City Council - Regular Meeting

I mean, the ticker was ticking, but yeah.

Good morning. We're going to get started this morning with an invocation led by Pastor Ren Shuffman of Freedom Fellowship Church. And that will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Levi Madeline Asher and Hannah Peck representing Scouting America Troops 177 and 6177. Please stand as you are able.

It's an honor to be with you guys again. Let me pray. Heavenly Father, creator of the universe, Lord, we thank you and we beseech you this day. Father, would you help lead these men and women as they lead our great city? Father, the word says that what I bless is blessed and what I curse is cursed. And so today I speak blessing over this council, over their leadership, over this city. Lord, as we step into a year where we celebrate 250 years as a nation, Lord, by men who put you first, by leaders who sought your voice, your counsel, and your wisdom. Lord, would that be the standard again? Would that be the call that your wisdom, your will, your plan for our city would be adopted? would be carried, Father. Lord, would heaven rain on earth here through our leadership? Would you give them wise counsel? Would you give them great plans? Would you give them a future vision, Lord, to see how great our city could be, that this city would be an example to the nation? Lord, that our values, that our systems, that our hearts are to be followed, that it would be a standard for our nation, Lord. Would you bless every area of our government, Lord, as the kingdom of heaven rules and reigns in this place, Lord. Let it not be the kingdom of man, but Lord, let it be your kingdom that governs this great nation, your favor that causes us to be blessed, that we would be a people set apart, that people would know your love, and your compassion in action by the way that you move through this city. Lord, that others would look and say somehow every storm that comes, they weather and they come out more favored. Father, I bless this meeting with wisdom. Lord, that your plans are done in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

You may be seated.

Thank you. Thank you, Pastor Shuffman. Thank you, Levi, Madeline, Asher, and Hannah. All right, I call this meeting of the City Council to order, and we have a presentation to make, item 3A under Office of the Mayor, and I'll make my way to the front for that. And Brooklyn, please join me. Brooklyn, you are our employee of the month. And so we would love to learn a little bit more about you. And so I'd ask the clerk to read this resolution.

Whereas Brooklyn Rogers has been a city employee for 21 years and serves as administrative specialist for the General Services Department. And whereas Brooklyn consistently demonstrates outstanding teamwork and dedication in supporting the accounts payable team through timely follow-up, thorough research, and dependable assistance on a wide variety of matters. And whereas, Brooklyn takes ownership of every concern brought to her, responding promptly, accurately, and with a commitment to finding effective solutions. And whereas, Brooklyn recently went above and beyond while assisting with a vendor statement by carefully identifying each item in question and determining the appropriate department, providing clarity where documentation was incomplete. and whereas Brooklyn's attention to detail, reliability, and willingness to exceed expectations have strengthened the accounts payable team's ability to serve city departments and vendors efficiently. and whereas Brooklyn is widely recognized by her coworkers as a trusted, dependable, and valued team member whose professionalism and positive attitude contribute to the success of the department. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Mayor and Council of the City of Oklahoma City that they do hereby thank and commend Brooklyn Rogers, July 2026, South Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club Employee of the Month.

Well, thank you. Well, Brooklyn, we're so grateful for your service as one of the 5,000 greatest city employees in the country. And we'd love to, I think as a council, commemorate that with passage of this resolution. So let's see if we can get a motion and a second. Is that coming along? I don't see anything. Do we have a motion in a second? Yes. Okay. I wish to vote aye. Cast your votes. You'll have to let me know. Passed? All right. We're going to take the word for it, Brooklyn. We think it passed.

Well, now, you said you maybe don't want to give like a whole speech.

And I said, can I just hold the microphone and you say thank you. How does that sound? Deal? Deal. All right. I would... Oh, there's more coming out than just thinking. There you go. You've warmed up. All right, here you go, Brooklyn. Okay.

Thank you. I'm so overwhelmed. But thanks for my coworkers. Thanks for showing up for me. Thank you for making it easy to go to work and... I've been in four departments and stuff, but I think general services is the longest I've been at. So thank you very much. Thanks to Accounts Payable for nominating me or something. Thank you.

Awesome. I knew you could do it. Let's hear it for Brooklyn. are still on office of the mayor uh... i have a significant number of appointments today customarily i might shout out the boards that are affected that may be uh... impractical today but it's items b through age a uh... dozens of uh... boards affected by these appointments today now there is one i'd like to pull out for a separate vote uh... just because of uh... Family relationship that one of our council members have and so let's vote on item 3 are the appointments to the Metropolitan Library Commission First if we could just get a motion on that one Motion in a second cast your votes passes unanimously. Now, the rest, if there are no questions or comments, would be items B through Q and S through AJ as a group. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. passes unanimously, and thank you for your contributions to some of these with nominations, and there'll probably be not maybe quite as many, but quite a few coming up on August 18th as well. All right, and then we have... Let's see, okay, this is for AL. All right, so we have a travel. This is item AK. This is a resolution approving travel expenses for me to attend the LA 28 Summer Local Leaders Roundtable meeting in Long Beach on August 20th. We could take a motion on that. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. passes unanimously. And then we have item AL. This is a resolution approving travel expenses for me to attend the 2026 mayors and police chiefs meeting on September 24th, as well as the US Conference of Mayors fall leadership meeting on September 24th through 26th in San Diego. Now we do have someone who signed up to speak, Nam Liu.

Hello? So, I actually originally came here for the FLOC contract renewal, and I know that's been moved, but I also saw this on the agenda. I feel like people there at this conference, there's gonna be a lot of people there, a lot of vendors there that warrant our distrust, right? I don't understand why you really need to go to this, especially right now where there's a lot of tension considering the flock vote renewal. It's already expired. I don't understand why you're continuing to delay this shit. Oh, sorry, excuse my language, but why are you continuing to delay this? Going to this is kind of a slap in the face to the Oklahoma public. I'm real concerned about what you're gonna learn from this conference. I don't really respect that at all. We're very frustrated with this flock renewal and we're very frustrated with what this conference could potentially lead towards. What technologies? I keep seeing stuff pop up everywhere. Surveillance devices. I don't know why you're smiling at me. Is it entertaining? Real entertaining, huh? Okay. I'm very frustrated with this. A lot of people in my neighborhood are frustrated with the rise of surveillance devices. This conference, I feel, is a moment where you can learn how to use more of this stuff, more contracts, how to worm your way through this stuff. I am very upset about this. That's all I have to say.

All right, thank you. We're on item 8L, and we can take a motion in a second. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes eight to one, and with the necessary six affirmative votes. Item four, items from council. We have a couple of travel resolutions here as well. Item 4A is a resolution approving expenses for council members Carter and Stonecipher to attend the National League of Cities in Nashville in November. Take a motion on that. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes eight to one and with the necessary six affirmative votes. Item 4B is a resolution approving travel expenses for Councilman Carter to attend OML Annual Conference in Tulsa in September. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item five, city manager reports. Mr. City Manager.

Thank you, Mayor. We do have the sales and use tax report on for this morning is their first sales tax check for the year for the fiscal year started off very strong. We had 4.8% growth in sales tax. We had 28% growth in use tax. I want to acknowledge that there was a correction that was made last year for the first five months of the year. There was a vendor that was being remitted to the wrong city that got corrected. I think it was either November or December. We'll see that offset through this first part of the year. However, even when you adjust for that, it's still 17 percent growth in use tax. You just remember that use tax, we see a lot of variation. There was one major vendor, that was recategorized to another category that's now remitting use tax that previously was categorized as a service sector. So that may continue on for a few months and we may see that still. So we'll continue to monitor that. It's a really good start overall. $1.7 million a buck target in month number one. I will caveat just a little bit that in the next month we've got preliminary sales tax numbers and it looks like sales tax is down by about 5.7% next month. But you remember that the finals, the NBA finals and the championship last year really strongly affected our August of last year. I think it was somewhere around 12% growth last year. So that again is an anomaly that's in the data. It will look like it's down. We'll just watch this over the first two, three months and see what the trends tend to be, but it's a great start altogether anyway. And then we have claims and payroll, and that can be found on OKC.gov, and that's all that I have.

Thank you. Excuse me. Item 6, Journal of Council Proceedings. We have items A and B we could take with one motion. The motion in a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item seven, request for uncontested continuances. Mr. City Manager.

We have several items on today. The first item is on page seven. This is item seven. I'm sorry, this is item 9A. This is the flock contract. We're gonna strike this item and we'll bring it back at the next meeting. We'd have to make an adjustment to, we did not get the amended language that we agreed to we did not get that a minute language on to the agenda, we've got to make sure we've got that on there so we'll bring that item back at the next meeting. And then on item 11 X. I'm sorry 9 X on page 9, we're going to strike that I don't bring that back at a later date. 11 see on page 19 is pretty PD 2105 that will be deferred to the 18th of August. Continuing on page 20 item 11 D. This is P U D 2124 that also will be deferred to the 18th of August. Then on page 23, item 11P1, unsecured structures, all of these items will be stricken from the agenda. Item B, 4545 Kenyon Drive, the owner has secured. Item F, 737 Southwest 48th Street, the owner has secured. And item G, 8405 Southwest 49th Circle, the owner has secured. And that's all the items that I have.

All right. We'll now recess the council and convene as the Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority. We do have someone who has signed up to speak on item B on this docket, Steve Hunt.

Steve Hunt, 6300 Westbrook. Give me just a second here, I'm a little unprepared today. Okay, so You know solutions incorporated for the you know budget pro enterprise budgeting platform is a cloud-based software SAS offering, including software subscriptions, et cetera, et cetera, $890,000 minimum. A reporter friend about 10 days ago messaged me and said, hey there, do you know of any private equity firms monitoring streets on school buses to find violations and then giving them splitting ticket revenues with municipalities 60-40? I'm like, is that bus patrol? And they're like, yeah, that's bus patrol. And then we go on, and we're like, they're owned by GI Partners Private Equity. And let's see if there's anything else. Okay, fast forward to Friday. I pick up my agenda, and then I see Unisolutions, another SAAS that we're giving a huge contract to, and I look them up. And they're owned by GI Partners, the people that do bus patrol, the flock camera style school bus monitoring thing. And as I read into the contract and the details of Unisolutions Budget Pro Enterprise budgeting platform, which is basically a glorified Excel spreadsheet that we give a million dollars to, they use the same AI systems that they use with bus patrol, which, as I said, is school buses with flock style cameras on them. And as I dug in more and more to this contract, it was pretty awful. On their website, they brag about it reducing freedom of information requests 50%. I mean, like, okay, so we're giving a million dollars to these ghouls, these bus patrol guys. And bus patrol is the revived corpse of another company, Force Multiplier, which was a part of the biggest scandal in Dallas municipal history. You can look it up, it was 2017. And a lot of the same actors still work for them. You know, I talk a lot about this stuff and there's so much to it. You know, it takes a sentence to tell a lie and 10 minutes to debunk it. And the reality of these equity firms is that they are using recovery money to buy all these companies. Zerp policy quantitative easing to be used for us is actually used to buy up all these companies and You know solutions. I mean, I don't know if anyone looked at it. I got deep into the contract item 29 and the contract talks about how they cut down on Freedom of Information requests. Their AI goes through everything and puts things into lockboxes. And if a citizen requests it, there's a seven-day process with the courts. So I normally speak just for the people out in Channel 20 lane on YouTube, because I know you all kind of, I mean, no offense, but I'd like for you to consider. Because the request for proposals, there were nine others that actually looked...

So we're on the MFA docket, and we have items A through N we could take with one motion. A motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Now we'll adjourn OCMFA and convene as the Oklahoma City Public Property Authority. We do have someone who signed up to speak on item E, Brittany Grant.

Good morning, Council. My name is Brittany Grant. I'm the president of the East End Historic District. And underneath Councilman Kamal Pennington in Ward 7, I just want to continue to thank you for your commitment in investing in our corridor to make it more vibrant and welcoming. And thank you for continuing to be a great partner with us in the Northeast Historic District.

Thank you, Brittany. On item F, we have Rachel Crawford.

Good morning, City Council. I'm Rachel Crawford, Executive Director with the Plaza District. And I just wanted to take a moment to tell you thank you so much for the city's support through the Commercial District Revitalization Program of the Plaza District. It wasn't too long ago that, maybe a decade ago, the Plaza District had, if we were, Counting everybody that's even on the outliers about 20 businesses today. We have 65 businesses and counting within a three block stretch To my estimates we've increased market value by about 300 percent over the last five or six years we do an annual report that we survey our business owners and and ask them, you know, how many people do you have employed? How are things going? And we have two nonprofits that help make all of the work possible for what puts us on the map as a great destination in Oklahoma City. To my estimates, out of those 65 businesses, we generate around 1.7 to 2 million in sales tax revenue. So I just wanted to come here today to personally say thank you so much. This funding has a tremendous impact Helps keep a lot of businesses open because it allows us to do what we do best which is hosting events and supporting small business owners So I just want to say thank you so much Any big events coming soon? Yes, actually next Friday skate the plaza It's from 5 to 10 p.m. We estimate about 8,000 people will be there. Just in case there are other event organizers wondering how do we do it financially, we've invested about $2,000 in the event to bring 8,000 people to the district, which is a pretty great return. And then if you're free, September 26th, we have Plaza Walls Mural Expo and Plaza District Festival. It's the 27th year, so I invite you all to come and check it out.

thank you and rachel before you leave um i just want to thank you you um have invited me the last few years to the state of the plaza event that you all host and this year i believe is talking about your annual report you you shared what your annual operating budget is and i was kind of floored by by the amount because of how much how many events you put on how much activity you all have generated can you share that with everyone here what your annual operating budget is

Yeah, the annual operating budget, I've got to add it, between both nonprofits, we're looking at about $220,000 annual operating budget, and that covers one full-time employee, me, and two part-time, one for... Marketing assistance and event support and the other four grounds keeping and maintenance So we do on average most of our block parties we produce for about five or six hundred dollars Which draws in I don't know anywhere from four or five thousand people for a small one or fourteen fifteen thousand for a large one

I just was floored because I was like, surely they have a million dollar. They're doing so much and I think that just is a testament to how efficient you all are and how many volunteers you all engage through your board. Your board is very active from what I understand and so the ability to really put on all these events and I think just goes to show how much love people are putting into the district.

Thank you. And we are always looking for board members and volunteers. So if you're interested. And maybe sponsorships. Director at plazadistrict.org.

May I have two notes on that? First, a note of gratitude. I believe it's the anniversary for you recently of several years serving in this role.

Yeah, July 29th is five years as Executive Director of the Plaza District.

Congratulations. I thought I saw something on Instagram like that, so I appreciate your service. On Councilwoman's note, and I believe I've mentioned this before, And so I'm gonna ask everyone up here to think a little bit outside the box. You know, there was a time, I wanna say 2008, when I was in grad school in Stillwater and I would come down to visit friends here, and I saw the improvements to the Western Avenue district, the infrastructure improvements that really slowed traffic down enough where people started saying, wait, I'm gonna maybe go to this restaurant, go to this store, It was like the main street revitalization beginning. We're now in a place where we have so many successful commercial districts that are tourist destinations, that are destinations for our own people. I think my outside the box ask here, building on the numbers we just heard from Rachel and Councilwoman is, I would ask the city to start thinking about what does better investing in the economic vitality when it comes to their budgets, their operating budgets? How many staff did you say, like paid staff?

Three, two part-time and one full-time.

These three paid folk, two part-time, right, are putting on events that are getting national recognition. The mural, I mean, good lord. And I just would want us to start thinking less about the big businesses out there that we could be investing in to bring here, which we have, but what happens when we invest in our main streets all across the country? Oklahoma City, whether it's Capitol Hill, Stockyards, Paseo, Plaza, Uptown, 39th Street, Britton District, Windsor District, and really said that, hey, you all have, and I'm so sorry if I left out, I of course know there are more, but that's kind of my point. There are so many successful, thriving districts in our city where we've invested in their infrastructure after decades of disinvestment, and I just would really encourage us to think about, and I'm gonna keep beating the drum, what would not just throwing money at these districts but really sitting down with the district leaders and saying what do you need to ensure that of course we want volunteers but we want to make sure you are viable sustainable enduring because it's a sales tax revenue generator for this city when people are going to the different merchants who took a chance on these districts. And I just think that's very important, especially because what we're doing then is also investing in local people, local workers doing this work from Adventure District out to Stockyard. So that's really a thing I want us to be thinking about, and council as well. I'm so impressed with the work, but I also know I've seen you all and that's a very human response to the work you're doing and I just would like to see us think a little bit deeper about that. So thank you again for your five years and thank you for your service.

Thank you.

Thank you. Now we can proceed to the vote on the PPA agenda, items A through I. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. passes unanimously. All right, now we'll adjourn OCPPA and reconvene as the council where we are on item nine, the consent docket. There are no items currently scheduled for a presentation. Two have been struck as previously indicated. Is there any item that a council member wishes to pull out for a separate vote or separate comment or question? Hearing none, we'll take a motion on the consent docket, items A through CP, or actually B through CP. A was previously struck. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Now we're on item 10, the concurrence docket. We have items A through P. We could take with one motion. A motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 11A, we're on item 11, which is items for individual consideration. Item 11A is an ordinance on final hearing recommended for approval rezoning 1636 Southwest 35th from R1 to C3. Councilwoman Hammond, no one is signed to speak and that statement is true for all of the zoning cases today.

Okay, this was recommended for approval by planning staff and unanimous support by the Planning Commission, so I will move for approval.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Oh, I don't know what's going on up there, but this is working, so. 11b is an ordinance on final hearing it was recommended for approval rezoning 25 southwest 50th from spud 1448 to r2 councilman stone known as sign of speak although someone has signed up speak for a much later case and i will bring that up at that time but yours is clear go ahead all right thank you mayor um this is basically a single residential or duplex uh development over around 50th and santa fe so uh

The city nodded for its approval as well as the Planning Commission, so I'll go ahead and move for its approval.

All right, we have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Items C and D were previously struck, which brings us to item E. Item E2 is an ordinance on final hearing that was recommended for approval rezoning 4200 Southwest 29th from I2 and AE2 to PUD 2134 and AE2. Item E1 is an amendment to the master design statement relative to this item. This item was deferred on three previous occasions. And Councilwoman Avers, no one is signed to speak.

Mark, if you want to present the amendments.

Sure. Good morning. Mark Zitzow, Johnson & Associates. Address is Winnie Sheridan Avenue. This is a multifamily project at Meridian and 29th Street. In addition to the amendments that were just noticed, we're going to add two additional TEs to the project. The first one is replacing the fencing language. And so just for simplicity, I'll read it in its entirety. No less than an eight foot high site proof fence shall be required along the east west and south boundary Pud boundaries and shall not be required along Southwest 29th said site proof screen should be a horizontal aluminum fence and shall be reviewed at the specific plan stage The second te that our client agreed to I would be notifications requiring nearby industrial operations will be included in leasing documents Happy to answer any questions

Thank you. So this is a development that had required a comp plan amendment, so we added some TEs to address potential compatibility issues, both for the new residents as well as the existing neighbors. And do I need to make a motion to amend and then do a motion to approve? Okay, so I'd like to make a motion to accept the amendments as read by Mark.

I'm sorry, what was the statement?

Motion to amend the TEs as read by the applicant.

Okay, so this is in addition to E1, right? Yes. All right, we've got that motion. Why don't we bring it up for a virtual motion? And I don't know, is that what's showing on the other side as well? Okay.

So if I could get a second.

Oh, we're not working either. Okay. All right, so we need a verbal second. We've got a verbal motion. And then you said we can raise hands on the votes?

Yes.

Okay. All right, so all in favor of the amendment just moved, please raise your hand. Okay. It's self-evident that all hands were raised, so I won't even call for a nay. Passes unanimously, and that leaves us with the item.

A motion to approve.

You want to do E1, the amendment to the master design statement? Or was that?

Did I have to do them separately?

I don't know, I wasn't clear if that was, I got the impression that was a different amendment, what you just proposed, so that you still want the amendment to the master design? Yes, sir. Okay.

Thank you.

All right, so this is, so we have a motion, is there a second for E1?

Second.

All right, we have a motion and a second. All in favor, raise your hand. All right, all unanimous, passes unanimously. Now we're on E2. Do you wish to make a motion for that, Councilwoman Abrams?

Yes, motion to approve, please.

All right, we have a motion and a second. All in favor of item E2, raise your hand. All right, passes unanimously. Okay, working so far. Item F is an ordinance on final hearing that was recommended for approval rezoning 10324 Southwest 29th from R1 to PUD 2143. Councilwoman Avers, no one is signed to speak.

Thank you. This was accidentally coordinated in advance of application, so motion to approve.

I'm sorry, did you say you move it?

Motion to approve, yes.

All right. Is there a second?

Second.

Got a motion and a second. All in favor, raise your hand. Passes unanimously. Item G is an ordinance on final hearing that was recommended for approval rezoning 2844 Lancaster Lane from R1 to SPD 1816. Councilman Cooper, no one is signed to speak.

Yes, but the applicant is here, right? I would like to have a bit of a public understanding of this rezoning, please.

morning David box 5 to 5 Northwest 11th Street here on behalf of the applicant this is one that we actually went to planning question twice my client during the pendency of this application was able to acquire the balance of the land to square this off so worked extensively with Commissioner Powers on this it's really a If you think of May Avenue north of 63rd Street, this is really the last piece of non-commercial property. So we've limited uses. We have limited impacts through speaker box separation, landscape buffers, and building setbacks. There was no protest, and it was recommended for approval unanimously by Planning Commission.

Can we go back to that screen, please? Okay. Well, I'm glad to see the parking not so prioritized at the front of May like that. I think that's good. It's an improvement on what I often see over there. All right, well, I'll move for approval. Do I need to do that verbally? Are we back to screens? Okay.

Oh, we might be working again. All right, go ahead. Something about Ward 2.

We don't see anything on our side of things.

All right, well, we have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. We'll let you know how it ends. Okay. All right, passes unanimously. Thank you. Okay, now we're on item H. This is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval, rezoning 3000 Northwest 150th from SPUD 848 and PUD 302 to SPUD 1831. Councilman Stone-Seifer, no and a sign of speech.

Planning approved. I'm aware of no protesters, so at this time I move for approval. And by the way, Your Honor, on the next item, I'm going to have to recuse on behalf of my firm.

Okay. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes.

Passes unanimously.

All right, now we're on item I. This is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval rezoning 3131 Northwest 192nd from 01 to SPD 1840. This was deferred on July 21st. And Councilman Carter, I understand you will handle this item and no one has signed with, actually. Yes, sir. Scratch that. Tom Bowling has signed up to speak. I don't know his status with this project. Are you the applicant? Are you the applicant? Oh, okay.

He's the one that you just called.

Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, are you Tom Bowling? Are you the applicant or are you protesting? I'm protesting. Oh, okay. So maybe we want to hear from the applicant first.

Since he's here, let's listen to him first. David will go with you next.

All right. Am I up here too early? Go ahead. You have three minutes.

Trying to see the picture come up. You got a picture of the... Oh, maybe. Okay. What I should have done, since I don't know what I'm doing, I guess you could say, we've got a development going on the west side of the property. And we're protesting this because when we started building these homes right across the fence to the west, they're nicer homes, high energy efficient. And now all of a sudden, here they're coming in with these two-story duplexes that was gonna be two-story office buildings, people that won't have no privacy at night for the swimming pool. Everybody with nicer homes are wanting swim pools in their backyards. Well, if they build a swimming pool in the backyard, these people in their two-story duplexes are gonna be overlooking the swimming pool. So, how can we end up helping these people keep their privacy over this. I heard that everybody's tried to get them to build a little bit higher quality duplexes, which I appreciate that, because we got restrictions on our property also. If there's any way we can keep the duplexes from having windows on the west side of the building, or even ask them to put in a taller fence, you know, we can't stop people from building what the city allows them to build, We've already got five homes being built, or already built, in this area, trying to sell them, and now we end up having the two-story duplexes come in, who's gonna wanna buy them? So, in this restriction, the buildings could be set in accordance to this drawing, if they had moved building five, six, and seven further to the east and put the parking on the other side, that would actually give more privacy. You know, building eight and nine is not so much of a problem, but yet again, I don't know if the visual will end up coming into the backyards of the buildings. So I'm just asking the city to help us restrict what these other people are being seen in our backyards. Okay, are you done? If I'd known what I know now, I should have brought in a plaque for y'all to see what's actually going on. I don't know if we can put this off for another month to the next meeting and I end up getting a better drawing for you so you can see what's going on or what can we do here?

Did you appear at Planning Commission?

Excuse me?

Did you appear at Planning Commission?

Do I appear at them?

Did you go to the meeting when this was considered and? No, sir, I didn't.

Okay. I didn't know about it.

Just curious, all right.

Thank you, Mr. Mullin.

Let's listen to the applicant now. Look at what?

If you wouldn't mind having a seat right there, we're gonna listen to the applicant. morning david box 525 northwest 11th street here on behalf of the applicant so could you go to the zoning map jared please this is a an area of northwest oklahoma city that has really a broad mix of different types of uses so uh immediately to the south is the grove it's a 640 acre development that has everything from a small single family to an elementary school and then significant commercial along portland To the east you have r1 ZL and then if you go to May Avenue on the northeast corner as well as the southeast corner You have large-scale multifamily apartment projects that exist here. We have this kind of random triangle of land that's owned office There's not a whole lot of liability for an odd shaped office tract north of 192nd Street So what we're hoping to do on these approximately nine excuse me two and a half acres is just put nine duplexes We believe duplex to be compatible frankly more compatible than what the current Oh one use would be in terms of two-story That's an argument that is constantly made by protesters single-family residential allows two-story two-story Single-family residential next to residential compatible. We believe two-story duplex next to single-family is also compatible staff recommended and approval of this or is one technical evaluation that we agreed to so we would ask that you approve this in the same manner that Planning Commission did have to answer any questions the duplexes are allowed to know one no this is the this would take away the oh one and put in a spud with duplex gotcha allow thank you for clearing that up okay

And what is the TE? I'm sorry, I was just handed this this morning, so I'm wanting to kind of double check.

Yeah, so the TE dealt with the dumpster location. We had dumpsters and then te2 was added by Planning Commission to increase the architectural standards within the SPD Which I think is significant You know base zoning as it relates to residential has no architectural standards So we through Planning Commission in the T and now the spud have heightened architectural standards from what would be required under traditional r1 or r2 Okay

So with recommendation from staff as well as planning commission, then we're going to go ahead and let this move us forward and move for approval.

Can I ask a question?

I'm looking at our two former planning commissioners right now. Do y'all have thoughts? I mean, I'm not trying to step a course on, I know Councilman asked you to carry it, I'm just curious.

If it was zoned R1, they'd be able to build a two-story house by right, and we wouldn't even be here right now. So if it had the exact same zoning as this gentleman's property, they would have the ability to build two stories and we wouldn't question it. I think the only thing to, I don't know, how big is the setback between the housing?

Approximately 18 feet from the west.

Okay, so that's a pretty good distance.

And even with a two-story, whether it be a house or a duplex, if we added an extra large fence, that's not gonna be tall enough to block anything, so I don't want to put that restriction on. So I didn't see anything that we could actually do in this sense. Am I wrong?

It's difficult. I mean, you could, we could require them to, uh, what do they call it? Like frost the windows. Haven't we done that before? Um, but again, it doesn't really sound very compatible.

We have three story apartment complex across the street. Uh, so south and east at one 92nd may, you have an existing apartment complex at the south east corner. You have, Zoning entitled to allow a three-story apartment complex on the northeast corner In the front, I mean, you know, I get your point, you know that that is an avenue But that really gets into is this incompatible? It's like why should the duplex people be frosted? Like we're afraid of the duplex people looking at us, but the single-family people Next work at this apartment. Sometimes that happens duplex to single-family that those are compatible uses and

And any House North or South of it could be 2 story staring down into the backyard of their next door neighbor as well. So it's not necessarily just what's to the east of it. It could be your next door neighbor builds a 2 story house, right?

I just wanted to hear people with planning Commission background speak to the gentleman's concerns. I didn't want it to seem like we were just boot scooting right past that. So that's all thanks.

Okay, so we have a motion and a second for this item. Item I. Cast your votes.

Can I say one more thing?

We're voting now, sir. I'm sorry. It's a little late. Thank you. Passes unanimously.

I'll say it anyway. They have full parking and street going around their perimeter to their apartments in between their apartments and adjoining facilities. Okay. So...

Thank you. Item J is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval, rezoning 2800 North Oklahoma Avenue from R4 to SPUD 1842. Councilman Pennington, no one is signed up to speak.

Thank you, Mayor. This is just taking some R4 zoning and moving it into industrial that's more compatible with the immediate surrounding area, so I'm gonna move approval.

motion a second cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item K is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval rezoning 5902 Epperly Drive from R1 to SPD 1844. Councilman Stone, no one has signed up to speak.

Thank you, Mayor. This is basically a storage unit off of Southeast 59th over close to Epperly. Recommended by the city and the Planning Commission, so I'll move for its approval.

All right, we have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item L is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval establishing a special permit to operate use unit 8300.33 drinking establishment in the I-2 and DP overlay districts at 500 Southwestern Councilwoman Hammond. It's not here. Okay, well maybe we'll table that for a moment, see if she returns. Item M is an ordinance on final hearing recommended for approval closing a portion of a north-south utility easement on lot one in block seven of the lakes at Annecy Phase One. Councilman Stone-Seifer. Is there anybody signing up? No. Okay, I'd move for approval. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. All right. Item 11N is an ordinance to be introduced and set for a final hearing on September 1st. This relates to our zoning and planning code, specifically, I think, solar energy. I do believe we have a presentation. Go ahead.

T.O. Bowman with the Sustainability Office. This adds definitions and use regulations, accessory use regulations for solar energy systems. Presently, we don't have a definition, and it requires applicants to seek a variance in design districts. So UDC, DDC, and Planning Commission all recommended unanimous approval, and so I'm happy to answer any questions.

Seeing no questions, thank you, T.O. I think we can probably proceed with introduction, if there's a motion. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Okay, we're gonna back up now to item L. This was the previously described ordinance on final hearing in Ward 6, and I understand Councilman Cooper will present this.

Yeah, is the applicant present for that? Getting those steps in, we don't do that enough. That's what I hear from data. He's got some .

Good morning, David box 525 Northwest 11th Street Here about the applicant. This is to allow for the use unit necessary for a bar as well as the necessary provisions for the outdoor food truck No protests Planning Commission recommended approval Let me go back to that previous I've been asked to move this board and I shall I

Motion and a second, cast your votes. Passed unanimously. All right, back into order, which brings us to item O. O1 is a public hearing regarding the dilapidated structure here listed. Amy, has anyone signed up to speak?

No, they haven't.

They have not, so we will advance to the resolution at O2, declaring that the structure is dilapidated. I have a motion and a second, cast your vote. Passes unanimously. Item 11P1 is the public hearing regarding the unsecured structures here listed, except for those previously struck. Amy, has anyone signed up to speak?

No, they haven't.

They have not. So we'll advance to the resolution found at P2 declaring structures are unsecured. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Q1 is the public hearing regarding the abandoned building here listed. Amy, has anyone signed to speak?

No, they haven't.

If not, so we'll advance to the resolution at Q2 declaring that the building is abandoned. A motion and a second. Cast your votes. Councilman Avers, if you would. Passes unanimously. All right, 11R is a joint resolution with the Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust approving the allocation of geo-limited tax bond proceeds in an amount not to exceed $3 million for the Shane Affordable Housing Project near Hefner and County Line. And we have a presentation.

Yes, Joanna McSpadden, our Economic Development Manager, will introduce this item.

Hi, Joanna McSpadden finance department. I just wanted to do a quick introduction on both of these next two items This will be the first allocations of the new affordable housing bond money They're both structured as a payback loan rather than the forgivable loan that you guys have seen in the past They'll be paid back after their tax credit funding period Kathy O'Connor is going to present on both and give you a description of the project So let us know if you have questions

Kathy O' Thank you. I'm Kathy O'Connor with the Coaline Group, and I'm here on behalf of the Dominium Development Group today to talk to you about the Shane Affordable Housing Project. This project is – go on to the next slide. Just a little bit about the developer. Dominium has got a few projects going here in the state and in Oklahoma City. They have over 50 years of experience in developing, owning, and managing affordable housing projects nationwide. They have over 40,000 apartment homes in 220 communities across the state. They are long-term owners. They hold most of their projects for 20 to 30 years, and they are a vertically integrated company. That means that they have the construction, the architecture, property management, compliance, and asset management all in-house in their company. The project that we're talking about today is The Shane. It's located at West Hefner Road and County Line Road along Northwest Highway. It's about 412, it is 412 units that include 14 apartment buildings and 88 town homes. They have applied and have qualified for the 4% low income housing tax credit, so we will be leveraging those tax credits with the city's affordable housing loan fund. Go ahead. This is a site plan for the project. You can see the layout of the various units and the townhomes. Again, the location. One of the things that's important in a tax credit application is you point out what amenities are near your project, and this one is in the Piedmont School District. It's nearby to shopping, parks, Lake Hefner, good highway access, and the Patience Ladding Library. This is a breakdown of the units. You can see that it's a variety of two, three, and four bedrooms. And the average rents range from about $1,200 a month to a little bit under $1,600 a month for the four bedroom units. Again, a breakdown of our budget. The total budget for the project is a little bit over $156 million that comes out to a per unit cost, which is kind of amazing, of $379,000 a unit. But these projects typically have some soft costs and things that are not commonly found in regular apartment projects. Affordable housing request is a two million dollar Loan in the first tranche that would have an eight percent interest rate and then the second loan I mean a zero percent interest rate and then the second tranche would be a one million dollar loan with an eight percent interest rate both of these would be Co-terminus with the affordable housing Comply tax credit compliance period which means that it'll be about 18 years and Repaid at the time of sale or refinance of the project. So with a affordable housing Low-income housing tax credits you have a 15-year compliance period but that doesn't start until the units are constructed and leased up So it usually is around 18 years That we're looking at to pay these loans back and Kathy does that

For the 18 years, is that how long the owners have to maintain that affordability? And so after that, they're no longer required to do it.

And typically what they do is they refinance with another low-income housing tax credit allocation and extend the affordability. Most of these units will be affordable for 30 years. Gotcha.

Kathy, so is the term loan, is that whenever it's paid back in full, or is it a lump sum in 18 years?

There are interest payments that are made during the term of the loan on the 8% interest rate tranche of it, but the principal and any remaining interest would be paid at the end of the term.

I like the approach that's being taken with this administration so that it can really reinvest and create essentially a cycling fund. Is that the intent?

Yes, I think that's the city's intent. Any other questions?

I don't... Well, I guess I can make it as a question. Can you help me understand this location, like why the developer chose Heppner and County Line?

Well, because it's in a, it's a good location for schools. It's in a very good school district. The property was already zoned multifamily and on the market for purchase. So I think that that had a lot to do with how they selected it. And JT Marty is here with the developer. He may be able to help me with this, but I believe it's also in what's called a QCT. So it's in a qualified census track for the program. So it scores better when you go through OFA for the tax credit process.

I'm happy to provide some additional context there, and it's a good question, something I appreciate when people ask. My name is JT Martin. I work with Dominium. We're a multifamily developer based out of Dallas and have a couple other projects going on in Oklahoma City. So it's somewhere we're really invested in and really appreciate coming up to. In regards to your question, I think that there's a couple of pieces. You know, Kathy mentioned first how the project was zoned for multifamily. which is kind of the first thing, you know, it's a project that we can get done. But from a demographic standpoint, Dominium, we've been around for 50 years and we're really concerned about the longevity of our assets. And so a lot of developers will typically develop, especially in the affordable housing space, develop somewhere where they can make a bunch of money of a developer fee and then kind of just walk off and not really like keep up with the asset over time with a lot of deferred maintenance and just kind of some of the problems that come to your mind when you hear the word affordable housing. something about Dominion that's a little unique is we like to develop in communities that otherwise our residents wouldn't be able to afford to live in and so from our research in this area our rent would save the residents about $300 a month and so there's not really other options to live in this side of town in the Piedmont School District in these larger townhomes that we're building on part of the site anywhere in town and then also just the Connectivity to the interstate the ability to get through the whole Metro pretty quickly is important to us like 400 units is a lot of Apartments that we're all aware of and so the ability to be able to you know Get down to the southwest corner into the industrial pocket, but also, you know Traverse the Metro pretty easily is another selling point the main summary is just the demographics in this area really strong There's a lot of single-family homes being developed to our north There's a new single-family home community to our east that just develops. There's just a growing area and there's not a lot of land That's undeveloped within the loop and so just something we're excited about.

Thank you for the context from both of you. I think this is more for the council and maybe for the developer, I'm not sure. It sounds like you know what you're talking about. I know Kathy absolutely does. My concern about this location is, and I'll play it out. I want to see how this goes. But my concern, and it's what you just talked about with the highway and 400 of these units. One of my best friends just bought a car. Had one, but it was a very old one. And spent... over $25,000 to buy that car. That's the first thing. We also know annually it's about $12,000 maintenance and gas. When you're talking about the median income for Oklahoma City residents being $37,000 a year, that's why we need the affordable housing, right? And I appreciate the 60% of AMI. I think that's great, right? Because we're going to be able to get to that demographic. But when we build that affordable housing outside of a city's public transportation system, we are putting on to that individual or family transportation cost. I just, last week, oil change, coolant flush, cabin air filter, $350. Just poof, gone. And that's just for that. That's not the Iran war gas prices. I'm guessing the war will end at some point. But even before the war, these transportation data costs are what they are. They are what they are. And that is my concern about this location. So again, I'm willing to hear, like, okay, let's do this because the school district, I think you make an arguably persuasive case there. But there are, in fact, other parts of Oklahoma City, particularly in the urban core, from 240 to 35 to 44 to Memorial, and quite frankly, I'd come down to Expressway, where we have a public transportation system, where we have the ability to do something called transit-oriented development. That is not my phrase. That is something I have learned serving on the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority since 2015. And if we are really serious about infill, affordable housing, mixed-use development, and transportation-oriented development, we've got to start thinking a little bit more cleverly about where we are, not just cleverly, intentionally about these affordable housing projects. This is, I'm gonna say yes, but I'm not gonna keep saying yes if we keep doing this, if we keep sprawling ourselves out with affordable housing because it, and I'm seeing some people not understanding what I'm saying, so I don't know when the last time it was you made $37,000 a year. We cannot keep building, housing, especially quote affordable housing, away from public transportation. We can't do it. So I'm just, and let me go this far. If someone thinks I'm wrong from this horseshoe, bring the data and the research. Bring it. Bring it. Show this council that what I am saying is incorrect. Show us. Because I promise you I could bring Jason Fairbrush up here Jessie Rush, I could bring the RTA board. We're making some great investments in public transit and affordable housing, and I would encourage you as a developer to help us in that regard. Kathy, you too. And council, like I said, if you're having a problem with what I am saying, then bring me the counter data. So, and I need for Bradley to be able to have this stuff out there for the reasons you said, that there are too many families who can't afford to move out there, but. Okay.

On that, I'll take that as a segue. I don't think that you're wrong in what you're saying, but I think that the definition for who qualifies for affordable housing has expanded a lot, especially in the last 12 to 18 months. So I do think something like this is needed in my ward. I have to agree with him wholeheartedly when it comes to the fact that we don't have public transportation in that area. I want to say public transportation stops about a mile and a half from this corner, Council North's Expressway. So that's something that we'll have to take up with our transit on that. A couple questions that I do have for you, though, is what's going to keep you from selling this and it becoming not affordable housing?

Yeah, it's a good question and something that was mentioned earlier. So the project will actually be restricted to these rent levels for 30 years. Dominium, as we mentioned earlier, we've been in the business for 50 years. We've been developing new construction LIHTC communities since probably 2010, and we've never sold one of them before. So just through our track record, we don't historically sell these. And it's not just another project to us. This is what I think about all day and somewhere that I'm really excited to be invested in. I guess the simplest way to answer your question is that we're restricted to do this for 30 years. But the, I guess, more nuanced answer is that Dominium does this across the country and has done this for the last 15 or 20 years, not selling any of these projects.

When you say you're restricted from doing this for 30 years, if I read the slide correctly, I mean, I understand what the loans, the agreements and what such, but what I read, I thought it said, if you were to sell, you would have to pay everything back in one lump sum at that point. But it doesn't say anything about the fact that the person purchasing it would have to maintain affordable housing.

We signed a land use restriction agreement with Oklahoma Housing and Finance.

Are we about to explode? Something's about to happen. Sorry to interrupt you.

No worries.

Okay.

We signed a land use restriction agreement with the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency where it restricts the project to this rent level for 30 years when we close on our financing. And so that stays in place and has priority over our loan and has priority to stay on the land. It's connected to the land for 30 years.

So even if it's paid off, that restriction is tied to the land for 30 years. Correct. So whoever buys it understands that and is going to be held to those standards.

What Kathy was saying earlier is what will likely happen after 15 years is Dominium will refinance or we'll have some sort of value event internally and then we will rehab the property and extend our, we'll extend the affordability again for another 30 years at that point.

Okay, that helps me on this one. I want to also make sure that we have that kind of put out in layman's terms. The other question I have for you is what is your timeframe of development? And I'm gonna explain this to you and the reason I'm asking this is I have a lot of pressure from the Piedmont School District to not develop. They haven't approved a bond in almost two years now. They haven't been able to build buildings. They can't even take care of their roads. They're having a lot of issues with different aspects. So the more we build and put kids in their school, the more problems they continue to have, which trickles down to problems with children learning, development, yada, yada, yada. So I just need to see what our timeframe is for this.

Yes, we would plan to start construction this year and probably the end of October. And from there, it would take us about 30 months to complete the entire project, which would kind of be turned over in phases. And so we'd probably expect the first third of the project to be done about 20 months after that. So I'd say and then another section probably 26 months after the start and then 30 months. So pretty much we'll start construction here in the end of this year, and then we will be completely delivered in the middle of 2029.

Okay, so three years, you'll have 400 and something units completed.

Correct.

Okay, thank you very much. Relatedly, you know a school district that just passed a bond and is doing all kinds of improvement is Oklahoma City Public Schools. They're building flex spaces for career tech training on campus, so I'd love to see you back here. I like, it sounds like you're minding your heart or heading in some places where I think there's some good collaboration in the future, but.

I appreciate your questions, and I, as someone who thinks about affordable housing all day, I do not disagree with anything you said with the trans, I appreciate you bringing it up. It's encouraging. Thank you.

TODD BANDUCCI- Sadly, in reality, Ward 4, Ward 5, most of Ward 8, a lot of Ward 7 are way underserved by public transit. Well, you're limiting where affordable housing can be built based on public transit. I mean, and I know you're licking your lips there. Oh, I am. But it's the reality of it. Until public transit gets better, we can't stymie affordable housing being built other places just forcing a public transit hand.

Okay.

No, hang on, no, no, no, no.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.

It's called regulating one's emotions and not just responding. Okay, sorry, go ahead.

This is important.

This is something that voters just approved in October, this $50 million for the first time in our history investment in affordable housing. And the council member's not wrong. We have for all of these years, we did not even have Sunday bus service, as you all recall, until 2018. For all of these decades, the buses did not run on days that people go to places of worship, when they go to grocery stores, to see their families, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. We did not prioritize public transportation, and that is why Ward 4 and Ward 7 and Ward 5 and Ward 8 are not served by public transportation. It's not by my hand, and Ward 1. I would have done it a million times over, and I have advocated for it a million times over. So this is not an us versus them thing. I would have done it. I would do it right now. I would encourage us to be expanding public transportation out there. That's why I'm so supportive of our one transit election which is actually going to allow us not just to do commuter rail from Norman to Edmond to OKC, light rail and Councilwoman's Ward to the airport to County Line, not just BRT to the airport, but actually to increase our public transportation budget in the city of Oklahoma City so that buses actually run by the industry standard of every 15 minutes instead of the 30 minutes that they do right now. If you miss the bus right now, that is your job. you have to wait 30 more minutes before you get there. So no, you're not wrong, Councilman, but what I guess I am advocating is that as we move toward One Transit, as we move toward those investments, we cannot put the cart before the horse and start building the affordable housing out in the parts of the city where that public transportation option doesn't exist for our people. If a person lives And I have friends in all of your words, all of your words I know people. And I also know people who either have just one car and they are a family, or they have no car and they cannot, we are landlocking them is what I am saying. We are landlocking them when we build this housing in the part of town that you have just described when we don't have that public transportation system for them. Meanwhile, all across parts of each of our respective wards, part of your ward, part of that councilman's ward, part of this council, every one of the wards you just named, there is public transportation options and info option development all around each one of those wards. We should be prioritizing this $50 million affordable housing funding where the transit exists in each one of our respective wards. This is not a Ward 2 prioritizing thing that I'm doing. I'm telling you each one of our wards. Councilwoman and I share Northwest 23rd Street together. We share it. We could be doing this sort of investment around there, MacArthur. Northeast 10th Street, you name it. I love Councilman's question about the longevity of the affordable housing. Because when I think about Northwest 10th Street, and I think about parts of the city, 122nd and Penn, which used to be part of Ward 2, there were apartments, there were developers who are standing right where you're standing right now. who made a similar pitch to that council 30 years ago when they built those houses, or excuse me, those apartments. There is no maintenance in those apartments today. There is no maintaining of affordability. There is no maintaining of the conditions of those apartments. So councilman asked the exact right question to be asking. And that is actually something I would turn to city manager Freeman in this moment and to planning and start asking us to think about what happens at the end of that 30 years. Now, all of us will be heading into retirement, of course, but our people will linger, and we really do need to think about what are some parameters we can be, I mean, thinking outside the box, what have other cities done? We cannot allow this development 30 years from now to become what Dimeblock has become. We cannot do that. We've got to be more intentional about this. So I think you're asking and saying the exact right things. Please do not misunderstand me of saying I want all of this in Ward 2 because I could point to each one of our wards and see where the public transportation development opportunities are. I just want to be very clear about that. This is not a Ward 2 versus everybody else. I see it. I'm asking us to prioritize where the transportation is to do the affordable housing there as we improve our public transportation system. I hope that makes sense. If it does not, let me know. By the way, I have to calm down in these moments because I get so passionate, so excited, and I don't ever want to come across as combative. So please, council members, do not ever think that's what's happening. I love this sort of engagement. I love back and forth. I live for it. So don't take this as trying to prove a point. This is truly like an iron sharpens iron moment. And if I ever come across differently, let me know. But just know that that's just a spirited thing. And again, both of you have brought something meaningful here for the reasons that you have said and the council person has said. I'm just trying to push us a little bit further here toward that affordability.

Thank you. I think what you're saying is strategic prioritization of economic incentives tied to affordable housing. And so is there a framework within the alliance or within this economic development trust that is prioritizing or incentivizing or rank ordering applications based on what makes the most sense for our city? Or is it really just on an application by application basis?

I mean, we do have that in as a priority, but it's not a limiting factor. And having an opportunity with this to get this type of quality, so it's a balance, it's something we consider, but it's not the final decision. But I do think it's one that we've got to be sensitive to of like how much of the affordable, since we're limited on how much we have, would be outside of that public transportation corridor. I think we've got to keep that in mind. Joanne and I have just been communicating on this. And so it's definitely something that's front of mind for us that we know we need to encourage that direction.

I'll have more to say about this later. I don't want to keep the developer and Kathy.

Appreciate it.

We have a resident who signed up to speak on this item, Steve Hunt.

I'm going to be real brief because I misread what I saw on here. I think I saw the Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust on there and remembering the words of Oscar Wilde about the people who caused the need for things and then give us the solutions so it kind of triggered me a little bit and then I saw Cruella was here so it kind of all right that concludes citizens who signers to speak for this item we could take a motion in a second on item are this joint resolution with the economic development trust

All right, well, we have a motion and a second. Cast your votes if you have the ability. I would like to vote aye.

Passes unanimously.

All right, item S is a joint resolution with the Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust approving the allocation of bond proceeds in an amount not to exceed $2 million for the Villas at Stone Lake affordable housing project at 7404 Lyrewood Lane. And we have a presentation?

Yes, Kathy O'Connor is going to present this project as well.

Thank you. This project is called the Villas at Stone Lake, and it is located at 7404 Lyrewood Lane. This project is a little bit different than the last one we just talked about. This is an existing apartment complex that is only about 40% occupied, I believe, at the time right now. It's 160 units. In 14 residential buildings again, this project has Qualified and has been allocated low income housing tax credits through OFA It is a complete remodel of the facility. You can go ahead to the next one and This is the location of the project at about 63rd and MacArthur, again in that Wirewood Lane area where there are quite a few apartment complexes and some of them are in need of rehabilitation like this one. Again, as I mentioned, this is a complete renovation of the project everything from site improvements to the exterior the complete interior overhaul of every unit all the electrical plumbing Furnit, you know fixtures everything in it They you know, all of light tech projects have to have ad a accessibility requirement so those will also be added to the project and This is a breakdown of the units. Again, this is an existing apartment complex, so the unit sizes are a little bit different. These are one and two bedroom units that the rents will range from about $833 a month up to around $1,200 a month for the two bedrooms. Project budget is about 28 million dollars Again on the construction time period for this one. I think they plan to start later this year early next year on the rehab of this project Our request for this project is a two million dollar loan again structured as Repayment is deferred until year 18 And it helps to fill the remaining financing gap that the project has that is not filled by the permanent loan that the light tech equity and like in the other project a deferred developer fee and This is just a little bit about where the project is right now. As I mentioned, it is shovel ready. We've been awarded our tax credits. This affordable housing loan allocation will help us finalize our financing and get to closing here in a couple months. That's about it. I'll be glad to take any questions on this one.

Is this going to have the same deed restriction on the land?

Yes, I believe it does. I'm pretty sure all of OFA's projects have that deed restriction, that 30-year. So you're really tied to that 30-year compliance.

And what are we doing with the current residents?

Pardon me?

What are we going to do with the current residents that are there?

They will be moved within the project as units of rehab. They'll be moved into new units, and then their unit will be rehabbed.

So we're not going to displace anyone?

The plan is to not displace anybody.

Okay, thank you.

And thank you because I just did a transit.

You did a transit check.

Look to what it would be like to go from City Hall to these apartments. And there's, you know, right there within a couple, not even walking distances, even the right word for it. But so this is the sort of stuff because you would take the 8 to the Rapid. So no, I really like that. So thank you for thinking here.

All right. We can take a motion on item S. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously.

Thanks, Kathy.

All right, item T is a joint resolution with the Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust certifying that project slate, a proposed slate of three app-distributed digital productions, is an eligible project under the Strategic Investment Program's Film Incentive Program. This allocation would not exceed $57,138, and we have a presentation.

Yes, Jill Simpson with the Oklahoma City Film Office.

Good morning, council members. For the first time, I'm bringing you a slate of projects. And as a reminder, for slates, the requirements are different. So for an episodic single episode for a TV show is $100,000. But when you have an aggregate of multiple episodes that meet $500,000, they qualify at the 10% level, which this one does. This is what I've called Project Slate, and it is three episodes of a faith-based vertical project, which is content created to go directly to your cell phone. And I've listed basically the descriptions, which you can read through. They're all centered around small communities, this one at Christmastime. and they tell family-oriented stories. The people behind this are, the company is Angel Verticals LLC, but the Oklahoma City partners are BRG Entertainment, which is Brent Ryan Green of the Green family here in Oklahoma City, and LD Entertainment, which is the Liddell Entertainment Group. 100% will be filmed in Oklahoma City. They're utilizing Oklahoma City facilities. 98% of the crew is Oklahoma City-based, and anticipated Oklahoma City expenditures total $571,386, which is 65.4% of their budget. Again, this would qualify, since it's above a half million dollars in expenditures, it will be the 10% level. They're meeting the requirements of hiring 50% crew, which they'll have 98%. They're filming more than 50% in Oklahoma City. They're actually filming 100%. They will be hiring 71% of local vendors, meeting the 50% requirement. They've been pre-qualified by the state of Oklahoma, and they're using Filmmakers Ranch and possibly One Set Studio in downtown Oklahoma City. So I'm recommending the full 10%, which is $57,138. I want to add that they could be potentially bringing a lot more of these to Oklahoma City, which is great training for our crew. They're hiring 53 people and over 21 days, that equals 1,113 work days, 98% resident crew. Qualifying labor income, $277,155. And just a snapshot, 100% filming days, 98% local crew, 71% of vendors. Total economic impact is 1.3 million for this project. Jobs supported direct and indirect are 70. Local labor income 533,468. So their qualifying expenditures of 571,386 break down to taxable expenditures, goods and services of 113,522. Below the line crew salaries and per diem $203,721, and above the line salary and per diem at $73,554, which comes under the 25% cap. Any questions? Can I just add a note to you guys? Copperhead is here on the ground. They love it here. They're so happy, so thank you guys for making it happen.

Thanks, Jill. All right, we can take a motion on item T. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes.

Passes unanimously.

All right, item 11U are claims recommended for denial. We have items A and B and executive session is not requested. We have motion and a second. Passes unanimously. Item V1 is a claim recommended for approval. Executive session is not requested. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. That concludes votes for the day. We're now at item 12, comments from council. Ward one, ward two. Yes.

A few things. First, city manager, or maybe it's for Amy, and it doesn't have to be this meeting. Maybe it could be the next one, but something that's been on my mind for a long time, but then over the weekend really accelerated. It could be brief, but I would like for the public to hear a walkthrough of not the agenda items, but the agenda categories. Like, what is concurrence? What is consent? What is items for individual consideration? Like, how, what, like, I just don't think, I know for a fact, as someone who, until I served on this body, I had no idea what each of those terms were. So, for instance, not even just those items, but the municipal facilities authority, or, you know, PPA. I just think it's just a brief like this is what this is, this is why items go here, this is what this is, this is why items go here. And then that's something I can clip and I can put on social media and it can serve as a public education moment. And I've been thinking about that for a really long time, but whoever needs to do that, I think it would sound better coming from two figures of authority in the way that you all are than it would even from a council member.

Maybe next meeting would be a good time to do that.

So thank you for that. And then a question before I have some comments. We had some council members who went on a trip recently to Salt Lake City, and I was just curious how your trip went for the one tranted. How'd it go? It was all right. All right. Well, on that note, with the affordable housing conversation earlier, I had already planned to ask for this presentation, but I think we would all benefit the council and the public for maybe a bit of a presentation on transit oriented development. I think that would go a long way to helping people understand why we need to be strategic about, I loved your language earlier, Councilwoman, just like being strategic about our investments. Where are opportunities in this city to do that sort of transit-oriented investment, whether it's the maps for south side bus rapid transits that are coming, the northeast side bus rapid transits that are coming, the current BRT on Classen and Expressway, right? And then if voters, God help us, actually approve the one transit election next year, what the commuter rail line from Edmond to Norman to OKC, what development could look like along that. what development could look like heading out to West OKC, what development could look like on Meridian Avenue where a light rail is proposed, what development could look like heading to the southeast part of our city out to Tinker could look like. This is such an incredible moment for not just Oklahoma City, but for Edmond and Norman, and I just really want us to be able to demonstrate to ourselves and our residents a sense of intentionality and vision. and vision. So I'd really like for a presentation and examples. Like I want people to see what multi-use developments do and could look like, what mixed use development, what mixed income development could look like, as opposed to what we did 30 and 60 years ago, where we just said, here are all you poor people, you go live in these apartments over here. And the stigma that lingers with us because of those decisions, right? What happens when you have subsidized units alongside market rate units? So I would really like to see that. And I think that would help all of us think more strategically about where we need to be advocating in each of our respective wards for that sort of development. Relatedly, just a few other items. I would also appreciate an update on the Maps for Trees project. This is on my mind because if you have dared to walk even to your car in the last few weeks, you notice how hot it is. And we live on a prairie, and this also gives us an intentional moment to... think about the maps for funding for trees. I promise you, whether it's OKC Beautiful or other entities, OG&E, there are public-private partnerships out there waiting for us to create urban canopy when it comes to trees. We have heat map data where people volunteered to see where it's the hottest all across our city, where you just have giant stretches of asphalt parking lot and then you have that hot Oklahoma sun just pouring down at 107 degrees. What if there were trees there for your children, for seniors, for you? And we have funded those, but I have yet to hear a plan on where they're going. And again, we can be data-driven and intentional, so I really would like an update on that. Relatedly on that same maps for Docket was streetlights. And when I've knocked doors, and I've knocked till it gets dark, and it gets dark in neighborhoods. And again, from seniors to children, I think we need to be, I'd like an update. We've already funded it, voters approved it. So I just wanna hear what data are we using to determine where these streetlights are going? And in my mind, streetlights and trees are like priority, right? And anytime it's July and August, you have that reminder of the priority. So I'd like to hear an update on that, please. And then finally, again, keeping with the map sport of it all, I'm so excited. I remember when Mayer came to me back in 2019 and said, beautification, I don't know what it's going to mean yet, but we're going to do it and we're going to have an endowment along with it. I mean, I thought it was a very inventive moment from you. And so I hear from residents regularly about the cleanliness of OKC, or sometimes the lack thereof. And I would like an update on where we're heading with some of these projects. So we can give you an example. I was driving over I-44 and 63rd Street, and we have new sidewalks that are there over the bridge, and there's just grass just growing over the sidewalk. So if you have a wheelchair or you have a stroller, what does your connectivity look like to Sprouts up the road, or to Mayflower Church on the other side, or to your home? And so I just really want us to hear where we're heading with the beautification. And I want us again, to conclude there, to think about, we have a street cleaner downtown, That street cleaner does not exist really anywhere else in the city. I do love, by the way, city manager. We have the cleaning capabilities for some of the bike lanes now. I think that is a wonderful step in the right direction. But I just hear from residents too often about the collection of litter and trash on our trails, on our sidewalks, on our neighborhood streets, our arterial roads. And I would like to see us move with some intention in those ways. What we see determines our perception of reality and the perception of the city. And so again, beautification, cleaning, streetlights, trees, TOD, and then that agenda walkthrough would be very, very useful. So I appreciate you all. Thank you.

Thank you. Word three. Word four. Thank you, Mary. Mayor. Sorry. I'm well aware that mayor is also what you call your wife.

Right.

Mary Ann. Yeah. So I know that this has always been, for as long as you've been on the council, an issue for you. Right.

You know, last Friday I was able to attend the M.T. Berry funeral, which is very sad, but it was really just a fantastic celebration of his life and, you know, not just his life, but all the different things that he brought to this city, that he brought to his community, to his family, and to different friends. And I would just like to thank everyone that was able to speak at that. They did a fantastic job and it turned out to be a really nice event. I served with him on some committees and I always appreciated him very drastically in how he worked. So, thank you.

Thank you. Word five. Word seven.

Thank you, Mayor. Just one thing in response to Councilman Cooper. I do think it'd be a good idea for us to take the time to get educated on multifamily housing, all of that. And I think that that fits very well with the zoning code update that is ongoing and the conversations that are happening in the public. So perhaps a study session with the Planning Commission would be a good idea for us to continue to inform ourselves about best practice and strategies to ensure that we are acting consistently with one another. But I would support that because I think the other challenge that wasn't mentioned when we talked about the affordable housing going on moving into that far part of Oklahoma City that we voted on today is that it's very hard to get the land and the entitlements in the urban core. and especially when you're talking about building at scale like this development is, and that's ultimately what led me to my yes vote, but I do completely agree with you, Councilman Cooper, that we need to be trying to build affordable housing near transit and continue to expand our public transit options. So that's one. Two, I had the pleasure of joining Councilman Hinkle and Stone in Salt Lake City as well as Assistant City Manager Fairbrush and the great One Transit team. It was great to see Salt Lake City's public transit system. The light rail was very impressive. It was very clean. I always felt safe. it was certainly a very good model for us to look at for Oklahoma City in the future. And so just excited to see the one transit conversation continue to go forward because this is a really exciting opportunity for us to really make our city just continue to build it up. So I'm just very excited about the work and appreciate all the effort that went into the trip.

Ward 8. Yes, I want to thank Mary Ann Carter. For those of you that don't know her, she's chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, and she has determined that Oklahoma City is a wonderful arts haven. She was on a two-day tour here with Representative Tom Cole and others where they toured FAM, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the State Capital Art Collection, the Oklahoma Contemporary Art Center, the Oklahoma City Ballet, and other art communities within Oklahoma City. The one thing that stood out to me of what she said was, I feel like Oklahoma City has so much to offer and a lot of people don't think about Oklahoma City as an art haven, but this is a chance for me now to go spread that word to the world. We have a great city, we have a great city for art, and I encourage people to come and see us. Thank you.

Thank you. We're now on item 13, citizens to be heard. We have, we'll start, if everyone would state their name and address and keep your remarks to three minutes or less, the clerk will remind you when you have 30 seconds left. We'll start with Tevin McDaniel.

Good morning.

It's still morning, actually. Tevin McDaniel, Ward 7. I always come up here, like, thinking that I know what I'm going to talk about, and then the meeting has so many other things that have just been interesting to me that I feel like I have to speak on it. So first, thank you, Councilman Cooper, for your questions and your sort of understanding and grasp of what we actually need to sort of grow as a city in order to actually care for the people that we're trying to care for when we're talking about affordable housing, when we're talking about transportation. I think those are much needed questions to be answered. And I think that sort of brings me to, as you all know, I'm always here talking about participatory budgeting, right, and like how are we getting the people more involved in these processes. I think this is also, between this, between FLOCC, The contracts, I feel like this is all coming to, we need more participation throughout all of these processes, throughout all of these meetings, because again, not everybody can show up in these places. We've been trying to figure out for the last few weeks, really over the last month, what is gonna happen on flock? What are we gonna do with the surveillance here in Oklahoma City? As flock cameras are still being put up, as people are still being surveilled, we still haven't gotten an answer on why whether we're going to sign the contract and continue this thing or whether we're not, right? And as Homebase has said, as Oklahomans for Privacy has said, we don't need surveillance in Oklahoma City, right? It has been nothing but data proven dangerous and been used in ways that are not safe for our community members. And so how are we actually making these spaces and these places accessible for people who have jobs, for people who have to take care of their families, who can't show up here at 8.30, right? I look at Tulsa. They get to have city council meetings. after work from six to eight, they get to have much more people who can actually come and have conversations with you. I think back to 2020 when we had to move these conversations online and you had much more of an influx of people who could actually give you the advice and their life experiences needed to make a lot of the decisions you all make behind closed doors without the without the credible resources and experienced givers that are the community members who are actually living through these decisions that you all make that have been harmful, right, to say the least for a long period of time. And now we're getting to a place where at least we're getting some conversations And not everybody has the blessing of me to be able to work for an organization that I got to co-found where my job is to come and organize and tell people the decisions you make to the people who are actually affected by them and saying, well, if we can provide you with some of the resources that our city council is not providing us with, maybe that will give you more space to engage in these processes. Maybe that will give you more space to engage with your neighbors. But in fact, this body has not been providing those resources so people can't show up. Because people have to take care of themselves first. And that doesn't mean coming into this space. And so I want to continue to say we have to make this accessible for people. And y'all have to do that from that horseshoe. Good morning.

I am...

here representing Ward 7. I'm basing my information off of the maps that are available on our governmental website. But I represent, I'm present as a resident of Ward 7, here to respectfully submit an enclosed petition requesting the planning and construction of two new Oklahoma City Fire Department stations east of Interstate 35 within Ward 7. This proposal is based on the growing public safety concern that has existed for years and deserves careful consideration of our community as our community continues to develop. Currently, there are no Oklahoma City fire stations located east of I-35 within Ward 7, despite the presence of established residential neighborhoods, expanding commercial development, industrial businesses, and undeveloped land that can contribute to rapidly spreading grass and brush fires. Residents and businesses in the area primarily rely on Fire Department 18 and 12 for emergency response. And while these stations have served our community with professionalism and dedication, they're located west of I-35 and must often navigate heavily traveled corridors such as Northeast 23rd, Northeast 36th, and congested Interstate 35 overpasses. before actually reaching the emergency east of the interstate. And so every minute matters during a fire emergency. Delays caused by traffic congestion, railroad crossings, roadway bottlenecks, and interstate crossings can significantly impact the outcome of fires Increasing the potential for property loss environmental damage and threats to public safety the eastern portion of Ward 7 Consists of a number of industrial and commercial operations that because of the nature of the businesses present elevated fire risks if an incident were to occur and just a few of these businesses I wrote with my mom up by 35 just to verify but just a few of these is insurance auto auctions Actros Chemicals, Heckros Rentals, Fireworks Warehouse, Oklahoma City, Craft Tank Corporation, and Action Gypsum Supply. These facilities store or utilize vehicles, industrial equipment, chemicals, combustible building materials, fuel systems, fireworks, and other products that may require specialized firefighting resources. And while these businesses undoubtedly comply with applicable building codes and maintain insurance coverage, those safeguards do not eliminate the potential for impact of a fire if they were to arise. And so I'm petitioning for the City Council to consider to initiate a comprehensive fire service coverage study of Ward 7 east of I-35, evaluate the current emergency response times and projected future service demands, identify potential sites for two strategically placed fire stations east of I-35, and include these stations as a priority in future capital improvement planning and budget discussions. I did also email this petition to Ward 7 Pennington, you should have this. It's not all that I have to say, but this is just the start of if we actually want to enrich Oklahoma City, specifically Ward 7, because that is where I reside. So that is where my concern is.

I may have misunderstood. Did you say you believe there are no Oklahoma City fire stations east of I-35?

Based on the map on our website, I actually printed off our ward map, and then I printed off the fire stations on that same exact map. I don't know if Oklahoma needs to update their maps.

So we do have a map of fire stations on our OKC.gov website, and there are two east of I-35 in Ward 7, Station 27 and Station 4.

You can actually have this. I have a copy of this.

Okay. Well, certainly, whatever that came from, we'll need to update it. But we have a fire station map, and we have two fire stations east of I-35.

That's what's on the government website, and that's the information that I'm basing my words on.

All right. Well, we've got two.

Well, we need two more.

I don't think that's, I mean.

I mean, if you look at that map and you see how congested fire stations west of I-35 in certain particular areas, their residents are more accessible to those fire stations and emergency resources if something were to happen. Where I actually live in Ward 7, if something were to occur, because Oklahoma is not consistent or in a rush, to fix roads. You guys like to keep trains stopped on railroads. We don't have any control over that.

Okay. Amber Ramsey?

Happy to visit with you. I'll reach out.

Good morning, honorable mayor and council members. I'm going to kind of talk to the side because they apply mostly to me. My name is Amber Ramsey. I live at 2838 Cheyenne Way, Piedmont, Oklahoma. I actually work at a place that will be impacted by the decision you just made. I'm a wife, a mother, a Republican, and I hope you guys can look at me and listen to me when I talk. It's important. I work in a profession where I serve the people of this great state every single day, much like you. And I still believe in our government, a government by and for the people. I would like to share some numbers with you today. In Piedmont, Kingfisher County, and Canadian County, there are 1,332 acres. In Okarche and Kingfisher, 292 acres. Cashion and Logan County, 509 acres. Yukon and Oklahoma City, 546 acres. Luther, 320 acres. All in disclosed land options, or announced projects for data centers. Those are the land options that we know about. And please don't stop listening because I said that word data center. I know it's a hot topic. This is all immediately in our region, 300 acres. It's not one data center or just one city. It's an entire grid impacting the whole region. It's 3,000 total acres near homes and it's co-located energy facilities. The question is, is where does it end? Per the CEO of Cloverleaf at our last city council meeting, and I quote him exactly, it ends at the capacity of the electric grid. That's terrifying, but I disagree. It ends with you. Just as stated in that prayer, you set the standard for this state. You set the standard for Oklahoma and this nation. You speak for the people. You have to lead with compassion for your constituents. You have to have empathy for the fears they're having right now. You have to at least try and listen and look at me when I talk. Mr. Cooper, I can tell your empathy. I can feel it. You can tell you're a real person. Ms. Avers, I've watched you. You're listening.

30 seconds remaining.

Mr. Carter, it's easy to make decisions on your boundaries that you don't think impact you, but they do. We do not have the water for this for all of these data centers. But it's not fair to make decisions on your borders that impact the cities around you. And it's not fair. You are in a position of leadership There's a lot of weight to that, and you do set that standard. I hope and I pray for each and every single one of you that you can handle that weight and that you can look at what's happening in our region. Please take a bigger look. Look around you, not in the small picture, the big picture. Thank you.

Mr. Adam Slattery.

Adam Slattery, 2330 Shell Creek Road, Oklahoma City, Yukon, wherever. Mr. Mayor, I think she was talking to you. You didn't look up one time when she was addressing you. It's disrespectful. Still don't choose to look up at me. Okay? So I'll start now. Once again, for the ninth time, I've planned my week around being here on a Tuesday expecting to hear PUD 2105-2124. Why? Because I'll be damned if I sit and listen to another meeting, like February 10th, where Councilman Stonecipher, Councilman Carter, criticized, belittled a councilwoman I voted for. Because, as stated, there wasn't anybody present to speak in opposition to a PUD that many neighbors believed was not in the best interest of our community. Despite those concerns being expressed in writing, the PUD was ultimately pushed forward and approved. Because why? The threat that the landowner would lose the deal. Is that the same treatment we can expect when PUD 2105, 2124 is finally heard? After nine deferrals, are we gonna rubber stamp this because the deal may fall through for the owner? What are we doing here? Every one of you is elected to serve the people and represent the will of the constituents, not to make decisions based the possibility of land deal falling through or being sued by a multi-billion dollar corporation over a zoning request that isn't compatible with the surrounding area or in the city's own comprehensive plan. Why are we continuing to spend so many resources, City Manager, time negotiating, revising the applications while there's a moratorium in place? Across the city, across Oklahoma, across the country, communities are raising legitimate concerns about locating these types of developments in their communities. Shouldn't the voices of your residents carry more weight than the wishes of a corporation? These two PUDs will set a significant precedent, not only for the western edge of Oklahoma City, but for communities throughout Canadian County. Every concession made through the next amendments and every revision tailored to these applicants become the standards of the future. Mr. Pennington, Luther borders you. Canadian County may seem far right now, but this same developer is in Luther. You vote for this, the city sets a precedent. They're coming to Oklahoma City. They're getting out of Luther. I've got a little bit more to say, but Mr. Cooper, I appreciate your intentionality.

J.D. We're at time, but thank you. Thank you. Next up is Shauna Nelson.

Hello, my name is Shawna Nelson. I live out in Piedmont. I'm here because of the data centers. I am retired from the United States Navy. When we got our orders to come to Oklahoma City, we were kind of shocked being in the Navy. My husband retired out of Tinker Air Force Base. A lot of Navy out there. So when we chose the area, we thought we made the right decision. After having to move every few years, you go where the military tells you to go. So we chose our area. We just found out about the data center in Piedmont, but that's not the only one. In Yukon, they're trying to go into Oklahoma City. Luther, Cashion. It's not one area that's gonna be affected, so it's not just Piedmont I'm speaking of. I didn't know anything about it because Even though the Cloverleaf representative claims they're transparent, they're not. They go under multiple LLCs, they do Beltline, which is the one, one of the two trying to go to Piedmont, is in Luther, he's in Yukon, and he's in Oklahoma City. They are trying, they do NDAs. There's a reason why they are being so sneaky, and you're not hearing about it in the news, because it's not necessarily good for the environment. Think before any projects go forward there needs to be more studies done for Electricity as it as amber said they even said they'll keep building until electricity grid is at capacity right now There's already a high power transmission line proposed from Luther to north of Piedmont For the development, they were told it's not going to be for the data centers, but amazingly enough, that's what the representative from Cloverleaf said. They're choosing the area for the Matheson substation. So I think taking a step back, if one area goes, the whole area goes. This doesn't seem to be good for Oklahoma City or even for the state of Oklahoma. There's already some up in the Tulsa area, and we're already getting pushback. So I think I would request that You take the time talk to the citizens because I don't think Not listening to your citizens is the appropriate thing because you are elected officials and they're trusting your judgment and asking for studies considering the historical Significance of where some of these projects are going something to take into consideration because once it's gone, it's gone for good.

Thank you Thank You Jenna Dunaway Okay, Jarrett Freeman.

Good morning, Council. Jarrett Freeman, 6705 Parkwood Lane. I'm a Ward 1 resident and I've spent the majority of this year reviewing our contract with the Flock Safety and the company behind it. Yesterday, a media outlet published a leaked internal document titled, How to Speak to City Councils About Public Safety Technology. This is a playbook that's given to police departments and it gives them scripts on how to defend Flock at council meetings, just like this one. It scripts opening lines for officers. It teaches them to reframe finances around, quote, the cost of unsolved crime. But here on page four, Flock itself writes, don't avoid the concept of mass surveillance because you're not going to convince opponents that it's not. This is Flock's own words in their own playbook. And Flock concedes what this platform is. It's mass surveillance. Under section 2.4 of the current contract with them, Flock retains the unilateral control over what these cameras do. Every capability that they've developed since 2023 was pushed to already installed devices. And even today, while this contract is under review, a new Flock camera went up one block away from my home with their Raven audio detector attached. No vote, no expanded authorization, yet Flock is already installing new devices and upgrading their capacity while we delay. On July 10, the OCPD stated to me in writing that no records exist connecting Flock to case outcomes. And then three days later, I'm sorry, four days later, the police union president went on television and called these same camera systems instrumental to their policy or to their success. But you can't call a system instrumental if you don't track its effectiveness. You can't. It can't be both. Last week, the OCPD confirmed to me in writing that an officer has already used this system for inappropriate purposes for the course of five months. That officer was caught and reprimanded because a private citizen filed a complaint. Let me say that again. OCPD officers have been confirmed using this system inappropriate already. When I asked for the platform's own audit log, they denied that to me. Today, in OKC, the public is the only system to audit this platform. Every time this contract is defended, the defense is a single anecdote, a recovered car, maybe a silver alert cleared, but it's never data. It's never a platform. 30 seconds. Thank you. The statistics don't support the anecdote. LAPD's own inspector general audit found the system is wrong one in three times. Every wrong hit is a potential armed stop of an innocent person. In February, a flock camera in Arkansas misread a plate and officers held the couple in that vehicle at gunpoint with their six-month-old child in the car seat. This is not a safety tool. This is a safety risk. do not renew this contract, get these cameras off of our streets, and don't sign with another vendor. Thank you. Excuse me.

May I see that? And can I, I just want to go make a copy for myself and my colleagues. I just heard about that last night. Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Carly Heitland.

Hi, my name is Carly Heitland. I'm a resident of Ward 2, and I'm here to present strong and widespread public opposition to renewing the Flock contracts. Here you see 1,816 signatures by your constituents. They have agreed to demand that the Oklahoma City Council permanently terminates its contract with Flock at the earliest possible opportunity to do so. The earliest possible opportunity to do so has already passed, and yet we are still urging you to terminate OKC's contract with Flock. Our community is engaged. Every time you delay this vote, our numbers for this petition and for support against Flock grows. Continually delaying this vote allows FLOC to continue installing new cameras, surveilling us, and collecting our data without proper storage. In effect, each time this vote is delayed, the Council is casting their vote to continue the contract for two weeks or more without hearing public comment and listening to citizen concerns. I am sure you have all received direct outreach from your constituents. And the over 1,800 people who have signed this petition, plus many others I have spoken with, have three key demands. Number one, have the OKC City Council not renew the FLOC contract. Number two, remove our current flock cameras. And number three, do not partner with another ALPR vendor. I hope you will take the time to read these petitions, to read the names of your constituents, the people who these cameras are affecting. I have personally spoken with hundreds of Oklahomans about flock surveillance, and I tell you that it is rare to find an issue that Oklahomans are so united on. Your constituents have spoken loud and clear. We want Flock out of our city. And as residents of Oklahoma City and the people being surveilled by Flock cameras, we urge you to stand with us, your constituents, put this issue to a vote, and vote not to renew the contract with Flock Safety. You will continue hearing from us until this happens. Thank you.

Thank you. CJ Carpenter.

Good morning. Thank the Council for their time. I am your neighbor in Canadian County, and the item you're considering, 9c, thank you for postponing it. My wife and I are both schoolteachers, so we will be unavailable August 18th, so I must make our wishes known today. What is a city? A city is a collection of neighbors who live together for mutual benefit, protection, and support. And so we are your neighbors. Thank you. We buy your water. Thank you so much for being neighbors to us in Canadian County. I live in one of the three neighborhoods that would be considered ground zero for the noise, the pollution, and the other things we're considering with cloverleaf. You're well aware, you're well versed in the issues. I can only speak from a father's heart. My wife and I are raising five children. I have a condition known as tinnitus. It's very common, tinnitus, right, with the ringing in the ears. Mine comes with what's called recruitment. And it can be crippling. Please do not fill our home and neighborhood with the decibel level of a vacuum cleaner constantly running. We will have to sell our house. My youngest son is nine and a half, and he's already asking for Christmas presents. You know how they do. He wants a telescope. With our current level of light pollution, we can see about 15 stars and planets. He wants a telescope. He's very serious about that. Please do not fill us with additional light pollution. We would be less than a mile, scarcely a mile from the proposed site for your PUD. Lastly, my middle son. was our asthma patient. And we spent many nights in hospitals and paying very high doctor bills, getting him through that rough period. Well, by the grace of God, he is now 15 and he's beaten a lot of his childhood asthma. And he's actually come out for cross country. He's now running two and a half miles, three miles every morning. Very proud of that young man. Please do not fill our backyard air with diesel exhaust and phthalates that are going to cripple his breathing and set us back. You're our neighbors, Oklahoma City. We've tried to be good neighbors. We're nice people in Canadian County. We appreciate you guys so much. But you're the biggest city in the state. You're the leaders of this state. And people are looking to you for president.

30 seconds, please.

That's all I have for you. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Steve Hunt. Sorry, what? Oh, next name, Steve Hunt.

Steve Hunt, 6300. I'd like to request the person doing the production to get a shot of Dave staring down at his ADL Defender of Democracy Award while I speak. That would be pretty good. There are a couple different things that I want to talk about, about how nobody wants to be surveilled. Nobody wants to be surveilled. And here's a little story about that. A couple months ago, some people know that I'm a big cigar aficionado and some friends of mine at the Burn Lounge contacted me saying that Dave and some of his friends went in there and that there was someone with them that asked them to turn the security cameras off. And I'm like, what? It's like, yep. I don't know who was with him. Do you know? Who was it, Dave? I think maybe it was Silver Lake Capital or someone because they were all in suits. And there was someone that may have been a security guy or something. But they went up there and said, can you please turn the security cameras off? And of course they're like, our insurance won't let us do that. But that's just a little story about how people don't like to be surveilled. So a little update on Thunder Radio and Television. I've been speaking about how the private equity adjacent company, Main Street Sports, who did the Thunder TV, is insolvent and no longer exists. And Cumulus, who does the radio, just filed their second chapter 11, and they're waiting the administration FCC to give their licenses over to their creditors and that's probably not going to happen until the season starts and it's just crazy that there's like no discussion whatsoever about this because the people have given billions of dollars and they've been having to pay to watch the Thunder and that's because they were trying to get the citizens to help Main Street sports service their debt. And that's the problem. That's why I always talk about private equity, because when we hand contracts to them, it's all like super highly leveraged debt, and they rarely pay off anything other than the interest. Thirty seconds remaining. That's why Cumulus shut down, because their EBITDA was $13 million less than their debt interest. There's a lot to talk about on that stuff, and I can't do it in 17 seconds, so I want to recommend a book to the people out in Channel 20 land watching on YouTube, Lords of Easy Money. This is one of the best books I've ever read, and it explains how our recovery money and our ZERP money from the housing collapse all went to these equity firms to buy these businesses that are now taking over the functionality of our municipality. So, thank you.

Gregory Brown. Joseph Ross.

I want to thank the committee who's been paying attention and kind of keeping their heads up and seeing what's going on with the people that's talking. I think we've got some really important concerns. I came to talk to you about the flock situation. Just recently I was pulled over by a police officer for something illegal. I'm a First Amendment auditor, and I go around recording police officers making sure to not violate any of our rights. And as I'm leaving, a police officer stopped. A police officer actually stopped me. And he told me, hey, I'm going to write you a ticket. And why were you recording and all this other crap? And as I was leaving, he tells me, he says, hey, are you affiliated with any motorcycle gang members? Because I'm on a motorcycle. Now, I didn't have on any motorcycle insignia. I didn't have on any patches or cuts or vests. But at the end of the conversation, when I asked him are free to go, he told me he was going to put me in the flock system as a outlaw motorcycle gang member. In no shape, form, or fashion am I a gang member. I'm not an outlaw. I'm not a one percenter. But for him to use the flock system to put me in the system as a criminal, as affiliated with criminals or known outlaws, That's not cool. I don't think that this system was used to do things like this. Another thing that I heard when I got pulled over for the same illegal tag display a month before, but that officer, he was joking. He made a joke about it. He was like, hey, I'm going to put you in the system. So in case you commit any crimes, we know where you work at. We're just going to come pick you up from work. it's it's it's sad that you guys can use these cameras and stuff to target citizens in the community but one thing that these flock cameras don't do i want y'all to think about they're not targeting you guys they're not targeting government officials or police officers who's running red lights who's speeding uh who's committing crimes y'all flock cameras aren't aren't aren't used for anyone but a targeted community that y'all feel like it should be targeted towards. And I know in two seconds I have 30 seconds. Thank you so much. If you notice also as we're up here on the stand talking, there's a couple of people, well, there's a few people that are engaged and paying attention to our conversation, but there's so many people that's not. And I want to bring something else to your attention too. That's why terms, there shouldn't be any, there should be restrictions on how long you can be in office because I think some people get comfortable in their position and they just don't care anymore. Thank you.

Stephanie Bertine?

Good morning. Stephanie Burdine, 515 Maple, Yukon, Oklahoma. For the people who weren't here at the last meeting, I'll play the audio again from the University of Texas School of Engineering recorded in Round Rock, Texas of hyperscale data centers 1,500 feet away. If you pass 2105 and 2104, you're going to set a precedent for the most unpopular thing in the United States of America right now, hyperscale data centers. The one that this put applies to is 300 feet, a mere 300 feet away from houses in Yukon. Now, this is not just going to affect UConn, it's going to affect the whole metro if you pass this, because not just the noise, but the Southwest Power Grid is currently operating under Emergency Order 202-26-31, Section 202C of the Federal Power. of the Fowler-Pedro Act. The next step is level three. That's an emergency to prevent rolling blackouts. If we don't have any power, if we're in that kind of shape, how are we gonna support data centers in the metro area? Who's gonna be first in line for power when we get to level three? Is it gonna be the hospitals? Is it gonna be homes? Is it gonna be the three largest three largest industries in Oklahoma City that help our country and security, FAA, the National Weather Service, Tinker, or do all the data centers win? And why in the world are we going to let speculators trying to trade a packaged idea of economic relief to municipalities to really come before the citizens of the metro and their right to peaceful existence? And then I'd like to know, what's the legacy you all want to leave? Mayor Holt, you're doing some fantastic things. 30 seconds remaining. But what do you want your legacy to be? Do you want it to be the Olympics? Do you want it to be the thunder, the arts, that Oklahoma City's a destination? Because if PUD 2105 and 21 pass, your legacy is going to be data centers. And I really wonder what a lady we have in common would be thinking right now of that boy on the cul-de-sac. I really wonder what Judy Lindsay would think of these data centers because I have a feeling she wouldn't be for them. Thank you for your time. Kristen Schubel.

Kristen Schubel.

Hello. Kristen Schubel from Ward 2. Again, I spoke here recently on Flock. I ran out of time, so I'm back to run it a bit more. There's a tendency in some circles to dismiss worries over data centers, AI, and Flock. as a bunch of ballyhoo from ignorant Luddites, and I'd like to push back on that perception. It used to be that when big tech sold the public on new tech, it led with obvious benefits. Google gave us super-fast, far-reaching search engine that could organize the web for our perusal, and it kept one-upping itself with Gmail, Google Earth, Google Fiber, and more. Facebook promised to keep us connected to our social circles and connect us to new people. Apple gave us these tiny little pocket computers with smooth home buttons that felt great to the touch. Originally, these were products where the customer experience was top of mind. These once great features have almost universally declined in quality and functionality. Now you're lucky if you can find via search what you were able to find 10 or even 20 years ago. Those lovely home buttons were removed many years ago in favor of more efficient production, while Apple's prices continue to rise, and Facebook I won't even comment on. Now, big tech doesn't even bother making helpful tools for the people. They have taken the trust they earned and spent it on contracts with big businesses and governments. There is a trend of technologies being pushed as benefiting our safety and wellness, while actually limiting our privacy and decreasing feelings of safety for many of us. This entire information age has felt like a bait and switch as we enter the age of, pardon my French, in shitification. This is not baseless paranoia you're seeing. This is people who are fed up with real abuses by big tech and their expanding tentacles, which seem to make everything they touch worse. It has to do with lax and sometimes undemocratic municipalities. I'd like to suggest that supporters of these technologies sleep comfortably because they believe they'll never be the target of these systems. They don't have any weird beliefs. They don't have any punk rock magazines from high school. They perceive themselves as upright members of our community who can only benefit from the protections brought by these omnipresent cameras. I don't have that trust, and not because I'm a bad guy or a criminal, but because the law can go wrong even in the hands of good actors. And in the last year, not necessarily here, citizens have been detained, deported, arrested, and jailed for their beliefs.

30 seconds remaining. Shoot.

Our Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month released a list of dangerous leftist terrorists, including the co-owner of Ben and Jerry's. Why on earth would I trust the state or a connected third party like Flock with more power to surveil me and everyone else? We seem to be entering another Red Scare, and I do worry this tech will be used by actors beyond this city to take advantage of our data and for the purpose of ideological suppression. Oh boy Since I'm running out of time I hope for better from this council when it comes to scrutinizing flock and other big tech vendors that come through these parts I Want to give a shout out to Jarrett Freeman because I think we're a time good work.

Okay, Penella Truman If I'm saying that right

Good morning, Council Mayor. How are you? I have a whole bunch written to say today. My name is Pensia Truhan. I live at 2401 Lost Lake Lane, your ward, 3, UConn address, Oklahoma City limits, and one-third of a mile. from where the data centers would be. I am retired. I have my dream house of almost six acres. I have horses. I have retired race horses from the track. One is 32 years old. I can't imagine what his life would be like listening to that hum. He's outside 24-7. I have other horses. I had a lot to say. I'm nervous. I'm scared. I haven't slept much since all this has been going on. It's affecting my life. Should I put money in my house? Should I stop? What's my home value going to be? This is the biggest thing I have is my home, my horses, and my life where I live. And this could all be taken from me. It's very personal. I had a whole bunch written to say, basically, these data centers do not belong in our communities. This is our community. We are basically a few houses on Ridgeland, and two subdivisions, mine and one across the street of 17 homes. There's not a lot of us, we all have five to 10 acres, but I have my dream place and my dreams are at stake here. And I hope you realize this is dire for us out there, dire. Thank you for hearing me and you'll be reading my emails more. Appreciate your time, thank you.

Ronnie Kirk.

My name is Ronnie Kirk. My address is 2328 North Missouri. Today, I'm here to vent about our government, about all the data centers. You know, 50 years ago, I worked at a data center, had 8,000 people work there, and 20 years I retired from there, there was only 20 people that I know. That's what government does so much in secrecy. All these data centers. You know, President Lincoln, he freed the slaves. President. Harry Truman, president, dropped the atomic bomb. Kennedy put the man on the moon. All the country, I mean, our government In seven years, they plan on going back to the moon and put habitats up there. That's when I think all these, they need all these plants so when they start making stuff at different ones, they can have a plant or missile launched in a month's time. So that's why I think that they're doing it. I'm getting old in my life. I've seen a lot of stuff, and I believe this is going to happen. In 2030, they plan on being on the moon. Thank you.

Thank you. That concludes Citizens to be Heard, which brings us to item 14, adjournment. And we are adjourned.