Meeting Recap: Oct. 17, 2011

Presentations by Friends of Lake McMurtry, Multi Arts Center


City Council Meeting 10-17-2011 from City of Stillwater TV on Vimeo.
The City of Stillwater's City Council Meeting held on 10-17-2011


(Stillwater, Okla. / Oct. 19, 2011) — The Stillwater City Council met Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, for a regular meeting.

The meeting began with “Fall Disability Awareness Week” proclamation, and the approval of minutes from meetings held Oct. 3.

City Council approved all items on the consent docket.

Public Hearings

• The public hearing for a Preliminary Planned Unit Development for 5FiftyOne@Tradan Heights was postponed until Nov. 7.
• Council heard two people in favor of the draft Off-Street Parking Ordinance and two people against it. External Services Director John McClenny spoke about how the parking issues now are the same ones discussed 20 years ago: many difference groups needing different parking solutions; continued growth; and enforcement issues. He recommended hiring a parking consultant company to provide creative answers for Stillwater as a whole.
  
  Councilor John Bartley agreed and said that if residents can’t park on the street, can’t park on the grass, where do they park? Councilor Joe Weaver said that one solution doesn’t fit all needs.
  
  Council asked McClenny to consider hiring a parking consultant.

General Orders

• Two similar presentations were made by the Friends of Lake McMurtry (the group's president is Scott Stoodley) and the Friends of Multi Arts Center (Bill Miller). In short, the non-profit organizations made a presentation for public-private partnerships. Both proposed to take over day-to-day operations. Both presentations made the point that they had ideas that would improve/expand programming.
  
  Councilor Weaver said the idea was exciting, and Councilor Bartley agreed. McClenny was encouraged to explore this type of partnerships.
  
  Galloway said that the City would still own the facilities and they would be for public use; instead, local citizens are working together to encourage and expand public use.

Ordinances (Click here to read ordinances in full.) 

• Ordinance No. 3152 (Second Reading). An ordinance regarding remediation of chemically contaminated real property. City Attorney John Dorman reported this needed further review. Council moved to table the ordinance. Councilor Cody Scott voted no.

Reports from Officers and Boards

• Galloway reported that Quad/Graphics was closing it doors.
• Councilor Weaver was pleased that the Oklahoma WONDERtorium opened this weekend and that he was impressed with the facility.
• Mayor Nathan Bates wanted to clarify that the incentive for GMRI, Inc. (parent company of Olive Garden) concerned a tax rebated agreement and not a cash incentive.

Appointments

• Council made appointments to the Accessibility Advisory Board (Alicia Payne, Julie Miller, and Paul Sisney) and to the Planning Commission (Mike Buchert and Joe Merrifield).

Council recessed for the SUA Meeting.
Stillwater Utilities Authority (SUA) Oct. 17, 2011

Meeting began with the approval of minutes for the Sept. 12 & 19 regular meetings.
The Board of Trustees then approved the consent docket.

General Orders

• Water Utilities Deputy Director Bill Millis gave a status report on the Twin Towers in the Rural Water Service Area. The discussion revolved around what level of water pressure is acceptable to residents in this service area. The state requires 25 psi, while the City tries to provide 40 psi. SUA Director Dan Blankenship explained that adding taps would affect the level of service until changes can be made to the system.
  
  Trustee Weaver wanted to know what the long-term solution for this area is. Blankenship and Millis explained that a consultant is working on the Twin Tower area as well as the wider southwest service area.
  
  
• Update on the GRDA wholesale power contract and OG&E review of the City’s electric system.

SUA meeting adjourned for the Use Tax Oversight Committee.
 
Use Tax Committee Meeting Oct. 17, 2011

Meeting began with the approval of minutes for the July 18 regular meeting.

Review and discussion of Use Tax Revenues. CFO Marcy Alexander said revenues were down, especially in construction materials.

Meeting adjourned.

END

Recap by Sherry Fletcher, Marketing and Public Relations. 

*****

Next City Council Meeting: Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. is a study session in Room 2073.  Click here for agendas. 

Watch the City Council Meetings:  Videos of Stillwater City Council meetings are made available on the City of Stillwater's YouTube.com channel within five days of the meeting. Note: if meetings are longer than two hours, the video will be available on Stillwater’s Vimeo channel only.