Meeting Summary
The City Council held a special session to address the rising COVID-19 cases in the community, receiving updates from health officials and the Chamber of Commerce. Following extensive discussion, the Mayor announced a directive for city staff to draft a mandatory mask ordinance for a future meeting. Additionally, the Council approved an addendum to the City Manager's contract, increasing his compensation, and adopted the related ordinance on its first reading.
Key Decisions & Votes
City Manager Compensation Increase
1:59:10The Council approved an addendum to City Manager Darryl Pile's contract, increasing his compensation. This decision was made after an evaluation, noting his salary was significantly below market average for comparable cities.
Mandatory Mask Ordinance Direction
1:49:50The Mayor directed city staff to draft a mandatory mask ordinance for consideration at the July 7th meeting, citing rising COVID-19 cases and the need for proactive measures, especially as a college town.
Financial Matters
City Manager Compensation Increase
An addendum to the City Manager's contract was approved, increasing his compensation. His salary was noted to be 23.6% below market for similar cities, and the increase would place him around the midway point, still below the average.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Costs
Norman Regional Health System reported significant price increases for PPE, citing an example of disposable gowns increasing by 369% (from $0.64 to $3 each), resulting in an estimated $607,000 annual added cost for the health system.
COVID-19 Testing Costs
Norman Regional Health System offers antibody testing for $31 and PCR COVID-19 tests for $65 (cash pay), with insurance typically billed for PCR tests with a doctor's referral. Urgent care facilities were noted to charge $60 for testing.
Public Comments
Public comments were predominantly opposed to the City Manager's salary increase, citing the current financial crisis, the need to reallocate funds to community mental health initiatives, and concerns about the City Manager's accountability regarding alleged racism and misogyny within the Norman Police Department.
Coming Up
Deadlines
- August 25th election
Watch For
- Mask ordinance consideration (July 7th)
- Final vote on City Manager compensation ordinance (July 7th)
- OU plans for Greek houses and dorms regarding COVID-19 protocols
Agenda Summary
Update on COVID-19
Presentations and discussions regarding the current status of COVID-19 in Norman and Oklahoma, including case data, hospital capacity, testing availability, and potential mitigation strategies. Speakers included representatives from the Cleveland County Health Department, Norman Regional Health System, OU Med (Epidemiology), and the Norman Chamber of Commerce.
Addendum Number 1 to Contract K1819-146 with Mr. Darryl Pile
Consideration and approval of an addendum to the City Manager's employment contract to increase his compensation, following an annual evaluation.
Consideration of Ordinance 1920-68 upon first reading by title
First reading of an ordinance to formally fix the compensation of the City Manager, as required by the city charter.