Meeting Summary
The City Commission approved maintaining residential speed limits at 30 mph and a no-parking request for Chicago Street. They also voted to temporarily cover employee health insurance fee increases for six months due to the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, a resolution was approved for Oklahoma Baptist University's student housing revenue note, which carries no financial obligation for the city.
Key Decisions & Votes
Residential Speed Limits
05:50The commission adopted the board's recommendation to maintain residential speed limits at 30 mph for unposted streets, rather than reducing them to 25 mph as staff had proposed.
No Parking on Chicago Street
06:50A request by Julie Story for no parking along Chicago Street from Union West to Mid-block, Monday through Friday from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM, was approved.
City to Pay Health Insurance Fee Increases
1:05:00The city will pay the Affordable Care Act-mandated health insurance fee increases for employees for six months (January 1 to June 30, 2014), with a clear understanding that employees will incur these costs starting July 1, 2014.
OBU Student Housing Revenue Note
1:10:00A resolution was approved for the sale of up to $15 million in Oklahoma Baptist University Authority Student Housing Revenue Notes for two new student housing buildings, with no financial obligation to the city.
Upcoming Community Events
Winter Weather Preparedness Day
Information available at City Hall, ready.gov, redcross.org, weather.gov, shawneeok.org.
America Recycles Day
Promotes recycling, waste reduction, composting, reuse, and purchasing recycled products.
Financial Matters
Convention Bureau Consultant
Discussion about potentially hiring Bill Guy to guide the Convention Bureau through its conversion process.
Health Insurance Fee Increases
The city will absorb the 3.5% premium increase for employee health insurance from January 1 to June 30, 2014, totaling about $30,000.
OBU Student Housing Revenue Note
Approval of a resolution for Oklahoma Baptist University to issue revenue notes for student housing, with no financial obligation to the city.
Public Comments
One citizen withdrew a request for a building/rocks but sought help finding a location for a Naval Memorial, which the city manager addressed by explaining the demolition of the building and plans for the donated rocks and pylons. A taxi company representative raised concerns about the proposed taxi ordinance regarding insurance requirements, background checks for drivers, 24/7 dispatch mandates, and unfair competition from non-cab services.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Ordinance modifying rules applicable to vehicles for hire (taxi cabs)
Deadlines
- Dispatch equipment mandate: December 2014
Watch For
- Discussion on Convention Bureau consultant at next retreat
- Recycling contract with Central Disposal (expected by March)
- AT&T primary relay interface contract for new phone system (next meeting)
- Ordinance on facade treatments in commercial zoning districts (November 18th)
- Full report on pool fundraising (next commission meeting)
- Full digital radio service cutover (Q3 2014)
Announcements
- The alleyway between the new parking lot and the city building looks nice.
- Appreciation for City staff and Fire Department for participating in trick-or-treat.
- Recycling contract with Central Disposal is being worked on, aiming for March implementation.
- City Manager provided an update on the donation of rocks from a demolished OBU building and plans to move Naval facility pylons for memorial purposes.
- New telephone system installation is progressing, aiming for completion by mid-to-late December.
- Radio system upgrade is underway, with new radios being programmed and installed, and repeater site equipment staged. Coordination with DPS for full digital service cutover in Q3 2014.
- Pool engineered drawings are two weeks from the health department, with bidding expected around December 1st or January. Fundraising efforts are ongoing, with donations encouraged and doubled by a grant.
Agenda Summary
Consider approval of the agenda
Approval of the meeting agenda.
Consider approval of the consent agenda
Approval of routine items on the consent agenda, with item H pulled for separate discussion.
Consideration of residential speed limits
Discussion and vote on maintaining residential speed limits at 30 mph for unposted streets, as recommended by the board, instead of 25 mph.
Consideration of a request by Julie Story to have no parking along Chicago from Union West to Mid-block on both sides of the street from 2 to 3:30 P.M. Monday through Friday
Request for specific no-parking restrictions on Chicago Street.
Commissioner's comments
Commissioners shared updates and comments on various city matters, including the Convention Bureau, trick-or-treat, and recycling.
Citizens participation
Public comments were heard, including a request for a Naval Memorial site and concerns regarding the proposed taxi ordinance.
Mayor's Proclamation: Winter Weather Preparedness Day
Proclamation declaring November 13, 2013, as Winter Weather Preparedness Day.
Mayor's Proclamation: America Recycles Day
Proclamation declaring November 15, 2013, as America Recycles Day.
Public hearing and consideration of an ordinance modifying rules applicable to vehicles for hire (taxi cabs) contained within Chapter 8, Article 10 of the Shawnee Municipal Code
Public hearing and discussion on a proposed ordinance to revise taxi cab regulations, including requiring meters and updating insurance.
Discussion and presentation concerning the requirement or non-requirement of facade treatments in commercial zoning districts
Discussion on potential interim regulations for building facade treatments in commercial zoning districts.
Discussion, consideration, and possible action on proposal that the city, rather than the employees, pay fee increases assessed by Blue Cross Blue Shield for health insurance
Proposal for the city to temporarily absorb ACA-mandated health insurance fee increases for employees.
Consider and approve the granting of a utility easement to OG&E for replacement of electrical lines to feed the Dockery Park softball complex
Request to grant an easement to OG&E for electrical line replacement at Dockery Park.
Consider resolution approving sale not to exceed $15 million Oklahoma Baptist University Authority Student Housing Revenue Note Oklahoma Baptist University project in one or more series and waving competitive bidding
Resolution to approve OBU's student housing revenue note, with no city financial obligation.
New business
No new business items were presented.
Administrative reports
Updates were provided on the radio system upgrade, new telephone system, and the pool project.