Regular Meeting
The Norman City Council approved retaining outside counsel for issues related to the Norman Public Library Central closure and an addition to the Rose Rock school on Tuesday.
Rose Rock School addition
Council approved the rezoning of Rose Rock School, located at 1515 W Main St, to allow for additional structures.
According to a staff report, Rose Rock School Foundation intends to add a new carport, a flexible space for storage or a shed, an outdoor cooking area and a temporary structure or tent called a “Yome.” The report notes Rose Rock School also intends to convert its pool into an underground greenhouse and increase the number of students from 59 to 75.
Budget hearing
Council held the first public hearing for the fiscal year 2025 budget.
Four residents spoke during the hearing. Two speakers expressed concerns that the proposed sales tax revenue will not exceed the city's costs, including personnel salaries.
Council will consider adopting the budget on June 11.
At an April 16 study session meeting, Finance Director Anthony Francisco presented the fiscal year 2025 budget, which is available online.
At the meeting, Francisco said total projected revenue for 2025 totals $307 million, projected expenditures for all funds total $297 million and general fund expenditures total $108 million. He added 63% of the general fund comes from sales tax.
According to Francisco, the budget puts the city on a path to bankruptcy in eight years and the city will need to maintain costs.
Outside counsel for Norman Public Library Central
Council approved outside legal counsel to represent the city with issues related to the construction and design of Norman Public Library Central.
According to a staff report, Phillips Murrah law firm sent a proposal to the city. The proposal includes billing rates and litigation costs, which range from $109,000 to $200,000 overall. The report notes that staff believes 2024 budget funds should cover litigation costs through June 30.
In November, Cavins Group found traces of mold, including black mold and fusarium, on each level of the Norman Public Library Central facility.
On Nov. 28, Pioneer Library System Executive Director Lisa Wells said Norman Public Library Central would be closed for five months while Cavins Group remediated the facility. She said all 64 of the library’s employees would be relocated to 11 other Pioneer Library System locations.
In February, Pioneer Library System opened a pop-up location at 121 S. Santa Fe Ave. The location houses limited services from Norman Public Library Central, including Movie Boxes and the Maker Lab.
On April 2, the Norman City Council met with Curtainwall Design Consulting, a design and consulting firm based in Dallas, in executive session to discuss findings from the remediation process.
On April 12, the city of Norman announced the Norman Public Library Central will close indefinitely due to the severity of the damage. The city said the city attorney’s office will work with relevant parties to create a plan and timeline for reopening.
According to a press release, $900,000 has been spent on the library’s remediation so far.
Crimson Flats affordable housing engineering
Council approved a $103,000 contract with SMC Consulting Engineers for engineering services for the Crimson Flats affordable housing project.
According to a staff report, the funding for the contract will be applied to the city’s $500,000 obligation in the contract with the developer, Milestone Property Development, LLC. The report notes funds have been allocated in the Imhoff & Oakhurst Property Prep Project fund.
The Crimson Flats affordable housing project intends to house 75 units and will be primarily funded through a $5.5 million Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery funding loan. In October 2023, completion was estimated for the latter half of 2026.
Norman Youth Soccer Association Inc. agreement
Council approved a 5-year contract extension with Norman Youth Soccer Association Inc. for the use and maintenance of Griffin Community Park.
Norman Youth Soccer Association Inc. signed a contract with the city on Sept. 11, 2018, that has now expired.
According to a staff report, the current contract is the same as the 2018 contract but now includes the care and use of the park’s 11 additional fields built through Norman Forward. The report adds Norman Youth Soccer Association Inc. will pay $1 per year for all electrical costs for the use of the facility, and will be responsible for all ground maintenance.
Bentley Park payments
Council approved a $200,000 final payment to ACS Playground Adventures, Inc. for the completed construction of the Bentley Park Playground project and $17,102 to Precision Construction and Contracting L.L.C. for the completion of the park’s pickleball and tennis courts.
On April 11, 2023, council approved a $200,000 contract for the installation of play equipment and synthetic turf. On September 12, 2023, council approved a $208,817 contract for the construction of one tennis court and one pickleball court.
According to staff reports, Norman Parks and Recreation staff labeled the Bentley Park playground project and the pickleball and tennis courts project complete per each project’s requirements.
Funding for both projects is available in the Norman Forward New Neighborhood Park Improvements Project, Construction fund, according to the reports.
The staff reports note the park is currently under development.
Microtransit expansion
Council approved a $39,225 expansion for Norman’s microtransit program and an agreement to expand the program with OU.
According to a staff report, the expansion includes expanding the program’s zone to the west, increasing the number of vehicles from five to six, and providing free fare for OU students on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from May 12 to Aug. 21.
The report recommends utilizing money from the general fund.
Conference Meeting
The Norman City Council is discussing updates and potential actions for the Lindsey Street water tower at a conference meeting.
Capital Projects Engineer Ken Giannone said the tower has been out of service for 10 years. He added the city could not find a use for it.
Giannone said there are two remaining options for the tower, including demolition or resurfacing. Resurfacing would include repainting the tower with OU, SEC and Norman logos.
Giannone said the Norman Utilities Authority would pay for the demolition of the tower and pay part of the resurfacing. Resurfacing would cost the city $386,400, according to the presentation.
Giannone said demolition would be unlikely before early 2025 but resurfacing could be completed by August 2024 if a contract is awarded in the next month.
Ward 2 Councilmember Lauren Schueler said the city has other priorities. She added she would prefer demolishing the tower.
Ward 7 Councilmember Stephen Tyler Holman and Ward 1 Councilmember Austin Ball said they liked the idea of making the water tower a community art project. Holman said he would like to make the bottom and top of the tower available for others to decorate.
City Manager Darrel Pyle said he could attempt to rearrange funding through the Capital Fund and find a solution if council wanted to resurface the tower.
In March, council discussed updates and potential actions for the water tower.
At that meeting, Giannone said the tower’s exterior was in poor, rusty condition, while the underlying steel was still in good condition.
Giannone suggested different actions for the tower, including sending irrigation water from the tower to customers, rehabilitating the tower, demolishing the tower and repainting the tower with OU logos.
