Meeting Recap: Nov. 17, 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. / Nov. 19, 2014) — The City of Stillwater met for a study session Monday, Nov. 17, 2014. (View agenda here.)

Pledge of Allegiance

a.       Led by Sangre Ridge student Greta Cornforth

Consent Docket

a.       Approval of minutes:                     Regular meeting                       Oct. 27, 2014

Regular meeting                       Nov. 3, 2014

b.      Rights-of-way acceptance for 6^th Avenue and Perkins Road intersection improvement project

c.       Electric easements for cell tower constructed at 5106 N. Washington St.

d.      Budget amendment for Stillwater Regional Airport to reflect grant from Conoco Phillips not included in 2015 budget

e.       Bid recommendation for the Pavement Management System joint and crack sealing project

f.       Bid recommendation for the Pavement Management System full depth concrete repair project

Public Comment on Agenda Items not Scheduled for Public Hearing

Randi Eldevik spoke about for tobacco-free public parks, and asked for an ordinance instead of a resolution. Thad Lettingwell, Gladeen Allred, David Mizell and Paula Brown all spoke in agreement of the resolution.

Scott Linderer, from OSU Prevention Programs, spoke on the tobacco-free resolution.

Public Hearings

a.       Receive public comment regarding a request for a map amendment at 202 S. Brush Creek Rd.

Motion to postpone hearing to Dec. 1 approved 5-0.

General Orders

a.       City Council committee reports

Updates from Councilor Pat Darlington on the Infrastructure and Quality of Life Committees

Mayor John Bartley reported on the committees he serves on

b.      Presentation of proposed traffic roundabout at 10th Avenue and Main Street

Transportation manager Jason Peek presented the information about installing a traffic roundabout; due to visibility issues with the intersection, a roundabout was suggested to make it safer.

City Manager Dan Galloway said research suggests roundabouts improve travel time, decrease accidents and improve pedestrian safety.

c.       Discussion of proposed ordinance or resolution prohibiting smoking in certain areas of city-owned parks

City Attorney John Dorman discussed legal options in the state of Oklahoma. The State of Oklahoma has decided these ordinances need to be uniform.

Councilor Gina Noble asked about enforcement, and called the resolution a good first step.

Resolutions

a.       Resolution No. CC-2014-14: Declaring outdoor areas within the Stillwater Parks System tobacco-free; requesting that all employees, agents and officials of the City of Stillwater and all visitors and patrons of the Stillwater Parks System refrain from using tobacco products in designated outdoor areas of the parks system; directing the City Manager to develop, install and maintain signage to notify park visitors and patrons of this policy; and directing the City Manager to implement a public-awareness campaign to inform the public about this policy

No discussion

Approved 5-0.

Ordinances

First reading

a.       Ordinance No. 3285: Amending the Stillwater city code, authorities, boards, committees, commissions, trusts, by repealing in its entirety the Stillwater Convention and Visitors Board, sections 2-169 through 2-174

Approved 5-0.

b.      Ordinance No. 3286: Amending the Stillwater city cod, miscellaneous offenses and provisions, smoking, e use of lighted tobacco in public prohibited

Not voted on; passed resolution instead.

Second reading

a.       Ordinance No. 3284: Amending the employee retirement system, defined benefit plan for retirees only of the City of Stillwater, Oklahoma to incorporate the definition of spouse; providing for effective date, providing for repealer and severability and declaring an emergency

Approved 5-0.

Reports from Officers and Boards

a.       Miscellaneous items from City Attorney

Nothing to report

b.      Miscellaneous items from City Manager

Mentioned funds to build a splash pad for Stillwater

c.       Miscellaneous items from City Council

Nothing to report

Appointments

a.       Sister Cities Council

Bartley nominated Becky Irby, Nelda Helt, Larry Jones, John Mills, Cindy Petree and Carolyn Confer for reappointment.

Judy  Nelson was nominated to fill the vacancy.

Appointments approved 5-0.

City Council adjourned

-END-

Written by Zachary Kinder, Marketing and Public Relations

Meeting Recap: Nov. 3, 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. / Nov. 5, 2014) — The City of Stillwater met for a study session Monday, Oct. 27, 2014. (View agenda here.)

Pledge of Allegiance

a.       Led by Sangre Ridge student Osker Erlich

Proclamation and Presentations

a.       Extra Mile Day

Mayor John Bartley proclaimed Nov. 1 2014 to be Extra Mile Day and encourage citizens to go the extra mile and acknowledge those who do.

Consent Docket

a.       Approval of minutes:                     Regular meeting                       Oct. 20, 2014

Executive session                    Oct. 20, 2014

b.      Lease extension for Lynro LLC dba Hangar 1 Flight Center at Stillwater Regional Airport

c.       Easements and infrastructure acceptance, 213Elm Apartments, Prime Place Phase I

Council approved 4-0.

Public Comment on Agenda Items not Scheduled for Public Hearing

Oklahoma State University’s Chief Wellness Officer Suzy Harrington commented on the tobacco free general order, and said the city could not apply to be a certified healthy community without the ordinance. In 2008, OSU became the first tobacco free university system, and it was student-driven. Harrington also commented on other tobacco free communities.

OSU assistant professor Julie Croff, director of the master of public health program at OSU, provided several statistics to support the tobacco free general order.

Payne County Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Becky Taylor said the ordinance would meet the excellent certified healthy community requirements and qualify the city for $120,000 in grants to use toward healthy initiatives.

General Orders

a.       Library Board request for supplemental budget appropriation to the FY 2015 budget for increasing library staffing

Stillwater Public Library Director Lynda Reynolds presented the request for the funds to create a library technology management position at the Stillwater Public Library.

Councilor Miguel Najera asked about a breakdown of the current technician’s time spent working on and maintaining the computers and system, and Councilor Gina Noble asked about increased demands on the time of the current technician(s).

Information Technology Manager Brad Stewart said with projects coming up requiring the support of the entire staff, the technician would not be able to devote as much time to maintaining the system at the library.

Najera asked if it might be easier to hire another person in IT. City Manager Dan Galloway commented that if the library needed full time personnel to maintain the system, it would be more efficient and cost effective to let them work under the direction of the library board.

Library Board recommended approval.

Council approved 4-0.

b.      Tobacco free presentation to request consideration of an ordinance prohibiting tobacco use within 50 ft. of a playground, picnic shelter, ball field or public gathering

External Services Director John McClenny presented the proposal for the general order.

Councilor Pat Darlington said she would like to see a time frame for developing the ordinance for measures beyond this general order. McClenny and Galloway believed a year would be an adequate time frame to measure the effectiveness of the ordinance.

Noble wanted to know what the penalties would be for violating the ordinance, which McClenny said were still being determined.  City Attorney John Dorman said the penalties could be less than or up to what the State of Oklahoma has in place.

Reverend Michael Bartley with the OSU Wesley Foundation said he looks forward to a provision that prohibits smoking on city-owned property, but is cautious of putting a 50- or 100-ft policy.

No action taken

Ordinance

First reading

a.       Ordinance No. 3284: Employee retirement system, defined benefit plan for retirees only of the City of Stillwater, Okla., to incorporate the definition of spouse; providing for effective date, providing for repealer and severability; and declaring and emergency

Council approved 4-0.

Second reading

None

Reports from Officers and Boards

a.       Miscellaneous items from City Attorney

Nothing to report

b.      Miscellaneous items from the City Manager

Galloway reminded residents to take the resident survey.

c.       Miscellaneous items from the City Council

Councilors reminded residents of Stillwater High School’s final home game this weekend. Nothing else to add.

City Council is adjourned; Stillwater Economic Development Authority called to order

General Orders

a.       Consider contract with Red Dirt DMO, Inc. for marketing and promotion of visitors to City of Stillwater

Galloway said if this contract closes, tourism would no longer be a city operation, but would be contracted through Red Dirt DMO, Inc.

Red Dirt DMO, Inc. Chairman Doug Emde was present to answer questions regarding the contract.

Council approved 4-0.

SEDA adjourned

-END-

Written by Zachary Kinder, Marketing and Public Relations