Norman City Council Meeting - September 8, 2026: Proclamations, Consent Docket, and Public Comments
Norman City Council Meeting - September 8, 2026
The Norman City Council held a regular meeting on September 8, 2026, featuring multiple proclamations, council announcements, approval of the consent docket, and extensive public comments regarding the Sage Cobblestone apartment complex. The meeting also included a storm cleanup update and a report on a legal victory for the city.
Proclamations
- Healthy Aging Month (September 2026): Lynn Miller, chair of the board of Healthy Living Norman, and Catherine Lighty, executive director, accepted the proclamation. They reported over 4,000 members and more than 128,000 visits to the Adult Wellness and Education Center in the past year. The center was funded by the Norman Forward initiative approved by voters in 2015.
- Constitution Week (September 17–23, 2026): Lana Bierhalter of the Black Beaver Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, accepted the proclamation. She noted the DAR’s role in establishing Constitution Week nationally.
- Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15, 2026): Robert Ruiz, superintendent of Puertas Dual Language Community School, accepted the proclamation. He shared his personal story of moving to Norman and co-founding the Norman Music Festival and Fiesta Spatres OKC.
- Suicide Prevention Month (September 2026): Connie Erickson, mother of a veteran who died by suicide in 2013, accepted the proclamation. She cited CDC data ranking Oklahoma 7th in the nation for suicide deaths and VA data ranking Oklahoma 3rd for veteran suicide deaths. She called for action beyond posting the 988 Lifeline number.
Council Announcements
- Ward 1: Councilmember announced a new convenience store at Lindsay and Biloxi, thanked constituents for engagement on the billboard issue, and promoted the Norman Out of the Darkness Walk on September 27 at Ruby Park (3:30–5:30 PM).
- Ward 2: Councilmember noted the Second Friday Art Walk on September 11 and encouraged attendance.
- Ward 3: Councilmember reported that city staff, legal, and the bike committee are reviewing e-bike safety concerns; also noted ongoing discussions about deannexation of Ward 5.
- Ward 4: Councilmember announced the Oversight Committee meeting on September 10 at 5 PM, including a quarterly homeless update, encampment research, and noise ordinance fee updates. She also acknowledged the passing of Barbara Henderson, a civil rights pioneer in Norman.
- Ward 6: Councilmember highlighted item 7 on the consent agenda (billboard sign regulations) and invited public input on billboards generally. He also announced a coffee chat on September 12 at Beanstalk Coffee.
- Ward 8: Councilmember reported that the city won a court case, with five counts dismissed or summary judgment granted in favor of the city.
- Mayor Holman: Updated on storm cleanup: over 100,000 cubic yards of debris collected (equivalent to 50 football fields one foot deep, about 4,000 truckloads). Crews are working seven days a week, ten hours a day. He also reminded residents of weekly committee meetings (live-streamed on YouTube).
Consent Docket
- Items 6 through 28 were placed on the consent docket and approved unanimously.
- Item 8 (Sage Cobblestone – first reading): Councilmember Blodgett initially moved to postpone the first reading to November 10 due to a scheduling conflict (parent-teacher conferences). The applicant, Mr. Crodell, opposed the delay, citing financial strain from 50% occupancy (estimated at 56–57% currently). After debate, Councilmember Blodgett withdrew the motion, and the first reading proceeded as scheduled. The second reading will be set for a later date, likely November 24, with a motion to postpone at that time.
- Item 29 (Linmark): Withdrawn by the applicant.
Public Comments (Miscellaneous)
- Sage Cobblestone Residents (multiple speakers): Expressed strong opposition to changing the complex from a 55+ community to an all-age community. Concerns included: insufficient parking (202 spaces for 168 units, some paid garages), lack of playground or open space for children, potential disruption to the senior community, and financial impacts on residents if utilities or amenities are cut. Several residents disputed the applicant’s occupancy figures, claiming rates are higher than stated. They urged the council to hold the applicant accountable for a written plan before any vote.
- Rodney Johnson (Ward 2): Discussed the city’s financial challenges, noting that sales tax growth is needed to fund employee raises. He criticized the downtown association for opposing a sales tax rebate for Sooner Mall and urged the council to support growth citywide. He also addressed deannexation, stating that the city is not in great financial shape.
Key Outcomes
- All four proclamations were approved and presented.
- The consent docket (items 6–28) was approved unanimously.
- Item 8 (Sage Cobblestone) had its first reading; the second reading will be scheduled for a later date, with a motion to postpone likely on the next agenda.
- Item 29 (Linmark) was withdrawn by the applicant.
- Public comments were recorded for the record; no council action was taken on them.
Meeting Transcript
We're elected to City Council at the exact same time in 2013 and served for six years together. So always a pleasure to see you here back at City Hall. All right. If I can get this folder open. A proclamation of the mayor of the City of Norman, Oklahoma, proclaiming the month of September 2026 as Healthy Aging Month in the City of Norman. Whereas the City of Norman recognizes that older adults are valued members of our community whose experience, knowledge, and continued engagement strengthen the social, cultural, civic, and economic vitality of our city. And whereas September is recognized as Healthy Aging Month, and the 2026 theme, Curiosity Has No Age Limit, celebrates lifelong learning, creativity, purpose, and resilience while encouraging people of all ages to make healthy choices that support physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. And whereas research demonstrates that lifelong learning, regular physical activity, preventive health care, social connection, and a strong sense of purpose contribute to healthier, more independent lives, and healthy aging month encourages residents to embrace new experiences and opportunities for growth at every stage of life. And whereas the City of Norman is proud to be a member of the AARP network of age-friendly states and communities, and is supported by organizations, healthcare providers, educational institutions, volunteers, businesses, and community partners dedicated to promoting healthy aging, lifelong learning, and community engagement. And whereas the Adult Wellness and Education Center, operated by Healthy Living Norman, exemplifies this commitment by providing adults age 50 and older with diverse programs that promote the six dimensions of wellness physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, and occupational, helping older adults remain active, connected, and engaged throughout their lives. Now, therefore, I, Mayor of the City of Norman, Oklahoma, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2026 as Healthy Aging Month in the City of Norman, passed and approved this eighth day of September 2026. If you'd like to say a few more and city council members, staff members. As Stephen said, my name is Lynn Miller, and I have the honor to be the chair of the board of Healthy Living Norman. We are the board that has the MOU with the city that oversees the activities, takes the physical responsibilities for the activities of the Adult Wellness Center. Everyone that was involved, and many of you in this room were involved with the very very long process, and there were so many people that were involved to make the wellness center a reality. And I can tell you unequivocally that it is an absolute amazing success. We have one big problem. And I know that's not what you wanted to hear. People are coming out at the seams. We have so many people there. It's a wonderful problem to have. We have over 4,000 members. And because of our incredible staff led by Catherine, so many activities, so many uh physical things that you can do, drum lines, Broadway shows. I mean, there is no end. And one of the things that the staff is just amazing about is they listen to the clients. They listen to the people that are coming every day. They do surveys, and when somebody comes up with a good idea, they are on it and they try it out. And I think that's one of the reasons it's so successful. But at this time, I'm going to turn it over to Catherine because, like all good staff members, she's the one with the prepared note. Thanks, Lynn. Oh, Mayor Holman, members of the City Council, City staff, and everyone here today. Again, I'm Catherine Lighty, and I'm the executive director of Healthy Living Norman. I get to do that. And thank you, Lynn, for leading our board. It is a real honor for us to accept this proclamation, recognizing September is Healthy Aging Month. And I especially love this this year's theme, Curiosity Has No Age Limit. Because there's one thing we see every day at the Adult Wellness and Education Center, and is that getting older does not mean becoming less curious. In fact, it can open the door to an entire new chapter of curiosity. Someone decides to try pickleball or line dance for the first time. Someone takes an art class for the first time in decades. Someone joins a theater production and discovers a new talent they didn't know they had. Someone learns a new skill, joins a book club, takes a fitness class, or simply walks through the doors looking for a place to belong. And those seemingly small decisions can have a very big impact. Over the past year, more than 4,000 people have been part of Healthy Living Norman with more than 128,000 visits and thousands of opportunities for fitness, art, education, recreation, and social connection. But the numbers only tell part of the story. It's movement, it's creativity, it's friendship, it's learning, it's purpose, and it is having a reason to get up in the morning and say, I wonder what I could try next. That's healthy aging. And I want to emphasize that Healthy Living Norman is just one piece of a bigger picture. Norman is fortunate to have dozens of community organizations, nonprofits, healthcare providers, businesses, churches, civic groups, volunteers, and city programs working every day to improve the quality of life for older adults from parks and recreation to health care and nutrition, from transportation and social services to arts, education, volunteer opportunities. There are people throughout this community working to make sure older adults remain healthy, connected, and independent and engaged.
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