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 8, 2014) – The Stillwater City Council met for its regular meeting
Monday, April 7, 2014 (View the agenda here.)
a.
Led
by Highland Park Elementary School student Sydney Wade
a.
Distinguished
Young Women of Payne County
Madison Weiser was named the
Distinguished Young Woman of Payne County of 2015. Mayor John Bartley declared
April 7, 2014 as Madison Weiser Day.
b.
Fair
Housing Month
Mayor Bartley proclaimed the week
of April 2014 as Fair Housing Month in honor of the 46th anniversary
of the Civil Rights’ fair housing law.
a.
Approval
of minutes: Executive session March 3, 2014
Regular
meeting March 24, 2014
b.
Acknowledgment
of Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality permit for construction of
water line on north side of 24th Avenue near the intersection of 24th
Avenue and Washington Street
c.
Summary
of city funds mid-year revenue estimate adjustments.
d.
Memo
to set public hearing date for closing of portion of utility easement at 3100
N. Madison Court for May 19, 2014.
e.
Budget
amendment transferring out of the General Fund sales tax related to Stillwater
Economic Development Authority business development agreements.
Council
approved 5-0.
a.
Special
presentations/proclamations
Mayor Bartley congratulated the
Councilor Cody Scott and Vice Mayor Chuck Hopkins on their years of service.
The mayor said the exiting City Council members have served with distinction
and are worthy of recognition from the community and their peers as a part of
the City Council.
Councilor Scott expressed his
thanks for the City Council and the community.
Vice Mayor Hopkins talked about
how his wife and friends were responsible for talking him into running for the
City Council. He said he’s leaving the council in good hands.
a.
Swearing-in
of Councilors Pat Darlington and Miguel Najera
Mayor
Bartley nominated Councilor Joe Weaver for the position of vice mayor.
City
Council voted 5-0 in favor of the nomination.
a.
Receive
public comment regarding a proposed text amendment to the Land Development Code.
Paula Dennison, Development
Services, addressed the council about a parking study and its action items.
Ordinance 3258 outlines all the amendments proposed. Dennison recommended
adopting the proposed changes to the Land Development Code.
Action happened at ordinance
stage.
b.
Receive
public comment regarding a request for a permit to allow a construction of a
seven bedroom house at 504 S. Pine St. in the RTM (Residential Two-Family and
Multifamily) District.
Dennison said this construction
requires the permit because there’s a little noncompatibility with the zoning
and intended use. The same owner built the exact floor plan a couple years
earlier. Dennison said the Planning Commission recommended approval.
Council approved 5-0.
c.
Receive
public comment regarding a request to rezone property addressed as 799 E.
Mercury Ave. from IG (Industrial General) to RTM (Residential Two-Family and
Multifamily) to allow construction of residential structures.
City Attorney John Dorman asked
that the council postpone the item to the April 21 meeting due to the
applicant’s unavailability.
Council approved postponement
5-0.
a.
½
Cent Sales Tax – Transportation improvement fund project funding
recommendations for remaining FU14 budget
Transportation Manager Jason Peek updated the council on the ½ Cent Sales Tax, and requested allocating the
remaining budget for this period. There is a $3.3 million unallocated balance
for this period. Peek provided a listing of projects and amounts to
allocate the funds to.
One of the projects was a traffic
signal software purchase. Weaver asked how long the project
would take to implement. Peek said about 50 of the target intersections
would be implemented in about a year.
Councilor Miguel Najera commented
on a Perkins Road project, and wanted to know if reappropriated funds at the
State level would affect the project. Peak said it depends on Oklahoma
Department of Transportation’s eight year plan, but cannot say it would not
affect it. As of now, ODOT has a commitment to fund the project in 2020, but Peak recommended funding the project regardless of what happens with ODOT.
Councilor Gina Noble wanted to
know if the Perkins Road project would require right away on both sides of the
road. Peek responded saying right away is sufficient in all but one spot,
but there is a way around the problem.
Council approved 5-0.
a.
Resolution
CC 2014-3: Resolution declaring the intent to consider approval of a project
plan and creation of a tax increment district under the Local Development Act;
direction preparation of a project plan; appointing a 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
Resolution postponed until after
SEDA meeting.
First Reading
a.
Ordinance
No. 3257: An ordinance relating to public health and safety revising the 911
emergency number ordinance, maintaining the current 5 percent user fee
established.
Councilor Pat Darlington asked
how long the fee had been in place, and if the fee included cell phone and
landlines.
Council approved 5-0.
b.
Ordinance
No. 3258: An ordinance amending the Stillwater City Code related to parking and
loading.
Mayor Bartley confirmed with
Dennison the ordinance modernizes the parking system and allows for different
types of parking spaces for different types of vehicles.
Councilor Noble asked if it
reduces Stillwater’s concrete footprint. Dennison said the overall is a
reduction.
Vice Mayor Weaver asked if this
ordinance would it have helped with parking garage discussions on high density,
high rise apartment complexes, and Dennison confirmed it would have.
Councilor Noble asked is more
parking spaces could be asked for. The ordinance only provides the minimum they
are required to provide, but may opt to provide additional spaces, Dennison
said. There can also be a requested reduction in the amount of spaces.
Councilor Noble also wanted to know if the ordinance provided for handicap
parking.
Councilor Najera asked Dennison
the ordinance meant owners could include spots on street as designated parking
sports. Dennison said only if there are designated public parking spaces, which
are primarily in business districts. Councilor Najera confirmed this ordinance
shouldn’t cause a problem in residential areas.
Dennison said Planning Commission
recommends approval.
Council approved 5-0.
Second Reading
NONE
a.
Miscellaneous
items from the City Attorney
i.
Request
for Executive Session for the purpose of confidential communication regarding
pending workers’ compensation claim.
b.
Miscellaneous
items from City Manager
City Manager Dan Galloway
addressed pending school resource officers (SRO) agreements.
c.
Miscellaneous
items from City Council
i.
Discussion
about scheduling items for upcoming meetings
Councilor Darlington mentioned
the housing study and asked to put a hold on zoning changes on rental houses to
study the market. Dennison said the staff is finalizing a draft prior to
bringing it to the council.
Councilor Noble wanted to know
what the housing study covered.
Vice Mayor Weaver commented on
his respect for former Vice Mayor Hopkins. Councilor Noble seconded his
comment.
City Manager Galloway discussed
the upcoming annual budget, which will be discussed in upcoming meetings.
City
Council is recessed; Stillwater Economic Development Authority is called to
order
a.
Approval
of minutes: Special meeting February 2, 2014
Special
meeting March 3,
2014
Executive
session March 3, 2014
b.
Budget
amendment transferring in sales tax related to SEDA business development
agreements
c.
Budget
amendment budgeting estimated payments due under SEDA business development
agreements
Council approved 5-0.
a.
Business
expansion incentive agreement between SEDA and Sears Hometown
City Manager Galloway said it
would be a rebate incentive equivalent of up to 1 percent of sales tax for up
to a period of seven years or until they’ve achieved $25,000, whichever occurs
first, and recommended it for approval. No money is provided up front, but only
as sales increase.
Council approved 5-0.
a.
SEDA
2014-1: A resolution approving a development agreement by and between the SEDA
and OK Stillwater Perkins, LLC.
City Manager Galloway asked to
table the resolution for the moment. The project is estimated to generate $40
million in retail sales per year, which would equal approximately $9 million in
revenue for Stillwater. The businesses proposed are types that are not located
in Stillwater, so it will not draw from other businesses.
Mayor Bartley and Galloway
discussed the details of tax increment financing (TIF) districts. Mayor Bartley
then confirmed it would not inhibit sales tax going to public schools, but
would increase the amount of funds schools would receive.
Galloway suggested an executive
session to address details concerning the proposed plan due to developer
contracts with a deadline in May.
Councilor Najera proposed a study
session to make the public more aware of what a TIF district is.
Galloway stressed the city does
not give money to the business, but gives those businesses a discount for
investing in Stillwater.
Councilor Noble wanted to clarify
the location of the development, which Galloway said was at the corner of
Lakeview and Perkins.
Mayor Bartley said the item would
not be voted on at this meeting because it was not ready yet.
SEDA
adjourned; City Council is reconvened
b.
Resolution
CC 2014-3: Resolution declaring the intent to consider approval of a project
plan and creation of a tax increment district under the Local Development Act;
direction preparation of a project plan; appointing a 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.
City Manager Galloway recommended
adopting the resolution. Resolution authorizes the creation of a TIF committee.
Mayor Bartley wanted
clarification the resolution did not create the committee, but allow for the intent to create the committee.
Council approved 5-0.
b.
Confidential
communication with city attorney regarding pending workers’ compensation claim.
Return from Executive
Session
b.
Possible
action regarding a pending workers’ compensation claim.
City Council adjourned
END
Recap
by Zachary Kinder, Marketing and Public Relations
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