[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6683839,"mediaKeyId","5114215-696e5e312b0a2590cfe27709abd0bf92","parentId",5114215,"title","City council approves placing 'True North' and probation change on charter ballot, declines to send term-limits change to voters","audioSeconds",3637,"startMs",1785000,"endMs",5422000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5114215-696e5e312b0a2590cfe27709abd0bf92&start=1785&end=5422","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5114215-696e5e312b0a2590cfe27709abd0bf92/thumbnail_1785000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6683839/Oklahoma/City-council-approves-placing-True-North-and-probation-change-on-charter-ballot-declines-to-send-term-limits-change-to-voters","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6683839-a0859a123392cd33a4d021797fc2f11f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771098024&Signature=IzMCIqFYeu3Lb1GC~VdBY2f9OVauxWbUDqwRvdd9ngtQHlobSLMtiFbm0mVK~O5WeBoN~prmSO01vKFJY8TbUZ98AMHrH9iWR6EFCm0jUtesrRD4cTL-t8KSCVLwXqOpOrZ4xm6CnUkUoepPy8JV2g5StfsXCZkn~6lj9KHEIIs2~WKZ3zO~mocPyV89nNNM8impDBsHgnMt~0HTXpizPH6mvMa-LtW5Pb4wJPhp280fND9fDi9mXNLm74dcZ4MnDniFvEo8JJNxdN51QKeU0VdoX9ip1Yh602V~s7rLm7HbZENzITqZ6jt6BKDheSRpE0Tip1lhTKChthFXmmHyrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council Meetings","date","2025-07-02T12:57:20Z","article","The Lawton Fort Sill City Council on Monday moved forward on several proposed charter amendments and related administrative items, voting to place the “True North” statement and an increase in the city employee probationary period on a charter ballot while rejecting a plan to remove council term limits from the ballot.

Mayor Booker and council members discussed multiple charter sections and citizen suggestions during an extended agenda item that included a public comment period in which several residents urged the council to retain term limits. After debate on whether items were ready for charter amendment, the council voted 7-0 to include the True North statement on the referendum and to explicitly place responsibility for maintaining the True North culture with the city manager.

The council also approved, 7-0, language raising the probationary period for newly hired classified employees from six months to 12 months; staff said the change would align the general employee probationary period with already negotiated 12-month periods for police and fire and allow more time for training and evaluation.

On the question of term limits, multiple members and a string of public commenters argued to keep existing limits. Citizen speakers told the council they feared entrenched power and urged retention of limits; Holly Laforest said, “Term limits protect against the entrenchment of power.” After discussion, a motion to withhold the proposed removal of term limits from the ballot passed 6-1 (vote tallies as called on the record).

The council also approved a resolution to codify fees for online and in-person credit/debit card landfill payments tied to a merchant services contract that staff said charges a 2.95% convenience fee with a $2.20 minimum per transaction; the resolution passed 7-0.

Finally, the council convened an executive session under Title 25 Oklahoma Statutes § 307(B)(4) to discuss pending litigation (Julie Magnus v. City of Lawton, CJ-2023-410); after returning to open session the council reported no action was necessary.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution to amend Appendix A (landfill payment convenience fees): motion to approve carried 7-0.
- Place True North statement on charter ballot (and assign city manager responsibility): motions carried 7-0.
- Change probationary period in charter from 6 to 12 months: motion carried 7-0.
- Do not send proposed removal of term limits to the ballot (leave term limits as-is): motion carried 6-1.
- Convene executive session under Title 25 O.S. § 307(B)(4) to discuss pending litigation (Julie Magnus v. City of Lawton): convened; after return no action necessary.

Public comment and council discussion

Multiple residents spoke during the public comment period about term limits and civic participation. Andrea Ward said term limits “encourage broader community involvement,” and Megan Medina said eliminating term limits would not build trust with younger residents. Paul Green urged the council to leave term limits unchanged, noting charter language can be difficult to rewrite to keep pace with changing technology. Resident Mike Sanfilippo described repeated flooding at his property on Southwest Lee Boulevard and asked the council for help; the mayor and staff advised him to consult the city attorney and indicated the matter may be a civil issue.

What the council asked staff to do

Council members directed staff to prepare the election resolution and exhibit language for the items approved for the ballot and to schedule the final council vote on the election resolution at the regular July meeting. Several charter items were deferred for further policy work and refinement before being considered for placement on a future ballot.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 01, 2025 City Council Special Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Lawton Fort Sill City Council voted unanimously to place the 'True North' statement and a change extending the employee probationary period from six to 12 months on a charter ballot, and voted 6-1 not to send a proposed removal of term limits to the electorate; council also approved a resolution to codify landfill payment convenience fees.","taxTitle","City Council Meetings, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma","taxId",69683,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6683844,"Ward 1 councilwoman says she will resign as family commitments pull her outside ward",381,1131000,1512000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5114215-696e5e312b0a2590cfe27709abd0bf92&start=1131&end=1512","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5114215-696e5e312b0a2590cfe27709abd0bf92/thumbnail_1131000.jpg","/articles/6683844/Oklahoma/Ward-1-councilwoman-says-she-will-resign-as-family-commitments-pull-her-outside-ward","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6683844-0cef322797ae4e43dde455631f5b05b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771098024&Signature=jnl~vk8MvA3dhd40CMP09A~YlGBrZRBEPRSOHoM4ekv-rnMUfQ1MwYBSpV2jjEzQXs5ssj2NeUw99Ft1EadZwOhRuwOd61aGzGomiRkU3c1D1q72h0VMhCg77b8v3rzKf9rOjfJ57zAQvw7ZgEtfsdMqCZCP9jMyW~pWOY~uwLDpnSxoQ6wYlKcXksBhHtKnPTocrIDA9rd4Up90gIHXl8qQsTT1LqLiaZ3TsfxFcdbzP38DGndCC4lcUhuHDTXeUtyhK32jFeaCjqbWxA6eqj066fNnajWF92Nz4WPDEjzW7fhqnYys8IZilbIef42rCWivP1Lhji3T7k~e~fYoIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilwoman (Ward 1) announced during the Lawton Fort Sill City Council meeting that she will resign from her seat in the near future after deciding to relocate outside ward boundaries to support her husband in his role as mayor.

She said the decision followed “much consideration and prayer” and that she wanted to give prospective applicants time to prepare before the formal resignation. “I have decided that I will be resigning from my position on the city council in the near future,” she said.

The councilwoman framed the move as a new chapter and summarized priorities and accomplishments during her time in office. She cited infrastructure projects and neighborhood cleanups as highlights, saying the council completed 105 street projects across the city and created a Department of Safe and Clean Neighborhoods to address blight and dangerous structures. “We have dramatically increased transparency and accountability in our operations,” she said, and described participation at Great Plains Technology Center early in her Lawton career.

She said she will continue to serve the city in a new capacity alongside the mayor and that her commitment to Lawton Fort Sill “remains unwavering.” She encouraged residents to consider applying to fill the Ward 1 seat once she completes the formal resignation process in the coming weeks.

No formal vacancy appointment or timeline for the resignation was provided on the record. The council did not take action on the announcement at the meeting; the councilwoman said she will complete the formal resignation steps in the coming weeks.","The councilwoman representing Ward 1 announced she will resign soon after saying she plans to relocate outside the ward to support her husband in a new role as mayor, and reflected on infrastructure and neighborhood improvements during her service.","actionData","errors"]

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City council approves placing 'True North' and probation change on charter ballot, declines to send term-limits change to voters

Ward 1 councilwoman says she will resign as family commitments pull her outside ward