Meeting Summary
The City Council honored its 2013 Employees of the Year for Police, Fire, and General Services. Key discussions included receiving the Oklahoma City Parks Master Plan, which highlighted underfunding compared to peer cities, and a contentious debate over a proposed ordinance change to allow backyard chickens via a special exception permit process, which was ultimately moved forward to the Planning Commission. The Council also approved travel expenses for members to attend two conferences.
Key Decisions & Votes
Police Officer of the Year (Sergeant Cameron Douglas)
06:20Resolution commending Sergeant Douglas for his 14 years of service, impact in the Spring Lake division, apprehension of 191 individuals, seizure of drugs and firearms, and community involvement.
Firefighter of the Year (Sergeant Thomas Yancy)
10:20Resolution commending Sergeant Yancy for his 19 years of service, critical role in fire dispatch, and development of an efficient system for tracking Code Enforcement Officers.
City Employee of the Year (Robert L. Caster Jr.)
14:50Resolution commending Robert Caster for 10 years and 9 months of service as an administrative coordinator, coordinating the Oklahoma City Ambassadors program since 2003.
Journal of Council Proceedings
16:00Approval of the Journal of council proceedings for January 7th, 8th, and 14th.
Uncontested Continuances
17:00Various items were stricken or continued due to owner actions or new ownership.
Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority Claims & Payroll
17:30Approval of claims and payroll for the Authority.
PPA Claims & Payroll
17:40Approval of claims and payroll for the PPA.
OECAT Claims & Payroll
17:50Approval of claims and payroll for the OECAT.
Consent Docket
18:10Approval of items on the consent docket without individual consideration.
Zoning Case (16300 South Pennsylvania Avenue)
19:30A zoning case in Ward 5 to change from agricultural to a new planned unit development was sent back to the Planning Commission for further review.
Close 10-foot Drainage Easement
20:50A recommendation for denial to close a 10-foot drainage easement in Ward 1 was approved, as it would impact surrounding homes' drainage.
Fees for Wet Stalls at Lake Stanley Draper
21:30Public hearing item regarding fees for wet stalls at Lake Stanley Draper was moved forward.
Dilapidated Structures
22:00Public hearing item regarding dilapidated structures was approved.
Unsecured Structures
22:15Items related to unsecured structures were stricken as owners had secured them.
Oklahoma City Parks Master Plan
59:00The Council formally received the Oklahoma City Parks Master Plan, outlining strategic directions, funding options, and partnership recommendations.
Claims Recommended for Denial
59:40Approval of claims recommended for denial.
Claims Recommended for Approval
59:55Approval of claims recommended for approval.
Ordinance Change for Backyard Chickens
01:09:00A proposed ordinance to allow backyard chickens through a special exception permit process, requiring neighbor notification and Board of Adjustment approval, was sent to the Planning Commission.
Travel Expenses for Waste Management Forum
01:17:00Resolution approving travel expenses for council members to attend the Waste Management annual executive sustainability forum in Phoenix.
Travel Expenses for National League of Cities Conference
01:18:40Resolution approving travel expenses for the Mayor and/or Council to attend the National League of Cities conference in Washington D.C.
Upcoming Community Events
Martin Luther King events
Great coordination by the Martin Luther King Coalition and City staff.
Town Hall Meeting on Convention Center and Hotel Project
6:30 PM at the Bricktown Hotel and Convention Center (MLK and Reno), featuring Haywood Sanders from the University of Texas in San Antonio.
Financial Matters
Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority Claims and Payroll
Approval of claims and payroll.
PPA Claims and Payroll
Approval of claims and payroll.
OECAT Claims and Payroll
Approval of claims and payroll.
Travel Expenses for Waste Management Annual Executive Sustainability Forum
Approval of travel expenses for council members.
Travel Expenses for National League of Cities Conference
Approval of travel expenses for the Mayor and/or Council.
Parks Master Plan Funding Discussion
Discussion highlighted that Oklahoma City's funding for parks ($40 per capita, $1400 per acre for maintenance) is significantly lower than other Midwestern cities ($65-70 per capita, $20 per capita for recreation). The plan also discussed the unfunded $3 million maintenance bill for the new Central Park.
Revenue Enhancement Program
The City Treasurer's office program focuses on compliance and reviews to ensure all due sales and use tax is collected. Examples included identifying a missing payment from a major retailer ($600,000) and an allocation error ($750,000).
Oklahoma Municipal League Liaison Board Efforts
Efforts led by the City Treasurer to improve service from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, potentially reducing the city's administrative fees by about $2 million a year. The Tax Commission's business closure program recovered $15.5 million in delinquent tax (state, cities, counties) in its first year.
Hotel Tax Collection
The City is responsible for collecting hotel tax from over 160 hotels, reviewing returns, and correcting errors, especially regarding exemptions.
January Sales and Use Tax Report
Report on sales and use tax, noted as 'a little bit sluggish' but economists predict a more robust second half of the fiscal year.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Zoning case at 16300 South Pennsylvania Avenue (remanded to Planning Commission)
Deadlines
- Bid closing for Eastern Flower situation (end of the month, around 28th/21st)
Watch For
- Ordinance change for backyard chickens (will go to Planning Commission, then three council meetings)
- Landfill evaluation report from the Environmental Assistant Trust
- ODOT meeting regarding the Eastern Flower situation and potential joint resolution with Tulsa
- Parks and Recreation Department budget requests in the next budget session
- Haywood Sanders Town Hall Meeting on Convention Center and Hotel project (Thursday night)
Announcements
- Pastor Travis Jenkins' Harvest Assembly of God church has adopted Van Buren Elementary School.
- Sergeant Cameron Douglas was honored as the 2013 South Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club Police Officer of the Year.
- Sergeant Thomas Yancy was honored as the 2013 South Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club Firefighter of the Year.
- Robert L. Caster Jr. was honored as the 2013 South Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club Employee of the Year for his work with the Oklahoma City Ambassadors program.
- Citizens are urged to be extra diligent about fire prevention due to dry conditions and increased vegetation from 2013 rains.
- Oklahoma City Community College opened its new Performing Arts Center.
- Thanks extended to Chief City and his staff for providing information to neighborhoods.
- Thanks extended to Mayor and Councilman Shadid, and the Martin Luther King Coalition and City staff for the Martin Luther King events.
- Councilman Ed Shadid invited the public to a town hall meeting with Haywood Sanders on the convention center and hotel project on Thursday night at 6:30 PM at the Bricktown Hotel and Convention Center.
Agenda Summary
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
Opening of the meeting with prayer and pledge.
Resolution Commending Sergeant Cameron Douglas
Honoring Sergeant Cameron Douglas as the 2013 Police Officer of the Year.
Resolution Commending Sergeant Thomas Yancy
Honoring Sergeant Thomas Yancy as the 2013 Firefighter of the Year.
Resolution Commending Robert L. Caster Jr.
Honoring Robert L. Caster Jr. as the 2013 City Employee of the Year.
Journal of Council Proceedings
Receive and approve the Journal of council proceedings for January 14th, and approve for January 7th and 8th.
Request for Uncontested Continuances
Various items for continuance or striking.
Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority
Claims and payroll.
PPA
Claims and payroll.
OECAT
Claims and payroll.
Consent Docket
Approval of items on the consent docket.
Zoning Case in Ward 5 (16300 South Pennsylvania Avenue)
Change from AA agricultural district to a new planned unit development.
Issue Recommended for Denial (Ward 1)
Close a 10-foot drainage easement.
Public Hearing Regarding Fees for Wet Stalls at Lake Stanley Draper
Discussion and approval of fees.
Public Hearing Regarding Dilapidated Structures
Discussion and approval related to dilapidated structures.
Unsecured Structures
Discussion and approval related to unsecured structures.
Resolution Receiving the Oklahoma City Parks Master Plan
Presentation and formal reception of the Parks Master Plan.
Claims Recommended for Denial
Approval of claims recommended for denial.
Claims Recommended for Approval
Approval of claims recommended for approval.
Ordinance Introduction - Backyard Chickens
Introduction of an ordinance to allow backyard chickens through a special exception permit process.
Resolution Approving Travel Expenses for Council Members
Travel to the Waste Management annual executive sustainability forum.
Resolution Approving Travel Expenses for Mayor and/or Council
Travel to the National League of Cities conference in Washington D.C.
Council Comments
Various comments and requests from council members.
City Manager Reports
Report on Revenue Enhancement Programs and January Sales and Use Tax.