Norman City Council discussed the approval of a film friendly certification from VisitNorman and reviewed a litter control program designed for at-risk and homeless residents at its special meeting on Tuesday.
Council was originally scheduled to adjourn into executive session. City Attorney Kathryn Walker said the executive session was canceled as the city’s outside legal counsel could not attend the meeting.
The litigation, originally filed from South Carolina, is designed to resolve claims regarding perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl contamination in public water systems’ drinking water against DuPont and the 3M Company.
Facilities improvements
Parks and Recreation Director Jason Olsen and Lance Harper, construction and facilities manager, presented a review of the city’s facilities spending.
Harper said Automated Logic, an optimization program that visualizes building data to create energy-efficient solutions, has been used to alleviate energy spending. The presentation listed eight buildings using Automated Logic, including Norman Central Library, Norman East Library and the Animal Welfare Center.
According to the presentation, the Norman Central Library decreased energy usage from 680,700 kilowatts from 2020-22 to 509,700 kilowatts in 2023. Harper said the Norman Central Library has saved $30,000 dollars in decreased energy usage from 2022 to 2023.
Harper said the city saved $74,617.20 in energy for the eight buildings.
According to the presentation, Automated Logic usage will pay for itself in less than two years.
Litter control program
Council reviewed a litter control program proposal presented by Environment and Sustainability Manager Michele Loudenback. Loudenback said the program would be a low-barrier employment opportunity designed for at-risk residents.
Loudenback said the Mental Health Association Oklahoma was selected as a potential nonprofit partner. She said the organization has resources for mental health assistance, employment and housing.
“They have quite a bit of interconnected contacts and programs already that we were looking at, and that's primarily why they got (selected),” Loudenback said.
Loudenback said beautification would consist of eight participants who would be paid $65 per day to travel to work areas three days per week. Participants would attend support services for the remaining two days of the work week, according to Loudenback.
Support services would require a case manager dedicated to housing, healthcare, clothing, education and federal and state benefits, according to Loudenback. An employment specialist will also be a part of the program to help participants create resumes, conduct job searches and have interview coaching, alongside providing transportation for job interviews.
“Some folks just don't know how to interact with people, or they've been away from people long enough that they don't have that skill set,” Loudenback said.
Loudenback said outcome goals include having 10% of the participants enroll in a job program, 20% submit job applications, 25% achieve stable employment and 25% access other support services. Loudenback added the plan is to employ at least 200 individuals every year. She added the goals are based on outcomes in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
The budget would be $360,368 in total expenses per year, according to the presentation. Loudenback said $50,000 is already allocated for the litter crew and $310,368 is required for the support services. She added 20% of the funding would go towards litter control, and 80% would go towards support services.
If the proposal is approved, Loudenback said contract negotiations and supply procurement might occur in March or April.
Ward 7 Councilmember Stephen Tyler Holman suggested the services could be temporarily funded through the general fund. He added this could occur until Normanites could vote on its permanence.
Ward 2 Councilmember Lauren Schueler said the services could save the city money in the long run. She added the program could help assist Norman’s homeless individuals.
“I think it's going to be a real benefit to communities that we've been really trying to target and outreach to and to bring them into jobs and into permanent housing, getting mental health (services),” Schueler said. “It’s going to be a benefit overall.”
Film Certification
Council discussed a film friendly certification request by VisitNorman. The certification would allow VisitNorman to be the primary point of contact and create and maintain a location database, according to Sara Kaplan, chief business and community relations officer.
According to the presentation, filmmakers would request permits through CityView, an online permitting services portal created in November 2023. The permit process requires noting the type of production, company information, economic impact and budget, the nature of scenes for filming and vehicles in use.
“There's a lot of similarities between what would be required for a film production versus what's required for a special event like street closures, police presence, fire presence, all these kinds of things,” Kaplan said.
Council also discussed the possibility of including a fee for permits.
Ward 8 Councilmember Matt Peacock said a fee may be unnecessary, adding productions would provide economic benefits on their own.
Ward 1 Councilmember Austin Ball said permits should only be required for formal productions.
“I don’t want to burden some OU student or high school kid,” Ball said.
Holman said the fee should be a one-time payment. He added he wants to incentivize productions to come to Norman and avoid daily payments.
Mayor Larry Heikkila said the permit process is simple and commended it.
The Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program is an Oklahoma Film + Music Office initiative that readies communities for incoming film productions while offering film friendly certified statuses. Kaplan said the final step for Norman is to create a permit.
Thirty-one cities in Oklahoma are currently film friendly certified, including Tulsa, Jenks and Edmond, according to the Oklahoma Film + Music website.
This story was edited by Peggy Dodd and Ismael Lele. This story was copy edited by Avery Avery.
