MINUTES
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA MET IN A SPECIAL CALL SESSION AT MUSKOGEE DAVIS-REGIONAL AIRPORT APRIL 30, 2024
The City Council of the City of Muskogee, Oklahoma, met in a Special Call Session at 9:00 a.m., on April 30, 2024, at Muskogee-Davis Regional Airport, 1201 Sabre Street, Muskogee, Oklahoma, with Mayor W. Patrick Cale presiding.
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INVOCATION - MAYOR W. PATRICK CALE FLAG SALUTE - MAYOR W. PATRICK CALE |
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Meeting was called to order by Mayor W. Patrick Cale and the City Clerk called the roll as follows: |
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1 | Discuss the FY2024-2025 Budget for the City of Muskogee, public opinion survey results, give direction to Staff, and take possible action for consideration in future General Obligation Bond and/or Capital Improvement Sales Tax votes, or take other necessary action. (Mike Miller) City Manager Mike Miller explained the goal for today is twofold. One goal is to make key decisions regarding the FY FY2024-2025 budget, receiving enough information to hold a Public Hearing on May 13, 2024, with possible budget adoption. The second goal pertains to the General Obligation (GO) Bond. He stated he will be providing the results from the GO Bond survey, presenting a list of projects based on City Council input, and receive direction from City Council, with a proposed Special Call Council meeting to be held on May 20, 2024, to call for an election to be held in August 2024. Mr. Miller stated areas of City Council interest for specific discussion include the following topics:
Strategic Initiatives include the following:
Assistant City Manager Roger Kolman explained that in the past several years, the Civic Center has incurred more expenses than revenues, causing a shortfall. It has recently been discovered the previous Civic Center Manager was not charging room rentals, or at a rate severely lower than the authorized rate. Mr. Kolman explained in 2018, City Council approved a fee schedule for room rentals, and even those rates are at a subsidized rate. The estimated cost to operate the Civic Center is approximately $1,000.00/day. Mr. Miller explained Justin O'Neal has recently taken the position of the Civic Center Manager and has received backlash from individuals and groups who do not want to pay for room rentals moving forward, as they have not been charged in the past. He has been placed in a very difficult situation and is working diligently to get the Civic Center back on the right track. Mayor Patrick Cale directed Staff to research and determine how high room rental rates would need to be raised in an effort to break even moving forward. Councilmember Tracy Hoos stated each individual event should be considered to determine the return on investment the City may receive from the event being held in our City. Councilmember Melody Cranford stated she feels "marketing is key" in an effort to move the Civic Center forward. Discussion followed. Staff was given direction to better market the Civic Center, honor the previous year's contract amounts for renters, with notification that fees will be charged in the next year, to look for opportunities for discounts or other in-kind donations based on the event, continue with the current fee schedule currently in place with no rate increases, and enforce rates currently established moving forward. Mr. Miller stated there is currently $45,000.00 budgeted for the Community Picnic. He explained there has been discussion among Councilmembers as to whether to continue holding the event and asked for Council input at this time. Mayor Patrick Cale stated continuing to fund this event may not be the right thing to do. He is not in favor of spending that amount of money out of the General Fund to support the event. Vice Mayor Derrick Reed stated he feels if the Community Picnic is removed from the budget, the $60,000.00 that has been budgeted for the Community Rodeo should also be removed from the budget. Councilmember Dan Hall stated with the upcoming election for a GO Bond, the City needs to be frugal with their spending to avoid sending the wrong message to the citizens. Councilmember Melody Cranford explained the City will be asking the citizens to support the Bond. In turn, the citizens will be asking "what is in it for us?" Vice Mayor Derrick Reed explained the picnic could be held for less than $45,000.00, but insists it continue to take place. Mayor Patrick Cale recommended reducing the current budgeted amount by 75%, leaving an amount of $12,000.00 in the budget to fund the Community Picnic. Councilmember C.B. Abel suggested combining the picnic with the National Night Out Event. Discussion followed. Direction was given to Staff to budget an amount of $12,000.00 for the Community Picnic. Mr. Miller explained the City has previously spent $15,000.00 for the cost of parade floats for Council participation. This amount allowed for a total of two (2) floats for each of the five (5) parades held. He asked for direction from Council as to how they wish to proceed for the upcoming budget year. Direction was given to Staff to proceed with only one (1) Mayor and City Council float for parades moving forward. Mr. Miller provided a General Fund Summary, asking for direction and/or changes moving forward with budget preparation. No changes were recommended. |
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Motion was made by Councilmember Tracy Hoos, seconded by Councilmember Dan Hall to approve to take a five (5) minutes recess. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Meeting was called to order by Mayor Patrick Cale and the City Clerk called the roll as follows:
Present: Mayor Patrick Cale, Vice Mayor Derrick Reed, Councilmember Jaime Stout, Councilmember Tracy Hoos, Councilmember Shirley Hilton-Flanary, Councilmember C.B. Abel, Councilmember Melody Cranford, Councilmember Dan Hall, Councilmember Tom Martindale
Absent: None City Manager Mike Miller explained the Hotel/Motel Tax is a fund that can only be spent on tourism related items. Traditionally, there have been six (6) specific items funded through the hotel/motel tax:
Mr. Marlon Coleman, MTA Executive Director, presented City Council with the following proposal:
Discussion followed. Mayor Cale stated he feels MTA is better qualified than City Council at raising funding and promoting events. Mr. Miller wished to point out based on the MTA proposal, there will be a $65,000.00 deficit for Habox that will have to be funded from the General Fund. He suggested MTA leave the funding at $165,000,00 for the upcoming year, reducing it by $65,000.00 in the following year. This would allow the City time to determine from where the funds will come. Councilor Tracy Hoos asked who would be responsible for the auditing of hotel/motel tax revenue. Mr. Miller stated it will be the responsibility of the City. However, MTA may be asked to share in that cost. Councilor Hoos also asked how the City will monitor the funding given to the MTA. Mr. Coleman explained MTA will be willing to meet whenever necessary, to provide reports and updates for the City Council. Mayor Cale agreed with Mr. Miller in maintaining the $165,000.00 support for Hatbox for the upcoming year, reducing it by $65,000.00 in the following year. Councilor Dan Hall stated with the removal of the rodeo funding of $60,000.00, that would almost cover the $65,000.00 difference. Discussion followed. |
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Motion was made by Mayor Patrick Cale, seconded by Councilmember Dan Hall to approve the transferring of all Hotel/Motel Tax revenue under the purview of the Muskogee Tourism Authority, accepting their proposal with the following amendments: Hatbox funding will remain at $165,000.00 for FY2024-2025, $100,000.00 thereafter, funding of $65,857.00 for War Memorial Park (Batfish), and full discretion of the MTA for rodeo funding. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mr. Miller explained there has been a budget request from organizations that are in charge of the livestock shows to purchase cattle tie outs for the Hatbox Arena in the amount of $106,000.00. He proposed funding this project with money from the $455,000.00 before it is transferred to the MTA. Since this is an event which brings in tourism to the City, it would be an appropriate use of the funds. There was discussion to determine if funding for the cattle tie outs should be paid for out of the Special Projects Fund in November, or the $455,000.00 previously discussed for the MTA transfer. |
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Motion was made by Mayor Patrick Cale, seconded by Councilmember Dan Hall to immediately fund the requested tie outs project in the amount of $106,000.00 from the Hotel/Motel Tax funding balance ($455,000.00), and based on availability of funding in the Special Projects Fund at mid-year, reimburse the Hotel/Motel Tax funding in the amount of $106,000.00, transferring those funds to the MTA. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mr. Miller wished to clarify the transfer of the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund would occur on July 1, 2024. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Motion was made by Councilmember C.B. Abel, seconded by Councilmember Dan Hall to approve to take a 15 minute recess. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Meeting was called to order by Mayor Patrick Cale and the City Clerk called the roll as follows:
Present: Mayor Patrick Cale, Vice Mayor Derrick Reed, Councilmember Jaime Stout, Councilmember Tracy Hoos, Councilmember Shirley Hilton-Flanary, Councilmember C.B. Abel, Councilmember Melody Cranford, Councilmember Dan Hall, Councilmember Tom Martindale
Absent: None Mr. Miller provided an update on the projects related to the 2019 CIP Projects which included the following:
Discussion began related to the General Obligation (GO) Bond. Mr. Miller explained in May 2023, Council gave direction to hold an election in 2023 for a 25-year, $77 million bond. In July 2023, Council unanimously voted to continue to work on the bond. However, they requested it be held in 2024 rather than 2023. In April 2024, Council authorized a public opinion survey to be conducted. Mr. Miller stated it is time to provide Council with the survey results, so they may decide which projects will be included in the GO Bond. Mr. Nate Ellis,with The Public Law Finance Group, was available to provide direction and answer questions. Ms. Tera Shows, Media Specialist, provided the results of the public survey. She stated there were a total of 593 responses with 69% in support of the GO Bond. Mr. Miller presented a list of proposed projects for consideration for the GO Bond and the renewal of the CIP Sales Tax:
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Motion was made by Mayor Patrick Cale, seconded by Councilmember C.B. Abel to accept and approve the CIP Renewal and GO Bond (Propositions 1, 2 and 3) as presented. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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W. PATRICK CALE, MAYOR
_______________________________
TAMMY L. TRACY, CITY CLERK
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