Board of City Commissioners Regular Meeting – January 20, 2026

The Board of City Commissioners of Shawnee, Oklahoma, met in regular session on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 16 West 9th Street. Mayor Eric Stephens presided; a quorum was declared. Commissioner Ashley Fichtner arrived at 6:04 PM. The meeting included routine approvals, citizen comments, rezoning requests, a bid award, financial reports, and an executive session.

Consent Calendar

• The Commission approved the entire Consent Agenda (Items 2a–i) by a 6-0 vote: December 15, 2025, regular meeting minutes; Planning Commission minutes from December 3, 2025; December 2025 License and Project Payment Reports; FY 2025-26 budget amendments adding funding for the Code Enforcement Demolition account and appropriating funds in Fund 303 for an E-One Rescue Pumper for Fire Department FY26 expenditures; the Eckel Tract Lot 10 lake lease transfer from Frank and Mary Sims to FPS Twin Lake, LLC; Acknowledgment of Change Order No. 1 for Fire Station No. 3; confirmation of City Manager hires Kacie Eck (Director of Utility Billing and Court Administration), Kevin Moore (Director of Building and Engineering Services), and Bradley Schmidt (Director of Public Works); and acceptance of a utility easement for the Grove Phase II project.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Glenn Peck reported on Salvation Army Angel Tree and Red Kettle results: Angel Tree served 520 children from 242 families totaling 1,247 persons; each family received a box of food. He said $18,000 was collected for Angel Tree, this year's Red Kettle collections were $25,000, and last year's Red Kettle total was $23,000.
• Clif Harden spoke against the proposed rezoning at 1402 East Independence Street, saying it was across from Sequoia Elementary School and would be lower-income housing; he requested the Commission table or deny the request and said he was relaying concerns from Sequoia parents.

Subdivision Plats – Northcreek Villas

• The Commission unanimously approved the Preliminary Plat (Case PPL04-25) and Final Plat (Case FPL04-25) for Northcreek Villas, a replat of Northcreek Manor. Interim Community Development Director Petya Stefanoff explained the replat separates the newly zoned C-2 commercial area from R-3 residential and splits the commercial area into north and south tracts. Staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval; both motions carried 6-0.

Zoning Requests and Public Hearings

• 1402 East Independence Street (Case RZ08-25): The public hearing was held on the request to rezone from C-1 Local Commercial to R-3 High Density Residential. Applicant Jerry Roca spoke in favor, proposing 26 apartment units (20 one-bedroom and 6 two-bedroom), a fully sprinklered building, a new fire hydrant, TPO roofing, an all-solar system, and affordable housing. He noted he is developing 127 units in Tulsa and 38 in Oklahoma City.
• Opponents included Gayle Hucks (adjacent property owner for 22 years; cited the 66-year-old former nursing home that has been vacant for 15 years, noise and nuisance, and impact on property values), Jacob Borgsmiller (argued public notice was one day short of the 20-day requirement because his notice was postmarked December 19, 2025, for a January 7, 2026 Planning Commission hearing; also cited missing fencing/screening and traffic concerns), Jason Gates, and Rob Morris (opposed the location across from a school due to parking and traffic concerns). The City Attorney determined notice was proper and enhanced notification requirements did not apply.
• After Commission discussion, Mayor Stephens moved to defer the rezoning ordinance to the rescheduled February 9, 2026, meeting to address loose ends and a requested traffic study; the motion carried 6-0.
• 4731 North Union Avenue (Case RZ09-25): The public hearing addressed rezoning a portion from R-3 High Density Residential to C-2 Regional Commercial for a personal storage/self-storage facility. Mitchell Moore of Johnson & Associates spoke in favor; no one spoke against. Staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval.
• Following questions about surrounding zoning, Commissioner Odneal moved to deny the rezoning ordinance; the motion carried 5-1, with Commissioner Richter voting no. The remaining portion of the property would stay R-3.

Bid Award – Shawnee Twin Lakes Dam #1 Rehabilitation

• Director of Engineering Seth Barkhimer reported five bids were opened January 6, 2026. The Commission voted 6-0 to award the base bid to LandShape, LLC of Amber, Oklahoma, for $415,800. The project covers vegetative removal on the down slope to the toe of the dam and is funded in part by a $1 million state ARPA grant.

Financial and Administrative Reports

• Finance Director Kimberly Hoover reported January 2026 sales tax totaled $2,618,365.91, including $3,489.82 in interest. Collections were 1.96% below January 2025 and 4.06% below conservative budget projections for the month and year-to-date; sales tax revenue was $110,726 below the projected budget year-to-date. Use tax totaled $434,969.10, 0.56% below projections ($2,458 below year-to-date budget). Combined with use tax, the General Fund was $62,708 above budget projections. A commissioner noted sales tax receipts were $330 above the projected year-to-date budget.
• Assistant City Manager Seth Barkhimer and Fire Chief James Kriwanek presented the Quarterly 2018 Half-Cent Sales Tax Report. The half-cent tax passed in June 2018, took effect October 2018, expires September 30, 2028, and is allocated 25% public safety, 25% streets/roads, and 50% parks/public facilities. To date, $27 million has been collected and $26.2 million expended. The Fire Department completed Fire Station 3 renovations and purchased a new fire engine now awaiting delivery. A full training structure (estimated at $1–6 million) and complete Fire Station 1 renovations are not concurrently feasible with remaining funds; staff sought Commission input on directing remaining public safety funds to targeted Fire Station 1 renovations.

Executive Session

• The Commission voted 6-0 to enter executive session under 25 O.S. § 307(B)(4) to discuss confidential attorney communications regarding Pottawatomie County Case No. CJ-2023-468 (Fairview Mausoleum). The Commission entered at 6:53 PM and reconvened at 8:07 PM. No action was taken after the executive session.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda approved 6-0.
• February 17, 2026, regular meetings of the City Commission, Shawnee Airport Authority, and Shawnee Municipal Authority were rescheduled to February 9, 2026, by a 6-0 vote.
• Northcreek Villas Preliminary and Final Plats approved 6-0 each.
• 1402 East Independence Street rezoning deferred to February 9, 2026, by a 6-0 vote.
• 4731 North Union Avenue rezoning denied 5-1.
• Shawnee Twin Lakes Dam #1 Rehabilitation awarded to LandShape, LLC for $415,800 by a 6-0 vote.
• Executive session held; no action taken. Meeting adjourned at 8:09 PM.