Meeting Recap: Jan. 26, 2015

(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Jan. 29, 2015) — The City of Stillwater City Council met for its regular meeting Monday, Jan. 26, 2015 (View agenda here.)

General Orders

a.       Council discussion on methods to encourage/improve public involvement and input

Councilor Pat Darlington said there are two parts to public involvement. One is getting input from the public and the other is imparting information and educating the public. She said the Council needs to be creative about how it gets information to people.

Mayor John Bartley asked how we gauge the success of a campaign to get knowledge to the public. He said resident response is the best way to gauge that, but that a lot of times residents hear it but don’t respond to it, which makes gauging success difficult. Darlington also said regular resident input is a way to measure success.

Darlington said it’s the Council’s responsibility to get information to residents and remind them it’s important to them.

Councilor Gina Nobile said we have to understand how to reach the public where they want us to reach them at. Any city is made up of many different segments, and you have to be able to communicate with them in different ways. Noble said she would like to see us try something different.

Darlington said we shouldn’t make assumptions about what people want to hear, and do our best to reach everyone.

City manager Dan Galloway suggested the City Council members meet with residents in public places, such as coffee shops, periodically to build relationships and get input. Darlington also said she wants to put an emphasis on creating relationships.

b.      Council discussion on the proposed Quality of Life Committee recommendations

Darlington said the committee would like a resolution puts quality of life and relationship with the citizens in writing and mentioned a commitment to a vision/planning process. Darlington also said she would like more than one meeting to discuss it.

Bartley said discussions have taken place to schedule a strategic planning session.  

Vice Mayor Joe Weaver pointed out that quality of life is defined differently by different members of the public, but was in favor of the proposed resolution.

Noble said two-way communication is the goal. 

Public Comment on Agenda Items not Scheduled for Public Hearing

One person spoke.

City Council is adjourned

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Written by Zachary Kinder, Marketing and Public Relations

Meeting Recap: Jan. 22, 2015

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. / Jan. 27, 2015) — The City of Stillwater City Council met for its regular meeting Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 (View agenda here.)

Pledge of Allegiance

a.       Led by Westwood Elementary student Kyra Shellhammer

Consent Docket

a.       Approval of minutes:                                 Regular meeting           Jan. 5, 2015

b.      Sheerar Museum quarterly report

Council approved 4-0.

General Orders

a.       Consider entering into an inter-local agreement with Payne Country for a structural overlay on Lakeview Road (Country Club Road to city limits west of Western Road)

Transportation Manager Jason Peek presented the request.

City Manager Dan Galloway commented that it was a good relationship to help resurface the roads.

Council approved 4-0.

b.      Presentation by City Attorney regarding possible oil and gas ordinance changes

Resolutions

a.       Resolution No. CC-2015-2: A resolution adopting an amended and restated trust indenture for Stillwater Medical Center Authority as reflected in Exhibit A attached to this resolution, which amended and restated trust indenture (i) amends Article VI to increase size of the board trustees and change the manner of selection of trustees; (ii) amends Article VII regarding the issuance of indebtedness and obligations and limitations thereto; and (iii) makes certain other non-material changes

Mayor John Bartley said the first change adds a trustee to the board and a requirement for a medical official on the board who’s a nonvoting member. The second change creates a nominating committee created of equal number of people from the Council and hospital. Another change gives City Council access to financial records, but not medical or other records. The final change affects the hospital’s ability to borrow.

Councilor Gina Noble clarified it would not remove any of the Council’s authority.

Councilor Pat Darlington received comments on the resolution, and said she appreciated public input.

Councilors approved 4-0.

Public Hearing

a.       Receive public comment regarding a Text Amendment to the Land Development Code, Section 23-170 Agriculture District (Report pending Jan. 20, 2015 meeting of Land Development Committee)

Development Services Director Paula Dennison resented the amendment that would eliminate surface mining from Agriculture Districts inside city limits, but does not change nonsurface rights or other Agriculture District uses.

Councilor Miguel Najera asked how it affected those who already have mining. Dennison said it becomes a legally nonconforming use of the land, and can continue under certain criteria.

Bartley asked if it addressed types of mineral extraction. Dennison said it only affects surface-level mining activity

Six people spoke in favor of the amendment and two spoke against.

Noble asked for clarification for current wells in Agriculture Districts.

Najera said there was already a barrier in place to prevent mining without this amendment.

Bartley said he felt the amendment was too broad and wanted something more specific to protect residents. 

City Attorney John Dorman recommended buffering, nuisance and security ordinances in regard to this amendment.

Ordinances

First reading

a.       Ordinance No. 3294: An ordinance amending the Stillwater City Code, by amending Chapter 23, Land Development Code, Article VI, Land Use Classifications, Division 6, Agriculture District, Public District and University District, by amending Section 23-170, A Agriculture District, and declaring and emergency

Council voted 2-2, with Bartley and Najera voting against. Bartley explained the ordinance was too broad.

Reports from Officers andBoards

a.       Miscellaneous items from the City Attorney

Nothing to add

b.      Miscellaneous items from the City Manager

Nothing to add

c.       Miscellaneous items from the City Council

Nothing to add.

Appointments

a.       Stillwater Regional Airport Authority

b.      Stillwater Medical Center Board

Noble asked for these appointments to be postponed until the next Council meeting.

City Council adjourned; Stillwater Utilities Authority called to order

Consent Docket

a.       Bid recommendation for the purchase of air valves for the Kaw Water Line Air Valve Improvements Project

b.      Bid recommendation for the purchase of fleet management software

c.       Bid recommendation for the purchase of air compressors for the Power Generation Station

d.      Bid recommendation for the purchase of the Natural Gas Filter Coaslescer for the Power Generation Station

Trustees approved 4-0.

SUA adjourned; Stillwater Economic Development Authority called to order

Consent Docket

a.       Approval of minutes:                     Regular meeting           Dec. 15, 2014

Council approved 4-0.

General Orders

a.       *Discussion of process and calendar for review of Downtown Mixed Use Project proposals

Galloway presented information about the three proposals for the project. He proposed having a couple members of SEDA review the proposals and plan the next step. Bartley recommended Najera and Vice Mayor Joe Weaver for the committee.

SEDA adjourned

-END-

Written by Zachary Kinder, Marketing and Public Relations

SUA Special Meeting Recap

(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Jan. 27, 2015) — The Stillwater Utilities Authority met for a special meeting Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 (View agenda here.)

General Orders

a.       Trustees roundtable discussion with Raftelis regarding the Water and Wastewater Cost of Service Study

Utilities Authority Director Dan Blankenship presented the goal of the study, which was to determine the cost of providing these services to the community and establish a rate structure that would reasonably ensure sustainable systems to meet the needs of current and future customers.

Raftelis Senior Manager Tom Beckley presented the report. Raftelis developed three different scenarios:

• Scenario 1 – No rate increases
• Scenario 2 – Just in time rate increases
• Scenario 3 – Smoothed rate increases

Beckley presented how each of these scenarios would affect both water and wastewater rates and how it would affect revenue goals. He said using scenario 3 for water and scenario 2 for wastewater would produce the lowest rate increases for customers while still meeting city revenue goals.

Beckley then presented six volume rate structures

• Uniform volume rate – Same rate year-round
• Seasonal volume rate – Rate varies depending on season
• Declining block volume rate – Declining rate as larger volume is used
• Inclining block volume rate – Inclining rate as larger volume is used (helpful for conservation)
• Individualized volume rate – Based on average winter consumption on a block basis
• Water budget – More complicated format based on weather patterns

Rate Design Options:

Water Options:

• Existing structure – Any changes to revenue recovery will be implemented through an across the board increase of all current fees and rates
• Alternative 1: Increasing block rates – Volumetric rate will increase for residential customers and consumption increases through the defined blocks
• Alternative 2: Increasing block rates based on avg. winter consumption – First usage block will be based on customer’s average winter consumption (AWC), and additional usage tiers will be based on a factor of AWC.

Wastewater Options:

• Existing structure – Any changes to revenue recovery will be implemented through an across the board increase of all current fees and rates
• Alternative 1: Base charges by meter size – All customer will be required to pay a minimum charge based on the size of their water meter, similar to the current water rate structure; charge increases as meter size increases (uniform volumetric rate)
• Alternative 2: Uniform rates by class – Some (or all) non-residential customers will be placed in a class whole uniform rate reflects the higher strength loadings of their effluent (Ex. restaurants, automobile service facilities, laundromats)

-End-

Written by Zachary Kinder, Marketing and Public Relations

Meeting Recap: Jan. 5, 2015

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. / Jan. 6, 2015) — The City of Stillwater City Council met for its regular meeting Monday, Jan. 5, 2015 (View agenda here.)

Pledge of Allegiance

Proclamations and Presentations

a.       Kids Kick Obesity Day 2015

Consent Docket

a.       Approval of meetings                                Regular meeting           Dec. 15, 2014

Executive session        Dec. 15, 2014

b.      2015 CDBG Citizen Participation Plan, Minority/Women Business Enterprises (M/WBE) Utilization Plan, City of Stillwater Fair Housing Plan, Affirmative Marketing Plan, and Anti-Displacement/Relocation Plan grant related documents

c.       Bid recommendation for the purchase of a fuel storage tank at Stillwater Regional Airport

Council approved 5-0.

Public Hearings

a.       Receive public comment regarding the Environmental Review and Assessment and Request for Release of Funds for the 2014 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) State Small Cities project

Council approved 5-0.

Ordinances

First reading

a.       Ordinance No. 3293 (Title Only): An ordinance granting to One Gas, Inc. acting by and through its Oklahoma natural gas company division, and its successors and assigns, for a period of twenty-five (25) years from approval and acceptance of this ordinance, a non-exclusive franchise and right to enter the public ways to install, operate and maintain a distribution system within, along, across, over and under the public ways of the city of Stillwater, Oklahoma for the transportation, distribution and/or sale of gas to consumers and the public generally in the city; defining the words and phrases therein; providing for assignment, sale or lease of the franchise; providing that the City may enact an ordinance charging persons transporting gas through grantee’s distribution system a fee on the calculated value of such transported gas; providing for use and repair of the public ways; providing for regulation of service; establishing depth of pipelines; establishing rights and duties in the movement and alteration of pipelines; providing for indemnification of the City of Stillwater; providing for grantee’s rules and regulations; providing for inspection of grantee’s records; requiring grantee to pay a franchise fee and other compensation and the conditions of such payment; providing for a right of first refusal upon sale of the distribution system; providing the time for performance by grantee; providing for recover of attorney’s fees; providing for conditions of the franchise; providing for termination of the franchise upon breach of certain provisions; providing for construction of this ordinance up on the invalidity of any part thereof; providing for the submission of this ordinance to an election of the qualified voters of the city; providing for acceptance of this franchise by grantee and both an effective and an operative date thereof; repealing all other ordinance in conflict herewith and superseding ordinance No. 2369; and providing for severability of provision and applicability of headings

Council approved 5-0.

Second reading

a.       Ordinance No. 3288: Ordinance closing utility easement at property addressed as 711 W. 4^th Ave.  and 402 S. Hester St.

Council approved 5-0.

b.      Ordinance No. 3289: Ordinance rezoning tract of land commonly known as the Lakeview Ridge Addition, first section, second section, third section and fourth section for RTM (two-family and multi-family residential district) to RSS ( small lot, single-family residential district)

Council approved 5-0.

c.       Ordinance No. 3290: Ordinance rezoning tract of land located at 2123 W. 12^th Ave. from RSS (small lot, single-family residential district) and A (agriculture district) to RSS

Council approved 5-0.

d.      Ordinance No. 3291: Ordinance rezoning tract of land located at 101 N. Jardot Rd. from RSS (small lot, single-family residential district) and A (agriculture district) to RSS

Council approved 5-0.

e.       Ordinance No. 3292: Ordinance rezoning tract of land located at 202 S. Brush Creek Rd. from RSS (small lot, single-family residential district) to A (agriculture district)

Council approved 5-0.

Reports from Officers and Boards

a.       Miscellaneous items from the City Attorney

Nothing to report.

b.      Miscellaneous items from the City Manager

The City of Stillwater received three proposals for the downtown Stillwater commercial mixed-use development, which are being evaluated.

c.       Miscellaneous items from the City Council

Vice Mayor Joe Weaver asked about ordinances for drilling next to neighborhoods.

Councilor Pat Darlington mentioned the quality of life committee study session on Jan. 26, and Councilor Gina Noble encouraged the public to attend.

City Council is adjourned.

-END-

Written by Zachary Kinder, Marketing and Public Relations