City Council Special Meeting

CITY OF NORMAN, OK CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 201 West Gray, Norman, OK 73069 Tuesday, August 03, 2021 at 5:30 PM AGENDA You are required to sign up in advance of the meeting on the City’s webpage, by calling the City Clerk's Office (405-366-5406), or at the Council Chambers prior to the start of the meeting with your name, ward, and item you wish to speak to including whether you are a proponent or opponent. When the time comes for public comments, the Clerk will call your name and you can make your way to the podium. Comments may be limited on items of higher interest, if so, the Mayor will announce that at the beginning of the meeting. Participants may speak one time only up to 3 minutes per person per item. There will be no yielding of time to another person. Sign up does not guarantee you will get to speak if the allotted time for that item has already been exhausted. If there is time remaining after those registered to speak have spoken, persons not previously signed up may have the opportunity to speak. Comments received must be limited to the motion on the floor only. 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 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AGENDA ITEMS 1. PRESENTATION BY BOB THOMPSON, CHAIRMAN OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS FOLLOWING THEIR REVIEW OF THE NORMAN CITY CHARTER AS DIRECTED IN RESOLUTION R-1819-66. 2. REVIEW OF ARTICLE VII, SECTION 2, TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD BE APPOINTED AND SUBJECT TO REMOVAL BY THE CITY COUNCIL. CRC vote 8-3 3. REVIEW OF ARTICLE II, SECTION 1 TO CONSIDER INCREASING THE MONTHLY STIPEND PROVIDED FOR THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - Tuesday, August 03, 2021 Page |1  Language recommended that would provide an initial increase in annual stipend and provide for a Compensation Commission that would determine additional increases every three years. CRC vote unanimous. 4. REVIEW OF ARTICLE II, SECTIONS 2, 5, 6 AND 14 TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE TERM OF OFFICE FOR COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULD BE CHANGED FROM TWO TO THREE YEARS, AND WHETHER THE TERM OF OFFICE FOR MAYOR BE CHANGED FROM THREE TO FOUR YEARS. Language recommended to provide for three year terms for all ward representatives. No changes to the term of office for the Mayor recommended by the Charter Review Commission. CRC vote unanimous 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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 8. ARTICLE VI, SECTION 1 OF THE CHARTER TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF NORMAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY FROM NINE TO ELEVEN MEMBERS. CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - Tuesday, August 03, 2021 Page |2  Language recommended to increase the number of board members from 9 to 11, provided that at least 9 of the members are Norman residents. CRC vote unanimous 9. 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 10. ARTICLE II, SECTION 2 OF THE CHARTER TO REQUIRE A CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL TO RESIDE IN THE WARD IN WHICH HE OR SHE SEEKS ELECTION FOR A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO FILING FOR SAID OFFICE. Language recommended to require residency within the ward for 6 months prior to filing for elective office with provisions made for cases where ward boundaries have changed. CRC vote unanimous 11. 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 ADJOURNMENT CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - Tuesday, August 03, 2021 Page |3