Norman council meeting is good example of democracy
By James Tyree
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Published: November 14, 2009
The Norman City Council meeting this week lasted past 11 p.m., which included nearly 2½ hours of public comment and feedback about the city’s storm water and greenbelt master plans.
Though the agenda was relatively short, I knew it could be a long evening when I saw dozens of extra chairs placed behind the many permanent chairs in the council chambers. Then I saw some of the intent faces on people waiting to attend the meeting. Oh boy.
Yet, the late hour and long discussion on storm water drainage really wasn’t so bad. It didn’t set the excitement meter on fire, but the varied comments of residents kept the meeting from becoming a snoozer while their decorum, regardless of viewpoint, prevented too much excitement for the wrong reasons.
The shouting and shoving at some town hall meetings across the country overshadow legitimate arguments and appeals on both sides.
A trillion-dollar health care overhaul wasn’t at stake Tuesday in
Norman, but an $83 million storm water master plan is no chump change for a city of little more than 100,000 residents.
And to be sure, some chamber of commerce members and other residents expressed concern about the fairness of how the cost may be shared, saying it can put an unfair burden on business and commercial properties.
But those residents, whether it was Cindy Nashert’s reading of the chamber’s position or attorney Harold Heiple’s nine-minute oratory, explained their reservations with respect for the council and those in the audience.
People who were gung-ho for the plan’s recommendations didn’t berate those who weren’t. Instead, they used humor or personal experiences to explain their positions.
Folks on both sides remembered they were all neighbors trying to find the best way to solve a serious problem within the city that they all shared. The council voted to accept the plans but assured the audience that public input would remain a high priority, which is democracy at its best.
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