Council Debates Downtown Roundabout, Approves Growth Plan and Trail Project

Stillwater City Council approved a comprehensive plan guiding development through 2045 and authorized a grant application for the final phase of the Rails-to-Trails project Dec. 15, but debate emerged over the future of the downtown roundabout at 10th Avenue and Main Street.

The council voted unanimously on multiple major initiatives during its Dec. 15 meeting, including adoption of Envision Stillwater 2045 and authorization to pursue $1.2 million in state transportation funding for rail-to-trail conversion. However, city staff's presentation on proposed downtown intersection improvements sparked disagreement among councilors about whether to enhance or remove the controversial roundabout.

"I don't like this roundabout. It's too small," Councilor Kevin Clark said during the presentation. "The visibility is obstructed by the statue in the middle of it. I think it's pretty, but I think it's ill-advised. I'll have a hard time voting for a plan that includes the roundabout."

The roundabout discussion came as city staff proposed converting traffic signals at Seventh, Eighth and Ninth avenues to four-way stops and making improvements to the 10th Avenue roundabout. The proposals follow a successful pilot program that converted three downtown intersections to flashing four-way stops after a driver of an SUV damaged the roundabout earlier this year.

City Manager Brady Moore said staff observed the southbound vehicle traveling at high speed through multiple green lights before hitting the roundabout. The incident prompted a fresh look at downtown intersection safety.

"The ultimate goal is to improve safety, both for pedestrians and vehicles, and to create more of a pedestrian-friendly, more shopping environment that we want our downtown to be," Moore said.

Engineering Director Bill Millis presented plans for enhanced stop signs with solar-powered LED lights, decorative pedestals and Block 34-style street lights at the three intersections being converted to four-way stops. The 10th Avenue roundabout would receive improved lighting, embedded LED pavement markers and enhanced signage to help drivers better navigate the circle.

The roundabout improvements would also include up-lighting on the statue and the wall surrounding the median. Millis told the council staff plans to use the same stone from Block 34 for the roundabout wall, maintaining design consistency with other downtown improvements.

Feedback from residents and the downtown merchants has been positive about the four-way stops, according to Moore. Alane Zannotti, who lives downtown, told the council the pilot program has improved traffic flow and pedestrian safety.

"At a stop, four-way stop, it's amazing how you don't get on your phone, hopefully when you're in the car, you actually take a moment to pay attention to who is crossing the street at those intersections," Zannotti said. "I've seen more pedestrian traffic, I think people feel more comfortable driving because they're paying attention."

Councilor Christie Hawkins said the timing of the pilot program allowed the city to evaluate the four-way stops during peak traffic periods.

"I know when we first started this, it was I think towards the end of the spring semester or first of the summer and there was some pushback on, we're not really seeing what it's going to be like until students are back," Hawkins said. "And so I've appreciated that we've had this going the entire semester during homecoming, during football games, during Block 34 opening. And so we really do, I think, get a, have gotten a good picture of what it's like and that it does seem to work fairly well even when there's heavy traffic."

Millis said the timing was intentional, starting with lower summer traffic to identify any unintended consequences before testing during the fall semester.

Mayor Will Joyce said he supports keeping the roundabout, noting it serves multiple purposes beyond traffic management.

"It's a centerpiece. It's got a lot of value to downtown that's not just traffic-related," Joyce said. "But, you know, it's not a sacred object."

Vice Mayor Amy Dzialowski asked whether the roundabout meets standard size requirements. Millis said the inner circle meets Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices guidelines but is the smallest acceptable diameter.

"I wasn't here at the time, but what I've been told is it does meet the MUTCD guidelines, but that the inner circle, that median, is the smallest acceptable diameter because we had considered trying to widen the lane, but we couldn't take any lane out of the middle," Millis said. "It's definitely, it would have been nice if it was bigger."

Dzialowski summarized: "So small but meets standards."

"Correct," Millis said.

Councilor Tim Hardin raised concerns about semi-trucks navigating the roundabout, noting that delivery trucks occasionally get trapped after turning onto Main Street from Sixth Avenue.

"Is this circle big enough to allow one of the smaller semi-trucks get around it?" Hardin asked. "I know our jeweler right there who is on the traffic circle has got several pictures of trucks running into the circle, damaging it."

Millis said the roundabout is not sized for tractor-trailers but should accommodate smaller vehicles. He said staff will investigate whether mapping applications or outdated systems still route trucks down Main Street, which was a highway decades ago.

"We are going to look into, are there ways to have it not be identified as a truck route?" Millis said. "It's not one of our truck routes, but see how we might be able to reinforce that."

Hardin noted that once a truck turns onto Main Street, drivers have limited options besides attempting to navigate the roundabout.

"I don't know how to stop that completely, but we're going to see what we can do to lessen the incidents," Millis said.

The council directed staff to return with cost estimates for both enhancing the roundabout and converting it to a four-way stop before making a final decision.

City seeks ODOT funding for Rails-to-Trails project

In other action, the council authorized the city manager to submit a grant application to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for $1.2 million in Transportation Alternatives Program funds for the Rails-to-Trails project's third phase.

The 0.72-mile ADA-compliant trail would run from Third Avenue to 12th Avenue, connecting the existing Kameoka Trail system. Total project costs are estimated at $1,589,695, with the city providing a required 20 percent match of $389,695 from transportation fees dedicated to capacity enhancements.

Once complete, the approximately three mile rails-to-trails conversion project would connect the Kameoka trail at Boomer Lake Park from Lakeview Road to 12th Avenue near Hoyt Grove Park and Couch Park.

The council also unanimously adopted Envision Stillwater 2045 as the city's comprehensive plan, marking the culmination of more than two years of work by consultants Freese and Nichols, city staff and residents.

The comprehensive plan establishes a vision and goals for Stillwater's development through 2045. While not a regulatory document, it will guide future regulations including the ongoing land development code update.

"Envision Stillwater is a great comprehensive plan. It's not perfect and it is intended to be a living document which can shift and change as policies and priorities are updated," City Planner Henry Bibelheimer said.

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The plan includes an implementation table with clear action items that city staff can work toward to achieve the goals. Bibelheimer said staff will conduct annual reviews to ensure the document remains relevant.

Hawkins thanked the advisory committee, city manager's office and all involved in the multi-year process.

"It is a tremendous amount of work that has been in process for multiple years now. So just a big thank you to everyone that has worked towards this moment where we get to approve it," Hawkins said.

The council also approved a resolution authorizing submission of a film-friendly certification application to the Oklahoma Film + Music Office. The certification could increase community engagement opportunities and attract film productions to Stillwater.

According to city staff, independent film productions typically spend between $300,000 and $1 million locally, with productions generating $3.33 in Oklahoma spending for every dollar in incentives.

The council approved three second-reading ordinances rezoning properties at 711 S. Ramsey Street and 998 S. Murphy Street, and passed amendments to the land development code adding setback exceptions for various zoning districts.

Council members also appointed Dustin McDonald to the Transportation Projects Advisory Committee and approved resolutions establishing water and sewer capacity fees for larger meter sizes.

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