Meeting Recap: Oct. 3, 2011

Public hearing on apartment complex 

City Council Meeting 10-3-11 from City of Stillwater TV on Vimeo.
City of Stillwater's City Council Meeting held on 10-3-11

(Stillwater, Okla. / Oct. 5, 2011) — The Stillwater City Council met Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, for a regular meeting.

Before the meeting, Mayor Nathan Bates asked for a moment of silence to remember City of Stillwater employee John Tate.

First item of the evening was approval of minutes from meetings held Sept. 12, 19 and 26, which were approved by all members of council.

City Council approved all items on the consent docket.

Public Hearings

• Special Planner Patty Evans began a discussion on a Preliminary Planned Unit Development for a new location for Honda of Stillwater at 105 S. Perkins Road/703 E. Virginia Avenue. The developer/owner agreed to several modifications, and council approved the plan pending the revisions.
  
• The Preliminary Planned Unit Development for Aspen Heights was postponed until Nov. 7.
  
• Special Planner Patty Evans also began a discussion on a Preliminary Planned Unit Development for a multi-family complex at 315 S. Hester and 614/625 W. 4th Avenue. The proposed plan includes 164 bedrooms and a 6-story parking garage. Evans said that the complex was compatible with the neighborhood, but staff lacked information to evaluate some features including parking. The developer(s) indicated that they would add a seventh story to address parking questions that a came up during neighborhood meetings.
  
  Public comments included concerns about infrastructure, parking, size, density, lack of green space.
  
  Mayor Bates asked the presenter about parking, bike rakes and city infrastructure issues. Councilor John Bartley had questions about the small setback from the street. Vice Mayor Chuck Hopkins expressed concern about the density. Councilor Joe Weaver also remarked on the high density, and he liked that the developers’ design was compatible with OSU’s modified Georgian architecture and that the intent is to have smooth transition to downtown. Councilor Cody Scott thought the project was a step in the right direction, but wanted more information. Vice Mayor Hopkins asked for the topic to be tabled subject to call. The council voted to table this item.

General Orders

• Presentation of Ordinance No. 3152 regarding remediation of chemically contaminated real property by Assistant Attorney Dennis McGrath. He explained that the ordinance referred to any property, including rental property, that had been contaminated by methamphetamine or other noxious substances to be cleaned up and receive a bill of good health by a trained and authorized clean-up company before  it can be occupied again.
  
  City manger Dan Galloway said the part of the intent was to assure people that health risks have been addressed at these properties.
  
  Vice Mayor Hopkins began a discussion about who was responsible for paying for the clean up. Councilor Scott said he supported the ordinance. Councilor Bartley agreed with the concept, but wanted to make sure the ordinance was the right solution for the problem.
  
  McGrath explained that government is responsible  for keeping residents safe, but the government can’t clean up private property. Currently, landlords are not required to notify renters if there had been contaminates on the property; this ordinance would ensure that the property was sealed until clean up was completed, explained McGrath.
  
• Request to make emergency repairs to “rock hanger” at Stillwater Regional Airport was approved.

Ordinances (Click here to read ordinances in full.)

• Ordinance No. 3152 (First Reading). An ordinance regarding remediation of chemically contaminated real property. Passed by all except Vice Mayor Hopkins who abstained.

• Ordinance No. 3151 (Second Reading). An ordinance to rezone a track of land at 1001 W. 12th Ave. Passed by all members of council.

Reports from Officers and Boards

• Galloway stated the Stillwater Regional Airport received a state grant to help fund improvements.
• Councilor Bartley congratulated Stillwater on its busy weekend.
• Mayor Bates made a correction that at last meeting, he didn’t mean to say that parking on the grass dragged sediment into the sewer system but drainage system.
• Mayor Bates wants to bring the “Healthy Community” program to the Wellness Committee and discuss with them the possibility of some type of semiannual walks or runs.

Council recessed for the SIRA Meeting.

Stillwater Industrial & Redevelopment Authority (SIRA) Oct. 3, 2011 Special Meeting

Meeting began with the approval of minutes for the Aug. 22 meeting.

The Board of Trustees then approved the consent docket.

Under General Orders, the Trustees approved the Business Development Incentive Agreement with GMRI, Inc. (parent company of Olive Garden) who is considering opening an Olive Garden in Stillwater. The proposal is a tax rebate agreement.


Trustee Bartley wants to see an overall city economic development plan.

SIRA meeting adjourned, and City Council recessed for executive session.

END

Recap by Sherry Fletcher, Marketing and Public Relations. 

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Next City Council Meeting: Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. Council Hearing Room. Broadcast on City of Stillwater TV on Suddenlink channel 23. 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.