Meeting Recap: January 19, 2012

(Stillwater, Okla. / Posted Jan. 20, 2012) — The Stillwater City Council met Thursday, Jan. 19, for a regular meeting.  Download the evening’s agendas.

Minutes for the meeting held Jan. 5 was approved by all present. Councilor Cody Scott was absent.

Consent Docket.

• Items B-D were approved, while Items A & E were pulled for discussion.
• Councilor Joe Weaver pulled Item A. He said he was pleased that see the public-private agreement for the Multi Arts Center was reached. The contract with Friends of Multi Arts Center is for 6 months; if all goes well, a one-year or multi-year contact will be discussed.
• City Manager Dan Galloway provided an update on the Council Chamber audio-visual upgrades. He said the audio-visual equipment used in the room for meetings and broadcast should take place with in the next two months. The funds come from the original bond used for city hall. Those funds are restricted to maintaining the building.
  
  

Public Hearings.

• Planner Tom Coots made a presentation for a map amendment for the property at 1312 S. Sanger Road, Meridian Technology Center. The request was for the lot west of campus to change zoning from RSS (Residential Single Family) to (P) Public. It was approved by all present.
• Special Planner Patty Evans made a presentation for a Preliminary Planned Unit Development (PUD) for property located at 823 S. Range Road. Developers propose building a senior living facility, called Primrose, with independent and assisted living services. Evans began by reporting that there was protest petition, but it didn’t have enough signatures to stop the development of the complex. The developers proposed a two-story complex with 76 units, four duplexes a chapel, bistro, pub, theater, etc. Neighbors raised concerns about construction times, water pressure, traffic, and invasive lighting.
  
  Councilor Weaver said that while he liked the idea of the development, he was unsure of the location. Council voted to send it back to Planning Commission for further discussion and clarification.
• Councilor Joe Bartley called back to the table the request for a Map Amendment for the property at 619 W. 12^th Ave. The request was to change the zoning from (P) Public to (O) Office hit a snag because the privately owned property on the location was Stillwater’s historical African American elementary school. The developer and the Washington Alumni Association met and were able to work out an agreement. The developer will allow for a 6 foot X 6 foot plaque/monument honoring the site of the school. They’ll donate $2,000 and allow an additional $3,000 for the organization to use for fund raising. Councilor Bartley appreciated that all parties were able to work together. Councilor Weaver echoed Bartley’s words. Council voted for the rezoning.

General Orders.

• Development Services Director Paula Dennison asked that council correct Ordinance 3132, so that it would comply with state regulations. (See Ordinances below.)
• Chief Financial Officer Marcy Alexander presented the “Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Single Audit of Grant Programs, and Auditor Letter of Communication for fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. Council Weaver and Vice Mayor Chuck Hopkins complimented her staff on their outstanding work and the “clean letter” from the auditors.
• Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Lisa Navrkal made a presentation about the Economic Development agreement.

Ordinances (Click here to read resolutions in full.)

• All ordinances on the agenda were passed by all councilors present.

Reports from Officers & Boards

• Mayor Nathan Bates said he wanted to see Stillwater have a facility like Primrose and hopes to see it Stillwater.
• Councilor Weaver asked if there was progress on the Friends of Lake McMurtry partnership. Galloway said that it was progressing, but it was more complicated than the Multi Arts one.

Council recessed for the SUA Meeting.  

Stillwater Utilities Authority Meeting Jan. 19

The meeting began with the approval of minutes for Dec. 5. Approved by all present. Trustee Scott was absent.

General Orders

• Waste Management and Fleet Director David Higgins made a report on the request for proposals (RFP) for solid waste management. He spoke about how the staff was looking at curbside recycling. The next step is a meeting for Jan. 24 with Republic Services, Cedar Creek Farms and the Recycling Task Force. He will be reporting back the SUA in the near future.

SUA meeting recessed for the Use Tax Oversight Committee Meeting.  

Use Tax Oversight Committee Meeting Jan. 19

The meeting began with the approval of minutes for Oct. 17, 2011. Approved by all present. Scott was absent

Review and discuss Use Tax Revenues

• Alexander referred council to the submitted report. There were no questions.

Use Tax Oversight Committee recessed for the City Council Meeting, which then recessed.

END

Recap by Sherry Fletcher, Marketing and Public Relations.  

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Next City Council Meeting: Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at 5:30 p.m. is the Council Room.  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 may be available on Stillwater’s Vimeo channel only.