2017 GoBond Package News

[SoonerDave]

At one of the public meetings for the GO bond I asked what happened to the expensive light timing software we bought and two things were pointed out to me...

1) The city-wide wifi implemented for law enforcement is gone (they went to a Verizon solution) so there's no network infrastructure to use
2) The person championing that effort moved to a different department

The inability to understand that technology must now be integrated *from the ground up* is a kind of myopia that infects just about every large enterprise I encounter. There is this persistent notion that it can always be bolted on, as an afterthought, or piggy-backed off someone else's interesting project. This is a *classic* example of that. One person championing the idea. Piggyback off police's public wifi. Bolt them together. Convince someone to spend a bunch of $$$ on it with no proper plan, just some ideas. Then when one part goes away, the whole thing fails and a bunch of money has been completely wasted. So frustrating. See it all the time. And the same people in charge make the same kinds of dumb decisions over things they don't understand...lather, rinse, repeat....and we as taxpayers fund it all.

[pw405]

Again, we have to be ambassadors for OKC on these issues.

Examples pw405 cited about the roles of federal, state, city & county governments and their various departments which include ODOT'S (Oklahoma Department of Transportation) to the state; safety (police & fire) as it relates to the city/county & the perspective of how all this intertwines is the message voters need to know.

It's a ball of confusion. Voters get frustrated, eventually this leads to a 'NO' vote because they don't understand. We have to address these issues with patience because of voter empathy & apathy.

Bottom line; this is a PACKAGE (GoBonds), you will not be able to pick & choose what you want vs. what you don't want passed. It's similar to MAPS, all or nothing.

I see, so the sales tax questions are separate aren't they?

[Laramie]

I see, so the sales tax questions are separate aren't they?

Yes, they are a separate package from the Go-Bonds.

[DowntownMan]

Talked with my councilman and 150th is being added to the sales tax vote. So there is potential hope to get that street taken care of

[OkieDave]

Talked with my councilman and 150th is being added to the sales tax vote. So there is potential hope to get that street taken care of

Specific street projects are not listed on the sales tax vote like they are on the GO Bond Streets Package. Which councilman did you speak with?

[pw405]

I saw a news article mentioning they had the potential to add another $200MM to this package to give OKC "Some of the best roads in the nation". Anybody aware of the details?

[zachnash]

We have mapped and published the 2017 Bond Program list to data.okc.gov. You can filter by proposition or view all projects on a map. You can also take a look at the 2007 Bond Projects here.

Vote Sept. 12: Bond and Sales Tax Election

[David]

That is very informative.

[baralheia]

Zach, how are neighborhoods chosen for residential resurfacing projects? My neighborhood's asphalt streets are getting pretty ratty and some new pavement would be wonderful.

[zachnash]

Zach, how are neighborhoods chosen for residential resurfacing projects? My neighborhood's asphalt streets are getting pretty ratty and some new pavement would be wonderful.

Zach, how are neighborhoods chosen for residential resurfacing projects? My neighborhood's asphalt streets are getting pretty ratty and some new pavement would be wonderful.

Baralheia, as far as the bond program City staff used many tools and data to come up with the final list. To listen to needs across the city we held a series of eight public workshops in each Council ward, partnered with Neighborhood Alliance to connect with neighborhoods, opened multiple online surveys, allowed users to submit ideas through our mobile app and reached out on social media. Keep in mind the final bond list had to be cut off somewhere. There are many other needs that didn't make the cut. The temporary, 27-month continuation of the expiring MAPS 3 penny sales tax would expand the list and generate $240 million for street resurfacing, streetscapes, trails, sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure.

Also, one of the main tools Public Works uses to prioritize resurfacing is our Pavement Condition Index (PCI), which rates the condition of our streets. Here's a link to an example of the PCI map.

To alert us of a need in your neighborhood you can send a request to the Action Center. You can text, email, tweet, call, fax...whichever you prefer.

I'm also happy to put you in contact with someone in Public Works if you'd like. You can email me here.

[progressiveboy]

"Best roads in the Nation"? Then we need to pave them in gold!!! LOL. Seriously, as I mentioned prior, OKC, do it right the first time. Pave the streets in "concrete" not asphalt! Lasts way longer and you do not have to go back in a year or two and plug the pot holes! Residents in OKC should demand them, however you will have to pay the cost!

[Bellaboo]

]]"Best roads in the Nation"? [/B][/B]Then we need to pave them in gold!!! LOL. Seriously, as I mentioned prior, OKC, do it right the first time. Pave the streets in "concrete" not asphalt! Lasts way longer and you do not have to go back in a year or two and plug the pot holes! Residents in OKC should demand them, however you will have to pay the cost!

Once again, taken out of context, whereas what was really said was - 'add another $200MM to this package to give OKC "Some of the best roads in the nation". '

[Plutonic Panda]

"Best roads in the Nation"? Then we need to pave them in gold!!! LOL. Seriously, as I mentioned prior, OKC, do it right the first time. Pave the streets in "concrete" not asphalt! Lasts way longer and you do not have to go back in a year or two and plug the pot holes! Residents in OKC should demand them, however you will have to pay the cost!

Completely agree. That and the fact that more landscaping, divides medians, sidewalks, and more aesthetic features need to be emphasized rather than just rebuilding them with asphalt in the same 4 lane/undivided configuration they are now.

[bradh]

converting a road to concrete from asphalt is not as simple as an overlay. I do agree though, we need more concrete roads

[Plutonic Panda]

I understand that. My point was I'm not too excited that OKC is replacing these roads by just resurfacing them in the same configuration with asphalt.

I'm also not too pleased with the lack of widenings(May, Memorial, Western, and Penn need to be six lanes in a lot of areas) and the lack of mass transit projects.

I'm not a fan of this bond package even though there are some good projects in there.

[Bellaboo]

I understand that. My point was I'm not too excited that OKC is replacing these roads by just resurfacing them in the same configuration with asphalt.

I'm also not too pleased with the lack of widenings(May, Memorial, Western, and Penn need to be six lanes in a lot of areas) and the lack of mass transit projects.

I'm not a fan of this bond package even though there are some good projects in there.

Back in the early 1990's, OKC 'rebuilt' the Northwest Expressway from Penn avenue all the way to Rockwell, or there about.

I worked along that stretch and they literally dug down almost 2 feet and filled it with asphalt, and added some kind of moisture barrier between layers of the asphalt. That road to my knowledge was not touched at least through 2008, and still may not have been as of today. It was in great shape when I left the area in 2008. I feel like they did this one right when putting asphalt down.

[GaryOKC6]

I saw some of the details yesterday. There are 13 issues and I liked that they are planning to widen some roads, replace damaged roads, add traffic control, invest more in parks, continue to add sidewalks. I am all for it.

[Laramie]

We're going to pay in one or two ways; renew the bonds & the sales tax or pay in repairs to your automobile by replacing tires, brake pads & shocks as a result of these bad roads--pick your poison.

Had to replace a tire because of the road hazards on one of my vehicles.

Let's enjoy a smooth ride & a beautiful city of which we can all be proud. PASS THESE INITIATIVES.

[soonerguru]

Will it take them 15 years to complete the projects? Pencil me in as a solid NO vote on the "MAPS for Cops and Roads" initiative.

[shawnw]

I am a YES vote on GO Bond and a NO vote on next MAPS most likely.

[Laramie]

The upcoming theme of this election says it all:




Oklahoma City will need to maintain & expand services throughout our city as growth continues into 2020. You want a safer city--Police/Fire(?); then extend the MAPS 1/4 cent permanent tax to provide these services to keep up with our anticipated growth. We thought enough of our Zoo to provide 1/8 cent permanent capital funding, let's do better--1/4 for those who put their lives on the line (our police & fire). The next call to 911 may be made by you; you want better response times--let's support our Police & Fire Departments-- additional seconds in response times can save lives...

1. A 10-year, $967 million bond package to invest in streets, police and fire facilities, parks and other basic needs. The bond package would succeed the almost-complete 2007 bond program.

2. A temporary, 27-month continuation of the expiring MAPS 3 penny sales tax to fund $240 million for street resurfacing, streetscapes, trails, sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure.

3. A permanent ¼ cent sales tax to fund $26 million annually in police services, fire protection and other critical services.

At our current rate of growth (2020) OKC's central city population will exceed 675,000 (current 638,367) inside the corporate city limits and the metropolitan area should slightly eclipse 1.5 million (current 1,373,211). The travel & traffic into OKC from our neighboring cities that continue to grow:

2020
North: Edmond (100,000), Guthrie (12,000)
South: Moore (65,000), Norman (130,000)
East: Del City (25,000), Midwest City (60,000), Shawnee (33,000)
West: Bethany (21,000), Yukon (30,000), El Reno (20,000)

...will constitute a need for these additional services.



Drone_View2-0195 by Tony Gaeddert, on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gaeddert/35289593343/ Check out these points of interest in OKC, an amazing site--GET SIGNED UP!

Our growth boom urban & metro will begin around 2018-20. We need to fund safety (Police & Fire), have the personnel in place to handle our accelerated growth for this period.

The 1/4 cent sales tax that will become permanent to fund these operations that will barely sustain our safety needs.

[LocoAko]

Excuse my civic ignorance, but with so many things being voted on on Tuesday, I'm confused as to what the difference between the bond and the 3/4 cent tax increase. I know they're funded differently and all that, but are they set to accomplish the same things (updating existing roads and building sidewalks, trails) or do they differ? Was the bond not enough to cover all desired projects, or is this just an extension to complete the originally-scheduled MAPS road/sidewalk projects?

[shawnw]

IMO the non-bond initiatives are poorly titled, presumably to avoid association with MAPS. I like not having that association, but suspect it might backfire for the proponents.

[shawnw]

First one is maps-ish ballot, second two are bond issues.

[pw405]

I'm really, really hoping all of this passes! Don't forget to tell ALL your friends/neighbors/whatever so they can be sure to vote! I wouldn't be too sad if the police question doesn't pass, but I still want it to.