The Ponca City Board of Commissioners held their regular session on Monday, Feb. 27. Vice-Mayor Paul Taylor called the meeting to order.

Prior to the meeting, a reception was held for commissioners Lanita Chapman and Shasta Scott. Both were presented with service medallions recognizing their time as commissioners. Commissioner Chapman served for 15 years (five terms) beginning in April of 2008, while Commissioner Scott has served for six years (two terms) since March of 2017.

Following the presentation, incoming commissioners Kelsey Wagner and Garrett Bowers were sworn-in by Judge Bill Kirkpatrick. Both ran unopposed for their commissioners seats and will assume office for their new terms on Wednesday, March 1.

Following the Oath of Office, the commissioners continued onto the consent agenda.

The consent agenda contains items that are deemed to be non-controversial and routine in nature by the governing body. They are approved by one motion. The following are the items approved on the consent agenda: - The minutes of the regular Board of Commissioners session held on Monday, Feb. 13 and the work session held on Monday, Feb. 20.

- A resolution appropriating money for payment claims against the City of Ponca City.

- A resolution of the Board of Commissioners amending the operating budget of various funds for fiscal year 2022-23.

- A resolution designating certain city employees as purchasing officers with authority to make purchases against city and municipal trust appropriations.

- Renewal of the lease with Lindsay Manufacturing Inc. for Building #3 Darr School located at Ponca City Regional Airport.

- Authorization to advertise for bids for Street Improvement Project, Concrete Pavement Reconstruction, Prospect Ave. - Union Street to Broughton Road, Project No. SST 23-2.

The Commissioners approved the consent agenda.

The next item on the agenda was City Manager Craig Stephenson’s report.

The RecPlex was closed on Monday, Feb. 27 for some electrical work, but this work has been completed and the facility is reopened.

Work continues on the installations of the new rodeo arena bleachers. Completion is estimated for mid-March.

The annual Ponca City Spring Clean-Up will be held from April 22 to April 29.

The Ponca City Citywide Garage Sale will be held on Saturday, April 22.

Development Services Director Chris Henderson shared with the commissioners a resolution to waive the connection fee for a new water meter serving the Ponca City Soccer Complex located at 4134 Lake Road.

When the complex was established about 25 years ago, they were given water by the adjacent property owner. Recently, the new owners of the convenience store discovered the soccer club was getting water from them, and thus they cut the club off. So the soccer club has no access to potable water.

There is a commission policy dating back to 1983 that says that no water will be provided to persons outside the city limits unless they are annexed or if they sign a release allowing the city to annex you in the future.

The owner of the property had refused to sign a consent form.

This property lies within the service area Rural Water District #1, but the representatives from Rural Water District #1 have not enforced that to establish rural water meters inside the city limits.

This resolution also says that should the soccer complex cease to exist, then the city will pull the water meter.

The commissioners voted to approve the resolution.

Next, Parks and Recreation Director Eric Newell presented a resolution designating the City of Ponca City as a Bee City USA Affiliate. This would make Ponca City the first Bee City USA city in Oklahoma.

Bee City USA began in 2012 and was established to reverse pollinator decline with three goals: - Create health habitat rich in native plants - Provide nesting sites for those bees - Protect from bees from pesticides Becoming a Bee City USA means creating safe habitats benefiting bees, butterflies, moths and the non-native honey bee. It also encourages hosting community events including Earth Day and Arbor Day. Of the 100 varieties of crops that provide 90% of the world’s food, 71% are pollinated by bees.

Cities wishing to become Bee City USA affiliates need an established sponsor, in which case Ponca City Parks and Recreation Department would fill this role. They require a liaison, a position that would be filled by the Parks and Recreation Director. And assigning facilitation of a Bee City USA program, which will be provided by the Ponca City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

At least one activity needs to be hosted, the public must be informed with signage and information on activities and native plants.

There must be habitat development and tracking, and a pollinator-friendly pest management plan.

Staff has a year to create an integrated pest management plan, habitat creation over multiple years, and annual events beginning this year. Ponca City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommends approve of this resolution and they have received a grant from Philips 66 in the fall to help develop pollinator plants.

The commissioners approved the resolution.

The commissioners then voted to exit the regular session and enter into the Ponca City Utility Authority (PCUA) meeting.

The commissioners approved the consent agenda that included the following items: - The minutes of the PCUA regular session held on Feb. 13.

- A resolution appropriating money for the payment of claims against PCUA.

- A resolution of the PCUA amending the operating budget of various PCUA funds for fiscal year 2022-23.

The commissioners voted to approve a resolution creating the PCUA CBD Code Compliance Program whose purpose and intent was to address building code compliance challenges within the central business district by offering incentives to qualified owners who undertake improvement projects.

The commissioners then voted to adjourn the PCUA meeting and return to the commission meeting where they then entered into executive session.