Quartz 5

January 13, 2026 City Council Meeting

12 min read

January 13, 2026 City Council Meeting


Attendance

City Council Members Present

  • Hooton — Ward 1
  • Epps — Ward 2
  • Brown — Ward 3
  • Dimery — Ward 4
  • Hampton — Ward 5
  • Weger — Ward 6
  • Williams — Ward 7
  • Warren — Ward 8

Quorum: Yes
Absences: None noted

Summary

The January 13, 2026 Lawton City Council meeting opened with invocation/pledge and the City’s 2026 “Brick by Brick in ’26” New Year presentation. Lawton Public Schools presented a report on the 2025 Makerspace Camp. The Council recognized a True North Award recipient and proclaimed January 2026’s Citizen of the Month.

Council reordered the agenda to hear a status report from Dr. A.J. Griffin on contracted community improvement initiatives related to homelessness. Reports followed from Fort Sill, Councilmembers, and staff, including an announcement of a USDOT Safe Streets planning grant. The Council then approved the consent agenda (with specific items pulled/stricken), acted on multiple ordinances/resolutions (water authority financing, museum artifact storage contract, Westwin termination, blight study acceptance, shopping cart enforcement, and committee restructuring), created an ad hoc facility naming committee, and handled executive session items including retaining counsel for an OMAG insurance dispute. Public comment included concerns about delayed records and transparency.

Agenda Items & Actions

Item 1 – 2026 New Year Address (“Brick by Brick in ’26” video)

Item 2 – LPS Report: 2025 Makerspace Camp

  • Start: 1:39:49 — https://www.youtube.com/live/Fa3kNyqt4N8?t=5989s
  • Action: Report received / presentation
  • Vote: N/A
  • Notes: Vanessa Perez (LPS) presented; grades 3–12; pre/post challenges; expansion to 16 categories; field trips/community partners.

Item 3 – True North Award Recipient

Item 4 – Citizen of the Month: Felicia Maddox (January 2026)

Item 46 – Status Report: Dr. A.J. Griffin (Homelessness / Community Resilience Initiatives)

  • Start: 1:56:15 — https://www.youtube.com/live/Fa3kNyqt4N8?t=6975s
  • Action: Status report received (agenda reordered to take earlier)
  • Vote: N/A
  • Notes: Steering committee formation; asset-based community development; policy recommendations anticipated.

Reports

  • Start (setup): 2:14:54 — https://www.youtube.com/live/Fa3kNyqt4N8?t=8094s
  • Action: Approved with exceptions (pulled items 11 & 28; stricken items 14 & 29)
  • Vote: Passed (AYE: Hooton, Epps, Brown, Dimery, Hampton, Weger, Williams, Warren)
  • Notes: Items approved on consent generally do not have separate discussion timestamps; they are covered by the consent agenda vote.

Item 5 – Tort Claims (Wehmeyer; Taylor; Fleener; Bank of Commerce) — Res. 26-20/21/22

Item 6 – Workers’ Comp Joint Petition: Ramon Ortega ($25,920) — Res. 26-23

Item 7 – Workers’ Comp Joint Petition: Broderick Jackson ($16,848) — Res. 26-24

Item 8 – Workers’ Comp Joint Petition: Patrick Kilgore ($6,336) — Res. 26-25

Item 9 – Budget Amendment: Hybrid Electric Buses ($7,646,068 to Mass Transit Fund) — Res. 26-26

Item 10 – Wrecker Callout Fee Change (flat $1,000/year; eff. 2026-07-01) — Res. 26-27

Item 11 – Water Authority Financing / OWRB Applications (≤ $1,500,000) — Res. 26-28 (PULLED)

Item 12 – Neighborhood Traffic Calming (Automatic Speed Measuring Device near 5003 SW Malcolm Rd.) — Res. 26-29

Item 13 – ODOT TAP Grant Sponsorship (Downtown Pedestrian Improvement; Lake Helen Trail) — Res. 26-30/26-31

Item 14 – Sales/Use Tax Apportionment Certification (Jan 1–Jun 30, 2025) (STRICKEN)

Item 15 – Change Order No. 1: Map 10 Waterline Replacement PU2403 (final $6,004,555.50)

Item 16 – Change Order No. 2 & Final Pay App: EN1707P2A (MTZ Construction)

Item 17 – Change Order No. 2: Cache Road 36” Waterline Replacement PU2302 (final $16,483,114.93)

Item 18 – Final Change Order No. 3: EN1707P2B (MTZ Construction) (reduction $131,745.12)

Item 19 – Amendment No. 12: Garver, LLC (Willow Springs Neighborhood WMID design; ≤ $175,623)

Item 20 – Final Change Order No. 1: PW2502 Aquatics Center Parking Lot Paving (Ellsworth Construction)

Item 21 – PR2501 Robinson’s Landing Dry Stall Boat Storage (approve plans/specs; advertise for bids)

Item 22 – EN2307A Ft Sill Blvd / I-44 Interchange Traffic Lighting (approve plans/specs; advertise for bids)

Item 23 – Contract Award: PW2504P5 “107 in 25’ Ad Valorem phase” (Overland $3,542,751.61 + 15-day extension)

Item 24 – Extend Contract: Maintenance of Public Grounds (Bedrock Nursery) (RFPCL25-016)

Item 25 – Extend Contract: Sludge Dewatering Polymer (Polydyne, Inc.) (CL25-015)

Item 26 – Extend Contract: Fire Service Cost Recovery Billing/Collection (Fire Recovery USA) (RFPCL25-018)

Item 27 – Renew Annual License: Global Music Rights (GMR)

Item 28 – Contract: FISTA Central Plaza retail space for Museum of the Great Plains Artifact Storage (PULLED)

Item 29 – EN2304 Animal Welfare Building (reject bids; authorize CMAR RFP) (STRICKEN)

Item 30 – Receipt of DEQ Permit WL000016250906 (Map 44 Water Line Replacement PU2502)

Item 31 – Fee in Lieu of Onsite Stormwater Detention (1149 NE Quail Creek Rd. $600)

Item 32 – Travel Policy Waiver: Fire Chief (NUSAR Alliance 2025 Conference flights)

Item 33 – Travel Policy Waiver: Police Chief (Americans for Effective Law Enforcement conference flights)

Item 34 – Amend Council Policy 01-01 (City Manager waiver authority up to $500 beyond limits)

Item 35 – MOU: City / Lawton Unhoused Trust Authority / Salvation Army (temporary camping & service-support site)

Item 36 – Fire Cost Recovery Fund Purchase: Battery-Powered Extrication Tools ($47,411)

Item 37 – Surplus Sale: 2004 Scotty Trailer (“smokehouse”) to Elgin FD ($7,500) + generator funding

Item 38 – Easements: Nathan & Laci Merritt Living Trust (PU2422 SE WTP, ~2803 SE Woodlawn Rd.)

Item 39 – Temporary Easement Release: Brentwood Development (PU1801 SSES South Wolf Creek #5)

Item 40 – Accept State Aid Funds (OK Dept. of Libraries) $34,340

Item 41 – Notice: Special Construction Permit approved by City Manager (7084 W Gore Blvd; weekend work Nov 15–16, 2025)

Item 42 – Demolition Invoices / Actual Costs (multiple properties) (11 O.S. 22-112.4)

Item 43 – Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Item 44 – Approve Minutes (Oct 22, Oct 28, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 11, Dec 2, Dec 9, 2025 meetings)

Item 45 – Election of Mayor Pro Tem (Calendar Year 2026)

Item 47 – Westwin Elements: Election Not to Proceed (Commercial Refinery) + Terminate Part II Obligations — Res. 26-32

Item 48 – Accept Blighted Conditions Study + Direct LURA to Modify Urban Renewal Plans — Res. 26-33

Item 49 – Ordinance: Abandoned Shopping Carts treated as Bulk Waste (fees/enforcement) — Ord. 26-01

Item 50 – Resolution: Add Shopping Cart Fees to Fee Schedule — Res. 26-34

Item 51 – Ordinance: Dissolve Council Budget & Efficiency Committee — Ord. 26-02

Item 52 – Ordinance: Dissolve Processes Oversight Committee — Ord. 26-03

Item 53 – Ordinance: Establish Committee of Performance Excellence — Ord. 26-04

Item 54 – Create Ad Hoc Committee: Facility/Asset Naming Process

Executive Session

Item 55 – IUPA Local 24 Collective Bargaining (FY 2026–2027)

Item 56 – OMAG Property Insurance Dispute (retain McIntyre Law; contingency terms)

Item 57 – TBRA Program Investigation

Audience Participation

  • Start: 3:37:27 — https://www.youtube.com/live/Fa3kNyqt4N8?t=13047s
  • Notes: Jonathan Sanchez called; did not appear. Matina Davis Prudhomme raised concerns re: delayed records requests (City/FISTA), transparency/conflict appearance, and communications with City legal/prosecutor issues.

Adjournment

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