Meeting Summary
The City Council approved several key measures, including an amendment to the Community Development Block Grant program, adding $737,568 in CARES Act funds for rental assistance and a new street outreach program. They also approved a special election for April 6, 2021, for a $27 million street maintenance bond program with no new tax increase. Additionally, the council significantly expanded the small business relief grants by appropriating an additional $1.91 million, bringing the total to $2.91 million, to provide $10,000 grants to 291 businesses.
Key Decisions & Votes
Consent Docket Approval
09:00Items 4 through 19, covering various routine approvals, appointments, reports, bids, contracts, and easements, were approved unanimously.
CDBG Program Amendment (CARES Act Funds)
37:20Amendment Number 3 to the CDBG program's action plan was adopted, adding $737,568 in CARES Act funds for rental assistance, a new street outreach program, and encampment cleanup.
Rezoning 231 West Main Street
01:07:30Ordinance 2021-23 was adopted on final reading, rezoning 231 West Main Street to a Center City Planned Unit Development, with an amendment to allow office uses on the Webster street side while preserving the historic brick building.
Closing Public Right-of-Ways
01:11:00Ordinance 2021-24 was adopted on final reading, closing two alleys and associated utility easements in Block 1 of East University Edition, as they were no longer needed by the University of Oklahoma.
Street Maintenance Bond Program Ordinance
01:29:30Ordinance 2021-29 was adopted on final reading, authorizing a special election on April 6, 2021, for a $27 million bond issuance for street maintenance and improvements, with no new tax increase.
Special Election for Street Maintenance Resolution
01:30:50Resolution 2021-81 was adopted, formally calling a special election for April 6, 2021, for the street maintenance projects.
CARES Act Reimbursement for Small Business Grants
01:49:50Resolution 2021-86 was adopted as amended, appropriating an additional $1.91 million in CARES Act reimbursement funding, bringing the total to $2.91 million, to provide $10,000 grants to 291 small businesses and non-profits scoring 55 or greater.
Financial Matters
Cascade Tower Resurfacing Project
Bid contract with G L Sandblasting and Coatings LLC.
ADA Ramp Repair Project FYE 2021
Bid contract with Nash Construction Company.
36th Avenue Northwest Widening Program Easement
Acceptance of a permanent right-of-way easement from Richard G. and Dorothy L. Manley.
Special Claim 2021-7
Claim submitted by Greer and Don Schooler for vehicle damage and car rental fees.
Emergency Solutions Grant Amendment 1
Acceptance of additional funding for a street outreach program.
Contract 1617-121 Change Order Number 6
Increase in contract amount with Interfab Inc. for a project.
CDBG CARES Act Funding (Amendment #3)
Additional funds awarded to the City of Norman through the CARES Act for the CDBG program, to be used for rental assistance, street outreach, and encampment cleanup.
Street Maintenance Bond Program
Proposed bond issuance for reconstructing, repairing, improving, and rehabilitating existing roads, streets, and intersections.
Small Business Relief Grants
Appropriation of CARES Act reimbursement funding for small business and non-profit recovery grants.
Coming Up
Deadlines
- April 6, 2021: Special election for the Street Maintenance Bond Program and potential runoff elections for council.
- Before end of June: Sale of Street Maintenance Bonds to maintain 'no new tax' status.
Watch For
- Potential future federal stimulus funding (e.g., $1.9 trillion package) for additional small business and non-profit relief.
- Third allocation of CDBG CARES Act funds, with requests for applications anticipated in late spring.
- Another round of Emergency Solutions Grant funds.
- Proposals for the next year's capital street maintenance program.
Announcements
- Mayor's appointments of Olga Caulfield and Natalie Roche to the Bicycle Advisory Committee, Adrian Francisco to the Development Oversight Committee for Tiff District Number Two, Dr. Alexander Holmes and Miami Windler to the Economic Development Advisory Board, Robert Vollmer, Jim Griffith, and Sarah Bondi to the Environmental Control Advisory Board, Bill Scanlan to the Floodplain Permit Committee, Siobhan Evans and Brent Swift to the Historic District Commission, Bianca Gordon, Megan Strand, and Jason Bingham to the Library Board, Jeff Cummins and Rick McKinney to the Norman Housing Authority, Mark Daniels and Aaron Williford to the Planning Commission, Sadie Orianna, Tom Sherman, and George Wesley to the Norman Forward Citizens Financial Oversight Board, Kevin Pipes, Doug Cubberley, and James Chappell to the Norman Regional Hospital Authority, and Heidi Smith, Angela Steinle, and Lloyd Salman to the Social and Voluntary Services Commission.
- Due to the continued rise in COVID cases, council meetings will continue with restrictions to shorten meeting times and lessen exposure. Public comments will only be taken for public hearing items required by law, with a 30-minute total limit, 10 minutes for the applicant, and no one speaking more than three minutes.
Agenda Summary
Item 3: Consent Docket
Designation of routine agenda items for approval by one motion.
Item 4: Approval of Minutes
Approval of City Council, Norman Utilities Authority, Norman Municipal Authority, and Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority minutes.
Item 5: Mayor's Appointments
Appointment of individuals to various city committees and boards.
Item 6: Finance Director's Investment Report
Submission of the Finance Director's investment report as of December 31, 2020.
Item 7: Monthly Departmental Report
Submission of the monthly departmental report for December 2020.
Item 8: Tiff District #2 Annual Report
Submission of the Development Oversight Committee for Tiff District #2 annual report for October 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.
Item 9: Bid Contract - Cascade Tower Resurfacing
Bid contract and associated bonds with G L Sandblasting and Coatings LLC for $79,400 for the Cascade Tower Resurfacing Project.
Item 10: Bid - Plant Mix Asphalt
Bid for the purchase of plant mix asphalt for the Street Maintenance and Stormwater Divisions.
Item 11: Bid Contract - ADA Ramp Repair
Bid contract and associated bonds with Nash Construction Company for $69,633 for the ADA Ramp Repair Project FYE 2021 locations and adoption of a resolution granting tax-exempt status.
Item 12: Final Sight Development Plan - Turtle Crossing Edition
Final sight development plan and final plot for Turtle Crossing Edition, a Planned Unit Development.
Item 13: Easement 2021-68 Acceptance
Acceptance of a permanent right-of-way easement for $17,260 from Richard G. and Dorothy L. Manley for the 36th Avenue Northwest Widening Program.
Item 14: Special Claim 2021-7
Special claim submitted by Greer and Don Schooler for vehicle damage and car rental fees.
Item 15: Emergency Solutions Grant Amendment 1
Acceptance of Amendment 1 to Emergency Solutions Grant for $40,810 for a total award of $188,502 to operate a street outreach program, approval of contract 2021-42, and adoption of Resolution 2021-67.
Item 16: Amendment 1 to Contract 1617-121
Amendment 1 to contract 1617-121 with Corollo Engineers Incorporated and Interfab Incorporated, settling a disputed claim.
Item 17: Change Order Number 6 to Contract 1617-121
Change Order Number 6 to contract 1617-121 with Interfab Inc., increasing contract amount by $124,533.36 and adding 364 calendar days.
Item 18: Contract 2021-76 - Norman Arts Council
Contract 2021-76 with the Norman Arts Council for the 2021 Artful Inlets Program.
Item 19: Contract 2021-87 - ODOT Project Agreement
Contract 2021-87, a project agreement with ODOT for the installation of a new traffic signal at Alameda Street and Summit Lakes Boulevard/Lockwood Drive, and adoption of Resolution 2021-80.
Item 20: Public Hearing - CDBG Program Amendment
Public hearing regarding Amendment Number 3 to the FYE 25th Year Action Plan for the 45th Year Norman Community Development Block Grant Program, adding $737,568 from the CARES Act, and adoption of Resolution 2021-82.
Item 21: Withdrawn Item
An item that was withdrawn by the applicant.
Item 22: Ordinance 2021-23 - Rezoning 231 West Main Street
Rezoning 231 West Main Street from Center City Form-Based Code to Center City Planned Unit Development, with an amendment to permissible uses.
Item 23: Ordinance 2021-24 - Closing Public Right-of-Ways
Closing two public right-of-ways (alleys) and existing utility easements located in Block 1 of East University Edition.
Item 24: Ordinance 2021-29 - Street Maintenance Bond Program
Authorizing a special election on April 6, 2021, to submit to voters the question of issuing up to $27 million in bonds for street maintenance, reconstruction, and related improvements.
Item 25: Resolution 2021-81 - Special Election for Street Maintenance
Calling a special election for April 6, 2021, for the street maintenance projects.
Item 26: Resolution 2021-86 - CARES Act Reimbursement Funding
Appropriating CARES Act reimbursement funding received from the State of Oklahoma for small business relief grants, with an amendment to increase the total appropriation.