City Council Conference

CITY OF NORMAN, OK CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE Municipal Building, Conference Room, 201 West Gray, Norman, OK 73069 Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 5:00 PM AGENDA It is the policy of the City of Norman that no person or groups of persons shall on the grounds of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, marital status, including marriage to a person of the same sex, disability, retaliation, or genetic information, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in employment activities or in all programs, services, or activities administered by the City, its recipients, sub-recipients, and contractors. In the event of any comments, complaints, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, and auxiliary aids and services regarding accessibility or inclusion, please contact the ADA Technician at 405-366-5424, Relay Service: 711. To better serve you, five (5) business days' advance notice is preferred. CALL TO ORDER DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. REVIEW OF ARTICLE II, SECTION 2, TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE TERM OF OFFICE FOR COUNCILMEMBERS AND MAYOR SHOULD EXPIRE ON THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH IN WHICH A RUNOFF ELECTION IS HELD OR SCHEDULED TO BE HELD. Language recommended to change the beginning and end date of terms such that a new term would begin (and the prior term end) on the first Tuesday following certification of the election results for the new term. CRC vote unanimous. At the Special Session of August 3, 2021, Council rejected the proposal as written to allow for additional Council discussion. 2. REVIEW OF ARTICLE II, SECTION 22 TO CONSIDER ALLOWING THE OUTGOING COUNCILMEMBER CREATING THE VACANCY TO APPOINT HIS OR HER SUCCESSOR, UNLESS SUCH VACANCY HAS BEEN CREATED DUE TO REMOVAL FROM OFFICE AS A RESULT OF PROCEEDINGS BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION, OR WHETHER TO DELETE LANGUAGE ALLOWING COUNCIL TO APPOINT A SUCCESSOR AND INSTEAD REQUIRE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE CALLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FILLING SUCH VACANCY. Language recommended to clarify that Council can either appoint someone to fill the vacancy or call a special election. Language also recommended to eliminate confusion about appointments being for the remainder of the term. CRC vote unanimous. At the Special Session of August 3, 2021, Council rejected the proposal as written to allow for additional Council discussion. CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE - Tuesday, August 24, 2021 Page |1  3. ARTICLE XIII, RECALL OF ELECTIVE OFFICERS TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE LANGUAGE SHOULD BE MODIFIED. The Charter Review Commission recommended changes to Article XIII to address potential timing conflicts with existing elections, ensuring the Clerk has adequate time to review signed petitions, and incorporating state law where appropriate in light of In re: Petition to Recall Ward Three City Comm’r Ezzell, 2021 OK 5. CRC vote unanimous. At the Special Session of August 3, 2021, Council rejected the proposal as written to allow for additional Council discussion. 4. ARTICLE XVI, SECTION 2 OF THE CHARTER TO REQUIRE THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A VOTE OF THE ELECTORATE TO INCREASE CITY UTILITY RATES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. Language recommended to require Staff to prepare a rate study for each utility annually and requiring Council to submit a rate increase for one or more utilities at the next Council election, and making provision for situations where an additional rate increase may be needed to meet an unexpected need. CRC vote unanimous. At the Special Session of August 3, 2021, Council rejected the proposal as written to allow for additional Council discussion. 5. RESOLUTION AS FOR REVIEW TO CONSIDER ADDING LANGUAGE TO THE CHARTER TO REQUIRE A VOTE OF THE ELECTORATE FOR APPROVAL OF A TAX INCREMENT FINANCE DISTRICT OVER $5,000,000. The motion voted on was to recommend the electorate vote on all Sales Tax Increment Finance Districts. CRC vote 5-5. At the Special Session of August 3, 2021, Council rejected the proposal as written to allow for additional Council discussion. ADJOURNMENT CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE - Tuesday, August 24, 2021 Page |2