Wed August 22, 2007
City officials adopt seven priorities

By Bryan Dean
Staff Writer
Roads, public transit and economic development were among the long-term priorities adopted by the Oklahoma City Council on Tuesday.

The council updated a list of priorities developed two years ago by coming up with a new list.

Council members spent several hours at a workshop at the Cox Convention Center coming up with the list of seven priorities covering a range of issues.

Following is a list of priorities adopted with an explanation of each:

Paying for growth
With residential and commercial growth on the fringes of the city comes new roads, water lines and sewers. Maintaining that infrastructure is difficult because the city's revenue isn't growing fast enough to keep pace.
The city is looking for new ways to pay for such needs. The city pays for most of its maintenance with sales tax money. Mayor Mick Cornett said one method the city can seek on its own is impact fees, which pass the cost of new infrastructure on to developers when they are building new houses or commercial developments.

"It's the best solution I've seen so far,” Cornett said. "How far we go with that is an issue that I'm still playing out in my mind.”

Cornett said the city will also work with the Legislature to come up with new revenue streams.

Public trust
Most residents are happy with their city government. A recent survey conducted by a private consultant on behalf of the city showed 77 percent of residents are happy with the direction of the city.
After MAPS and MAPS for Kids, voters passed an increase to the city's hotel tax with more than 80 percent in favor. Maintaining that level of trust is a key if the city wants to accomplish any of its other goals, Ward 3 Councilman Larry McAtee said.

"It's our responsibility to build on that and keep moving Oklahoma City forward,” McAtee said. "If things are going well, there is a tendency to want to just kick back, pat ourselves on the back and say what a great job we've done. But the job is not done. If you're not moving forward, you are moving backward.”


Quality of life
How do you create a city where people want to live?
Council members believe offering a variety of recreational activities is a big part of improving quality of life.

Ward 1 Councilman Gary Marrs said companies often look for cultural and recreational options when deciding where to locate.

"A population as big as our metro area needs choices,” Marrs said. "We need the NBA and we need people who support the philharmonic and ballet. You've got to have a balance.”

Improving quality of life doesn't necessarily mean subsidizing bigger venues and more concerts, Marrs said.

He said the city has to give residents options and let the market drive expansion.

"You've got to have the choices there, and then you have to let the citizens make those choices and fill the seats up,” Marrs said.


Road construction and more
Keepings roads drivable, water running and sewers draining may be the most basic function of city government.
City officials listed maintaining infrastructure as a top priority. The first measure of success for that goal may be this December, when the city asks voters to approve a new general obligation bond issue.

The $760 million bond issue would pay for road repairs, widening and other projects along with parks, public safety, libraries and other basic capital needs.

Ward 5 Councilman Brian Walters, who previously has complained the bond issue doesn't include enough money for projects in his ward, repeated his concerns at Tuesday's meeting. The bond issue includes $25 million for Ward 5 projects and at least $50 million for projects in every other ward.

City officials said the money went for projects most in need. Streets in the worst condition with the highest traffic volumes got funded.

The streets in Ward 5 are generally in good condition because, unlike other wards, the city widened roads before new developments were built.

"My concern is that the bond issue does not allow enough money for Ward 5 to continue being proactive,” Walters said. "We are fixing problems in other areas without being proactive in Ward 5. All I'm asking for is the dollars to continue that proactive approach.”

Ward 6 Councilwoman Ann Simank said the city needs to put a priority on fixing areas that already have problems.

"I really think we need to take a look at the inner core area,” Simank said. "I'm speaking primarily of our neighborhoods. Sometimes there are just not enough resources to get those needs taken care of.”


Duplicating services
Oklahoma City has offered to take over fire service for other metro communities struggling to keep up their own fire departments because of declining sales tax revenues.
Officials from Warr Acres recently said "no thanks” to the offer.

But Oklahoma City isn't giving up. Ward 4 Councilman Pete White said Oklahoma City has to lead the effort or it won't happen.

"The biggest waste of money in government is duplication of services,” White said. "It isn't graft or corruption. I think we would all like to deliver better service for less. The quickest and easiest way to do that is consolidation.”

Ward 7 Councilwoman Willa Johnson said every city in the metro area ought to be looking for ways to save money by combining efforts when possible.

"We are all doing the very same things,” Johnson said. "We need some seamlessness in this. I've had a couple of experiences as a councilwoman where some of those lines of demarcation have caused some consternation for citizens.”


Mass transit
Everyone agrees Oklahoma City's public transit system needs serious improvement, but convincing citizens to invest in it now won't be easy, Ward 8 Councilman Pat Ryan said.
"The need is not critical now, but if we wait until it becomes a burning issue, the cost and the need will be much higher,” Ryan said.

Whether improved transit means a better bus system, light rail or some other solution remains to be decided. Light rail was the most popular idea submitted when the city asked citizens to come up with projects for a possible MAPS 3.

Ward 2 Councilman Sam Bowman said momentum for improved public transit is building both among council members and in the public.

"We are seeing some different users of the public transportation system,” Bowman said. "We are seeing a beginning because of the cost of gasoline, because of quality of life and air quality.”

Economic development
Cornett doesn't just want more jobs in Oklahoma City. He wants high-paying jobs.

The city is looking for more ways to recruit quality employers to the area. But economic incentives are only one piece of the puzzle.

Cornett said the city has to focus on bigger picture issues to truly compete for the best jobs.

"You create a city where people want to live,” Cornett said. "If you are successful in that, you are successful in a lot of economic development areas. You've created an employee base. You've succeeded in addressing educational needs. You've given retirees a reason to stay, and you've given your younger people a reason to not leave when they've completed their education.”