The Ponca City Board of Commissioners held their regular meeting session on Monday, May 22 at 5:30 pm in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall.

Mayor Homer Nicholson called the meeting to order.

At the top of the meeting, two proclamations were made. The first of these recognized the week of May 21 to May 27, 2023 as Emergency Medical Services Week; while the second proclamation declared the month of May as Flood Awareness Month, as the most dangerous flooding in the state of Oklahoma has occurred during the month of May historically.

The Commissioners then approved 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 Ponca City Board of Commissioners regular session held on May 8, 2023 - A resolution appropriating money for payment of claims against the City of Ponca City.

- A resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Ponca City, Oklahoma appointing members to various boards and commissions, and establishing the terms of office thereof.

- A resolution amending the operating budget of various funds for Fiscal Year 2022-23.

- Change Order No. 1 and No. 2, final acceptance, accept all work as completed, and authorize release of final payment on contract No. 18118 CDBGCR - Senior Center Rehabilitation in the amount of $50,743.75.

- Authorizing advertisement of bids to obtain unit prices for items of work performed for sidewalk maintenance during the period of July 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023.

City Manager Craig Stephenson then provided his report.

The city will observe next Monday, May 29, as Memorial Day. As such, city offices will be closed, the landfill will be closed, the RecPlex will be closed on Monday, the Senior Center will be closed through Monday, and the Marland’s Grand Home and the mansion will be closed on Sunday and Monday.

Graduation is this week at Po-Hi, as such, the pools won’t have their lifeguards ready for Memorial Day weekend. Instead, the Ambuc and Wentz pools will open on Thursday, June 1.

City Offices are changing their hours effective next week with their hours being 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Thursday. Fridays will be 7:30 am to 11:30 am. The offices of the City Attorney, City Manager, Development Services, Environmental Services, Fire Administration, Finance, Grants Administration, Public Works and Technology Services will be closed for lunch from 12 pm to 1 pm. Utility Billing, Human Resources, and the City Clerk’s Office will be open during the lunch hour.

To coincide with these new hours of operation, Municipal Court and Police Records, both located at 200 E. Oklahoma Avenue, will be changing hours of operation to Monday thru Thursday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, and on Friday from 7:30 am to 11:30 am.

Ponca City’s new weather alert system is available through the website for Ponca City residents, it provides information from NOAA and the National Weather Service. In the future, their are plans for notifications on power and water outages.

All services areas have been accepted for broadband.

Completion on the new Public Safety Center is nearing.

Next Friday, June 2, is National End Gun Violence Day. The Mayors Council of Oklahoma unanimously approved a resolution to recognize National End Gun Violence Day, and encourage people to wear the color orange on June 2 to June 4.

Following the City Manager report, the Commissioners then heard from City Finance Director John Gonzales on the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, and a public hearing for the proposed budget.

The budget process is in its fifth month of preparation and is near completion. The Commission recently met in open meetings on April 17 and April 18 with every department to discuss operations and propose budget numbers. The proposed new budget for 2023-2024 is $131,940,609.00.

The public hearing was held to give anyone a chance to present to the governing body any concerns.

Under new business, the Commissioners voted upon and approved several items. The following are those items that pertain primarily to amending ordinances: - An ordinance amending the City Code, Title 9, Chapter 8C, Section 8, stormwater utility service charge rates, repealing ordinances in conflict, and providing for severability and declaring an effective date.

- An ordinance amending the City Code, Title 6, Chapter 3, Section 10, to provide for costs recovery in certain solid waste collection and landfill rates, repealing ordinances in conflict, providing for severability and establishing an effective date.

- An ordinance amending the City Code, Title 9, Chapter 8A, Section 6, in regard to water free charges to provide for costs in recovery in all aspects of water collection, treatment, distribution, capital expenses associated therewith and recovery of costs in support services furnished by various city departments, repealing ordinances in conflict, providing for severability and establishing an effective date.

- An ordinance amending the City Code, Title 9, Chapter 8B, Section 14, in regard to industrial pretreatment annual permit fee to provide for adjustment of permit fee for industrial users, repealing ordinances in conflict, providing for severability and establishing an effective date.

- An ordinance amending the City Code, Title 9, Chapter 8B, Section 15 in regard to wastewater charges to provide for costs recovery in all aspects of wastewater collection, treatment, and capital expenses associated therewith, and recovery of costs of support services furnished by various departments, repealing ordinances in conflict, providing for severability and establishing an effective date.

- An ordinance amending the City Code, Title 9, Chapter 8A, Section 2 to provide for increased electric rates, repealing ordinances in conflict, providing for severability and declaring an effective date.The prices of materials and fuel have increased, and Ponca City Energy has requested a 3% increase across the board in all electric rates.

- An resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Ponca City approving the operating budget of the various city funds, more specifically, delineated as Exhibits 1, 2, and 3. Attached hereto for the Fiscal Year 2023 to 2024.

- A resolution setting non-utility rates, fees, and charges for the City of Ponca City and the Ponca City Utility Authority.

The Commissioners then voted to adjourn the meeting and enter into the Ponca City Utility Authority (PCUA) meeting.

The Commissioners voted to approve the consent agenda which included the following items: - The minutes of the PCUA regular session on May 8, 2023.

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

- A resolution setting non-utility rates, fees, and charges for the City of Ponca City and the Ponca City Utility Authority.

Under new business, the Commissioners voted upon a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the PCUA approving the operating budget of the water, Ponca City Energy, Ponca City Broadband, Solid Waste, landfill closure, Solid Waste Depreciation Reserve, utility billing, wastewater, stormwater, and technology services funds, more specifically delineated as Exhibits 1 and 2, attached hereto for the Fiscal Year 2023 to 2024.

The Commissioners then voted to adjourn.