Meeting Summary
The city council meeting featured a comprehensive update from the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce on economic development, legislative outcomes, and tornado recovery efforts. Key discussions included the need for more office and industrial space, the impact of federal furloughs, and proposed renovations for the Bricktown Ballpark. Public comments raised concerns about a proposed wellness center's religious affiliations, the condition of roads in northeast Oklahoma City, and the city's streetcar project.
Key Decisions & Votes
Appointments to Library Commission and Urban Design Commission
00:27:10Appointments for the Library Commission and Urban Design Commission were unanimously approved by the council.
Journal of Council Proceedings
00:27:40The journal of council proceedings for July 2nd and June 18th were unanimously approved.
Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority (OCMFA) Items
00:32:00Twelve items presented to the OCMFA were unanimously approved. A question was raised regarding attorney retainers, clarified as hourly billing.
Oklahoma City Public Property Authority (OCPPA) Items
00:37:00Five items presented to the OCPPA were unanimously approved, including a marketing and feasibility study for the Bricktown Ballpark.
Oklahoma City Environmental Assistance Trust (OCEAT) Items
00:39:40Items presented to the OCEAT were unanimously approved, including the replacement of garbage carts.
Consent Docket
00:46:00The consent docket, including various claims and agreements, was unanimously approved after discussion on specific items like attorney representation and a citizen's claim for damages.
Concurrence Docket
00:46:40The concurrence docket was unanimously approved without further discussion.
Zoning Case: 1324 Southwest 44th Street (Ward 6)
00:48:00A zoning change from R-1 single-family residential to a new simplified planned unit development was unanimously approved to bring an existing business office into compliance.
Planning Commission Items (Ward 7 & Ward 2)
00:49:00Items 8b1 (Ward 7), 8b2 (Ward 7), 8b3 (Ward 2), and 8b4 (Ward 2, street closure) from the Planning Commission were all unanimously approved.
Traffic Commission Items (Ward 6)
00:50:00Five separate items from the Traffic Commission, all concerning Ward 6, were unanimously approved.
Ordinance Introduction: Commercial Truck Ordinance Amendments
00:54:00An ordinance amending the commercial truck ordinance to clarify definitions for vehicles, trailers, aircraft, and watercraft, and to update parking and storage conditions, was introduced. A public hearing is set for August 13th and a final vote for August 27th.
Public Hearing: Dilapidated Structures
00:55:00Items regarding dilapidated structures were approved, with one property at 2118 North Bath Avenue deferred for 30 days to allow the homeowner to work with staff.
Public Hearing: Unsecured Structures
00:56:00Items regarding unsecured structures were unanimously approved.
Revocable Right-of-Way Permit: Art Moves
00:56:40A revocable right-of-way permit for the Art Council's 'Art Moves' events on July 19th, August 2nd, August 16th, and September 13th was unanimously approved.
Revocable Right-of-Way Permit: Myriad Botanical Gardens Midweek Market
00:58:00A revocable right-of-way permit for the Myriad Botanical Gardens Midweek Market to use the Sheridan loading dock on Wednesdays in July and August was unanimously approved.
Revocable Right-of-Way Permit: Rock for Oklahoma (UCO)
00:59:00A revocable right-of-way permit for the University of Central Oklahoma to hold 'Rock for Oklahoma' on Reno Avenue on July 23rd was unanimously approved.
Joint Resolution: Airport Trust Taxable Bonds
01:03:00A joint resolution with the Airport Trust to issue up to $50 million in taxable revenue bonds to fund a consolidated rental car facility was unanimously approved. The bonds are secured by airport revenues, not the city's general fund.
Claims Recommended for Denial
01:04:00Claims recommended for denial were unanimously approved.
Claims Recommended for Approval
01:04:30Claims recommended for approval were unanimously approved.
Upcoming Community Events
American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Conference
Oklahoma City, theme 'Momentum', featuring Governor Fallin and former/current mayors. Includes a master class and engagement with corporate site location consultants.
Art Moves
Ward 6, organized by the Art Council.
Myriad Botanical Gardens Midweek Market
Sheridan loading dock, 4 PM - 8 PM, for vendor loading and refrigerated truck access.
Rock for Oklahoma
Reno between Gaylord and Robinson, hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma's Academy of Contemporary Music. Students will perform, and donations will be collected for United Way tornado relief.
Neighborhood Meetings (Ward 3)
River Park, Windsor Forest (Thursday), Meridian Hills (tonight).
Financial Matters
Bricktown Ballpark Marketing and Feasibility Study
A study to evaluate fan amenities and modernize the ballpark to enhance patron experience and drive ticket sales.
Agreement with County Jail
An agreement with the county jail, increasing the estimated number of prisoners per day by 16% (from 145 to 168). The daily rate increases slightly with cost of living.
Replacement of Garbage Carts
Funding for the replacement of approximately 20,000 garbage carts annually, plus an additional 10,000 for new customers.
Revenue Enforcement Programs
A report on the city's revenue enforcement programs, which collected $2.9 million in the past year, indicating a 10-to-1 return on investment.
Airport Trust Taxable Bonds
Issuance of junior lien taxable bonds to fund a consolidated rental car facility, secured by airport general revenues and a customer facility charge.
Public Comments
Public comments covered a range of issues including concerns about the legality of a proposed wellness center's partnership with a church, the poor condition of roads in northeast Oklahoma City, the format and transparency of public meetings for the streetcar project, and the fluoridation of the city's water supply.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Item 8h (deferred until July 30th)
- Item 8i (public hearing regarding ambulance code, deferred until July 30th)
Deadlines
- FEMA assistance application deadline extended from July 19th to August 19th
Watch For
- Announcements regarding economic development projects in the next couple of weeks and months
- Recommendations from the Bricktown Ballpark marketing and feasibility study
- Formal approval resolution for Airport Trust taxable bonds in August
- Public hearing on commercial truck ordinance amendments on August 13th
- Final vote on commercial truck ordinance amendments on August 27th
- EMSA trust meeting to review vendor proposals and their impact on total care rates
Announcements
- Roy Williams, President of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, provided a quarterly update on chamber activities, including the upcoming ACCE conference, intercity visit takeaways from Austin, 2013 state legislative session wrap-up, retail development, economic development, and tornado business recovery efforts.
- The University of Oklahoma will purchase property from Presbyterian Health Foundation in the health sciences area, with assurances that it will remain a research park.
- AT&T announced over 100 new jobs in Oklahoma City.
- The city is experiencing a lack of available office, acreage, and industrial space, leading to lost clients.
- The Greater Oklahoma City Back to Business initiative was created to help businesses impacted by the May tornadoes, tracking 296 directly hit businesses and 1823 in the surrounding mile-wide path.
- The deadline for FEMA assistance applications has been extended to August 19th.
- Dozens of chambers of commerce across the country have raised money and provided financial support to the Moore Chamber and Oklahoma City for tornado recovery.
- Councilman Shadee raised questions about ODOT's boulevard project, specifically regarding the 'use it or lose it' nature of funds and the potential to use funds for enhancing the existing downtown grid.
- Councilman Shadee and Councilman White expressed concerns about the format of the recent streetcar public meeting, advocating for a more open and interactive forum with diverse viewpoints.
- Councilman Pettis announced upcoming neighborhood meetings in Ward 3 for River Park, Windsor Forest, and Meridian Hills.
- Councilman Ryan complimented Eric Winger and staff for their responsiveness to citizen inquiries regarding paving projects.
Agenda Summary
Item 3: Presentation from Roy Williams, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce
Quarterly update on economic development, legislative session, retail, and tornado recovery.
Item 3b & 3c: Appointments to Library Commission and Urban Design Commission
Approval of appointments to city commissions.
Item 4a: Receive Journal of Council Proceedings for July 2nd
Formal reception of meeting minutes.
Item 4b: Approve Journal of Council Proceedings for June 18th
Formal approval of meeting minutes.
Item 5: Request for Uncontested Continuances
Requests to strike or defer various items from the agenda.
Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority (OCMFA) Items
Various items presented to the OCMFA for approval.
Oklahoma City Public Property Authority (OCPPA) Items
Various items presented to the OCPPA for approval, including a marketing and feasibility study for the Bricktown Ballpark.
Oklahoma City Environmental Assistance Trust (OCEAT) Items
Various items presented to the OCEAT for approval, including garbage cart replacement.
Consent Docket
A collection of routine items for approval.
Concurrence Docket
A collection of routine items for approval.
Item 8a: Zoning Case 1324 Southwest 44th Street (Ward 6)
Zoning change from R-1 to PUD for an existing business office.
Item 8b1: Planning Commission Item (Ward 7)
Property west of Sheridan between Vinskill Avenue and North Mickey Mantle Drive.
Item 8b2: Planning Commission Item (Ward 7)
Property on North Harvey.
Item 8b3: Planning Commission Item (Ward 2)
A zoning case in Ward 2.
Item 8b4: Planning Commission Item (Ward 2)
Closure of Northwest 58th Street between Chartel and Classic.
Item 8c1: Traffic Commission Item (Ward 6)
A traffic-related item from Ward 6.
Item 8c2: Traffic Commission Item (Ward 6)
A traffic-related item from Ward 6.
Item 8c3: Traffic Commission Item (Ward 6)
A traffic-related item from Ward 6.
Item 8c4: Traffic Commission Item (Ward 6)
A traffic-related item from Ward 6.
Item 8c5: Traffic Commission Item (Ward 6)
A traffic-related item from Ward 6.
Item 8d: Ordinance Introduction - Commercial Truck Ordinance Amendments
Introduction of an ordinance to amend definitions and parking/storage conditions for commercial vehicles, trailers, aircraft, and watercraft.
Item 8e: Public Hearing - Dilapidated Structures
Public hearing on properties identified as dilapidated structures.
Item 8f: Public Hearing - Unsecured Structures
Public hearing on properties identified as unsecured structures.
Item 8g1: Revocable Right-of-Way Permit - Art Moves
Permit for the Art Council to hold 'Art Moves' events.
Item 8g2: Revocable Right-of-Way Permit - Lighthouse Spirit Triathlon
Permit for the Lighthouse Spirit Triathlon.
Item 8g3: Revocable Right-of-Way Permit - Myriad Botanical Gardens Midweek Market
Permit for the Myriad Botanical Gardens to use the Sheridan loading dock for their market.
Item 8g4: Revocable Right-of-Way Permit - Rock for Oklahoma (UCO)
Permit for the University of Central Oklahoma to hold 'Rock for Oklahoma' on Reno Avenue.
Item 8h
An item requiring a separate vote.
Item 8i: Public Hearing - Ambulance Code
Public hearing regarding the ambulance code.
Item 8j: Joint Resolution with Airport Trust - Taxable Bonds
Resolution to issue taxable revenue bonds for a consolidated rental car facility.
Item 8k
An item requiring a separate vote, no executive session needed.
Item 8l
An item requiring a separate vote, no executive session needed.
Item 8m
An item requiring a separate vote, no executive session needed.
Item 8n: Claims Recommended for Denial
Claims that were recommended for denial.
Item 9: Claims Recommended for Approval
Claims that were recommended for approval.
Item 10: Items from Council
Discussion and comments from council members on various topics.