Friday, April 4, 2014

Meeting Recap: March 24, 2014

Note: Items of discussion in this recap include links indexed to that portion of the City Council meeting replay. Click on the bold headers that are linked to view that portion of the video.

(STILLWATER, OKLA. / April 2, 2014) – The Stillwater City Council met for its regular meeting Monday, March 24, 2014. (View meeting agenda here)



a.       Led by Westwood Elementary School student Haley Brown

a.   Sunshine Week

Mayor John Bartley proclaimed the week of March 16-22, 2014 as Sunshine week in honor or open records and transparency in government.

The League of Women Voters presented the proclamation.

a.   Approval of minutes: Regular meeting, March 3, 2014
b.   Acceptance of electric utility easement, 1301 S. Western Rd. (CC-14-17)


James Ryan of the Stillwater Industrial Foundation addressed the council on the critical importance of infrastructure enhancements in the community.

      Dennis Gronquist spoke against the trustees approving the SUA Trusted Indenture.

a.       Receive public comment regarding a request for specific use permit for property located at 504 S. Pine St., single family use in RTM

      Motion to postpone to April 7, 2014 City Council meeting. 

      Council approved 5-0.

a.       Resolution CC 2014-2: A resolution approving an amendment to the trust indenture pursuant to which the Stillwater Utilities Authority was created by amending Article V, powers and duties of the trustees, by amending Subsections 7 and 30 regarding issuance of indebtedness and obligations and limitations thereto; and creating new Subsection 31 providing for a debt management policy.

Councilors approved 5-0.

b.      Resolution CC 2014-3: A resolution declaring the intent to consider approval of a project plan and creation of a tax increment district under the Local Development Act; review committee; directing the review committee to make findings as to eligibility and financial impact, if any, on taxing jurisdictions within the district; and directing the review committee to make a recommendation with respect to the proposed project plan. (Postponed to April 7, 2014)

City Attorney John Dorman asked the council to pass over the resolution items, and return to it after the SUA meeting.

First Reading

NONE

Second Reading

a.       Ordinance No. 3252: An ordinance amending the Stillwater city code by amending Chapter 29, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Article IV, Stopping, Standing or Parking, Division 2, Improper Parking, Section 29-136, Prohibited in Certain Places, and Section 29-141, Stopping, Standing and Parking of Buses and Taxicabs Regulated.

      Council approved 5-0

b.      Ordinance No. 3253: An ordinance rezoning a tract of land located at 402 and 410 S. Hester St. and 711 W. Fourth Ave. from RMI, Residential Multi-Family – Intermediate District, to HR, High Rise District.

      Council approved 5-0

c.       Ordinance No. 3254: An ordinance rezoning a tract of land located at 1530 W. Sixth Ave. and 521, 523 and 525 S. Walnut St. from RMU, Residential Multi-Family – Urban District, to RMI, Residential Multi-Family – Intermediate District

      Council approved 5-0

d.      Ordinance No. 3255: An ordinance rezoning a tract of land located at 1202 S. Duck St. from RSS, Residential Small Lot Single-Family District, to O, Office District

      Council approved 5-0

e.       Ordinance No. 3256: An ordinance closing a 27 foot portion of a general utility easement at property addressed as 519 S. Jardot Rd.

      Council approved 5-0


Mayor Bartley – Reminded viewers of the election on April 1. Councilor Gina Noble would be on the KSBI radio on Tuesday, March 25 and he would be on Triple Play on Wednesday, March 16.

City Council is recessed; Stillwater Utilities Authority is called to order

a.   Approval of minutes: Regular meeting, March 3, 2014
b.      Bid recommendation for the purchase of a backhoe/loader for the Electric Distribution Division (SUA-14-15)


Kenny Josey, chairman of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, addressed the SUA about challenges to business recruitment and impact of infrastructure.

a.       Bid recommendation for variable frequency drive replacement at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (SUA-14-16)

Bill Millis, acting director of the Water Utilities Department, said the drives are obsolete and need to be replaced. He recommended trustees award the bid to Dane & Associates, authorize the general manager to execute construction contract and authorize expenditures up to $762,800

Trustee Gina Noble wanted to know if the project was in the 2014 budget. Millis said the design of the project was in 2013, and the construction was not budgeted. Millis proposed the construction come out of the SUA cash balance from additional SUA income over what was expected. 

Chairperson Bartley wanted to know of the project’s importance, and Millis said it was the highest priority on the waste water side.

Trustees approved 5-0.

b.      Real estate acquisition authorization for the Western Road water line connection from the 56th Avenue tower to 44th Avenue (SUA-14-17)

Eric Fladie, the construction program manager with water utilities, recommended trustees authorize staff to make offers, negotiate prices and execute easement acquisition and authorize expenditures up to $250,000. Real estate services are already appropriated and funded.

Mayor Bartley verified expected completion of the project was September 2014.

Trustees approved 5-0.

c.       Real estate acquisition authorization for the Highway 51 and Country Club Road water distribution booster pump station and transmission water line, a part of the Water 2040 program (SUA-14-18)

Fladie called this order the top priority for the Water 2040 program, and recommended trustees authorize expenditures of up to $550,000 for purchase of land, pump and easements.

Trustees approved 5-0.

d.      Stillwater Utilities Authorization trust indenture amendment

SUA Director Dan Blankenship said the proposed amendment would require supermajority to issue debt, meaning 4 of the 5 trustees would have to vote in favor of any debt issued. The proposed amendment also increases debt limitation from 20 percent to 40 percent, adds an additional limitation that bonds and notes cannot be issued if it requires increased rates for that purpose and requires the trust to adopt and periodically review debt management policy.

City Attorney Dorman added the amendment has an additional exception where the trust issuance of debt would be paid for by some fund other than the trust fund itself. Mayor Bartley said selling water to another community which required a pipeline to be built and paid for by the other community would fall under that exception, for example.

City Manager Dan Galloway said the restrictions would protect customers of the SUA to ensure the trust doesn’t enter lending obligations that would place an additional rate on customers.

Mayor Bartley said the proposed amendment protects rate payers while giving the SUA the ability to complete projects.

a.       Resolution SUA 2014-1: A resolution adopting an amendment to the trust indenture pursuant to which the Stillwater Utilities Authority was created by amending Article V, Powers and Duties of the Trustees, by amending Subsections 7 and 30 regarding issuance of indebtedness and obligations and limitations thereto; and creating new Subsection 31 providing for a debt management policy

Trustees approved 5-0.


Trustee Chuck Hopkins – The resolution was one of the major projects the trustees needed to get done when he came on six years ago, and was happy it was able to get done.

Trustee Cody Scott – Appreciated the comments from both sides of the resolution, and said the community can always come and give their concerns before the council.

SUA Director Dan Blankenship – Thanked Hopkins and Scott for their service as trustees and councilors.

SUA is adjourned; City Council is reconvened

a.       Resolution CC 2014-2: A resolution approving an amendment to the trust indenture pursuant to which the Stillwater Utilities Authority was created by amending Article V, powers and duties of the trustees, by amending Subsections 7 and 30 regarding issuance of indebtedness and obligations and limitations thereto; and creating new Subsection 31 providing for a debt management policy.

City Attorney Dorman said the resolution approves the action of the trustees as the beneficiary of the trust.

Council approved 5-0.

City Council is adjourned.


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