Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Meeting Recap: September 16, 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 Sept. 18, 2013) - The Stillwater City Council met for its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 16, 2013. (View the meeting agenda here)

Pledge of Allegiance
a. Presented by Abigail Alred, Stillwater High School senior and national FCCLA vice president of community service.

Proclamations & Presentations
a. National Adult Day Services Week
b. Drive 4 Pledges Day - September 19, 2013
c. Constitution Week
View Proclamation photos here.

Consent Docket
a. Approval of minutes: Regular meeting, Sept. 5, 2013; Executive Session, Sept. 5, 2013
b. Library Trust annual report
c. Bid recommendation for the repair of tennis courts (CC-13-78)
d. Budget amendments reflecting revenue and expenditure of a $75,000 grant from Oklahoma Department of Libraries toward the purchase of downloadable books and audios for statewide OK Virtual Library consortium.

Council approved Consent Docket 5-0.
a. Receive public comments regarding a request from Progress Builders for a map amendment for a preliminary planned unit development at 1400 N. Boomer Road (Postponed from Sept. 5, 2013) (See staff memo to postpone to Oct. 7, 2013)

Council moved to postpone item 'a' 5-0.

General Orders
a. Bid results for the west college sewer line replacement project, phase I (CC-13-77)

Brandon Neal, Water Utilities engineer, presented the bid results for the sewer line replacement project to the Council. Neal started with a recap on the location and details of the project. The project is a complete sewer system replacement project for the area bounded by Sixth and University avenues and Walnut and Blakeley streets plus the additional replacement of a trunk line from Blakeley to Jefferson streets.

Neal said Water Utilities advertised for bids in accordance with the purchasing manual and the requirements for the Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) project. Eleven eligible bidders came to the prebid meeting and received one bid. Neal said the bid came in higher than the engineers' original estimate. After asking former bid candidates what they thought of the project, Neal said one of the issues with the project was a matter of timing the City's project with other projects, which explains the one bid. 

Councilor Joe Weaver asked Neal when Water Utilities is planning to start the project. Neal said the project will begin after Oklahoma State University homecoming (after Oct. 19, 2013).

Neal said another unusual aspect about this project is that it includes plumbing work. Because the project moves services lines, Water Utilities will have to reroute affected residents' service lines from their backyards to front yards. There are also challenges in it being a heavy traffic area, school being in session and working within the scheduling restraints of the CBDG grant.

Councilor Gina Noble asked what restraints the CDBG enforces to the time period of the project. Valerie Silvers, grants coordinator for the City of Stillwater, said the grant must be 100 percent expended by August 2014.

Neal said that although the bid price was higher than expected it appears to be a real price and that it doesn't appear that the City would get a better price if it came back to do the project. The City of Stillwater has not worked with McGuire Brothers in the past but Neal said they came well recommended by the City engineer and the bid met all the requirements of the contract documents. Neal said the City engineer also recommended in writing that the Council award the contract to McGuire Brothers.

Councilor Cody Scott asked if it were a possibility for the City to split up the plumbing work and contracting work to reduce costs or if it was necessary to engineer them together. Neal said the City looked at a similar option but one of the key benefits of going to one contractor is that the contractor has sole responsibility of the destiny of the project. Also, to qualify for  reimbursement from the CDBG project, the customers have to take benefit of the improvement, meaning the pipeline must be constructed and the service line must be done. Neal said having two contractors working in the same arena toward the same deadline could work but is not as simple as having only one to rely on to finish the project by the CDBG deadline.

Neal said the budget unallocated in the waste water capital fund plus the CDBG grant combined is not sufficient to conduct the project. Neal requested an additional amount of about $800,000 to complete the project. Neal said Water Utilities is proposing using funds allocated to three other projects to revise the budget to fund the west college capital project. Neal said Water Utilities would move on to the other projects when the waste water capital fund builds back up from the rate increase money.

Councilor Weaver asked what the other three projects were. Neal said the first project is the miscellaneous sewer line replacement project, the second is the Doty-Stallard sewer line replacement project and the third is the Ramsey-Hester sewer line replacement project.

Councilor Weaver asked if the miscellaneous sewer line replacement source included the funding for emergency sewer line repairs or replacements or if there was another fund to cover emergency issues. Stillwater Utilities Authority Director Dan Blankenship said those events where operational and are budgeted into the waste water operation budget. Neal said the miscellaneous sewer line replacement source includes multiple locations for repairs and some require deep excavations which are not suited to City crews and require outside contracted help. 

Mayor John Bartley asked if it was fair to assume from the staff recommendation that the west college sewer line replacement project is a higher priority to finish with the CDBG grant fund in place of the other projects. Neal affirmed Mayor Bartley's question, CDBG notwithstanding. 

City Manager Dan Galloway said it is one of the City's higher priority areas that need to be refurbished. Galloway said the bid would be the same with or without the CDBG grant and taking advantage of the savings from using it is another priority. Galloway said the additional funding is still from the capital improvement fund for sewer but is just reshuffled. Galloway said the City will recover the funding and be back on track in a few months.

Councilor Scott asked how soon the additional projects were anticipated to start. Neal said Water Utilities is still planning to advertise for bids on the miscellaneous sewer line replacement projects later this year. The other two projects were a few months out but an engineer has yet to be selected. 

Councilor Scott inquired to the Council if there was another way to help fund the project without taking funding from the other three projects. 

Councilor Noble reaffirmed that it was staff recommendation to postpone the other three projects to help fund the west college sewer line replacement project. Neal confirmed Councilor Noble's question.

Councilor Weaver asked what sewer line disruption residents would face during the project. Neal said the old line will remain in service during construction of the new line. Customers may experience shut off for a few hours when the new line is connected to the pre-existing line.

Staff recommended that Council authorize the use of the $117,059 CDBG funds for a portion of the work of the subject project, that the contract be awarded to McGuire Brothers Construction Inc., authorize staff to execute the construction contract in the amount of $2,372,451, authorize expenditures up to $2,633,421 for the completion of the project, including contingency and other miscellaneous costs (will be addressed in Stillwater Utilities Authority as well).

Council moved to approve staff recommendation 5-0.

a. (first reading)
i) Ordinance No. 3240: An ordinance authorizing the sale of a certain parcel of property located at 4220 N. Perkins Road; providing for citizen initiated referendum of said sale in accordance with section 4-2 of the city charter (read title only).

Council approved 5-0.

b. (second reading)
i) Ordinance No. 3238: An ordinance closing utility easements at a property addressed as 711 W. Peaceable Acres Road.

Council approved 5-0.

ii) Ordinance No. 3239: An ordinance rezoning a tract of land located at 4599 N. Washington St. from CB-PUD, commercial business planned unit development, to RTM-PUD, two family and multi-family planned unit development.

Council approved 5-0.

Reports from Officers and Boards
City Manager Galloway - Said he would be in Tulsa for about two and a half days this week representing Stillwater in the Oklahoma Municipal League's annual conference. Next week he will attend the International City Manager's Association conference Monday through Wednesday.

Mayor Bartley - Wished Councilor Weaver a happy birthday and announced that Councilor Weaver would be on Radio KSPI 780 at 8:15 a.m. and that Mayor Bartley would be on Triple Play Radio Thursday and next Tuesday. 

City Council is adjourned; Stillwater Utilities Authority is called to order.

Consent Docket
a. Approval of minutes: Regular Meeting, Sept. 5, 2013

Trustees approved 4-1. Councilor Weaver abstained.

General Orders
a. Bid results for the west college sewer line replacement project, phase I (SUA-13-36)

Trustees approved 4-1. Councilor Scott voted 'No'.
SUA is adjourned: Stillwater Economic Development Authority is called to order.

a. Regular Meeting: Aug. 13, 2013
b. Executive Session: Aug. 13, 2013

Council approved 5-0.
a. Request for an executive session pursuant to 25 0.S. 307 (C) (10) for the purpose of considering a Business Improvement District #1 business development advance incentive agreement between Stillwater Economic Development Authority and Odd Fellows Group, LLC.

Mayor Bartley confirmed with City Manager Galloway that an executive session was not necessary for item 'a' and that a presentation would be given instead. Galloway said the discussion was fairly brief. Galloway said the Business Improvement District #1 has a standing policy that if a newly created or expanding business can apply for an incentive development of either a sales tax rebate or, if they own the property, grant the BID mortgage on the property they can qualify for an upfront interest loan that will be repaid by the sales tax rebate.

Ford Development, LLC and Stone Development, LLC have formed a new corporation called Odd Fellows Group, LLC, named after the Odd Fellows building at the corner of Fifth and Main, which they have purchased. Galloway said it would house Keystone Food Services, a retail sales tax generating business. Galloway said they have applied for a $42,500 incentive agreement which is for the development of parking facilities on the north side of the property and repaving the parking facilities on the west side.

Galloway said the agreement would be that of the new sales tax generated, an amount equal to one percent of the sales tax would go to defray the loan over a period of five years. At the end of five years, if they have not generated enough new sales to retire the debt, the balance would be due in pay to the City with an interest rate of two percent.  

Galloway requested the SEDA Council prepare the agreement and authorize its signature.

Councilor Weaver asked where the existing food business is currently located. Galloway said he did not remember the exact address but that the City has authorized their tax returns and that they do catering food services for OSU and the University of Oklahoma as well across the state. Galloway said only the sales that occur in Stillwater are the basis of the agreement.

Councilor Noble asked if this would be the company's second location or new location. Galloway said the company is expanding and it would be its new location.

Council approved request 5-0.

SEDA is adjourned


END


Recap by Meagan Kascsak, Marketing and Public Relations.


*****

Next City Council work session is Sept. 23, 2013, beginning at 5:30 p.m. This meeting will not 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).

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Meeting Recap: September 5, 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 Sept. 7, 2013) - The Stillwater City Council met for its regular meeting Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. (View the meeting agenda here)

Note: Councilors Cody Scott and Joe Weaver were not present at the Sept. 5, 2013, City Council and Stillwater Utilities Authority meetings.

Pledge of Allegiance
a. Presented by McKenzi Ormsbee, Stillwater High School Student Council vice president

Proclamations & Presentations
a. National Recovery Month
b.Recognition of Waste Management employee Matt Anson

View Proclamation photos here.
Consent Docket
a. Approval of minutes: Regular meeting, Aug. 19, 2013

Consent Docket approved by Council 3-0.

Public Hearings
a. Receive public comments regarding a request from Progress Builders for a map amendment for a preliminary planned unit development at 1400 N. Boomer Road (See staff memo to postpone this item to Sept. 16, 2013).
Council moved to postpone item 'a' 3-0.
b. Receive public comments regarding a request for a text amendment to the City of Stillwater land development code (See staff memo to dismiss this item).


General Orders
a. City of Stillwater quarterly financial reports (CC-13-76)

Marcy Lamb, chief financial officer for the City of Stillwater, addressed the Council on the City's fourth quarter performance of the fiscal year 2012-2013.

b. Design contract for reconstruction/maintenance of city bridges (CC-13-74)

Transportation Department Manager Jason Peek, Ph.D., led the Council through a presentation for a recommended design contract award to BKL Inc. to provide professional services on the maintenance of city bridges. The recommendation includes projects regarding potential reconstruction or rehabilitation of bridges and multiple bridge maintenance for six selected bridges.

Council moved to approve staff recommendation 3-0.

c. License agreement between the City of Stillwater and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (CC-13-75)

External Services Director John McClenny addressed the Council on an agreement between the City of Stillwater and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) to renovate an unused portion of the old naval reserve center at Couch Park for the DPS to operate drivers' license testing five days a week and to share a portion of the parking lot at Whittenberg Park for commercial license testing in exchange for a monthly license fee to the City of Stillwater. The DPS will also provide commercial license testing at a minimum of three days a week at the renovated facility. Staff recommended the Council to budget some of the unanticipated revenue received from water sales at Lake McMurtry to fund the renovation of the facility.

Council moved to approve the budget amendment and the agreement 3-0.

d. Operations agreement between the City of Stillwater and the Stillwater Area Sports Association (CC-13-73)

McClenny informed the Council on the formation of an agreement between the City of Stillwater and the Stillwater Area Sports Association (SASA) since the group's presentation to the Councl in July. McClenny noted some of the high points of the agreement and the City's obligations in the agreement and said the City already has the funding to fund the agreement in the fiscal year budget this year. Staff recommended the Council approve the operations agreement. 

Mayor John Bartley asked McClenny if the $75,000 the City of Stillwater would provide SASA for the first quarter is less than what the City would pay if it were operating the youth and adult sports program alone. McClenny confirmed that it would be less. 

Mayor Bartley also asked if McClenny felt assured the agreement had recreational sports programming available to children. McClenny replied that availability to recreational sports programming was part of the discussions and philosophical approach of SASA and that the City Attorney made sure to word the agreement to include access to recreational sports programming.

Council moved to approve the operations agreement 3-0.

e. Letter of intent between Oklahoma Commissioners of Land Office and City of Stillwater for exchange of properties located near the intersections of Jardot and Airport Roads and Perkins and Airport Roads.

Stillwater Utilities Authority Director Dan Blankenship addressed the Council regarding the letter of intent. Blankenship said it was an interim step in the process of land exchange for the City's power generation station and said it is standard practice to enter into a letter of intent with the Oklahoma Commissioners of Land Office for this situation. Blankenship said the letter of intent does not obligate the City but lays out the general terms of the agreement by allowing the mayor to sign the letter of intent to begin the process of swapping the land in the future. Staff recommended the Council approve the mayor to sign the letter of intent.

Council moved to approve staff recommendation 3-0.

a. (first reading)
i) Ordinance No. 3238: An ordinance closing utility easements at a property addressed as 711 W. Peaceable Acres Road.

Council approved 3-0.

ii) Ordinance No. 3239: An ordinance rezoning a tract of land located at 4599 N. Washington St. from CB-PUD, commercial business planned unit development, to RTM-PUD, two family and multi-family planned unit development.

Council approved 3-0.

b. (second reading)
i) Ordinance No. 3237: An ordinance amending the Stillwater Municipal Code by repealing chapter 39, taxation, article III, sales and use tax, division 6, transportation sales tax, sections 39-238 to 39-246, to create the "2013 Transportation Sales Tax" ordinance levying a sales tax of one percent (1%); providing an effective date; designation projects on which revenues can be expended; providing for definitions, exemptions and administrative procedures; and providing for payment of obligations incurred under Ordinance No. 2923, "2006 Transportation Sales Tax."

City Manager Dan Galloway noted the ordinance could be approved by Council but would not take effect unless the ordinance is approved by the public during election day on Nov. 12, 2013.

Council approved 3-0.

Reports from Officers and Boards
City Attorney John Dorman - Request for an Executive Session pursuant to 25 O.S. 307 (B)(4) for the purpose of confidential communication with the City Attorney regarding a pending workers' compensation claim filed by Stephen H. Hall. It is the opinion of the City Attorney that public disclosure of this matter will seriously impair the ability of the City Council to process this claim and/or conduct an investigation and/or to prosecute/defend any resulting litigation or proceeding in the public interest.

Mayor Bartley - Noted that Vice Mayor Chuck Hopkins would be on The Bill Van Ness Show Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 8:15 a.m., KSPI 780.

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

Consent Docket
a. Approval of minutes: Regular Meeting Aug. 19, 2013
b. Contract extension for uniform rental services (SUA-13-35)

Trustees approved Consent Docket 3-0.

Resolutions
a. Resolution SUA-2013-4: A resolution amending the City of Stillwater residential waste collection rate structure

Waste Management Manager Chris Knight informed the Trustees on requests from customers outside city limits on having another option than 96-gallon carts on trash cart size now that the City is offering curbside recycling. Knight said the amendment allows outside customers to choose from the three cart sizes and offers price break incentives similar to those customers inside city limits receive. Staff recommended the Trustees approve the new rate structure for residential trash service. 

Trustees approved staff recommendation 3-0. 


SUA is adjourned. City Council is reconvened. 

Executive Session
Councilor Gina Noble moved to enter into executive session. Vice Mayor Hopkins seconded the motion.

Council approved Executive Session 3-0.

Return From Executive Session

Council approved item 3-0.


END


Recap by Meagan Kascsak, Marketing and Public Relations.


*****

Next City Council meeting is Sept. 16, 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).

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Meeting Recap: August 19, 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 Aug. 20, 2013) - The Stillwater City Council met for its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. (View the meeting agenda here) 




Note: Councilor Cody Scott was not present at the Aug. 19, 2013, City Council and Stillwater Utilities Authority meetings. 

Consent Docket
Item 'c' was removed from the consent docket.
Consent Docket approved by Council 4-0.

Public Comment On Agenda Items Not Scheduled For Public Hearing 

Their were two requests to speak on agenda items. The first speaker spoke in regards to Resolution No. 2013-13 and the second speaker spoke in support of Resolution No. 2013-15.

Items Removed From Consent Docket / Public Hearings
Item 'c': Closing of utility easements at 711 W. Peaceable Acres (CC-13-72)

City Attorney John Dorman confirmed the request for the public hearing on item 'c' was sent with good notice and the item was meant for public hearing but was placed in the wrong category on the meeting's agenda.

Patty Evans, Development Services, addressed the Council on the closing of utility easements on the property. Evans said this property will be developed into The Ranch. Findings showed the easements must be closed for the development of the property as a retirement community and any needed easements will be dedicated at the time of development.

There were no requests for public hearing. Staff recommendation approved the closing of the easements.

Council approved staff recommendation 4-0.

General Orders
a. City of Stillwater Design and Construction Standards revision (CC-13-71) (Resolution No. 3013-12)

Brandon Neal, Water Utilities engineer, addressed the Council on two sets of minor revisions. The first was minor changes to transportation details and the second was a change from cast iron lids to a plastic lid which is almost transparent to the radio frequencies of the new city automated water readers to be used in places that need a tougher lid to cover the readers.

Council approved revisions 4-0. 



Resolutions
a. Resolution No. 2013-12: A resolution of the Stillwater City Council adopting revisions to the Stillwater Design and Construction Standards.

Council approved resolution item 'a' 4-0.

b. Resolution No. 2013-13: A resolution of support for H.R. 684 regarding marketplace fairness.

City Manager Dan Galloway said the resolution was one supported by the Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) to allow the City to retain local tax revenues from online vendor purchases. Galloway recommended the Council approve the resolution.

Council approved resolution item 'b' 4-0.

c. Resolution No. 2013-14: A resolution conveying to the U.S. Congress and the president of the United States a municipal position on the preservation of tax-exempt municipal financing.

City Manager Galloway said the resolution was also supported by the OML. Galloway said there is some discussion in federal government of removing municipal tax exemption on municipal bonds. Galloway said interest rates on such bonds will rise if tax exemption is removed and there will be no advantage to issuing loans to cities. Galloway recommended the Council approve the resolution.

Council approved resolution item 'c' 4-0.


d. Resolution No. 2013-15: A resolution authorizing the calling and holding of an election in the City of Stillwater, State of Oklahoma, for the purpose of submitting to the registered qualified electors of said city the questions of (i) the issuance of general obligation bonds by said city in an amount not to exceed the sum of $20 million ($20,000,000) for the purpose of constructing and equipping of a baseball/softball/soccer facility in the vicinity of Sangre and Richmond roads, the construction and equipping of an outdoor amphitheatre, boardwalk and lakefront development sites at Boomer Lake Park, all to be owned exclusively by said city, and levy and collect an annual tax, said city for the payment of principal interest on said bonds; and (ii) the issuance of general obligation bonds by said city in an amount not to exceed the sum of $7.5 million ($7,500,000) for the purpose of constructing and equipping a new fire station, purchase of a new fire engine, purchase of new police vehicles, purchase of video equipment for said vehicles and purchase of upgrades and enhancements to the public safety communications system, all to be owned exclusively by said city, and levy and collect an annual tax, in addition to all other taxes, upon all taxable property in said city for the payment of principal and interest on said bonds.

City Attorney Dorman said the resolution would call the November 12 election for the proposed bonds for the 'Our Stillwater' initiative. 

Council approved resolution item 'd' 4-0.

e. Resolution No. 2013-16: A resolution proposing adoption of Ordinance No. 3237 amending the Stillwater Municipal Code by repealing chapter 39, taxation, article III, sales and use tax, division six, transportation sales tax, sections 39-238 to 39-246, to create the "2013 transportation sales tax" ordinance levying a sales tax of one percent; providing an effective date; designating projects on which revenues can be expended; providing for definitions, exemptions and administrative procedures; and providing for payment of obligations incurred under Ordinance No. 2923, "2006 transportation sales tax." 

City Attorney Dorman said the resolution was the sales tax authorization for the transportation component of the 'Our Stillwater' initiative.

Council approved resolution item 'e' 4-0.

a. (first reading)
i) Ordinance No. 3237: An ordinance amending the Stillwater Municipal Code by repealing chapter 39, taxation, article three, sales and use tax, division six, transportation sales tax, sections 39-238 to 39-246, to create the "2013 transportation sales tax" ordinance levying a sales tax of one percent providing an effective date, designating projects on which revenues can be expended; providing for definitions, exemptions and administrative procedures; and providing for payment of obligations incurred under Ordinance No. 2923, "2006 transportation sales tax."

Council approved 4-0.

b. (second reading)
i) Ordinance No. 3236: An ordinance amending chapter 23, land development code, article six, land use classifications, division five, industrial districts, amending section 23-160, IL Light Industrial District. 

Council approved 4-0.

Reports from Officers and Boards
City Manager Galloway - In response to a comment from a speaker during the public comment portion of the meeting, Galloway said not all the information was presented to the public on the 'Our Stillwater' initiative because it would have been premature to do so before an election was called. Now that the election is called for Nov. 12, Galloway said the city will begin providing information packets, public meetings and provide information online soon.

Galloway also reminded residents that Resolution No. 2013-16 levied a transportation sales tax of one cent while also repealing the former 2006 half-cent transportation sales tax, so the net affect of the resolution is asking for one additional half-cent.

City Council is adjourned; Stillwater Utilities Authority is called to order.

Consent Docket
a. Approval of minutes: Regular Meeting Aug. 5, 2013
b. Bid recommendation for the purchase of new rear-load refuse collection vehicle (SUA-13-32)
c. Sole source purchase for disassembly and removal of a 138 kV (138,000 volts) to 69 kV (69,000 volts) transmission substation transformer located at Kinzie Substation (SUA-13-31)

Trustees approved Consent Docket 4-0.


General Orders
a. Authorize the General Manager to proceed with the electric power generation station project (SUA-13-34).

i) Enter into a professional services agreement with Burns & McDonnell for power generation station engineering design and bidding services and authorize expenditures up to $4.5 million for the services.

ii) Complete the land swap/acquisition process with the state commissioners of the land office for the acquisition of approximately 25 acres located at the northwest corner of Jardot Road and Airport Road in exchange for approximately 12.25 acres on N. Perkins Road, located on the west side of Perkins Road approximately mid-way between Airport and Richmand roads, which will be subject to future consideration by the City Council, and 

iii) Work with JP Morgan as the bond underwriter to prepare a bond offering, which will be subject to future consideration by the Trustees.

SUA Director Dan Blankenship addressed the Trustees regarding the electric power generation station project with the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA). Blankenship said the three steps outlined in item 'a' is not a commitment to build the plant but rather takes the next step in collecting more data to determine if it is financially feasible to make the commitment. Blankenship suggested the Trustees approve the general order.



Trustees approved 4-0.

b. Water Utilities American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project completion summary (SAU-13-33).

Water Utilities Director Anthony Daniel presented a brief report and presentation to the Trustees on the completed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project and how residents benefited from the ARRA loan.

SUA Director Blankenship spoke on behalf of the project and his appreciation for Daniel's dedication toward the project. 

Mayor John Bartley thanked city staff for their hard work on the project and congratulated them on its completion.

View Photos of ARRA Project Presentation


SUA is adjourned.


END


Recap by Meagan Kascsak, Marketing and Public Relations.


*****

Next City Council meeting is Sept. 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).

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Meeting Recap: August 5, 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 Aug. 7, 2013) - The Stillwater City Council met for its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (View the meeting agenda here).

Proclamations & Presentations
View photos 
 a. American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study 
Consent Docket approved by Council 5-0.

Public Hearings
a. Receive public input regarding a request for a Specific Use Permit for a proposed conventional single-family use in the RTM (Residential Two-Family and Multi-Family) District to be located at 724 W. 10th Ave. (CC-13-69)

Patty Evans, Development Services, addressed the Council regarding the request. Evans said the property owner requested the Specific Use Permit (SUP) to replace a house that had been demolished on the property. Findings for the request showed single-family residences are allowed on land zoned as RTM with a SUP and the surrounding neighborhood consists of single-family, two-family and multi-family uses. 

Planning Commission recommended the Council approve the SUP as presented.

Council approved Planning Commission's recommendation 5-0.

General Orders
a. Capital Improvement Plan financing proposal

City Manager Dan Galloway addressed the Council regarding the planned projects and estimated price of those projects in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Galloway first described package one, "Parks Development and Redevelopment," of the recommended CIP projects, which included a sports field complex and construction of an amphitheater and park and boardwalk development along Boomer Lake.

Package two, "Public Safety," consisted of the construction of a new fire station in east Stillwater to relocate a pre-existing station, purchasing an addtional fire engine, expanding and upgrading the police department vehicle fleet and designing and installing upgrades to citywide emergency services voice and data communications systems.

Package three, "Transportation Funding," included street and road annual repair and replacement to maintain overall average street condition, replace and upgrade traffic signals and signage, trail maintenance and expansion, bike trail and bike way maintenance and signage, pedestrian traffic accommodations and street capacity enhancements to accommodate traffic growth.

Galloway then discussed the capital improvement financial needs summary for the CIP projects. Potential funding sources included sales tax, fees, property tax and grants. Galloway explained the first two packages could be candidates for certain general obligation bonds and the most logical form of revenue for the third package would be a dedicated sales tax.

Galloway also explained the current property tax in Stillwater and the property tax distribution to Stillwater Public Schools, Payne County, Meridian Technology Center and the City of Stillwater. The sales tax of the 17 largest cities in Oklahoma excluding Oklahoma City and Tulsa were also compared.

In his recommendation to Council, Galloway asked the Council to call an election and present three funding questions to the voters asking voters to approve a 20-year general obligation bod for $20 million for the "Park Development" package, approve a 10-year general obligation bond for $7.5 million for the "Public Safety" package and approve a permanent one cent dedicated transportation sales tax which will replace the existing half-cent transportation sales tax. Additional recommendations included considering the financing options in the shortest practical time frame and request the City Attorney to prepare the necessary resolution for an election for all three questions to be considered by the Council at the regular City Council meeting scheduled Aug. 19, 2013. 

Vice Mayor Chuck Hopkins commented that the planned projects may indicate an increased sales tax in the future which will offset some of the costs as Stillwater provides more quality of life improvements to the community. Galloway responded that there are direct and indirect benefits to the community and economy stemmed from these projects.

Councilor Cody Scott asked if a funding would be available immediately should a general obligation bond be approved in an election this November. Galloway responded that should the general obligation bond be approved in election, it would mean the voters approved the city to receive the noted amount of money through the sale of bonds. Should it pass in November, the city could start structuring the financing and sale of the bonds and make recommendations for project bids.

Mayor John Barley asked Galloway if the annual property tax distribution graph was based on properties located within city limits only. Galloway confirmed the graph data was based only on properties within city limits.

Councilor Gina Noble moved to instruct Council to prepare a resolution for the Aug. 19, 2013 Council meeting to call for a Nov. 12, 2013 election on the three proposed recommendations for the CIP projects. Councilor Joe Weaver seconded the motion.

Council approved the motion 5-0.

a. (first reading)
i) Ordinance No. 3236: An ordinance amending Chapter 23, Land Development Code, Article VI, Land Use Classifications, Division 5, Industrial Districts, amending Section 23-160, IL Light Industrial District 

Council approved 5-0.

b. (second reading)
NONE

Reports from Officers and Boards
City Attorney - Requested an Executive Session pursuant to 25 O.S. 307 (B)(4) for the purpose of confidential communication with the City Attorney regarding a Workers' Compensation claim filed by Brian Porter. It is the opinion of the City Attorney that public disclosure of this matter will seriously impair the ability of the City Council to process this claim and/or conduct an investigation and/or prosecute/defend any resulting litigation or proceeding in the public interest.

City Manager Galloway - Asked everyone to keep Marcy Alexander, chief financial officer for the City of Stillwater, in their thoughts and prayers in regards to a family emergency.

Vice Mayor Hopkins - Commended city staff and the Council for putting the CIP package together.

Mayor Bartley - Reminded everyone to listen for Council on the Bill Van Ness show, 780 KSPI, at 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, and Mayor Bartley would be on Triple Play radio at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Appointments
a. Airport Authority

Mayor Bartley nominated Russ Teubner to fill the first vacancy on the Airport Authority. Conuncilor Weaver seconded the nomination.

Council approved nomination 5-0.

Mayor Bartley nominated Jerry Franklin to fill the second vacancy on the Airport Authority. Councilor Noble seconded the nomination.

Council approved nomination 5-0.

b. Board of Drainage Appeals

Mayor Bartley nominated Charles Rice to be reappointed to the Board of Drainage Appeals. Vice Mayor Hopkins seconded the nomination.

Council approved nomination 5-0.

c. Building Trades Board

Mayor Bartley nominated Kyle Kelty to be reappointed to the Building Trades Board. Vice Mayor Hopkins seconded the nomination.

Council approved nomination 5-0.

d. Convention & Visitors Bureau

Mayor Bartley nominated Willie Baker and Mark Gunkel for reappointment to the Convention & Visitors Bureau. Concilor Noble seconded the nomination.

Council approved the nomination 5-0. 

Mayor Bartley nominated Matt Hull to fill the third vacancy on the Convention & Visitors Bureau. Councilor Weaver seconded the nomination.

Council approved the nomination 5-0.

e. Planning Commission

Mayor Bartley nominated Tray McCune to be reappointed to the Planning Commission. Councilor Weaver seconded the nomination.

Council approved nomination 5-0.

Mayor Bartley nominated Lori Crosby to fill the second vacancy on the Planning Commission. Vice Mayor Hopkins seconded the nomination.

Council approved nomination 5-0.

f. Sister Cities Council

Mayor Bartley nominated Jessica Yen to fill the student representative vacancy on the Sister Cities Council. Councilor Noble seconded the nomination.

Council approved the nomination 5-0.

Mayor Bartley nominated Carolyn Confer to fill the vacancy on the Sister Cities Council. Councilor Weaver seconded the nomination.

Council approved the nomination 5-0.

Mayor Bartley suggested that the term "ad hoc" be struck from the names of the committees labeled under items 'g,' 'h,' and 'i.' Mayor Bartley suggested that he and Councilor Weaver continue to serve on the Land Development Committee and asked Councilor Weaver and Vice Mayor Hopkins to continue to serve on the Capital Improvement Planning Committee. Mayor Bartley asked Councilor Noble and Councilor Scott to serve as liaison on the Oklahoma State University Student Government Association Coordinating Committee. 

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

Consent Docket
a. Approval of minutes: Regular Meeting June 24, 2013

Council approved Consent Docket 5-0.


General Orders
a. Power Purchase and Sale Agreement--Grand River Dam Authority (SUA-13-30)

Loren Smith, Generation and Transmission Division Manager, addressed the Trustees asking for approval of the purchase and sale agreement with Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA). Smith said SUA and GRDA have come to a tentative agreement which has been customized to Stillwater's situation. The proposed agreement will be in affect from Sept. 1, 2013, to May 31, 2042. The SUA will be a full-requirements customer, meaning the SUA will purchase all electricity from GRDA. GRDA's rates are governed by Oklahoma statutes which require the rates to be set on a cost of service basis. The agreement allows the SUA to own and operate electric generation resources and GRDA will purchase all power and energy generated by the SUA. 

Councilor Weaver asked whether construction of a new generating facility was part of the agreement and that the City had the right to construct a new one but was not committed to do so. Smith confirmed Councilor Weaver's interpretation.

Mayor Bartley asked if the agreement included final negotiations and alterations previously discussed at Council and with GRDA. Smith replied affirmatively. 

Dan Sullivan, CEO of Grand River Dam Authority, addressed the Council to explain the agreement and the importance of GRDA's relationship with the SUA. Sullivan also thanked Smith and SUA Director Dan Blankenship for the time and effort they put into forming the agreement with GRDA.

Councilor Weaver thanked Sullivan for his leadership in helping form the agreement between GRDA and the SUA.

Councilor Scott moved to approve the Power Purchase and Sale Agreement. Councilor Weaver seconded the motion.

Trustees approved the agreement 5-0.


SUA is adjourned; City Council is reconvened.

Executive Session
a. Confidential communication regarding a Workers' Compensation claim filed by Brian Porter.

Council approved Executive Session 5-0.



City Council returned from Executive Session.

Return from Executive Session
a. Possible action regarding a Workers' Compensation claim filed by Brian Porter.

Council approved item 'a' 5-0.

City Council adjourned.


END


Recap by Meagan Kascsak, Marketing and Public Relations.


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Next City Council meeting is Aug. 19, 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).