The Norman City Council proclaimed February as Black History Month, adopted the Andrews Park Master Plan and approved a beer and wine license for a car wash during its regular meeting on Tuesday.
The council was set to discuss the purchase of property for a permanent day shelter, but that item was pulled of the agenda by city staff according to Mayor Larry Heikkila.
City Clerk Brenda Hall told OU Daily after the meeting the item was pulled because of problems regarding the location and the distance from homelessness resources. Hall said city staff is awaiting additional information and did not receive in time for the meeting. The property proposal will be heard at the next meeting, according to Hall.
7:37 p.m.
The meeting is adjourned.
7:12 p.m.
Council is now hearing comments from the public.
7:01 p.m.
The council is now hearing a request for a bar, tavern or lounge at Cruise-In Auto Spa on 1235 West Main Street.
The request proposes serving beer and wine in the lobby and waiting area for customers receiving vehicle services. The bar area would include a divider for those over 21.
“With the sale of beer and wine, as well as putting in a nail salon in the near future, we’re striving to be a special place where customers can go and relax when we take care of all of their automotive maintenance,” Luke Greenfield, Cruise-In Auto Spa director of operations, said.
Greenfield said customers usually wait 30-40 minutes for their car detailing services to be complete. He added he wants to be safe and include limitations on alcohol sales.
Council unanimously approved Greenfield’s request.
6:50 p.m
The council is now hearing a proposal for the rezoning of property at 463 Elm Avenue for the creation of two single-family dwellings. Each lot would measure 6,715 square feet.
This request was made to accommodate an Airbnb rental on the property.
Council unanimously approved the proposal.
6:48 p.m.
The council unanimously voted to approve all items on the consent docket. The docket included the adoption of the Andrews Park Master Plan.
The $26,253,831 redesign plans to include additional space for festivals and recreational activities. The redesign will occur in five two-to-three-year-long phases, according to Kayla Copeland, principal landscape architect of the Copeland Design Collective and design instructor for the master plan.
6:40 p.m.
Ward 6 Councilmember Elizabeth Foreman, who is not seeking reelection, said she will be at city hall to talk with Ward 6 candidates about city issues during the League of Women Voters forum on Thursday. The election for even-numbered city council wards is scheduled for Feb. 13.
Ward 7 Councilmember Stephen Tyler Holman asked residents to assist a woman and daughter who lost their home and belongings in an apartment fire last week with donations.
6:30 p.m.
The regular meeting is called to order.
Mayor Larry Heikkila announced the item to vote on property that would be used for a permanent day shelter was pulled by city staff and will not be heard tonight.
The council unanimously approves the proclamation of February 2024 as Black History Month in the city.
This is the first Black History Month proclamation since Mayor Breea Clark’s proclamation in February 2021.
“I want to thank the City Council and I want to thank the mayor for giving me this opportunity,” Saskia Ofeh, President of Norman High School’s Black Students Union, said.
6:13 p.m.
The council’s conference meeting has adjourned. The council will reconvene at 6:30 p.m. for its regular meeting.
6:10 p.m.
Ward 7 Councilmember Stephen Tyler Holman said 19 additional hybrid vehicles will be added to the police fleet.
5:58 p.m.
Environment and sustainability manager Michele Loudenback said 27.5% of Norman’s total waste stream was diverted from landfills in 2022.
Loudenback added Norman should work to reduce its contamination rate of recyclables, implement more opportunities for recycling and explore ways of reducing the usage of non-recyclable waste.
Loudenback cited Norman’s hiring of a full-time forester in March 2022 as an example of Norman’s progress in maintaining healthy urban ecosystems. She added Norman is updating its Forestry Master Plan and Community Forest Management Plan, which Loudenback expects to be done by the end of the year.
Loudenback said Norman’s environmental content on its website and its increased social media support for environmental education campaigns have increased Norman’s awareness of the program. She added Norman should add to its environmental sections on the website and engage local businesses and organizations to partake in public education.
5:51 p.m.
Environment and sustainability manager Michele Loudenback said Norman has added 15 hybrid police cars to its existing 133 carbon-powered vehicles and two electric buses.
“Continue to monitor and explore alternative fuel technologies,” Loudenback said.
Loudenback said Norman should use recovered methane as the primary fuel source for water and wastewater plants.
“The biggest way we can reduce the energy (in water production) is to reduce consumption,” Loudenback said.
5:47 p.m.
Environment and sustainability manager Michele Loudenback said 23 buildings in Norman are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certified, with four being city-owned.
She recommended Norman continue to review and adopt the standards of environmental programs like LEED and the Energy Star and Living Building Challenge.
5:30 p.m.
The council’s conference meeting to review the Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement is called to order.
In 2005, then-Mayor Harold Haralson signed the Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. The agreement consists of 12 recommended actions to reduce fossil fuel emissions and oversee Norman’s contributions to global warming.
Michele Loudenback, environmental and sustainability manager, gave updates to council regarding how the plan has unfolded in the city, saying Norman has shown progress. Loudenback gave new recommendations for every action item to council on how to continue the advancements.
One of the goals of the plan, to enforce land use policies, included the successful retention of rural nature in east Norman. This item has been implemented into the AIM Norman comprehensive plan, the city’s new master plan for the next 25 years.
Loudenback also discussed the portion of the plan aimed at promoting alternative transportation. Recommendations for council included continuing to support Embark and expanding bicycle routes.
