August 10, 2018 - In This Issue:
WORKING TOGETHER
TO DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
August 10, 2018  Weekly report to the Mayor and City Council 

MONDAY
August 13
TUESDAY
August 14
WEDNESDAY
August 15
THURSDAY
August 16
FRIDAY
August 17

No
Meeting


5:30 p.m. 
City Council Special Session
6:30 p.m.
Council Meeting


No 
Meeting


8:30 a.m.
Finance Committee


No 
Meeting


CITY MANAGER 
City Manager's Weekly Report Update

This Weekly Report is sent every Friday and serves as the City Manager's "update" to City Council on items that are useful for scheduling purposes and/or communicating with constituents on matters of interest. It also  provides details on special events, and  City-wide accomplishments. Some examples include:
  • Project kick-offs and completions
  • Initiatives that will affect service valued by our residents
  • Construction updates
  • Updates on inter-governmental relations, and
  • Special Recognitions for outstanding achievements
 
 
COUNCIL MEETING PREVIEW
Council Meets at 6:30 p.m., August 14

The City Council will meet in special session on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to discuss litigation and a workers comp case.

Following the special session, the Council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The Council will be considering a contract to construct a new indoor tennis facility at the Westwood Tennis Center to include two new courts enclosed by a tensioned-fabric structure.  Funding for this project comes from the NORMAN FORWARD sales tax.  For more information about the meeting, please view the agenda
 
 
SALES TAX UPDATE
August Sales Tax Up Over Previous Year

The City of Norman's general purpose sales tax remittance for the month of August (reflecting sales during June) was $4,668,639. This is an increase of $250,572 or 5.67% over August 2017 levels. Fiscal year 2018-19 general purpose sales tax receipts are currently 4.26% above prior year levels. 

The general purpose use tax remittance for the month of August (reflecting goods purchased outside of Oklahoma and delivered for use within Norman) was $351,887, which is an increase of 23.53% above August 2017. 
CONSTRUCTION CHANGE ORDERS AUTHORIZED
Change Order #7 for the East Library in the amount of $12,536.78 is n ecessary to provide software and equipment for the door locking system, work related to installation of changing stations in restrooms, additional parking lot signage for LEED points, electrical work needed for installation of powered furniture, assorted paint and aesthetic items related to interior maintenance and durability, movement of the exterior horn strobe due to conflicts with the public art location, and a credit of $8,508.29 due to custom millwork pieces that were not needed in the project. Two weather days related to work were also approved in this Change Order. 
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Resignations, Vacancies, Expired Terms (Members Still Serving), Upcoming Appointments and Reappointments   See Chart
FIRE
Incident Summary  (8/2/18-8/8/18)

Fire Related
8
Overpressure rupture, explosion
1
Emergency Medical
206
Hazardous Condition
3
Service Call
26
Good Intent
42
False Alarm
20
Special Incident
0
Severe Weather
0
Total
306
MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS  

Map and Updates for the City of Norman's Major Infrastructure  Projects
ARTICLES
News Coverage, Documents and Articles That May Be of Interest to City Council
  • Fallin, Mary.  "Gov. Fallin Places Vision Fund Question on November Ballot."  Press Release. 9 August 2018.  See article
  • Hampton, Joy.  "Reuse battle on hold."  Norman Transcript.  6 August 2018.  See article 
  • McGuire, Jacob.  "Norman officers continue shooting prominence at regional championships."  Norman Transcript.  5 August 2018.  See article
  • McGuire, Jacob.  "Norman Fire Station No. 7 expected to put new fire engine in service next month."  Norman Transcript.  9 August 2018.  See article
  • Troxtell, Adam.  "New alcohol laws to bring game day changes, too."  Norman Transcript.  5 August 2018.  See article
  • Troxtell, Adam.  "OU move-in to take place starting Aug. 15"  Norman Transcript.  8 August 2018.   See article
PARKS
PARK PLANNING

Sooner Theatre Improvements
Sun Construction began work this week to renovate the dressing room area below the stage at the theatre during the down time between production seasons. They removed the old vinyl tile floor and kitchenette counters, and have started prepping the walls and floors for new finishes and trim. Work will continue through September to be ready for a new season of shows and concerts. 

NORMAN FORWARD Neighborhood Park Renovation
We are putting together a list of park furnishings for this year's phase of the project to replace old benches, picnic tables, trash cans and drinking fountains. We will start in those parks which are not scheduled for a park-wide renovation in the current or next few years of the NORMAN FORWARD schedule. Several parks have already had their furnishings replaced since the 2009 park system master plan identified such upgrades as a high priority in their final report; and those being done now are being done in a "worst to best" order according to our current evaluation of the parks.

NORMAN FORWARD Reaves Park Renovation
City Staff worked with our Program Managers from ADG to complete our review of the 30% plans and cost estimate from Halff Associates for the project to convert Reaves Park into the city's youth baseball/softball complex, which will allow Griffin Park to complete its expansion of the soccer complex.  We will proceed to 60% plan review in the coming weeks as work continues to secure land for the new adult softball complex and relocated park maintenance facility, which both must move out of Reaves Park prior to our construction of the plan being produced by Halff.

RECREATION 

Special Events
The Lazy Rooster Rhythm Co. played at Legacy Park on Thursday night for the @Legacy concert series. This was the seventh of 12 free concerts at Legacy Park over the summer and the fall. The next @Legacy event is August 23rd with Ken Pomeroy and One Two Ten.

Westwood Family Aquatic Center
The Westwood Family Aquatic Center will host the season pass holder appreciation party this Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. There will be pizza, snow-cones, music, glow sticks and prizes as we celebrate the first year at the new Westwood Family Aquatic Center with the 4,300 season pass holders.  

Little Axe Community Center
The Little Axe Community Center helped prepare food and snacks in conjunction with the summer feeding food program for "Meet Your Teacher" night at Little Axe Elementary School. Items for this program were provided by the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank. 
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Residential and Commercial Activity 8/2/18-8/8/18      Detailed Report

The Shops at Tecumseh shell building located at 2596 W. Tecumseh Rd. received its Certificate of Completion (CC) on August 8th, 2018. The reported valuation of the 18,588 square feet building was reported at $2,700,000. The interior finishes located in this shell building also received their Certificate of Occupancy (CO) on August 8th, 2018 which includes Landrun Grill, Amour Nail Salon & Spa, Flaunt LLC Salon, and RCB Bank. 



Type
Number
Combined Value
Average Value
New single family residence permits
8
(4 HERS applications)
$3,729,681
$466,210
Residential addition or alteration permits
15
(8 storm shelters)
$463,300

Demo permit
0


New single family residence applications
6
$1,270,150
$211,692
Residential addition or alternations applications
0
(0 storm shelter)


Demo application
0




PUBLIC WORKS
MAJOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
   
12th Avenue SE Bond Project
Construction on the 12th Avenue SE Bond Project began on Monday, March 5, 2018. This is a $2.8 million construction project awarded to Allen Contracting, Inc. of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The project will be completed by September 2018. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is administering the construction of this project because federal transportation funds are being used. The project boundaries are 12th Avenue SE from north of Cedar Lane Road to Oak Tree Avenue.  Two lanes of traffic will remain open during construction. 

Next week the contractor's activities are as follows:        
  • Continue sidewalk installation on west side of 12th Avenue SE
  • Begin traffic signal footing installations at State Highway 9
  • Continue median work on State Highway 9
James Garner Avenue - Phase I
The project was awarded on March 13, 2018 to Silver Star Construction.  The  cost of the project is $1,867,880.  It includes reconstruction of the Acres Street intersection to improve safety and to meet Railroad Quiet Zone requirements.  The project will create the extension of James 
Garner Avenue between the railroad and the new Central Library.   
 
Next week the contractor's activities are as follows:
  • On August 13, Acres Street from University Boulevard to Jones Avenue will close to begin work for the reconstruction of the roadway.  They will begin with the removal of the existing roadway.
  • Continue forming for the concrete curb and gutter on James Garner Avenue.
  • Begin asphalt paving on James Garner Avenue. 
PUBLIC WORKS
STORMWATER

Upcoming Stormwater Citizen Committee Open Houses
  • Saturday, August 25 from 10 a.m. - noon at the Little Axe Community Center (1000 168th Avenue NE)
  • Thursday, August 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Norman Chamber of Commerce (115 East Gray St.)
For additional information, visit www.normanstormwater.com.

Street Sweeping Schedules for the August
For the month of August 2018, the Stormwater Division will conduct routine street sweeping activities on all arterial streets from 48th Ave W to 12th Ave E and Indian Hills Rd to Post Oak Rd. Residential curbed streets within the following areas will also be swept this month depending on weather and other work requirements:
  • Flood Ave to 12th Ave NE between Rock Creek Road and Robinson Street
  • 12th Ave NE to 36th Ave NE between Indian Hills Road and Alameda Street
  • Berry Road to 12th Ave SE between Main Street and State Highway 9 
  • See Map
PUBLIC WORKS
STREETS

Main Street Streetscape Enhancement Project
Construction on the Main Street Streetscape Enhancement Project began on Monday, October 2, 2017. This is a $3.2 million construction project awarded to Rudy Construction of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The contract time is set at 260 days or completion by June 2018. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is administering the construction of this project because federal transportation funds are being utilized for construction of the project. The project boundaries are Main Street from Park Drive to James Garner Avenue.  

All Streetscape Phases (1-8) are now substantially complete and Phase 9, the pavement mill and overlay, is underway.  Construction is anticipated to be completed by the first week in September 2018.
 
Next week the contractor's activities are as follows:
  • Continue pavement mill and overlay
  • Continue pavement marking installation
  • Begin stamped, colored asphalt intersection enhancements
PUBLIC WORKS
TRAFFIC
 
Traffic Calming Program
During the week of August 6, 2018, speed trailers will be deployed at the following locations:

  • Lindsey Street, between Pickard Avenue and Chautauqua Avenue (Ward 4)
  • Chautauqua Avenue, between Timberdell Road and Lindsey Street (Wards 4 and 7)
  • Constitution Street, between Jenkins Avenue and Oak Tree Avenue (Ward 7)
State Highway 9 Multimodal Path (Phase 1) Project - 24th Avenue SE to 36th Avenue SE
The project will provide the first segment of the State Highway 9 Multimodal Path along the north side of the highway.  The 10-foot wide concrete path will ultimately connect the urban part of Norman with Lake Thunderbird State Park.
 
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation opened bids on October 19, 2017 and awarded the contract to the low bidder (A-Tech Paving of Oklahoma City) on November 6, 2017. Construction began on March 5, 2018. The $649,899.85 project is being funded with 80% federal funds and 20% capital funds. 

Work on the longer retaining wall was completed last week and work began on the second retaining wall this week.  Concrete crew is working on the NE corner of the SH-9/24th Avenue SE intersection constructing ramps and the tie-in to existing sidewalk on the east side of 24th Avenue SE.  Construction of the concrete trail adjacent to the long retaining wall should begin next week.  Due to being behind schedule and added project elements, such as a 10' wide sidewalk on the west side of 24th Avenue SE and a tie-in needed at John Saxon Boulevard which haven't started yet, the end of construction is now estimated to extend to the end of August.   All traffic lanes will remain open and only the shoulder on the westbound side of the highway will be closed during construction.

Multi-modal path next to recently completed retaining wall.

 
UTILITIES
WATER TREATMENT

Lake Thunderbird water level is two inches below the top of the conservation pool.  The average daily water demand for the week was 17.1 MGD (Million Gallons per Day).  Another week of eratic water demands with hot sunny days mixed with rain.  This week had several days with water demands well above 18 MGD only to have a rainy day drop demand to 14 MGD.  

A contractor installs the brick facing on the chemical building.  The bright blue is a sprayed on vapor barrier.  In the foreground are the evaporators for the liquid oxygen. 

ENGINEERING & ADMINISTRATION
Bids were opened this week for the Sewer Maintenance Project, FYE14, Phase 2.  The work is funded by the $5 per month Sewer Maintenance Fee. The project will replace about 17,000 feet of old sewer lines with High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, and rehabilitate or replace 90 manholes.  Phase 2 is bounded by Iowa Street to the north, Sherry Avenue to the west, Main Street to the south, and Berry Road to the east.  Five (5) bids ranged from the apparent low bid of PM Construction from Pasadena, TX at $1,348,501 up to $2,739,400.  Project construction budget is $1.5 million.  The Norman Utility Authority (City Council) will consider contract award at its meeting on August 28.
 

CITY OF NORMAN | 201 W Gray | Norman OK 73069
Steve Lewis, City Manager
(405) 366-5402

"Working together to deliver exceptional service"