[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[1:14] Hey Chief, good to see you.
[2:13] Anything else?
[2:14] Ladies and gentleman.
[2:14] We ain't lost in the entire tournament
[2:15] that's всегда in the overall too.
[2:17] Cause everybody is under the way of the center in the field.
[2:21] That might not be enough.
[2:23] That sixth-rate ensures my fuzzy business.
[2:26] Hey.
[2:28] But how are you...?
[2:34] Hey, personnes corresponding all the way of changing or
[2:36] Norgive, Depart.
[2:37] Alumni
[2:42] issues, goodoso Haven, you know.
[2:49] But it wouldn't have been as good,
[2:51] but it wouldn't have worked out of the bottom there.
[2:52] And I have to see that situation, how much pressure and load it up, see, you've got to do it a little bit more.
[3:01] So you've got to do it a little bit more.
[3:02] So there's the wall laying for me.
[3:03] We'll be better than the tap.
[3:04] If you've got a lot of wall, there's just a few points in the break.
[3:12] There's quarter inches of metal.
[3:15] It could work.
[3:16] I was just curious.
[3:18] I was just curious.
[3:19] I've got some new ones for the church.
[3:21] I was going to put him up and somebody said, they're a bonnet from Mars, Paul's Valley, you know, Edward's canvas up there.
[3:28] What are they doing?
[3:29] Where are we talking about?
[3:31] Onnings?
[3:32] Onnings?
[3:33] Outside?
[3:33] Over the door?
[3:35] Outside?
[3:36] They're a little narrow, wouldn't you mean?
[3:39] Yeah.
[3:39] They're like 14 inches?
[3:41] About 16 inches?
[3:43] No.
[3:44] 14 inches?
[3:44] 14 inches wide?
[3:47] 14 inches wide?
[3:48] About.
[3:48] About.
[3:55] I'm just curious if you thought those would be more than play, you'll have a harder time than one like a win.
[20:05] Okay, it's time to get started. I'm going to call the special meeting of the City Transit Trust to order. Please call the roll.
[20:15] Hankins, Harris, Chapman, Gil, Hampton, Weager, Johnson, Warren.
[20:24] Yeah, we do have a quorum. Business item number one, consider authorizing the chairman of the Transit Trust to sign certifications pertaining to the public transit state.
[20:34] revolving fund, who's speaking on this? Ryan?
[20:57] Yeah better. Okay. So yes, these certifications are actually part of our state walling fund
[21:03] that we are required to do every single year. Once we have these signed documents,
[21:08] we submit and then we get state money that we can use for grants and everything else.
[21:14] Questions or motions?
[21:20] Mr. Gil made some motion.
[21:21] Second, by Chapman, Discussion or debate, please vote.
[21:29] Motion carries seven to zero.
[21:34] Item number two, in accordance with the Trunorth Culture Statement,
[21:37] provide to provide a safer community for the citizens.
[21:41] Consider approving an agreement between law and public schools
[21:44] and the city transit trust operating lights to provide transit service to all students and staff
[21:51] and authorize the chairman of Civic Clerk to execute the agreement, Ryan.
[21:56] So this is our annual agreement with Lawton Public Schools to provide transportation for all LPS students staff throughout the year.
[22:04] And it's the same amount of money that they provide.
[22:08] So it's $70,000.
[22:09] They provide to lats to have the service.
[22:12] We have questions or motions.
[22:14] May I move the we vote to approve this between Lawton Public Schools and the City Transit Trust?
[22:20] And do we have a second?
[22:22] And we have a second.
[22:23] Discussion or debate?
[22:24] Please vote.
[22:30] Motion carries seven to zero.
[22:32] Item three.
[22:33] Consider approving the scope and fee and authorize
[22:36] Windale WD architecture to begin work
[22:40] on the professional engineering and architectural design
[22:43] of the multimodal transfer center with
[22:46] the operations and maintenance facility.
[22:49] Charlotte.
[22:49] Good afternoon.
[22:51] This is to approve the scope and services with Windle to begin.
[22:57] So they can begin the environmental studies and as well as the design group.
[23:05] They will also be in town the week of the next council meeting for three days for an immersion is what they call it.
[23:12] And so we've actually asked them to come in and so they will do a quick presentation to council
[23:18] to the trust and then we're also going to have the subcommittee meet with them so that they can kind of get an idea and they said
[23:26] we actually should have maybe a couple of sketches at that time that they can show us kind of what they're thinking for us to look at.
[23:36] All right, do we have questions or motion?
[23:42] I move that we approve this.
[23:45] We have a second.
[23:46] We have a motion in a second.
[23:48] Discussion on debate.
[23:50] Please vote.
[23:54] Thank you, guys.
[23:56] I need one more.
[23:59] Motion carries seven to zero.
[24:02] We have a motion for adjournment.
[24:04] I'll make a motion.
[24:05] Motion has second.
[24:07] Please call the roll.
[24:09] Harris.
[24:10] Chapman.
[24:11] Gil.
[24:12] Hampton.
[24:13] Weager.
[24:13] Johnson.
[24:15] Hankens.
[24:17] Well, we're ready, Mayor. Okay. And just to memo, normally we do the water authority before
[24:24] the council meeting, but because of the executive session, we'll be doing it at the end.
[24:30] So now we will start the city council meeting. So I'll call the regular schedule may the
[24:37] lot in city council order. Please stand for the invocation by minister Duane Hall of
[24:45] the word out and corporate it and remains standing for the pledge of allegiance.
[24:50] Thank you, Mayor.
[24:53] Pursons of the Prayer of Solomon when dedicating the temple in Jerusalem from
[24:57] First King's chapter 8 adapted as an invocation for the City of Lawton's Mayor
[25:02] and Council meeting about two minutes and 45 seconds.
[25:07] Blessed be the Lord God Almighty who is and who was and who is to come.
[25:12] You know the covenants that you that have been made with you,
[25:16] Lord God Almighty, there is no God in heaven above on earth below, like you, who keep your covenant
[25:23] and mercy with your servants who walk before you with all their hearts. You've kept what you promised,
[25:30] you've both spoken with your mouth and fulfilled it with your hand as it is this day. Therefore,
[25:37] Lord God Almighty, now keep what you promised your servants if they take heed to their way to walk
[25:43] before you, as you like the way with your living word,
[25:47] let your word come true and be a light for our path.
[25:51] Regardless of prayers and supplications of your servants,
[25:54] so Lord God Almighty, and listen to the cry and the prayer,
[25:58] which your servant is praying before you today,
[26:00] that your eyes may be open towards the city of Latin,
[26:04] that you may make your name here,
[26:06] that you may hear the prayer, which your servant makes for this place,
[26:10] and you hear the supplication of your servant,
[26:13] and of this council when they pray for this place.
[26:18] Here in heaven and act and judge your servants,
[26:21] condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head,
[26:24] and justifying the righteous by giving him,
[26:27] according to his righteousness,
[26:29] when your people, because they have sinned against you,
[26:33] turn back to you and confess your name,
[26:35] and pray and make supplication to you in this place,
[26:39] then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people
[26:42] and Lawton Fort Syll and heal the land which you gave to our fathers.
[26:48] When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they've sinned against you, when
[26:52] they pray and confess your name and turn from their sin because you afflict them, then here
[26:58] in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people of Lawton Fort Syll, that you might
[27:03] teach us the good way in which we should walk and sinned rain on your land which you have given
[27:09] to your people as an inheritance.
[27:12] Thank you, Father, for the refreshing rain
[27:14] and cooling winds of these past days.
[27:19] Now, Father, I pray in the all-powerful name of Jesus Christ,
[27:23] that you transform, lot in Fort Syll,
[27:25] by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit,
[27:29] that we may be known as an international city of hope,
[27:33] a place where your name dwells.
[27:35] But all God's people who are in agreement say a man
[27:47] and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
[27:57] Okay, thank you, pastor.
[27:59] And please call the wrong.
[28:02] Chapman, Gil, Hampton, Weeger, Johnson, Warren, Hankens, Harris.
[28:13] Okay, and now we have presentation of the North Star award, the true North Star, John.
[28:34] Good afternoon, everyone.
[28:35] Today I'm going to be presenting the North Star award and the North Star is the first time
[28:39] we presented this award, and it goes to a staff member that best personifies our true
[28:47] North statement, and this individual that we're recognizing today I can't think of a better
[28:53] award recipient for the very first true, true North awardee is an individual that's been
[29:00] here a long time. They routinely provide world-class customer service. He does a lot of
[29:09] things that nobody will ever know about and that's a good thing because he makes sure that
[29:15] we have healthy drinking water and that our sanitation systems work and our wastewater
[29:21] water treatment facilities, our firing, and all cylinders.
[29:25] So it's good that we don't know what this guy does
[29:29] because he's that vital to our community
[29:32] and making sure that we have a safe and healthy place to live.
[29:36] So I'd like for Rusty Wizzin Hunt to come on up here.
[29:52] Here's the second.
[29:54] Rusty is her director of public utilities
[30:00] 33 years. And Rusty was recently selected for a national wastewater digest industry icon award, in which
[30:13] she was selected and will appear on the cover of a magazine. And we're very proud of him and we're
[30:13] she was selected and will appear on the cover of a magazine. And we're very proud of him. And we're
[30:19] very proud of all. He does for the city and the wonderful support and service he provides our
[30:19] very proud of all. He does for the city and the wonderful support and service he provides our citizen.
[30:25] and so without further ado, Rusty, let me give you this coin, this certificates. I don't have
[30:26] And so without further ado, Rusty, let me give you this coin, this certificates, I don't have
[30:31] $500 on me, but I'm good for it.
[30:31] $500 on me, but I'm good for it.
[30:48] All right, I love it. I love it. Okay, now we've got something
[30:48] All right, I love it.
[30:50] I love it.
[30:51] Okay, now we've got something that's going to be real fun.
[30:53] that's going to be real fun. The Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation. If I can get all of those
[30:55] The Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation.
[30:58] If I can get all of those involved down to the front, we'll do the Proclamation.
[31:00] involved down to the front, we'll do the Proclamation. Then I think they have a little five-minute
[31:03] Then I think they have a little five-minute presentation for us.
[31:06] presentation for us. So please join me at the front.
[31:07] So, please join me at the front.
[33:09] Thank you. We're ready to
[33:12] continue.
[33:16] And we're here, Galine. We're standing up all week in Eritage. This is
[33:19] this was the plan. Amen. And we're here to plan out of answer. A group that
[33:26] Mr. Jose's our brother Sal, Jose Sal's, I put together. Amen. For worship
[33:32] God, Amen and also celebrating our heritage. Now this next rhythm is called the Bamba. Yes. Amen. Glory, I'll say it.
[33:40] it's Bonda.
[33:41] Amen.
[33:43] Glory Alseja.
[34:43] I am the one who will do it.
[34:46] When the crowd will be there, I will be there.
[34:51] I will be there.
[34:55] I will be there.
[34:59] I
[35:04] will be there.
[35:28] Glory to the Lord.
[35:31] Hallelujah.
[35:31] Thank you.
[35:32] a previous claim for
[35:33] Amen.
[35:37] Saint-Tolzeño,
[35:42] Gloria de O'Sale Lujad.
[35:43] you misericordias mas grande que los cielos.
[35:44] Amen.
[35:44] Amen.
[35:44] Amen.
[35:45] Years, most grande que los cielos.
[35:48] Tu misericorias más grande que la tierra.
[35:48] Your misericordias mas grande que la tierra,
[35:52] Tú misericordias más grande que el sol.
[35:52] Your misericordias mas grande que el sol,
[35:56] La luna las estrellas.
[35:56] de alguna las estrellas,
[35:59] Tu misericordias, Señor.
[35:59] Your misericordias, señor.
[36:02] Tú misericordias, Señor.
[36:06] Tú misericordias, Señor.
[36:09] Tú misericordias, Señor.
[37:33] Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you very much.
[37:39] I'll write, I think we set a new level of expectations here.
[37:41] set a new level of expectations here.
[37:45] And, of course, this is all a part of the Lawton Race Relations Commission.
[37:45] And, of course, this is all a part of the Lawton Race Relations Commission.
[37:50] We're excited this month to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
[37:50] We're excited this month to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
[37:55] And that was a good cue up for our proclamation,
[37:55] And that was a good cue up for our proclamation,
[37:58] whereas each year Americans observe national Hispanic Heritage Month
[37:58] whereas each year Americans observed National Hispanic Heritage Month
[38:03] from September 15 to October 15.
[38:03] from September 15th, October 15th by celebrating the histories,
[38:06] By celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions
[38:07] cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico,
[38:10] of American citizens, whose ancestors came from Spain,
[38:15] Mexico, the Caribbean, Central, and South America.
[38:16] the Caribbean, Central, and South America. Whereas the observations started 1968,
[38:19] Whereas the observations started in 1968,
[38:22] as Hispanic Heritage Week and to President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15, and ending on October 15.
[38:23] as Hispanic heritage week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan
[38:29] in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15, and ending on October 15.
[38:37] It was enacted into law in August 17, 1988 at on the approval of public law 100 dash 402.
[38:37] It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
[38:47] And whereas during Hispanic Heritage Month, we take the opportunity to honor all Americans
[38:47] And whereas during Hispanic Heritage Month, we take the opportunity to honor all Americans
[38:52] of Hispanic descent and to acknowledge their path and ongoing contributions to the success and
[38:52] of Hispanic descent and to acknowledge their path and ongoing contributions to the success
[38:59] and growth of our nation.
[38:59] growth of our nation.
[39:01] Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group in the United States today, and generations
[39:02] Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group in the United States today.
[39:07] In generations of Hispanic Americans have consistently helped make our country strong and prosperous.
[39:08] of Hispanic Americans have consistently helped make our country strong and prosperous.
[39:14] whereas this year's theme Latinos, driving prosperity, power, and progress in America.
[39:15] Whereas this year's theme Latinos driving prosperity, power, and progress in America.
[39:23] highlights the significant impact of Hispanics to America's economic, political, and social
[39:24] Highlights the significant impact of Hispanics to America's economic, political, and social
[39:31] advancements. Whereas Hispanic Heritage Month has celebrated many ways with events such
[39:31] advancements.
[39:34] Whereas Hispanic Heritage Month has celebrated many ways with the events such as Parades,
[39:40] as parades, art exhibitions, concerts, and traditional Hispanic food fairs.
[39:40] Art exhibitions, concerts, and traditional Hispanic food fairs.
[39:49] I do thereby declare September 15, October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month and make note
[39:55] I do thereby
[39:57] that the International Festival, opening ceremony is will entertain the guest of the
[39:57] that the International Festival, opening ceremonies will entertain the guest of the
[40:05] Consulate of Mexico, to Oklahoma City, and there will be a reception after that opening ceremony.
[40:12] And I encourage all residents of Latin for itself to celebrate this unique culture
[40:13] all residents of Latin for itself to celebrate this unique culture and all the cultures that
[40:18] and all the cultures that we have here in Latin for itself.
[40:19] we have here in Latin for itself. Let's give these folks a round of applause.
[40:21] Let's give these folks a round of applause.
[40:24] Would
[40:39] you like to say something?
[40:40] Would you like
[40:40] to say something? Yes, we have Honorable Mayor of Benny Janos myself and the race relations committee.
[40:41] Yes, we have Honorable Mayor of Beni Janos, myself and the Race Relations Committee.
[40:50] We accept this proclamation for the heritage of Latino month and we thank you.
[40:50] We accept this proclamation for the heritage of Latino Month and we thank you.
[41:00] And wait, another round of applause for our young people that are in Bob, we'd love to see our young people involved in our heritage.
[41:01] I mean, another round of applause for our young people that are involved.
[41:05] We love to see our young people involved in our heritage.
[41:09] Thank you all for coming.
[41:09] Thank you all for coming.
[41:11] Thank you. Thank you, sir. Oh, I got it.
[41:11] Thank you.
[41:12] Thank you, sir.
[41:13] Oh, I got another question.
[42:01] Okay, while they're getting their instruments, we'll
[42:02] Okay.
[42:02] While they're getting their instruments, we'll go ahead and do the reports by the Mayor and City Council.
[42:04] go ahead and do the reports by the mayor and say the council will start with Ward 1.
[42:09] We'll start with Ward 1.
[42:14] Just remind everybody to vote today.
[42:15] Just remind everybody to vote today. Thank you. Everything's going good, but we do need that vote.
[42:18] Thank you, everything's going good, but we do need that vote, so be sure and if you want
[42:21] So be sure and if you want to get involved in the right, we have one person for sure that
[42:23] to get involved in the, all right, we have one person for sure that there must be in my
[42:27] It must be in my word.
[42:28] word.
[42:30] All right.
[42:30] All right.
[42:31] All right.
[42:31] All right.
[42:32] Thank you.
[42:32] Thanks.
[42:32] Thank you.
[42:33] More, too.
[42:33] More, too.
[42:35] How do I get on the drum team?
[42:35] How do I get on the drum team?
[42:36] I want to be on the drum team.
[42:37] I want to be on the drum team.
[42:38] Can we have that every meeting because I can play the drums?
[42:38] Can we have that every meeting?
[42:40] I can play the drums.
[42:42] You know, at least until October 15th we can't really say I marched on my own drummers, so I'm thinking I should be on the drum team.
[42:42] You know, at least until October 15th we can.
[42:45] Well, you always say I marched on my own drummers.
[42:48] So I'm thinking I should be on the drum team.
[42:49] Well, I would have to agree with that.
[42:49] Well, I would have to agree with that.
[42:52] So I want to give a shout out to the Lawton Police Force.
[42:53] So I want to give a shout out to the lot in police force.
[42:58] There are cops and kids picnic.
[42:58] There are cops and kids picnic.
[43:00] It was a Saturday with thousands of people came out and lots of young people.
[43:00] It was a Saturday with thousands of people came out.
[43:03] There were lots of young people.
[43:07] I want to give it a shout out also to Walmart Academy at Woods and Dick Sporting Goods who donated over 50 fishing rods to young kids.
[43:08] I want to give it a shout out also to Walmart Academy at Woods.
[43:13] And Dick Sporting Goods who donated over 50 fishing rods to young kids.
[43:17] We restocked Lake Helen for that as well, had a little fishing derby and a young man named Dan
[43:18] We restocked Lake Helen for that as well, had little fishing derby, and a young man named Dan Kite also donated another 25 of his personal rods.
[43:25] Kite also donated another 25 of his personal rods and came and helped us equip those for all the youth that came to learn how to fish or participate in
[43:28] And it came and helped us equip those for all the youth that came to learn how to fish or
[43:33] participate in fishing and it's my understanding of how today we already have 200 fish
[43:35] Fishing and it's my understanding. I heard today we already have 200 fish and rods donated by Zepko for next year's
[43:39] and I was donated by Zepko for next year's event.
[43:42] event. So we're thrilled about that. It was an outstanding event. Again, a shoutout
[43:43] So we're thrilled about that, it was an outstanding event again shout out chief to a wonderful
[43:47] chief to a wonderful job that your man did there. Lots of free food, watermelon, bicycles.
[43:48] job that your man did there, lots of free food, watermelon, bicycles, it was amazing.
[43:54] It was amazing. So our police forces don't have great job of reaching out the community
[43:55] So our police forces don't have a great job of reaching out the community and building relationships and we think that's important and certainly falls in line with our true north segment
[44:00] and building relationships. And we think that's important. Certainly falls in line with our
[44:04] true North statement.
[44:05] Man, let's give him a round of applause, a place to serve, that is a great exam,
[44:05] Hey man, let's give them a round of applause a place to serve the business
[44:09] Ladies and gentlemen
[44:13] Would three or four
[44:13] we're three, we're four, five.
[44:16] five
[44:18] Thank you mayor as always get you some of first fruits and vegetables at the farmers market. I always give a plug for that. That's a healthy eating
[44:18] Thank you, Mayor.
[44:19] As always, get some first fruits and vegetables at the farmers market.
[44:24] I always give a plug for that, that's healthy eating.
[44:27] It's kind of a word for me, and I think it's a food truck Tuesday today, if you want to grab a bite
[44:27] It's kind of a word for me, and I think it's a food truck 2D today, if you want to grab a bite-eat there.
[44:35] out there.
[44:35] Also, I wanted to give a little shout out to the Arts and Humanities Department, and we have put some money aside for some art restoration, the town hall, and the armory, there's work that's going on over there that I got a report of, we're going to put together some of the art and artifacts that were...
[44:36] Also, I want to give a little shout out to the Arts and Humanities Department.
[44:40] We have put some money aside for some art restoration, the Town Hall, and the Armory.
[44:47] There's work that's going on over there that I got a report of.
[44:52] We're going to put together some of the art and artifacts that we're
[45:00] Here in this building and in other buildings in the city for the city of Lawton, I believe that there are several entities that involved that, including the museum, just to kind of give you a heads up.
[45:15] It is always important to understand that our history identifies who we are, and it is always something that we should be proud of as Lothtonian. Thank you, Mayor.
[45:31] I'd just like to say Mayor and Council, I appreciate our city staff, I appreciate the
[45:37] management, our city manager. This past week goes out and about taking care of some
[45:41] matters and seeing a few of our city workers just out working. I just went by and honked
[45:46] the horn and everybody that was in the hole turns and goes like this. I don't know that
[45:50] they knew who I was, doesn't matter, but I appreciate the friendlyness of our city staff.
[45:55] All right, love it, and more than seven.
[45:59] Just wanted to say thanks again to the Race Relations Committee members, the subcommittee
[46:05] that puts on that sponsor of the proclamation today is Benny Janos, Kim Jones, and Wynona
[46:13] Alberti, and they do a really good job and just wanted to thank the entire Race Relations
[46:19] Committee meeting members for all the hard work that they do volunteering their time to come
[46:25] Good
[46:33] afternoon Mayor, and I just want to express on behalf of General Brooks and Commissioner
[46:37] Mayor Sartaine, the ongoing support for his strategic planning session with his outlook
[46:43] towards a lot of civil committee in 2040 in the last couple of days.
[46:48] He'll do his outreach on Friday, Mr. Mayor, I think you've got the invitation to attend
[46:53] that and talk some more afterwards.
[46:55] And then also this morning I kind of hosted the first of my quarterly coffee at the Commanders
[47:01] to appreciate Mr. Harris for attending this morning.
[47:04] New direction, I'm taking that in regards of kind of looking
[47:08] at the light cycle of an assignment for a family
[47:11] and this we're trying to get them involved
[47:13] from reception through their living experience here in Latin
[47:18] and then all the way through their transition
[47:20] with hoping for those soldiers that are looking
[47:22] to transition out of the service that we've provided
[47:26] in such a great opportunity that they'll consider staying here
[47:29] South West Oklahoma making a lot in their homes.
[47:31] So I think it was a great first step, and we'll continue to get the invites as move forward
[47:36] and hopefully to more tenants.
[47:38] And I'm going to say while we're talking about Fort Hill, I really appreciate the continued.
[47:45] I guess continued improving is where to say at relationship and working together.
[47:52] us trying to be what we need to be to for itself so that you can be the destination of
[47:58] choice, which ties in with our mission of being the community of choice, and also with us
[48:06] providing jobs for the exiting soldiers and doing everything we need to support you in the
[48:11] sport we get in other way and I appreciate that.
[48:14] Now, I want to talk about the whirlwind tour just a minute because I was so impressed by our staff.
[48:24] I threw on them at the last minute four evenings of going out in the community and talking.
[48:33] And we had twice as many staff members. Some of them are required to be there.
[48:38] We had twice as many as we're required the staff rose to the occasion.
[48:44] I've got a theory on that and I think it's because they like being highlighted for the great job they're doing,
[48:51] providing services to the citizens.
[48:54] And they want every opportunity they can to get out and tell the story
[49:00] of what's happening and law enforcement and the way that they are living up to the true
[49:08] North statement and the true North culture statement and I think they did a great job
[49:14] and I'm going to tell you at no time since I've been here, put you in five years. Have I ever felt
[49:22] like the city was moving in the right direction more than I did today? Would you counsel help
[49:30] me appreciate our staff.
[49:38] Thank you guys. Now we'll move on to audience participation. Anyone
[49:43] having an item of business to present to the City Council that does not appear on the agenda,
[49:50] please come forward at this time. We have two individuals that have signed up, Gregory Allen Smith,
[49:57] if you'll make your way on down to the mic, sir, and just in how if you'll make your way over,
[50:02] you'll be next.
[50:06] And Mr. Smith, address and name and address. Full name and address, please.
[50:20] Okay, sir. There we go.
[50:23] Great, great, age Smith, 108 Southwest, I Avenue, Lawton, Oklahoma.
[50:27] Okay, sir, how can we help you?
[50:29] I like to get authorization and permission to at least work on cars in my backyard and
[50:35] parking on the grass.
[50:38] I mean, I've had family services get all over my butt about being in my back yard doing things.
[50:46] I mean, seems like to me I ought to be able to change spark plugs to work on my car or something
[50:51] or it just doesn't seem right to be able not to park in your backyard.
[50:57] We do that process for that and so we can't really talk back and forth or in order to
[51:03] participation by law, we can only discuss what's on the agenda, but the city manager can
[51:09] direct you to somebody that can help you with the process for that.
[51:13] I've been down to code office and stuff and nobody seems to have any idea what's going on.
[51:19] It's just that's the way the code is and that's that.
[51:22] I gave him my card mayor so we just give it to me now.
[51:26] I've been a long time over this ordeal, I mean, yeah, I just got a card today.
[51:30] So I guess go on and keep fighting. You guys, huh?
[51:36] Well, if you want to call it fighting, you can.
[51:39] I'm going to say this although I'm not supposed to be discussing things.
[51:43] We make the codes for the benefit of the whole citizenry.
[51:47] And I would say that typically people probably aren't going to want their neighbors working on vehicles in the backyard.
[51:54] Having said that, having said that,
[51:57] I will direct you to the staff and there are proper channels to bring that to the council
[52:03] and they can direct you in that on that behalf, okay?
[52:08] Thank you very much.
[52:11] And Justin Howard,
[52:19] hi, and I need your full name and address please.
[52:22] Yes, my name is Justin Howard, I live in 2015 North West Pollard here in Lobby, Oklahoma.
[52:28] And I want to say a few things regarding my brother, Robert Charles Rogers, who was recently arrested August 15, 2023.
[52:37] In regards to his arrest, this situation has caused my family a lot of anxiety and emotional distress.
[52:45] My brother has unseen disabilities,
[52:50] okay.
[52:57] He was afraid,
[53:01] and he was trying to avoid a rest.
[53:04] Elping the new or should have known that the person
[53:07] would lock up after being taste.
[53:11] This resulted in some serious trauma for him,
[53:15] because he was fleeing.
[53:17] I feel that the policy should be re-examine
[53:19] for the unconstitutional tazer policy.
[53:24] That is a lack of training, using a taser of failing to follow their training.
[53:31] The else to set my brother was snoring, and he did not give him adequate medical care.
[53:37] This resulted in an indifference, a deliberate indifference for my brother.
[53:41] He was not committed to commit to a more hospital.
[53:44] So he's going to need surgery because his nose was, this was detached,
[53:55] swelling, his teeth
[53:57] are jammed back up into his gums, and he is going to need a lot of surgery.
[54:03] He is still in the Comanche County Detention Center and myself and my family are working
[54:09] to get him released.
[54:11] Thank you for taking the time to listen.
[54:13] And thank you for coming, ma'am.
[54:15] Thank you.
[54:16] Is there anybody else that would like to come forward at this time of audience participation?
[54:23] Seeing none, I will close the audience participation and move on to the consent agenda.
[54:29] The following items are be considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted with one motion.
[54:36] Should a discussion be desired on an item, that item will be removed from the consent agenda prior to action and considered separately?
[54:44] And Council, we're striking, item number 14, I'm pulling item number 12, are there any
[54:51] others that you'd like to pull?
[54:54] A poll,
[54:57] nine, okay, we're pulling nine,
[55:03] three,
[55:13] are there any others, Council?
[55:15] I have 12, nine, and three to pull,
[55:20] and I have striped 14.
[55:24] If there's no others, I would make a motion to approve the consent agenda as posted with
[55:30] exception of pulling items number 12, 9, and 3, and striking item number 14.
[55:38] I have a motion in a second.
[55:39] Please call our please vote.
[55:47] Motion carries eight to zero, bringing up item three.
[55:51] Consider adopting a resolution of proving the joint petition settlement in the amount of $8,910
[55:57] of making payment in the workers' compensation claim of Ramon Artega, Mr. Hampton.
[56:04] Yes, Mayor, I pull this out of because I need to abstain because I'm for me with the gentleman in the question here.
[56:16] Okay, was someone want to make a motion? Motion for approvals or second?
[56:23] Would you have a second? Discussion or debate? Please vote.
[56:51] Mr. Warren, were you going to vote on this item?
[57:02] The motion carries seven years, one abstain, zero, no.
[57:10] Moving is to item nine.
[57:15] Consider referring the evaluation of the request for proposal RFPs, pertaining to the
[57:20] management and operation of school has slowed, located at Lake La Tonka to the water authority
[57:27] to include any necessary action as it pertains to the acceptance, approval and
[57:32] or rejection, have said proposals, do you have something you want to say or do you want
[57:37] Tim to explain or do you want Tim to continue to Tim?
[57:41] So Mayor and Council, this item Council directed the city go out for RFPs for a
[57:47] concessionary to take over the concessionaries, to get a new concessionaries for schoolhouse
[57:52] slew, and looking at this staff did, and we did do that, we have one back in, which is
[57:58] the packet. But in looking at it, this is really something for the water authority to consider
[58:03] not city council. So all we're doing here is the city council is referring this matter to
[58:10] the water authority. It will not be considered today at the water authority. It will be
[58:14] a gended for a future meeting of the water authority and the water authority will take that
[58:18] at a future time.
[58:22] Motion for approval by Mr. Gilles or second. As second, Ms. Hankins,
[58:27] Discussion on debate. Please vote.
[58:33] Motion carries eight to zero brings up item 12. Consider
[58:38] granting a long-term ground lease agreement to Cody and Shelby Zimmerman to allow exclusive
[58:44] ingress and egress over and across the city owned property located south of 359 northwest
[58:50] cherry road located on the west side of U.S. Highway 62 by Chandler Creek and Lake elsewhere
[58:57] in the Northwest quarter of section 19, Township, 4 North, Range 11 West, at the end of
[59:04] the Meridian, Community County, Oklahoma, Tim.
[59:07] Okay, Mayor Council, this item is on for this council meeting.
[59:11] It's also on for our water authority.
[59:14] It went to both the Council and the Water Authority back on July 25th.
[59:19] After it was approved by both the Council and the Water Authority Council for the
[59:26] As Emerments reached, I believe the city manager had some concerns with one of the languages
[59:30] of the language.
[59:31] I believe as in paragraph, I want to say 21 about a signability, what was in the agenda at
[59:39] the time it, I think, went to Councilor said it wasn't a signable.
[59:43] The city manager recommended a floor amendment that was made.
[59:46] That language still wasn't acceptable to Mr. Zimmerman's council, so we put in language
[59:53] paragraph 21 that is acceptable, saying that this lease shall be binding upon
[59:58] a nurse to the benefit of.
[1:00:00] And as enforceable by the parties, their successors and interest, their errors and their devisees, that's okay with the city, that language with staff.
[1:00:10] As we put that in there, and we re-adjusted the start date for the least of the October 1st.
[1:00:16] Our recommendation is that you approve it, but did be subject to or contingent upon water authority approval later on this afternoon.
[1:00:27] So you move what he said, okay, is there a second, may you have a second, discussion or debate?
[1:00:37] So I have some a little bit concerned about the exclusive exclusivity of this
[1:00:45] Is this effect or any of the public's access to the public land that is this crosses?
[1:00:57] So it would affect the public's access to this little strip of land that we're talking about for the least,
[1:01:05] but the rest of the public land adjacent to it would not.
[1:01:09] But is there a road that goes back there because of this road, I looked at it the other day, and if they get the exclusive use of that there, I didn't see another access point back to the rest of the land.
[1:01:25] So there is a road that goes back there.
[1:01:28] I don't know if it's being used exclusively by the Zimmerman, they've used it for quite some time since they purchased the land that they own.
[1:01:36] And my understanding is that part of this is because there's a fence that's on, that's on public land that they thought that they were, that they was there land and that fence is in somewhat of disarray, but it's, it's, they're going to take, take control of that area and maintain it, which they've been doing anyway.
[1:02:01] So it does kind of reduce a little bit of access to the public, but it's for the most part it's what they've already been maintaining anyway.
[1:02:12] Okay, that was my main concern.
[1:02:16] Do I have more questions or a motion?
[1:02:21] Move to approve.
[1:02:23] Pardon me?
[1:02:23] Move to approve.
[1:02:24] We have a motion for approval.
[1:02:25] Excuse me on the cross talk.
[1:02:27] Motion for approvals or second.
[1:02:31] Okay, discuss her debate.
[1:02:32] Please vote.
[1:02:39] Motion carries seven to one.
[1:02:43] That brings up
[1:02:48] item 32 under and finished business.
[1:02:52] Further recommendation of the Employment Matters Committee,
[1:02:55] consider proving a resolution and ending the current pay scale for executive level positions
[1:02:59] by increasing the minimum hourly rate and the maximum hourly rate for each executive level
[1:03:06] In any adjustments to the executive levels, consistent with the recent compensation and classification
[1:03:13] analysis, recommendations and such good information gathered on job descriptions of qualifications
[1:03:19] from a group of six cities as directed by City Council. The new pay scale will be retroactively
[1:03:27] effective July 123 and will repeal all previous executive level pay scales. Council will take action
[1:03:35] as deemed necessary to include any of floor amendments.
[1:03:40] John, I have you down as an information source.
[1:03:43] It'll be a Craig Mayor.
[1:03:50] Good afternoon, Council.
[1:03:52] As you know, this has been, and this has been
[1:03:54] to the Council prior to, and after some direction to us,
[1:04:00] and then also the formation of the Employee Matters Committee.
[1:04:07] Mr. Hampton was heading up, I would refer to him if he wants to give any information.
[1:04:14] We had meetings, we had a couple of meetings, and my understanding is we agreed to bring
[1:04:21] this back to the council today on the pay on the pay scale for executive employees.
[1:04:28] Okay.
[1:04:28] Mr. Hampton?
[1:04:29] Yes, may we our committee have vetted this and did look at the sister cities there's some input that Craig and his staff put together appreciate the time and effort for doing that
[1:04:44] I believe that we came to an agreement that the pancreases that we're going to hand out which will be retroactive to July
[1:04:54] We're going to put us in line and in competition with the rest of the cities in Oklahoma
[1:05:02] as we look to fill positions and move forward and being fair to the upper administration of our staff.
[1:05:14] And I just want to want this to do sure.
[1:05:18] And this comes with the blessing of the city manager, correct?
[1:05:22] It does. Thank you, Mayor. Do you have anything else to want to tell us?
[1:05:28] No. Do we have any questions or a motion?
[1:05:32] We have a motion to approve?
[1:05:34] Second.
[1:05:34] And a second. Discussion or debate? Please vote.
[1:05:46] Motion carries eight to zero.
[1:05:49] Brings up item 33.
[1:05:52] And accordance with the true North culture statement and that we do everything for the citizens,
[1:05:57] Consider holding a public hearing and consider approving an ordinance pertaining to special
[1:06:04] requirements when abetting residential districts by Mending Section 18616678 Division 18616 Division 186 chapter 18 lot
[1:06:18] in City Code 2015 by modifying the special screening requirement for the I-3 light industrial
[1:06:24] of district, providing for severability, establish an effective date, and allowing for floor
[1:06:31] amendments, Cameron.
[1:06:45] Good afternoon, Mayor Council.
[1:06:46] Good afternoon.
[1:06:48] This is a change of code brought to you in honor of the true North culture statement that
[1:06:55] we do everything for the citizens.
[1:06:57] This is going to lessen the requirements for the screening for the industrial zone properties.
[1:07:02] Currently, as it stands, the industrial zone properties, no matter what the use is for the I3 zoning,
[1:07:10] they require to be opaque screened.
[1:07:12] We've had some permits come in recently that weren't industrial uses that were still allowed in that industrial zone.
[1:07:21] It was an office building, and we were requiring them to screen their properties because across the street was a residential.
[1:07:28] So, this is to lessen that requirement, so that if it's an industrial use, the screening will still be required if it's a lesser use, it'll follow the screening requirements of that lesser zoning classification.
[1:07:43] This was taken to the City Planning Commission on August 24th, and they recommended to approve, and this was published in the Law and Constitution on August 11th.
[1:07:54] Okay, Council, we're going to have a public hearing, so you can have questions without comments right now of the staff member.
[1:08:04] Seeing none, I'll open the public hearing.
[1:08:07] Anybody wish to come forward and speak at this time? Please do so.
[1:08:15] Seeing none, I will close the public hearing.
[1:08:19] Do Council to have comments, questions or motion?
[1:08:27] Motion for approvals or second?
[1:08:30] I do have a second, this goes turn to debate, I'm going to make a comment.
[1:08:35] Was this originated by the staff?
[1:08:38] Because I think this is absolutely true, North.
[1:08:45] Yes, it was, after we had a couple of businesses come in and ask for a variance to the
[1:08:51] requirement for the screening, we took a look at it and decided that we could make some
[1:08:55] changes.
[1:08:56] This is absolutely awesome, thank you for doing it.
[1:08:59] Any other questions or comments?
[1:09:03] For the most.
[1:09:06] Oh, OK.
[1:09:07] You made the motion.
[1:09:08] I did.
[1:09:09] And your motion was to approve,
[1:09:11] waive the reading of the ordinance and read the title on that.
[1:09:13] That is true.
[1:09:14] Was that the second?
[1:09:16] They made the second.
[1:09:18] OK.
[1:09:19] Please read the title.
[1:09:21] And ordinance pertaining to special requirements when a
[1:09:23] budding residential districts by a
[1:09:30] 16 article 186 chapter 18 lot in city code 2015 by modifying the special screening requirement for the I3 light industrial district providing for
[1:09:43] severability and establishing an effective date. Please vote.
[1:09:51] Much carries 7 to 1
[1:09:57] brings up item number 34. Receiver report from WTI on options for future
[1:10:04] for Quotix facilities and direct staff as deemed necessary, Mitch.
[1:10:10] Good afternoon, Council.
[1:10:11] It's my pleasure to introduce to you Robby from Water Technologies Inc.
[1:10:15] He is here to talk about options for future aquatics facilities here in the city of
[1:10:22] Latin.
[1:10:23] He's got a long slideshow, but please don't let that scare you.
[1:10:27] We've been talking about it, and I'm excited to have him back.
[1:10:29] You've seen him before, so I'll turn the mic over to Robbie with WTI.
[1:10:34] All right, Robbie.
[1:10:37] Hazelbacker.
[1:10:38] Yes, sir?
[1:10:39] Right.
[1:10:40] Well, this has been an exciting meeting with the Proclamation Great Music.
[1:10:44] Pay raises.
[1:10:45] Wow, this is, I hope not to lose your enthusiasm.
[1:10:48] We talk about pools.
[1:10:50] We've been talking about pools for quite a while.
[1:10:54] You all hired us to evaluate your waiting pools.
[1:10:57] What 10 months ago, almost a year ago.
[1:10:59] And we did that, and while we were up here, we went by looked at the pool, we've been talking
[1:11:03] to staff about the pools, like, frantically, tried to get it open.
[1:11:07] And we also were involved in aquatic master plan, the overall master plan.
[1:11:12] It's really been moving.
[1:11:14] And so we did do a couple of designs, actually, for your consideration.
[1:11:21] And even in the master plan, when I looked at Elmer Thomas's master plan, the pool kind
[1:11:25] looks like a little snake in the grass.
[1:11:27] So, I'm excited to explain what that is and how we got there, and so we're going to get going here.
[1:11:34] So, I wanted to talk to you a little bit about yesterday's aquatic centers.
[1:11:37] What I learned to swim in, what we all grew up in, in the 60s, 70s, and what those look like,
[1:11:44] and the role of today's aquatic center, which has been vastly different for the last 20 years actually.
[1:11:50] I want to recognize trends in what we call water tame it, which is fun things to do in a pool.
[1:11:57] The reason why families come there and go there time and time again, it can't wait to be there.
[1:12:02] We're going to check in on our neighbors, kind of see what they offer around us.
[1:12:06] Got some outdoor pool examples with some costs just so we can kind of understand costs and square footage.
[1:12:12] And then I'm going to quickly go through how do we come up with a current plan that we presented to you for your consideration?
[1:12:20] And it was a piece of clay.
[1:12:22] We can change and do anything.
[1:12:24] But we had a place on Elmercomis given to us and we actually did some current trends, new pools that would fit in there nicely, just for you to consider.
[1:12:37] And then answer any questions.
[1:12:39] You can stop me at any time, too.
[1:12:40] So yesterday's aquatic center looks like this.
[1:12:44] And I had one of my neighborhood.
[1:12:46] In fact, I had five in a city I worked for once.
[1:12:49] And they were all concrete.
[1:12:51] They were very hot.
[1:12:53] They were heavily subsidized.
[1:12:55] There wasn't a lot of reasons for multi-generational use.
[1:12:59] It's just the way it was.
[1:13:01] And we had a bunch of them.
[1:13:03] Most cities had more pools than they needed.
[1:13:06] But today's aquatic center,
[1:13:12] by the way, here's another one.
[1:13:14] This is an abling and they had all the same complaints.
[1:13:17] We had to take where aboard that board was gone.
[1:13:20] The pool was losing water, big time.
[1:13:24] They came up with a budget that they gave us and we changed it into this.
[1:13:29] So it looks like a water park, but I'll tell you this is a people holder.
[1:13:33] This pool actually pays for itself and that is rare.
[1:13:36] But they're a concession program and so many other things that they put together.
[1:13:41] Here's a typical day in Abelene, Texas, just a beautiful sight to see.
[1:13:47] So many people participating.
[1:13:50] It just worked out well.
[1:13:51] Here's a little pool that's no deeper than four feet, which is the trend right now.
[1:13:55] A shallow water.
[1:13:57] Even that lazy river.
[1:13:58] It's only three and a half feet deep.
[1:14:00] But they attract people from all over.
[1:14:03] So the role of today's aquatic center.
[1:14:05] It is an inexpensive alternative for recreation. Typically these pools are $4.5. You're a
[1:14:14] residents paid $1 when you had a fee, but this is an all day event for so many. A pool
[1:14:21] typically turns over one and a half times in a day. So you configure that. Certainly a
[1:14:27] great place to socialize. You know, we need to bring our communities together. People talk
[1:14:32] each other, get to know each other.
[1:14:34] Birthday parties are a big deal.
[1:14:36] Families being together is very important.
[1:14:39] A pool does that for us.
[1:14:42] I mentioned family changing rooms, where
[1:14:45] restrooms, my brain, my six-year-old granddaughter
[1:14:48] to the pool, and she's going to go to the bathroom,
[1:14:50] which restrooms are going to go into it.
[1:14:52] Well, I want to go to the family changing centers.
[1:14:54] I want to be comfortable.
[1:14:55] And that's a trend for today.
[1:14:57] Also today, they're fun and they're exciting.
[1:14:59] Thanks for watching.
[1:15:00] Here's a beach entry pool that I speak a little bit about what beach entry is. It has a place structure on it that's very large. I'm not looking for that big a place structure for a lot right now, but I really like the beach entry idea for a lot. Also, birthday parties, as I mentioned, family parties, family reunions, high school prom, swim parties. There are a lot of things that go on in today's pools. And of course, all ADA accessible.
[1:15:30] That's a very important, that's a no-brainer for us, that's the law, and that's what we're going to do.
[1:15:37] Some of the trends, interactive plate features in the beach entries or zero depth pools, where kids can come up and turn on and off their own water.
[1:15:46] Kids really just want to get wet. Small slides for kids, splash pads, as you know very well, are very, very popular.
[1:15:53] Here's the family slide, it goes off into a foot of water with a pad, very, very popular.
[1:16:01] I'm really doing a lot of these right now.
[1:16:05] Of course, water slides, this one's enabling, but I'm wondering to emphasize, this is what
[1:16:10] they call a plunge pool, where one pool would slide terminates into the water.
[1:16:15] In this case, they're on a tube, they terminate into that water, and then they evolve into
[1:16:21] lazy river so it just becomes you know a really long term fun activity. Here it is again.
[1:16:30] There's also run outs that we're going to talk about and run outs are undact their space
[1:16:35] sabers. You come down the slide and you slow down into a water run out. That's what those are.
[1:16:44] These are interactive play features and beach entries and we drew some of those in our plan for you
[1:16:50] just for consideration. So I just want to show you up close kind of what those look like.
[1:16:54] something buckets whether they be large or small or really fun because the kids anticipate them falling
[1:16:59] because they're filling them up slowly and then they start tipping and those kids all around
[1:17:05] that can't wait for that to happen. These are floatables. They're only about $3,000. This particular
[1:17:11] pool owns four of them and they rotate at each month and then they take good care of them in the winter
[1:17:15] time and so every time they come out there, people are loving it all over. They just float,
[1:17:23] they can
[1:17:24] floatables. This is probably the most popular activity. This is just a
[1:17:30] lily pad walk. They're walking on logs in this style. We love drawing those in.
[1:17:36] They're really fun to do across maybe a small app pool as well, but you'll see this
[1:17:41] when you look at some of the other cities. So let's check on our neighbors here
[1:17:45] just for a minute. What does everybody have? Well, this pool here that's set the
[1:17:54] So it's a very large. Remember this number, 16,000 feet and at Norman Oklahoma, that is a really large pool. In fact, they've got four pools on this property.
[1:18:06] Pretty large. There's a better picture of it. Some of the areas that I get are only taken in the wintertime. So it's not to make these look bad.
[1:18:12] It's just that it's the best picture I can get without going to all of them in two weeks.
[1:18:18] So this is very popular pool, this is very large, again, I keep saying that, it serves multiple
[1:18:25] populations, and it's what they designed to be able to attract others.
[1:18:29] It really is a destination.
[1:18:33] This pool is brand new, and it's a broken bow, and square foot, it's 9300 square feet.
[1:18:40] It's a rectangle.
[1:18:41] We don't see as many of those anymore, but they wanted to offer diving, and so they were able
[1:18:46] to do a dive well, if they have a beach entry, they have one lone feature in there.
[1:18:52] This is in Broken Arrow, it looks like it just rang, it looks like the guards are picking
[1:18:55] up leaves and debris to me.
[1:18:59] But that's a pretty neat pool that they have, there's 8,500 square feet, we're just kind
[1:19:04] of trying to, we're kind of going down a little bit from 12,000 to 9,000 to 8,500.
[1:19:10] This pool, they just did an RF queue for it and we did the evaluation, so we know it well.
[1:19:15] But unfortunately, this pool only lasted 20 years for them, and that's really important
[1:19:21] because this should be a 40-year deal.
[1:19:25] But when we evaluated it, it had a lot of structural things that it was the way it was built,
[1:19:30] I don't think it was the way it was designed, even that we didn't design it.
[1:19:34] So that's out for, they're going to replace this pool, and we hope we do that.
[1:19:39] Here's a better look at it.
[1:19:40] Very, very popular pool.
[1:19:41] I've known about Pelican Bay for 15 years.
[1:19:46] So a very popular pool that needs to be read done.
[1:19:50] This pool is really old school.
[1:19:52] I guess they have a swim team,
[1:19:54] but I don't see any of the starting blocks.
[1:19:57] So I'm not sure why they have this huge rectangle in the unit.
[1:20:03] That's what they have, and it tells me
[1:20:05] that it's probably built in the 70s or 60s.
[1:20:10] 50, I say it, but I put on there 50, I found it, I did some research, I finally found it.
[1:20:16] This is Reno swim and slide in Midwest City, this is a really busy park as well.
[1:20:22] I was saying anybody familiar with it necessarily,
[1:20:26] it's very large, it's 500,000 gallons
[1:20:29] and that's a lot of water to move so that wouldn't be something I'd recommend for us,
[1:20:35] but I do like the climbing wall and again, it is very popular and it's serving, it's the
[1:20:39] just looking across and seeing interactive water features,
[1:20:44] sea lap lanes, sea intertaves, it's popular.
[1:20:49] So, what's going on in here, this is in Del City.
[1:20:52] This is almost 9,000 square feet.
[1:20:54] So, to the left, they have a beach entry that you come down to.
[1:20:58] And then they have a little island.
[1:20:59] And I can tell by those posts that that's a water walk.
[1:21:02] So, they built the island to support the water walk.
[1:21:05] And then they have four lap lanes.
[1:21:07] and then they have a deep well and two diving boards.
[1:21:10] One, I was three meter.
[1:21:12] That's a lot of pool right now.
[1:21:13] That's a fairly old-type design,
[1:21:17] but I assume it works for them.
[1:21:20] And this is another look at it.
[1:21:23] You can see the high dive there, three meter.
[1:21:25] You don't see a lot of high dive right now.
[1:21:29] So this is a city of more.
[1:21:31] And so they obviously believe in lap lanes,
[1:21:36] having six of those, and then they go into a deep well,
[1:21:38] kind of see a pattern here, a lot of the old pools were
[1:21:41] l-shaped and they could support one or two diving boards in the
[1:21:44] deep well. They also have a lazy river and a very large one,
[1:21:48] which is what's surrounding those slides. And then they have a
[1:21:52] top pool, which is up in the upper right, probably zero depth to
[1:21:56] 18 inches. That's all. Their current channel is only
[1:21:59] three and a half feet. That's really what's popular right now
[1:22:03] again, shallow water. There's another look at it, it looks
[1:22:06] really good on this day, looks like they've got a lot of shade, and looks like they do a really
[1:22:11] good job keeping the water clear.
[1:22:15] So, as we look at outdoor pool examples, with a desire
[1:22:17] to manage, I just want to show you a few, this is in the woodlands, and so in 2017, this
[1:22:22] costs $6 million. And that's, it had existing parking, so, done include the tennis courts,
[1:22:30] it's the bath house and everything you see in there, costs 6 million then. We're seen
[1:22:34] about 12% a year inflation.
[1:22:37] So that's been six years, right?
[1:22:40] So it's probably eight million now.
[1:22:44] Here's another one built in 2018, very popular.
[1:22:46] It's really fun to do.
[1:22:48] It's a plunge pool.
[1:22:49] You can see one single slide to save money.
[1:22:53] We did build a slide to host another slide at some point.
[1:22:56] And I don't know if they've done that or not.
[1:22:58] But this was all phase one.
[1:23:01] and the slide goes into a plunge pool which evolves into a lazy river and then there's a
[1:23:07] beach entry on the right that goes down very slow slope and then it's sort of protected
[1:23:13] into three and a half feet deep of water. Lots of shade they've got way more now. This pool
[1:23:19] today would probably cost about 10. It's got a really nice bath house and concessions is a real
[1:23:25] big deal with them. This is pretty modest. It has two slides with run outs so they're not
[1:23:31] on just but we do have a drop slide in the upper right corner and it shares that space with
[1:23:37] a diving board and one thing is also interesting to me has a lazy river and has the beach
[1:23:42] entries we've been discussing as lots of shade but in the upper left corner that's a sand
[1:23:47] box and so the kids play in the sand and then well they better watch off before they get in
[1:23:54] the beach entry but it's real popular and it's a very nice bath house.
[1:23:59] This is pretty simple, this is, I really like this pool because it reminds me in a way
[1:24:04] whatever Thomas might be.
[1:24:06] They have a free splash pad next to the pool, and they have dual slides, there's a bottom
[1:24:13] slide that we can only see the start of it, and the slide empty into a plunged pool, which
[1:24:18] we talked about, a lazy river, a beach entry, and they went lap lanes.
[1:24:23] So they had four lap lanes, and we had a deep, twelve and a half feet deep in the deep
[1:24:27] so you could have a diving board.
[1:24:32] This was really fun. This was a rectangular pool and we designed
[1:24:36] a pool within the pool. They had neighborhoods swim teams. They wanted to make sure they had
[1:24:40] a swim team course. They didn't before. And so we did a little peninsula where we could have
[1:24:46] lap lanes on one side in a beach entry on the other. And this is kids playing in that beach entry.
[1:24:52] You can see the lap pools are always aligned with the diving boards. This really came out right.
[1:24:57] And because the demolition was not turned out the whole pool,
[1:25:01] they had given up on the pool.
[1:25:03] It lost like 80,000 gallons a week.
[1:25:06] And we thought that the bones were good enough
[1:25:08] that we could build a pool within that pool.
[1:25:11] And it was level and it just turned out great.
[1:25:14] So how do we get to the current plan?
[1:25:18] Of course, we met with staff.
[1:25:20] We showed pretty pictures, but we showed practical ideas
[1:25:22] of pools that we thought lot and could afford.
[1:25:27] Not showing them all these palaces, just hey, what's reasonable.
[1:25:31] What's reasonable is probably 6,500 square feet, maybe up to nine, but we didn't
[1:25:38] need 12.
[1:25:40] So this pool offers a lot.
[1:25:41] We also wanted to talk to them about keeping the teenagers busy and interested.
[1:25:47] A lot of them are driving, we want them to drive to the pool.
[1:25:50] We want them to think this is such a cool deal to be that if they want a live
[1:25:55] And that's kind of, that's the nature of this business too, is to raise your life
[1:25:59] guards.
[1:26:00] We used to call them pool brats.
[1:26:01] The kids would hang out every day with our guards.
[1:26:04] And those pool brats became great life guards.
[1:26:07] So it was a good thing.
[1:26:09] You can see here's a sunshine where you are sitting in six inches of water where it's
[1:26:14] cool and comfortable and watching the kids play.
[1:26:16] Here's a broader look of the same pool.
[1:26:19] You can see the sunshine.
[1:26:20] There's basketball on the left.
[1:26:21] You see those interactive structures in the beach entry.
[1:26:27] Also, notice there's always a way to get in this pool where you don't get wet.
[1:26:32] Because you never know somebody just have their hair done.
[1:26:34] And they don't get splashed by kids.
[1:26:36] So there's always kind of an easy way to get into the beach entry.
[1:26:41] And then you see their plants available here.
[1:26:43] Very popular.
[1:26:45] Here's the lazy river.
[1:26:47] When we showed multiple images to staff,
[1:26:53] they really kind of lashed onto this one.
[1:26:56] And so this is kind of the baseline for what we did when we did our designs.
[1:27:01] So we're going to go to the designs.
[1:27:03] So here's the first pool that we came up with.
[1:27:06] And total cost 5.1.
[1:27:08] It's 6,335 square feet.
[1:27:10] That means the Bayther load is about 430 people.
[1:27:14] That means DAC and pool, and it's a code defined by the load, it's square footage divided by 15.
[1:27:24] So this has a single slide, as a beach entry, it's all one body of water, so it's one mechanical system.
[1:27:31] And depending on an architect coming up with a DAC landscape, a mechanical building, a bath house, we're estimating this with the about 5.1.
[1:27:39] We changed it a little bit with two slides, and we made the lazy river longer, and we also put
[1:27:45] a place structure in the beach entry, where it's this one we had nothing in the beach entry,
[1:27:50] but the guisers you see, and kids would play in down to 18 inch to water, but we added
[1:27:55] a place structure in this one and added a second slide, both have run outs. This is the
[1:28:00] same amount of square footage, so it's seen about 130 people.
[1:28:07] So that was a good, better,
[1:28:08] this was best by our definition, and I think this is what you have in the drawings.
[1:28:13] And we suggested that this might be a two-phase pool situation, that the slides and the
[1:28:21] plunge pool could come at a later date, and we would plumb for it, so everything's in the
[1:28:26] ground if you got it as that way.
[1:28:29] So they have a lazy river, beach, and three-place structure,
[1:28:34] and those are basketball goals
[1:28:35] in the middle.
[1:28:37] So it could be done in two phases if you wish, but if all at once, estimated 7.5 with the bath house.
[1:28:48] So talking to Mitchell, who's really ambitious, he said that some of you might be interested in having some lap lanes.
[1:28:55] And in our aquatic study, we decided that there's a ton of lap lanes in the city with the college and with the Y.
[1:29:01] And the Y just had their pools re-done, looks beautiful.
[1:29:05] But people do like swim outside, laughs, swimers do, you can sometimes, if I'm doing this
[1:29:12] from the start, again we added this just in talking to you and understanding there might
[1:29:17] be an interest route, I would probably design the pool part differently and incorporate
[1:29:22] the lap lanes, but I just wanted to show you they fit and now you're looking at about
[1:29:28] 2.25 if you decided to do it.
[1:29:35] Okay? So we added the lap lanes in the upper left, and the upper left, yes,
[1:29:45] sir.
[1:29:46] That's because it's an independent pool and independent mechanical system.
[1:29:51] If we were to do a redesign on this, I would separate the beach entry pool from all the other bodies of water and keep...
[1:30:00] And make the lap pool use the same water. That way, if there's an accident, or what they call code brown, in the beach entry, it's get that. It won't marginalize all the other water. We like to keep the kids full separate every time we can.
[1:30:18] So here's the whole deal, and it always comes down to this. So we usually start designing with a spreadsheet. And in this situation, we didn't know how much money. I don't think any of us know how much can we would we spend?
[1:30:32] So we did it a little backwards that we designed something that would fit and would fit the city and
[1:30:38] study the aquatic study, studied ballad kings, financial analysis, and that's where we came
[1:30:45] up with the sizes that we came up with.
[1:30:47] That's the reason.
[1:30:48] And then we designed pools that I knew were very popular and would be relevant for years to come.
[1:30:55] And then we, we definitely learned the community expectations for those studies.
[1:30:59] You did a lot of them and you did them at once and it was man and information was pouring in I'm in great job
[1:31:05] We also thought about facility capacity, which reasonable and
[1:31:10] Then market cost where these things cost
[1:31:14] It's unbelievable to me how many cities are doing new pools because of how much they cost and we watch to go up the last four years to where
[1:31:22] You know
[1:31:24] I'm raising my hand all the time. What's those expensive square footage in the building?
[1:31:28] It's the pool, yeah, it's the pool, because it is, and it's not going down, so there's just a great place for entertainment.
[1:31:38] This is something else that I mean to spring on you, but it was an idea.
[1:31:41] Mitchell, I talked about it over at the Rec Center.
[1:31:44] What if we added a three-lane lap pool in that part of the city?
[1:31:48] The kind of replaces what we lost in the big pool, if that ends up happening.
[1:31:54] And, you know, this would be open like six in the morning to ten and then maybe again four to eight
[1:32:00] for people that last swim after work.
[1:32:03] And all kinds of games can be played in there, that could be two volleyball courts and
[1:32:08] that pool configuration has a lot of value.
[1:32:12] So we just estimated what it would cost and just food for thought.
[1:32:18] This is kind of the look.
[1:32:19] It would be outside that door.
[1:32:20] really nice clean look, of course it won't have the L shape, it'll be these three lanes.
[1:32:26] Something pretty simple that's fence-off nice, that really looks like a good, fun, safe place to go.
[1:32:32] And that's all I have.
[1:32:34] So I really appreciate the opportunity.
[1:32:36] I watched the Council meeting and Mr. Warren asked if they could get the...
[1:32:40] My wife is in the room and you said, can you get that gentleman back for WTI?
[1:32:44] And she says, who's the gentleman? I said, I think it's like hope it's me.
[1:32:48] But I appreciate the opportunity come back and I hope that I've just kind of explained why you
[1:32:55] we've just drawn up what we did and I'll entertain any questions please.
[1:33:01] Just one.
[1:33:05] And I'm not disappointed at all.
[1:33:07] I like the idea and I see how that would work in the community.
[1:33:14] I feel like though, there's a part of me that just kills my soul that you spend this money
[1:33:25] and it's only used a third of the year.
[1:33:31] Do y'all do any indoor outdoor?
[1:33:34] Oh, absolutely.
[1:33:35] Because I would really much rather, if possible, at some point, kind of bounce that around
[1:33:42] and see, and maybe not at the part, maybe we do that at a different location, but it does.
[1:33:50] It just kills my soul to watch all that money sit there for the majority of the year.
[1:33:59] And the other issue was I believe that if we provided the opportunity for more tournament
[1:34:06] swims that we would have more people participate. Currently we do have some areas where
[1:34:18] they can swim. There is really no area for any of their parents, grandparents, friends
[1:34:25] to actually watch a race, which is a little detrimental to get anybody involved. So I mean,
[1:34:35] other than those issues, I love this and I appreciate you coming.
[1:34:42] I think that a lot of what's in there is definitely what we need.
[1:34:48] The beach entry is, I think, a great idea.
[1:34:51] It didn't exist when I was a kid,
[1:34:57] but that's true.
[1:34:58] We dug a hole and it was a little muddy.
[1:35:01] But I do appreciate you coming and if send me some indoor outdoor ideas that you all have done.
[1:35:12] Because I'd like to see them just kind of get an idea of what one would cost.
[1:35:16] Were you talking about indoor light pool or indoor recreation pool?
[1:35:21] Well, I've seen some that were both.
[1:35:25] They were recreation pools, but the indoor portion
[1:35:29] had competition lanes.
[1:35:34] And again, I don't know how you make that work.
[1:35:38] And that way, you could use the indoor portion year round
[1:35:44] for not only competition, but also for recreation.
[1:35:49] What we have found is that you typically need a rec center with a membership to float the indoor
[1:35:56] recreation, lap lanes, just to be honest with you.
[1:36:01] It is very expensive, but we do have, it's my job to get images when I find good wins and
[1:36:08] put them on our website and our portfolio, and you can, it's WTIWorld.com, and I suggest that
[1:36:16] because we've kind of already done that work so that we can refer to it.
[1:36:25] I like the idea, Bentonville, have you seen any of the pictures of what they built there?
[1:36:32] But I think what I'm looking at is the future, not really, you know, two summers from now.
[1:36:40] We're building a youth and adult rec center basically, you know, a sports facility, and my idea was if we had the property and the ability to do that, this would be something that we could do in the future to work hand in hand with that facility, but I do appreciate it, and I will be on the website.
[1:37:04] Thank you.
[1:37:05] And then any questions please send them through the staff?
[1:37:08] Mr. Johnson.
[1:37:09] Okay.
[1:37:11] Was there any consideration I think you mentioned that you all had an existing pool and
[1:37:17] the new built inside of that?
[1:37:20] And I know that the center that we have on an 11th street has a lot of issues and the
[1:37:25] wasn't able to be opened.
[1:37:27] Was there any talk about what that cost would be and if something like that can happen
[1:37:32] with that pool?
[1:37:33] Yes, absolutely.
[1:37:35] In fact, that's the first thing we try to do.
[1:37:38] But that pool's not level.
[1:37:40] That pool's piping is undersized and doesn't meet code for a turnover.
[1:37:44] So it would look like a war zone.
[1:37:46] In fact, we might get the kernel to help us demo it.
[1:37:51] It would look like a war zone cutting out all that piping all the way around.
[1:37:54] And I did give staff a price for that.
[1:37:57] And I was saying, I'm so sorry.
[1:37:59] I don't think you want to spend this kind of anything.
[1:38:01] I think it's 1.3, it's to get that pool right, but because the pool is not level, it is moved.
[1:38:09] More people in Oklahoma are draining their pools in the winter, then anyone, any area they are seeing,
[1:38:17] and we don't recommend it, because all that weight comes up. What's the pool going to do?
[1:38:21] It's going to get pushed out of the ground, and it only has about one inch of tolerance.
[1:38:26] And so that pool that you have is taller on one end than the other, and we saw it by the
[1:38:31] water line.
[1:38:33] So, a portion of the gutter wasn't even working because the water wasn't there, and
[1:38:36] able to overflow the other side.
[1:38:38] So, it just it lived its life.
[1:38:41] And that's why we were the bearer of bad days.
[1:38:43] But thank you for that question, exactly right.
[1:38:46] And the staff is telling us they were going to tear out that pool I showed you.
[1:38:49] And we thought we could save it, and we did.
[1:38:51] So that's the first thing we would try to do,
[1:38:57] you know, it could be a possibility of putting a 3-line lap pool in it and using walls on each end.
[1:39:02] But we would just abandon everything that's in the ground and start over.
[1:39:09] What's a construction time?
[1:39:12] Oh, is that where you go?
[1:39:13] I'm sorry.
[1:39:20] So the second part, I know you probably don't have this answer now.
[1:39:23] But just if we can find out if you were to do that three lane pool there, you know, with the estimated cost would be.
[1:39:33] Just trying to see what we can do to maintain something over that area number one.
[1:39:37] And number two, you know, the spaces there, the site is there.
[1:39:40] What can we do to repurpose that?
[1:39:43] Yeah, I think the demo is something that I'm not sure I could tell you with that cost.
[1:39:48] But I know what to put that pool in would cost.
[1:39:50] And it basically would be the same as putting it in the ground by the Rick Center, really would.
[1:39:56] If we just get a clean sheet of paper to work on, and I like the parking over there.
[1:40:01] If you like the neighborhood, I don't know those deals.
[1:40:05] But if that's a good place for it, I think it could work.
[1:40:10] Mr. Harris.
[1:40:13] So, in your second, the concept one, to that lane addition that you had in, over by the main pool,
[1:40:26] would you redo that then?
[1:40:31] If we decided we wanted to, would you, did you, I hear you say that you would like to redesign
[1:40:38] where that is a part of the main body of water.
[1:40:43] We're redesigned the current pool.
[1:40:45] Yeah, the first one that you gave us, and then,
[1:40:48] if we added the two lane lap to that, would you?
[1:40:54] Next one.
[1:40:55] Next one.
[1:40:58] So, if I understand the question right,
[1:41:01] you're asking if we were to design something like this
[1:41:04] with additional lap lanes.
[1:41:07] What would be separated?
[1:41:08] If it's not what you're talking about, keep going in your slideshow, next one, or there.
[1:41:16] So did I hear you say you would redesign so those two latplanes would be a part of the
[1:41:22] main pool and he would take the beach entry out.
[1:41:26] Did I hear that correctly?
[1:41:27] I would separate the beach entry and its system from the whole pool would be my suggestion.
[1:41:34] You're still saying the lap planes would be there,
[1:41:37] but they'd be over at the Recreational Center.
[1:41:42] Or they could be there.
[1:41:44] And no diving board.
[1:41:47] But what I said is that adding lap planes is an afterthought
[1:41:53] to the design.
[1:41:54] Right.
[1:41:55] And so I would probably design that a little differently
[1:41:57] to make that work a little better,
[1:41:59] and other than just be sitting over here.
[1:42:01] But it might be perfect sitting over there.
[1:42:03] It's been so good.
[1:42:04] I said I had to separate somebody of water I take the beach entry and move it away has to be ten feet apart from any other body of water
[1:42:12] and then we'd have a barrier because it's a little pit so we know what I'm in the deeper water.
[1:42:19] Thank you.
[1:42:20] And Mr. Hampton.
[1:42:22] Thank you, Mayor.
[1:42:25] Boy, every time you come, you make it sound so exciting.
[1:42:28] And it is a very exciting matter of fact, I think at the times of me and my granddaughter,
[1:42:36] and my grandkids going to some facilities like this, I just want to make some comments,
[1:42:43] a couple of comments in the war that I live in, you know, there are economically challenged
[1:42:49] families that are there that probably wouldn't be able to take in some of these facilities.
[1:42:53] And I'm on a quest along with probably Councilman Johnson, to try to provide some type
[1:43:05] of water recreation, even if it's just for the especially for the hot summer months,
[1:43:10] for those in my warden problem ward seven, maybe even around the city that can't even pay
[1:43:16] their electric bill during the summer and sometimes can't afford a waiting pool.
[1:43:22] So I do want to remind everybody that we do have that
[1:43:26] cross-section of the community that we need to deal with.
[1:43:33] And I am, did you have something that you want to say?
[1:43:35] I would like to address that.
[1:43:37] I'm not done, but you can go ahead.
[1:43:39] I would like to address that.
[1:43:41] I appreciate that comment.
[1:43:44] The idea for having some lap lanes over at the Owen Center
[1:43:48] sprung from that exact conversation.
[1:43:51] We know that that neighborhood and the surrounding areas is a need of an aquatic option and we thought we're still in the process of finding out exactly what's going on with our current municipal pool.
[1:44:07] But if it ends up not being a feasible project, the addition of some lap lanes and an option in that neighborhood might be an acceptable alternative.
[1:44:18] Are you done?
[1:44:20] Yes, sir.
[1:44:21] Okay.
[1:44:21] I'm going to go ahead and finish then.
[1:44:25] I'm sorry.
[1:44:26] I'm sorry.
[1:44:27] I'm sorry.
[1:44:28] I didn't mean to cut you off.
[1:44:30] You're fine.
[1:44:32] What I was saying was that I think that there's kind of a mandate to where we kind of try to figure out what we're going to do.
[1:44:40] I know that funding is a big thing and that's the second thing that I want to bring out.
[1:44:45] I know that we could make a war zone of that pool over there, but the cultural preservation
[1:44:52] committee, along with Shipwell, has found that there is some significant historical value
[1:45:00] In that pool, and at this time we're having even getting grants to try to do some things with that pool.
[1:45:06] It would be nice to work with the parks and rent department on those kind of projects.
[1:45:10] And I think that Jason Bartermanities, we talked yesterday about him getting with you.
[1:45:18] But there are the waiting pools that have been shot down, our older pools, but I do think that it's important as I said earlier about the history of our city.
[1:45:29] And there are money that are available for that.
[1:45:32] And mind you, I want to take my granddaughter to your facilities for
[1:45:37] City too, but at the same time, I do feel that, as well as other
[1:45:42] council members, that we do need to need to focus in on some of the funds that we
[1:45:47] spend to try to focus in on some of those economically challenged families that,
[1:45:54] I mean, some of them don't have vehicles, some of them can't get around.
[1:45:58] Some of them, some of them just need a little probably helping hand from the city, so we can't forget those people, and I think that as I press towards saving some of our historical value in the city, which was a war zone, one time they tore down our whole city down down.
[1:46:25] I think it's important that we make sure that we keep that in the background mind, that there is a historical value in some of those things,
[1:46:34] whether they be put in museums, that pool that you're talking about actually is a part of Maddieville pool,
[1:46:41] which is one of the founding families that founded a lot in that park.
[1:46:51] Secondly, I think that I'm not really wanting to try to bring this up for any discussion,
[1:46:58] but just to make sure that everybody understands that the cultural preservation community
[1:47:05] is working very hard to try to put funds together.
[1:47:07] We have some funds that we can do some stuff at the city pool and all of our parks are going
[1:47:16] to be put together as a WPA package to try to put them on their historical, national, historical
[1:47:23] registry and that work is here.
[1:47:27] So I just want to comment on those two things that I think of concern that I'm actively
[1:47:35] doing some work on along with some of the other councilpeople.
[1:47:38] Thank you.
[1:47:39] Okay, if we decided today that we wanted to build the 8.25 and put the laptop down at the
[1:47:53] Owens, how long's it take to get the plans, how long does it take to get it constructed?
[1:47:59] I think you would be doing an RFQ that will probably take two weeks out in the field, two weeks
[1:48:03] for you to decide, so that's one month. You'll take us four and a half to five months with good
[1:48:08] to do the complete design to be able to get builders something in writing that's done well
[1:48:13] that they can bet on equally and have a winner. So I think now we're at six months.
[1:48:20] Maybe seven depending how long that process is and this build is probably eight to twelve months depending on whether.
[1:48:29] Okay, so if we decide now we're April or May before we're bidding.
[1:48:36] Then we're how long is the construction?
[1:48:40] You'd be open with something spectacular in 2025.
[1:48:46] May 2025.
[1:48:49] We need a definite timeline because this is municipal government.
[1:48:53] We tend to drag things out.
[1:48:57] And we need to, let's do this.
[1:49:00] Can you give me a timeline to be open?
[1:49:04] Yes.
[1:49:04] I know we won't open on April 1, but I know nothing runs on time, so April 1, 2025, can you give me a timeline?
[1:49:14] You don't have to give it today.
[1:49:17] We haven't actually selected a consultant to start that work yet.
[1:49:20] So it's a little unfair that he may be one of the people interviewed for it,
[1:49:25] and it'll be part of their interview process on their timeline, designing stuff.
[1:49:29] and he's not, so it's unfair for me to ask the question about the time line?
[1:49:34] Well, he can answer it.
[1:49:36] I'm just saying that we haven't selected a consultant yet.
[1:49:39] Let me say that the consultants that you'd probably be interviewing with would have the same timeline as us.
[1:49:45] So I'm not giving you WTI.
[1:49:48] I mean, that's what I can honor, but I'm also telling you that's what they take.
[1:49:52] It'll be a fair timeline for anyone.
[1:49:54] So here's what I'm saying.
[1:49:56] From what I'm adding up here, we've got to make this decision, PDQ, don't we?
[1:50:02] If we want to be open for 2025 and that doesn't leave us much leeway, so we've got to
[1:50:08] get with program, so what is it that we need to do today?
[1:50:21] We need to get a consultant on board ASAP and we can, all right, can I get a motion to get
[1:50:27] a consultant on board ASAP?
[1:50:29] make a motion that we direct staff to do we do an RFP for a consultant or do we just
[1:50:42] we can actually do an invitation type interview or will solicit three to four people and
[1:50:50] we'll put together an interview committee and have them do a presentation and we're selecting that
[1:50:54] way. That's my motion. With with can would you take a friendly amendment with a sense of urgency
[1:51:01] We had that too, motion with the sense of urgency.
[1:51:03] With the sense of urgency.
[1:51:04] Is there a second, except that?
[1:51:06] We have a motion, a second.
[1:51:07] Discussion or debate?
[1:51:09] Please vote.
[1:51:23] Motion carries eight to zero.
[1:51:25] Thank you, Robbie.
[1:51:27] That brings up item 35.
[1:51:29] Consider an amendment to the true North culture statement to include transparency and trust
[1:51:33] as a key component on the statement that take action as deemed necessary.
[1:51:39] Council when we when we did this it was is real nice culture statement but we got to
[1:51:47] talk at about the idea of trust and how it goes with transparency and we wanted the words
[1:51:53] transparency in there so don't land came up with this second on your sheet everybody should have a
[1:51:59] sheet and it says transparency and trust we commit to open communication transparency interactions
[1:52:06] and accountable decision-making, we will continually earn and maintain the trust of our citizens.
[1:52:12] I think our world went to her, did just that.
[1:52:17] The citizens that we were able to reach, they like that aggressive transparency, and I think
[1:52:23] we felt trust, but also on the last line, we thought we changed the last line a little bit
[1:52:30] on our pursuit of excellence to say we will not make excuses or settle for in our pursuit
[1:52:35] of excellence, just because it flowed better than what we had.
[1:52:39] So if you agree, we need a motion or be happy to answer any question.
[1:52:44] Have a motion for approval and a second.
[1:52:46] Discussion or debate, please vote, Mr. Mayor.
[1:52:50] Yes.
[1:52:51] So along with that transparency and trust and the thing that I've heard time and time
[1:52:56] again over the last couple of weeks is that we're not communicating with the citizens,
[1:53:02] the actions that we're taking.
[1:53:03] We're taking good actions.
[1:53:04] They agree with their actions, but they don't understand because we haven't so can we include into that
[1:53:10] That we will do better job communicating I
[1:53:15] actually think that
[1:53:18] I really like that
[1:53:27] It says we continue to open communication, but we're not doing a very good job right, so I like that and so let's just take no action
[1:53:35] We'll bring it back to you next time
[1:53:37] We'll get done when I'm working on it, okay?
[1:53:39] All right, is there a bit of good with that? No action. All right.
[1:53:46] Well, we did have a motion in a second. So we got to take action.
[1:53:50] We don't just make a supplemental motion to table.
[1:53:57] I'll make a substitute motion to table this until the next meeting.
[1:54:01] We have motion in a second to table. Please vote.
[1:54:08] Much carries eight to zero,
[1:54:15] bringing up 36, consider and take action with respect to an endosement resolution of the city of Lawton.
[1:54:23] Oklahoma, the city, declaring its official intent to approve the incurring of indebtedness by one or more of the public trust of which the city is the beneficiary and one or more series of bonds notes or other evidences of indebtedness.
[1:54:38] to finance all or a portion of the cost of the acquisition, construction, equipping, renovating
[1:54:44] and improving of certain capital improvement projects to be located within the city,
[1:54:50] as deemed necessary, and containing other provisions relating there to Joe Don.
[1:54:56] Yes, sir. Councillor, I think this autumn falls right in line with your previous
[1:55:01] out of trust and transparency,
[1:55:06] but we are asking to your approval to go out for a loan or
[1:55:11] multiple loans on a few of our capital improvement projects. We've got four projects that are
[1:55:18] designed and ready for bid. We need to secure funding for those projects. They are the widening
[1:55:25] of West Gore Boulevard from 67th Street to 82nd Street.
[1:55:30] Good year Boulevard Reconstruction from Lee Boulevard to Cash Road.
[1:55:36] The phase one man out of tooy on the addition in renovation
[1:55:41] and the construction of landfill sell six and seven.
[1:55:46] All four of these projects have an estimated total of about $30 million.
[1:55:52] We would like to be able to go out for a loan for these projects.
[1:55:57] They were identified in the current physically budget and slated there to be able to be
[1:56:08] get loan funding to proceed with them.
[1:56:16] I'd be at this point just be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
[1:56:19] I've got Chris Gander and Lynn, Lynn, driver here asking questions.
[1:56:31] I make a motion to approve.
[1:56:36] Mayor, since this is a instrument of indebted nestle, require a supermajority.
[1:56:41] Just wanted to put that out before the vote.
[1:56:50] Any questions?
[1:56:52] Let's go.
[1:56:58] 8 to 0.
[1:56:59] That's super.
[1:57:00] Thank you, sir.
[1:57:01] We'll get right on it.
[1:57:03] Thank you.
[1:57:04] And according to number 37,
[1:57:05] And, according to the Attorney North statement of providing world-class customer service to our citizens,
[1:57:11] this does LPD support a funeral processions as a general matter.
[1:57:15] Further, discuss a proposed plan of action that addresses issues that have impeded police support
[1:57:21] of funeral possessions in the past.
[1:57:25] Consider whether or to approve set policy and adopt any floor amendments, Council deems appropriate.
[1:57:30] And I have John Ratliffe as the information source.
[1:57:33] Yes, sir. A couple of weeks ago, I was presented with an issue where I was told that the funeral homes, like when a funeral procession was being requested, funeral homes would go through emergency dispatch is part of their coordination.
[1:57:54] dispatch would contact LPD and tell them whether or not they could support the
[1:58:00] procession and then dispatch would contact the funeral homes. So what it
[1:58:06] had been happening or at least it happened a couple of times was that the funeral
[1:58:13] homes were being told that we could support the processions only to be told later
[1:58:19] in the day, that because of a higher priority call,
[1:58:23] that the officers couldn't support the possessions.
[1:58:26] And that was creating issues with the families
[1:58:30] of the deceased.
[1:58:33] And it was also kind of putting the chief
[1:58:36] in a difficult position because he was forced,
[1:58:40] or it currently is being forced to decide
[1:58:43] if he's gonna support a procession
[1:58:46] or if he's going to have his officers respond to a call.
[1:58:52] So we came up with an idea of having the officers only support
[1:59:02] when they're off duty.
[1:59:04] So there'd be a pool of officers, the funeral homes would be provided
[1:59:09] with the number of a point of contact,
[1:59:11] who they could call if they wanted support.
[1:59:14] And then we wouldn't have to worry about those officers being pulled away because they're
[1:59:21] off duty.
[1:59:22] So there wouldn't be any dilemma for the chief to support the call or support the procession
[1:59:29] because the officers are off duty.
[1:59:31] So I think everything up until that point is agreeable.
[1:59:37] I think we'd even agree.
[1:59:39] There was a meeting last week.
[1:59:40] I was there in attendance.
[1:59:41] but I think all the funeral homes were represented in chief and in Councilman Gil was there.
[1:59:48] And I think what they agreed to at this meeting was that the officers would support
[1:59:54] off duty, that they would even get paid.
[2:00:00] So a little bit of a fee, which they're not currently getting, but to kind of incentivize participation, we would do that.
[2:00:08] But the issue came down to who would cover physical liability in the event, the officers were injured during the funeral procession.
[2:00:23] So what we've done previously when presented with the similar issue was we required the private
[2:00:32] organization to provide the insurance.
[2:00:35] A couple of years ago, if you recall, we made our firefighters who were supporting the
[2:00:41] Phil the boot campaign, which is the annual campaign that they, I don't know if you guys
[2:00:46] still do that, I don't think you do, where they would go out into the meetings and on the
[2:00:52] streets of our city with, you know, their firefighting boots and ask individuals to donate
[2:00:58] for the muscular dystrophy association. Well, the officers were being put in a position
[2:01:04] where they might be injured in the middle of streets, you know, on the side of the street.
[2:01:09] So, in this case, the muscular dystrophy association took out a private insurance policy
[2:01:16] for the firefighters, so in the event that they were injured, that burden wouldn't be passed
[2:01:23] on to the taxpayers. So I think it's a similar thought process here. My understanding
[2:01:31] is that the funeral homes don't support that course of action, but that's where we're at.
[2:01:40] Mr. Gill, do you have anything you want to add to that? You were in the meeting.
[2:01:46] Well, I'll say that it seemed like the funeral homes were pretty much on board.
[2:01:53] We'll hear from the, except for the insurance problem, which I made a suggestion that they
[2:01:58] check with their insurance carrier and see that that wouldn't be a easily solved problem
[2:02:04] from the fact that they had workmen's comp already in place and they're going to be issuing
[2:02:11] either at a 1099 or they're going to put them on a W2, one way or the other, but their
[2:02:17] insurance should cover that and I haven't had a report back.
[2:02:19] I think the chief might have been going to look at that also.
[2:02:23] So that's kind of where we were at.
[2:02:25] Everything else seemed to be pretty good with the exception of the insurance issue.
[2:02:29] And so the only concern is that the charge for the officer is not a concern.
[2:02:38] The concern is who's covering the insurance if the officer is injured, right?
[2:02:45] Yes, yeah.
[2:02:46] That's right, Mayor.
[2:02:47] Okay.
[2:02:47] Would you like to come up and speak and give us your name and address and also who you're representing?
[2:02:54] Okay.
[2:02:54] My name is Linda Newsome.
[2:02:56] My address is 3103.
[2:02:58] North East Heritage Drive in Lawton, Oklahoma.
[2:03:00] I was at that meeting, and we're not in a grants on the charging of, of, of escorts.
[2:03:09] First and foremost, I'd like to thank the Lawton Police Department, their services to our community are astounding,
[2:03:15] and they're always there for us, and we appreciate that.
[2:03:19] But I do have concerns of paying escorts.
[2:03:24] One is that I, as a lot in Rittergride funeral home, I'm the funeral director there, and I'm also the managing partner there.
[2:03:33] I cannot absorb that cost. I will have to pass that cost on to my families.
[2:03:40] So one of the concerns I have is, what about the families that can afford that?
[2:03:44] Are we going to tell them that they no longer have an escort?
[2:03:47] I know that everyone here is either been in a procession, been in the back of one of those
[2:03:52] cars in the family car, and they've had an escort, and so that's come from the city
[2:03:58] of Loughton.
[2:04:00] So the second is, what if I have a family that can pay that?
[2:04:04] Do you have enough officers that are off duty at the time to accommodate me and accommodate
[2:04:10] any other funeral home that needs an escort?
[2:04:12] I understand that they'll be 2S courts for every funeral up to 25 cars was the proposal.
[2:04:21] It's not something that there's problems there.
[2:04:25] There's going to be problems whether we pay the S-course.
[2:04:27] I wish we could pay everyone, but that is going to be passed over to our families.
[2:04:31] Not every family can't afford that, and so I don't know what the answers are.
[2:04:37] I think there's a different way, hopefully, to solve this problem without any additional
[2:04:42] cost to the families. I don't know what the answer is, but I'm not in in favor of it. I
[2:04:50] realize that that's possibly where we may be headed. Whatever the city decides to do, we'll
[2:04:56] abide by that. If you change the protocol on that, we'll abide by that. We're law. We follow
[2:05:03] the law. I just wanted to thank you for visiting with me and letting me tell you that I'm not in.
[2:05:12] of clients.
[2:05:13] Okay.
[2:05:13] Why don't you just have a seat on the front row with my one ask you a question.
[2:05:17] Amber, would you need your name, address, and how you represent?
[2:05:21] Amber, I'm a voice 62-10 Northwest Cache Road, I'm with when I had a computer home.
[2:05:26] I'm an FDIC there.
[2:05:27] I first and foremost want to start off by saying that I am not aware of any off duty police
[2:05:32] officer that provides and a police escort that doesn't unpaid.
[2:05:36] These are services.
[2:05:38] Our police officers are very valuable, their time is valuable.
[2:05:40] And they pick up a lot of shifts.
[2:05:42] I know that we are a short staff in the police department.
[2:05:45] I am 100% for paying these officers for taking on this responsibility on their own personal time.
[2:05:52] That's first and foremost.
[2:05:53] Norman pays Oklahoma City pays more a pays every large municipality pays.
[2:05:59] As far as passing the cost off on to the families,
[2:06:03] funeral homes have things called honorariums, families pay ministers to speak at
[2:06:12] funerals. Linda manages a cemetery that charges a setting fee, I believe, or an
[2:06:19] administrative fee if you don't buy your outer burial liner from her. That's just a
[2:06:25] fee, they're just matter of fact. If the families do not want to pay for the police
[2:06:30] escort, then we can have them meet us there safely, and we go under the assumption that we
[2:06:37] do not have an escort.
[2:06:39] We follow traffic laws just like they do when they drive anywhere else within the city.
[2:06:44] The problem that everyone has collectively, I guess, had an issue with is the insurance.
[2:06:52] Our argument on that is by providing the escort, the officers are still providing a service
[2:06:59] to the community.
[2:06:59] It's very dangerous when you have a 40 cars driving in a procession and there's other people on the road.
[2:07:11] So I feel like even though they're doing this privately off duty, it's not the same as if they were a balancer for an establishment.
[2:07:22] They're still providing a service to the community when they're off work and getting a stipend for it.
[2:07:29] So I respectfully feel that the liability should still go on the city because that is a service even
[2:07:38] off duty that they are providing to the city.
[2:07:43] Chris.
[2:07:50] And go ahead and give us your name address and I think you represent.
[2:07:54] Chris Raybond.
[2:07:55] I represent the Becker Raybond funeral home.
[2:07:58] I live at 1106 northwest layered here in Latin.
[2:08:04] I do just want to thank all of you as council members for taking this on the day.
[2:08:11] When I pulled out of my parking lot at the funeral home today, there's been a pothold
[2:08:14] that's been there for probably the last 10 years and it's grown deeper and deeper.
[2:08:19] And today it was filled in.
[2:08:22] And so I didn't know if you were anticipating me coming and speaking to you or exactly what
[2:08:26] that looked like.
[2:08:27] But I do want to thank the appropriate people for that.
[2:08:34] And I do want to thank the Lawton Police Department for the support
[2:08:38] that they have provided through the years.
[2:08:41] Mr. Rally, I'm going to give you a little different history
[2:08:47] on funeral escorts because I think in to some degree,
[2:08:53] There's kind of been a mischaracterization of how that comes about.
[2:08:59] I have worked as a funeral director in this community since 1986,
[2:09:04] and we have battled this issue of how to provide escorts for funerals
[2:09:13] since prior to that time.
[2:09:16] And the police department has done an excellent job of attempting to do that
[2:09:21] for every citizen, but as we know that there are situations that occur occasionally, that
[2:09:27] preclude them from being able to fulfill their obligation there.
[2:09:32] The police department has, through the years, tried to come up with some creative ways
[2:09:36] to provide that.
[2:09:38] One of our chiefs, a number of years ago, established the Sentinel Program, which were a group
[2:09:43] of volunteers.
[2:09:44] Every guy's dream is to have a car with lights and sirens and be able to go through town.
[2:09:49] and they provided a great service to our community.
[2:09:55] But it's also difficult to get volunteers to do things.
[2:09:59] And so we've seen that program diminish over the last few years.
[2:10:03] And I would ask in a moment for you to give some clarification
[2:10:08] on the insurance liability for those individuals versus what
[2:10:13] we're proposing to do here if you don't mind.
[2:10:16] But, what do you ask in now, what's the liability for the sentinels?
[2:10:23] Yes.
[2:10:26] There's no city liability for volunteers.
[2:10:29] Then how are they ensured?
[2:10:34] But, yeah, you give them a car with lights and sirens and they're able to provide an escort for a funeral.
[2:10:43] I don't give them anything.
[2:10:45] I mean, Chief, do you want to comment on this?
[2:10:47] Do you want to, I mean, our sentinels allow to use police cars and police equipment?
[2:10:52] I
[2:10:58] sure hope not.
[2:11:10] Our signals have been able to drive police vehicles, but what they've been able to do is go out and take
[2:11:21] minor reports, minor accidents, and they have provided traffic control from time to time.
[2:11:29] And yes, they have DSMS courts.
[2:11:34] As he was talking about, and we're just having the hard time getting volunteers to do that.
[2:11:42] And one time, we had about 10 or 12.
[2:11:44] Now, we have probably about two or three active signals.
[2:11:50] And Chief, is it fair to say that most of those individuals are fairly senior?
[2:12:03] So, Tim, address that.
[2:12:06] So, I'm familiar with the Sentinel program and I'm on this question of what do we do
[2:12:12] insurance for them?
[2:12:13] My thoughts would be, they're volunteers, so they're not city employees, so they're not
[2:12:19] covered by any type of workers' comp in that regard to the city itself with its vehicles.
[2:12:26] I think recently, we might under OMAG have insurance for damage to our vehicles, but prior
[2:12:33] to that, I think we were just self-insured.
[2:12:35] So if a vehicle was a police car was damaged and accident, the city would absorb the cost
[2:12:42] itself.
[2:12:45] I don't think we care about the car.
[2:12:49] I think we're interested in the individual.
[2:12:51] If he gets hurt or killed, who's someone's going to be liable or not?
[2:12:57] And if so, so my understanding on that is they are not city employees so they're not covered under workers caught by the city.
[2:13:08] Okay, well at present they would be because at present there is the funeral homes have no insurance policy.
[2:13:18] They don't pay for these individuals to do the service so they're doing this all as city employees.
[2:13:27] And that's part of my, or has been part of my
[2:13:31] contention the whole time is, it's unfair to shift that burden to the tax payers.
[2:13:40] Go ahead, Mr. Go.
[2:13:42] I had the question, and I believe when you started, you said something a little bit different
[2:13:48] than what we discussed in the meeting about a week ago, and that was our pure cities.
[2:13:53] Now, we don't have to do everything our pure cities do, so that's not a
[2:13:59] of ultimate situation.
[2:14:03] But it is good to reflect to our peer cities
[2:14:07] and see what they're doing to see things that we're doing here
[2:14:11] are fair where our pays at and these types of matters.
[2:14:16] So we were going to refer to the peer cities
[2:14:18] and I thought I was, or I thought I heard in that meeting
[2:14:20] last week, that Oklahoma City and Norma used policemen
[2:14:27] that were off duty.
[2:14:28] therefore they were paid by the funeral home or by the family, but someone at a certain
[2:14:35] right, but we still had the insurance issue in hand and maybe you have an answer for sure.
[2:14:44] So, I kind of got you off on a tangent when I was talking about the Sentinel program.
[2:14:54] But City Code used to require the funeral homes to notify and request a police escort.
[2:15:00] And our prior to the time that escort was needed. And that was kind of challenging sometimes, because you'd call at the beginning of a funeral, or 30 minutes before a funeral started, and you'd try to guess when that escort was needed.
[2:15:15] The city did a great job trying to accommodate this, but that was very short notice.
[2:15:20] And so she Smith, a number of years ago, we had a similar meeting and he established a policy
[2:15:27] where we would call dispatch the evening prior to a funeral service and we would actually
[2:15:33] schedule that event and we were not promised an escort at that particular point in time.
[2:15:40] So to say that that was something that was promised is a mischaracterization.
[2:15:45] But we were told that if the city could provide an escort, one would be available.
[2:15:51] It is not uncommon occasionally from time to time that when a funeral ends and I have
[2:15:57] reached the appointed time that I need that escort that one does not appear.
[2:16:02] It's not a situation that is catastrophic, it's just simply one where we have to inform
[2:16:09] a family that we've called for an escort, we've checked again with dispatch, and they
[2:16:14] have no units available because they've had something that takes priority over us, which
[2:16:20] certainly understandable.
[2:16:22] And so then we abide by the remainder of the city code, which is just simply to make our
[2:16:29] way to the cemetery in a safe manner, we're required to adhere to the traffic signals and
[2:16:35] traffic laws, and you get there and you delay and then everybody gets there, most of the time
[2:16:42] without incident.
[2:16:44] You're driving on city streets,
[2:16:45] so there's always an opportunity for something
[2:16:47] for something to happen.
[2:16:51] The swimming pool presentation a moment ago
[2:16:54] is not unlike any other presentation
[2:16:57] where it starts with pitch
[2:17:03] and then you get to price.
[2:17:07] And Linda says she wishes you'd take that million dollars
[2:17:10] for the LAP pool and just use it
[2:17:11] to provide funeral escorts,
[2:17:13] but that probably isn't going to happen.
[2:17:18] So I shared some statistics that I had last week with the chief and some of the others who were present at the meeting that we had.
[2:17:28] And, you know, sometimes you go, you go day to day and you just things become routine,
[2:17:34] and you don't really give consideration to things.
[2:17:36] And so I thought, well, I wonder how many escorts we have requested.
[2:17:41] And so I instructed my staff to go back and kind of look at some things and looked at
[2:17:47] the year 2021 first, which was our COVID year.
[2:17:52] And we talk about pure cities.
[2:17:56] I will tell you that our city was unique in the way that we dealt with COVID, because there
[2:18:03] a number of cities that began to diminish the number of people who could attend funerals.
[2:18:10] And our city was one that remained at a number, I think, 10 was the number we settled on,
[2:18:16] but it was a number that allowed people to continue to have funerals.
[2:18:20] And you led in that, you didn't follow, you led.
[2:18:24] And I would encourage you, as we look at this matter, that you lead.
[2:18:27] So how much longer is your present?
[2:18:30] Not long, okay.
[2:18:32] So in 2021, I requested 255 escorts from our firm.
[2:18:39] And I think that probably you could take that number
[2:18:43] and double or triple that number.
[2:18:46] In 2022, I requested 181.
[2:18:49] That's a drop of 10%.
[2:18:51] The number is on track this year to do the same,
[2:18:55] where we'll probably wind up somewhere around 200 escorts.
[2:19:00] And so that means that there is somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 to 600 escorts requested
[2:19:06] every year.
[2:19:08] You take that number and you multiply at times 125, and the city's recommendation of having
[2:19:14] two escorts for every funeral, and you wind up with a number of about $92,000 that you're
[2:19:21] adding to the cost of funerals in this community.
[2:19:25] That's all that I have to say.
[2:19:27] Okay, thank you for coming.
[2:19:29] Mr. Mayor.
[2:19:31] Hold on for me just a minute.
[2:19:33] Okay, we're really, we really don't want to get in our rebut situation.
[2:19:37] Do you just, if you just have something you want to add, that's fine.
[2:19:43] I just want to add this.
[2:19:45] We, we, lot in as unique in the fact that we're close to the military installation.
[2:19:50] A large, I would say, half of our services go to law enforcement.
[2:19:55] I'm sorry to Elgen, to Latin, to Fort Hill National Cemetery.
[2:20:01] These are men and women who have served our country.
[2:20:04] The very least that we can do is provide them a police escort to their final resting place.
[2:20:12] I think that is really important as a community that we support that.
[2:20:18] It portrays the police officers in a good light,
[2:20:21] And it just gives that appearance that,
[2:20:29] I don't know,
[2:20:29] it's just important to me that we provide that.
[2:20:32] For that, these are our veterans, and they deserve it.
[2:20:35] And however that looks, rather, that's paying a fee,
[2:20:38] that's not paying a fee.
[2:20:40] You guys all work really hard, the chief works hard.
[2:20:42] I don't think anybody here wanted to create any type of
[2:20:46] extra headache or anything for anybody.
[2:20:49] But I would rather go back to just doing it as is,
[2:20:53] If we all can't come to agreement, I don't want it to be an argument and I don't want it to
[2:20:56] be, you know, any contention, but I do think that if nothing else prioritizing police
[2:21:03] escort at least for our veterans.
[2:21:05] Thank you.
[2:21:07] Mr. Chair.
[2:21:08] I wanted to get off into the weeds just a little bit and ask a couple questions.
[2:21:12] Chief, if we go to off duty officers, are we going to have enough volunteers to provide
[2:21:19] this service?
[2:21:20] I don't know if we have enough, we did a poll, and right now we have, I think, about nine to 12
[2:21:29] officers that are willing to do it off duty.
[2:21:33] It could be a pretty significant source of extra income.
[2:21:39] Correct.
[2:21:40] Okay.
[2:21:40] Thank you very much.
[2:21:42] Amber, I wanted to agree with you, and I had this conversation with the city manager.
[2:21:47] I don't know which side I fall on, but in looking at our true North statement, this is
[2:21:55] our last act to anyone who's leaving this community in that way, and maybe
[2:22:06] it's just the
[2:22:08] right thing to do to provide this service, I'm not advocating for it against, but I just
[2:22:13] wanted to throw that out.
[2:22:15] thought about it a lot, and whenever the time comes that I go, it'd be nice to have been thought of enough that they said,
[2:22:24] yeah, let's honor Mr. Harris or say goodbye to him either way, and give this escort, you know, that's, that's my point.
[2:22:35] Mr. Weaker.
[2:22:38] Mayor City Council, when I earlier the statement was made, we put a liability burden upon the
[2:22:46] taxpayers. I think we need to look at this. You're putting a burden from a community setting,
[2:22:53] a police setting. You're putting that burden on the deceased. Who also is a taxpayer?
[2:22:59] So I don't think that argument would hold up. I don't think looking at having said in the
[2:23:08] lead car for the past 26 years off and on to these funerals to say, well this is a liability
[2:23:15] we don't want to assume. I think it has to go back to world-class customer service, looking at
[2:23:22] efficiency from our north statement. Not sure this is the solution. Do we need to do something?
[2:23:33] Yes, there's been many times we have gone to the different grave sites of the deceased without police
[2:23:41] sports, and we understand why, but we've got to find something that does work for all parties
[2:23:49] involved, even the deceased taxpayer.
[2:23:55] I shouldn't in any of that, or if no, okay, I'm just trying to.
[2:24:00] Thank you, Mayor.
[2:24:02] I tune like Councilwoman Wigger have been to a lot of funerals, and our churches are fairly
[2:24:12] size, size, bold church, and I've written in a lot of processions, a lot of not to
[2:24:21] fortill and there's an open end to this because if the funeral home doesn't want to
[2:24:29] pay then there's no escort and I was thinking about this and I'm thinking that on
[2:24:39] on said, Chris gave an information on why a police escort started, but it can be kind of dangerous.
[2:24:49] And I've commented many times where we're going down the highway out to Fort Hill, and some
[2:24:54] kid or individual is just speeding by the procession.
[2:24:58] I mean, just had a high rate of speed.
[2:25:00] And I'm thinking somebody needs to check that person right there.
[2:25:04] I am a veteran, a respect and honor of the big thing to me.
[2:25:09] I do think that when we're turning in to the cemetery, I would force the sheriff to
[2:25:20] take over the lead at that time.
[2:25:23] He gets out of his car, he stands at attention and salutes as the car goes by, and I like
[2:25:31] that. It means a lot to me as a veteran,
[2:25:38] that's a soldier in arms, and I just like that.
[2:25:44] So again, I don't really know what the solution is, but I'm going to tell you what I do
[2:25:49] think for safety reasons and for reasons of honor, I think that as a councilman here in
[2:26:01] I think that we need to provide escort to every funeral from my experience and, like I said,
[2:26:08] I don't know how that can be done, whether it's sitting else, whether it's something else,
[2:26:12] but I do think that that is a vital thing when we bury people.
[2:26:19] And
[2:26:22] I'm just going to say that I deal with a lot of families because I don't preach most
[2:26:28] the sermons but I do set up the agenda for the funerals, I have to talk to the families
[2:26:34] about the songs that they want played, which are special songs that they pick, I have
[2:26:39] to talk about things that they want to say and things they want to do during that last
[2:26:45] right. And that's a very serious, serious time for that family. And I'm going to tell you a lot
[2:26:52] Sometimes those families are not with it, they are really out of it.
[2:26:58] And rightfully so, that was a very, very high stress, tragic time in their life.
[2:27:04] And I think that they feel like there's some bit of security with having an officer with
[2:27:11] him.
[2:27:11] So, I just wanted to make those comments as somebody that is very active in that business.
[2:27:29] I just wanted to say, I think what I'm hearing here is that yes, number one, we need to provide as many escorts as we can, so that's not a problem on either end.
[2:27:40] Number two, I think if we incentivize or try to find some type of funding for the Sentinel program, specifically for escorts, we may be able to get more.
[2:27:51] And then also, as a contractor myself, I know that when I'm providing a service to my clients,
[2:27:58] I have to have personal insurance to have them in my car.
[2:28:02] Maybe when we look at how to incentivize that program, then maybe some reimbursement or something
[2:28:09] for those that are providing that service.
[2:28:12] In addition to those 9 to 12, hopefully more police officers that are willing to provide
[2:28:18] escort.
[2:28:19] So, I think when we look at the overall picture, the issue is making sure the safety of
[2:28:27] these professionals are happening.
[2:28:30] So, I just wanted to say that and perhaps maybe this needs to go back to the committee that
[2:28:36] was looking at it so we can kind of maybe look at some of those things because this is vitally
[2:28:40] important.
[2:28:41] Ms. Hygent.
[2:28:46] There we go.
[2:28:47] I know what I want, I don't always get it as you can see.
[2:28:51] But I will say that I don't know how we can do this exactly.
[2:28:58] But I would like to continue with escorts.
[2:29:03] I love the history of it.
[2:29:06] I just have a sense of pride.
[2:29:08] I want people to pull over for a funeral procession.
[2:29:12] I mean, I won't mention my age again,
[2:29:14] because I've been doing that a lot lately.
[2:29:16] But I kind of go back to the respect and
[2:29:19] And how good that feels when you're in a procession, and you see people stopping to respect the person who passed away.
[2:29:27] And that's still real important to me. I wish it was important to younger people too, because I think it's a wonderful tradition.
[2:29:35] Now I don't know how the city manager's going to get it done though, so that's not my problem, right?
[2:29:44] I will make a motion that we continue to provide escorts that we do on an off-duty basis that those officers are compensated in that the city finds.
[2:30:05] I'm a little bit confused about how they're off duty if we're paying them. Okay. I will amend that to say that.
[2:30:32] Well, the city is paying the officer right now,
[2:30:38] but at certain times there are not, we do not have officers escorting, correct, Chris Lane.
[2:30:47] So, hold on for a minute.
[2:30:48] Can I get clarification of the current policy?
[2:30:55] Yes, Mayor.
[2:30:55] The current policy is that the officers are paid by the city.
[2:31:01] We provide, they're in uniform, we provide all the equipment, and they are covered under our
[2:31:11] general liability workmen's compensation.
[2:31:14] So that is the current way things stand.
[2:31:16] And we provide as possible, yes, subject to higher priority calls.
[2:31:22] Is your motion to continue that policy?
[2:31:34] No, my motion is that we use off duty officers for that.
[2:31:42] Okay.
[2:31:42] So you're making the motion to change the policy, the off duty officers,
[2:31:49] and the city absorb the insurance.
[2:31:52] That is exactly my motion.
[2:31:53] We have a motion on the floor.
[2:31:55] Is there a second?
[2:32:00] You would include.
[2:32:07] Oh no.
[2:32:10] What all you're thinking we're going to let Tim speak.
[2:32:13] Okay, so we would just need clarification on the motion, that's where I'm trying to ask
[2:32:18] what the motion is for off duty officers to do it, and the city to pay for it, like
[2:32:23] the mayor said, that when we use an off duty officer in the city pays for it, they become
[2:32:30] on duty.
[2:32:32] So if we're going to go that route, then it would be some type of incentive program to
[2:32:38] to realize, rather than the regular staff that's on duty, but when they're doing the service,
[2:32:46] they're going to be on duty.
[2:32:49] Yes, I concur, and that was my intent, that we, that they would be working for us, providing
[2:32:57] the service.
[2:32:58] However, it would be, I guess it would be over time.
[2:33:04] So we'd have to adjust the budget to include that figure.
[2:33:09] Okay, so we'll have to find that and maybe we can't do that this year, maybe we can do it next year.
[2:33:13] Councilman Harris, if that's where you're wanting to go, I'd recommend that you,
[2:33:16] we may be direct staff to look at that type of policy,
[2:33:20] so we could, if we need to develop it rather than say to make it going to effect right now,
[2:33:25] because there's things we have to look at.
[2:33:27] I believe we have our police contract, and if I remember correctly, unless it's changed, when
[2:33:34] we call an officer in off duty, that's a minimum of two hours of overtime, unless that
[2:33:41] is changed, so we have some collective bargaining things that we have to be looked at.
[2:33:47] That's exactly what I meant to say.
[2:33:50] Okay, so would you please restate what Mr. Harris' motion is supposed to be?
[2:33:57] So if I understand what Councilman Harris is saying, I think would be move to direct staff
[2:34:03] to look at bringing back in the future a potential policy or something to that effect where
[2:34:11] we would utilize officers as an incentive program who are off duty that would come on
[2:34:18] to provide escorts for funerals. Is there a second? Is there a second? If we're paying
[2:34:29] them the insurance is paid by us? I have a question. I do too.
[2:34:35] Okay, Ms. Chapman was first. How many accidents do we have when there are escorting?
[2:34:47] that number is hard to say. How many accidents that we can. I mean, father escorting a funeral
[2:34:55] procession. I don't have that number. Do we have there's been a few, but I don't have
[2:35:04] that hard number for you. I can research and get it for you.
[2:35:10] Do any of the human directors have that information?
[2:35:15] The other question I had was,
[2:35:17] have any of you look at what your costs would be
[2:35:21] if you had to pay for your fleet insurers or however it would be
[2:35:26] to pay for the insurance for off duty drivers?
[2:35:32] Please drivers.
[2:35:34] When is it astronomical?
[2:35:37] Is it have any of you required about that?
[2:35:40] Basically, if you call your insurance agent and ask how much this is going to cost, no, okay
[2:35:48] You have called
[2:35:57] come up to the microphone for space. We've got a def mayor
[2:36:05] Christian Coral
[2:36:08] 244
[2:36:09] North East Eagle Road when within a heddles in funeral service
[2:36:12] Our insurance covers the workings come on
[2:36:16] on a $10.99 employee, so it doesn't cost us anything on our insurance.
[2:36:27] Okay, because there are $10.99 contract employee, you don't carry insurance on them, which
[2:36:33] potentially still throws it back on the city.
[2:36:35] No, he has an insurance.
[2:36:37] Oh, okay.
[2:36:38] A miscontract employee.
[2:36:40] So they're $10.99.
[2:36:42] Okay, I got you.
[2:36:43] I got you.
[2:36:43] I got you.
[2:36:44] Thank you.
[2:36:45] Now Mr. Warren. Well, you three. Okay, Mr. Warren. I was just going to clarify what we're voting on. We're just voting to bring back this really horrible idea, right?
[2:36:58] I don't have a problem figuring out a way to do this, but if we're talking about bringing back a plan to have police officers work over time.
[2:37:13] that's not going to work because the next thing you know is they're going to need to be
[2:37:19] on call and if they're on call then that's I think that's even more money.
[2:37:27] I mean, I've been anyway, the question is we're just voting on bringing back a plan, correct?
[2:37:34] Not voting on doing anything.
[2:37:37] Correct.
[2:37:37] We are voting.
[2:37:38] We're directing staff to bring up a plan that would use off-duty officers that would
[2:37:43] cost time and a half and checking into the bargaining agreement and see what that would cost.
[2:37:48] Did I kind of get that?
[2:37:52] So yes, that's the just of the current motion, another option too could be a substitute
[2:37:58] motion just to table this and have staff bring back some more options and do it that way.
[2:38:07] Mr. Gill.
[2:38:08] Thank you.
[2:38:09] It seems to be that the consensus of the Council would like to consider this program.
[2:38:16] There's certainly no sense in doing it with off duty policemen.
[2:38:22] First of all, we're going to have a shortage of off duty policemen that may or may not want to do this.
[2:38:30] We also have a shortage of volunteers that can do it.
[2:38:33] So we're going to have the same problem either way.
[2:38:35] So if we continue this program I'd like to make an alternate motion that we just continue the program on duty
[2:38:42] We're wanting to pay for it. We sure don't need to pay for off time or over time pay on top of everything else
[2:38:49] We'll just continue it like we've been doing it. We'll pay for the placement. He'll be on duty
[2:38:54] He'll use the car and we'll take care of the insurance. There's not really any need to have a okay
[2:38:59] We have a substitute motion on the floor to continue the policy as is is there a second
[2:39:04] We do have a second. We deal with the substitute motion first debate.
[2:39:14] I concur.
[2:39:25] Okay, so we didn't get a motion on the first one, so that's fine. We've got one more working on now. Please vote.
[2:39:35] Here we go. We've got a motion a second on yours. We're voting to continue the policy as is.
[2:39:54] We've got to have one more. There we go.
[2:39:56] of motion to continue the policy as is carries 8 to 0.
[2:40:02] Item number 38, and accordance with the true North culture statement, by seeking to provide
[2:40:09] a safe environment and opportunity for our children to thrive, consider an ordinance pertaining
[2:40:15] to recreation, amendment section 193311, Article 193, Chapter 19, Law and City Code 2015,
[2:40:24] but prohibiting use of throw nets at Lake Hellen and Liberty Lake provided for
[2:40:30] suburbility and establishing an effective date, Mitch.
[2:40:35] Good afternoon again, Councillor Mayer.
[2:40:37] This ordinance was proposed to ban the use of cast nets or throw nets, particularly at Lake
[2:40:43] Hellen and Lake Liberty.
[2:40:46] As you know, those are small lakes and they're designed mostly for recreational fishing and
[2:40:50] other opportunities in that direction.
[2:40:53] Currently, there's stock at least Lake Hellen is stocked twice a year by the Oklahoma Department
[2:40:59] of Wildlife Conservation.
[2:41:01] They bring fish in twice a year for that lake.
[2:41:04] We'd like to start that with Lake Liberty.
[2:41:08] I believe it was that way at one time in the past, but we're still looking into that.
[2:41:14] But being stopped twice a year by the wildlife department, large volume fishing is not really
[2:41:25] a sustainable option.
[2:41:26] So we're looking to amend this ordinance to ban that practice at both Lake Liberty and
[2:41:33] Lake Hillin.
[2:41:35] Make a motion to approve the ordinance, way of the reading of the ordinance, read the title
[2:41:39] only.
[2:41:41] Obviously.
[2:41:41] Do you have a second, discussed, trying to obey?
[2:41:44] Yeah, Mayor.
[2:41:45] Yes.
[2:41:46] Just one question.
[2:41:47] I guess we're going to put signage up about that.
[2:41:49] I didn't even know they were out there throwing nets.
[2:41:52] That's out there.
[2:41:53] Got it.
[2:41:53] Yeah, that's something we're planning on putting signage up to try to, and then enforce the.
[2:41:59] Yes.
[2:42:00] Being an ordinance after passing, and it will be an enforceable thing, and we can put signage
[2:42:07] out there to that effect.
[2:42:08] Okay, thank you.
[2:42:10] Please.
[2:42:12] Sorry, an ordinance pertaining to Regreation, a Mending Section 1933-01, article 193, chapter
[2:42:19] 19, Lawton City Code 2015 by prohibiting use of throw nets and Lake Helen and Lake Liberty
[2:42:26] Lake providing for separate building and establishing effective date.
[2:42:30] Please vote.
[2:42:34] Motion carries eight to zero, bringing up item 39, and accordance with the true North
[2:42:39] Culture Statement of doing everything for the citizen.
[2:42:42] Consider an ordinance pertaining to personnel policies
[2:42:44] and procedures,
[2:42:46] demanding section 1714138,
[2:42:49] division 1714 article 1711,
[2:42:53] chapter 17 lot in city code 2015.
[2:42:57] By clarifying rate of pay for shift differential,
[2:42:59] clarifying when a qualifying shift employee
[2:43:02] were received fist difference shift differential pay,
[2:43:06] providing for stability and establishing an effective date.
[2:43:11] Hello again, Council, Mr. Mayor.
[2:43:14] Occasionally, when we go through chapter 17,
[2:43:16] like human resources is required to do,
[2:43:19] and we go through policies, we find places
[2:43:22] where things are done inconsistent,
[2:43:25] because certain codes or certain policies
[2:43:28] may have some different interpretations to them.
[2:43:32] And this is one that we found that was done a little bit
[2:43:35] consistent on win and employee get shift differential pay. Some of them would give it to
[2:43:41] them whenever they worked just after 5 p.m. or before 5 a.m. but if they came to work at
[2:43:49] like 3 o'clock to 11, they may not get shift differential for 3 and 4 o'clock. Those 2 hours. Whereas
[2:43:55] one interpretation says, well, if they worked the whole shift, they're supposed to get it for the
[2:43:59] shift as long as 50 percent of it is between 5 PM and 5 AM. So we just clarified code a little
[2:44:07] bit to say if an employee works their scheduled hours and at least 50 percent of it is after
[2:44:14] 5 PM and before 5 AM in the morning they get shift differential for their whole shift.
[2:44:21] Did they work? Questions? Motion.
[2:44:27] Move to
[2:44:31] approve. Move to approve. Wave the
[2:44:33] Are you in the way order to read the title?
[2:44:35] I'll let him in.
[2:44:35] We do have a second.
[2:44:37] Please read the title.
[2:44:40] Randy, Mike.
[2:44:44] And ordinance pertaining to personnel policies and procedures
[2:44:47] Amending Section 1714138 Division 1714 article 171 chapter 17.
[2:44:55] Lot in city code 2015 by clarifying the rate of pay for sheep.
[2:45:15] Good afternoon.
[2:46:25] Good afternoon.
[2:52:57] Good afternoon. We have a question for you.
[2:52:59] report, it's number 40, receive a report on the status of HVA's, receive a report on
[2:53:06] the status of the HVA systems that they seek in Patterson and no one's community centers
[2:53:11] and direct staff has deemed nip Mitch.
[2:53:18] Hello again.
[2:53:21] I apologize, my contractor Tom doesn't appear to be in the room anymore, but I am
[2:53:28] happy to report at this time the AC systems at all three recreation centers are operating.
[2:53:37] They, in some cases particularly at the Owen Center and at the King Center, they are temporary
[2:53:42] fixes and anticipation of permanent fixes coming up in the coming weeks.
[2:53:47] The parts for those permanent fixes have been on order since March of this year, so they
[2:53:53] are on their way, but in all three records and centers,
[2:54:00] those systems are functioning.
[2:54:01] In fact, I got an email while we were sitting here
[2:54:04] from Charlotte saying that it's a little too cold
[2:54:06] in the Owen Center at the moment.
[2:54:09] So there are still a little bit of control issues going on
[2:54:12] at the Owen Center, but it is cool in that building.
[2:54:18] There's some work to be done at the King Center, also,
[2:54:21] But they've been able to reduce the temperatures down to about 72 to 74 degrees in the building.
[2:54:29] So we're happy to report that.
[2:54:32] I was going to have Tom come and talk to you a little bit about the work that has, oh, there he is.
[2:54:39] Tom is going to give a minute or two talk about what's going on at the three recreation centers and what he has coming up.
[2:54:49] Good afternoon.
[2:54:52] Tom Mollon, Duncan with Air Solutions, so entertaining any questions.
[2:55:02] Well, for initiation from last year anyway, we took over pretty good task.
[2:55:08] The equipment at these particular centers is outdated and added to San Luis in the
[2:55:15] cycle. So initially we started trying to get the units ordered last year and they finally
[2:55:22] cut loose back in March to replace the units at the Owens, Patterson, not Patterson,
[2:55:30] Scheme Owens King and Animal Shelter. So those were the worst shape units in the system.
[2:55:37] We've got those ordered back in March.
[2:55:43] In the interim, the companies came back with an extension, I asked for a extension anyway
[2:55:50] because they'd had a retuning set up and also equipment shortages, or material shortages.
[2:56:00] So that put a spec where we should have had the Owen Center back in September, or this September
[2:56:06] mountain tank. They moved that back to October the 9th. The King Center equipment should be
[2:56:14] here within 12 weeks from today. The animal shelter got extended to 18 weeks as far as we
[2:56:24] know so far. But we've done some temporary work over to King to refurbish the existing units
[2:56:32] to go ahead and carry us through to those come in.
[2:56:36] The time that's taken to do this is because of redesigned units to take a higher
[2:56:42] outside ambient air temperature.
[2:56:43] Most equipment is designed for 95 degrees.
[2:56:46] We requested these to be designed for 105 degrees, that way we can better provide cooling
[2:56:55] for the heat loads of Oklahoma summers.
[2:56:58] As we all know, we had a pretty hot summer this year and it had started early.
[2:57:05] Councillor CASSIDY.
[2:57:06] Councillor CASSIDY.
[2:57:07] What's the temperature at the animal shelter?
[2:57:10] Animal shelter.
[2:57:11] We're trying to maintain the area about 68 to 70.
[2:57:15] Yes, sure.
[2:57:16] Animals like to go down.
[2:57:19] That obviously do anyway.
[2:57:20] The cats have to move them over a little bit.
[2:57:23] But that particular unit was put in in 2009 on the new AACU, but it takes 100% outside
[2:57:29] air, and this is where the fallacy was on the design of this, and like I keep saying,
[2:57:35] it's a normal average unit is set for 95 degrees, for its maximum annual temperature
[2:57:40] efficiency, for efficiency.
[2:57:43] And what we designed and came back with in design these to handle the 105, which is the top
[2:57:48] end of the curve.
[2:57:52] Well, they've got one new HU units and then also disintervations in the actual office areas
[2:58:01] and stuff.
[2:58:02] Those are new units, but the existing carriers that are out there are way beyond
[2:58:07] nature at 20 years old.
[2:58:10] We've got one unit that the heat chambers completely burn up in, it's due to the environments
[2:58:16] because the one is back in the laundry area, which handles a lot of chlorine and a lot of the
[2:58:22] urine orders, which also puts up ammonia, which also is corrosive.
[2:58:28] Thank you, Mayor.
[2:58:30] Tom, so these have been in their 20s.
[2:58:34] What is the life expectancy of one of those units, because are all of them like 20 years old?
[2:58:41] Yes, sir.
[2:58:42] They're somehow they're over and at the King Center itself and the Owen Center, that particular
[2:58:49] unit over the gymnasium was probably 25 years ago.
[2:58:52] When should have, it should have been replaced before then, I'm assuming what we talked about
[2:58:56] is actually trying to come up with a schedule and predict our life expectancy, which is right
[2:59:01] at 18 years.
[2:59:03] So then, then, ladies, do we, do we keep, are they all like the same units or do we keep spare
[2:59:11] parks, like spare, come back to spare parts from a guardian
[2:59:14] what we see we're working on anyway, but we've got a
[2:59:18] variable mix of equipment throughout the system in the city.
[2:59:22] Yeah, no doubt I would, but like let's say some of that
[2:59:24] equipment at the animal shelter, you'll order something in
[2:59:28] it's out six months, do we order two of them in the event
[2:59:33] that we have a spare?
[2:59:35] Right, we try to keep spare parts for that particular unit
[2:59:39] we're putting in a working on due to its age.
[2:59:43] Some of them are, so I'm we can't get part for any more.
[2:59:46] We have to go ahead and, and, and,
[2:59:51] and, and, actually,
[2:59:54] for that's a, so that's a, so that's a, so that's a, so that's a, so, so you're, you're, you're, you're, you're developing some type of mate is planned.
[3:00:00] So we don't get stuck like we're stuck now. We're going through now anyway, and finding out the ages of the units, and I told Parks and Recreation, anyway, that we need to go through, and another deal that we set up with Mike was here for the city manager, that we were forecasting what needs to be changed first prior to it, becoming at its end of life cycle.
[3:00:23] Right. That was my product out of year or two ahead.
[3:00:26] Yeah, yeah, excuse me. I run a radio station and now I buy two run something goes bad and then I
[3:00:33] Now have a extra part that I can put in place stay on the air
[3:00:39] While the other ones getting repaired we don't have anything like that going on and now is that what you're not
[3:00:45] That's not a serious work into is what I say. Okay, most of them are replaced with standard parts any way that are that are
[3:00:56] Okay, all right, thank you.
[3:01:00] I'm glad that some kind of maintenance outlook that we're doing here for a city building because they have not been maintained through the years.
[3:01:10] We have
[3:01:11] 20, 25 euro units.
[3:01:13] We need to start planning on a budget to start completely replacing a lot of these units because it's, it's embarrassing.
[3:01:23] Yeah, there's a couple that are 30 years old plus.
[3:01:26] Do we have a, like we do on our vehicles?
[3:01:31] Do we have a list by age of all of our air conditioners?
[3:01:35] Not by age, just by a serial number and model number.
[3:01:40] But we, what does it kind of age in it?
[3:01:43] Does the list have the age in it?
[3:01:45] We can figure out.
[3:01:47] We can definitely figure it out.
[3:01:49] Yeah, just by the model number, we come up with the age.
[3:01:51] I think we, I think that Miss Chapman's right, we need to understand the picture, what does
[3:01:58] it look like?
[3:02:02] Well, I'd like to see the last sorted by age.
[3:02:09] Right.
[3:02:09] And what Miss Chapman says, what I mean, owned by the city, operated by the city, whatever
[3:02:18] everybody has everyone up. Okay. Okay. Do we need a motion or can we just get that done?
[3:02:25] I think we can just get that done. Okay. I would like to add, though, that I yell at Tom a lot.
[3:02:34] But he's big soldiers. He always comes. Sometimes it takes you a little while, but you always get there.
[3:02:41] So we try to listen to this priority and I was told off the beginning anyway.
[3:02:45] the animal shelter, the jail facilities, and the lab facilities come first above everything
[3:02:50] else.
[3:02:51] If we have compliance issues, we have possibility of public criticism for the jail and also
[3:03:00] for the animal shelter.
[3:03:01] Mr. Mr. ... I changed my look on the committee and sometimes I agree with Mr. Chapman
[3:03:11] in the end of you two mayor.
[3:03:13] I think that, but I do want to throw out there,
[3:03:16] some of our buildings, the public go in,
[3:03:19] and some of the buildings of staff go in,
[3:03:22] and I don't know what the priority should be on that kind of thing,
[3:03:26] but as we're making that list,
[3:03:27] can we kind of divide that up to, in the subsections like that?
[3:03:31] Because if we're bringing the public into,
[3:03:34] let's say, the museum, and the air conditioner
[3:03:36] doesn't work, that can be a little more embarrassing
[3:03:39] as we're trying to catch up on this thing than if it's just the staff, not on the staff
[3:03:44] on the bus, but I think that it would be good to know those kind of variables when you
[3:03:50] make that list.
[3:03:51] I ask last year, at the same time, anyway, that we start looking for the museum and also for the auditorium,
[3:03:58] no units, because of those are the next worst in the system.
[3:04:02] And actually, the museum needed to be in there because of the humidity levels.
[3:04:06] We need to control the humidity levels for the historical order time.
[3:04:09] I think the library is in the mix too, right?
[3:04:13] Yeah.
[3:04:14] We need to know the cost to replace these so that we have an idea of what we're looking
[3:04:19] at.
[3:04:20] Thank you very much.
[3:04:21] Thank you, Mitch.
[3:04:23] Item 41, receive a staff report from Brent Baguette, Deputy Fire Chief, regarding a
[3:04:29] new city of Laughton, severe weather, administrative policy.
[3:04:34] Good afternoon, Council, back in June we had the severe weather that came through and shortly
[3:04:41] after that we were tasked by city administration to come up with a policy to address this
[3:04:47] of your weather and notification of our employees.
[3:04:50] The storm came through on June 15th and it always presents an opportunity for us to review
[3:04:55] policies and procedures to look for an area of improvement.
[3:04:58] The purpose of this is to ensure the safety of our employees during severe weather events.
[3:05:04] We want to have a guideline for the employees who are both in facilities as well as in the field.
[3:05:09] We establish clear procedures and promote preparedness and to minimize risks and facilitate an organized internal response to severe weather conditions.
[3:05:19] What we did is we created a small graph here to help with the different weather alerts that we have.
[3:05:26] So obviously we're in a green situation every day with no watches or warnings in place
[3:05:31] as a weather watch is put in for the area that will take us into the yellow alert zone for
[3:05:38] everyone to be aware that there's a potential for something coming.
[3:05:41] As a warning is issued, we would move into a red level and that's for the awareness of you
[3:05:46] if you're in the field or if you're in a city building to know that you have weather coming.
[3:05:50] This will work with our HR partners for training to allow those employees to either start preparing to shelter in place or if they need to go home if we have a snowstorm or hail or severe winds coming through.
[3:06:06] And then we created the last level here at the black level. So what this will do is this will be the shelter in place immediately severe weather is taking place as we at that time.
[3:06:18] So, in summary, the goal is to just provide a safe working environment for all of our employees,
[3:06:24] being whether aware is everyone's responsibility, top down, management, supervisors, and employees.
[3:06:30] It's going to help with communication, preparedness, and training or the keys for this to be successful.
[3:06:36] That's as quick as I can make it.
[3:06:38] I'm open for any questions or anything like that.
[3:06:41] Mr. Mayor.
[3:06:44] Right, I was here when that storm hit and there were several employees here and some that were coming back.
[3:06:53] It's not clear to me downstairs where that shelter area is.
[3:06:58] I think we need to do a better job of marking that so that people know where to go without having to be directed if possible.
[3:07:08] Sure, we can look into helping with proper mapping and notification in the facilities.
[3:07:14] All of that should be in place, but if we need to increase that some, we can work with the building and grounds and the partners that are in charge of that.
[3:07:22] Anything else?
[3:07:24] Yeah, thank you, Mayor.
[3:07:26] Is this a, wouldn't it like a code to some app or something or some code to go to or something that we used to have?
[3:07:35] Let me hand that out.
[3:07:35] We use a lot of utilize code red. We're in the process of working with our county emergency management partners city county
[3:07:42] emergency management with Clint Lakeford history. They're developing an app. They're actually purchasing for that.
[3:07:47] We're going to have freeze when we're saving the city money will be able to send messages to not only external partners in disaster,
[3:07:53] but also our internal employees by employee groups. So it's going to allow us a better messaging plan for working with Caitlin and the marketing division.
[3:08:01] And so it's going to be a great tool for all of us
[3:08:03] going to utilize and send information
[3:08:05] out city wide better.
[3:08:06] So I think that's what you're asking
[3:08:08] to something like that.
[3:08:08] Yeah, that was something that we had code read before.
[3:08:11] Yeah, we had to kind of sign up for the code thing
[3:08:14] and it's send you.
[3:08:14] Yeah, we had text my, we've been through three or four
[3:08:16] different iterations, but we don't have anything.
[3:08:19] Oh, that's great.
[3:08:19] We have text my gov today, but this one will be this
[3:08:21] as we're moving to this with Clint and city County
[3:08:24] Mercy Management.
[3:08:25] This will be the first time.
[3:08:26] We've had a concerted effort for both organizations
[3:08:28] working together, which should be better resources.
[3:08:31] and better information coming out.
[3:08:33] So hopefully we're streamlining it with the true North
[3:08:35] and utilizing that to ensure what is the management.
[3:08:37] And our employees better.
[3:08:39] Yes, sir.
[3:08:39] Thank you.
[3:08:40] In just a highlight that this is just an internal policy here for our employees that are out in the field.
[3:08:47] You know, we had a lot of vehicle damage and building damage.
[3:08:49] So just to try to make sure everyone's aware that they're also responsible for being aware of the weather coming in.
[3:08:56] And then what safe procedures they can take place once that gets here.
[3:09:01] Anything else?
[3:09:04] Thank you very much.
[3:09:05] Thank you guys.
[3:09:06] And now brings up 42 report on utility services operations you've done.
[3:09:18] My section of this is going to be very short.
[3:09:25] I would like to introduce you to the utility building supervisor, Lawrence Smith.
[3:09:31] She's going to be going over the utility building office and some of there.
[3:09:37] What they what they do and some of the things we're working on for the future
[3:09:43] That's good looking. I love lot in pan you got there. You know what my mayor gave it to me today
[3:09:48] I've never been more proud. How about that you hand lost to get that you haven't you know that magnet super strong
[3:09:56] Council Mr. Mayor. Thank you so much for having me today
[3:09:59] As we focus on the true North culture and then everything that we do was for the citizen the city of
[3:10:05] the utility services team wants to highlight what we do and what we are doing to provide
[3:10:10] world-class customer service.
[3:10:13] Do we by chance have that PowerPoint?
[3:10:18] I gotcha.
[3:10:20] So there's a beautiful PowerPoint that goes to this.
[3:10:22] I just did not get it in time.
[3:10:25] So the utility services department is comprised of our department manager who oversees
[3:10:29] day-to-day operations for the entire department.
[3:10:32] Handles, Cycle, and Hand-Biddling focuses on the continuation of the education for herself and for the office supervisor.
[3:10:41] We had cashier handles the deposit for the city of Lotton, completes all water transactions,
[3:10:46] works closely with finance department to ensure accuracy between transactions and the bank statements,
[3:10:53] handles all lodging tax payments. The office supervisor provides day-to-day operation for full-service representatives,
[3:10:59] handles the final billing, hears and manages customers' issues and complaints and implements
[3:11:06] continued training to ensure representatives achieve world-class customer service.
[3:11:11] Our full service representatives in my front office, they handle the setup, the transfers,
[3:11:16] and turning off of our accounts. We take the payments and educate our customers on how to use
[3:11:21] what the automated phone system and our online payment system. They hear the customers and address
[3:11:27] all matters with a sense of urgency.
[3:11:30] Our full service representatives in our billing office
[3:11:33] handle the incoming and outgoing phone calls
[3:11:35] for utility services assist with payments
[3:11:38] and walks through the automated system
[3:11:39] with the customers on the phone.
[3:11:43] We handle assigning hydrant meters,
[3:11:45] importing meter readings, our collection accounts,
[3:11:48] our thefts, pledges, and our landlord accounts
[3:11:50] all within that one office.
[3:11:53] Our full service representatives in the month of July
[3:11:55] Handled 4,590 transactions, they set up 400 new accounts and handled 7,758 phone calls.
[3:12:05] Our headcashier also processed 10,866 payments that were completed by Autodraft, our online
[3:12:12] payment portal, and by our automatic phone system, which gives us a grand total of 23,614 transactions
[3:12:22] just in the month of July alone.
[3:12:25] As we strive to be the most efficient department that we can be, our call trends have seen
[3:12:29] a strong decrease, not only in the volume, but also in wait time.
[3:12:33] These vectors along with our pursuit of excellence shows our dedication to making the customers
[3:12:38] time a priority.
[3:12:40] In true North fashion, of providing world-class customer service, we have heard our customers
[3:12:45] comments, questions, and concerns.
[3:12:48] The biggest issue that seems to present itself is our inability to accept deposits by
[3:12:53] our credit card. As we pursue the
[3:12:56] environmental excellence, we as an
[3:12:58] apartment and the city of Lawton
[3:13:00] Team are committed to fixing that
[3:13:02] issue by October 31st. For this
[3:13:05] to be present, we must present a
[3:13:07] change of verbiage in the city
[3:13:08] code to counsel by October
[3:13:10] the 10th and have that approved
[3:13:12] and implemented. Next we will
[3:13:15] work closely with IT and our
[3:13:17] Tyler to complete necessary
[3:13:18] steps with the programming by
[3:13:20] the 18th of October and we will
[3:13:22] design and implement training with our customer service representatives to make for a seamless
[3:13:26] rollout before the projected completion date of 31 October.
[3:13:31] Thank you.
[3:13:32] Any questions?
[3:13:34] I don't have a question but this was very exciting.
[3:13:37] Sounds like we're really moving in the right direction on that department.
[3:13:42] Sounds like you're evaluating all of your policies and procedures and making it easier
[3:13:48] to get signed on for an account.
[3:13:50] I like that.
[3:13:51] question. I just had one question, so we're talking solution oriented with the customers come in.
[3:13:57] Correct. Okay, thank you. Okay, and I can tell that you're serious when you use the words,
[3:14:05] like world-class customer service. We assert. Thank you very much. We appreciate that report.
[3:14:11] Mayor Council, I would like to make a couple more. This is that Lauren didn't have because
[3:14:15] PowerPoint written, or what represented, we had in since August 22,
[3:14:25] well the
[3:14:26] first month of August 22, we had 17,727 phone calls. In July of 23, we had 7,758 phone
[3:14:39] Our whole time in the queue went from six minutes and 41 seconds to 40 seconds.
[3:14:52] That's what happens with World Class Service.
[3:14:55] That's the reason the war is in our position.
[3:14:59] All right.
[3:15:00] I'll take that attention to the true North statement and to the citizens. Any further comments or questions
[3:15:07] before we go on? Thank you. Thank you very much. Number 43, receiver report on the status of the FY 2022 audit,
[3:15:15] Joe Dough. Well, statuses, we're still plugging along. We are working to get that done as
[3:15:25] this position is possible.
[3:15:28] Currently, we've got out of the staff that I have on board.
[3:15:32] I've got two accountants dedicated to nothing but the audit.
[3:15:39] All other work load has been taken off of their plates and redistributed it.
[3:15:45] We have, along with these people, we have the new internal auditor working with this.
[3:15:51] And as early as this week, we've got the Deputy City Manager working with us.
[3:15:56] We are also preparing specifications to go out to hire two contract accountants, to work
[3:16:05] on-site with us, to get this get our audits caught up in place.
[3:16:11] We are currently behind on the 1922 and the 2022 and the 2023 audits.
[3:16:26] On October 15th, the week of October 15th, I expect our auditors to be on site, at which
[3:16:33] time they will be doing the LATS testing, they will be doing the testing for LATS, ARPA,
[3:16:40] capital improvements and long-term assets, they'll be pulling purchase orders and for examination
[3:16:49] and they will be reviewing our investments.
[3:16:56] They will also be working toward the completion of the FY22 single audit, which is required
[3:17:02] because the city of Latin as over $75,750,000 with grants in one year.
[3:17:14] Our goal is to have our bank reconciliation for 2022 caught up by the end of October.
[3:17:24] Question?
[3:17:25] Yes.
[3:17:27] Are we getting or not getting our gasoline tax from the state of Oklahoma,
[3:17:32] because we're behind on our audit.
[3:17:34] Currently, we are not getting our gasoline tax
[3:17:37] because we are in behind.
[3:17:38] Are we going to get that later every year?
[3:17:40] We will get that.
[3:17:42] That is that as long as we as long as that is done,
[3:17:45] don't know where that gets held permanently
[3:17:47] is if we're beyond where you'll be on two years.
[3:17:51] So once we have our 2022 audit done,
[3:17:54] which we expected to be done before that two year period,
[3:17:58] we will get that money back.
[3:18:03] It's quite a bit of money in it.
[3:18:09] Okay,
[3:18:12] so we're behind on the 22, the 23, we're really not behind on the end of the year.
[3:18:20] Well, the 2023, starting June 30, 2023, would have been is due by December 31, 2023, yes.
[3:18:31] Thank you.
[3:18:33] Now,
[3:18:36] you said the bank Rick oscillations are being done by October 31.
[3:18:42] Does that put its near complete?
[3:18:44] I'm not really sure what that means.
[3:18:47] What's holding this back is, and having the auditors do the complete audit are the cash reconciliation.
[3:18:54] And those we expect to have done for our main cash account.
[3:19:00] We've got several cash accounts, the main one is what is causing us issues.
[3:19:10] Because of, I can give you a reason why, but it's, unless you want them, it just sounds
[3:19:14] like it's used as, as the, and Joe don't correct me if I'm wrong.
[3:19:21] But after we get the cash out, reconciliation's done, we're looking at four to six weeks after
[3:19:27] that and in order for the complete audit to be done.
[3:19:31] Okay, it's going to take the independent auditor some time to get their stuff together.
[3:19:35] Okay, so that's the Medal of December on your, on your out date, Medal of December.
[3:19:42] Now,
[3:19:47] when will we be able to get the 23 done?
[3:19:50] We can't start the 23 until the 22 is done.
[3:19:56] A lot of the problems we're fixing now
[3:19:59] We'll not be problems in the 2023 audit because we're fixing them in the 2022, so it should be expedited.
[3:20:07] I would anticipate we're mid-February, mid-March before we get our 2023.
[3:20:19] And part of the work that we're having done on the 15th is to expedite the time that is required
[3:20:32] after the shutdown of that 46 weeks that Mr. Rattler was talking about.
[3:20:39] Okay, Mr. Hampton, do you have questions?
[3:20:41] Yeah, I just had to go on the cast reconciliation.
[3:20:44] Of course we don't need to talk about why.
[3:20:46] But all the wise are getting fixed so that we have a smooth sailing ship
[3:20:53] through the cast reconciliation.
[3:20:55] Yes.
[3:20:55] for here on out. That's the reason it's not just between three of us. That's the reason it's taken a little bit more time
[3:21:01] with these because of everything that went on that year with the transition to a new software,
[3:21:09] the transitions and new banks, all of those things provided the perfect storm to delay that audit.
[3:21:17] And we are fixing those as we move forward. So once it is fixed, it is fixed.
[3:21:21] Standard operating procedures.
[3:21:24] Put in the place.
[3:21:24] Thank you.
[3:21:26] Mr. Wigger.
[3:21:28] Yes.
[3:21:28] Joe Donso.
[3:21:29] You made mention earlier.
[3:21:31] Mr. Guild had mentioned.
[3:21:33] The gas tax that is being withheld because the audit has not been completed.
[3:21:38] As you received any notifications from any other federal fundings.
[3:21:42] That would affect other areas that.
[3:21:44] We do take in a lot of federal funds for various projects.
[3:21:48] No, I haven't seen nothing that I can think of right now, okay, from any federal funding.
[3:21:56] State law dictates what happens with the state gas tax.
[3:22:00] And once you are late, they start withholding it.
[3:22:04] If you're more than two years late, you don't get that year's back, it goes to the county.
[3:22:13] But on a more national level, the only letter we've received from Bank America, that's the only one that I'm aware of right now that I can think of.
[3:22:26] So that would be it.
[3:22:28] I appreciate your promise on that.
[3:22:32] Okay, and I I already know so I won't ask but I want to make the statement. I'll know you guys are evaluating everything to continue to refine and improve this so that we get out of it as quick as possible and don't go into it.
[3:22:47] with the following year after what we've talked about.
[3:22:52] So, oh, did you have something else?
[3:22:57] Okay.
[3:22:58] So, thank you very much.
[3:22:59] So, don't we have a motion to adjourn the executive session?
[3:23:02] Is there a second?
[3:23:03] We have a second?
[3:23:04] Please call the roll.
[3:23:06] Deal.
[3:23:07] Hampton?
[3:23:08] Weager?
[3:23:09] Johnson?
[3:23:10] Warren?
[3:23:11] Hankens?
[3:23:12] Harris?
[3:23:13] Chapman?
[3:24:02] Are you?
[4:35:49] Acknowledge, returning from Executive Session, call the roll, please.
[4:35:53] Hampton, Wieger, Johnson, Warren, Hankins, Chapman, Gil.
[4:36:04] Item number 44, to him.
[4:36:06] Presidents section 307, B4, Title 25, Oklahoma, Statutes, the Council convened an Executive
[4:36:11] Session to discuss the pending action in the United States District Court of Oklahoma, Western
[4:36:17] just to welcome that title, Kent Jackson is personal representative of the state of Israel
[4:36:21] Williams versus City of Lawton at L. Case number 5, colon 23, hyphen CV, hyphen 0, 0,
[4:36:28] 2, 8, 4, hyphen G. That conversation did occur, hence my understanding we have a motion.
[4:36:37] Yes, I moved to authorize the City Attorney or the City's outside Council from Collins,
[4:36:42] Zorn and Wagner to either amend any current joint defense and confidentiality agreement
[4:36:47] currently in effect or to enter into a new joint defense and confidentiality agreement with
[4:36:52] the current defense firms in this case.
[4:36:55] As necessary for the purpose of adding the law firm, Pierce Cowche, Hendrickson, Basing
[4:37:01] your and Green to any joint defense and confidentiality agreement necessary for the defense
[4:37:05] of this case.
[4:37:06] I've got a motion, go ahead a second.
[4:37:09] I have a motion a second.
[4:37:14] We voting vote please.
[4:37:27] Item number 40, I would be the vote with seven to zero, no abstentions.
[4:37:33] Item number 45.
[4:37:35] I'm concerned to section 307 before Title 25 of Oklahoma Statutes, the Council convene and executive session discuss the pending claim of schoolhouse slew ink.
[4:37:45] That conversation did occur. It's my understanding we have a motion.
[4:37:50] Yes, I moved to authorize the moving forward with the identifying funding for the possible purchase of certain improvements.
[4:37:57] made them to the lease between the Lawton Water Authority and Schoolhouse Slawth Incorporated,
[4:38:02] said purchase price $2,875,000, representing the average of three appraisals will be the
[4:38:09] understanding that any purchases that may occur will be subject to the findings of
[4:38:14] a pending environmental analysis of the entire, excuse me, of the onsite fuel system.
[4:38:23] Have a motion down in a second, please, but
[4:38:30] motion carries 7 to 0, number 46.
[4:38:34] I'd present to Section 307B1, Title 25 of Oklahoma Statutes, Council Convenient Executive
[4:38:39] Section discuss possible candidates for the position of City Clerk, brief conversation
[4:38:44] occurred, and no action is necessary.
[4:38:47] Item number 47.
[4:38:49] Pursuit to Section 307 B1 Title 25 of Columbus Statutes, Council Convenient Executive
[4:38:55] Session to Review the Employment of John Rattliff as Acting City Manager.
[4:38:59] It's my understanding that conversation did occur and no action is necessary.
[4:39:03] Is there a motion for adjournment?
[4:39:05] So moved.
[4:39:06] Motion and did I hear a second?
[4:39:08] Please call the road.
[4:39:10] We here.
[4:39:12] Johnson, Warren, Hankens, Chapman, Gil, Hampton,
[4:39:39] OK.
[4:39:40] At this time, I'm going to call this special meeting of the Lawton Water Authority to order
[4:39:46] please call the wrong.
[4:39:47] Johnson, Warren, Hankens, Harris, Chapman, Gil, Hampton, Weager.
[4:40:00] Okay, at this time we're striking the executive session item number two.
[4:40:05] It leaves us business item number one.
[4:40:07] Consider granting a long-term ground lease agreement to Cody and Shelby Zimmerman
[4:40:11] to allow exclusive ingress and ingress over and across the city on property located south of
[4:40:17] 359 northwest cherry road located on the west side of U.S. highway 62 by Chandler Creek and Lake
[4:40:25] Ellsworth and the northwest quarter of section 19 township four north range 11 west of the
[4:40:31] end emmerity and Kamenchi County Oklahoma Tim. Okay briefly board members this is companion
[4:40:38] to what the Council considered and its meeting. Again, it went to the board and also to Council
[4:40:45] back around July 25. There were some issues that the LSEs attorneys had with the lease,
[4:40:53] which we previously discussed in the Council meeting. Well, specifically on the paragraph 21,
[4:41:00] the Council, I want to ask me some questions. I did confirm with our real property administrator
[4:41:05] that the lease starts 200 feet off the highway and then will still allow for public access
[4:41:10] to this part of the city property not covered by the lease and so we corrected some
[4:41:16] errors like said in paragraph 21 and we're just asking for the boards approval.
[4:41:20] I'd like to go
[4:41:23] ahead and turn on your mic, make a motion that we don't read the tax
[4:41:29] We approve the motion. Motion to approve. It's not an ordinance. Okay. I make a motion to approve this. Okay. Do we have a second.
[4:41:39] We have several seconds. Please.
[4:41:54] Okay, the motion carries six to zero.
[4:41:57] Do I have much for adjournment? Please call the roll.
[4:42:09] Warren Ankins, Chapman, Gil Hampton, Weeger.