5 hrs ago
Norman Police Department supporters wait for the Norman City Councilâs meeting to begin Tuesday. Kyle Phillips / The Transcript
In an 11th hour decision by a Norman city councilor Tuesday, the city pivoted from reallocating $500,000 in proposed Norman Police Department funding and found alternate support for a mobile crisis response unit.
Ward 1 Brandi Studley had previously proposed an amendment to reallocate $500,000 from the NPD s proposed budget to help fund a mobile crisis unit for mental health and non-emergency calls. During the meeting, she changed her amendment to pull the money from the general fund.
The updated amendment passed 5-4 just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, with Mayor Breea Clark, Ward 2 Lauren Schueler, Ward 5 Michael Nash and Ward 8 Matt Peacock voting against.
May 11, 2021
Bird scooters sit at a ânestâ in front of The Norman Transcript parking lot at the corner of Comanche Street and Peters Avenue. The California-based company deposited dozens of the scooters around Norman early in mid August 2018. Transcript File Photo
While the Oklahoma Legislature failed to enact a ban on conversion therapy, the Norman City Council could take a step toward adopting one Tuesday night.
Councilors will discuss an ordinance tonight at the request of the Norman Human Rights Commission to ban âthe use of city fundsâ to support or offer conversion therapy, a staff report shows.
Conversion therapy â the theory that religious, psychiatric or physical means can be used to change a personâs sexual orientation from LGBTQ to a heterosexual â has been called harmful and dangerous by the Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ advocates and the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
A committee tasked with nominating the interim Ward 2 Norman City Councilmember has chosen the OU Carl Albert Centerâs director of National Education for Womenâs Leadership and Civic Engagement to be approved in the May 11 city council meeting.
The committee, which consisted of Britton Perry â former Ward 2 councilor David Perryâs son â Richard Stawicki and Aleisha Karjala, according to an article by the Norman Transcript, chose Lauren Schueler based on her âready answers, broad experience and determination.â Â
Originally there were ten candidates vying for the position after Ward 2 councilor Matt McGarry stepped down a month after his election to accept a job offer at an Ivy League institution. Following this instance, the committee formed to find a new councilmember. Â
10 hrs ago
A committee to find an interim Ward 2 City Councilor nominated Lauren Schueler unanimously, beating out four other contenders in what was a âdifficult decision,â the deciders said.
If approved by the council during the Tuesday, May 11 meeting, Scheuler will be sworn into the Ward 2 seat.
The office has been empty twice in the last year following the death of David Perry and then the resignation of Matt McGarry, who won the Feb. 2021 election.
Committee members Richard Stawicki, Aleisha Karjala and Britton Perry â son of David Perry â found Schuelerâs ready answers, broad experience and determination to seek the Feb. 2022 term all favorable reasons for their choice.
Apr 25, 2021
The City of Norman received 10 applications for the interim Ward 2 seat, which has been vacant twice in one year.
At least two candidates applied for the second time, and two were candidates who vied for the seat during the February special election. The application window closed Friday.
The seat became vacant after the death of newly-elected David Perry in August 2020, and the resignation of Matt McGarry this March.
A committee will review the applications and make a nomination to the council. The nomination will be subject to council approval.
The committee includes former Ward 2 Councilors Joe Carter, Aleisha Karjala and Richard Stawicki, Britton Perry â son of former Ward 2 Councilor David Perry â and non-voting member Ward 4 Councilor Lee Hall.