Norman City Council Regular Meeting - August 12, 2025
Norman City Council Regular Meeting - August 12, 2025
The Norman City Council met on August 12, 2025, to conduct routine business, present awards and proclamations, consider a permanent visitable dwelling incentive program, approve a preliminary plat, and declare a vacancy in Ward 5 following Councilmember Nash's resignation. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Items 4 through 26 were approved unanimously by consent, covering routine approvals and administrative actions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Cynthia Rogers (Ward 4) spoke in support of the visitable dwelling program, sharing personal experience with making her home more accessible and urging the city to help others age in place.
- Evan Dunn (1400 Garfield Avenue) asked about the incentive amount and anticipated participation rate for the visitable program.
- Trey Kirby (miscellaneous comments) reported difficulty with OEC refusing to provide 10 individual meters for a planned low-income housing project in an opportunity zone, stating the utility insisted on a single master meter, which would make the developer responsible for the bill.
- Cynthia Rogers (miscellaneous comments) discussed due diligence for TIF districts, specifically the arena TIF, and urged council to require an oversight board, outside analysis, educational impact study, supermajority vote for major changes, and a public vote for large TIFs.
- David De Vila (Ward 1) asked for an update on the city's purchase of land near his apartment complex for supportive housing and raised concerns about crime and security.
- Nancy Ashton (Ward 1, Wendham Senior Residences) stated that residents have had no update for two and a half months regarding the city's purchase agreement for a lot in front of their building for permanent supportive housing, calling for an answer.
- Evan Dunn (miscellaneous comments) made philosophical remarks about curiosity, science, and Carl Jung, and praised Councilmember Nash's analytical skills.
Discussion Items
- Human Rights Award (2024): Ashley Creed, co-founder of Red Dirt Collective and director of its Mutual Aid Fair (which had ~250 participants in 2024), received the City of Norman Human Rights Award. The resolution was adopted unanimously. Creed thanked the council and emphasized collective action and the importance of local government serving all residents.
- Proclamations: The council acknowledged proclamations declaring August 19, 2025, as World Humanitarian Day (accepted by Akash Patel of the Happy World Foundation) and September 5, 2025, as United Way Day (to be delivered to Darren Wilson). Both were acknowledged unanimously.
- Council Announcements: Councilmembers thanked outgoing Councilmember Nash (Ward 5) for his service, announced new appointments to boards and commissions, reminded the public of the Ward 5 vacancy application process, and wished students and staff a good start to the school year.
- Ordinance 27 – Visitable Dwelling Incentive Program: Greg Clark, Development Services Manager, presented the program, which offers a building permit fee waiver (e.g., $420 for a 3,000 sq ft home) for single-family, two-family, and ADU builders who include visitable features (no-step entry, wider doors, bathroom backing, etc.). The program had been operating via resolution; this ordinance makes it permanent. After public comments, the ordinance was adopted on second reading (section by section) and final reading (as a whole), both unanimously.
- Item 28 – Preliminary Plat for MINIC Materials Edition: Located at 6665 Interstate Drive, this is a replat of an existing lot for a materials supplier that will demolish and rebuild a similar-sized building. The civil engineer, Caleb Morgan, stated the site will have less impervious area and meet all landscape and drainage requirements. The preliminary plat was approved unanimously.
- Item 29 – Declaration of Vacancy in Ward 5: Councilmember Nash announced his resignation effective immediately, citing his upcoming move and inability to give full attention to the ward. The council unanimously approved the declaration of vacancy. The mayor outlined a process: a selection committee of Ward 5 residents, a one-week application period, interviews, and an appointment by the first or second meeting in September, followed by a special election in spring 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Human Rights Award: Awarded to Ashley Creed (unanimous).
- Proclamations: Acknowledged unanimously.
- Visitable Dwelling Ordinance: Adopted on second and final reading (both unanimous). The program is now permanent; staff will conduct a lunch-and-learn to promote it.
- Preliminary Plat for MINIC Materials: Approved unanimously.
- Ward 5 Vacancy: Declared unanimously. The vacancy will be filled by appointment after a public application and interview process, with a target date of September 2025. A special election will follow in spring 2026.
- All other agenda items: Passed unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the City Council, Norman Utilities Authority, Norman Municipal Authority, and Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority meeting of August 12th, 2025. Madam Clerk, will you call the roll? Council Councilmember Gadisferi. Here. Councilmember Peacock. Councilmember Mongtoya. Present. Councilmember Grant. Present. Councilmember Nash. Here. Councilmember Hinkle? Here. Councilmember Village. Present. Councilmember Dixon. Present. Mayor Holman. Here. Um next item is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you'll choose Pledge of 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. All right. Okay, awards and presentations. Um, a resolution of the council of the city of Norman, Oklahoma awarding the 2024 City of Norman Human Rights Award in conjunction with the Norman Human Rights Commission. I entertain a motion to adopt or reject the resolution. Motion to adopt do I have a second second? The motion on the floor is to adopt the resolution. Council members, you may cast your votes. All votes have been cast, and the motion to adopt the resolution passes unanimously. So are we not doing this from go ahead and add her turner for this? And we really think this is moving in the right direction, and we really wanted to say thank you. Um with a fully where our goal is, and we hope that you can continue moving forward with appointments and have a fully seated commission. And we were very happy that she is here today to, and she's been very patient waiting to accept the award in front of City Council. Ashley Creed was nominated specifically as a co-founder of RDC Red Dirt Collective and the director of the mutual aid fairs for RDC. The nominator rights. And the last one that was held at the time of this nomination in 2024 had around 250 participants. Ashley has developed the overall design of the Mutual Aid Fair over time to not just offer free food, housing supplies, and clothing, but also bringing together many organizations and volunteers to offer services such as haircuts for adults and children alike, bicycle repair, mending of clothes, animal care by St. Francis Animal Rescue, books by Little Reed Wagon, health care services by agencies, and many other resources. For me personally, the creation of the Mutual Aid Fair is more than enough to qualify her for the Human Rights Award, as she is continuously seeking new ways to improve services and resources for citizens at the fairs. The amount of humans helped at the mutual aid fairs is huge. But there is more. Ashley can often be found at events like monthly community conversations created to bring the community together to learn and grow. Monthly Cook for a Crowd events to support Norman Caravans Meal Program, helping at the RDC Community Garden, bringing food to three outdoor pantries or more. RDC takes care of picking up donations from people in the community or connecting people to other resources. She is also a board member, the secretary for Norman Caravans to support their mission, and she is the administrator for the social media pantry page at Norman. Ashley Creed is one of the most amazing humans I know. She lifts up the entirety of Norman with the work she directly does and indirectly supports. I think she should be celebrated and recognized for it. Thank you, Ashley.
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