City Council approves year‑long contract with CityCare for emergency overnight shelter; adds small appropriation

The Norman City Council voted to approve a one‑year service and lease contract (K2425128) with CityCare Incorporated to operate the city’s emergency overnight shelter and to add a small appropriation to the new fiscal‑year budget.

Anthony Perinton, presenting on behalf of city staff, said the contract continues the shelter at 109 West Gray while the city and CityCare pursue a more permanent site. Perinton described the contract as a reimbursement arrangement covering shelter operations, security, case management and housing navigation; the contractor employs housing navigators who provide case management and referrals.

Staff proposed a modest administrative change: a shift from a variable 10% administrative reimbursement to a flat 12.5% administrative fee tied to the contract budget. Perinton said the change would help CityCare cover additional grant‑administration work tied to pursuing Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding and would avoid penalizing the contractor if it secures outside funding in the coming year. The staff memo recommended an additional appropriation of $56,051.77 to cover the fiscal‑year contract amount if the contractor requests full reimbursement from the city.

Public comment at the meeting was strongly pro‑contract. Several residents, including Alex Lamphere, Caleb McGee, Steven Lett and Steve Ellis, told council the shelter is a needed life‑saving service during hot weather and urged approval; multiple commenters also urged the city and CityCare to pay shelter staff higher wages. “Please vote yes,” said Alex Lamphere, noting heat‑related health risks for unsheltered people.

Council members and staff discussed location options. Perinton said city staff and CityCare are actively pursuing potential alternative facilities and have been vetting faith‑based and other community locations; he said the search is further along than in previous months but did not provide a specific timetable for a move.

Council member Michael Dixon and others praised CityCare’s work and noted the shelter has recently assisted clients in moving to housing: Dixon said CityCare had helped find housing for 13 people in the prior six months. Supporters argued the small administrative increase and the additional appropriation would be offset if CityCare secures ESG or other grant funding for housing navigation services.

The council adopted the contract by a 6–1 vote; the mayor was recorded as voting no. City staff said reimbursements are paid only for actual documented expenses and that CityCare has, to date, generally stayed under the allocated budget.

What’s next: staff will finalize the contract paperwork and the additional appropriation; CityCare and staff will continue the search for a more permanent shelter location and will pursue ESG funding for housing navigators and case management.