Meeting Summary
The city council meeting began with a Navy Color Guard presentation and proclamations for Navy Days and the OKC Jazz Festival. Key discussions included health insurance contract increases, a new abandoned building ordinance, and various community event permits. The meeting also featured a detailed performance report for FY14 and public comments on city safety and political rhetoric.
Key Decisions & Votes
AIDS Walk of Oklahoma City Permit
00:27:00A permit was approved for the 16th annual AIDS Walk and 6th annual Red Run 5K, expecting over 2,000 participants and raising funds for HIV prevention and services.
Integris Jim Thorpe Courage Run Permit
00:28:45A permit was approved for the 10th annual Jim Thorpe Courage Run, including 5K and 10K races, wheelchair and handcycle divisions, with an anticipated 500-1000 participants.
Runtoberfest Permit
00:30:30A permit was approved for the second annual Runtoberfest 5K, benefiting Girls on the Run of Oklahoma County, with over 1500 participants expected.
Rebuilding Together Construction Derby Permit
00:32:45A permit was approved for the 11th annual Rebuilding Together Construction Derby, a fundraising event for free home repairs for low-income senior homeowners.
Carne Diem Permit
00:34:50A permit was approved for Carne Diem, a street party and chili cook-off fundraiser for United Way, featuring 15 restaurants and 40 amateur chili makers.
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Permit
00:36:20A permit was approved for the 21st annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, benefiting Central and Western Oklahoma, expecting 10-11,000 participants.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk to Cure Diabetes Permit
00:37:45A permit was approved for the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, aiming to raise $175,000 for Type 1 diabetes research.
Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority Contracts
00:42:00Contracts for post-employment benefits, including health insurance plans with United Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield, were approved despite significant increases in some areas.
Oklahoma City Public Property Authority Project
00:47:00A project dealing with the Lincoln Golf Course, including amendments to contract documents and potential part-time staffing for banquet areas, was approved.
Oklahoma City Environmental Assistance Trust Claims and Payroll
00:47:45Claims and payroll for the Environmental Assistance Trust were approved.
Animal Welfare Division Grant Acceptance
00:49:00Acceptance of a $150,000 grant from the Stanton Foundation for an adoption vehicle for the Animal Welfare Division was acknowledged and approved.
Agreement with Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
00:50:00An agreement to install a public art piece called 'Terra' by Orly Genger in Campbell Park for one year was approved.
Call to Artists for Public Art Projects (under $25,000)
00:51:00A call to artists to pre-qualify for a pool of artists for public art projects under $25,000 was approved, with a submission deadline of November 13th.
Call to Artists for Police Headquarters Public Art
00:52:00A call to artists for qualifications to provide public art for the exterior of the new police headquarters, with a budget not to exceed $275,000, was approved.
Statue and Plaque for JW Mashburn
00:52:45Approval was given for a statue and plaque honoring Olympic gold medalist JW Mashburn to be placed at Earlywine Park.
Budget Amendment for FY15
00:53:45A budget amendment totaling approximately $15.8 million for FY15, including purchase order rollovers, capital improvement projects, and special purpose funds, was introduced for a public hearing on October 7th.
Zoning Case 9 A2 (600 North High Avenue)
01:04:00A zoning case to change R2 medium low density to a new planned unit development at 600 North High Avenue in Ward 7 was approved.
Zoning Case 9 A4 (220 North Bryant Avenue)
01:05:00A zoning case to change R1 single family residential to a new simplified planned unit development at 220 North Bryant Avenue in Ward 7 was approved with an emergency clause.
Name Change (9B)
01:06:00A requested name change was approved.
Clarification of Game and Fish Regulations
01:06:30An amendment to clarify game and fish regulations, specifically re-inserting an item regarding striped bass hybrids, was approved.
New Fee Levels for Parks Department
01:07:30New fee levels for the Parks Department, designed to recover costs without generating profit, were approved.
Downtown BID Adoption
01:08:00The adoption of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) role was approved after a public hearing.
Downtown BID Details
01:08:45The details of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) roles were approved with an emergency clause.
Animal Welfare Public Hearing (9G)
01:09:30An item related to an animal welfare issue, previously introduced, was approved after a public hearing.
Public Nuisance Ordinances Public Hearing (9H)
01:10:00An item concerning public nuisance ordinances, previously introduced, was approved after a public hearing.
Martin Park Nature Center (9I)
01:10:30An item related to Martin Park Nature Center, previously introduced, was approved.
Abandoned Buildings Ordinance
01:25:00A new ordinance regarding abandoned buildings, creating escalating fines for property maintenance violations, repealing the previous vacant and abandoned building ordinance, and allowing cost recovery for police and fire responses, was introduced for a public hearing on October 7th.
Dilapidated Structures Public Hearing (9K)
01:25:30Items regarding dilapidated structures were approved after a public hearing.
Unsecured Structures Public Hearing (9L)
01:26:00Items regarding unsecured structures were approved after a public hearing.
Transfer of Money for Fire Station (9M)
01:26:30The transfer of money to pay for a fire station was approved after a public hearing.
Claims Recommended for Denial (9S)
01:28:00Claims recommended for denial were denied, with a specific motion to rescind a previous denial for item 9 S1 D.
Claims Recommended for Approval (10A)
01:29:00Claims recommended for approval were approved.
Travel Expenses for National League of Cities
01:29:30Approval of travel expenses for council members to attend the National League of Cities conference in Austin, Texas, was granted.
Upcoming Community Events
OKC Navy Days
Ninth Annual OKC Navy Days, including the OKC Jazz Festival, 5K birthday run at Lake Hefner, golf tournament at Gaillardia Country Club, and the Oklahoma City Navy Ball.
OKC Jazz Festival
Inaugural festival in Bricktown Entertainment District and Deep Deuce, featuring local musicians, the OKC Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra, Ambassador Choir, and music workshops for high school students.
Disability Awareness Month
24th anniversary of ADA, special seminar on ADA accessibility on October 28th, and the 24th annual Awards luncheon by the Mayor's Committee on Disability Concerns.
AIDS Walk of Oklahoma City & Red Run 5K
16th annual walk and 6th annual 5K, expecting over 2,000 attendees and 100 runners at the Marriott Gardens, raising funds for HIV services.
Integris Jim Thorpe Courage Run
10th annual run with 5K and 10K races, wheelchair and handcycle divisions, in Wards 6 and 7, anticipating 500-1000 participants.
Runtoberfest
Second annual 5K on Classen Boulevard and Chesapeake Energy campus, benefiting Girls on the Run of Oklahoma County, expecting over 1500 participants.
Rebuilding Together Construction Derby
11th annual fundraising event on Northwest Fifth Street in Ward 6, a 'Soapbox Derby for grown-ups' with food trucks, a children's area, and a car show. Time trials at 11:45 AM, races at 2:00 PM.
Carne Diem
Street party disguised as a chili cook-off, featuring 15 restaurants and 40 amateur chili makers, a band, and serving as a United Way fundraiser.
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
21st annual race benefiting Central and Western Oklahoma, expecting 10-11,000 participants, with grantees providing breast health education information.
JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes
Walk to raise $175,000 for Type 1 diabetes research, starting at 9 AM with fun activities for kids.
Fiesta de las Americas
Festival on 25th Street from 9 AM to 9 PM, featuring food and activities.
Plaza Festival
Festival on 16th Street.
Financial Matters
United Healthcare Contract
Contract for HMO plan, increased by 7% this year, covering approximately 10,000 lives.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Stop-Loss Coverage
Increased by 27% due to a hardened stop-loss market and a loss ratio over 101% in the past 5 years.
Budget Amendment for FY15
Proposed amendment to the FY15 budget, including purchase order rollovers, capital improvement projects, and special purpose funds for various city projects.
Stanton Foundation Grant
Unsolicited grant for an adoption vehicle for the Animal Welfare Division.
Public Comments
One citizen, Joe Sarge Nelson, expressed concerns about city safety, inadequate police and fire department staffing, and alleged corruption, calling for the resignations of the Mayor and City Manager. He also criticized the selective enforcement of parking regulations.
Coming Up
Tabled
- PUD 1224 (9 A1) deferred to October 7th meeting
- Zoning Case 9 A3 deferred to October 7th
Deadlines
- Call to Artists (under $25k) receipt date: November 13th at 4 p.m.
- Call to Artists (Police HQ) receipt date: November 4th at 4 p.m.
- Public hearing for Abandoned Buildings Ordinance: October 7th
- Final adoption for Abandoned Buildings Ordinance: October 21st
Watch For
- Outcome of interim study groups at the state capitol regarding vacant and abandoned buildings and nuisance calls
- Additional improvements at Earlywine Park within the next year
- Strategic planning workshop for Council priorities next Tuesday
Announcements
- Navy Days coming to Oklahoma City, including the Navy Ball, Jazz Festival, 5K run, and golf tournament.
- Inaugural OKC Jazz Festival from September 22nd-28th, celebrating Oklahoma City's Jazz Heritage.
- October 2014 proclaimed as Disability Awareness Month, with a special seminar and awards luncheon on October 28th.
- New service offering for people with disabilities and vision impairments to receive disaster information via text or email alerts through okc.deflink.com.
- Los Angeles Dodgers selected Oklahoma City as the location for its AAA ball team, replacing Albuquerque.
Agenda Summary
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
Opening of the meeting with an invocation led by Councilman Mc and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Presentation of Colors and National Anthem
Navy Color Guard presented the colors, followed by the National Anthem.
Proclamation for United States Navy Days
Proclamation read by the clerk, honoring the United States Navy's presence and economic impact in Oklahoma City, and announcing events for the Ninth Annual OKC Navy Days.
Proclamation for Jazz Festival Week
Proclamation read by the clerk, celebrating the inaugural OKC Jazz Festival and Oklahoma City's Jazz Heritage.
Proclamation for Disability Awareness Month
Proclamation read by the clerk, designating October 2014 as Disability Awareness Month and October 28th as Disability Awareness Day.
Item 3: Council Appointments
Appointments to various city boards and commissions.
Item 4A: Receive Journal for September 9th
Receiving the journal of council proceedings from September 9th.
Item 4B: Approve Journal for August 26th
Approving the journal of council proceedings from August 26th.
Item 5: Requests for Uncontested Continuances
Requests for deferrals and striking of certain items from the agenda.
Item 6A1: Revocable Permit for AIDS Walk of Oklahoma City
Request to hold the 16th annual AIDS Walk and 6th annual Red Run 5K.
Item 6A2: Revocable Permit for Integris Jim Thorpe Courage Run
Request to hold the 10th annual Jim Thorpe Courage Run.
Item 6A3: Revocable Permit for Runtoberfest
Request from Red Coyote Running and Fitness to hold Runtoberfest.
Item 6A4: Revocable Permit for Rebuilding Together Construction Derby
Request to hold the Rebuilding Together Construction Derby.
Item 6A5: Revocable Permit for Carne Diem
Request from VA Marketing and Branding to hold Carne Diem.
Item 6A6: Revocable Permit for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Request to hold the Race for the Cure.
Item 6A7: Revocable Permit for JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes
Request from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to hold the Walk to Cure Diabetes.
Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority (OCMFA) Meeting
Meeting to discuss and vote on post-employment benefit contracts, including health insurance.
Oklahoma City Public Property Authority (OCPPA) Meeting
Meeting to discuss and vote on a project related to the Lincoln Golf Course and baseball field contracts.
Oklahoma City Environmental Assistance Trust (OCEAT) Meeting
Meeting to discuss and vote on claims and payroll.
Consent Docket
Approval of various routine items on the consent agenda.
Item 7Q: Animal Welfare Division Grant
Acceptance of a $150,000 grant from the Stanton Foundation for an adoption vehicle.
Item 7R: Agreement with Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
Agreement to install a public art piece in Campbell Park.
Item 7S: Call to Artists for Public Art Projects (under $25k)
Approval of a call to artists to pre-qualify for smaller public art projects.
Item 7T: Call to Artists for Police Headquarters Public Art
Approval of a call to artists for public art for the new police headquarters.
Item 7BH: Statue and Plaque for JW Mashburn
Approval for a statue and plaque honoring JW Mashburn at Earlywine Park.
Item 7BC: Budget Amendment for FY15
Introduction of a budget amendment totaling approximately $15.8 million for FY15.
Concurrence Docket
Approval of items on the concurrence agenda.
Item 9A1: PUD 1224
Zoning case deferred from this meeting.
Item 9A2: Zoning Case in Ward 7 (600 North High Avenue)
Change from R2 medium low density to a new planned unit development.
Item 9A3: Zoning Case
Zoning case deferred from this meeting.
Item 9A4: Zoning Case in Ward 7 (220 North Bryant Avenue)
Change from R1 single family residential to a new simplified planned unit development.
Item 9B: Name Change
Request for a name change.
Item 9C: Clarify Game and Fish Regulations
Amendment to clarify game and fish regulations, including striped bass hybrids.
Item 9D: New Fee Levels for Parks Department
Setting new fee levels for the Parks Department.
Item 9E: Downtown BID Adoption
Public hearing and adoption of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) role.
Item 9F: Downtown BID Details
Setting the details of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) roles.
Item 9G: Animal Welfare Issue Public Hearing
Public hearing regarding an animal welfare issue.
Item 9H: Public Nuisance Ordinances Public Hearing
Public hearing regarding public nuisance ordinances.
Item 9I: Martin Park Nature Center
Discussion and approval related to Martin Park Nature Center.
Item 9J: Abandoned Buildings Ordinance
Introduction of an ordinance regarding abandoned buildings, escalating fines, and cost recovery.
Item 9K: Dilapidated Structures Public Hearing
Public hearing regarding dilapidated structures.
Item 9L: Unsecured Structures Public Hearing
Public hearing regarding unsecured structures.
Item 9M: Transfer Money for Fire Station
Public hearing and approval for transferring money to pay for a fire station.
Item 9N: Continuation
Continuation of an item without executive session.
Item 9O: Continuation
Continuation of an item without executive session.
Item 9P: Executive Session
Item moved to executive session.
Item 9Q: Struck
Item struck from the agenda.
Item 9R: Executive Session
Item moved to executive session.
Item 9S: Claims Recommended for Denial
Public hearing and denial of claims, with a specific motion to rescind a previous denial for item 9 S1 D.
Item 10A: Claims Recommended for Approval
Public hearing and approval of claims.
Council Travel Expenses
Approval of travel expenses for council members to attend the National League of Cities conference.
Items from Council - Muslim American Population Concerns
Councilman Ed expressed concerns about threats against the Muslim American population in Oklahoma City and condemned political rhetoric.
Items from Council - Fiesta de las Americas
Councilman Pete invited attendees to the Fiesta de las Americas festival.
Items from Council - Los Angeles Dodgers AAA Team
Councilman David commented on the positive news of the Los Angeles Dodgers selecting Oklahoma City for its AAA team.
Items from Council - Plaza Festival
Councilwoman Meg reminded attendees about the Plaza Festival.
Items from Council - Parking on Grass Enforcement
Councilman John raised concerns about selective enforcement of parking on grass regulations.
City Manager Reports - FY14 Performance Report
Presentation of the FY14 performance report by Doug Dollar, highlighting key performance indicators across various city priorities.
Citizens to Be Heard
Public comments from Joe Sarge Nelson regarding city safety, staffing, and alleged corruption.