Stillwater council adopts FY2026-27 budget, approves rezoning and dispensary permits

The Stillwater City Council on June 1 adopted the city's operating budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and approved a slate of zoning and permitting items, including a rezoning at 214'220 South Cleveland and two specific-use permits for medical marijuana dispensaries at Rosewood Hill Shopping Center.

City staff presented a map-amendment request to rezone a parcel containing an existing sorority house at 214 and 220 South Cleveland from Residential Multifamily Intermediate (RMI) to Residential Multifamily Urban (RMU) to permit expansion. Henry Bbleheimer of Development Services said the parcel is currently at the RMI maximum lot coverage of 40 percent, and rezoning to RMU would allow up to 60 percent lot coverage to accommodate the proposed expansion; he added the applicant has leased off-site parking spaces to meet parking requirements. The Planning Commission recommended approval 4-0; the council voted 5-0 to approve and advance related ordinance 3605 to second reading.

The council also considered two specific-use permits to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in separate units of the Rosewood Hill Shopping Center. Bbleheimer told the council the unit-number-specific permits are required when ownership transfers; Planning Commission recommended both permits 4-0. The council approved unit 36 (CC-26-97) and unit 17 (CC-26-98) by separate votes, each passing 4-1, with Councilor Harden voting no on both items.

A separate specific-use permit (CC-26-99) to install a 4x8 electronic message center as part of an existing Murray Law Firm sign at 311 South Duck Street in the corridor redevelopment Transsect 5 was presented by staff. Bbleheimer said the proposed sign meets the municipal limit that up to 40% of a sign may be electronic when the base is included in the calculation and that electronic displays must meet code provisions (for example, auto-dimming and short loop lengths). Planning Commission recommended approval 4-0; the council approved the permit 5-0.

On resolutions and ordinances, Mayor William Joyce introduced resolution CC-2026-9 to adopt the city operating budget for FY2026-27; the council adopted the resolution by a 5-0 vote. The council advanced ordinance 3607 (a non-exclusive cable franchise agreement with Seabridge Acquisition LP/Optimum) to second reading by a 5-0 vote after discussing negotiated provisions requiring a local office and liquidated-damage provisions to help enforce customer-service obligations. The council adopted ordinance 3606 (amending the employee retirement defined-contribution plan), ordinance 3608 (prohibiting handheld cell phones in active school and construction zones, to enable local enforcement), and ordinance 3609 (amending parks code regarding prohibited camping) by unanimous votes.

Votes at a glance: consent docket approved 5-0; rezoning CC-26-96 (214'220 S. Cleveland) approved 5-0; specific-use permits CC-26-97 (unit 36) and CC-26-98 (unit 17) approved 4-1 (Councilor Harden voted no); specific-use permit CC-26-99 (311 S. Duck) approved 5-0; resolution CC-2026-9 (FY2026-27 budget) adopted 5-0; ordinances 3606, 3608, and 3609 adopted 5-0; ordinances 3605 and 3607 advanced to second reading 5-0.

The meeting also included reports from city staff about summer programming, library and arts offerings, and community events. The council adjourned and the Trustees of the Stillwater Utilities Authority, Stillwater Economic Development Authority, and Stillwater Public Works Authority each convened briefly to adopt their FY2026-27 operating budgets before adjourning.