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12/2/2025

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12/2/2025

City of Lawton – City Council Meeting (Agenda Summary)

Status: Upcoming meeting  > Location: City Hall – Council Chambers, Lawton, Oklahoma  > Type: Regular Meeting   This page provides a plain-language summary of the City Council agenda, grouped by section. It is intended as a reference for residents who want to understand what the council plans to consider without reading the full legal agenda.

Opening Items

Recognitions & Awards

  1. Marine Recognition Event     Formal recognition for a Marine or Marine-related achievement.
  2. Employee Spotlight Award – Alex Moore     City employee recognition for outstanding performance.
  3. True North Award Recipient     Presentation of the “True North” award to a designated individual.
  4. Reports – Mayor / City Council / City Manager     Brief updates and announcements from elected officials and the City Manager.

These items are grouped together and may be approved in one motion unless a councilmember or citizen asks that an item be pulled for separate discussion.

Budget, Grants & Finance

  1. FEMA Reimbursement – Swiftwater Rescue Gear     Amend the FYE26 budget to appropriate $40,000 in FEMA reimbursement to purchase new and replacement swiftwater rescue equipment for the Fire Department (account 1007501-51000).
  2. LMPO Reimbursement for Gore Blvd Signal Timing Project     Accept $196,903.26 from the Lawton Metropolitan Planning Organization and amend the FYE26 budget to direct those funds to the Capital Improvement Fund for the Gore Boulevard Traffic Signalization Timing Project.
  3. Health Literacy Grant – Library     Accept a $5,000 Health Literacy grant from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries for health literacy activities and authorize the Mayor to sign necessary documents.
  4. Claims List     Approve the City’s claims list for the period November 8, 2025 through November 28, 2025.

Infrastructure & Capital Projects

  1. New LED Streetlight – NE Rogers & I-44     Authorize installation of one 250-watt LED fixture on a wood pole at the southeast corner of NE Rogers Lane and the I-44 exit ramp as part of the Rogers Lane Lighting Project.
  2. Transite Water Lines Replacement – PU2504     Approve plans and specifications and authorize advertisement for bids to replace high-maintenance transite water lines in various locations.
  3. Gondola Lake Dam Improvements – PU2411     Award a $3,425,000 construction contract to Southern Infrastructure Group, LLC to rehabilitate the Gondola Lake dam.
  4. School House Slough Parking Lot/Road – PR2502      Approve an engineering task order for design of improvements to the entrance road and parking lot at the School House Slough site on Lake Lawtonka.
  5. Map 44 Water Line Replacement – PU2502      Award a $1,733,638 construction contract to TIMCO Blasting & Coatings, Inc. to replace approximately 4,100 linear feet of water line.
  6. Bridge Rehabilitation Design – EN2106      Approve Amendment No. 3 to the professional services agreement with H.W. Lochner, Inc. for bridge rehabilitation work.
  7. Debris Burning – Lake Ellsworth      Approve an agreement allowing Comanche County to operate and burn debris on City-owned property at Lake Ellsworth.
  8. Access Easement – 2102 SW 3rd Street      Approve a mutual access easement and usage agreement with Richard and Pamela Garcia to ensure continued public and private access to property at 2102 SW 3rd Street.

Lakes, Parks & Recreation

  1. Lake Lease & Fee Adjustments     Amend Appendix A, Chapter A-19 (General Lake & Recreation) and A-19-5 (Schedule of Fees and Charges) to:     - Keep School House Slough dry-stall annual lease rates at current 2025 levels, and     - Raise Ralph’s Resort annual boathouse fees to match the concessionaire’s fee structure.
  2. (Business item below, but lake-related) – New mountain bike bridge at Lake Lawtonka.

Contracts & Purchasing

  1. Heavy Equipment Service & Parts – Contract Extension     Extend contract CL24-008 with C.L. Boyd Co. Inc. for heavy equipment service and parts.
  2. Demolition Costs – Dilapidated Structures     Approve invoices and determine actual costs associated with demolition of multiple dilapidated properties (list of addressed properties) under 11 O.S. §22-112.4.

Tourism, Heritage & Economic Development

  1. Lawton Heritage Association Agreement     Approve an agreement to fund Lawton Heritage Association activities that promote tourism and economic development in the City.
  2. LMPO – Retained Funds for Future Transportation Contracts     Accept a letter from the Lawton Metropolitan Planning Organization (LMPO) and amend three MOUs so LMPO may retain a total of $150,000 for future transportation-related contracts.

Housing, Liens & Neighborhood Development

  1. Lien Release – Builders Investment Group LLC     Accept $20,000 from Builders Investment Group LLC and approve a Release of Lien on several properties acquired at county tax resale or directly from the county, enabling continued development of new affordable duplexes and cottages.
  2. Lien Settlement Ratification – Multiple Properties     Ratify the City Manager’s decision to accept reduced payments on existing liens for properties at 407 SW 17th, 2525 SW J, and 2805 SW I Avenue, in support of neighborhood improvement and affordable housing goals.

Council Rules & Public Participation

  1. Council Policy 1-6 – Rules of Procedure Amendment     Amend Council Policy 1-6 to:     - Add “trust authorities” to the list of entities the City Council may create.     - Limit trustee service so no nomination results in more than nine consecutive years of service.     - Require individuals who sign up to speak to personally address the Council (no delegating time or designating another speaker), except for necessary accommodations such as interpreters.     - Allow owners of businesses in Lawton to speak during audience participation.     - Require Lawton residents wishing to speak during the meeting to submit a Request to Speak Form before the meeting is called to order.

Boards & Commissions

  1. Appointments     Consider and approve proposed appointments to City boards and commissions.

Unfinished Business

  1. Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) – Lawton Housing Authority     Receive a report from the Housing & Community Development Administrator on the current status of Tenant Based Rental Assistance with the Lawton Housing Authority (LHA) and take any necessary action.

Business Items

These items are expected to receive more discussion and may involve public hearings.

Downtown TIF & Project Plan

  1. Third Amended Lawton Downtown Economic Development Project Plan (TIF)     Hold a public hearing to accept comments for or against the proposed Third Amended Lawton Downtown Economic Development Project Plan, and consider an ordinance that will:    - Amend Article 10-15, Chapter 10, Lawton City Code (Tax Increment Financing Regulation).     - Reduce the area within the existing Increment District No. 2.     - Identify and establish the boundaries of two new increment districts, with their names and effective creation dates to be set later.     - Designate and adopt project area boundaries.     - Authorize use of ad valorem, sales, use, and occupancy tax increment revenues to pay or finance eligible project costs.     - Ratify and confirm the actions and findings of the Review Committee and City Planning Commission.     - Consider a separate motion declaring an emergency.

Code Enforcement & Property

  1. 511 NW Bell Avenue – Additional Time for Remodel     Consider a request from the property owner for more time to remodel the structure at 511 NW Bell Avenue. Under Section 6-1-1-108(D), after 180 days the case returns to the council for specific authorization to extend time.

Parks & Recreation

  1. Mountain Bike Bridge – Lake Lawtonka     Approve an agreement with the Mountain Bike Club of the Wichitas to construct a new bridge at the southwest corner of Lake Lawtonka.

Capital Outlay & Fees

  1. Capital Outlay Fee – Moratorium Extension     Approve a resolution extending for another six months the existing moratorium that requires capital outlay fee revenues on utility bills to be used only for wheeled or track vehicles, preserving temporary flexibility in how those funds can be spent.

Homelessness & Social Services

  1. Kids First Homeless Action Plan – Amendments     Approve amendments to the Kids First Homeless Action Plan, adjusting the City’s strategy for addressing child and family homelessness.

Shopping Carts & Scrap Metal Dealers – Code Package

  1. Utilities Code – Abandoned Shopping Carts & Bulk Waste     Ordinance amending Sections 22-4-1-410 and 22-4-1-412 (Utilities, Chapter 22) to:     - Define abandoned shopping carts as bulk waste.     - Clarify bulk waste terminology and associated fees.     - Provide for severability and an effective date.
  2. Business Licenses – Scrap Metal Dealers (Repeal)     Ordinance repealing and reserving Sections 7-32-1-3201 through 7-32-1-3204 and removing scrap metal dealer requirements from the Business Licenses chapter (Chapter 7).
  3. Offenses & Crimes – Scrap Metal Dealers (Relocation & Exemption)     Ordinance creating Sections 16-5-5-501 through 16-5-5-504 in the Offenses and Crimes chapter (Chapter 16) to:     - Move scrap metal dealer regulations from Chapter 7 to Chapter 16.     - Add the City of Lawton as an exempted seller.     - Provide severability and an effective date.
  4. Fees for Abandoned Shopping Carts     Resolution amending Appendix A (Schedule of Fees and Charges) to establish specific fees for collection and storage of abandoned shopping carts.

Land Use & Zoning

  1. Use Permitted on Review – Townhouses on SW D Avenue     Hold a public hearing and consider granting a Use Permitted on Review (UPOR) to allow construction of a townhouse development on Lots 13–18, Block 14, College Addition (addresses 2614–2624 SW D Avenue), including waivers of two townhouse development requirements as recommended by the City Planning Commission.

Executive Session

The council may enter closed session for the following matters, as allowed by Oklahoma law, and return to open session to take any necessary action. 36. City Manager – Annual Performance Review     Executive session under 25 O.S. §307(B)(1) to discuss the continued employment and annual performance of City Manager John Ratliff, with any action to follow in open session. 37. Litigation – Horton v. City of Lawton (CJ-2025-691)     Executive session under 25 O.S. §307(B)(4) to discuss the pending district court case John D. Horton v. City of Lawton, et al. Any actions will be taken in open session. 38. Potential Litigation – Demolition of 401 Summit Avenue     Executive session under 25 O.S. §307(B)(4) to discuss a pending claim and potential litigation related to demolition of property at 401 Summit Avenue, with any action in open session. 39. City Clerk – Annual Performance Review     Executive session under 25 O.S. §307(B)(1) to discuss the continued employment and annual performance of City Clerk Donalynn Blazek-Scherler, with any action in open session.

Audience Participation

Who may speak:  - Lawton residents who live within city limits and  - Have submitted a Request to Speak Form to the City Clerk before the meeting is called to order. Rules:

  • Comments must address business not listed on the agenda.  - Each speaker has 3 minutes.  - Maximum 9 minutes per topic, and 30 minutes total for Audience Participation.  - Speakers must personally address the council (no delegation of time, except for accommodations such as interpreters).  - To comply with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, the Mayor and Council will receive comments but will not engage in direct dialogue; matters may be referred to staff or placed on a future agenda.

Accessibility

The City of Lawton encourages participation from all citizens.  Residents needing disability accommodations to attend or participate in the meeting are encouraged to contact the City Clerk’s Office at (580) 581-3305 at least 48 hours before the meeting. The City may waive the 48-hour rule when sign language interpreters are not required.

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