Meeting Summary
The City Council meeting on March 9, 2021, approved minutes and a consent docket covering various city contracts, ordinances, and a $55,000 transfer of CARES Act funds for targeted COVID-19 vaccination services. Additionally, two amendments to the Community Development Block Grant program were approved, reallocating nearly $150,000 to fund a tree pruning, removal, and replacement project for owner-occupied properties in low-income areas affected by a recent ice storm. Council members also shared numerous announcements regarding upcoming elections, bond votes, and community events.
Key Decisions & Votes
Approval of Minutes
03:00The City Council approved the study session minutes from September 9, 2020, and the joint authority minutes from February 23, 2021.
Consent Docket (Items 6-18)
44:00The Council approved the consent docket, which included various ordinances, contract amendments, purchases, and financial transfers, notably $55,000 in CARES Act funds for COVID-19 vaccination services.
Amendment to FYE 18 CDBG Action Plan
57:00The Council approved an amendment to the FYE 18 Community Development Block Grant program, reallocating $67,250 to fund a tree pruning, removal, and replacement project for owner-occupied properties in the CDBG target area.
Amendment to FYE 19 CDBG Action Plan
01:00:40The Council approved an amendment to the FYE 19 Community Development Block Grant program, reallocating $47,340 to expand an existing tree project for pruning and removal services in the CDBG target area.
Upcoming Community Events
Ward 3 Election Runoff and Neighborhood Street Bond Vote
Residents encouraged to inform themselves about candidates and the bond renewal, and to vote.
Move with the Mayor: Hiking
Saxon Park, water bottles for attendees.
COVID-19 Memorial Event
11 AM at Reeves Park, physical memorial for lives lost, speakers, streaming available.
Financial Matters
Purchase of handheld meter reading equipment and software
Authorization for the purchase of equipment and software for Badger Meter Services.
Urban Concrete Pavement Project FYE 2020
Final acceptance and final payment of contract 1920-41 with Central Contracting Services Incorporated.
Urban Asphalt Pavement Project FYE 2021
Change order decreasing contract amount for project with First Water Contracting LLC.
North Base Complex Phase One
Change order increasing contract amount and adding calendar days for project with Flinco LLC.
Digital Ortho Photography, Topographic, and Planometric Mapping
Contract with Sanborn Map Company Incorporated for GIS division services.
Battery Electric Transit Bus Purchase
Memorandum of agreement with DEQ accepting funds to purchase a bus for public transportation.
CARES Act Funding for COVID-19 Vaccination Services
Transferring remaining CARES Act reimbursement funds for free, targeted COVID-19 vaccination services.
Engineering Design Criteria and Standard Specifications Update
Amendment increasing contract amount with Freeze and Nickels Incorporated for engineering design and ordinance review.
CDBG FYE 18 Action Plan Amendment
Reprogramming $67,250 from alley reconstruction projects to a tree pruning, removal, and replacement project in the CDBG target area.
CDBG FYE 19 Action Plan Amendment
Reprogramming $25,000 from land acquisition and $22,340 from ADA improvements to expand an existing tree project, focusing on pruning and removal in the CDBG target area.
Coming Up
Deadlines
- Transit study closes March 10, 2021
Watch For
- Ward 3 election runoff (April 6th)
- Neighborhood Street Bond renewal vote (April 6th)
- Street maintenance bond vote campaign (starts March 22nd)
- CPT committee meetings (reconvene March 25th, topics include ADA accessibility, parking minimums/maximums, community planning)
- Move with the Mayor events (fourth Saturday of every month)
Announcements
- Ward 3 has an election runoff on April 6th; residents are encouraged to get to know their candidates. The Neighborhood Street Bond renewal is also on the ballot, which is not a tax increase but important for property values and neighborhood reinvestment.
- The Norman Police Department has implemented a diversity committee, and community members are invited to apply via a link on Chief Foster's March 2nd Facebook post.
- Residents are encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccination and continue masking; there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.
- Councilmember Hall is a notary and is available to notarize absentee ballots for any Norman resident.
- Congratulations to Ward 4 resident Aaron Brooks on his appointment to the Historic District Commission.
- Ward 5 residents, especially those on private roads, are encouraged to learn about the upcoming street maintenance bond.
- The campaign for the bond vote starts on March 22nd, with information becoming available to the public.
- The upcoming transportation bond is not a tax increase; Ward 7 has nine individual projects included, such as the repaving and improvement of 12th Avenue Southeast.
- The Community Planning and Transportation (CPT) committee will reconvene meetings on March 25th to address issues like ADA accessibility, parking minimums/maximums, and community planning.
- Business owners and local stakeholders are encouraged to reach out to Councilmember Peacock regarding the upcoming parking topic in the CPT committee.
- The Mayor thanked city staff for participating in Black History Month and Women's History Month panel discussions, available on the city's YouTube channel.
- The next 'Move with the Mayor' event is hiking at Saxon Park on March 27th, the fourth Saturday of the month, with water bottles for attendees.
- The transit study for the city's bus system closes tomorrow (March 10th); residents can provide input at gonormantransit.com.
- A physical memorial event will be held at Reeves Park this Saturday at 11 AM to mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 state of emergency declaration, offering a place to reflect on lives lost and community resilience.
Agenda Summary
Approval of Minutes
Approval of the City Council Study Session minutes of September 9, 2020, and City Council, Norman Utilities Authority, Norman Municipal Authority, and Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority minutes of February 23, 2021.
Ordinance 2021-30
Upon first reading, granting special use for a fraternity or sorority house for property located at 1115 College Avenue, currently zoned R-3 multi-family dwelling district.
Ordinance 2021-31
Upon first reading, amending the zoning ordinance to direct historic district appeals to the Board of Adjustment.
City Manager's Contract and Change Order Report
Submission of the City Manager's contract and change order report.
Purchase of Handheld Meter Reading Equipment and Software
Authorization for the purchase of handheld meter reading equipment and software compatible with current utility billing systems for Badger Meter Services in the amount of $121,600.
Amendment Number Three to Contract 1718-115
Amendment with ENE Lawn Care LLC for mowing, securing of structures, and removal of health nuisances, extending the contract through March 31, 2022.
Amendment Number Two to Contract 1819-124
Amendment with Givens Property Maintenance LLC for mowing, securing of structures, and removal of health nuisances and easement obstructions, extending through March 31, 2022.
Final Acceptance and Payment of Contract 1920-41
Final acceptance and final payment of contract with Central Contracting Services Incorporated for the Urban Concrete Pavement Project FYE 2020 locations.
Change Order Number One to Contract 2021-2
Decreasing the contract amount by $7,118.29 for a revised contract amount of $1,242,624.71 for the Urban Asphalt Pavement Project FYE 2021 locations and final acceptance of the project.
Change Order Number One to Contract 2021-35
Increasing the contract amount by $64,737.65 for a revised contract amount of $8,712,737.65 and adding 20 additional calendar days to the contract for the North Base Complex Phase One.
Contract 2021-100 with Sanborn Map Company Incorporated
Contract in an amount not to exceed $112,562.66 to provide digital ortho photography, topographic mapping, and planometric mapping for the geographic information systems division.
Contract 2021-1 Memorandum of Agreement with DEQ
Accepting funds in the amount of $450,000 to purchase a battery electric transit bus for the city's public transportation program and budget appropriation.
Resolution 2021-102 CARES Act Funding Transfer
Transferring the balance of CARES Act reimbursement funding of approximately $55,000 to be used for free COVID-19 vaccination services.
Amendment Number One to Contract 1920-114
Increasing the contract amount by $265,000 for a revised contract amount of $390,000 to provide engineering design criteria and standard specifications and construction drawings update and city ordinance review.
Public Hearing regarding Amendment Number 1 to FYE 18 CDBG Action Plan
Public hearing for the 43rd year Norman Community Development Block Grant program, proposing to reallocate funds for a tree pruning, removal, and replacement project.
Public Hearing regarding Amendment Number 1 to FYE 19 CDBG Action Plan
Public hearing for the 44th year Norman Community Development Block Grant program, proposing to reallocate funds for a tree pruning, removal, and replacement project.
Miscellaneous Discussion
Opportunity for citizens to address City Council.