City Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning. We're going to get started this morning with an invocation led by Dr. A.W. Shahan, pastor of New Hope United Methodist Church. And that will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Amelia and Olivia Bonner, representing Girl Scout Troop 296. Please stand as you are able.

Well, thank you, Pastor Shahan, and thank you, Amelia and Olivia. I now call this meeting of the City Council to order, and there are a couple of presentations to make, and so I will make my way to the front, and perhaps I'll invite our friends from Neighborhood Alliance to meet me there around the podium. So Neighbors Night Out is actually, here, let me get my Myron. Neighbors Night Out is coming up, which we often commemorate here at a city council meeting. But this is a very special Neighbors Night Out because it also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Neighborhood Alliance, which I

Well, thank you, and thank you to everyone up here. This represents sort of a lot of your partners. Some of the folks up here are members of your team, but you also have people who partner especially on Neighbors Night Out. And we have Myron Mayberry, the Executive Director of Neighborhood Alliance, and we would love to hear a few words from you. Thank you.

Let's hear it for the neighborhood alliance. All right, Mrs. Poles, come on down. Well, you are our Teacher of the Month, and we'd like to learn a little bit more about you, and I would ask the clerk to read this resolution.

Thank you. Now, this is a resolution, so we have to pass it before that really means anything. So let's see if we can get that done. All right, we've got a motion and a second. Cast your votes. I wish to vote aye. All right, passes unanimously. Well, Quinet, we are so grateful for the work that you do, and I think I'm up here every month with the teacher. I also have read, as you know, to like 90 elementary schools. I think it's the first time those two efforts have converged. You were at Two Lakes a few years ago, and I read to your class, so it's great to see you again. The work you're doing

Thank you so much. Thank you. Let's hear it for Quinnette.

All right, still on Office of the Mayor. ITEM 3B IS AN AMENDMENT I'M BRINGING FORWARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. TODAY IS JUST INTRODUCTION. THIS WOULD ALTER THE SIZE AND SOME OF THE PARAMETERS OF OUR ARTS COMMISSION. AND MAYBE A QUICK INTRO FOR REALLY ITEMS B AND C. THIS HAS SORT OF BEEN THE SUMMER OF BOARDS FOR ME, AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED. WE'RE ULTIMATELY GOING TO HAVE ABOUT 190 APPOINTMENTS COME THROUGH HERE FROM JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER, AND IT ALSO follows eight years of living and breathing are nearly 50 boards that include about 500 of our residents. And really, out of all that, I've got a

Mayor? Yes. Would you mind, I'm reading this, would you mind just kind of stating aloud what are the parameters we're looking for in terms of who would serve on this body, just so the public... I understand it's in the agenda, but... Yeah, yeah.

So currently... You have to have a lawyer, a historian, two architects. No more than two people can live in the same HP. At least seven of the nine have to live in an HP. I'm just doing this from memory. And I think this is kind of a game for somebody like me to see if I really do pay attention over these last eight years. And so what changes is Pretty much all of those requirements go away, except I think we're still requiring an architect. Two of them, right? Two architects, which makes sense. But you don't have to have a lawyer. Lawyers staff the commission. You don't have to have a histori

So anyways, it does simplify that. It still states that it'd be nice to have some of those professions, but the... the requirement of having those professions has proven to be, especially all those sort of overlapping requirements. I'll give you actually the real life example we're living in right now. With all of these overlapping requirements, the current vacancy could only be filled by a, actually licensed realtor is one of the other, is the other current requirement that would go away. Current vacancy could only be filled by a licensed realtor who lives in one of five HP neighborhoods beca

Okay. I will say for me, the architects are probably the most important because there's such an attention. And I already see counselor slash former planning commissioner Pennington nodding his head at that. But that one's the one that stands out the most. And it's staying. Yes. And two of them.

They'll actually have a larger percentage of the board in the future. Not necessarily my intent, but that's the way it works out. All right, thank you for that. We could take a motion then. And I'm back in business. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. passes unanimously, and that will be final hearing on October 13th. Thank you all very much. And finally, we have some appointments. Items D through H are appointments to Bond Advisory, the MAPS IV Connectivity Subcommittee, the Library Commission, the Housing Authority, and the Residential Building Code Commission, and we can take th

Passes unanimously. Item seven, a request for uncontested continuances. So already listed on the agenda. Item 11B will be deferred to December 8th. Item 11F will be deferred to October 13th. Mr. City Manager, is there anything else?

All right. Next up is item A, revocable permits and events. Item 8A is a revocable permit with the Asian District Cultural Association for the Asian Night Market Festival on October 2nd through the 4th at Military Park. We don't have anyone who's signed up to speak. Councilman Cooper?

May I invite someone to come speak? Sure. Steve Lee, would you like to join us at the podium, please? It's like the price is right, except for you're going to tell us things.

Thank you so much. First, let me say, as I've already mentioned on my Instagram, I am deeply disturbed and I'm so sorry for the fire that happened to that art installation to what Gabe and Denise built alongside you. So just know that word two stands with you. Sorry, it was a very upsetting thing, but I'm really proud of the way you all have rallied and gotten those donations to help rebuild, because that's just what we do. It's just what we do, and it's under your leadership that that's happening. Were you gonna say something?

And I would, I know this might seem out of the norm, but if you wouldn't mind, because I've seen a couple people say, you know, rebuild and then move this art installation someplace else. And I think this is a good time to remind everybody that we have on vision.ok.gov a survey right now talking about the transit-oriented development grant that we received to revitalize the Asian district. And in my mind, that is pivotal because that art installation is home there, but I think the home around it that we're building has to provide that safety, but also a larger vision. I know you are just one p

Well, thanks to everyone who's helping to imagine these moments with Asia Night Market. I'm excited to work alongside you. I appreciate your leadership, and I would move for approval.

And that's on the website or your Asian District Cultural Association website?

All right, we have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Thank you. Thank you very much. Item 8B is revocable permit with Mesta Park Neighborhood Association for Mesta Festa on September 26th through the 27th at Pearl Mesta Park. And we have Seth Lewis here to speak on it.

All right, thank you. Councilwoman Hammond.

Well, I know this is a really lovely and well-loved event every year. We'll cross our fingers that temperatures get a little more, you know, something. Yeah, less terrible. But thank you so much for all the work that you all put into this every year. I know it's such a lovely event, and it's amazing. 31 years, I think, is a testament to how well it's loved. So I'm happy to move for approval.

Thank you. All right, we have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Thank you. Thank you all. Item C is a revocable right-of-way use permit with AIDS Walk of Oklahoma City to hold the AIDS Walk of OKC on October 4th. And we have Don Jackson here.

All right, thank you. This is in words six and seven.

Well, I'll just say I've been before. It's a really lovely event, and like you said, such a great time for the community to kind of rally around and, like you said, commemorate people we've lost, but also celebrate the advancements that we've experienced. So I'm very happy to move for approval.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item D is Relicable Right-of-Way Use Permit with Art Space and Untitled to hold the Steam Roller Printmaking Art Festival on October 3rd. And we have Laura Warriner here.

I don't know, but this is in Wards 6 and 7, if either council member would like to jump in.

Yeah, well, I know I'll share I've been before. It's such a cool thing to see. It's like it really is kind of performance. But also, I don't know if it was last year, the year before that I went, there was one of the vendor booths was some of the young artists selling their their pieces, which was very cool to see them getting celebrated that way and kind of getting the their CHOPS being a market vendor. So it's a very cool event. And I'm really glad to hear that you all continue to invest in it.

Well, I'll just say thank you so much for the work you're doing in our community, and I hope that I can get a tour, so we'll have to work that out.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Next step is a revocable right-of-way use permit with Capitol Hill Main Street to hold Fiestas de las Americas on October 3rd. And we have Heidi Brooks here to speak about that.

Thank you. We've got, this goes into, again, both wards six and seven.

Do you all need any volunteers? Yes, please. Share how people can get involved and sign up and what kinds of activities people can volunteer for.

Wonderful. Well, yeah, very excited to have you. And it sounds like they've just thrown you right in to like the biggest event of the year. So I'm very happy to move for approval and excited for this year's celebration. Thank you.

All right, we have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously.

And finally, item F, revocable right-of-way use permit with the Western Avenue Association to hold Cruise in the Mother Road on September 26th, and we have on Western, and we have Carrie Parker here.

I don't know if when we met, first of all, it's a great event. You're going to have my approval, of course. But I don't know if when we sat down together, if I ever told you, and this kind of goes to the Asian district, when I graduated from Choctaw High School in 2000, one of my friends bought a house on Western across from where that development's going in, where your, was it your uncle? Uncle?

So Amanda Farmer, her house was just right next door to that 100-year-old beautiful architecture. But growing up in Choctaw, I had never seen this part of the city before. And over the next few years, as Western Avenue did their placemaking streetscape project, and I was in grad school in Stillwater, I just fell in love with what you all did. narrowing the road putting in the sidewalks putting in the landscaping putting in the benches and all of that work together to make sure that vehicles could move safely through but so too could pedestrians and using your own language so that people would

Steve Lee, Asian District, y'all need volunteers? Y'all heard that. You're watching on Channel 20, you're out there. All these folk need our hands, all hands on deck. So thank you so much.

Thank you. All right, we have a motion and a second on item F. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. All right, we're gonna recess the council meeting now and convene as the Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority. We only have item A, claims and payroll, but we'll go ahead and take a vote on that. We have 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 have items A through D we can take with one motion. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. passes unanimously. We'll adjourn OCPPA a

Honorable Mayor, not a separate vote, but I would just like the public to hear a little bit more about the maps for a restoration center, like where we're at right now with that project. I see that both on the Public property authority and now here we have a little bit of a change in some. Operating stuff and I just think that would be important. It also such an important project so.

OK, if there's nothing else to take him in order, which means we'll start with that presentation on items AQ and AR.

Thank you for the presentation, and thanks for sitting with the counselors to request our feedback on what the different options were. Can we go back to the 240 and black welder one, please? Thank you. First, let me say, someone used to teach over at Jefferson Middle School right around the corner from here. The current bridge to me was just despair, depression, looks like a prison. The students who live on one side of the interstate, you have to get over to Jefferson. I just, I wept for them. This, the renderings of different types of children in terms of their mobility here I think is going

Art is nothing if it's not functional. And so I think, no shade to the abstract artist, but, you know. When will we know whether or not you were able to implement that lighting as part of these projects? I just think it's very important.

Would you let us know as a council when we're there with the lighting aspect of it? I just think that's important.

um otherwise i like a lot of what you're doing here and i'm sure it's going to accomplish its goals thank you okay well it's very exciting and i mean we've been literally talking about this on this horseshoe for seven years looking at those pedestrian bridges and uh it means a lot i know it seems like a simple simple thing but it'll leave a better impression of our city for thousands of people every single day so thank you thank you Next up, and last thing on the consent docket to discuss was item AV, Councilman Cooper.

Yes, this item, I've wondered where we were with it, so I'm glad to see it on the agenda. And it's just a topic that of course means a lot to me as someone whose family saw alcoholism do quite the damage. So where are we at, Director? What's going on?

Well, I look forward to future updates. As I said, this is a very important, I mean, I'm not saying anything you all don't already know, but it's a very important. Yeah, I agree. So when will that go out, the RFQ? Tomorrow. Tomorrow, yeah. Okay. Thank you.

All right. Well, that concludes the consent docket. We can now take a motion for its adoption. We have a motion and a second, cast your votes.

Passes unanimously. Item 10 is the concurrence docket. There are no items there today, so we'll advance to item 11, items for individual consideration. Item 11A is an ordinance on final hearing that was recommended for approval, rezoning 10101 North Classen Boulevard from R1 to I2. Councilman Pennington, no one has signed up to speak.

Thank you, Mayor. This is a rezoning application to bring some more industrial development to an area that is increasingly becoming an industrial area, so I'm happy to move for approval.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Items B and C were previously deferred, which brings us to item D. This is an ordinance on final hearing that was recommended for approval. Rezoning 3430 Oak Cliff Drive from R1 to PUD 2142. Councilman Stone, no one has signed up to speak.

Nobody signed up to speak. All right. Mr. Box, could we have you come forward, please? I mean, just to tell you from the beginning of this thing, I haven't been too excited about it. But if you could please talk to us a little bit about some of the things that we're doing there that we hope to kind of improve the neighborhood.

All right, thank you, Mr. Box. With that, I'll go ahead and move for its approval.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Thank you. Passes unanimously. ITEMS E AND F WERE PREVIOUSLY DEFERRED, WHICH BRINGS US TO ITEM G. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE ON FINALLY AIRING, RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL, REZONING 1210 NORTHWEST 30TH FROM R2 TO SPUD 1848. COUNCILMAN COOPER, NO ONE IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

THE OPPOSITION PRESENT. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU MIND WALKING US THROUGH YOUR VISION HERE, PLEASE? I MIGHT HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. when introducing yourself, these sort of formalities.

Thank you for that. I was speaking with our traffic commissioner yesterday in between teaching classes. He told me he spoke with you. Yes. Where you're wanting to do that, and I mentioned him in that conversation specifically because, as many of you know, Commissioner Littlefield now uses a wheelchair to move around. So ADA accessibility was already a priority for me. It is definitely, and has been one for him, but it is now kind of tantamount. Putting that, so we both commend you for wanting to have a unit dedicated to ADA. Where you're wanting to put that parking space up front, and Rob was

And do you have any renderings of what that would look like? I'm trying to envision. I'm a film guy. Literally, I teach film.

And what does landscaping look like at the front of the building? So I just think these things kind of matter. I'm just curious.

Now, where is that in relationship to the parking space? Which happens first? You have the road, then is it landscaping, then parking? Is it road, parking, landscaping, building?

Actually, no, it would be very easy for me. I need to see this in existence. If you can go back to, I'm sorry, just interrupt. I'm so sorry. Can we go back to the previous slide? And can we go in just a little bit? Thank you. I'm trying to understand from this, where the parking is, where the landscaping is.

I understand now. I was worried it was going to be more of like a parallel thing, but I understand that. That makes me feel better. Okay. Thank you. All right, I would move for approval. And thanks for your patience, counsel, and thanks for walking me through that. Do we need to, yes, I guess we do need to amend that. What language do I need to, lawyer, Kenny, what language do I need to use? Thank you for that clarification. What language would I need to use to do the amendment to allow for the ADA spot at the front of this proposal?

Yeah, I'm in the master development statement.

Thank you, sir. So I'd like to make an amendment first. We need to vote on an amendment to amend the master design statement to allow for the one parking space, the one ADA parking space at the front of the building. She's going to read it at the podium.

Does Sarah reading that serve, or do I need to say that as well?

No, you don't need to say that. You are moving her motion as read. Thank you, and then I would like to move Sarah's motion as read, please. All right, we have a motion and a second for the amendment. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously.

And then we need to, I'd like to make an, excuse me, a motion to approve the amended item G. We have a motion and a second.

Cast your votes. Thank you, and thank you so much.

All right, item 11H is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval rezoning 16100 Ironstone Place from PUD 1382 to SPUD 1853. Councilman Stone-Seifer, no one has signed up to speak.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 11I is a public hearing regarding dilapidated structures here listed. Amy, has anyone signed up to speak? No, they haven't. They have not. So we'll move to the resolution at item two, declaring that the structures are dilapidated. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item J1 is the public hearing regarding unsecured structures here listed, except for those previously struck. Amy, has anyone signed up to speak under this public hearing?

They have not, so we'll advance to the resolution. Founded Item 2, declaring that the structures are unsecured. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item K1 is a public hearing regarding the abandoned buildings here listed. Amy, has anyone signed up to speak? They have not. So we'll advance to the resolution, Founded Item 2, declaring the buildings are abandoned. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes.

Okay, item L is a resolution proving the incurrence of indebtedness by the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, issuing its airport revenue bonds not to exceed $90 million, and we have a presentation on this.

If there are no questions, we can take up a motion on the resolution. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. passes six to one, which is the necessary six affirmative votes required to incur indebtedness. It falls short of the seven affirmative votes necessary to waive competitive bidding. I think the desire by staff will be to rescind that vote and defer this to another agenda so we can obtain the necessary seven votes. So we'll need a motion to rescind the vote by which item L just passed.

Still got the results out there. All right, here we go. So this is a vote to rescind, a motion to cast a vote to rescind. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes if you wish to vote in favor of rescinding the vote by which item L passed. So we did not get enough votes, which is necessary for the business at hand, and so the only way forward is to rescind the item and defer it to our next meeting, I guess, in two weeks, Greg, probably? Yes. How's it going? There we go, all right. The vote to rescind passes six to one. Now we are back on item L and I think staff would like to see us defer

Thank you, Chris. Seeing no questions, we could take a motion to adopt this joint resolution. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 11N1 is a resolution authorizing the municipal councilor to confess judgment without admitting liability in the case of Picard v. Scevo KC. Staff has not requested executive session. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 01 is a resolution authorizing the municipal councilor to confess judgment without admitting liability in the case of Smith v. City of OKC. Staff has not requested executive ses

First, just reflecting on the airport vote, actually, I'm going to be thinking about that heading into the next round of voting because thinking about Councillor Hammond's no vote there, made me kind of pause and go, well, why? And I'll talk to her about that later. But as I started processing it, I started thinking, well, yeah, we're about to have an election for one transit, and that would include light rail to the airport. And so wouldn't the goal be to see a reduction in automobiles and the need for parking out at the airport? So it's given me something just internally and just thinking ki

Thank you. Word four? Word five? Word six?

Word seven? Just want to say a quick thank you to the Oklahoma City Police Department. Deputy Chief Harrison and Major Johnson joined me in a meeting with some of our neighbors in Culbertson, East Highland, where we've had a number of violent instances, some involving youth. And so the neighbors came together, and we are talking about ways that we can work together to try to improve the neighborhood, work together to try to end some of the youth violence that's happening in our community. And I appreciate their efforts, appreciate the leadership of those in the neighborhood, Valerie McMurray,

Thank you, that concludes comments from council. Now we're on item 13, citizens to be heard. For everyone I call up, please state your name and address and keep your remarks to three minutes or less. Amy will give you a warning when you have 30 seconds left and then I'll ask you to conclude your remarks at three minutes. We'll begin with Emily Ware. If Emily's not here, Jessica Early.

Linda, would you pull the mic, see the microphone?

Thank you, Ms. Finley. I like your shirt.

Thank you. You're out of time. That concludes Citizens to be Heard. We'll now be going into executive session for item 11P, and then we will return. We are back and we are adjourned.