Moore City Council approves range of contracts, ordinance changes and a drainage study; votes at a glance

The Moore City Council on Feb. 3 approved a package of contracts, ordinance changes and studies addressing public safety, infrastructure and municipal operations.

Council action included approval to declare 40 retired TASER X26 devices and holsters surplus and authorize donation to the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police; purchase of a new Live Scan fingerprinting system funded by a National Criminal History Improvement Program grant; and awarding an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice to RKG Associates for $29,805 using CDBG funds. Council also approved a $35,430 drainage study for the Northmore Avenue/North Shields Boulevard area and several maintenance and vendor contracts, plus updates to the personnel and safety manuals.

Why it matters: The approvals affect public-safety capability (donation of outdated devices and purchase of a modern Live Scan), senior and recreation services (a bus-use agreement and seasonal staffing contract), municipal policy for employee benefits and safety, and a technical study that could lead to capital drainage work affecting private and downstream properties.

Major decisions and key details

• Surplus TASERs and donation — Council approved declaring 40 TASER X26 and X26P devices and holsters surplus and authorized donation to the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police or other law enforcement agencies. A city staff presenter said the devices “have ended their service life” and that the batteries render them unusable once depleted; the association would pass them to smaller agencies that lack funding for equipment.

• Live Scan system — Council approved purchase of a Live Scan fingerprint system for $22,817 funded by a National Criminal History Improvement Program grant. City staff said the current scanner, used since 2009, has deteriorated and the manufacturer is out of business, making maintenance difficult; the new unit will connect to state and national criminal databases.

• Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice — RKG Associates was awarded RFP No. 202053 for $29,805 to prepare the five‑year Analysis of Impediments required for CDBG funding. City staff noted RKG completed the city’s prior reports in 2015 and 2020.

• Drainage study for Northmore Avenue/North Shields Blvd. — Council approved a $35,430 contract with Meshack and Associates to study drainage and provide alternatives to reduce flooding near 2225 Northmore Avenue. City staff said an undersized pipe installed in the 1970s conveys water beneath private property; the study will analyze whether detention or other alternatives can reduce flooding downstream. Staff told council the cost is for the study only; design or construction would be separate and costs were not specified.

• Personnel and benefits policy update — Council approved amendments to the personnel policy manual including a new Section 9.5.1 that provides continuation of health benefits: the city will pay 100% of COBRA premiums for dependents for six months following the death of a full‑time regular employee.

• Safety and health policy manual — Council approved an updated safety and health manual compiled with the city’s loss-control officer to replace an older manual dated 02/2004.

• Ordinance change: gated communities and emergency access — Council approved language changing the term “gated subdivisions” to “gated communities,” explicitly including apartment complexes, and adding numerical keypad devices as required emergency/rapid access devices with access codes to be shared with police and fire.

• Ordinance change: cruelty to animals — Council approved Ordinance No. 1059-25 to add a section making it unlawful for a person who pleads guilty to or is convicted under the cruelty-to-animals code to possess any animal; the ordinance allows animal control to issue citations, remove animals in unsafe situations, and includes a process for a bona fide owner to reclaim an animal with proof of ownership. The ordinance also contains provisions for potential restoration of possession under specified procedures.

• Contracts and maintenance items — Council approved: a contract renewal with S&S Staffing (doing business as Hire Go) for Parks and Cemetery temporary summer help; a contract with Art Pyrotechnics for July 4 and Christmas fireworks in the budgeted amount of $58,500; SH Renovations for locker-room floor repairs at Station Aquatic Center for $35,159.23 (funded from hotel/motel tax); and a contract allowing Moore Council on Aging use of a 2019 Ford E-450 bus Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 (MCOA to provide fuel and maintenance; Parks & Recreation provides driver and scheduling).

• Engineering and construction changes — Council approved Amendment No. 2 with Freese and Nichols for $32,300 for additional engineering and environmental coordination tied to an ACOG grant for the SW 19th Street & Santa Fe Avenue intersection project (ODOT requirements). Council also approved Change Order No. 2 with Silver Star Construction reducing that contract by $41,942 by replacing roughly 430 linear feet of pavement with asphalt instead of concrete; staff said asphalt would shorten construction time by about four weeks and match adjacent asphalt sections.

Meeting context and next steps

City Manager Brooks Mitchell told council the FY2026 budget process has begun. Council recessed into executive session under Section 307, Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes to discuss pending litigation (case CJ-2025-56) and later voted to “proceed as directed” following the session. No further public details about the litigation were provided during open session.

Votes at a glance (outcomes from Feb. 3 meeting)

All listed actions below were approved by recorded roll call votes during the meeting. Vote tallies reflect the roll-call responses recorded in the transcript (affirmative votes shown where recorded):

• Consent docket (Items A–D) — approved (roll call: Kathy Griffith, Sid Porter, Melissa Hunt, Louie Williams, Rob Clark, Mark Ham — all Yes).

• Item 3 — declare 40 TASER X26/X26P devices and holsters surplus; authorize donation — approved (all Yes).

• Item 4 — approve revised job description/title to Emergency Communications Manager and retain current pay grade — approved (all Yes).

• Item 5 — award RFP 202053 to RKG Associates for Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, $29,805, CDBG-funded — approved (all Yes).

• Item 6 — purchase Live Scan fingerprinting system, $22,817, NCHIP grant-funded — approved (all Yes).

• Item 7 — contract with S&S Staffing / Hire Go for Parks & Cemetery summer staffing — approved (all Yes).

• Item 8 — renew contract with Art Pyrotechnics for fireworks displays, total budgeted $58,500 — approved (all Yes).

• Item 9 — contract with SH Renovations for Station Aquatic Center locker-room floor repairs, $35,159.23 (hotel/motel tax funding) — approved (all Yes).

• Item 10 — agreement to utilize 2019 Ford E-450 bus for Moore Council on Aging Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 — approved (all Yes).

• Item 11 — personnel policy amendment adding continuation of health benefits (COBRA premium paid for dependents six months) and cleanup language — approved (all Yes).

• Item 12 — ordinance amendment clarifying “gated communities,” adding apartment complexes and adding numerical keypad requirement for emergency access — approved (all Yes).

• Item 13 — adopt updated safety and health policy manual; rescind prior plan if any — approved (all Yes).

• Item 14 — Ordinance No. 1059-25 amending cruelty-to-animals provisions to prohibit possession after conviction or plea of guilty, with owner-reclaim process — approved (all Yes).

• Item 15 — contract with Meshack and Associates for drainage study at Northmore Ave/N. Shields Blvd., $35,430 (professional services account) — approved (all Yes).

• Item 16 — Amendment No. 2 with Freese and Nichols for additional engineering for SW 19th & Santa Fe (ACOG grant), $32,300 — approved (all Yes).

• Item 17 — Change Order No. 2 with Silver Star Construction reducing contract by $41,942 to use asphalt instead of concrete for a ~430-foot section on S. Bryant Ave./SE 4th St. project — approved (all Yes).

• Executive session (Item 21) — council moved into executive session under Section 307, Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes to discuss pending litigation (CJ‑2025‑56) and later voted in open session to proceed as directed — action approved (all Yes).

Ending

Council members thanked staff for the grant work that funded some purchases and for preparation of policy updates. The council announced a tentative groundbreaking for the Fourth Street underpass scheduled for Feb. 20; council members noted construction will affect traffic during the work. The meeting adjourned after the executive-session action.