Meeting Summary
The City Council approved a significant sales tax revenue note of $22.25 million for the Norman Forward indoor multi-sport and aquatic center. A controversial request to rezone a property for a medical marijuana commercial grow operation was unanimously denied due to concerns about future land use and neighborhood character. Additionally, the council approved a new permanent household hazardous waste facility and updated various court and traffic ordinances.
Key Decisions & Votes
Consent Docket Approval
04:00Items 4 through 30, covering various rezonings, easements, financial acceptances, and contract approvals, were approved by unanimous consent.
Norman Municipal Authority Sales Tax Revenue Note
15:50Resolution 2021-70 was adopted, authorizing the Norman Municipal Authority to issue a $22.25 million sales tax revenue note to finance the indoor multi-sport and aquatic center, part of the Norman Forward sales tax program.
Rezoning for Medical Marijuana Commercial Grow
1:00:50Ordinance 2021-12, requesting to rezone 2001 East Rock Creek Road from Residential Estates (RE) to General Agricultural (A1) for a medical marijuana commercial grow operation, was unanimously denied due to concerns about long-term land use and neighborhood impact.
Special Use for Equity Brewing Company
1:11:50Ordinance 2021-13 was adopted, granting special use for light manufacturing and a bar/lounge for Equity Brewing Company at 109 East Tonawa Street, establishing the first all-women-owned brewery in Oklahoma.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility Special Use
1:19:50Ordinance 2021-14 was adopted, granting special use for municipal purposes at 3901 Chautauqua Avenue to establish a permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
Court and Traffic Ordinance Amendments
1:30:50Ordinance 2021-25 was adopted, amending various sections of Chapter 14 and Chapter 20 to update municipal court administration and traffic ordinances, ensuring consistency with state law and current practices.
Financial Matters
Easement 2021-42
Permanent drainage easement from Chelsea Marie Songer.
Easement 2021-44
Permanent drainage easement from Robert M and Lois M Pickard co-trustees.
Temporary Easement 2021-46
Temporary construction easement from Carroll Hoffman and Jim Hoffman.
Temporary Easement 2021-47
Temporary construction easement from Amanda Clark and Amber R Walker.
Easement 2021-48
Permanent drainage easement from George Bradley Hawkins and Nancy Constance Hawkins.
Easement 2021-50
Permanent drainage easement from Lena M Smith.
Donation
Donation from the Citizens Police Academy Alumni of Norman to the Police Department.
Incentive payment
Acceptance of an incentive payment from the Pepsi Beverages Company for exclusive sales at Westwood Golf Course and Aquatic Center.
Special claim 2021-6
Claim submitted by Houston Joy for collision with a fire department truck.
Contract 2021-50
Contract with Garver LLC for engineering services for sludge dewatering improvements at the water reclamation facility.
Contract 2021-74
Purchase and sale agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank for real property at 318 East Comanche Street for a transit transfer facility.
Resolution 2021-74
Appropriating funds from the sanitation fund balance to provide additional debris grinding at the compost facility.
Resolution 2021-70 (Items 31 & 32)
Issuance of sales tax revenue note (taxable series 2020) for Norman Forward projects, primarily the indoor multi-sport and aquatic center.
Public Comments
Public comments were exclusively focused on Item 36, the rezoning request for a medical marijuana commercial grow operation. Speakers expressed strong opposition, citing concerns about the permanent change in zoning from residential to agricultural, potential for unlimited expansion of commercial operations, environmental impacts (odor, runoff), increased traffic, and the overall negative effect on neighborhood character and property values. Neighbors emphasized that the applicant was aware of the existing zoning when the property was purchased and suggested a Planned Unit Development (PUD) as a more appropriate and controlled alternative.
Coming Up
Deadlines
- Ordinance 2021-10 (floodplain maps) must be in effect by January 14, 2021, for the city to remain in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
- New flood insurance rate maps become effective January 15, 2021.
Watch For
- The new Household Hazardous Waste Facility is expected to open in May or July (summer).
Announcements
- Recognition for improvements to the municipal equality index score, crediting hard-working residents, staff, and Don Holliday.
Agenda Summary
Item 3: Consent Docket
Designation of routine agenda items for approval by one motion.
Item 4: Ordinance 2021-19
Rezoning 319, 321, and 323 East Dawes Street from R2 and C2 to SPUD.
Item 5: Ordinance 2021-20
Granting special use for a fraternity or sorority in R-3 multi-family dwelling district for property at 1320 College Avenue.
Item 6: Ordinance 2021-28
Amending Chapter 8, Section 204 of the city code to allow performance-based efficiency contracts as an exception to competitive bidding.
Item 7: Acknowledging receipt of reports
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, for the City of Norman and related authorities.
Item 8: Easement 2021-41
Acceptance of a permanent sidewalk easement donated by Janet Hammonds for the Brook Street sidewalk project.
Item 9: Easement 2021-42
A permanent drainage easement from Chelsea Marie Songer for the Creston Way and Schultz Drive drainage improvement projects.
Item 10: Temporary Easement 2021-43
A temporary construction easement donated by Chelsea Marie Songer for the Creston Way and Schultz Drive drainage improvement projects.
Item 11: Easement 2021-44
A permanent drainage easement from Robert M and Lois M Pickard co-trustees for the Creston Way and Schultz Drive drainage improvement projects.
Item 12: Temporary Easement 2021-45
A temporary construction easement donated by Robert M and Lois M Pickard co-trustees for the Creston Way and Schultz Drive drainage improvement projects.
Item 13: Temporary Easement 2021-46
A temporary construction easement from Carroll Hoffman and Jim Hoffman for the Creston Way and Schultz Drive drainage improvement projects.
Item 14: Temporary Easement 2021-47
A temporary construction easement from Amanda Clark and Amber R Walker for the Creston Way and Schultz Drive drainage improvement projects.
Item 15: Easement 2021-48
A permanent drainage easement from George Bradley Hawkins and Nancy Constance Hawkins for the Creston Way and Schultz Drive drainage improvement projects.
Item 16: Temporary Easement 2021-49
A temporary construction easement donated by George Bradley Hawkins and Nancy Constance Hawkins for the Creston Way and Schultz Drive drainage improvement projects.
Item 17: Easement 2021-50
A permanent drainage easement from Lena M Smith for the Creston Way and Schultz Drive drainage improvement projects.
Item 18: Temporary Easement 2021-51
A temporary construction easement donated by Lena M Smith for the Creston Way and Schultz Drive drainage improvement projects.
Item 19: Final site development plan and final plot for Red Canyon Ranch Edition Section 7
A planned unit development located one half mile north of East Tecumseh Road and one-fourth mile west of 12th Avenue Northeast.
Item 20: Final plot for Sage at Cobblestone Creek Edition
Located one half mile south of Cedar Lane Road on the east side of 12th Avenue Southeast.
Item 21: Final sight development plan and final plot for The Curve at University North Park Edition
A planned unit development located 1550 feet south of West Tecumseh Road on the east side of 24th Avenue Northwest.
Item 22: Final plan for Trail Woods West Edition
Located one half mile north of West Rock Creek Road on the east side of 12th Avenue Northwest.
Item 23: Donation
Donation from the Citizens Police Academy Alumni of Norman to be used by the police department.
Item 24: Acceptance of an incentive payment
Incentive payment from the Pepsi Beverages Company for the exclusive sale of Pepsi products at Westwood Golf Course and Westwood Family Aquatic Center and budget appropriation.
Item 25: Special claim 2021-6
Submitted by Houston Joy for expenses incurred as a result of a collision with a fire department truck on June 4th, 2020, in Oklahoma City.
Item 26: Final acceptance and final payment of contract 2021-48
With Musco Lighting Incorporated for the Norman Forward Andrews Park Skatepark lighting project.
Item 27: Contract 2021-50
With Garver LLC to provide engineering services for sludge dewatering improvements at the water reclamation facility.
Item 28: Contract 2021-74
A purchase and sale agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank National Association for the purchase of real property located at 318 East Comanche Street for use as a transit transfer facility.
Item 29: Resolution 2021-73
Declaring that the Norman City Council, Norman Municipal Authority, Norman Utilities Authority, and Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority meeting scheduled for December 22nd, 2020, will be canceled.
Item 30: Resolution 2021-74
Appropriating funds from the sanitation fund balance to provide additional debris grinding at the compost facility.
Item 31: Resolution 2021-70
Approving the incurrence of indebtedness by the Norman Municipal Authority, issuing its sales tax revenue note taxable series 2020, and related agreements.
Item 32: Resolution 2021-70
Authorizing the Norman Municipal Authority to issue its sales tax revenue note taxable series 2020 in the aggregate principal amount of $22,250,000.
Item 33: Ordinance 2021-8
Amending the site plan adopted in Ordinance 0-304-33 for property located at 512 North Interstate Drive.
Item 34: Preliminary Plot for Carmart Edition
Preliminary plot for the property located at 512 North Interstate Drive.
Item 35: Ordinance 2021-10
Amending the city code to add a definition for base level engineering, incorporate and adopt new FEMA report, eliminate references to conditional letter of map revision, and allow for additional information in certain zones.
Item 36: Ordinance 2021-12
Rezoning 2001 East Rock Creek Road from RE Residential Estates to A1 General Agricultural District.
Item 37: Ordinance 2021-13
Granting special use for light manufacturing and special use for a bar, lounge, or tavern in C2 Intensive Commercial District for property located at Suite 120, 109 East Tonawa Street (Equity Brewing Company).
Item 38: Ordinance 2021-14
Granting special use for municipal uses in A2 Rural Agricultural District for property located at 3901 Chautauqua Avenue (Household Hazardous Waste Facility).
Item 39: Ordinance 2021-25
Amending sections 14-310, 14-312, 14-503, and 14-504 of Chapter 14 and sections 20-210, 20-526, 20-701 of Chapter 20 for court and traffic ordinances.