Good evening and welcome to the Norman to the City Council Norman Utilities Authority, Norman Municipal Authority, and Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority meeting of September 23rd, 2025.

Madam Clerk, will you call the roll?

Councilmember Gandisbury.

Here.

Councilmember Peacock.

Absent.

Councilmember Vontoya.

Present.

Councilmember Grant.

Here.

Councilmember Nofire.

Here.

Councilmember Hinkle.

Here.

Councilmember Vlogett?

Here.

Councilmember Cameron.

I am here.

Mayor Holman.

Here.

All right, will you please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance?

I pledge allegiance.

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation, under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

And the second proclamation is a proclamation proclaiming the month of September as healthy aging month in the City of Norman.

I'll entertain a motion to acknowledge receipt of the proclamations.

The motion on the floor is to acknowledge receipt of the proclamations.

Council members, you may cast your votes.

And for our first traffic transportation engineer for the city of Norman join me at the podium.

Whereas the City of Norman, Oklahoma is committed to the safety and well-being of all its residents and visitors, and whereas pedestrian safety is a fundamental concern and fostering a safe environment for pedestrians is essential for the vitality and health of our community.

And whereas we acknowledge the tremendous value and vibrancy that walkable districts like Campus Corner and downtown bring to our city, serving as hubs of culture, commerce, and community gathering, and reinforcing the importance of pedestrian safety.

And whereas raising awareness about pedestrian safety during the month of October when daylight hours decrease is critical to ensuring the safety of pedestrians and reducing accidents and injuries.

And whereas educating the public about safe pedestrian practices and encouraging responsible driver behavior is essential in preventing pedestrian accidents and fatalities.

Now therefore, I, mayor of the city of Norman, Oklahoma, do hereby proclaim the month of October as pedestrian safety month in Norman, Oklahoma, and I call upon all residents, businesses, schools, community organizations, and government agencies to participate in activities and initiatives that enhance pedestrian safety, including educational programs, public awareness campaigns, and efforts to improve our pedestrian infrastructure.

Passed and approved this 23rd day of September 2025.

Thank you.

As a voting member of the Transportation Committee, the Technical Committee for ACOG, as well as an ex-officio member of the bicycle advisory committee.

This means a lot to the efforts of both those organizations.

Thank you.

And for my next proclamation would Lynn Miller, former Mayor Lynn Miller, and Catherine Leedy please join me here at the podium.

A proclamation of the mayor of the City of Norman, Oklahoma, proclaiming the month of September as Healthy Aging Month in the City of Norman.

Whereas the City of Norman recognizes the importance of supporting older adults in leading vibrant, healthy, and engaged lives, and whereas September is nationally observed as Healthy Aging Month, a time to promote the positive aspects of aging and encourage individuals to take proactive steps toward physical, emotional, intellectual, and social well-being.

And whereas healthy aging is supported by access to nutritious food, regular physical activity, social connection, lifelong learning, preventive health care, and safe, inclusive environments.

And whereas Norman is a member of the AARP network of age-friendly states and communities, and whereas Norman is home to a variety of resources that promote healthy aging.

And whereas the City of Norman's Adult Wellness and Education Center is a state of the art facility operated by Healthy Living Norman, offering a wide range of healthy aging programming for adults age 50 and older.

These include fitness classes, personal training, art workshops, healthy cooking courses, health and nutrition classes, recreational activities, music programs, book clubs, support groups, social events, educational lectures, and access to amenities such as a fitness center, indoor warm saltwater pool, walking track, pickleball courts, billiards, teaching kitchen, art studios, and whereas the adult wellness and education center embodies a six-dimensional model of wellness, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, physical, and occupational, providing a holistic approach to aging well in our community.

Now, therefore, I, Mayor of the City of Norman, Oklahoma, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2025 as Healthy Aging Month in the City of Norman, Oklahoma, passed and adopted, approved this 23rd day of September 2025.

Thank you, Mayor Holman and Council members.

You will notice that they brought me along as an exhibit for healthy aging.

Anyway, okay.

And it's been amazing.

And now I'm gonna let Katherine Lighty, who is our executive director, say a few words about the center.

Mayor Holman and Council members and residents.

Thank you for this opportunity to say a few words today, recognizing September as healthy aging month, and for this proclamation, um, declaring it healthy aging month in uh Norman.

Um, with this proclamation, we celebrate not only the vitality and resilience of older adults in our community, but also the shared commitment to ensuring that aging is a journey marked by dignity, wellness, and connection.

Healthy aging is not just about adding years to life, it's about adding life to years.

And uh thanks to seniors in our community and our city leadership, um, Norman Forward, and the many organizations in our community that uh serve the interests of seniors.

Um, we are making great strides.

Um, Healthy Living Norman is currently conducting our annual membership survey uh for those who attend the adult wellness and education center.

And feedback so far is showing that the center's programs are helping older citizens stay physically active and stay healthy, stay connected with others, and to be less isolated.

I've heard from members um who have lost a spouse within the last couple years.