Street safety widening project.
Amendment 9: Decrease by $753,000 for Vineyard Edition flood control project
An amendment to remove funding for the Vineyard Edition flood control project, which is pending a FEMA grant.
Amendment 10: Increase general fund allocations to the city council department budget by $1 million for a pilot participatory budgeting program
An amendment to establish a pilot program allowing public input on budget allocation.
Amendment 11: Increase the general fund allocations to the police department by $6,000 for the acquisition of data analysis software
An amendment to fund software to improve public access and understanding of police data.
Amendment 12: Increase general fund allocations to the Planning and Community Development Department by $80,000 for services to individuals experiencing homelessness
An amendment to extend the operation of the warming shelter and provide services to the unhoused population.
Amendment 13: Allocate $500,000 from our general fund to increase the city manager Department allocations by $500,000 for the implementation of a unarmed and non-p police mobile crisis response program
An amendment to fund the initial implementation of a mobile crisis response program, separate from police services.
Amendment 14: Increase general fund allocations to the city manager Department by $63,321 for the implementation of an unarmed and non-p police mobile crisis response program
An amendment to allocate additional general fund money, carried over from a previous year, for the mobile crisis response program.