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City Council Meeting

September 23, 2020 City Council Meeting

September 23, 2020 Norman, OK
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Meeting Summary

TL;DR

The City Council denied the appointment of Shawn Boyd to the Ward 2 vacancy, citing a lack of consensus and process concerns. They adopted an ordinance to amend the mask mandate, extending requirements to social gatherings over 25 people and adding penalties for non-compliance, particularly for nuisance parties. Additionally, the Council accepted a federal grant for four new School Resource Officers, contingent upon a successful public vote on Public Safety Sales Tax funding and Norman Public Schools contributing their share.

Key Decisions & Votes

Ward 2 Council Vacancy Appointment

00:56

The City Council voted against appointing Shawn Boyd to the Ward 2 council vacancy, citing concerns about the selection process and lack of consensus from the committee and constituents.

Denied

Ordinance 2021-22: Mask Mandate Amendment

01:51

The Council adopted an ordinance to amend the mask mandate, extending requirements to social gatherings over 25 people (indoor or outdoor), adding penalties for non-compliance, and including mask violations as a factor for nuisance parties. An emergency clause was also adopted.

Adopted

DOJ COPS Grant for School Resource Officers (SROs)

02:40

The Council accepted a $500,000 federal grant to hire four additional SROs. Acceptance is contingent upon a successful public vote to increase the Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) to fully fund PSST 2 obligations, and Norman Public Schools committing to pay their half of the additional SRO positions.

Accepted with contingencies

Upcoming Community Events

October 2020

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 2020

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer History Month

October 2020

Bullying Prevention Month

Financial Matters

Picker Avenue reconstruction project

Bid contract and associated bonds with Nas Construction Company Incorporated.

$69,626

Special claim for light pole damage

Claim submitted by Carwell Company LLC for damage caused by a sanitation department vehicle.

$2,238

2019 Continuum of Care planning Grant from HUD

Grant for coordination of activities related to homelessness.

$2,587

Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security program Grant

Grant for the police department to purchase a portable x-ray system.

$43,691.52

Amendment number six to contract with RJN Group Incorporated

Extension of contract for Wastewater flow metering equipment services.

not to exceed $15,000

Change order number two to contract with H&H Plumbing and Utilities Incorporated

Increase in contract for a transmission line project.

$13,488

Permanent roadway utility and drainage easement from Jerry's LLC

Acquisition of easement for Porter Avenue and Acre Street intersection project.

$26,600

Temporary construction easement from Jerry's LLC

Acquisition of temporary easement for Porter Avenue and Acre Street intersection project.

$3,360

Permanent roadway utility and drainage easement from Jerry's LLC

Acquisition of easement for Porter Avenue and Acre Street intersection project.

$753.93

Grant application to Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality for Volkswagen settlement trust

Resolution authorizing submission of grant application and commitment of funds for local match.

DOJ Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant

Grant to hire four school resource officers, requiring matching funds from the city.

$500,000

Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) Fund Subsidy

General fund subsidized the PSST fund by $1,522,000 in the last fiscal year, projected to double to over $3 million annually by 2025.

Public Comments

50 citizens spoke

Public comments were extensive and passionate across all major agenda items. For the Ward 2 appointment, comments focused on the selection process, candidate engagement, and the need for consensus. On the mask mandate, citizens expressed strong opinions both for and against, with themes including constitutional rights, enforcement challenges, and the impact on public health and businesses. For the SRO grant, comments highlighted concerns about fiscal responsibility, racial disparities in SRO incidents, the 'school-to-prison pipeline,' and the importance of SROs for student safety and positive police relationships.

Council appointment process fairness and consensus Candidate engagement and voting history Constitutional rights and government overreach (mask mandate) Enforcement of mask mandate and nuisance party ordinances Impact of COVID-19 on schools and businesses Fiscal responsibility of SRO program and city budget Racial disparities and 'school-to-prison pipeline' concerns regarding SROs Importance of SROs for student safety and mentorship Need for collaboration between city, OU, and NPS Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) funding and voter approval

Coming Up

Deadlines

  • Application process for police academy closes in October for an April start.
  • Next Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) ballot question anticipated for February 2021.

Watch For

  • Formalization of the council appointment process for vacancies.
  • Public vote on the Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) to address funding shortfalls and SRO program expansion.
  • Discussions on water rate increases, extending the road and sidewalk maintenance program, and the future of the regional public transit system.
  • Addressing the need for a storm water utility.
  • Re-examination of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the School Resource Officer program, including annual review and data collection.

Announcements

  • October 2020 is proclaimed Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
  • October 2020 is proclaimed Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer History Month.
  • Alex Rogers, LGBTQ Advocate at Norman Public Schools, was recognized for his advocacy.
  • October 2020 is proclaimed Bullying Prevention Month.
  • Angela Johnson, LPC Student Advocacy Coordinator at Norman High School, was recognized for her work.
  • National Voter Registration Day concluded, and citizens are encouraged to register to vote and consider becoming poll workers.

Agenda Summary

Item 3: Nomination and appointment of an eligible person to fill the council vacancy in ward two

Consideration of Shawn Boyd as recommended by the Ward 2 selection committee to fill the council vacancy.

Denied

Item 5: Approval of the city council Norman Utilities Authority Norman Municipal Authority and Norman tax increment Finance Authority minutes of September 8th 2020

Review and approval of the minutes from the previous meeting.

Approved

Item 6: Proclamation 2021-3 proclaiming the month of October 2020 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A proclamation by the Mayor raising awareness about breast cancer and supporting research and survivors.

Information Only

Item 7: Proclamation 2021-4 proclaiming the month of October 2020 as lesbian gay bisexual transgender and queer History Month

A proclamation by the Mayor recognizing the contributions of the LGBTQ community and promoting inclusivity.

Information Only

Item 8: Proclamation 2021-5 proclaiming the month of October 2020 as bullying prevention month

A proclamation by the Mayor raising awareness about bullying and encouraging prevention activities.

Information Only

Item 9: Consent Docket (Items 10-33)

A collection of routine agenda items approved by one motion.

Approved

Item 10: Submission of the monthly departmental report for the month of August 2020

Monthly report detailing departmental activities for August 2020.

Information Only

Item 11: Bid contract and Associated bonds with Nas Construction Company Incorporated in the amount of $69,000 626 for the Picker Avenue reconstruction project and resolution granting tax exempt status

Approval of a contract for the Picker Avenue reconstruction project.

Approved

Item 12: Norman rural certificate survey for red farm with a variance in the private load Private Road requirements from 20 feet to 12 feet and acceptance

Approval of a rural certificate survey with a road width variance.

Approved

Item 13: Acceptance of a permanent public utility easement donated by cjm Norman LLC to serve lot loock one Normandy Acres second edition

Acceptance of an easement for public utilities.

Approved

Item 14: Consent to encroach for lot three block one Stenson Estates Edition

Approval of consent for encroachment on a property.

Approved

Item 15: Special claim submitted by Carwell company LLC in the negotiated amount of $2,238 for damage to a light pole as a result of an incident with a sanitation department vehicle at 2425 will Cox Drive

Approval of a special claim for light pole damage.

Approved

Item 16: Acceptance of a 2019 Continuum of Care planning Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $2,587 to be used for the coordination of activities related to homelessness approval of a contract and budget appropriation from the Community Development Fund balance

Acceptance of a HUD grant for homelessness coordination.

Approved

Item 17: Acceptance of an Oklahoma office of Homeland Security program Grant in the amount of $ 43,6 n152 to be used by the police department to purchase a portable x-ray system approval of contract 2021 55 and budget appropriation from the special grants fund balance

Acceptance of a grant for a police department portable x-ray system.

Approved

Item 18: Amendment number six to the contract with rjn Group Incorporated an amount not to exceed $155,000 and extending the contract through August 31 2021 to provide engineering maintenance repair installation and Reporting Services associated with permanent Wastewater flow metering equipment at 18 locations throughout Norman

Approval of a contract amendment for wastewater flow metering services.

Approved

Item 19: Final acceptance and final payment of the contract with wind Construction Company Incorporated for the Water Reclamation facility way Sledge blower replacement project

Final acceptance and payment for a Water Reclamation facility project.

Approved

Item 20: Final acceptance and final payment of the contract with mid- America Golf and Landscape doing business as Mid America Sports construction to the Norman forward Griffin Park phase 3B Southwest Field improvements project

Final acceptance and payment for Griffin Park field improvements.

Approved

Item 21: Change order number two to the contract with H&H plumbing and Utilities Incorporated increasing the contract by 13,488 for a revised contract amount of 1,431 274.00 transmission line from timberdale Road and chiaka Avenue to Jenkins Avenue and construction treat and

Approval of a change order for a transmission line project.

Approved

Item 22: A ground sublease contract with youth scoreboards LLC replacement of 14 scoreboards related to the use of advertising space and payment of rent through a revenue share with the city of Norman

Approval of a contract for scoreboard replacement and advertising revenue share.

Approved

Item 23: Contract with big Iron Online Auctions to provide Auctioneer services for the city of Norman

Approval of a contract for auctioneer services.

Approved

Item 24: Contract with the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma to provide Solid Waste Disposal Services the University of Oklahoma from July 1st 2020 to June 30th 2023

Approval of a contract for solid waste disposal services for OU.

Approved

Item 25: Consent to encroach for lot 17 block 20 original townsite

Approval of consent for encroachment on a property.

Approved

Item 26: Contract with Jerry's LLC to acquire certain rideway driveway and temporary construction eans from property located at 320 North Porter Avenue

Approval of a contract to acquire easements for the Porter Avenue and Acre Street intersection project.

Approved

Item 27: Permanent roadway utility and drainage easement in the amount of $26,600

Acceptance of an easement for the Porter Avenue and Acre Street intersection project.

Approved

Item 28: A temporary construction easement in the amount of $3,360

Acceptance of a temporary construction easement for the Porter Avenue and Acre Street intersection project.

Approved

Item 29: A temporary driveway easement

Acceptance of a temporary driveway easement for the Porter Avenue and Acre Street intersection project.

Approved

Item 30: A permanent roadway utility and drainage easement in the amount of $753 N3

Acceptance of an easement for the Porter Avenue and Acre Street intersection project.

Approved

Item 31: A temporary construction easement

Acceptance of a temporary construction easement for the Porter Avenue and Acre Street intersection project.

Approved

Item 32: A temporary driveway easement

Acceptance of a temporary driveway easement for the Porter Avenue and Acre Street intersection project.

Approved

Item 33: Resolution 2021-22 authorizing the city manager or his designity to submit a Grant application to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality for the onroad program of the Volkswagen settlement trust and the commitment of funds for local match

Authorization to submit a grant application for the Volkswagen settlement trust program.

Approved

Item 34: Ordinance 2021-22 amending Chapter 11 and 15 to add certain social Gatherings to the definition of public setting amending exceptions to face covering requirements amending penalties for non-compliance adding failure to comply with face covering requirement to violations which may in combination with other violations constitute a nuisance party and declaring an emergency

Amendment to the city's mask mandate ordinance to include social gatherings over 25 people in public settings, add penalties for non-compliance, and include mask violations as a factor for nuisance parties.

Adopted

Final Item: Acceptance of a grant in the amount of $500,000 to be distributed over three years from the United States Department of Justice Community oriented policing services to be used by the police department to hire four school resource officers approval of a contract and budget Appropriations from the special Grant fund balance and the general fund balance to be used as matching funds as required by the grant

Consideration of a grant to hire four additional School Resource Officers (SROs).

Accepted with contingencies