City Council Special Session

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MINUTES September 17, 2019 The City Council of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in Special Session at 5:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building Conference Room on the 17th day of September, 2019, and notice and agenda of the meeting were posted in the Municipal Building at 201 West Gray and the Norman Public Library at 225 North Webster 48 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. PRESENT: Councilmembers Bierman, Carter, Hall, Holman, Petrone, Scanlon, Wilson, Mayor Clark ABSENT: Councilmember Scott Item 1, being: DISCUSSION REGARDING A PROPOSED CAMPUS CORNER PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PLAN. Lt. Carl Pendleton, Norman Police Department, said he supervises nightshift patrol and is here tonight to discuss issues on Campus Corner, primarily its increasing popularity and higher number of pedestrians. He said Campus Corner is the area bounded by Duffy Street on the north, Boyd Street to the south, Asp Avenue to the east, and University Boulevard to the west. He said it has become a popular nocturnal destination for college students with many bars and restaurants and has narrow streets with two-way traffic and on-street parking. He said approximately 2,000 to 3,000 pedestrians per night are on Campus Corner from Thursday through Sunday. He said there has been an increasing number of "close calls" between pedestrians and automobiles that includes pedestrians crossing the street mid-block, intoxicated pedestrians, pedestrian congregating in the middle of the streets, and obstructed visibility, such as Uber and Lyft blocking traffic while waiting to pick-up passengers. He said emergency vehicles cannot maneuver through the streets during these high volume pedestrian and vehicular traffic times. Lt. Pendleton said during a pilot program this spring the Norman Police Department closed Asp Avenue and Buchanan Avenue from Boyd Street to White Street from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. and learned Buchanan Avenue did not need to be closed because the bigger issue is on Asp Avenue. He said when venues serving alcohol begin to close on Campus Corner, everyone moves to Asp Avenue to eat so Asp Avenue becomes very crowded with pedestrians. He said he has had multiple meetings with the Campus Corner Association, leaders of fraternities and sororities, and the Campus Corner businesses who suggested White Street be one-way eastbound, but the Police Department believes making White Street one-way westbound would be better for directing traffic to the City's parking lot that is underutilized and would make a great staging area for ride share pick-ups. He said emergency vehicles were able to get through the streets during the pilot program and the Fire Department was pleased wit~ the pilot program. Lt. Pendleton highlighted the proposed Campus Corner Pedestrian Safety Plan that includes temporary night closure of Asp Avenue between the first private driveway south of White Street and Boyd Street from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.; permanent conversion of White Street from two­ way to one-way westbound; creation of a staging area for taxis and Uber/Lyft vehicles in the new municipal parking lot; and establishment of a passenger pick-up area on the north side of White Street immediately west of Buchanan Avenue (next to Victoria's Restaurant). Lt. Pendleton said, currently, White Street is 24 feet wide with an eight-foot parking lane on the north side of the street. The two traffic lanes are eight feet wide; however, standard lane widths should be 12 feet with a minimum lane width of nine feet. He said the two eight-foot lanes are too narrow to adequately support two-way traffic flow and there is no sidewalk on the south side of White Street between Buchanan Avenue and Asp Avenue making if unsafe for motor vehicles as well as pedestrians. The Safety Plan is recommending a one-way westbound ten-foot side lane with a new six-foot Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sidewalk on the south side of the roadway. He said one-way signage will be installed to alert drivers that the street is one way westbound as well as signage to direct the public to ride share pick-up areas. City Council Special Session Minutes September 17, 2019 Page2 Item 1, continued: Lt Pendleton highlighted the Campus Comer Pedestrian Safety Plan implementation that includes seasonal closure of Asp Avenue beginning two weeks prior to the beginning of OU's fall semester excluding summer months, Christmas break, and spring break; closing Asp from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Thursday through Sunday (only when needed); detour Asp Avenue vehicular traffic to White Street; actual closure and deployment of traffic control devices to be performed by Norman Police Department; specific plan to be developed by the Traffic Control Division; and traffic control devices to be pre-loaded on trailer and stored at the Norman Investigation Center (NIC) on Lindsey Street. Lt. Pendleton said the Campus Comer Association supports the staging area and passenger pick­ up area for ride sharing companies and generally supports the temporary closure of Asp A venue, but objects to the permanent one-way conversion of traffic flow on White Street. He said Campus Comer Association agree there is a need for safety, but would prefer one-way eastbound instead of westbound; however, Staff feels westbound works better for all safety reasons. Lt. Pendleton said next steps include adopting the Campus Comer Pedestrian Safety Plan and considering converting White Street from two-way to one-way westbound. Councilmember Bierman said she really likes this plan especially the staging area for ride shares, because it is very dangerous when bars are closing and taxis or ride shares are double parking waiting for the customers. She said this encourages vehicles to try to go around them, which is a formula for accidents. Councilmember Carter said he is impressed with the plan and the fact that a pilot project was done prior to requesting execution of the plan. Lt. Pendleton said the Police Department is searching for grants to purchase telescopic bollards for easier deployment during events instead of having a bunch of barriers, cones, and road closed signs as well as employee overtime for placement and removal of those barriers. He said telescopic bollards are ideal for restricting vehicle access, are fully retractable, are designed to lock into position when required and then simply slide below ground when not needed and are covered with a flush steel cap. Councilmember Hall asked if all businesses on Campus Corner close at 2:00 a.m. and Lt. Pendleton said no, alcohol sales cease at 2:00 a.m., but food sales can continue. Councilmember Holman said his only concern about making White Street one way is that people drive the wrong way on one-way streets and drive faster on one-way streets. He believes people will still try to get to Asp A venue from White Street because it is quicker. He does like the addition of sidewalks and a staging area for ride shares and taxi services. He suggested making White Street a temporary one-way when Asp is closed. Councilmember Bierman would like more information on the costs of the ADA Sidewalk Project and Mr. O'Leary said he can calculate those costs for Council that may include right-of-way acquisition. Councilmember Wilson said as long as the Campus Corner businesses are okay with the plan then she has no problem with it. Mayor Clark said there seems to be consensus on moving forward with the Campus Corner Pedestrian Safety Plan while reviewing the impact of making White Street one-way only when Asp Street is closed as well as obtaining costs for the ADA Sidewalk Project in order to make that a reality. Items submitted for the record 1. PowerPoint presentation entitled, "Campus Comer Pedestrian Safety Plan," City Council Study Session, September 17, 2019 *****  CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MINUTES October 1, 2019 The City Council of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in Special Session at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building Conference Room on the 1st day of October, 2019, and notice and agenda of the meeting were posted in the Municipal Building at 201 West Gray and the Norman Public Library at 225 North Webster 48 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. PRESENT: Councilmembers Bierman, Hall, Holman, Petrone, Scanlon, Scott, Wilson, Mayor Clark ABSENT: Councilmember Carter Item 1, being: CONSIDERATION OF ADJOURNING INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY OKLAHOMA STATUTES, TITLE 25 A§ 307(B)(4) TO DISCUSS PENDING LITIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH GOLDEN TRIBE, L.L.C., VS. CITY OF NORMAN, CLEVELAND COUNTY COURT CASE CV-2018-1142; FLESKE HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C., VS. CITY OF NORMAN, CLEVELAND COUNTY COURT CASE CV-2018-956; AND RODGERS VS. CITY OF NORMAN, CLEVELAND COUNTY COURT CASE CJ-2016-1185. Councilmember Scott moved that the Special Session be adjourned out of and an Executive Session be convened into in order to discuss pending litigation associated with Golden Tribe, L.L.C., vs. City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CV-2018-1142; Fleske Holding Company, L.L.C., Vs. City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CV-2018-956; and Rodgers vs. City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CJ-2016-1185, which motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Lee; and the question being upon adjourning out of the Special Session and convening into an Executive Session to discussion pending litigation as stated above, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Councilmembers Bierman, Hall, Holman, Petrone, Scanlon, Scott, Wilson, Mayor Clark NAYES: None The Mayor declared the motion carried and the Special Session adjourned out of; and an Executive Session was convened into in order to discuss pending litigation associated with Golden Tribe, L.L.C., vs. City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CV-2018-1142; Fleske Holding Company, L.L.C., Vs. City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CV-2018-956; and Rodgers vs. City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CJ-2016-1185. The City Council convened into Executive Session at 6:32 p.m. Ms. Kathryn Walker, Interim City Attorney; Mr. Rick Knighton, Assistant City Attorney; Mr. David Box and Mr. Mason Schwartz, Williams, Box, Forshee and Bullard, outside counsel; and Mr. Darrel Pyle, City Manager, were in attendance at the Executive Session. Thereupon, Councilmember Wilson moved that the Special Session be reconvened, which motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Scott; and the question being upon reconvening the Special Session, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Councilmembers Bierman, Hall, Holman, Petrone, Scanlon, Scott, Wilson, Mayor Clark NAYES: None The Mayor declared the motion carried and the Special Session was reconvened at 7:40 p.m. The Mayor said pending litigation associated with Golden Tribe, L.L.C., vs. City ofNorman, Cleveland County Court Case CV-2018-1142; Fleske Holding Company, L.L.C., Vs. City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CV-2018-956; and Rodgers vs. City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CJ-2016-1185 was discussed in Executive Session. No action was taken and no votes were cast. ***** City Council Special Session Minutes September 17, 2019 Page3 Item 2, being: CONSIDERATION OF ADJOURNING INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY OKLAHOMA STATUTES, TITLE 25 §307(B)(4) TO DISCUSS PENDING LITIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH RODGERS VS. CITY OF NORMAN, CLEVELAND COUNTY COURT CASE, FJ-2016-1185. Councilmember Bierman moved that the Special Session be adjourned out of and an Executive Session be convened into in order to discuss pending litigation associated with Rodgers vs. the City ofNorman, Cleveland County Court Case CJ-2016-1185, which motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Holman; and the question being upon adjourning out ofthe Special Session and convening into an Executive Session in order to discuss pending litigation associated with Rodgers vs. the City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CJ-2016-1185, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Councilmembers Bierman, Carter, Hall, Holman, Petrone, Scanlon, Wilson, Mayor Clark NAYES: None The Mayor declared the motion carried and the Special Session adjourned out of; and an Executive Session was convened into in order to discuss pending litigation associated with Rodgers vs. the City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CJ-2016-1185. The City Council convened into Executive Session at 6:18 p.m. Ms. Kathryn Walker, Interim City Attorney, and Mr. Rick Knighton, Assistant City Attorney, were in attendance at the Executive Session. Thereupon, Councilmember Wilson moved that the Special Session be reconvened, which motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Holman; and the question being upon reconvening the Special Session, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Councilmembers Bierman, Clark, Hall, Holman, Petrone, Scanlon, Wilson, Mayor Clark NAYES: None The Mayor declared the motion carried and the Special Session was reconvened at 6:49 p.m. The Mayor said pending litigation associated with Rodgers vs. the City of Norman, Cleveland County Court Case CJ-2016-1185 was discussed in Executive Session. No action was taken and no votes were cast. ***** ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Holman moved that the meeting be adjourned, which motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Wilson; and the question being upon adjournment of the meeting, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Councilmembers Bierman, Carter, Hall, Holman, Petrone, Scanlon, Wilson, Mayor Clark NAYES: None The Mayor declared the motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. ***** ATTEST: