Meeting Summary
The City Council approved the allocation of $6,525,000 in CARES Act reimbursement funding, with significant portions directed towards the Senior Citizens Wellness Center, Visit Norman, and the Norman Arts Council, despite a motion to postpone for further public discussion. The council also approved a lease for a winter warming shelter and several infrastructure projects. Additionally, a petition for the detachment of a 42.83-acre parcel of land was approved.
Key Decisions & Votes
Approval of City Council Study Session Minutes
03:00Minutes from various City Council and committee meetings held in April, July, and September 2020 were approved.
Proclamation of Immigrants Day
04:30Proclamation 2021-6, proclaiming Wednesday, October 28, 2020, as Immigrants Day in the City of Norman, was acknowledged.
Consent Docket Approval
25:00Items 6 through 24, including various financial reports, infrastructure contracts, easements, grant acceptance, and the winter warming shelter lease, were approved unanimously.
CARES Act Reimbursement Funding Allocation
1:29:00Resolution 2021-63, allocating $6,525,000 in CARES Act funds, including $4.8 million for the Senior Citizens Wellness Center, $575,000 for Visit Norman, and $500,000 for the Norman Arts Council, was adopted. A motion to postpone the vote failed.
University North Park Business Improvement District Assessment Role
1:36:00Ordinance 2021-4, ratifying the assessment role for the University North Park Business Improvement District, was adopted on second and final reading.
Land Use Plan Amendment and Planned Unit Development for Flint Hills Edition
1:56:00Resolution 22-34 and Ordinance 2021-9, amending the land use plan and planned unit development for a 139-acre tract at Tecumseh Road and 12th Avenue Northwest, were adopted, along with the preliminary plat for Flint Hills Edition. The plan includes more green space and single-family lots outside the floodplain.
Petition for Detachment (De-annexation)
2:18:00Ordinance 2021-16, for the detachment of approximately 42.83 acres located on the south side of West Bethel Road, was adopted on second and final reading due to lack of city services and its unique location surrounded by the City of Moore.
Creation of Municipal Auditor Position
2:20:00Ordinance 2021-6, creating the position of municipal auditor, was rejected on second reading, with council agreeing to wait for the charter review commission's findings.
Special Election for Municipal Auditor Ordinance
2:21:00Ordinance 2021-7, authorizing a special election for the municipal auditor position, was rejected on second reading, following the rejection of the auditor position itself.
Upcoming Community Events
Oktoberfest
Event held downtown, with social distancing and masks encouraged.
Christmas Parade
Reverse parade format, with people in cars driving around static displays at Andrews Park.
Fall Fest
Many calls received regarding its cancellation.
Early Voting
Available at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 9 AM - 2 PM on Saturday.
Financial Matters
Interstate Drive Reconstruction Project
Contract with RDNJ LLC dba A-Tech Paving for reconstruction on East Interstate Drive from Main Street to Robinson Street.
Porter and Acres Intersection 2019 Bond Project
Contract with Rudy Construction Company for the intersection project.
Easement 2021-32 (36th Ave NW widening)
Easement from Donald Wayne and Kathy Elaine Ross for the 36th Avenue Northwest widening project.
Easement 2021-33 (36th Ave NW widening)
Easement from Scott and Lisa Jackson for the 36th Avenue Northwest widening project.
Easement 2021-34 (36th Ave NW widening)
Easement from Noelle Dixon and Imogene Sudaf for the 36th Avenue Northwest widening project.
Easement 2021-35 (36th Ave NW widening)
Easement from Noelle Dixon and Imogene Sudaf for the 36th Avenue Northwest widening project.
2020 Community Hope Centers Grant
Grant from Oklahoma Department of Human Services for Parks and Recreation child care, virtual learning, counseling, and meals related to COVID-19.
Right-of-way acquisition services for Porter Acres Intersection Project
Authorization for expenditure under contract with Smith Roberts Land Services Incorporated.
Change Order for Pickard Avenue Reconstruction Project
Increasing contract amount for Nash Construction Company Inc. to add Iowa Street between Pickard and Flood Avenues.
Lease agreement for Winter Warming Shelter
Lease with Shelter Investments LLC for property at 325 East Comanche Street from November 2020 to March 2021.
Appropriation for traffic signal/sign repair
Appropriated from refunds/reimbursements for damaged traffic equipment due to collisions.
Workers Compensation Case Settlement
Joint petition settlement for Edward McGrain.
CARES Act Reimbursement Funding
Allocation of funds from the State of Oklahoma for high-priority projects, including $4.8M for the Senior Citizens Wellness Center, $575k for Visit Norman, $500k for Norman Arts Council, $600k for General Fund/Rainy Day Fund, and $50k for frontline healthcare workers.
University North Park Business Improvement District Assessment
Annual assessment for maintenance of Legacy Park, with this being the last year for TIF contribution.
Public Comments
Public comments were divided, with some advocating for immediate approval of CARES Act funding for the Senior Center and arts organizations, citing urgency and previous discussions. Others strongly urged postponement to allow more public input, expressing concerns about transparency, the appropriateness of funding tourism and a senior center during a pandemic, and the lack of direct aid for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 and the recent ice storm. There was also a comment about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, suggesting focus on physiological needs over self-actualization (art/tourism).
Coming Up
Tabled
- Discussion on remaining $3,075,000 of CARES Act funds for small businesses and other needs.
Deadlines
- Early voting: November 3rd (Election Day)
Watch For
- Cleanup schedule for ice storm debris.
- More details on how to volunteer or request help for storm recovery (United Way of Norman coordinating).
- Updates on recommended arborists.
- Information on identifying potential frauds after natural disasters (Norman Police Department social media).
- Ward meetings in the next few weeks (Councilmember Holman, Councilmember Carter).
- Charter review commission findings (related to Municipal Auditor position).
Announcements
- The meeting was rescheduled from October 27, 2020, due to the ice storm.
- Two whooping cranes were sighted last week at Lake Thunderbird, a rare species.
- City staff, including Mr. O'Leary, Mr. Judd Foster, Mr. Scott Stewart, Mr. Jason Olson, and Mr. Chris Mattingly, were recognized for their hard work coordinating the ice storm response.
- Appreciation was extended to out-of-state workers assisting with power restoration efforts.
- OG&E has established a walk-up station at Sooner Mall (southeast corner of Dillard's parking lot) for power outage inquiries, operating 8 AM - 5 PM, Monday-Friday.
- Debris pickup will commence next week, with a schedule to be released, and multiple passes will be made.
- John Braley, a teacher, father, and friend, passed away due to complications from COVID-19.
- Selinda Richardson Martin, a librarian, passed away.
- Harold Hypel, a long-time contributor to the city, passed away.
- Halloween is on a Saturday; residents are encouraged to make safe choices, wear masks, and use common sense if trick-or-treating or handing out candy.
- The study session scheduled for next week is canceled.
- Council members encouraged mask-wearing, flu shots, hand washing, and checking on vulnerable neighbors.
Agenda Summary
Approval of the city council study session minutes of April 21st 2020, city council study session minutes of April 21st 2020, city council community planning and transportation committee minutes of July 30 2020, city council community planning and transportation committee minutes of September 24th 2020, and city council normal utilities authority and our municipal authority in norman tax increment finance authority minutes of October 13th 2020.
Approval of various City Council and committee meeting minutes.
Proclamation 2021-6 proclaiming Wednesday October 28 2020 as Immigrants Day.
A proclamation by the Mayor of the City of Norman, Oklahoma, proclaiming Wednesday, October 28, 2020, as Immigrants Day.
Submission of the Finance Directors investment report as of August 31 2020.
Monthly investment report from the Finance Director.
Submission of the Finance Directors investment report as of September 30 2020.
Monthly investment report from the Finance Director.
Submission of the monthly departmental report for the month of September 2020.
Monthly departmental report.
Bid 2021-2 contract 2021-9 with RDNJ LLC doing business as A-Tech Paving in the amount of 915,412.41 for the Interstate Drive Reconstruction Project.
Contract for the Interstate Drive Reconstruction Project located on East Interstate Drive from Main Street to Robinson Street, including acceptance of bond and adoption of tax exempt status resolution.
Bid 2021-28 contract 2021-53 with Rudy Construction Company in the amount of 2,600,996.65 for the Porter and Acres Intersection 2019 Bond Project.
Contract for the Porter and Acres Intersection 2019 Bond Project, including performance bond 2021-46, statutory bond 2021-47, maintenance bond 2021-32, resolution 2021-50, and transfer of project funds.
Bid 2021-30 for the purchase of aggregate and stone for the Street and Stormwater Divisions.
Bid for the purchase of aggregate and stone.
Amendment to Easement 2021-3 amending Easement 2021-3 granted to Hidalgo Trading LLC for use of a cell phone tower located at 333 Bratcher Minor Road.
Amendment to an easement for a cell phone tower.
Easement 2021-32 in the amount of 14,065 dollars from Donald Wayne and Kathy Elaine Ross.
Easement for the 36th Avenue Northwest widening project from Tecumseh Road to Indian Hills Road.
Easement 2021-33 in the amount of 19,550 dollars from Scott and Lisa Jackson.
Easement for the 36th Avenue Northwest widening project from Tecumseh Road to Indian Hills Road.
Easement 2021-34 in the amount of 19,650.55 dollars from Noelle Dixon and Imogene Sudaf.
Easement for the 36th Avenue Northwest widening project from Tecumseh Road to Indian Hills Road.
Easement 2021-35 in the amount of 19,715 dollars from Noelle Dixon and Imogene Sudaf.
Easement for the 36th Avenue Northwest widening project from Tecumseh Road to Indian Hills Road.
Receipt of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Water Line Permit WL000 dated September 3rd 2020 for the 2015 Water Well Lines Project Phase 2.
Receipt of a water line permit located near Franklin Road and 60th Avenue Northeast.
Acceptance of the 2020 Community Hope Centers Grant in the amount of 237,329 from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
Grant to be used by the Parks and Recreation Department for coordination of child care, virtual learning, counseling services, and daily meals at no cost to residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authorization for expenditure number six under contract 1314-102 with Smith Roberts Land Services Incorporated in an amount not to exceed 9,380 to provide right-of-way acquisition services.
Authorization for expenditure for right-of-way acquisition services under an on-call contract for the Porter Acres Intersection Project.
Change order number one to contract 2021-5 with Nash Construction Company Incorporated increasing the contract amount by 118,699 and 50 cents.
Change order to add Iowa Street between Pickard Avenue and Flood Avenue to the Pickard Avenue Reconstruction Project from Kansas Street to Acre Street, and adding 34 calendar days.
Contract 2021-62 a lease agreement with Shelter Investments LLC for a monthly rental fee of 5,500 dollars per month for the lease of real property located at 325 East Comanche Street.
Lease agreement for a winter warming shelter from November 2020 until March 2021, including budget appropriation.
Contract 2021-63 with Elite Security Protection Services to provide private security services for the winter warm air located at 325 East Comanche Street.
Contract to provide private security services for the winter warming shelter from November 2020 through March 2021, including budget appropriation.
Resolution 2021-60 appropriating 18,953.33 from the refunds reimbursements miscellaneous risk management account.
Appropriation of funds received from insurance companies to repair and replace damaged traffic signal equipment or traffic signs damaged in traffic collisions.
Resolution 2021-62 authorizing joint petition settlement in the amount of 27,500 for Edward McGrain in workers compensation case 2018-03311J.
Authorization for a joint petition settlement in a workers' compensation case.
Resolution 2021-63 CARES Act reimbursement funding in the amount of 6,525,000 received from the State of Oklahoma from the general fund miscellaneous grant reimbursements account to be used for identified high priority projects.
Resolution to allocate CARES Act funding for various high-priority projects.
Item 26
Agenda item withdrawn by staff.
Ordinance 2021-4 adopting and ratifying the assessment role for the University North Park Business Improvement District.
Ordinance setting the time and terms of payment of assessments, fixing penalties for delinquent payment, setting the tracts of land for assessment, and directing the city clerk to sign, attest, and record with the Cleveland County Clerk.
Resolution 22-34 amending the Norman 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan to remove property on the northwest corner of Tecumseh Road and 12th Avenue Northwest from low density residential medium density residential commercial office industrial and open space destinations to designations to mixed-use designation.
Amendment to the land use and transportation plan for a 139-acre tract.
Ordinance 2021-9 amending the planned unit development established in Ordinance 0910-17 as amended by Ordinance 1516-36 for property located on the northwest corner of Tecumseh Road and 12th Avenue Northwest.
Companion item to the land use plan amendment for the 139-acre tract.
Preliminary plat for Flint Hills Edition a planned unit development.
Preliminary plat for a planned unit development, companion to the land use plan amendment.
Ordinance 2021-16 a petition for detachment for approximately 42.83 acres located on the south side of West Bethel Road or Southwest 34th Street on the west side of the railroad tracks.
Petition for detachment (de-annexation) of a parcel of land.
Ordinance 2021-6 upon second and final reading creating the position of municipal auditor to be appointed and removed by the city council.
Ordinance to create the position of municipal auditor, postponed from August 11, 2020.
Ordinance 2021-7 upon second and final reading authorizing a special election on November 3rd 2020 for the purpose of approving or rejecting Ordinance 2021-6.
Ordinance authorizing a special election for the municipal auditor position, postponed from August 11, 2020.
Item 33
Agenda item moved and not considered.