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City Commission Meeting

August 3, 2021 City Commission Meeting

August 3, 2021 Shawnee, OK
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Meeting Summary

TL;DR

The City Council addressed several key issues, including approving an Emergency Solutions Grant application to combat homelessness and a services agreement to expand White Fox Scooters into the downtown area. A significant discussion regarding the formation of a Lake Advisory Committee was deferred for further planning and to establish clear parameters. The meeting also featured the recognition of the Shawnee 2020 student delegation and the city's official designation as a Purple Heart City.

Key Decisions & Votes

Consent Agenda Approval

30:00

Approval of routine administrative items.

Approved

Vice Mayor Appointment

37:40

Commissioner Aaron Rutherford was appointed as Vice Mayor.

Approved

Emergency Solution Grant Application

50:00

Staff was authorized to submit an application for an Emergency Solution Grant to fund emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and outreach staff for homeless services.

Approved

Interim City Manager Contract

51:40

A contract was approved for Eric Benson to serve as Interim City Manager at his previous compensation rate, for a term ending October 30, 2021.

Approved

Engineering Services Contract (Kamik & Georgia)

57:00

A contract for $85,000 was approved for engineering services for Kamik and Georgia gravity relief lines, aimed at eliminating existing lift stations and improving sewer service.

Approved

White Fox Scooters Agreement

1:06:00

An agreement was approved to expand White Fox Scooters' dock-to-dock e-scooter service into the downtown area and surrounding community, with no cost to the city.

Approved

Shawnee Lake Advisory Committee

1:29:00

Discussion and possible action to appoint a Lake Advisory Committee to assist in revisions of lake ordinances was deferred to a future meeting to allow for more specific planning and parameters.

Deferred

Driveway Variance Request (Scooter's Coffee)

1:33:00

A variance was approved for Scooter's Coffee to have a right-in/right-out driveway on Harrison Street, despite being closer than the minimum separation requirement from the intersection.

Approved

Demolition Order Appeal (801 S Beard St)

1:34:40

The appeal for demolition of a structure at 801 South Beard Street was deferred for 30 days to allow the estate to address concerns or pull a demolition permit.

Deferred

Rezoning (33001 Lake Road)

1:39:00

Property was rezoned from A1 Rural Agricultural District to A1 Rural Agricultural District with a Conditional Use Permit for a wedding venue with the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on premises.

Approved

Rezoning (15515 Perry Road)

1:42:00

Property was rezoned from A1 Rural Agricultural District to A1 Rural Agricultural District with a Conditional Use Permit for a garage cottage/guest house (accessory dwelling unit).

Approved

Rezoning (3715 N Kickapoo Ave)

1:45:00

Property was rezoned from C2 Suburban Office Commercial District and R1 Single Family Residential District to C3 Commercial Highway District for a potential strip of retail/commercial office.

Approved

Year-end Budget Amendments (FY20-21)

1:46:40

Year-end budget amendments for fiscal year 2020-2021 were approved as cleanup items.

Approved

Budget Amendments (FY21-22)

1:47:30

Budget amendments for fiscal year 2021-2022 were approved as cleanup items.

Approved

Airport Authority Consent Agenda

2:00:10

Approval of routine administrative items for the Airport Authority.

Approved

Municipal Authority Consent Agenda

2:00:40

Approval of routine administrative items for the Municipal Authority.

Approved

Municipal Authority Year-end Budget Amendment (Fund 501)

2:01:10

A year-end budget amendment for the Shawnee Municipal Authority Fund 501 was approved for cleanup of the fiscal year 2020-2021 budget.

Approved

Upcoming Community Events

Last week (prior to meeting)

IFRY Rodeo

Successful event, well-attended by dignitaries including Senator Langford, Secretary Arthur, Congresswoman Bice, and the Governor.

This past weekend (prior to meeting)

Car Show on Main Street

Main Street was 'rocking' with awesome cars.

This past weekend (prior to meeting)

Market on Main Street

Market was 'really cool' on Main Street.

This past weekend (prior to meeting)

Library Book Sale

Shoulder-to-shoulder attendance at the library.

Financial Matters

Emergency Solution Grant application

Application for $55,000 for emergency shelter (including $15,000 for hotel/motel vouchers, $30,000 for landlord incentives), $85,000 for additional program staff, $5,800 for HIMS licenses and outreach incentives, and $14,500 for administrative costs.

Engineering services for Kamik and Georgia gravity relief lines

Contract with HUB for design, construction administration, and bidding for two new sewer line projects, funded by American Rescue Plan.

$85,000

Edward Burns Memorial Grant

Application for a Department of Justice grant, split with the Sheriff's office, to purchase 15 new body cameras for the police department.

$28,272

Monthly Sales Tax and Budget Reports

July sales tax came in approximately 15% higher than projections, use tax was approximately 44% above projections. General fund revenues exceeded projections, and expenditures were under budget.

Year-end budget amendments (FY20-21)

Routine cleanup items for the end of the fiscal year.

Budget amendments (FY21-22)

Cleanup items for the fiscal year 2021-2022 budget.

Year-end budget amendment for Shawnee Municipal Authority Fund 501

Routine cleanup items for the end of the fiscal year for the Municipal Authority.

Public Comments

11 citizens spoke

Citizens raised concerns about the location and safety of the new kayak dock, questioned the legality of planning commission votes and vice mayor appointments, and advocated for the establishment of a lake advisory committee. Support was voiced for White Fox Scooters' expansion and a new park adoption program. A business owner appealed a demolition order, highlighting issues with vandalism, homelessness, and drug trafficking, and requested city outreach for the homeless. Support for Commissioner Weaver was also expressed.

Kayak dock safety Lake advisory committee Planning commission legality White Fox Scooters expansion Park adoptions Homelessness and vandalism City ordinances and development

Coming Up

Tabled

  • Discussion and possible action to appoint a Shawnee Lake Advisory Committee (deferred to a future meeting for specifics)
  • AWM Real Estate and LLC's appeal of an administrative order regarding the demolition of the structure located at 801 South Beard Street (deferred to second meeting in August)

Watch For

  • Airport development proposal from KSNL Aero (request to be placed on future agenda)
  • Search for a permanent City Manager
  • New hires to replace Ashley and Tim Burke

Announcements

  • Jake Flood, an 8th-grade student, called the meeting to order.
  • Pastor Ben Hill from Frontline Church provided the invocation.
  • An Animal Welfare Officer was recognized for their professional and compassionate response to a dog incident.
  • The Shawnee 2020 student teacher delegation for the exchange trip to Nikaho, Japan, was introduced and recognized, though their trip was canceled due to COVID-19.
  • Master Chief Larry Van Skyver presented a Purple Heart City plaque, officially recognizing Shawnee as a Purple Heart City.
  • City Manager Chance Allison is leaving the city.
  • Tim Burke, Business Development expert, is leaving Shawnee.
  • The IFRY Rodeo was a successful event for the community.
  • Main Street had a successful weekend with a car show, market, and library book sale.

Agenda Summary

Item 1 Citizen Participation

Opportunity for citizens to address the commission on various topics.

Information Only

Item 2 Consider approval of consent agenda

Approval of routine administrative items.

Approved

Item 3 Pet of the Week

Presentation of a dog named 'She' available for adoption from the animal shelter.

Information Only

Item 4 Introduction of Shawnee 2020 student teacher delegation for exchange trip to Nikaho, Japan

Recognition of students selected for an exchange trip that was canceled due to COVID-19.

Information Only

Item 5 Presentation of Purple Heart City plaque by Master Chief Larry Van Skyver

Official recognition of Shawnee as a Purple Heart City.

Information Only

Item 6 Commission appointment of Vice Mayor per Article 3 Section 6 of the City Charter

Discussion and vote on the appointment of a Vice Mayor.

Approved

Item 7 Discussion and consideration to allow staff to submit an application for Emergency Solution Grant from Oklahoma Department of Commerce

Authorization for staff to apply for a grant to fund homeless services including shelter, rapid rehousing, and outreach.

Approved

Item 8 Discussion and consideration of a contract with Eric Benson to serve as Interim City Manager

Approval of a contract for interim city manager services.

Approved

Item 9 Discussion and consideration of contract with Holloway Updike and Bellin Inc. (HUB) for engineering services for Kamik and Georgia gravity relief lines

Approval of a contract for engineering services to eliminate existing sewer lift stations.

Approved

Item 10 Discussion and consideration of a services agreement with White Fox Scooters Inc.

Approval of an agreement to expand e-scooter services in the city.

Approved

Item 11 Discussion and possible action to appoint a Shawnee Lake Advisory Committee to assist in revisions of the lake ordinances

Discussion on forming a committee to review and revise lake ordinances.

Deferred

Item 12 Discussion and consideration of a variance request for a minimal minimum separation between proposed driveway and the Harrison and Independence Street intersection

Request for a variance for a new driveway for Scooter's Coffee.

Approved

Item 13 Discussion and consideration of AWM Real Estate and LLC's appeal of an administrative order regarding the demolition of the structure located at 801 South Beard Street

Appeal of an administrative order concerning a demolition.

Deferred

Item 14 Public hearing and consideration of an ordinance to rezone property located at 33001 Lake Road

Rezoning request for a wedding venue with alcohol sales.

Approved

Item 15 Public hearing and consideration of an ordinance to rezone property located at 15515 Perry Road

Rezoning request for a garage cottage/guest house.

Approved

Item 16 Public hearing and consideration of an ordinance to rezone property located at 3715 North Kickapoo Avenue

Rezoning request for a commercial highway district.

Approved

Item 17 Consideration of year-end budget amendments for fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Approval of routine budget adjustments.

Approved

Item 18 Consideration following budget amendment for fiscal year 2021-2022

Approval of routine budget adjustments.

Approved

Item 19 Acknowledge monthly sales tax and budget reports

Review of sales tax and budget performance.

Information Only

Item 20 Administrative report (Edward Burns Memorial Grant)

Report on the application for the Edward Burns Memorial Grant for body cameras.

Information Only

Item 21 New Business

Opportunity for new items to be introduced.

No Action

Airport Authority Item 1 Consider approval of the consent agenda

Approval of routine administrative items for the Airport Authority.

Approved

Airport Authority Item 2 New Business

Opportunity for new items to be introduced for the Airport Authority.

No Action

Municipal Authority Item 1 Consider approval of consent agenda

Approval of routine administrative items for the Municipal Authority.

Approved

Municipal Authority Item 2 Consideration of a year-end budget amendment for fiscal year 2020 to 2021 for Shawnee Municipal Authority Fund 501

Approval of routine budget adjustments for the Municipal Authority.

Approved