Norman City Council approved an Oklahoma Electric Cooperative substation development and the creation of the Norman Parking and Transit Authority at its regular meeting Tuesday.
Electric substation development
The news: Council passed a vote to rezone a parcel of land to accommodate an electric substation next to a home north of Etowah Road on 72nd Avenue Southeast.
The electric substation will be built by Western Farmers Electric Cooperative and will provide Oklahoma Electric Cooperative services, according to Joseph Krodel, legal representative for Western Farmers Electric Cooperative.
Patrick Grace, CEO of Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, told council during the meeting that the city needs a new substation. Grace said that without the substation, Norman will exceed its winter energy capacity this year and its summer energy capacity by 2027.
What they’re saying: Ward 5 council member Brandon Nofire asked if the substation would be used for a data center. Grace said it would not.
Nofire also asked about property maintenance due to the development location being in a watershed that feeds into Lake Thunderbird. Grace and representatives of Western Farmers Electrical Cooperative said herbicides would be used on the property.
Trey Kirby, Ward 5, questioned if this would include harmful chemicals.
“They never did state what they were gonna be spraying,” Kirby said. “If we’re gonna approve it, then we need to at least set a standard on the water, because Thunderbird supplies 80% of our water.”
Gary King, Ward 5, said he lives next to the future substation location. He said he moved to the area to be away from industrial development and noise.
“I moved out there to enjoy the country in an agricultural setting, not an industrial setting. Now they’re wanting to place industrial out there right next to my property,” King said. “When are we gonna stand up? This is in a protected watershed of Norman.”
The vote: The rezoning passed 8-1. Ward 7 councilmember Kimberly Blodgett voted against it.
Increasing number of Norman Regional Hospital Authority board members
The news: Council approved an increase to the number of board members for Norman Regional Hospital Authority and an amendment allowing a maximum of two board members to be appointed from other communities. Members can be appointed from areas where the authority operates a facility, according to a staff report.
Assistant City Attorney Kathryn Walker said the authority originally requested the change in 2019, which went into effect in 2023. The city charter was amended to reflect these changes, but the trust indenture and city ordinance need to be updated, according to Walker.
What they’re saying: Walker confirmed to Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman these positions have been on the board since 2023.
“The ordinance just needed to be updated to match the charter change and now the trust indenture,” Walker said.
Andrew Rosenow, a Ward 6 resident and research scientist at OU, expressed concern over the hospital’s financial situation.
“The growth of Norman Regional outside of Norman makes it reasonable to grow the board,” Rosenow said. “However, … Norman Regional has put itself in worrisome financial straits through the expansions into these other areas.”
The vote: The amendments passed unanimously.
Parking and Transit Authority, parking management plan
The news: Council approved the creation of the Norman Parking and Transit Authority, which will establish a public trust for parking and transit operations. According to a presentation at Council’s Dec. 2 study session, projected revenue from the trust in 2026 is $364,000.
Council also approved the City of Norman Parking Management Plan, which specifies city-owned parking, outlines parking strategies and payment options, and provides an overview of parking enforcement, according to a staff report.
What they’re saying: Ward 6 Councilmember Joshua Hinkle said the process council took to create the trust was lengthy.
“This has been something that’s been worked on as a concept by bunches of volunteers, several iterations of city staff, who knows how many city council people over the last decade plus. So the fact that we get to have this on our agenda tonight and vote for it I think is really important,” Hinkle said. “Creating a trust for this is going to really bring a lot of opportunity for Norman.”
The vote: The creation of the authority and plan both passed unanimously.
Norman Regional Hospital Authority, Planning Commission appointments
The news: Council approved Holman’s appointments to the Norman Regional Hospital Authority and the Planning Commission.
Danny Hale, Ward 6, was appointed to the hospital authority and Maria Kindel, Ward 5, was appointed to the Planning Commission.
The vote: The appointments were approved unanimously.
Recognition of Grammy-nominated, retired NPS teacher
The news: Patti Drennan, a former Norman High teacher, was recognized for her contributions to music education and choral composition. Drennan recently received a Grammy nomination for her choral album, “Requiem of Light.”
What they’re saying: Drennan expressed pride in her work with Norman Public Schools.
“It’s been a true privilege and a joy to have so many students that have passed through my choirs,” Drennan said. “Living here in Norman has been delightful.”
Human rights awards
The news: Aisha Ali, Human Rights Commission chair, presented Breea Clark, former mayor of Norman and director of the JCPenny Leadership Program, and the organization Women in Action for All with human rights awards.
What they’re saying: Clark represented Ward 6 from 2016-19 and served as Norman’s mayor from 2019-22. She said her time on council included recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day for the first time.
Clark said Norman has a history worth celebrating.
“I stand before you tonight, not as a former mayor but as a resident of Norman,” Clark said, “to remind you of our community's history that is filled with achievements that celebrate, respect and protect diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Clark said DEI was part of her personal mission while serving the city.
“There are people who won't say those words because they are scared of losing their jobs,” Clark said. “I stand before you tonight reminding that my personal mission was to build an inclusive community.”
Women in Action for All received the Human Rights Group Award. It is a group whose mission, according to its Facebook, is to “develop strategies to address critical issues” facing the city, state and country.
Rhonda Stock, accepted the award on behalf of WIAA, adding that WIAA enacts positive change.
“If we want to see positive change, it's not about finding a hero,” Stock said. “It’s about getting many people involved. That is when the problem gets addressed.”
Contract with Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition
The news: Council discussed entering into a contract with the Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition during its conference meeting. Council has previously discussed the contract, most recently during its Nov. 26 study session.
The CCEDC is the renamed, pre-existing Norman Economic Development Coalition. It is intended to address economic developments throughout Cleveland County, including portions of Lexington, Moore, Noble, Slaughterville, south Oklahoma City and property that does not fall into a municipality, according to a staff slideshow.
According to a Dec. 9 staff slideshow, Norman would contribute a minimum of $125,000 annually to the coalition.
What they’re saying: Following council concerns regarding the contract’s lack of audit language, Walker said the CCEDC might be willing to account for Norman’s funds separate from others so they can be audited by the city auditor.
Ward 1 Councilmember David Gandesbery believes an agreement between Norman and the CCEDC could benefit the city’s aviation industry.
“If we have Cleveland County on our side,” Gandesbery said, “the aviation sector and what we could possibly do industrial-wise with a bunch of land, … that could one day be something bigger and better.”
Council will discuss the contract again at its Dec. 16 study session.
Discussion of room tax amendments
The news: Council discussed raising the guest room tax ordinance during its conference meeting.
Norman’s room tax is 8% and is split between VisitNorman, the Norman Arts Council, Norman Parks and the Norman Sports Commission.
What they’re saying: Jason Olsen, director of parks and recreation, noted the room tax of Midwest City and Oklahoma City is 9.25%. Olsen suggested raising Norman’s tax to 10%.
“I’ve talked to VisitNorman, I’ve talked to Embassy Suites today and they see no problem with it,” Olsen said. “When you start comparing our conference center to (one) in Oklahoma City, … sales tax is a very small factor in what they use to determine when they book conferences.”
Hinkle expressed support for increasing the room tax.
“If this is gonna require a vote of the public, (we should) try to capture ten (percent),” Hinkle said, “so we don’t have to go back and ask for (more).”
This story was edited by Thomas Pablo.
