Council - Regular Meeting

Appreciate everybody being here. Uh

would you bow with me please? Gracious heavenly father, we thank you so much for uh this this occasion uh tonight, this council meeting. And father, we thank you for uh this council and their willingness to serve this great city. Father, we uh ask that the decisions before them uh be uh ones that they use good discernment and wisdom, a measure that only you can provide in their decisions tonight. Father, we just thank you so much for this great city that we all serve in this uh great state in this nation. Father, we thank you for the freedoms we enjoy to assemble like we're doing tonight. And Father, I just ask that um you provide uh peace in the decisions that are made tonight. Be with all those all over the world tonight that are guarding our guaranteeing our freedoms, protect them, protect their families. We thank you so much for your son Jesus. We ask all this in his holy name. Amen.

Amen. Please follow me 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.

Thank you. And be seated. Now we move into community related announcements. Mr. Lions. Good evening everyone. have a few announcements here. Starting out with this Saturday, we'll be having the Mid America Street Fest at WP Bill Atinson Park. There'll be carnival rides, food trucks, and activities for kids and a variety of vendors. So, it's a great event for families. So, please come join us. Um, Midwest City Veterans Day parade. We're getting into the fall season. It will proudly this year honor the Awax as our theme. The parade will be Tuesday, November 11th at 10:00 a.m. The Grand Marshall will be Colonel Kendrick Carroll, commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing and Colonel Cisco Harris, the 72nd Air Base Wing Commander. Applications per for the parade are being accepted now at midwest city.org. And that is a council meeting night, November 11th. We'll be moving the council meeting to November 13th, which is Thursday night. So, please put that on your calendars. November 13th, 6 pm. We had a successful cruising for coffee. Um, that was our beginning beginning uh car show on October 18th. We'll have a a cruising for candy trunk or treat event on Tuesday, October 28th. Both of those events are on the city's websites and we'll be our website will be held in the parking lot of Santa Fe Cattle Company. Santa Fe will be offering free kids menu items for kids 12 and under who are in costume. um at the trunk or treat. So, good good place to feed your children. Um big thank you to the 47 volunteers who helped paint three houses in the Midwest City community this past Saturday. So, thank you for all those that participated and

helped. It's a great event. Thanks to Mike's people who who uh work diligently to organize this. I know he's here somewhere. Stand up, Mike. Oh, yeah. There you are. So, uh, good job to code enforcement department. Um, national night out as quickly as October 7th from 5 to 8:00 pm. And then finally, we we will be having a town hall meeting on November 6th at 6 PM and that'll be a special council meeting as well so that all the council members can attend that wish to for um a town hall for the election on the the hotel motel tax. So please put that on your calendars as well. If there's not four council people here, there won't be a meeting. But if there are, we'll treat it as a meeting. That makes sense. Yeah. November 6, 6 p.m. Yep.

And mayor, that's all I have. Tim, is that here at the city council? That is in the city council chamber. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. Now we'll move into our consent agenda. Uh these items are placed on consent agenda. So council members by unanimous consent can approve routine agenda items by one motion. If any council member requests to discuss an item or if there's not a unanimous consent then the item be removed and heard in regular order to entertain a motion. Mr. Mayor ask that we pull in five. I will pull in four and five.

Okay. I'll need a motion to indicate that. Move to approve the consent agenda with the exception of number four and number five. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor indicate saying I. I oppose. Extension. Motion carries. Item number four. Mr. Lion. Discussion. Consideration of possible action to authorize the city manager his designate to execute all documents necessary pertaining to the acceptance and approval of congressional congressionally directed spending US federal railroad administration consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements grant for Midwest C's industrial rail spur development project. Mr. Coleman I can answer any questions on this. I think it's fairly well spelled out on the agenda item.

Okay. Mr. Coleman, I just have a question about the the memorandum that you wrote. You wrote um that the project is well behind schedule. What how far what made us behind? Two years. It's not us. It's them. It's not us, it's them. And it's about two years behind where it should be right now. Okay. Does that affect our cost at all of what we're putting into it at all? Every minute could affect our cost. Yes. Plus the we're not sure about what effects, if any, the tariffs will have on the project. We hadn't bid the project. Our engineers estimate is a couple of years old. Um, we've got we think we've got more than we need because they allowed us to move the money that was originally scheduled for the centrillum rail over to this project, but we still don't know what it's going to cost.

But it's more than we were going to get because we didn't expect to have this when we started this project. That money was already included in our budget and it's still there because uh this is a reimbursement type grant. So, it's it's a blessing more than a curse. It's just a blessing. We have to wait on it. Yeah. But we budgeted them once in over the past couple years, correct? Okay. And there was a second part. I think you kind of answered that um with the grant and uh so forth. That was the last paragraph for your your memorandum. So, thank you. Can I ask some followup? When you say it was them that caused the delay, we're referring to the federal government in reference to the grant that we received. Is that correct?

I would say it's probably more accurate u to say we've never worked around a federal railroad grant. We had no idea how long this would take or how complicated that it would be. And we've just had to uh we actually you you all authorized us to uh hire outside grant administrator to help and she she has really uh really helped keep things on track and move things along, pardon the pun, because I don't know how far we'd be behind if we didn't have um this lady with Garver looking out for us. It's just a very slow process and it's it's frustrating because our project in light of some of the other ones that have been awarded nationally is is extremely small.

And the purpose of this particular agenda item is to uh direct the city manager to make decisions pending these funds and how they'll be utilized. At this point, do we have an itemized list of what projects we plan on using or are do we have an outline? It's just it's just one project and it's for professional services and construction of the of the rail through the Soldier Creek Industrial Park. And this is a reimbursement grant. We've already got the money budgeted. It's not like there's uh you know, hopefully we won't need any more, but we don't know until it's bid and we can't bid it until uh we've been authorized to do so. And how long of a period do you expect this project to take?

Once we get the once we get a notice to proceed, um I don't know. I would say uh at least four months and maybe six. And Centrum really needs or I'm sorry, American Glass really needs rail service by the first quarter of 2026, but uh I'm not sure, you know, exactly what the timing is going to be on that.

Well, I I had some concerns about this particular item. Um first and foremost, I want to applaud you as our economic development. your vision and really the commitment of our city manager and staff has revitalized portions of Northeast 23rd American Glass aesthetics of it bringing such a large corporation and really being dreamers in the fact of endeavoring into rail business something I was a little precautious about because the city has not endeavored into that before but again I want to applaud the city for being those dreamers and endeavoring into things uh that are new to us. However, as much love and respect I have for our city manager, and I do seek his guidance because he has a a wealth of knowledge and experience that I myself lack, there are so many enormous responsibilities on our city manager. Um, and we as the elected officials here, one of the core duties that we have is the financial oversight of of matters such as this one. And so passing along that duty to the city manager with as much respect as I have to him gives me concern that I am shredding off some responsibility that I we collectively should take on. And two, I also recognize when items like future projects with the rail are placed on a public agenda and brought forth in a discussion such as this format, it adds that layer of transparency that alerts our citizenary of how these monies are being used, what projects we're doing. So when it's not placed on the agenda and brought for a vote before council, I am not certain that that layer of transparency will happen unless a citizen takes it upon themselves to come and inquire about a project that they may not even be aware of. And for those reasons, I would be much more comfortable with these projects coming before us. I doubt that I have any hesitation approving them once they come before us, but I would like to keep the process um that I I would argue um is normal to our charter, which these decisions and and and Tim, correct me, anything above $100,000 is brought before the spotty for a vote.

Yeah. And and be reminded, this is just authorizing us to move forward with the grant. This is not the bid on the rail. we will still have to uh put specifications in a bid packet out on the street and that bid will come back to you for an award. So I like to understand that any purchases made, any expenditures made to build things will still come back to That's correct. We're just trying to deal with the bureaucracy of dealing with the Federal Railroad Administration without having to come back for a special council meeting to sign form 444H5. Well, thank you for that clarification and education. And with that, I'll move to approve only keep us a breast of of it because again, this is a new endeavor, exciting one, but one that we're excited to see how it unfolds. Thank you. Move to approve.

There's a lot more in store for 23rd Street. Yeah. Thanks. I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor? In case saying I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. Item number five, Mr. Lion. Discussion, consideration, possible action to approve and adopt the city's emergency operation plan for 2526. Mr. Mayor, Mr. City Manager, the reason I asked that this be pulled because besides the budget, this is probably one of the most important documents that we do and and I would like to give her opportunity to explain why it's so important, why it's done, what why we need this, and why what would happen if we didn't have it.

Thank you. Um, for those who don't know me, I'm Debbie Wagner. I am the emergency manager for Midwest City. Um the emergency operations plan is a key document that we as the whole community planning group developed together in terms of how we as a city would respond to an incident that exceeds the capabilities of our daily resources, something larger than a house fire or a traffic stop or something like that. Um, there are many components to the emergency operations plan and um, if you haven't read it, I would encourage you to because as uh, Councilman Bird said, it is a very important document for our city and September is National Preparedness Month. And um one of the things about being prepared is that we know ahead of time what our actions are going to be and we are um equipped and skilled and trained to be able to carry out those response actions should we have an event that impacts us here in Midwest City. And so um this document is uh composed of a basic plan that talks about kind of the basic ideas of emergency management, the phases of emergency management and what the components are. And then we have what we call ESF annexes or emergency support function annexes that describe different roles that different groups in the community and different departments in the city for that matter would fill during a disaster such as transportation, communications, fire, um suppression, search and rescue, all those different types of things. And then finally, there are hazard specific annexes because although emergency management uses an all hazards approach in a sense that we pardon me want to make sure that we're prepared for all hazards and and also the outcomes of those hazards. So if the hazard is an ice storm, one of the outcomes of that hazard is typically an extended power outage. And so we want to make sure that that our city and our and

our residents are prepared for that in the best way that we can. Um excuse me. So um does anyone have any questions? I mean honestly I could go on for hours about this question. This is my passion. So one small question but I I did read the report almost every word of it and uh I was very impressed and it's comforting to know that you have gone to such detail and that in case of an emergency uh and the most likely emergency for Midwest City is likely to come from a weather related incident according to the report. Lightning being our number one killer. Um, so people should be more aware of lightning probably and less more afraid of it than tornadoes. But anyway, you're not wrong.

Buried in the fine print in some of the um items um way at the bottom uh you you are charged with maintaining a list of subject matter experts. Regardless of what the calamity might be, there would there should be somebody on call to be a subject matter expert. I I assume that would be a subject matter expert in radioactivity or rad uh wild animals running loose in the town or whatever. And it it was almost mindboggling to me how much time you must have to put into thinking of all the possibilities and the disasters and the ramifications of each one and then somehow coming up with a subject matter expert on that specific thing. And so I'm glad we brought this forward. I was just going to vote to approve it without discussion. But mostly I wanted to acknowledge you and the work that you and your group must do to keep us all safe and and I pray that your work goes for nothing and that we never have to use any of it. But it's very comforting to know that it's there because it's a very in-depth plan and a complete plan. So thank you Miss Wagner for your hard work and your diligence.

Thank you. Also, Debbie, please.

Um, one of the issues that we came into within the last year, I'll say, was finding out that there was a loss of power to one of our um, rehab centers and long-term care facilities here in Midwest City and they had lost power and we were not made aware of it and there was some emergency measures there. um is that incorporated somewhere um in dealing with our emergency operations plan because I know we had discussed dealing with an an ordinance change about the notification and the registration for those types of facilities so that we are aware of their needs and so forth and can prioritize them with OG& for example with regard to power restoration is that included somewhere with this?

Yes and no. So um to the extent that we have any control over what those independent facilities do um I did meet with the administrator of that particular facility and um discussed his emergency op because they're required to have emergency plans as well by the accreditation body that joint commission that accredits healthcare facilities. Um and so I discussed you know that with him and the possible you know um ways that we could avoid that happening again and I also invited him to participate in our whole community planning groups. We meet quarterly and the whole point of it is to bring all of the components of our community together so that they can all bring their concerns to the table and we can we can discuss these things. Um I have included him on our mailing list ever since then. Um, I don't believe he's ever attended a meeting.

Well, I have it on good authority that he is no longer the administrator of that facility. Oh. So, okay. So, perhaps you might wish to reach out and determine who is the new administrator of that facility and maybe that person might choose to be more responsive or receptive to your input. Thank you. So um just again um it's a very vulnerable population and so

again greatly concerned about not just that facility but other like facilities and um obviously we have great partnership with our hospital partner. Um but a lot of those types of long-term care rehab facilities we don't have the same embedded I would say relationship with. So I just wanted to ask about that because again very vulnerable population. I know a lot of people were very um adversely affected by that power outage at that particular facility and so I thank you very much for trying to bring them into the fold and you know again like I say you might want to try to reach out again.

I will thank you for that. Um, one of the things I mean I go to a lot of meetings with other different community partners and one of the meetings I go to as regularly as I'm able is the healthc care coalition meeting for region 6 and 8 which region 68 for homeland security and and medical is Oklahoma County and all the counties that touch it. The RMRS, the regional medical response system director, um, is a person I reached out to when that happened and we realized we were going to need transport for folks who could not board school buses or get on regular trucks and things and they were extremely helpful. They got Embark on board and we were ready to move that and then, you know, the process kind of came along. We didn't end up having to move that many people after all. Um, but that's one of the the whole um whole community efforts as well as building collaborative relationships. That's what I do. That's a whole part of my job.

Just in followup, have you had any interaction with the long-term care on bbudsman by any chance? I have not. I'm just was wondering if that person might also be um helpful with regard to those types of they mighties and so just just curious. Do you have contact information for that person? I can give it to you. Yes. That would be wonderful. Thank you very much. Absolutely. Thank you very much. Miss White. Yes, ma'am. Uh, this report was awesome. A lot of information. I know you didn't. Thank you.

There's a lot of information and it was I looked at it. It was over 240 something pages. I'm still trying to get used to the fact that we have things that come on the agenda and then we vote on them and then we have time to study. So, this is more to the city manager than to you because I know from um from my past experience emergency plans, you did not do this over again. So, you are to be commended. I did look through it. I read through it. I looked through it to see what role that we play and I finally found us. I think I'm 200 and something pages later. But no, that's not true. That is not a reflection on you at all. I was just looking to see if there's an emergency. Do I just stay at the house? So, I was trying to figure out that is not a that's not negative for you because that's an awesome report.

Thank you. And I love those kinds of reports. I just would like to get them earlier so that I can do my due diligence. Um uh I I'm an avid reader. Anybody who knows me know that. But I also like to highlight, ask questions, and seem like we're putting the approval before uh we really had a chance to study it. So, your report was awesome and it I love those kinds of reports. I I really do. Um, so I'm asking going forward, is there any way we could get those bigger reports a little earlier so that I can mark them up and have some questions? Um,

yeah. And we can try to We used to do a lot more of this than we do now on further information the month before to put some of the big reports on there. and we can we'll we'll get back to doing more of that. I appreciate that. And please hear I'm not asking for extra meetings. I just want to be able to sit at my desk and mock up your report. You mean you don't want to come together and fellowship with us? No, I'm hurt. No, I No. And the most important thing is she had no warning that I was going to pull this too. So, this is off the top of her head and she didn't do it over the weekend because the Bills played on Thursday night. That's right. Go Bills. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome.

And know that I enjoy those reports, so keep them coming. Great. And I just want to say also one more thing. If any of you have any questions, if you sit down and read it um over, you know, this coming weekend or whatever and have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. That's why I'm here. So, it's a living document and next year we'll incorporate the things we learned starting the day after I posted that one. So,

again, if I could follow up and then I have a question. And yes, as Councilwoman um Maxwell said, um one of the first things that were handed to me when I was first going through orientation and I believe even prior to me being sworn in was that massive document. It's a few years old now and it's revised annually. And naive little me thought when there is a crisis, they pull us to some room underground and we collectively make decisions. And I was blown away with the amount of detail and forthought that is placed with in every type of scenario and how much staff and labor is constantly working to make sure that we are at our safest and you are one of the coolest people in this city. I'm telling you and your job is probably one of the most stressful ones. So, thank you for everything that you and your staff collectively do. I do have a question that continues to come up on social media every time the sirens go off for a tornado. Yes, ma'am. Um, do you think, and I know we're not the only city, many municipalities across the state have shut down those tornado public tornado shelters. Do you think many of our residents who may not have the privilege of a personal um storm shelter would be at large, the public at large, safer during a serious tornado if we were able to get to a point to have those public shelters open again?

Um, my answer to that would be no. I don't think so. And um the if you on our website I posted the Central Oklahoma Emergency Management Association's public statement on public shelters. There aren't any jurisdictions in the metro large ones that have public shelters. And there are several reasons. The main one being we don't want people driving through weather to try to get to a shelter location. Um and and more most injuries in that type of weather happen in a car. We don't want people in cars. Um, we want people to plan ahead and have a safe plan whether that's a storm shelter or the middle of their house and you know in the windowless room that they find or if it's I have to go to my mother's or I have to go to my neighbors or whatever it is they need to have that worked out ahead of time. And if it's something that involves travel, they need to leave plenty early because traffic and you know remember May 31st 2013 Elno tornado where they had everyone go in the same direction on the interstate and all those kinds of things. We don't want that happening here. Um, we also don't really have a facility that could hold enough pe, you know, I mean, it's there are almost 60,000 people in the city. There's no way we could build and maintain a facility that would be able to hold all those people. And there are just other, you know, considerations like at what point do we shut the door and not let any more people in, you know, and and and who's eligible to come in and who isn't and all those kinds of things. And it there are just a lot of reasons why

in a city this size, it's really not in the best interest of our people to offer public shelters as a fallback. We need for people to take the initiative themselves and plan. And I always tell people on, you know, my Facebook post and things, if you have questions or need help with your preparedness planning, call me. That's what I'm here for. And some people have, you know, and so that's been great. Thank you so much for outlining some of those very valid reasons so people aren't making assumptions as to why we closed down those shelters. And now the next time something is said, we can say you may be very much safer by not being on the road trying to it's not because we don't care about our people and want to keep them safe. That is absolutely not the reason. We absolutely do.

And councilwoman to dovetail on your question and commentary. So uh I have a good friend. and she and her husband are purchasing a new home in Midwest City and having it built. And I found it very interesting as I was walking through their home purchase journey with them and talking about uh different locations and different builders etc. that there is a large builder in Midwest City who was one of the neighborhoods that they were considering purchasing a home in and they are not installing storm shelters on the new homes that they're building. They are instead focused on the rhetoric that says make the home itself safer in terms of high impact shingles and the amount of reinforced walls that you are building with etc. to make the entire structure ideally withstand the tornado versus putting a tornado shelter in place. So there are different thoughts, if you will, out there as far as what's your best measure to take. Um, I will say that I am extremely claustrophobic and you know, honestly, me getting in the storm shelter is going to be the last minute measure because I'll be freaking out from the moment I'm underground type of thing. Um, but you know, everybody has to make their own decisions, but that is the rhetoric. um is that having to travel to public shelters puts people at risk and puts people at risk, but you get there and it's full. Then what do you do? Now it's too late to really turn around and go home. So where do you go at that point? So just something to consider whenever you're talking with your constituents and so I just throw that out there. So

any further questions, Mner chair to entertain a motion to approve the motion to approve. I have a motion and a second. All in favor indicator saying I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. We now move in discussion items of our agenda. Discussion item number one. Mr. Lion. Discussion. Consideration. Possible action approving a resolution and executing all appropriate documents to participate in the Purdue Pharma um pharmaceutical opioid settlement agreement. Mr. Msh.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the city council. This is the fourth time I've uh addressed the city council concerning uh potential settlement uh and participation of settlement uh in our opioid uh litigation that is ongoing. We are one of 87 uh municipal or municipal local governmental uh entities that are participating in Oklahoma with uh settlements on opioids. Uh this is probably the most famous one that you probably have heard of in the media because this is the Purdue Pharma Sackler family uh requested settlement in this uh if you recall at one time there was an agreement uh there were challenges to that agreement. He went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Supreme Court threw out that settlement and uh they had to go back to the negotiating table. This is what they've come out with since that time. So for this the Sackler family itself uh based on their activity has agreed it this is and when I say these numbers and what I'm going to say this is a global settlement that will apply to the entire United States uh and possibly north parts of North America. So when I mention these large numbers that's not what's going to come here or what's coming to Oklahoma. This applies uh nationwide. Anyway, they're going to pay uh $6.5 billion over 16 payments uh for 15 years uh including 1.5 mill billion immediately upon um settlement uh signature of all the documents which we anticipate will occur in 2026. Uh this is an in addition to 900,000 uh 900 million excuse me that Purdue itself through the bankruptcy and it settlement uh will be uh putting into uh that settlement. Now, with that, there is also in this settlement um the total distribution to Oklahoma to the subdivisions is anticipated to be 24 million. If you look at some of the documents that was provided, we get about 1.9 I'm going to say 2% of that

because uh that makes easy math for me. And so, we're anticipating to get about uh 414,000 and change uh out of the settlement ourselves that would be coming to Midwest City. In addition to the Sackler family and to Purdue, there are eight other generic, when I mean generic, they produce generic pills. They're not generic manufacturers, but they produce the generic pills uh in these settlements as well. Uh they plan on paying about half of theirs in one lump sum at the time uh within a year of signing and then the other half will be paid out over 10 years. Their total cash for these eight will be about approximately 844 uh million and that'll be distributed obviously to all the states and all the local entities. It is our estimate that uh for the local entities we'll get about 12.9 million of that we should get approximately about 167,000 of that ourselves. So what the request here is today is to our as you all may well know we have outside counsel who's assisting us uh with McAfee and Taft. It is their recommendation that we participate in the settlement as a uh litigating uh local governmental entity uh and to have them then go through the pro go through the process of uh finalizing those negotiations on behalf of those 87 entities in Oklahoma. I say those numbers because we're also participating with the state of Oklahoma. Out of those numbers that I said for Oklahoma, the litigating entities get 75% of that and the state will get 25% of that. Now with that uh there is a resolution that was provided to you uh in that and uh when they provided that resolution about a week ago with all the settlement documents that have been drafted so far they forgot one document and on Friday I received that document and that is the state uh subdivision agreement. I have that agreement if you anybody wants to look at it. I have a copy for you here. But that basically is the agreement that is necessary as settle as the settlements make distributions at the state level and to all the participating

um local entities. The state subdivision agreement directs the distribution of funds to the Oklahoma subdivisions. In this settlement uh it directs uh distribution go to the litigating subdivisions of which Midwest city is one and allocates the distribution to the subdivisions at the same those same percentages as I talked about the 1.914% 917

1.917 thank you u and we've done that in all the other three uh previous settlements that have been brought before you. So, at this time, it would be our attorney, our private attorney's request that a motion be made to uh approve the resolution to allow the uh them to go forward and work on the settlement with the addition uh that it be amended from what was produced before you to include uh approval of the state subdivision agreement. I'm happy to answer any questions. There's no questions. No, that thing was 450 pages long, that agreement. Yes, it was. And it's and no, I have not read it all.

Pretty tough reading. Um, but even includes a contingency plan for if they go bankrupt, this is the scenario and we'll still get paid. So, it's pretty complicated stuff, but I make a motion to approve. Second. Can we back up a second? Yes, sir. Go ahead. There's an amendment, correct? Yes, you we need amended language to it and I just happen to have it. I'll give it to you, Mark. Would you would you be open to I recall I recall my motion and defer toward two for the amended plan. I'm not smart enough. Go ahead, Mr. Burn. Okay.

I move to approve the city of Midwest City participating in the Purdue Pharma Sha Sackler family and the 8 secondary opioid manufacturers settlement and amend a resolution provided herein to include the approval of the small manufacturer state subdivision agreement that is applicable to participating in this settlement. Second. I have a motion and a second. Obviously, that was written by an attorney. All in favor? Indicate saying I. I. Opposed. Extension. Motion carries. I told you I wasn't smart enough to write that.

Let me let me do remind the council of one thing is we go through the settlement processes on opioids and various. We we are setting that money aside and each one of these comes with a lot of requirements to spend the money. And so we we will be working on that as we amass enough money to to start programming it. So item number two, Mr. Lion, discussion, consideration, possible action adopting the collecting bargaining agreement between the city of Midwest City and the Fraternal Order of Police. FOP Lodge 127 is negotiated to be effective July 1st, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

Any questions? Can we have the thought president come up just so we can thank him and his representation of an extraordinary police force? Um, on behalf of myself and my constituents, we have one of the best police departments, community oriented, driven. Um, and I know it takes all day and all night to create uh the type of public safety that we have here. So, I just wanted to thank you personally. I appreciate it. Thank you. But I would like you to still give her a ticket if you need to. It's not an exclusion, right? I have a motion. Do I have a second?

I have a motion and a second. All in favor indicates saying I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. I would say something, but I'm rather biased on that after this year. I appreciate everybody has time looking over that and uh getting that approved. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thanks, John. Discussion item number three, Mr. Lion. Public hearing discussion, consideration of possible action to approve a minor platon Glendale's Glendale additions for the property located at 10624 and 10628 East Reno. Mr. Summers,

thank you. Uh, this is a minor plat application. Uh, the subject property currently is two lots uh at the intersection of East Reno Avenue and Glendale. Um the applicant is proposing to subdivide those two lots uh into five total lots. Two of which will uh retain frontage along uh East Reno Avenue and three of them will have frontage along uh Glendale. Uh the the plat as it's drawn up, you know, complies with all the zoning regulations and subdivision subdivision regulations. Uh the applicant will be required to extend water and sewer uh to serve the lot and they are aware of that. Uh we complied with all state and local notification requirements and advertising the public hearings for this application and there were no comments in support or opposition to this application uh before the planning commission. Uh we did receive one phone call. Somebody was just inquiring the nature of the application. Uh but they didn't really say if they were in favor or against it uh on the phone. The planning commission did unanimously recommend approval of this item.

This is a public hearing. Does anyone have anything to bring before the council concerning this agenda item? Hearing or seeing none, the chair to entertain a motion to approve. Motion to approve. Second. I have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? All in favor indicate saying I. Opposed. Extension. Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Sers. Item number four, Mr. Lions. Public hearing, discussion, consideration, possible action on a resolution to amend the comprehensive plan from office retail to commercial and an ordinance to redistrict C3 community commercial district to a plan unit development for the property located at 2300 and 2350 South Midwest Boulevard. Mr. Summers,

thank you. Uh this is a resoning application uh that also contains an application to amend the comprehensive plan. Um the the applicant is requesting to reszone property uh to a PUD a planned unit development uh any of the um I guess ma subject matters uh in the design statement or that they don't amend in the design statement uh would be subject to the underlying C3 zoning. So they're you know if they don't change the the building heights we would apply the building height requirements that are in the C3 zoning. Uh the site is uh almost 3.3 acres in size and it's located on the east side of uh South Midwest Boulevard. Um you know we do find that the the PUD as as described would allow for redevelopment of the site. It would allow for a more efficient use of you know the property that is available here in Midwest City. Um we did have some discussions with the applicant about a few of the items in particular that were in the design statement in particular. Uh firstly we talked uh to them about the um the facade the materials that they would be proposing to use on the facade of the building. And in the staff report I talk about uh some of the investments that the city has made into the corridor and how we should you know be judicious in um approving deviations from our um our our facade requirements. You know, typically we require a certain amount of masonry and the applicant today is proposing uh that we that we sort of uh amend those standards to allow them to use architectural metal uh on some of the facads of the buildings and and that can be an attractive look. I think the applicant has some renderings that they'll provide to you to to help you in in your decision-m uh this evening on this item. Um, just as an example, uh, we do allow, I guess in the Plaza 62 district, we would allow architectural, uh, metal as a as a, you know, an exterior finish on buildings in that district. However, in our current zoning regulations, um, you know, builders and developers are limited to brick, stone, stucco, m, you know, more, I guess, traditional masonry uh, type materials.

So, um the the other item, you know, where there was some some discussion is that the design statement um proposes to alter how uh we we provide water meters to buildings. Um that's that's not really a something that we typically see uh amended as part of a PUD. It's not in the zoning regulations. It's not in the the sign regulations. It's not in the subdivision regulations. Um so on sort of both of those items, the recommendation that came out of the planning commission was they they recommended approval of this item with some stipulations. A that the applicant bring uh renderings for you all to see and secondly that the the water meters not be a part of uh any approved PUD for the site. So we did comply with state and local notification requirements and advertising the public hearings. Uh we did not have any phone calls or emails uh related to this application and besides the applicant's presence at the planning commission uh there was no support or opposition uh from the public on this item.

There's another issue. I think this property abuts the Palmer Trail and I wanted to be clear. I I believe it said in the proposal that there being no infringement on the Palmer Trail. Uh I but I wanted to make it clear that that that is still the case that the trail would not be negatively impacted in any way by any uh development near it. Yeah, that is that is correct. The Palmer Trail will stay will remain as is. Thank you. Renderings uh the I think the applicant has Before we get into that, there's one this is a public hearing. Does anyone have anything to bring before the council concerning this agenda item? Hearing or seeing none, could you show the council the renderings, please?

Mr. Johnson, you want to address council or Yeah. Jeff Johnson, 5 Northeast 3rd Street, Oklahoma City.

Yeah, we actually Can we bring those things in? The idea of just building these buildings and just bricking all the walls was not something that really turns out to be an attractive thing. So, we wanted to have more architectural ability to have design freedoms to to make. This is what a lot of the brick buildings look like that are proposed like, you know, light industrial or office warehouse type thing, flex space, if you will. And this is more using architecture panels and colors and you know things to you know liven things up I guess a little bit is the best way to put it. So while we're asking we although although we will have some masonry in different places um the existing building that I don't know y'all familiar with is very ugly. It is a brick building but it's ugly right. So, um, we're proposing to build the new buildings, uh, tear down the old, uh, building where the, uh, dog, uh, grooming place is, replace that with new structure, and build new buildings all around it, new paving, landscaping. Um, also take the old building and take some of these elements and redo that building as well, so it would fit in with all the new architecture, the new modern look versus looking old and drabby basically. So the only request is to have more ability to use these type of panels and colors and not just brick it basically.

I agree with it. We we need to move away from that and there's so many new materials out there now that as we rewrite our comprehensive plan we need to include those in as we go forward and u but uh does anyone have anything any any questions? Mr. Johnson hearing or seeing none entertain a motion to approve. Right. one just curious all these are little tiny cars. Don't get me started on that. Okay. Um I made I made comment myself uh to the architect. Um it's it's it's horrible. So sorry.

Most in not only what uh Matt's covered and what Mr. Johnson's covered is that uh there are five important questions, correct Matt, that have to go into whether we change a comprehensive uh plan amendment. Correct. And I think you you touched on all five of them on page five of the staff report. And if I read it right, you concurred basically that Mr. Johnson met all the requirements for those five steps. Is that an accurate statement? Yes, that is correct. Okay.

Susan, do you have your microphone on?

Sorry. One more time. I was going to move to approve, but with the two caveats of as discussed, um the reasonzoning of this property will in no way impair or impede uh the Palmer Trail, which is discussed as being on the perimeter of this um proposal. and um that the requested water meter exception uh would not be granted and it would be um the the uh proposal would be subject to our current regulations regarding water meters or for you all to sort that out at a different time type of thing. Um I you know we've had some conversations in the past about going to other building materials beyond what um we have specifically listed um including different materials for fencing etc. And you know I I think if you drive by and you take a look at um the glass facility that uh Councilwoman Vanna was referencing earlier and the very I can't remember the adjective that used for it but the aesthetic design of it etc. it's got a more modern concept to it type of thing. And so I think it's great to embrace this there on Midwest Boulevard um in the area that of the request. And so um with all of that said with those two caveats in place I move to approve

I have a question about that. Why wouldn't we why would we wait on the water meter issue? Is there a specific problem with it? Because it's been approved by the staff and the planning commission. It was not approved by the planning commission. It was one of the exceptions that I read in the report was that they did not approve the water meter part. They asked for the applicant to bring his renderings which he's clearly done and they said that they did not approve um that change with the water meter. Okay. Excellent. Thank you for that clarification.

That's why I'm continuing forward. I figure somebody smarter than me knows the reason for that. So I'm just deferring to that. I mean we have u Mr. bow tie with us if you want to ask the question of somebody probably understands the water meter piece but other than that I I'd love to talk about the watermeter piece okay well you're not Mr. vote by all mean it doesn't have to be here speak and we are we are talking to people about it so it's just it's just an ordinance that got I don't we do have an ordinance in place and that'll be something we'd have to discuss at a later date so I do have a motion on the floor well I second that motion then in that case

I have a motion in a second any further discussion all in favor indicates saying I opposed motion carries thank you go forth and prosper yes sir thank you Okay. Item number five on discussion has been withdrawn. No action needed on that. Item number six, Mr. Lions. Uh discussion, consideration approving an ordinance amending the Midwest City Municipal Code Chapter 2 administration by creating a new article 11 Midwest City Municipal Code um enforcement lean act providing for repealer and severability. Mr. Msh.

Uh good evening again. This uh amendment and uh placement of this new ordinance in uh the city ordinances for the city of Midwest City is based off of a statutory change that was made at the Oklahoma legislature this last legislative session. It was championed and our senate author was in fact our state senator Brenda Stanley on this and she worked according to tireless tirelessly on the I can't talk on uh this issue. What this allows us to do is we uh many times when we take action on a piece of property, we'll put a lean on that property. Under the current system, we have no way to execute on that lean. Uh we have to wait for the county uh to execute. What this bill does, it gives the city the ability to foreclose and execute upon that lean. There is one major major exception to this that is written into not only the bill but into our ordinances as well which is this does not apply to any person who is an who is an owner occupied uh the property. So if you have if you own the property and you're living in the property this this piece of legislation this ordinance will not apply to you at all. Period. That's the way the state statute was written and we're required by city ordinance to follow that. Secondly, the language that is here, it comes directly out of the state statute. We were required if you read the state statute to implement almost word for word what the state statute said. So that is what we undertook to do here was to implement this uh basically verbatim from uh the state statute uh to implement this. What this uh would allow to do would be to set up a program for the city that if we uh placed leans on property and those leans came to an

amount of $1,500 or more on either commercial property or rental property basically is what we're talking about since owner occupied properties are uh exempted from this. then then it gives the city the option the opportunity to execute and foreclose on those leans uh as opposed to for as opposed to waiting for the county to do that. Um and so that's basically what it does. Uh I did not put an effective date on this uh because it would go into effect 30 days after this meeting. The legislation itself goes into effect November 1st. So, while our this would maybe go would go into effect if adopted on October 23rd, we could not start using it until after that November 1st date has passed, I am happy to take any questions.

And the necessity for this comes as a result of when we have to wait for the county to foreclose either through sheriff sale or whatever, we do not have the ability to reclaim any penny of our leans against that property. Correct. Uh it depends on how much the sale is. If the sale goes through and and there's sufficient money from the sale, we can recoup them. But we're at the behest of the county to do that.

And and you're dealing in that situ if I can just say really quickly in a situation where it comes up for sheriff's sale. It's after three years of unpaid taxes. So that property has sat and debilitated, dilapidated um for three years. So then the value is impaired in that property. So then you bring up your rationale, mayor, which is what's left in terms of value of the property and what people are willing to pay for that property at tax sale is so diminished that the county gets their piece of the pie first when it goes through sheriff sale, then it's subject to the leans that are on the property. So we may or may not be able to get a piece of that pie. So this way we don't have to wait three years and just let that continue to deteriorate, dilapidate. Plus, it keeps us from having to go the distance hopefully with dealing with an outright dilapidated property like we've seen photos come before us and ask us to take action to go ahead and raise the property. And so hopefully I mean I I view this as an excellent opportunity for us and so I know councilwoman is waiting to ask a question and so I'm going to defer to her and then I'm just going to put in my bid to move to approve this subject to her questions and comments. said questions. Um, so we don't have to wait 3 years. Is that what I'm hearing?

That is correct. And the property does not have to be dilapidated. Can it be um neglected where we have gone out and cut the lawns and we've done picked up trash and rubbish? And so will that stamp go out of state also? Would that the law goes out of state? We could out of state owners.

Yes, it would apply to out of state owners. Yes. and what it and understand that when and Mike can speak to this a little bit. When we put a lean on property, we're looking at most of our leans run two, three, maybe four or $500 uh per lean depending on what we have to do. So, we are taking multiple actions uh concerning a piece of property, whether it's to clean up trash, clean up rubbish, cing to cut uh tall grass and weeds, and we're doing it over and over and over again uh to get to that $1,500 threshold. And even if we make the $1,500 threshold, then it's just gives us the opportunity, if this is adopted, to foreclose. It does not mandate we do so. We could be we could be discussing and negotiating with uh the owners uh to hopefully uh resolve it without doing that. But it it just gives us another tool in the toolbox to be able to uh resolve these types of issues.

And I understand that uh you said as long as there's a the owner is in the house, what if there's a renter in the house? This this does apply to rental property. It does not apply to uh owner occupied. And the term is actually owner occupied. So the owner has to not just own the property, but also occupy the property. So if they're renting the property out and they're not taking care of the property, we can act. That is correct. I didn't think this was Christmas yet, but that's going to help beautify the city. That's going to help.

That that is our hope. It's just um it's another tool in our toolbox to wait around what the legislature did to us in 2014 outlawing re registration. So this is just another methodology to get around that. So I think Miss Bana has a question or two.

I I could see her waiting. So, when I read this, I I don't know why I had so many concerns, but I think I was misunderstanding it. And maybe I almost called Rick because I know he knows more about this process, but I figured it's too late and I'm almost at the council, so I'll wait. Um, so when we say we're going to put a lean against a property and foreclose it, are we talking about like literally we're going to go and deem that a house that's now foreclosed like a bank would do and basically put it up for foreclosure sale?

Foreclosure action is a legal action. So, we would have to file documents in court to have the court then issue an order that we are foreclosing on our leans and that then precipitates the next step which is uh having it put up for public sale uh much like a sheriff sale would be. You would put it up for auction. You would have to publish notice and at any time during this process they could come in uh clear up the leans and it stops the entire process right there. Now, as I said, let me go back once again and reiterate this. This does not apply to owner occupied properties. So if uh a person is living in the property and they own the property like we all do with our houses, this does not apply. This applies to commercial properties and rental properties.

Okay. I I I see that and I think I and I know Mr. Stro he and I have some heartto-hearts and we really agree on a lot. The reason I have this concern is he he's aware u particularly in my ward we had a senior citizen who was not able to maintain his yard and and it was necessary. At some point Mr. Stro had to take action by calling a contractor to come out. Now, if this law applied to a homeowner, which he was, it would have made a senior citizen unhoused. But in this, we have protection for those and it's really to hold exploitative landlords who do not maintain property for their renters and those types of things.

Exactly. And in fact, I can tell you in speaking with OML, who had a hand and worked with Senator Stanley as well as the House authors on this, one of the big concerns the legislature had, at least what it was relayed to me by the deputy general counsel of OML was making sure that that senior citizen, this does not apply to them, and this will not affect them in one way or another. Yes, we can still place a lean on the property. Yes, we can still mow the property and file that with the county, but this way for the city to execute on it, we don't have the ability to do that. Let me just just so I understand a process more. When the house, for example, is put up for foreclosed sale,

is the amount 1,500 or whatever is owed or is it the value of the home estimate? The the house has to be appraised. Okay. Under the procedures and then the initial bid must at least be 2third of that appraised value. I didn't think I was going to do this, Councilwoman Es, but I'll second your motion. Okay, I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor, indicate saying I. I.

Opposed? Extension. Motion carries. Item number seven, Mr. Lions. And here comes Mr. Bow Tie. This was left over from the last council meeting. It was omitted. So, um, discussion, consideration, possible action wording a bid to approve the contract with H&H Plumbing for $616,970 and 90 calendar days for a sanitary sewer improvement project on 29th in Douglas.

Honorable mayor, council, persons, and city manager. Obviously, this is a continuation, as city manager said from last council meeting. Some of the funding wasn't entirely in the municipal authority. Some of it is in the general government which requires that we put it on the council agenda for your for you to approve and review. I think the memo is pretty self-explanatory, but if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Motion to approve. Second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor indicate saying I I oppose. Extension. Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Street. Thank you. [Laughter] Okay.

Like tie-dye to me. We now move into new business public discussion. Does anyone have anything to bring for council? Keeping in mind that we cannot engage in a back and forth conversation with you if it's not an agenda item. If you do, please approach the podium and state your name and address for the record, please. No one signed up.

Sorry, I got here a little late, sir. Uh, Mr. Mayor, I live across the street at uh Coach Light WT Farl Coach Light Department C. I want to say that uh in these three months that I've learned a lot that I've watched you guys as I was telling y'all a while back I'm running for his uh council council spot in a few years. I want to say that in this y'alls are a lot easier than what I've seen in Norman and everywhere else. Then can get heated pretty quick. But uh I've learned a lot from you guys and the general public. I want to say right now, um, I appreciate the the teaching of what it what it is to be and I'm still coming to watch and learn, but I just wanted to give you update after three months that I'm still learning and I appreciate it answering questions. Y'all been really nice to me as an outsider. Wasn't really expecting that. So once again, thank you.

Thank you for being here. There's no one else to come for council and there's no other agenda items. We are hereby adjourned and I call to order in Midwest City Municipal Authority. We have consent agenda. These place items are placed on the consent agenda. Trustees by unanimous consent can approve routine agenda items by one motion. If any trustee requests to discuss an item or if there's not unanimous consent, then the item will be removed and heard in regular order. Chair rem uh entertain a motion to approve. Move to approve. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor indicate by saying I

opposed extension. Motion carries. Now move into new business public discussion. Once again does anyone have anything to bring before the authority hearing or seeing none. We are here by adjourned and I call to order the Midwest City Hospital Authority. We have two discussion items. Mr. Lion discussion consideration of possible action to approve the meeting minutes for August 26, 2025. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor indicate by saying I opposed. Extension motion carries. Item number two. I have not talked. No action needed.

No action needed on number two. We know now new move into new business public discussion. Does anyone have anything bring forward the authority hearing or seeing none? We are hereby journ. Thank you for being here tonight and uh we are done. 707