Meeting Summary
The city council discussed a proposal from the Neighborhood Alliance for community organizing programs. They approved the second-year action plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs, allocating over $1.3 million for affordable housing and community development. The first public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2022 budget was held, with numerous citizens providing feedback on various city priorities, including police funding, municipal broadband, and affordable housing.
Key Decisions & Votes
Approval of Minutes
00:30:00The City Council, Norman Utilities Authority, Norman Municipal Authority, and Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority minutes of April 13, 2021, were approved unanimously.
Consent Docket
00:54:00Items 9 through 27 on the consent docket, covering various routine administrative, utility, and financial matters, were approved unanimously.
CDBG/HOME Action Plan
01:09:00The proposed second-year action plan for the 47th year Norman Community Development Block Grant application, including the 2021 HOME Program totaling $1,358,303, was approved unanimously for submission to HUD.
Park Hill Mixed Use Edition Preliminary Plat
01:13:00The preliminary plat for the Park Hill Mixed Use Edition, a planned unit development at the southeast corner of East Tecumseh Road and 12th Avenue Northeast, was approved unanimously.
36th Avenue SE Right-of-Way Closure (Ordinance 2021-32)
01:22:00Ordinance 2021-32, closing 33 feet of the statutory right-of-way of 36th Avenue Southeast, was adopted unanimously on both second and final readings.
309 South Peters Avenue Land Use Amendment (Resolution 2021-9)
01:36:00Resolution 2021-9, amending the Norman 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan to change 309 South Peters Avenue from Office to Commercial designation, was adopted unanimously to allow for a new breakfast house.
309 South Peters Avenue Rezoning (Ordinance 2021-33)
01:40:00Ordinance 2021-33, rezoning 309 South Peters Avenue from R3 Multi-Family Dwelling District to C3 Intensive Commercial District, was adopted unanimously on both second and final readings to facilitate the breakfast house.
Marijuana Dispensary Special Use (Ordinance 2021-35)
01:45:00Ordinance 2021-35, granting special use for a marijuana dispensary at 3001 36th Avenue Northwest, was adopted unanimously on both second and final readings.
Upcoming Community Events
Lake Thunderbird Wildlife and Water Workshop and Cleanup
1-4 PM at the Clear Bay Discovery Cove Nature Center area; snacks, water, and supplies provided.
Historic District Commission Work Session
4:30 PM
Historic District Guidelines Public Hearing
5:00 PM
Historic District Guidelines Public Hearing
5:00 PM
Sister City Chat (Clermont-Ferrand)
Free, register on Pioneer Library System website for French language practice.
Healthy Babies Grant event
10 AM at the Adams Elementary parking lot; will include vaccines, story time, bike safety, car seat checks, and DHS assistance.
Financial Matters
CDBG Allocation
Allocation of funds to promote decent housing, provide a suitable living environment, and provide economic opportunities for low and moderate income households.
HOME Program Allocation
Allocation of funds primarily directed towards affordable housing counseling and development.
Neighborhood Alliance Proposal
Proposed annual cost for a part-time community organizer and support staff to facilitate neighborhood organizing programs in Norman.
Water Distribution System Sampling Stations Project
Contract with Sooner Site Utility and Construction for water sampling stations.
Lower Imhoff Creek Project Phase One
Amendment to contract with Meshach and Associates LLC for engineering design and construction plans.
Tyler Technologies Inc. Contract Amendment
Amendment to contract for technical software programming for life insurance calculation.
Advanced Utility Systems Contract Amendment
Amendment to contract for 10 additional software licenses.
Intellitime Systems Corporation Contract Amendment
Amendment to contract for additional migration services and implementation of time and attendance system.
Storm Water Master Plan Update
Amendment to contract with Freese and Nichols Incorporated for stormwater master plan update and TMDL model review.
Jenkins Water Line Replacement Project
Contract with Freese and Nichols Incorporated for engineering services related to design, bidding, and construction.
Settlement of Angela Webb vs. City of Norman
Approval of a legal settlement in Cleveland County District Court.
Settlement of David Andrew Palmer Workers Compensation Claim
Authorization of a workers compensation claim settlement.
General Obligation Bonds Series 2021
Resolution fixing the amount, maturity, time, and place for the sale of general obligation bonds.
Alameda Summit Lakes Boulevard Project Traffic Signal
Approval of funds from the Deposit Site Improvement Cash Account for payment to ODOT for traffic signal construction.
Public Comments
Public comments during the budget hearing and miscellaneous discussion focused heavily on the proposed FY22 budget. Key themes included calls for defunding the police and reallocating funds to social services like mobile crisis response teams (Cahoots) and mental health initiatives. Many speakers advocated for investment in municipal broadband infrastructure to address digital inequity and for increased efforts in affordable housing. Concerns were also raised about civil asset forfeiture, the impact of state legislation on local governance, and the need for greater public participation in budgeting.
Coming Up
Deadlines
- CDBG/HOME grant submission: May 15th
- CDBG/HOME grant funds available: July 1st
- Mask ordinance evaluation: June 1st
Watch For
- Next public budget hearing: May 25th
- Capital fund budgets presentation: May 4th
- Enterprise fund budgets presentation: May 18th
- Budget adoption: June 8th
- Discussion on increasing/fully funding PSST
- Exploration of municipal broadband
- Discussion on family-friendly policies for the city
- Stormwater utility conversation
- Finalized FOP contract negotiations
- Diversity training development for city employees
- Ordinance regarding civil asset forfeiture
- Master plan for sidewalk infrastructure
- Funding for the visitability ordinance pilot program
- Tree canopy master plan
- Historical markers (Mount Norman, Chisholm Trail, Water Works, Naval Bases, Native American heritage)
- Burying utility lines for Jenkins Road project
- Reclaiming parks from stickers/weeds
Announcements
- Councilmember Kate Biermann gave a heartfelt farewell address, marking her final council meeting after four years of service.
- Mother's Day is May 9th, and it is Teacher Appreciation Week.
- George Amadi and Christopher Southern were reappointed to the Bicycle Advisory Committee.
- Judd Foster, Sanitation Superintendent, is retiring after this meeting, having served the Parks and Recreation department for over 20 years.
- The mask mandate continues in Norman, with the next evaluation scheduled for June 1st.
- The University of Oklahoma's four-day graduation celebration is upcoming.
- The disc golf event with the mayor was rescheduled due to muddy conditions.
- A Sister City Chat with Clermont-Ferrand is ongoing, offering free French language practice.
Agenda Summary
Item 1: Discussion regarding programs provided by the Neighborhood Alliance and their proposal for the City of Norman
Presentation and discussion on how Neighborhood Alliance can help facilitate neighborhood organizing in Norman, including programming for associations, coalition building, workshops, HOA support, leadership training, and safe neighborhoods.
Item 3: Approval of the City Council, Norman Utilities Authority, Norman Municipal Authority, and Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority minutes of April 13, 2021
Approval of previous meeting minutes.
Item 5: Proclamation proclaiming the month of May 2021 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the City of Norman
Recognition of the accomplishments and contributions of AAPI citizens.
Item 6: Proclamation proclaiming the week of May 2nd through May 8th, 2021 as International Compost Awareness Week in the City of Norman
Recognition of composting as a waste reduction and environmental benefit.
Item 7: Proclamation proclaiming the month of May 2021 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Norman
Raising awareness, educating communities, eliminating stigma, and encouraging treatment for mental health.
Item 8: The Consent Docket
Routine agenda items approved or acknowledged by one motion.
Item 9: Submission and acknowledging receipt of the Finance Director's Investment Report as of March 31, 2021
Receipt of the monthly investment report.
Item 10: Submission and acknowledging receipt of the Monthly Departmental Reports for the month of March 2021
Receipt of monthly departmental reports.
Item 11: Acting as the Norman Utilities Authority consideration of acceptance rejection amendment and or post moment of bid 2021-35 contract 2021-70 with Sooner Site Utility and Construction in the amount of $85,100 and all associated bonds for the Water Distribution System Sampling Stations Project
Approval of a bid for water sampling stations.
Item 12: Consideration of approval rejection amendment and or postponement of Norman's Certificate of Survey for Mensa Farm with the variance to the private road requirement from 20 feet to 12 feet generally located on the north side of Senior Lane Road east of 36th Avenue Southeast
Approval of a survey with a variance for a private road.
Item 13: Consideration of approval rejection amendment and or postponement of Final Site Development Plan and Final Plat for Varena Landing Edition Section 1 a Planned Unit Development located on the north side of East Lindsay Street east of 24th Avenue Southeast
Approval of development plans for Varena Landing.
Item 14: Consideration of approval rejection amendment and or postponement a Final Plat of a Re-Plat for Legacy Business Park Edition Section One Block Two located on the north side of West Rock Creek Road east of 36th Avenue Northwest
Approval of a re-plat for Legacy Business Park.
Item 15: Consideration of acceptance rejection amendment and or postponement of a permanent water line easement in the amount of $8,100 from MD Coast 4 LLC for the Interstate Drive Water Line Replacement Project
Acceptance of an easement for a water line project.
Item 16: Consideration of approval rejection amendment and or postponement of Amendment Number One to Contract 1415-134 with Meshach and Associates LLC increasing the contract by $383,647 for a revised amount of $526,647 to provide the engineering design criteria and construction plans for Phase One of the Lower Imhoff Creek Project
Approval of a contract amendment for the Lower Imhoff Creek project.
Item 17: Consideration of approval rejection amendment and or postponement of Amendment Number Two to Contract 1718-77 with Tyler Technologies Incorporated increasing the contract by $40,000 for a revised amount of $2,463,269 to provide technical software programming of a modification requested by the Human Resources Department for life insurance calculation
Approval of a contract amendment for software programming.
Item 18: Consideration of approval rejection amendment and or postponement of Amendment Number One to Contract 1718-79 with Advanced Utility Systems a division of In Harris Computer Corporation increasing the contract by $46,694.25 for a revised amount of $1,530,344.25 to provide 10 additional software licenses allowing more staff access to the application
Approval of a contract amendment for software licenses.
Item 19: Consideration of approval rejection amendment and or postponement of Amendment Number 1 to Contract 1718-81 with Intellitime Systems Corporation increasing the contract by $34,300 or revised amount of $284,475 to provide additional migration services and consulting implementation of the time and attendance system provide an import to update employee accruals and adding an integrated voice response system to be used by the Fire Department to fill vacancies and shifts
Approval of a contract amendment for time and attendance system services.
Item 20: Consideration of approval rejection amendment and or postponement of Amendment Number One to Contract 2021-39 with Freese and Nichols Incorporated increasing contract by $63,371 for a revised amount of $270,531 for a Storm Water Master Plan Update and Total Maximum Daily Load TMDL Model Review and Revisions and budget transfer between project accounts
Approval of a contract amendment for stormwater planning.
Item 21: Consideration of approval rejection amendment and or postponement of Contract 2021-116 with Freese and Nickels Incorporated in the amount of $95,740 to provide engineering services related to design bidding and construction of the Jenkins Water Line Replacement Project
Approval of a contract for engineering services for a water line project.
Item 22: Consideration of approval rejection amendment and or postponement of the recommendation from the City Attorney that the City Council approve a settlement of Angela Webb versus City of Norman in the Cleveland County District Court case CH 2018-1351 in the amount of $15,000
Approval of a legal settlement.
Item 23: Consideration of adoption rejection amendment and or postponement of Resolution 2021-116 endorsing an application by the City of Norman and the Norman Arts Council for a Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative Grant
Endorsement of a grant application for public art.
Item 24: Consideration of adoption rejection amendment and or postponement of Resolution 2021-117 authorizing settlement of a Workers Compensation Commission claim in the case of David Andrew Palmer versus the City of Norman Workers Compensation Commission Case 2018-07531-J in the amount of $23,111.07
Authorization of a workers compensation claim settlement.
Item 25: Consideration of adoption rejection amendment and or postponement of Resolution 2021-1 authorizing the Chairman of the Norman Utilities Authority to submit a Bureau of Reclamation grant applying for WaterSMART Applied Science Grant to the Bureau of Reclamation
Authorization to apply for a water management grant.
Item 26: Consideration of adoption rejection amendment and or postponement of Resolution 2021-120 fixing the amount of General Obligation Bonds Series 2021 to mature each year fixing time in place the bonds are to be sold designating a paying agent registrar approving the preliminary official statement and distribution thereof
Fixing details for general obligation bonds.
Item 27: Consideration of adoption rejection amendment and or postponement of Resolution 2021-121 approving $64,332.46 from the Deposit Site Improvement Cash Account to the Alameda Summit Lakes Boulevard Project for payment to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for the construction of a traffic signal at the intersection of Alameda Street Summit Lakes Boulevard Lockwood Drive
Approval of funds for a traffic signal.
Item 28: A public hearing regarding the proposed second year action plan for the 47th year Norman Community Development Block Grant application which included the 2021 HOME Program totaling $1,358,303 to be submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
Public hearing and approval of the CDBG/HOME action plan.
Item 29: Preliminary Plat for Park Hill Mixed Use Edition a Planned Unit Development located at the southeast corner of East Tecumseh Road and 12th Avenue Northeast
Approval of a preliminary plat for a mixed-use development.
Item 30: Ordinance 2021-32 closing 33 feet of the statutory right-of-way of 36th Avenue Southeast
Ordinance to formally close a portion of a right-of-way due to topography and lack of city plans for construction.
Item 31: Resolution 2021-9 amending the Norman 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan to remove 309 South Peters Avenue from Office designation to Commercial designation
Amendment to the land use plan for a property to allow for a breakfast house, preserving a 100-year-old home.
Item 32: Ordinance 2021-33 rezoning 309 South Peters Avenue from R3 Multi-Family Dwelling District to C3 Intensive Commercial District
Rezoning of a property to allow for a breakfast house, preserving a 100-year-old home.
Item 33: Ordinance 2021-35 granting special use for a marijuana dispensary at 3001 36th Avenue Northwest currently zoned I-1 Light Industrial District
Granting special use for a marijuana dispensary to address patient needs on that side of town.
Item 34: Our first public hearing on the City of Norman 2022 Budget Documents
First public hearing for the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget, inviting public input.