Meeting Summary
The City Council approved numerous revocable permits for upcoming community festivals and events, including JazzFest and Juneteenth. Discussions were held on solid waste service options, with a recommendation for single-stream recycling every other week. Council priorities on thriving neighborhoods and financial management were also reviewed, highlighting the city's strong bond rating despite economic pressures. A public comment was made regarding alleged discriminatory lending practices by a private entity.
Key Decisions & Votes
Journal of Council Proceedings
04:00The journal for May 17th, May 24th, May 3rd, and May 10th was approved unanimously.
Uncontested Continuances
04:15Several items on the agenda were stricken due to re-notification or the owner securing the property.
Revocable Permit: Classen TenPen Community Festival
07:40A permit was approved for the Classen TenPen Community Festival in Ward 6, to be held on Saturday from 12 PM to 7 PM.
Revocable Permit: Juneteenth Festival
10:10A permit was approved for the Juneteenth Festival in Ward 7, with festivities starting the week of June 18th.
Revocable Permit: OU Medicine Corporate Challenge
11:50A permit was approved for the OU Medicine Corporate Challenge in Ward 7, taking place on Sunday, June 5th.
Revocable Permit: Craft Beer Week Launch Party
13:40A permit was approved for the Craft Beer Week Launch Party in Ward 6, scheduled for June 11th.
Revocable Permit: Oklahoma Tenacity
16:40A permit was approved for the Oklahoma Tenacity event, including bike races and a health camp, across Wards 2, 6, and 7 from June 3rd to 5th.
Revocable Permit: Red Earth Parade
18:50A permit was approved for the Red Earth Parade on June 10th, kicking off the Red Earth Festival.
Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority Items
19:45All four items presented to the Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority were approved unanimously.
Oklahoma City Public Property Authority Items
20:20All three items presented to the Oklahoma City Public Property Authority were approved unanimously.
Oklahoma City Environmental Assistance Trust Items
20:50All two items presented to the Oklahoma City Environmental Assistance Trust were approved unanimously.
Consent Docket
38:00The consent docket, including items pulled for individual consideration, was approved unanimously.
Zoning Case 9A1 (ABC Issue)
39:00A zoning case concerning an ABC issue at 2166 West I-240 Service Road in Ward 5 was approved unanimously.
Zoning Case 9A2 (I1 to I2)
40:40A zoning case to change 9915 Southwest 8th Street in Ward 3 from light industrial (I1) to moderate industrial (I2) was approved unanimously.
Zoning Case 9A3 (AA to I2)
41:50A zoning case to change 9601 West Reno in Ward 1 from agricultural (AA) to moderate industrial (I2) was approved unanimously.
Zoning Case 9A4 (R1 to O2)
42:40A zoning case to change 10102 Broadway Extension in Ward 7 from single family (R1) to general office district (O2) was approved unanimously.
Zoning Case 9A5 (AA to SPUD)
50:00A zoning case to change 7513 Newberry Road in Ward 7 from agricultural (AA) to a new SPUD was approved by a 7-0 vote, with an amendment to remove mobile home use.
Zoning Case 9B1 (Amendment)
51:00An amendment related to a zoning case in Ward 7 was approved unanimously.
Zoning Case 9B2 (Ordinance)
51:20An ordinance related to a zoning case in Ward 7 was approved unanimously.
Public Hearing: Central Maintenance Facility Room Rental Fee
52:00The item regarding the central maintenance facility room rental fee was approved unanimously following a public hearing.
Public Hearing: General Schedule of Fees (Streets and Sidewalks)
52:40The item regarding the general schedule of fees relating to streets and sidewalks was approved unanimously following a public hearing.
Public Hearing: Dilapidated Structures
53:10Items regarding dilapidated structures were approved unanimously following a public hearing.
Public Hearing: Unsecured Structures
53:40Items regarding unsecured structures were approved unanimously following a public hearing.
Public Hearing: Abandoned Buildings
54:10Items regarding abandoned buildings were approved unanimously following a public hearing.
Public Hearing: Removal of Properties from Abandoned Building List
54:50Items regarding the removal of properties from the abandoned building list were approved unanimously following a public hearing.
Water Trust Commercial Paper Issuance
56:30The Water Trust's issuance of commercial paper was approved unanimously.
Lawsuit Issue 9J
57:00An issue involving a lawsuit, not requiring Executive session, was approved unanimously.
Lawsuit Issue 9K
57:20An issue involving a lawsuit, not requiring Executive session, was approved unanimously.
Workers Comp Claim 9L
57:40A workers' compensation claim, not requiring Executive session, was approved unanimously.
Item 9M
58:00An item on the agenda was struck unanimously.
Claims Recommended for Denial 9N
58:40Three claims recommended for denial were denied unanimously.
Claims Recommended for Approval 10
59:00Claims recommended for approval were approved unanimously.
Upcoming Community Events
OKC JazzFest
Bricktown Entertainment District, including a day of jazz in the historic Deep Deuce. Headliners: Al Jarreau, The Gap Band, Color Me Bad. Wayman Tisdale honored as 2016 OKC Jazz Ambassador. Proceeds support Allied Arts and Music education.
Classen TenPen Community Festival
Ward 6, from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Features mural voting, free kid crafts, FC energy, bounce houses, and a movie in the park ('The Little Rascals') at 9:00 p.m.
Juneteenth Festival
Starts Monday at Ralph Ellison library, with festivities throughout the week leading up to the main event at Washington Park. Includes official eating of the greens, barbecue cookoff, food vendors, artists, and musical performances.
OU Medicine Corporate Challenge
Ward 7. Features a 5K, 10K, and bike race starting from the OU Physicians building, going around the Capitol and back.
Craft Beer Week Launch Party
Ward 6. Sponsored by Hillbillies and SMB Burger Joint. Features local breweries (Anthem, Prairie, Roughtail), games, activities, and a dog adoption.
Oklahoma Tenacity
Friday (evening race in Midtown), Saturday (daytime bike race and Fondo in Film Row), and Sunday (daytime bike race and Y Without Walls Health and Fitness Camp in Automobile Alley). H&8 will have 44 food trucks.
Red Earth Parade
Starts at 10:00 a.m., circling the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Lineup begins at 8:30 a.m. on Southwest 2nd. Kicks off the 30th annual Red Earth Festival (June 10-12 at Cox Convention Center).
Bluff Creek Park Water Conservation Garden Grand Opening
10:00 a.m. at 4551 West Hefner Road. This is the fourth water conservation garden in the city.
Financial Matters
Water Trust Commercial Paper Issuance
The Water Trust is issuing commercial paper at a favorable interest rate.
Solid Waste Service Options
Analysis of various solid waste collection scenarios, including an estimated $12 million for purchasing carts for single-stream recycling and a projected cost increase of approximately 75 cents per household per month for single-stream recycling.
May Sales Tax Collections
Sales tax collections for May were down 2.9% compared to last year, and 1.4% below last year overall, and 3.5% below projections.
Fund Balance Discussion
Discussion on the city's fund balance policy, current reserve levels, and the potential implications of using reserves for street improvements, especially in light of Moody's negative outlook.
Claims Recommended for Denial
Three claims were recommended for denial by the council.
Claims Recommended for Approval
Claims were recommended for approval by the council.
Public Comments
Michael Washington raised concerns about alleged discriminatory lending practices by a private entity, 'The Alliance,' on the northeast side of Oklahoma City. He claimed the entity primarily lends to 'European companies and businesses' while excluding African-American companies and his own non-profit, despite the use of taxpayer dollars through tax increment financing programs. He requested an investigation into these practices.
Coming Up
Deadlines
- Bids for the street car maintenance facility are due back on July 6th.
- Construction for the street car maintenance facility is expected to begin in August.
Watch For
- Moody's will re-evaluate the city's financial position after the beginning of the fiscal year.
- Further discussion on full containerization and pay-as-you-throw solid waste services.
- Potential for a second animal shelter or crematory.
- Mid-year economic update from OCU and Dr. Evans.
- Consideration of raising the Mills as a revenue source.
Announcements
- OKC JazzFest will take place May 31st to June 4th in the Bricktown Entertainment District and Deep Deuce.
- OKC JazzFest will honor Wayman Tisdale as the 2016 OKC Jazz Ambassador.
- Headliners for OKC JazzFest include Al Jarreau, The Gap Band, and Color Me Bad.
- OKC JazzFest will contribute $2 from every ticket purchase to support Allied Arts and Music education.
- OKC JazzFest will host local Sailors, officers, and their families in support of the 11th annual OKC Navy Days.
- Bluff Creek Park will have a Grand Opening of the fourth water conservation garden on Friday, June 10th at 10:00 a.m. at 4551 West Hefner Road.
- Services for retired Judge Charles Owens, the first African-American judge in Oklahoma, will be Wednesday at noon at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.
- Request for qualifications for a Vietnam War Memorial for Military Park.
Agenda Summary
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
Led by Councilman Greenwell.
OKC JazzFest Proclamation
Proclamation read by the clerk, declaring May 31st to June 4th as OKC JazzFest week. Mike McCalley provided details on the event.
Journal of Council Proceedings
Receive the journal for May 17th and May 24th, and approve the journal for May 3rd and May 10th.
Request for Uncontested Continuances
Several items were requested to be stricken from the agenda due to re-notification or owner securing the property.
Revocable Permit: Classen TenPen Community Festival
Request to hold the fourth annual festival in Ward 6, raising funds for neighborhood projects and featuring a mural vote, crafts, and a movie in the park.
Revocable Permit: Juneteenth Festival
Request to hold the seventh annual Juneteenth Festival in Ward 7, featuring an eating of the greens, barbecue cookoff, food vendors, artists, and musical performances.
Revocable Permit: OU Medicine Corporate Challenge
Request from the Board of Regents to hold the 28th annual Corporate Challenge in Ward 7, a team-building event with athletic competitions including 5K, 10K, and bike races.
Revocable Permit: Craft Beer Week Launch Party
Request from Fat Wallet Investments to hold a launch party for Craft Beer Week on June 11th in Ward 6, featuring local breweries, games, activities, and a dog adoption.
Revocable Permit: Oklahoma Tenacity
Request to hold the fifth annual Tenacity event, including bike races (pro-am, Fondo) and a Y Without Walls Health and Fitness Camp, across Wards 2, 6, and 7 on June 3rd-5th.
Revocable Permit: Red Earth Parade
Request to hold the Red Earth Parade on June 10th, kicking off the 30th annual Red Earth Festival, circling the Myriad Botanical Gardens.
Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority (OC MFA)
Four items presented for consideration.
Oklahoma City Public Property Authority (OCPA)
Three items presented for consideration.
Oklahoma City Environmental Assistance Trust (OCEAT)
Two items presented for consideration.
Consent Docket Individual Consideration
Several items from the consent docket were pulled for individual discussion, including economic development bonds for Paycom, property acquisition for flood control, and the streetcar maintenance facility.
Zoning Case 9A1: ABC Issue
Zoning case in Ward 5 at 2166 West I-240 Service Road.
Zoning Case 9A2: I1 to I2
Zoning case in Ward 3 at 9915 Southwest 8th Street, changing from light industrial to moderate industrial.
Zoning Case 9A3: AA to I2
Zoning case in Ward 1 at 9601 West Reno, changing from agricultural to moderate industrial.
Zoning Case 9A4: R1 to O2
Zoning case in Ward 7 at 10102 Broadway Extension, changing from single family to general office district.
Zoning Case 9A5: AA to SPUD
Zoning case in Ward 7 at 7513 Newberry Road, changing from agricultural to a new SPUD, with a 52.03% protest requiring seven affirmative votes.
Zoning Case 9B1: Amendment
Amendment related to a zoning case in Ward 7.
Zoning Case 9B2: Ordinance
Ordinance related to a zoning case in Ward 7.
Public Hearing: Central Maintenance Facility Room Rental Fee
Public hearing regarding the room rental fee for the central maintenance facility.
Public Hearing: General Schedule of Fees (Streets and Sidewalks)
Public hearing regarding the general schedule of fees relating to streets and sidewalks.
Public Hearing: Dilapidated Structures
Public hearing regarding various dilapidated structures.
Public Hearing: Unsecured Structures
Public hearing regarding various unsecured structures.
Public Hearing: Abandoned Buildings
Public hearing regarding various abandoned buildings.
Public Hearing: Removal of Properties from Abandoned Building List
Public hearing regarding the removal of properties from the abandoned building list.
Water Trust Commercial Paper Issuance
Consideration of the Water Trust issuing commercial paper.
Lawsuit Issue 9J
Consideration of an issue involving a lawsuit, not requiring Executive session.
Lawsuit Issue 9K
Consideration of an issue involving a lawsuit, not requiring Executive session.
Workers Comp Claim 9L
Consideration of a workers' compensation claim, not requiring Executive session.
Item 9M
An item recommended to be stricken from the agenda, not requiring Executive session.
Claims Recommended for Denial 9N
Three claims recommended for denial.
Claims Recommended for Approval 10
Claims recommended for approval.
City Manager Report: Solid Waste Service Options
Presentation by Bob Gardner of SCS outlining alternatives for solid waste collection services, including single-stream recycling and full containerization.
City Manager Report: Council Priorities (Thriving Neighborhoods & Financial Management)
Presentations by Aubrey Hammontree and Bob Tener on initiatives promoting thriving neighborhoods, and by Craig Freeman on financial management indicators and the city's bond rating.
City Manager Report: May Sales Tax Collections
Update on May sales tax collections, which were down 2.9% below last year.