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

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.