City of Stillwater Budget Fair Recap: July 22, 2013

(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Posted July 23, 2013) - The City of Stillwater hosted a budget fair on Monday, July 22, 2013, to give citizens a chance to learn about and ask questions regarding the City's fiscal year 2014 budget.

Managers from all city departments were present to answer questions and explain their department's plans for the fiscal year 2014. City Manager Dan Galloway, Mayor John Bartley, Vice Mayor Chuck Hopkins and City Councilors Gina Noble, Cody Scott and Joe Weaver were also in attendance to speak with residents about the approved budget.

Click here to see photos from the budget fair.

The budget fair had a successful turnout of residents and the event provided an opportunity for city officials and citizens to discuss and comment on the City's financial future for the coming year.

The budget fair was held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Lowry Activity Center at the City of Stillwater Community Center, 315 W. Eighth Ave.

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Recap by Meagan Kascsak, Marketing and Public Relations.

Meeting Recap: July 15, 2013

Note: Items of discussion in this recap includes a link indexed to that portion of the City Council meeting replay. Click on bold headers that are linked to view that portion of the video.
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Posted July 16, 2013) - The Stillwater City Council met for its regular meeting on Monday, July 15, 2013. (View the meeting agenda here).

Consent Docket

Consent Docket approved by Council 5-0.

Public Hearings
a. Receive public input regarding a Text Amendment to allow RV parking in mobile home parks (CC-13-67)

Patty Evans, Development Services, addressed the Council regarding the text amendment. Evans said the request for the amendment was made by a mobile home park owner to allow RVs to have temporary housing in the mobile park district due to the oil and gas industry.

Planning Commission recommended that the text amendments were not needed and the City Council not approve the proposed text amendments.

Planning Commission recommendation accepted by Council 5-0.

b. Receive public input regarding a request for a Text Amendment to the Land Development Code, Chapter 23, Section 160 to modify the permitted uses allowed in the IL district to include wholesale and retail trade (CC-13-68)

Evans addressed the Council regarding the text amendment. Evans said the wholesale trade complemented the other industrial uses allowed in the IL district and the retail trade could include the types of business that are not as compatible with businesses in commercial districts. Evans said the amendment would not cause a safety concern and would encourage development opportunities. 

Planning Commission recommended that the Council approve the request as presented.

Planning Commission recommendation approved by Council 5-0.

General Orders
a. Annual report from Friends of Lake McMurtry (No written report)
Jared Avilez, assistant manager of Lake McMurtry, presented the annual report to the Council. Avilez informed the Council on what projects and events Friends of Lake McMurtry have completed, future plans for the park and what the board is working on at present. Avilez asked the Council to consider amending or revising city ordinances concerning special event alcohol permits and extended RV stays to allow the park to try to capture more revenue.

Councilor Joe Weaver suggested that the board possibly provide a financial report to future annual report meetings. Councilor Weaver applauded the board for its efforts and said it was exciting to see the number of people involved and the work the board has completed in its first year managing the park without city resources.

City Mayor John Bartley thanked the board and the park's staff for the wonderful things they are completing at Lake McMurtry. Mayor Bartley said the board's work the past year shows the benefits of a partnership between a public entity and a private group.

b. Annual report from Friends of Multi-Arts (No written report)
Bonnie Hammond, president of the Friends of Multi-Arts board, and Bill Miller, manager of the Multi-Arts facility, presented the annual report to the Council. Hammond said she was thankful to the Council and city for the opportunity to run the Multi-Arts center the past year and that they have quadrupled their number of classes provided at the facility and finished the year financially in the black. Hammond said they would be interested in having the center be an exception to the alcohol regulation(s) to explore the social aspects of running the facility in the future to raise revenue. 

Miller thanked the city and City Council for all the help provided to the facility in the past year. Miller went through a number of events, projects and goals the facility achieved throughout the past year.

Councilor Cody Scott said he appreciated the opportunities the facility provides to home-schoolers being home-schooled himself.

Councilor Weaver said the fact that the facility has quadrupled the number of classes in its first year is very impressive and that he is excited to see more great work come out of these types of partnerships.

Mayor Bartley congratulated the board on a great year running the center.

Councilor Gina Noble thanked the Friends of Multi-Arts and the Friends of Lake McMurtry for helping improve the quality of life in Stillwater.

c. Proposed public / private partnership with Stillwater Area Sports Association (No written report)
Kevin Fowler and Carolyn Walstad addressed the Council concerning a public / private partnership regarding youth and adult sports programs in Stillwater. Stillwater Area Sports Association (SASA) suggested having their program take on youth and adult baseball, softball and basketball, which are currently run through the City of Stillwater Parks & Recreation department. Fowler said SASA is excited about the potential opportunity of running these programs using city facilities. Fowler said the SASA board would like to have the opportunity to talk with the city about founding a partnership. 

John McClenny, External Services Director, said a partnership between the City of Stillwater and SASA would be formed similarly to the partnership with the Friends of Lake McMurtry and the Friends of Multi-Arts. McClenny said the city and SASA would bring a proposed contract between the City of Stillwater and SASA to the Council in August.

d. Capital Improvement Plan ad hoc committee recommendation (No written report)
Vice Mayor Chuck Hopkins and Councilor Weaver discussed the areas of capital improvement that needed to be met in Stillwater. Vice Mayor Hopkins stressed the importance of projects and current work being done or completed to help improve the city's infrastructure, such as water and sewer. Councilor Weaver said the ad hoc committee looked at a number of areas in need of capital improvement including infrastructure, including parks, library, development services, safety, IT and the airport, and street transportation.

Councilor Weaver said he and Vice Mayor Hopkins came up with three areas that were in need of long term development similar to how the city improved its water system. These groups included improvement of transportation structures, public safety and improving quality of life, such as through recreational facilities and opportunities. Councilor Weaver asked the Council to work toward improvements in the group and asked city staff to work toward creating a plan to successfully implement and finance improvements toward the areas listed. 

Councilor Weaver moved to task staff with finding long term plans to accomplishing each initiative in the group and what costs may rise in each three areas of the group. Vice Mayor Hopkins seconded the motion.

Council approved motion 5-0.

Resolutions

a. Resolution 2013-11 A resolution of support for the appointment of Dan Galloway to the District 5 Seat on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Municipal League; declaring said appointment to be for the benefit of the City of Stillwater and other municipalities within the District; and declaring the mission of the Oklahoma Municipal League to be for the public purpose.

City Manager Dan Galloway said his term on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Municipal League is coming to an end and respectfully requested approval of the resolution of support to allow him to run for reelection to the seat.

Council approved Resolutions item 'a' 5-0. 

Ordinances

a. (first reading)

None

b. (second reading)
i) Ordinance No. 3233: An ordinance rezoning a tract of land located at 819 S. Perkins Road from RSS, Small Lot, Single-Family Residential District, to CG, Commercial General District

Council approved 5-0.

ii) Ordinance No. 3234: An ordinance rezoning a tract of land located at 919 E. Ninth Avenue from P, Public District, to A, Agriculture District

Council approved 5-0.

iii) Ordinance No. 3235: An ordinance rezoning a tract of land located at 498 South Mockingbird Lane from RSS, Small Lot, Single-Family Residential District, to RT, Residential Two-Family District, and RTM, Two-Family and Multi-Family District

Council approved 5-0.

Reports from Officers and Boards
City Attorney John Dorman - Requested an Executive Session pursuant to 25 O.S. 307 (C) (10) for the purpose of conferring on matters pertaining to economic development, including the transfer of property, financing or the creation of a proposal to entice business to locate within the City of Stillwater because public disclosure of the matter to be discussed would interfere with the development of products and services and would violate the confidentiality of the business.

City Manager Galloway - Reminded residents that the City of Stillwater will host a budget fair on Monday, July 22, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lowry Activity Center at the City of Stillwater Community Center. City Manager Galloway said he and the councilors will be available for questions about the fiscal year 2014 budget as well as city department heads with detailed documents on how each department will use its budget. 

Vice Mayor Hopkins - Thanked citizens and committees for the work they have contributed to the city. Councilors Scott and Noble agreed and showed their thanks as well.

Mayor John Bartley - Said City Council will not be on the Bill Van Ness radio show on July 16. Mayor Bartley asked Councilor Noble to introduce her family who were present at the meeting.

Councilor Noble - Introduced her grandmother and aunt who came to visit and support the councilor at the meeting.

Executive Session
a. Confidential communication pertaining to economic development, including the transfer of property, financing or the creation of a proposal to entice business to locate within the City of Stillwater.

Council approved Executive Session 5-0.

City Council returned from Executive Session.

Return from Executive Session
a. Possible action regarding economic development, including the transfer of property, financing or the creation of a proposal to entice business to locate within the City of Stillwater.

The Council took no action.

City Council adjourned.

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Recap by Meagan Kascsak, Marketing and Public Relations.

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The City of Stillwater Budget Fair is July 22, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the City of Stillwater Community Center. City Councilors, the City Manager and other city administrators will be present to answer questions and discuss the fiscal year 2014 budget. Next City Council meeting is Aug. 5, 2013, beginning at 5:30 p.m. This meeting will be televised.  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. You can watch the meetings live on City of Stillwater Television (Suddenlink channel 23 and AT&T U-verse channel 99).

Visit the City of Stillwater's Economic Development webpage.