Shawnee City Commission Regular Session, November 17, 2025

The Board of City Commissioners of Shawnee, Oklahoma met in regular session on November 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM. All seven commissioners were present (Commissioner Fichtner arrived at 6:03 PM). The meeting included public comments, approval of a consent agenda, two conditional use permits for short-term rentals, a rezoning, a monthly sales tax report, commissioner comments, and two executive sessions followed by actions on property acquisition and Santa Fe Depot litigation.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from October 20, 2025.
• Acknowledged reports from Shawnee Beautification, Parks, and Recreation Committee, License Payment Report, and Project Payment Report for October 2025.
• Confirmed Mayor's appointments: Joseph Szczepanski (Parks & Rec), Raymond Burrell (Planning Commission), Susan Morris (Arts & Culture).
• Approved budget amendments for Capital Improvement Fund (OMAG funds, vehicle sale funds) and Donations Fund for Christmas festivities.
• Approved a lake lease transfer and a lease agreement for the Southwest Loop Waterline project.
• Acknowledged Change Order No. 1 for Walnut Water Line project.
• Approved an agreement with Safe Events for Families (SEFF) for FY2025-2026.
• Approved purchase of a CXT restroom for Optimist Park.
• Confirmed hiring of Kerri Foster as Parks and Recreation Director.
• Vote: 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Theresa Cody urged the commission to prioritize ordinary citizens over political maneuvering. She questioned the city manager's letter soliciting county funds for a city event, the safety of an empty building tour during a city event (noting a building collapsed days later), and the use of taxpayer money for Christmas lights on private businesses. She called for transparency and partnership.
• Glenn Peck, speaking for the Salvation Army Ladies Auxiliary, reported that the 42nd annual Spaghetti Dinner raised over $20,000 (up from $14,000 last year), with 1,300 meals served and 6,000 quarts of sauce sold. He thanked the city for its partnership.
• Cyndi Berger spoke as a housing authority board member. She praised the Fall Festival's success and noted that people are moving to Shawnee for family life, not jobs. She highlighted new Housing Authority CEO Charles Ensel's efforts and mentioned an incident where a warrant was not served during a shooting, requesting more attention.
• David Henry announced a walk audit on November 18, 2025, at 5:00 PM from the Community Center to Main Street, and an OBU student presentation on the Dunbar Heights area.
• Rob Morris criticized the lack of a specific address in the first executive session agenda item. He asserted that the railroad is leaving Shawnee (county commissioners are purchasing land south of Shawnee) which will cost the city tax revenue. He also accused the municipal judge of cheating a woman in a property transaction (buying land for $450,000 and attempting to sell to the county for $800,000), calling for the judge's removal.
• Bill Rooth requested a line-item breakdown of expenditures in the SEFF agreement to ensure transparency.

Discussion Items

• Conditional Use Permits for Short-Term Rentals: Two properties were considered: 3520 North Market Avenue (applicant Mary Wisdom) and 17308 Magnino Road (applicant Will Jones). Interim Community Development Director Petya Stefanoff presented staff recommendations. Both were approved unanimously (7-0) after public hearings where only the applicant (for the second) spoke in favor.
• Rezoning (Case RZ04-25): Application by Dean Koleada to rezone 306 East 45th Street from C-2 (Regional Commercial) to R-3 (High Density Residential). The property is Lot 8 of a newly platted area; Lots 1-7 will remain commercial. The applicant's representative, Gunner Joyce, explained it is a downzone to create a buffer between commercial and an existing single-family neighborhood. Approved 7-0 after a public hearing with only the applicant speaking.
• Monthly Sales Tax Report: Finance Director Kimberly Hoover reported that November 2025 sales tax collections totaled $2,562,337.40 (including $4,137.18 interest). Compared to the budget, YTD sales tax collections are $65,429 (2.62%) above projections, and use tax collections are $19,284 (0.99%) above projections. However, November collections alone were 7.56% below November 2024. Combined general fund revenue (sales tax share + use tax) is $76,433 above budget YTD. Staff also provided peer city comparisons.
• Commissioner Comments: Commissioners congratulated the Salvation Army, noted the success of the Fall Festival (estimated 7,500 attendees), praised new Parks Director Kerri Foster, encouraged local holiday shopping, and highlighted ongoing projects (Georg Fischer building, wastewater treatment plant, Kickapoo widening, animal shelter groundbreaking, Station 3 groundbreaking). Commissioner Odneal announced the walk study on November 18.

Key Outcomes

• Approval of Consent Agenda (7-0).
• Conditional Use Permits: Both short-term rental permits approved (7-0 each).
• Rezoning Ordinance: Ordinance No. 2821NS introduced and approved (7-0).
• Executive Session (Real Property) : Commission entered executive session at 6:48 PM, reconvened at 7:57 PM. Following discussion, authorized the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate the purchase of a 13.66-acre property owned by S & S Farm Center, Inc. (located between Beard and Kickapoo, Main and Oakland), and to execute purchase contracts, appraisals, and inspections (motion carried 7-0).
• Executive Session (Santa Fe Depot) : Commission authorized the City Manager and City Attorney to enter negotiations with the Pottawatomie County Historical Society Board regarding a settlement; if negotiations fail, to exhaust all legal remedies available (motion carried 7-0).
• Adjournment at 8:06 PM.