Good morning. We're going to get started
this morning with an invocation led by
Pastor Rob Champion of People's Church.
And that will be followed by the pledge
of allegiance la led by Lad Ketran of
Scouting America Troop 226. Please stand
as you are able.
Let us pray. Father God, we thank you
for this great city of Oklahoma City.
Lord, we thank you for this opportunity
to be here today. And Lord, we pray a
blessing over our city. We pray a
blessing over our mayor and our city
council members. Father, I pray that you
would bless them, bless their marriages,
bless their homes, bless their families,
Lord. Bless them as they lead. I pray
that you would give them wisdom today as
they navigate and lead through all of
the agenda that is listed today. God, I
pray that you would help them, Lord, to
make decisions for the prosperity of our
city. Lord, bless this meeting, bless
our time in Jesus name. Amen.
Will you please join me in the pledge of
allegiance?
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
» Well, thank you, Pastor Champion, and
thank you, Lad. I call this meeting of
the city council to order and I do have
uh one presentation to make under office
of the mayor and so I'll invite our
realtor friends to join me down front.
This isn't working again.
» All right. Well, it is realtor day in
Oklahoma City.
» Yeah.
» Sometimes it feels here at city hall
like every day is realtor day because
you guys are here. You guys are here a
lot and we appreciate uh your support.
So I would like to ask the clerk,
however, to read this proclamation so we
can learn a little bit more about what
today means.
» Whereas Oklahoma City's realtors are
actively engaged in efforts to improve
the quality of life for all Oklahoma
City residents, making our city a great
place to live and work. And whereas
realtors advocate for home ownership and
adherence to fair housing
through plans, policies, and programs
that improve access to safe, quality,
and affordable housing across Oklahoma
City. And whereas realtors have been key
supporters of community initiatives
essential to the growth of our city,
including maps for the arena vote, the
most recent OKCPS bond, and the 2025
Oklahoma City bond.
And whereas realtors are active in
addressing a variety of community
issues, including working to make
homeless homelessness rare, brief, and
non-recurring. And whereas realtors
regularly engage with city leaders and
policy makers to help strengthen the
development of our city. Now therefore,
I, David Holt, mayor of the city of
Oklahoma City, do hereby proclaim June
2nd, 2026 as Oklahoma City Realtor Day
in Oklahoma City.
» Well, thank you. There really isn't a
profession in OKC that is more engaged
with our civic life here. So, thank you
so much. All of this is true and all of
this is something that I have witnessed
firsthand over the last eight years uh
and really beyond. So Kimberly Roberts
is here with Oklahoma City's realtors to
speak on their behalf. And again, if you
can just like speak into this, the
wireless isn't working today, but uh we
would uh love to hear a few words from
you. The floor is yours, Kimberly.
» All right, guys. from the Oklahoma City
Metropolitan Association of Realtors. We
just pledge to continue to work strong
to help our city become the city that
the mayor sees the vision that he sees
for our city. We want to line up with
that. So, one city, one team is how um
the Oklahoma City Metropolitan
Association realtors feel. So, we are
here for our community every day helping
the helping our community get better.
Thank you so much.
» Awesome. Let's hear it for our realtors.
All right, that concludes Office of the
Mayor. Item four, items from council.
There are none today. Item five are city
manager reports. Mr. City Manager.
» Thank you, mayor. Uh we have the sales
and use tax report for May on for today.
We had 1.9%
um sales tax growth and the use tax
growth was about 6%. Um if you remember
last month, you know, we've been in this
cycle of up and down. Last month, we had
really strong sales tax growth, partly
reflective of the NCAA uh tournament,
and this month, it dropped back down
where it's about 2% growth, closer to
what we had budgeted for the year, but
still overall we're at about $4.2
million over budget. Preliminary numbers
right now looking into June look pretty
good. And so, I think we'll finish the
year strong and be above budget on our
revenues. So, good news for the year on
our revenues sets a good stage for next
year's budget. and we'll just keep you
posted as we go forward and continue to
provide the monthly updates on sales and
use tax. The only other thing we have is
uh claims and payroll and that can be
found on okc.gov.
» All right,
item six, journal of council
proceedings. We have items A and B we
could take with one motion.
Have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
passes unanimously. Uh item seven,
request for uncontested continuences.
Already on the agenda for deferrals are
items 9A, 11A, and 11B. Is there
anything else, Mr. City Manager?
» Yes. Uh beginning on page 15, item 11
M1, dilapidated structures. All the
items that I list today on this will be
stricken from the agenda. Um item A is
124 North Allen Street. were reworking
for a new owner. Continuing on page 15,
item 11 N1 unsecured structures. Item A,
124 Allen Street for the same reason.
And then item D740 Northeast 19th
Street, the owner has secured. And then
on page 16 under abandoned buildings,
item 1101, item A, 124 North Allen
Street to rework for new owner.
And that's all the items that I have.
» Okay.
Item eight, revocable permits and
events. Item 8A is a revocable permit
with the Perry Public Publishing and
Broadcasting Company for the Junth Art
and Music Festival uh June 19th through
the 21st. And we have uh
Canon Neil
» Con. Sorry, Connor.
» You all right?
» Got it.
» How y'all doing this morning?
» Great.
» Yeah. This is uh Perry Publishing
Broadcasting 17th year doing uh our
Junth festival at Washington Park. Um
this is our second year adding the
second night which will be Jazz in the
Sunset. Um hate that we can't play the
Thunder, you know, but uh last couple
years we was able to, but at the same
time we going to have a great
celebration on uh June 19th and the
20th. Uh family, food, and friends. So,
if you got opportunity to come out, come
out to Washington Park that Friday
starts at 6 o'clock, jazz and sunset.
That Saturday, it starts at 9:00 a.m.
and it runs until about 7.
» All right. Thank you, uh, Councilman
Payton.
» Thank you, Mayor. Um, just want to thank
Perry Publishing for again hosting this
really great community event. I always
enjoy going in Washington Park. It's
going to be even better when the
Washington Park upgrades are made. So,
we're very excited about that. But um
happy to move uh approval.
» Got a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously. Thank you. Item B is
a revocable permit with the Riverport
Foundation for the Riverb on August 1st.
And we have Tiffany Briggs here.
And oh, also Trisha Downey, I guess you
guys decide how you want to divide it
up.
» Yes. Uh, good morning. Trisha Downey
with the River Sport Foundation. I'm the
national event manager there. Uh this
morning we are going to uh talk about
two events but the first would be the
Riverb and I'm going to introduce to you
uh Tiffany Briggs who is the Riverb
chair. Take it over. Thank you. Good
morning uh Mayor Hol and council
members. My name is Tiffany Briggs and I
serve as the planning committee chair
for the Riverbull Classic. I'm here
today to respectfully request approval
for our event which will take place
Saturday, August 1st along the Oklahoma
River. This year marks our fifth
anniversary of Riverb Classic, founded
by Oklahoma City community leaders. The
event was created to bring people
together through culture, fellowship,
healthy competition, and shared
experiences while increasing awareness
and participation in the sport of
rowing. What began as a river as a
reunion style rowing event for alumni of
Oklahoma City's historic high schools
has grown into a reg regional
celebration of community and legacy.
Um,
sorry. Today we proudly welcome
participation from institutions
including Langston University and Xavier
University of Louisiana alongside
students, alumni, family, and community
organizations from across the region.
Riverbolt Classic is more than a race.
It is an opportunity to build
connections, honor traditions, and
create a space where community can
thrive. As we celebrate our fifth year,
we are excited to continue growing an
event that brings people together and
showcases the power of collaboration and
civic engagement. On beha on behalf of
the planning committee and community
members and partners, we respectfully
request your support and approval for
this year's event. Thank you so much.
And do you have any questions?
Thank you, Councilman Pennington.
» Thank you, Mayor. Um, very excited about
the River Bowl. It is so much fun. And
so, I think that as a resident of
Northeast Oklahoma City, sometimes we
forget that the river is part of our
community, too. And so, it's great to
see all of our high schools. Northeast
didn't win. Unfortunately, my Vikings
did not win.
» Hold on. Wait a minute. I'm I'm
Northeast.
» Okay. I'm glad to see we're proudly
represented, but um looking forward to
this year's River Bowl. It's always a
really fantastic event and I'd ask my
colleagues to please come and attend
because it's really it's really great to
see. So I move approval.
» Thank you so much.
» Have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously.
Uh item C is a revocable permit with the
Riversport Foundation for the Stars and
Stripes regata. Uh Trisha Danny, you
want to speak to that?
» The Stars and Stripes Riata is a one-day
Independence Day themed event that River
Sport holds dearly because it's uh all
day, all ages, and lots and lots and
lots of spectators. The morning starting
at 8:30 is a master's event. Masters is
anyone out of college, and there are
plenty who are very competitive up to
age 90, honestly. the afternoon we take
our paddlefest dragonboat festival uh to
the river uh 200 meters and this is a
growing project at river sport. Last
year we had 400. This year we'll have
500 competitors. Uh dragon boating is a
team sport and uh proud group each boat
and we love to have them. And of course
at night the OG& night sprints which is
a combination of corporate teams and
master teams. Um, and that's a 500 meter
event. And I just wanted to remind
everyone, the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma
City is the first and only dedicated
rowing paddling competition venue in the
world that is equipped with uh stadium
lighting for night racing. So, it's
definitely a a bucket list for any rower
to come to Oklahoma City, and they are
coming because of that. Nowhere else can
you row under the lights. So, I hope you
all can make it at any time of the day.
and see these athletes compete.
» Great. Thank you, Councilman Payton.
» Thank you, Mayor. Um, again, another
great event on the river. Um, I'm
definitely going to need to get there
early because it's going to be hot, I
think, but it's going to be an awesome,
awesome event. So, I move approval.
» Got a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
» Passes unanimously.
» Thank you.
Item D is a revocable rightway use
permit with Oklahoma City Pride and
Outreach to hold OKC Pride on 39th on
June 5th through the 7th on Northwest
Northwest 39th. Uh Eric Jones
as well as Christian Trailer.
Hello and good morning. Uh I'm Christian
Trailer and this is Eric Jones. Um, we
are on the OKC Pride Community and
Outreach Board. We are asking for you
all's approval of our fabulous Pride on
39th Street event. It is June 5th
through 7th with opening ceremonies at
Sorry, opening ceremonies on the 5th at
5:00 p.m. Is that correct? Yep. Okay,
cool. Just making sure. Um so we are
celebrating 39 years of this pride and
so with it being a completely new board
um we are looking to celebrate the his
the history of 39 street and also the
people that have contributed and made it
to what it is to be what it is today. So
we ask that you all come out and have a
good time. It it's a great time to
celebrate diversity life and just
individuality. So yeah hopefully we can
see you all there.
Thank you. Um, Councilman Cooper is out
today, but I'm sure someone else will
jump in. And
» I'm happy to jump in. Um, uh, very
excited, uh, for a really landmark
occasion, it sounds like, with 39 years,
um, and excited to celebrate Pride this
month. So, I'm happy to move for
approval.
All right, we have a motion and a
second. Cast your votes.
passes unanimously. Thank you.
» Thank you.
» AE is a revocable right ofway use permit
with the Plaza District Association to
hold live on the plaza June 12th and
August 14th on Northwest 16th. And we
have Rachel Crawford here.
» Hi, good morning city council. Thank you
for having me. My name is Rachel
Crawford and I'm the executive director
of the Plaza District. Um, we do a
second Friday event every month, but
some are larger than others, and two of
those events are Pride on the Plaza and
Skate the Plaza. Um, just show of hands,
how many on city council in the audience
have been to a block party in the Plaza
district?
Okay, thank you first and foremost for
attending. If you haven't been in a
while, I encourage you to come.
Currently, just between on 16th Street
between Indiana and Black Welder, we
have 65 award-winning businesses. And
the district's really had an uptick in
the last um few years since the
pandemic. And a huge part of that are
our events. Um Kamal, you remember, you
served on the board as I came in, and I
deeply appreciate your support. And Joe
Beth, you've been to many of our events.
Um Pride on the Plaza is tremendously
jam-packed. We will have a significant
amount of 2SLGBTQIA+
entertainers. We're very intentional
about that. We're bringing back a very
popular club called Club U-Haul. Um yes,
we are intending to be punny with that.
And we welcome um really anybody who
wants to be a community vendor that's
with a nonprofit. Even if you don't have
the funds, we can find a scholarship for
you if you're trying to get the word
out. Um, I think we'd love to have you
as long as we have the space and and we
do at this time. So, we expect roughly
14,000 people for Pride on the Plaza.
And for Skate the Plaza, which is in
August, the second Friday in August, we
partner with Money Runes Everything, a
skate shop here in town. And we do skate
contests. We work with Back Room
Records. and Back Room does a lot of
punk and uh really hardcore shows in
Plaza walls, but a lot of artist
vendors, probably about 40 that we'll
have. Um it's free, all ages, open to
the public. So, I hope you'll join us.
» Uh thank you, Councilwoman Hman.
» Yes, this um like you mentioned, these
are super great events to go to, super
fun block parties. Um, so I am very
excited for this year's um, sort of
program of events for the summer and
happy to move for approval.
Have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously. And of course that
was for Live on the Plaza. This uh next
one might be for Plaza District
Festival.
» Thank you. I'll keep it short and sweet.
27th annual Plaza District Festival. I
want to give a shout out. It's a lot
more work. There's eight volunteer
subcommittees. It's uh Saturday,
September 26. I've got co-chair Mattie
Hendricks in um the city hall with me.
We're putting in a lot of work. The
poster design we've got a lot of
compliments on. Love to give a shout out
to our artist Tony Thunder of Canopy in
the Plaza District. Coincides with Plaza
Walls Mural Expo typically see around
30,000 people. It's an all day festival.
Again, all ages, free, open to the
public and we have live music. We also
do a partnership with ACM at UCO and we
have a stage dedicated to them. Right
now, we are working with our kids
committee because we do have a kids
area. Turns out insurance said
inflatable castles are a really bad
idea.
» So, what we're doing as an arts and
culture district is uh they don't know
this yet, but we're working on reaching
out to uh about four or five children's
music schools. Well, I say children um
ages preschool through high school to
have a live music stage just for kids
for the first time this year, which I
think will be really great. Um, it's the
biggest day of the year in the Plaza
District and again, I hope you'll join
us for that.
» Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman Hammond.
» That's I'm excited to hear that you all
keep growing and changing and iterating
um to to meet the need uh to mitigate
risk, I suppose, but that's such a neat
opportunity to um bring young people
into being part of these events. So, um
very excited for this year and happy to
move for approval.
Have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
» Passes unanimously.
» Thank you.
» Uh item G is a revocable ride ofway use
permit with Red Coyote running and
fitness to hold the Red Coyote Junth on
the East 5K run on June 19th on North uh
Rhode Island. And we have Melissa
Hodgkins. Hodgson here.
» Good morning. I'm Melissa Hodgson. Um
I'm here for Junth on the East 5K. Uh it
will be of course June 19th at 7 PM. It
starts um near the north north near
northeast 23rd and runs through the
community. Um this year is the fifth
annual and I believe as of today we've
more than doubled the registrations for
last year. So, we're we're looking about
3,000 people this year. You know, it's a
free event and um you know, it just
keeps growing and growing. It's a good
time. So, I I do encourage you know, you
to come out, but I would register soon
because we have 3,000 medals and you
want to get a medal. So,
» Thank you, Councilman Pennington.
» Thank you, Mayor. Um, so excit I can't
believe it's been five years already and
it's just amazing uh how many runners
you're continuing to recruit. It's
always a great event and so just excited
to move approval.
We have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
» Passes unanimously.
» Thank you.
» Thank you. Uh item H is a joint
revocable permit with the Oklahoma City
Water Utilities Trust and Bodies Race
Company to hold the Treat Trot 5K, 10K,
and 15K at Lake Hefner. And we have
Morgan Danker here.
» Hi, I'm Morgan Danker with OKC Parks.
The permit hold or the permittee for
this is actually located in Missouri and
couldn't make it down here for city
council today, but I figured I'd tell
you guys a little bit more about the
event. Uh so Treat Trot they do about or
Bodies Race Company does about one event
with parks at a park every month. And
here they'll be at Stars and Stripes
Park. Uh pickup for packets going to
start at 5:30 in the morning. There's a
kids dash starting at 6:55.
And then 7 is when the races will start.
Uh the treat trot is in reference to
receiving a fun treat after you run. Uh
so run a little bit then enjoy a treat.
Uh something exciting that they're
starting with this event and that
they're going to potentially do with new
events is partnering with the OKC animal
welfare. And they're going to have
adoptable dogs at this event that
participants can actually take one of
the dogs with them on their run. So the
dog is getting exercise as well as
hopefully getting adopted.
» All right. Thank you. This is in uh
words one, two, and eight. I don't know
if So, is the treat a secret? Can we
know?
» It's going to be popsicles. So, uh
considering this is in June, a cold
treat is probably what you'll want after
you're done running.
» Can you have more than one?
» I hope.
» What a great event. I move for approval.
Thank you.
We have a motion in a second. Cast your
» Votes.
» Award seven's a yes. Mine's not working.
passes unanimously. Thank you. All
right. Now, we're going to recess the
council meeting and convene as the
Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities
Authority.
Um, we do have a resident who has signed
up to speak on item C.
Uh, Donald Cletus
Uh good morning everyone. Thank you
council mayor first and foremost and the
specific affirmation of the first
amendment opportunity that we have
before us today. What's most specific
about this opportunity is the share of
voice. I'd like to specifically
highlight the reason why Oklahoma City
is the core foundation
of America in this particular addended
item because it's able to be discussed
across all citizenry.
We have a mayor for the first time in my
life who's lived in this city all of my
life who every week for five straight
years takes his fiduciary
responsibilities and responds to the
citizenry. We have a city manager who is
complicit and understanding that the
fabric of the docket
is significant so that we can get our
budgets in line with the members who
have to vote. But more importantly, it's
the behind the scenes. It's Zach. It's
Miss Deb Martin who ingratiated me as a
little old boy with two teeth, red hair
and freckles that had the auspicious
nature to be able to get my MBA in
engineering and retrofit finance from
Straer University, George Washington,
but to come home and to be able to say
to you all that look across your core
responsibilities to collaborate to win
and to ensure that this city thrives.
So, as Oklahoma City goes, so goes the
nation. We say thank you. We expressly
appreciate this opportunity and we know
that this particular line item
is the values of the first amendment
growth of this city. Thank you.
» Thank you.
» That's the only resident who signed up
to speak on the MFA agenda. We could
take items A through G with one motion.
We have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously. We'll adjourn OCMFA
and convene as the Oklahoma City Public
Property Authority. And we have a
resident who signed to speak on item D.
Steve Hunt.
» Thanks for the opportunity to speak on
this item. Um I city manager Freeman was
kind enough to give me a little insight
on this and it's still very very
confusing. Um had a little write up that
is kind of been skewed by what you told
me. Um but I still want to go into it a
little bit. Um, first off, uh, CA Icon
is a subsidiary of creative arts agency
majority owned by Artemis, a private
equity firm of French billionaire
Francois Enri Pino, whose $40 billion
portfolio includes luxury brands like
Gucci St. Lauron Christiey's auction
house, Alexander McQueen. Oklahoma City
taxpayers are not investing in a local
firm for the work of the arena um, owner
management. uh rather uh they are
sending checks to a wealth extraction
machine controlled by a European luxury
private equity firm. So when the
original contract was submitted uh the
floor for the arena was $900 million and
their contract was for $18 million in
the new amended arena which includes a
$1.06 billion floor for the arena.
Their uh their fee is now 21.8 875
million and the council's being asked to
approve a $3.875 million contract
extension for them. Now, initially I
thought that this was just them keeping
a line with the 2% rate, which is what
all private equity firms, they take 2%
of contracts. Even the Chamber of
Commerce takes 2% of the CVB for
administration fees, which is something
we got to talk about because for for for
us to give them 18 million and then just
take the money is is insane to take more
money on top of that. But so now, uh,
Mr. Freeman, you said that there is an
extended scope of work that justifies
this 3.875 million increase. It's
curious to me why it is exactly a 2% fee
on the floor. Also, um I went through
the original contract and the new one,
and it does appear true that that tasks
have been handed over to CIA icon,
but I just I'm I'm con here's here's my
my biggest concern was with this is that
as the arena cost goes up and up and up
and we know that it's going to be
minimum 1.5 maybe two all the things
going on in the world and and and and so
on and so I I'm concerned that
» 30 seconds remaining
» CIA icon is going to continue to
escalate their fee because you know Mr.
uh Mr. uh French private equity bought
CIA icon shortly before the deal was
passed and I just the the things that I
know about private equity firms is that
they are constantly
assessing fees, assessing uh added
percentages and things like that. And
you know, I don't I don't know what the
best thing to do about this is because
some of your stuff seemed justified, but
it is pretty strange that it's keeping
with a 2% fee. So, if there's a way to
table this and talk more about it, that
would be greatly appreciated. Everyone
loves the Thunder. We want to keep
everything. And you said a $4 million
over budget. That's the same that we're
giving them. So,
» Thank you. That concludes residents
who've signed up to speak. We could take
items A through F with one motion.
» Craig, could you just explain what was
explained about this issue?
» Yes. So, this is an addition to the
contract. I'm going to ask David to come
up and help me with this. This is an
addition to the contract. CA Icon is
helping to manage the project for us
overall and that's what their base fees
were for typically. Well, I I'll let me
let David answer this and then I'll I'll
respond if there's any other questions.
» Good morning, David Todd Maps, program
manager.
So when we negotiated the fee with CAA
icon, we didn't know what the FFN, the
furniture, fixtures, and equipment
budget was at that time and we weren't
really clear about what was the best way
to procure all of that. We've done it
several different ways throughout MAPS.
Um, most recently we had the contractor
do it at the convention center.
So, we excluded that from their contract
at the time knowing that we would have
to figure it out later. Well, now it's
later and it's time to figure it out.
And we have and we think the best route
is to have them do all the procurement.
And when I say procurement, this is
every knife, every fork, every plate,
every lift, every mop bucket, every mop,
all of the things in the building. And
all of those things will be bid
through CAA. So they're not just going
out and buying these things. They're
putting together packages and and
sending it out and bidding it and then
making sure that it gets to the new
arena at the right time. We we can't
deliver plates if we don't have the
windows in, you know. So it's it's
timing, it's it's storage, it's all of
those things. So, we decided that it was
better to have CIA do this because their
fee was considerably less than having
the contractor do it who would add on
additional fees. So, we always knew this
was coming. It's um it's something that
has to be done and we feel like this is
the best route.
All right. We can take a motion in a
second then on um the PPA docket.
We have that motion and second. Please
cast your votes.
Passes unanimously. Now we'll adjourn
OCPA and reconvene as the council. We're
on the consent docket. Item nine. The uh
item 9A was already deferred. And then
we do have a
scheduled presentation for item BL.
Uh, is there any other item that council
member wishes to pull out for a separate
comment, question, vote?
Um, could I item W?
Okay.
» All right. If that's all that there is,
then that's where we'll start. Item W.
Councilman Pennington,
» Just curious about this. This sounds
great that we would be um trying to get
some uh some It sounds like we're we're
getting some prototypes that people
would be able to to already have ready
for ADUs, etc. So, I'm just wanted to
hear about it.
» Great. Thank you. Tio Bowman with the
sustainability office. Uh this is a
grant funded program uh through the
Department of Energy. So, we have a
focus not on not only on providing the
prototype plans available for free for
residents to use uh to help promote the
accessory dwellings that were recently
approved by council uh single family
homes and duplexes. Uh and the idea is
that we have this baked in energy
efficiency and resilience uh practices
and design strategies uh that will help
save money over time. So, uh the other
idea is to encourage infield housing
development. So, we have a lot of
opportunity in the core uh to build new
housing. And so, this will be uh one
barrier out of the way that includes a
licensed architect,
» But that's just it's great for infill to
know that residents who might want to
build an ADU or even build a home next
to theirs have this opportunity to just
go to those prototypes eventually when
this is um process is over. So,
appreciate it. Just wanted to highlight
it. I'm excited about it and thank the
planning department for doing it.
» Thank you. And then we have a
presentation for BL. Mr. City Manager.
» Yes. Chris York, our budget director.
This is actually an amendment to the
current year's budget. We will also have
the adoption plan for today's bud for
next year's budget, but this is an
amendment to the current year's budget.
And I'll let Chris walk us through a
summary of the proposed amendments to
this year's budget.
» Yeah, thank you, city manager. Uh, as
you said, this is an amendment. Uh, it's
being introduced today and setting a uh
public hearing for June the 16th. We'll
bring it back to you. There's a few
funds being amended today. Those include
the general fund, the fire sales tax
fund, the internal service fund, and the
medical service program fund. And I'll
just go through those changes for you
very quickly. In the firefighting and
rescue services, facilities and
equipment fund, or the fire sales tax,
you will see a like item um later today
with the public safety sales tax
resolution for the fire side. Um it is
an increase of about a million dollars
and that's uh uh it related to um
facility improvements uh that they need
additional authority for. We also have
an increase in the general fund of about
$3 million that's going to salary
reserve which is a little vague but it's
for um salaries um as we continue to go
throughout the year. We have a couple
more payrolls. We think we're going to
be a little bit close uh on the amount
of authority originally uh a me adopted
for that. And so we're just giving
ourselves a little bit of room. We are
using fund balance to fund that, but the
expectation is that we may not use all
of that. Uh we also have a couple of
increases in our internal service fund.
Uh one for fleet for $800,000 that's
support vehicle repair. We also have a
minor increase in the risk management
fund again related to salaries of about
$25,000 just to make sure they can make
it through the remainder of the fiscal
year. The medical service program fund
has a pretty good size increase. Um, a
portion of that is related to salaries
and wages. And there's also a $2.5
million increase um that is being used
to fund a uh payment uh for a
reimbursement. So, we will fund it uh
through a state and federal program and
then receive back funding, but we need
the additional authority to pay our
piece of it and then we actually get uh
much more uh dollars back um for
participating in the program. Overall,
uh, the increase today is $9.4 million
across all funds, uh, getting us to $2.1
billion as the amended budget. Again,
we'll bring it back to you on the next
council for another review.
» Thanks, Chris.
» All right. Well, that concludes the uh
comments or presentations on the consent
docket. So, we can now adopt it if the
council so desires.
We have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously.
Item 10 is the concurrence docket. We
could take items
A through K with one motion.
A motion and a second. Cast your votes.
passes unanimously.
That brings us to item 11, items for
individual consideration. Item 11 A was
already deferred. Item 11B was already
deferred, which brings us to item 11 C,
which is an ordinance on final hearing.
It was recommended for approval,
reszoning 9525 West Hefner Road from
double A to PUD 2130.
And Councilman Carter, no one has signed
up to speak.
Thank you, mayor. Excuse me. After
speaking with the the applicant and
representation, uh we've been asked to
defer this for two weeks, please.
Okay.
So, we'll bring up a motion to defer
this for two weeks.
That's June 16th.
Got a motion in a second. Cast your
votes.
passes unanimously. Item is deferred for
two weeks. Item D is an ordinance on
final hearing that was recommended for
approval reszoning 800 East Britain Road
from R1 to PUD 2133. Councilman
Pennington, no one has signed up to
speak. Thank you, Mayor. Um, glad to see
some development here adding some more
housing. um really appreciate um David's
work on working with the neighbors who
were really concerned about development
in this area. So glad we were able to
work it out. I move approval.
Have a motion in a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously.
Item 11E is an ordinance on final
hearing. It was recommended for approval
reszoning 4200 Southwest 29th from I2
and AE2 to PUD 2134 and AE2. Uh,
Councilwoman Avers, no one has signed to
speak
on. Um, I am going to be making a motion
for deferral on this one. I met with um
Johnson and Johnson Associates this
morning in the elevator and if she would
like to present information today, the
um business representatives in the I2
zoning that is being impacted by this
application is undergoing a medical
procedure today. So, we're going to move
for two weeks so they can be able to
have conversations with the neighbors.
But I would like to give um you the
opportunity to speak if you'd like.
Hello, Jessica Louis Johnson Associates
representing the applicant Winnie
Sheridan. We are in agreement with the
deferral. Um, so I will hold all my
comments. Um, till then. Thank you.
» All right. So, we want to bring up a
motion for a deferral of two weeks. Is
that right?
» Yes, sir.
Have a motion in a second. Cast your
votes.
» Thank you.
» Passes unanimously.
» All right. Item 11F is an a uh well item
one is an amendment to the master design
statement but uh item two is really the
meat of the proposal and that is the
ordinance on final hearing recommended
for approval resoning 1325 East Hefner
Road from PUD 2057 to PUD 2137.
Councilman Pennington knowing it's time
to speak.
» Thank you mayor. Um always excited to
see uh more housing development coming
into our community and in W 7. So I'm
happy to move approval.
» All right. So I'm going to take that as
a motion actually for F1, the amendment
to the master design statement.
» Exactly what I was saying there.
» We have a motion and a second for the
amendment. Cast your votes.
Passes unanimously. Now we're on F2, the
ordinance on final hearing.
» And I move approval. Okay.
We have a motion, a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously.
Okay. Item G is an ordinance on final
hearing. It was recommended for approval
reszoning 1701 Northwest 31st from R1 to
SPD1809.
Uh, is anyone carrying uh W two today?
» Yes, I can. Um, yes, this is just an
infill development project. Um, and
Councilman Cooper is supportive, so I'll
move for approval.
Got a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously. All right. Item H is
an ordinance on final hearing. It was
recommended for approval reszoning
122000 ER drive from double A to SPUD
2. Councilman Pennington. Uh
we actually do have someone signed to
speak.
Not sure. Uh well available if needed.
So maybe this is the applicant.
» Okay. I'm going to assume so. If it's
not, I'm going to move approval. So if
someone who is opposed, we'd love to
hear from you. Um, but this is just a
simple um, lot split and I'm happy to
move approval.
Okay, we have a motion and a second.
Cast your votes.
Passes unanimously.
Uh, item I is an ordinance on final
hearing. It was recommended for approval
establishing a special permit to operate
use unit 83000.33
drinking establishment. Um at 712 North
Broadway
um and Councilwoman Hammond, we do have
someone who signed up to speak on behalf
of the applicant.
» Yes, if we could hear from them, that'd
be great.
» All right. Jay Shanker.
» Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council members,
similarly to uh Councilman Pennington's
comment about splitting a lot, uh the
two units historically in a century old
warehouse building, uh each
independently entrances retail, one
upstairs, one down. The landlord simply
seeks to split those to be able to lease
the units separately. Be no change in
purpose of the businesses. Thank you
very much.
» Thank you, Jay.
» I will go ahead and move for approval.
» We have a motion and a second. cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously. Okay. Item J is an
ordinance on final hearing. It was
recommended for approval establishing a
special permit to operate use unit uh
8300.33 drinking establishment at 3524
Newcastle Road. Councilwoman Hammond and
no one assigned to speak.
» I will move for approval.
Have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously.
Okay. 11 K1 is the public hearing
regarding the assessment role for year
2026 2027 for the Capitol Hill Business
Improvement District. Amy, has anyone
signed to speak?
» No, they haven't.
» They haven't. This was previously
introduced on a previous agenda. Um, and
the item is K2, a resolution adopting
and confirming an assessment role for
the Capitol Hill Business Improvement
District. Uh, if there are no comments
or questions, these obviously, as you
know, are fairly standard and routine
and we could take a motion for approval.
We have a motion in a second. Cast your
votes.
passes unanimously. Um, that was K2.
Item L is related. It's the ordinance on
final hearing adopting the setting the
assessment role for year 2026 2027 for
the Capitol Hill Business Improvement
District.
We have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
passes unanimously.
All right. Item M1 is the public hearing
regarding the dilapidated structures
here listed. And we do have someone who
has signed up to speak. Uh Rick
Buchanan.
» Good morning.
» I'd like to speak about 317 Southwest
19th Street.
Um, at some point an investment
person bought this property and for the
last two years he has been I'm going to
call an absentee landlord. He's allowed
drug dealing going on in the backyard.
I've called the city of Oklahoma City to
uh handle the process and it just keeps
getting kicked down the road and it's
got to the point now where that property
has turned into a homeless encampment
and not only has it affected me
mentally,
physically, but now monetarily.
The home caught fire, burnt down, and my
home suffered smoke damage, water
damage, heat damage,
and I'm just kept being told it's a
process for the city. I'd like to see
how long the process would take if this
was next door to any one of y'all
sitting on the city council.
Thank you.
So, I guess uh I mean what we're doing
today is this is taking action, right?
» That's that's correct.
» Yeah. Okay. Thank you.
» Um can you um elaborate though on how
long it might take like once we approve
this for demolition to occur because I
know sometimes that can take. I just
want to set appropriate expectations of
how long that can sometimes take.
» Certainly. Councilwoman uh Chris Smith,
code enforcement superintendent. So with
today's declaration, we'll file our
notice of lean and the statutory
limitation is 30 days from from filing.
Um at that point it would be subject to
award once it once it's awarded permit
process probably another 60 to 90 days.
» Okay. Thank you.
» And I also just want to I think it's I
think it's worth noting and so we have a
couple of these in my neighborhood too.
And so I understand and I I think one of
the things that I hope we can continue
to to explore is what are the options
for these um these slum lords
essentially that take these properties
very poorly maintain them and then our
neighbors end up responsible for all of
the negative impacts that those
dilapidated properties have. And so
you'll have these chronic these people
that chronically um violate their
responsibility in securing the property
and then there's not any additional
action that the city can take. And so I
hope we can explore what legal options
are available and again I I feel your
pain in my own neighborhood. So um
hopefully we can do do more.
» All right. Well, that concludes the
residents who signed up to speak for M1.
So, we can advance to the resolution at
M2 declaring that the structures are
dilapidated.
Have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously.
In one is the public hearing regarding
the unsecured structures here listed. Uh
Amy, has anyone signed to speak?
» No, they haven't.
» They have not. And so we will advance to
the resolution at end to declaring the
structures unsecured.
Have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously. 110 is the public
hearing regarding the abandoned building
here listed. We are just down to the one
at 1B. Uh Amy, has anyone signed or
speak?
» No, they haven't.
» They have not. And so we'll move to the
resolution at O2 declaring the buildings
abandoned.
We have a motion and second. Cast your
votes.
passes unanimously.
All right. Now we are at um item P1, the
public hearing regarding our resolution
adopting the fiscal year 2027 annual
budget. Mr. City Manager, maybe what
we'll do is we'll go ahead and hear the
folks who sign up to speak up to the
public hearing and then I think you're
going to provide uh you and your team
are going to provide a little bit of an
overview. I'm good.
» Okay. So, uh, we will handle the public
hearing first. And so, uh, Nicole
McAfee.
Hi, my name is Cole McAfee. My pronouns
are they and she. I'm a homeowner and
resident in W 6. I'm here today to ask
you again to take action against this
municipal budget. As you've heard from
concerns over the last several meetings
from constituents who have been able to
make the time to be here, this budget is
not reflective of the needs of Oklahoma
City residents and has several decisions
that negatively impact folks across the
board. From lack of access to transit to
work to ending access to critical youth
programming and spaces and further
investment in Oklahoma City's
disproportionately deadly police force
at the expense of the safety and
well-being of Oklahoma City's most
vulnerable residents.
Oklahoma City residents deserve a
meaningful say in our budget, as do you
as our elected council members. It's
insulting to all of us that what we see
year after year is your rubber stamp of
a budget that doesn't meet the needs of
your constituents.
City manager, as someone who makes four
times the median household income in
Oklahoma City, I'm not sure you're in
touch with the concerns many of us are
facing right now. If you were, maybe
you'd understand the continued
frustration with how far this budget is
from what we need to meet this moment.
Every year, I struggle to draft these
comments because I hear that Oklahoma
City is big lead, but why does that lead
continue to come at the expense of our
most historically marginalized and
excluded residents
in my ward? We need sidewalks. We need
drainage solutions for the increasingly
common delusions of rain that cause
regular flash flooding. We need better
shade so kids can enjoy the outdoors
through increasingly hot summers. We
need more common green spaces free from
the dangers of cars. We need affordable
housing as increasingly community
members I know and serve in my work are
priced out of their apartments,
duplexes, and homes. We need a budget
process that is open to community and
council member feedback. I continue to
ask you, city manager Freeman, Mayor
Halt, council members, give us
participatory budgeting, meet the needs
of this moment, and take the first step
by rejecting today's budget.
Thank you.
» Thank you. Um,
Andy Moore.
» Good morning. I'm Andy Moore. I live in
W 6. Um, I lead a nonpartisan nonprofit
organization called Let's Fix This,
which promotes civic engagement
throughout the state. Uh, Mr. Mayor, and
may it please the council, I rise today
to make two points. First, a recognition
of the immense amount of work required
to research, negotiate, and assemble the
municipal budget each year. The city of
Oklahoma City and my fellow residents
are fortunate to have such a dedicated,
educated, and committed team of public
servants who work at the city. Many of
them are my friends. It's been uh
they've spent countless hours on the
budget each year. In fact, I had
conversations with city staff as
recently as yesterday about the budget
you'll be voting on today. I know that
budget planning involves compiling data
from multiple sources, including but not
limited to the resident survey, action
center requests and complaints, 911 call
data, and the many, many, many
questions, comments, and feedback given
directly to city staff and to each of
you, which so first, thank you. That
brings me to my second point, uh, which
is that there's still room for
improvement and I urge the council to
consider and eventually to adopt, um,
involving or to use a participatory
budgeting system moving forward.
Participatory budgeting is not a new
idea. It's used in more than 7,000
cities worldwide, but it does remain an
innovative one. Participatory budgeting
provides yet another data point for the
development of the city's budget, but
it's more than just data. It's a human
touch, a recognition that we as
residents have deeper insights than
merely a list of priorities.
Participatory budgeting asks not simply,
do the people that are here today in
this chamber want pizza for lunch, but
what kind of pizza and how do we want to
pay for that pizza? Participatory
budgeting is a conversation. It's a
dialogue between you as our elected
officials and we the people who elected
you. is a recognition that all political
power is inherent and resides with the
people and that when we work together we
can create a budget that is both
fiscally and morally responsible and
more closely represents the will and the
needs of the people. Thank you.
» Thank you,
» Bridget Burns.
Good morning. My name is Bridget Burns.
Um, I live in Norman, but I commute to
Oklahoma City and have been for two
years. Um, I would also like to, um,
ask for a participatory budget process.
Um, I have sat through a lot of council
meetings in Norman, um, a few here, and
I feel like I hear the same things every
year. Um I hear um folks who are being
impacted um by the lack of affordable
housing. Um we heard from multiple
people today um that in order to raise a
concern um you have to go through a lot
of steps. So there are quite a few
people here today who have gone through
those steps and like really worked to be
here to tell these words to you, right?
But like what if we had a process where
that was built in? What if we didn't
have to build the stage every time we
have to like come here, right? Um, and I
see how hard you all work and um seeing
at the beginning um the communication
with realtors, the um voices um of
people who are holding events that have
that were initially maybe doubted here
but have now built up a really strong um
community presence and connection. And
that's what we want. We want more spaces
to connect. We want more spaces to do
art. We want more spaces for multiple
generations to be spending time
together. Um, and the city budget is
really how we do that. Um, we can really
look together at the way this funding is
allocated and spent. And we, you know,
I'm I don't just work here and other
folks don't just live here. We have
lives here. We have family here, loved
ones here. Um, we want to see kids grow
up in a safe place. Um, we want to see
people participate in city council in
the future. Um, and if the kids in OKC
public schools are going to be on city
council here in the future, a
participatory budget would also be
incredibly helpful for that. If we are
going to be functioning as a democracy,
we need to have an informed base. And
you have an informed base like really
trying to come in here. So, I just
really invite you to open that door, be
open to that process, be open to trying
new things. Um, and together, I really
do think that we could figure out a
better way to allocate these funds where
there is less harm done, more people are
thriving, more people are connecting,
more people are growing, um, and we can
make the city what we want it to be.
Thank you.
» Thank you, Ryan Mukes.
Good morning, council. Good morning,
mayor. Um, as I've been listening today,
I just really have one question for you
all. as y'all about to pass this budget
and we think about the way the city is
um going right now and looking at the
youth and the things that are happening
in our city with the youth. I just think
about how we've been passing budgets
like this for most of my lifetime here
in Oklahoma City and I just don't really
see how it's helping the youth in our
community cuz they are our future. So,
as as we all know, y'all going to pass
this budget. I would just ask y'all next
year or sometime in the near future that
we start think about how this budget is
really not helping the youth and what we
can do to to really put something
forward that's going to help the youth
that are the future of Oklahoma City.
So, thank y'all. Have a blessed day.
» Thank you, Aurelius Francisco.
Good morning, council. Aurelius
Francisco, Ward 7, one of the organizers
with the people's budget coalition here
once again. uh also the executive
director of Foundation for Liberating
Minds, a nonprofit here in Oklahoma City
doing work all across the state uh to
create a better future uh a better state
and a better world for all of our young
people. I'm here once again to call for
a very simple uh practice change here at
the city as our budget process is opaque
uh as well as inaccessible to most
residents. And so a participatory budget
would allow for that input uh and that
collaboration. um you all are
representative of your constituents. A
participatory budget would allow for
constituents to be um active
participants uh in the needs and the
resources that are allocated across uh
Oklahoma City. When I look at this
budget this year, um I am happy to once
again see funding for mobile integrated
health. Uh but also within the fire
department, you have more funding, I
believe 2.6 6 million for fire
investigations, for investigations into
arson than you do for mobile integrated
health. Right? The reality is that
there's a lot more people in our city
experiencing mental health crisis who
need that mental health support than
there are people lighting buildings on
fire. Right? And so this shows a lack of
priority, a lack of a lack of humanity
and empathy in our budget process uh
here in the city. We need more and more
housing, more and more support uh for
folks who are experiencing violence. Um,
and there really is an opportunity in
the city to be innovative. We talk about
being a big league city and one city,
one team, and there's a multi-purpose
stadium that just got uh groundbre,
right? Great things happening with maps.
The budget is another opportunity to be
innovative and to try something new. Uh,
and other cities, New Newark, uh, St.
Lewis, which has its own problems right
now, but they have offices of violence
prevention, right? What would it look
like to really invest in having an
entire office that is focused on
preventing violence, right? On youth
recreation centers, right? On community
violence intervention and restorative
justice. The budget is a real real
opportunity uh to protect the future, to
create real community safety that isn't
just fire and police, uh and to ensure
that your constituents and your
residents feel heard. Uh, and lastly, I
would just ask uh as we have this
conversation around the budget, if each
of you as council members, right, and as
the mayor could say that you um spent
enough time with this budget to
adequately vote yes on the budget, if
you felt like your questions were
answered, if you felt like the needs
that your constituents came up here and
the concerns that we have had around
public transportation, around uh uh cuts
to the parks, if you feel like those uh
uh concerns are actually being met
within this budget, and if the answer is
no, then I would ask you to vote no on
this budget. Thank you.
» Thank you.
And then uh Councilman Cooper could not
be here today but submitted a statement
to be read by the clerk. And so clerk,
would you please read this statement
from W to Councilman James Cooper?
» Okay. Apologies I'm not there. I planned
this trip last year. I appreciate the
city clerk sharing these remarks
regarding this year's budget. Along Ward
2's south boundary, we're rebuilding a
safer uptown 23rd Street and Walker
Avenue for pedestrians and drivers
thanks to a placemaking project voters
approved with 2017's better street safer
city. A similar Better Streets
streetscape starts soon. Northwest 23rd
to Northwest 36th on Portland Avenue,
where three years ago, two different
drivers hit and killed a homeless woman
in a wheelchair. Better Streets also
replaces May Avenue Bridge after its
collapse. This replacement connects
sidewalks we're building along Northwest
Expressway, connecting surrounding
neighborhoods to our bus rapid transit
system and newly renovated Bell Isle
Library, no matter how they move. From
Northwest 39th Street to PO to Britain,
Better Streets revitalizes Ward 2's
historic main streets. Our budget funds
such capital improvement projects. These
districts generate sales tax which funds
our annual operating budget. Since I
started as a COTPA trustee in 2015, I've
dedicated myself to this vision, a
better connected city.
That's why cuts to weekend bus service
hours in the operating budget hurt,
especially since residents depend on
buses to connect to jobs.
Additionally, this budget should
quadruple funding for our homeless
street outreach teams and alternative
response to 911 mental health calls.
These new programs succeed with limited
budgets. Imagine what prioritizing their
success would do. When Newark
implemented its violence interruption
program, connecting people to
stabilizing support services and
training residents involved formerly in
gang violence to deescalate violent
situations. New York saw a 30-year low
in violent crime and a 50% homicide
reduction in South Ward, where most
violence existed. We must implement
OKC's first violence interruption
program so we can achieve a hint of
those statistics. I'm determined to see
this vision become a reality.
With budgets, I don't always get what I
want, what our people need, but I'm
persistent. And one street skate and
neighborhood sidewalk at a time, one
battle after another, OKC becomes a
better connected, safer city. Our one
transit election gives voters a
once-ina-lifetime opportunity to restore
public transit. This budget cuts to
create a revenue source for street
improvements, increase bus frequency,
implement BRT to Tinker and West OKC,
build light rail to our airport, and
construct commuter rail connecting
Edund, Norman, and OKC. I remain
persistent because I've seen our
successes and know what we're capable of
when we prioritize our people and
neighborhoods.
» Thank you, Mr. City Manager. I believe
you wanted to provide a little bit of an
overview before we consider the
resolution.
» Chris York, our budget director, will
provide a quick overview here that we
have in the budget. I do want to stress
that, you know, we go into situations
like this and we've talked about it
before. Um, we do have revenue growth,
but it's not sufficient to stay the keep
the pace with expenditure growth. And
so, we had to close that gap. It's
always difficult when we have to cut the
budget, especially when we've had to do
that numerous years. It's small amounts
that we're doing each year, but it does
impact people's lives and it does impact
services we can provide. Um, and and it
means a lot to us that, you know, we
want to be able to serve our residents
to the best of our ability. And so, it's
something that's very important to us,
to all of our employees, all of those
who work in the budget process. I don't
want to lose sight though of the great
things that are still happening within
the budget that we've got to make sure
we're providing core services and
looking at alternative services as have
been mentioned of different ways that we
can serve to better serve all of our
communities. So, we're committed to that
going forward. I appreciate Chris and
his team and all the employees in the
city um that have worked on this budget
and let Chris give us a quick overview
before we move forward.
» Yeah, thank you, city manager. Uh just a
few slides for you uh to wrap up the
presentations. Um starting with uh where
we started uh so back on April 28th
council received the proposed budget. We
started having our uh budget
presentations from several departments
and opened up our comment period
and through that period uh we were able
to present to you oh sorry my get that.
Thank you. Uh our original batch of
comments which you may recall was uh
about 88 um pieces of feedback from our
residents that include both live uh
vision.c.gov gov uh emails and so on.
And so since that time uh we've plused
up to 180 um comments. Those should be
in your inbox um as of uh today or or
yesterday actually. Um and so uh I if I
had to describe the additional comments
that came in, the majority of those were
related to calls for additional
resources from animal welfare. Again,
they seem to have a little bit of a
blend of uh internal uh comments. So we
have many uh uh employees that are also
residents of the city. We also had some
additional calls for investment in
public transportation um and uh some
additional calls for participatory
budgeting as we heard this morning.
Circling back to the slide that we
presented you on April the 28th. Um just
going over the highlights there. The
general fund is increasing by 3.54%.
That's driven largely by personnel cost
increases. Um, we had some significant
drivers from health insurance, uh, cost
of living adjustments, uh, retirement,
uh, increases as well that are pushing
that number up. And as the city manager
referenced, we just don't have the
revenue, uh, to support some of those
increases. So, we did have to ask
departments to take, uh, 2.4% cuts in
most cases for general fund supported
departments, 1.4% for our public safety
departments. Uh, our other non other
operating funds are increasing at 4.42%.
Um, and the big mover there is our hotel
motel tax, which as you recall increased
its rate from 5.5% to 9.25% and we're
just revising our estimate to keep up
with that. That was an increase of about
$15.4 million there. So, that's the the
largest piece of that. In our
non-operating funds are our capital
related funds, we have a relatively
small increase of 01%
uh driven primarily by MAPS 4.
If we look at headcount changes, um it's
hard to see the numbers in the
aggregate, but as we look at it here,
we're only decreasing headcount by one.
I do want to mention here though that
this does include the or does not
include the 20 frozen police officers
that we had to freeze in the prior year.
So effectively, it's 20 less than that
or 5069.
If we break that down by department,
we can see some of those changes here.
So rather rather incremental changes
across many of the different
departments. Um I'll just call out a few
of them. Uh the city manager's office
adds three. Two of those are related to
maps and arena work. One is an
innovation uh employee that's coming
from finance which I'll talk about in a
second. There finance is down one. that
is that our performance measurement
program shifting over to innovation. Uh
I think that makes good sense um to be
located there. Uh in fire we have a
decrease of six. Those are the fire
corporals. We're from the fifth position
on our ladders. So there should not be
any effect to apparatus available. Um
but there will be six less firefighter
positions. Uh no firefighters of course
will be impacted in terms of layoffs.
um incremental changes uh down in a
couple of other uh departments there.
Municipal counselor is adding a little
bit of headcount. They're adding two.
Those are going to be funded by the geo
bond issuance that we're rolling out uh
as well as the public safety sales tax
for the police side. Um we have five uh
headcount being decreased in parks and
that's related to a restructure. Uh and
then we have two uh being added to
planning. Those are go funded positions
that will assist with affordable
housing.
Uh, police is decreasing a net of one
position in headcount and then public
transportation and parking is reducing
two. Uh, but it's really just them
shifting those two positions over to the
Kappa Trust. We have a couple of ads for
public works as they start to get ready
to ramp up for those geo bond projects
that are going to come online. And then
utilities is adding eight, but those are
funded by rateayers. Uh, so I'd remind
folks that's a different funding source
there. Uh again, net of down one. Uh and
it does again not include the 20 frozen
police officer positions.
And that is all I have for you this
morning, but happy to uh answer any
questions if you have them.
» All right. Any questions or comments?
Are we ready to take up the resolution?
» Um I do have a few comments. Um, and I
mean at this point probably not a
surprise to anybody that I'm I'm not
supportive of this budget, particularly
um the the bus cuts feel particularly
difficult to stomach. Um and and in
general, as I've said multiple years, um
that you know, the the departments that
already struggle the most to do a lot
with with what they're given, taking the
disproportionate cut is um is very
difficult for me to um to support given
that the majority of calls,
conversations that I have um in the
community with dis W six district
associations, neighborhood associations,
um are around the things that um don't
have the largest budgets. They are, you
know, support for neighborhood services,
programming, um support, commercial
district support, um investment in youth
programming, um within our parks, uh
homelessness, all you know, animal
welfare. These are the things that I get
the most calls about and that often feel
like that we just sort of hold them um
steady at the same amount um without
thinking again creatively about how we
can be um investing in and improving
those services for our residents. And um
so I'm I'm just not able to support this
budget again um given that again I've
said it before. I'm not the first person
to say it um by any means, but budgets
are moral documents and they show us
what we value. Um and the the cuts that
we are asking people to take that who
are already hit the hardest by our
economic outlook um making it harder for
them to get to work to, you know, have a
clean and safe neighborhood um is just
too much for me to to stomach. So, I
will be voting now.
All right. Well, if there's no other
comments, we could take a motion. Could
» Mayor, could I make one comment quickly?
Um, I just want to say thank you to the
PE to our residents, our neighbors who
have come and who consistently come to
share their view, and I think a view
that's shared by a lot of people in our
community. Um, I obviously I don't agree
with every single cut we've made. I'm on
year two of a budget and we're back to
cuts again, which is not fun. Um, but
I'll just say, and I appreciate the
comments from um, Councilman Cooper, um,
what I'll say is good government is
always based in good compromise. And I
feel like while we have making cuts that
I don't like, um, I think we're making
the best compromise knowing the other
investments outside of this budget that
this city is going to make to address
some of these concerns. So, I'll point
to the $50 million in the Gul bond that
is going to help us support uh,
affordable housing in this city. I'll
point to the one transit initiative that
we hope to support sometime in the next
year or two that could put millions of
dollars into our bus routes, into uh our
transit system and trains, into our
roads, into our sidewalks. Um this city
budget is hard because of our
limitations um around the sales tax. And
I think we've been very creative at
finding other revenue streams to support
our priorities. And so again, knowing
that this is not ideal, I appreciate the
good compromise for our good government.
So, I'm going to vote yes.
» And I want to thank you for the hard
work as well. I know Norman has taken an
8% across the board cut, which would be
really hard for us to handle. So, the
fudiciary responsibility of our city is
incredibly important and a particip.
Um, if we only had 88 people responding
until we put another call out and then I
don't remember what you said, 156 or
somewhere in that neighborhood. We got
to figure out a better way to get people
to
participate. There I said it. Um,
anyway, thank you, Chris. I appreciate
your work.
» All right. Any other comments?
Okay. Okay. Well, we could take a motion
then on the resolution
item P2.
Motion and a second. Cast your votes.
Passes 7 to one. Uh thank you for
everybody for all the work. Uh it's a
multimonth process. I guess the next one
kind of starts tomorrow and uh we're
very grateful for all the work that goes
into it. Um, having said that, we're not
quite done really with budget stuff. Uh,
these next few votes are also, uh,
relative to our budgeting process. And
so, P1 is a public hearing regarding
amending the June 17th, 2025 resolution
approving certain fire expenditures. Uh,
Amy, has anyone signed up to speak?
» No, they haven't.
» They have not. So, we have the
resolution then at P2 uh, to be
introduced and set Q.
» Oh, I don't know why I keep saying P. Q.
Sorry. Q. That was Q1. the hearing and
Q2 the resolution. So Q2 is a resolution
to be introduced and set for final
hearing on June 16th amending the June
17th, 2025 resolution approving certain
fire expenditures.
» This one this proposal align I mean this
adjustment to the resolution align with
the budget amendment that was
introduced. So both of those would be
heard then on the next meeting.
» Okay.
So we can take up that resolution Q2. We
have a motion in a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously.
Next up is similar. R1 is a public
hearing regarding fire sales tax
appropriations. Amy Amy, has anyone
signed up to speak?
» No, they haven't.
» They have not. And so R2 is a resolution
to be introduced and set for final
hearing on June 16th regarding
appropriations for the fire department.
Anything else to say on that?
» I think that's I think that's fine. The
the resolutions both for police and fire
sales tax um funds align with what was
introduced and and presented in the
budget.
» All right. Well, we have a motion and a
second.
Cast your votes.
passes unanimously.
And then S1 is the public hearing
regarding police sales tax
appropriations. Amy, has any time to
speak?
» No, they haven't.
» All right. So, we'll advance to the
resolution at S2 uh which will be
introduced today and set for final
hearing on June 16th regarding
appropriations for the police
department.
We have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes 7 to one. All right. Next up is
item T. This is a joint resolution with
the Oklahoma City Economic Development
Trust certifying that Project Necklace,
a proposed feature film project, is an
eligible project under our strategic
investment programs film incentive
program. Uh, this would be an allocation
of $28,963.
And we have Jill Simpson.
» Good morning, mayor and city council
members. I'm bringing you an application
for a project we've cnamed Project
Necklace,
and it is an independent film on a
pretty small scale. Um, it tells the
story of a flamboyant former late night
host's luxurious life when it's
shattered by a murderer outside its
house, exposing a conspiracy tied to a
rumored $20 million necklace. Uh, this
project is written by and directed by,
not starring, but directed by late late
show host and podcaster Craig Kilborn.
and filming takes place. It actually
they started filming yesterday, June 1st
through June 26th.
Uh the company is produced uh it's
produced by Gorgeous Films LLC. They're
using a local line producer. 100% of it
is filmed in Oklahoma City limits uh
utilizing Oklahoma City facilities. 97%
of the workforce is Oklahoma City based
and anticipated Oklahoma City
expenditures of 579,251
which is 77% of the budget at their
budget here. They are they are
qualifiers at 5% because they're
spending over 500,000 and in this case
579,251.
Um, some of the other criteria, they're
hiring more than 50% local crew, in this
case, 97%.
Um, more than 50% of filming days in
Oklahoma City, in this case, 100%.
They are there are more than 50% of
contracts with Oklahoma City vendors
with an eye towards diversity, in this
case 96%.
And they're filming at onet studios here
in downtown and filmmakers ranch. and
they're using two different post-p
production facilities in Oklahoma City,
a new one called US Post House and also
Apex Post. Um they're pre-qualified for
the state film incentive and it is an
uptick that they're using our
soundstages
uh one set in filmmakers ranch.
Recommended allocation at 5% is $28,963.
And here's a little bit of the
breakdown. uh local hires, 34 crew
members, and when you take that across
20 days of production, that comes out to
60 680 man days of work. 97% Oklahoma
City residents, 268,79
in labor income and the use of three
different two different facilities.
Um the snapshot is 100% of filming days
here, 97% local crew, 96% local vendors.
And the economic impact for this
project, the total impact is 1.34
million. Jobs supported direct and
indirect are 49. Labor income 505,156.
And for their qualified expenditures of
579251,
the highlights are total trans total
taxable expenditures
83,594.
Below the line salary and PDM for crew
is 238,79
and above the line salary at 30,000 did
not have to be capped.
Does anybody have any questions?
Okay, thank you.
We could take up the resolution found at
11T.
We have a motion and a second. Cast your
votes.
Passes unanimously and Vice Mayor Hel
presiding.
Which brings us to U1 resolution
authorizing the firm of Colin Zorn and
Wagner to represent municipal employee
Brandon Cobb in the case of Zachary
Waller versus the city. Um a motion or
to executive session.
» I don't think they need one.
» It does. We don't need an executive
session on this one. Is this
all?
All right, the motion passes
six to nothing.
Um, next on the agenda is uh items VW
and X, which all three are requesting
executive session. So, if we could get
three separate motions, please
And that passes six to nothing for item
W.
And that passes six to nothing. And the
last one is item X.
And that also passes six to nothing.
Bringing us to item Y which is claims
recommended for denial
passing six to nothing. And item Z,
which is claims recommended for
approval.
And that also passes six to nothing.
We are to comments from council. Ward
one.
» Thank you, sir. Don't really have a
whole lot. I just wanted to say happy
birthday to Councilman Stone Cipher and
Councilman Stone this week and
appreciate their service here.
» Do we not have an age limit for council
member?
» Ward four.
» W six.
» Hey, we're low mileage.
» W seven.
» Um yeah, it's just a quick comment. Uh
tomorrow evening at 5:00, um we are
having another meeting of the Ward 7 um
after school coalition. And so the whole
focus is on how we can bring together
organizations that are working on
serving our students in northeast
Oklahoma City um after school and how we
can share our resources, how we can work
better together to better serve our
students in our community. And so we're
meeting at 5:00 tomorrow at the Alpha
Community Center at Garden Oaks. And so
we're excited again to to keep that
group organized. So thank you.
» Word date.
» I want to thank the uh Oklahoma City
Metropolitan Association of Realers for
being here today. Um, it's my
understanding that June is a national
home ownership month and if you are
considering a move in the near future,
there are certain services and
businesses that are providing
affordability calculators which will
help you in that process. So, take
advantage of that. I also want to
welcome uh all our fans that are coming
to Oklahoma City for the Women's College
World Series. And um I want to thank um
Craig Freeman for us again receiving the
highest bond rating uh with Moody's and
S&P uh for the 18th year in a row. And
finally, the new US News and World
Report that ranked us second in large
cities not just in Oklahoma, not just in
the Southwest, but in the United States
as being the second best city. I'm very
proud of that. Thank you, Craig.
» All right, citizens to be heard. Um,
state your name. You have three minutes.
And first on the list is Ronnie Kirk.
My name is Ronnie Kirk.
My address is 2328
North Missouri.
The month of June
is very special to me.
June the 17th,
1970,
General Patton
eliberated
France
from the German
on the same day. And that day here in
Oklahoma City,
I applied and got
city permits
to hold Junth
and I've been holding them ever since.
Now the Indians,
they freed they slaves
two years after they after they had been
freed.
But Oklahoma
went on for another six years
before they in 1994
before they let the people know that
they were free.
When I gave that block party on 23rd
I'muri
about 35 35 to 4,000 people came out
was no internet that time but so many
people came out
our senators had to tell the people they
were free. The cat was out the bag
there.
The Oklahoma
I mean the national Junth committee
is having a national meeting here
on the 13th and 14th of June. They plan
on marching down 23rd.
The next day they plan on going to the
library
here downtown
and speak.
You know,
Oklahoma come so far. You can't change
the past.
You can only make the past better.
They asked me to be
» 30 seconds remaining. the grand marshal
of the parade
which is an honor to me. I want to say
thank you all this morning and Junth is
really special to me for many years.
Thank you.
» Thank you Mr. Kirk.
» Yes sir.
» Next up is Steve Hunt name and address
and you have 30 minute or three minutes.
30 minutes.
» I can do that.
» I bet you can.
» They're like, "Oh my god, not this guy."
30 minutes.
» All right. Steve Hunt, 6300 West Drive.
Um, so obviously I was a little
disappointed that we didn't have a
better discussion on a French private
equity firm uh Arctimus uh getting uh
3.875
million, which is interestingly 775,000
more than Swadley stole. had he traded
in his smoker for a suit, he'd be out
having a good time like Mr. Artemis,
who's actually uh married to Selma
Hayek, so he's living pretty good right
now. Um so all the talks about the
budget and things like that, I just I go
back to how much is being wasted on fees
to equity firms. Um, you know, a couple
months ago I I talked about a water
contract that I guess was 22 million and
bundled in as like a $400,000 management
fee by the equity firm that owns it.
This is even trickling. This 2% business
is even trickling to the Chamber of
Commerce. Uh, last council meeting I
came up here to talk about the $110,000,
I guess they called it a pass through to
the CBB. The CBB now gets $18 million
from Oklahoma City taxpayers and is
embedded in the Chamber of Commerce. And
it's interesting that the Chamber of
Commerce ran the hotel motel tax
campaign out of the CVB. So like, okay,
let's have this vote where the people,
you know, a few people show up and then
vote for us to get a raise. Um, as I was
looking at the u
the budget of the CVB, which is now $18
million for the Chamber of Commerce to
type vibrant over and over and
describing things. I noticed something
that was just incredible. Two things.
Okay, so in the budget of the CVB is
$3.4 million of salaries. And I looked
at their 990 filings and their highest
paid employee in um the CBB is $240,000
for the guy that manages it. So I'm
concerned that it literally says this in
their budget, $3.4 million of the CVB
goes to salaries. So is that for the
entire Chamber of Commerce? Also, the
craziest thing, and this is this blew my
mind when I saw it, so I'm going to have
to find it again. Um, on the receipt of
$18 million, uh, they tack on a $388,000
administration fee. That's 2%.
The chamber is billing taxpayers a 2%
administrative fee for receiving $18
million. Like, like they have to like
come over here and get their tax of
money back. And then we're we're paying
them $388,000 for that. Have you has
anyone seen this?
anyone. It's crazy.
This is the kind of stuff that and you
know folks talk about a particip I like
there's a lot of stuff that we need to
look at and this 2% nonsense especially
with the chamber. I mean if you ever
look at visit OKC go to search type the
word vibrant it'll blow your mind. They
say it 388 times. All they do is
describe things as vibrant which is an
old chamber word and all right thanks.
We got going to recess for executive
session and we'll adjourn when we get
back.
motion to adjurnn.
So move