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.
The Norman City Council could add a non-emergency call response program designed to decrease the need for law enforcement officers, but a state law and similar programs elsewhere demonstrate a
The Norman City Council discussed Tuesday night cutting the Norman Police Department’s proposed budget by an additional $500,000 to help fund a mobile crisis pilot program.
The Norman City Council voted Tuesday evening to postpone the allocation of $9.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds and held its second public hearing for the fiscal year-end 2022
3 hrs ago
The Norman City Council Oversight Committee considered how to best support local broadband and high-speed internet needs Thursday night, weighing options that included local partnerships and funding from federal dollars.
Council members determined that while Norman residents have broadband options and accessibility, affordability and speed may be an issue for some.
Norman doesnât lack internet providers â all of Cleveland County can access at least two providers who can provide the minimum 25 mbps speed internet, City Attorney Kathryn Walker said. A 25 mbps download speed is the base level for what the FCC considers high-speed internet.
But as the internet speed goes up, the access in Cleveland County narrows. At 100 mbps speed, only 45.12% of county residents have access to two providers; by 1,000 mbps, 47.95% of residents have no access at all.