Meeting Summary
The Midwest City Council held a special meeting to present a proposed $53 million general obligation bond to citizens. The bond aims to fund critical capital needs over the next 25 years, focusing on parks and recreation, public safety, and street rehabilitation. Department heads detailed specific projects, and the financial advisor explained the bond's impact on taxpayers, emphasizing a 10-mil cap. The meeting also served to solicit public input on the various proposals.
Financial Matters
General Obligation Bond Proposal
A proposed $53 million general obligation bond to fund capital improvements across the city over 25 years, with a goal to cap the city's sinking fund at 10 mils.
Estimated Taxpayer Cost
The first-year cost for a home assessed at $100,000 is estimated to be an increase of $7.92 per month.
Fire Department Apparatus Replacement
Funding for a ladder truck and an engine, with costs estimated at just under $1 million and around $800,000 respectively.
Fire Department SCBA Replacement
Cost to replace self-contained breathing apparatus systems to meet current standards.
Outdoor Warning Devices System
Cost for a new tornado siren system, with $360,000 from the bond proposal and $100,000 from a mitigation grant.
Street Rehabilitation
Allocation for citywide residential street rehabilitation.
Public Comments
Citizens raised questions regarding the proposed locations of new facilities, the inclusion of additional amenities like sidewalks and a senior center, the financial sustainability and operational costs of new parks and sports facilities, the current state of youth sports programs, and the scope of medical services provided by the fire department.
Coming Up
Watch For
- Next council meeting is Thursday night at 6:30.
Announcements
- Allison Entertainment is opening a 25,000 square foot entertainment center with new restaurants and buildings.
- Recognition of Council members Pat Burns, Shawn Reid, Christine Price Allen, Espinoza Bowen, and Jeff Moore for their attendance and service.
Agenda Summary
General Obligation Bond Presentation
Overview of the proposed $53 million general obligation bond to address capital needs for the next 25 years, covering parks, public safety, and street infrastructure.
Parks and Recreation Projects
Presentation of six proposed projects including renovations for John Conrad Golf Course and Reed Baseball Complex, additional soccer fields, a new multi-purpose athletic facility, a new Mission to Mid-America Park, and Town Center Park improvements.
John Conrad Golf Course Renovations
Proposed upgrades to irrigation, turf conditions, bunkers, practice range, and acquisition of new maintenance equipment for the 1970-era golf course.
Reed Baseball Complex Renovations
Proposal to move the Little League program to Reed, convert a large field into smaller ones for youth, install synthetic infield surfaces, and improve drainage and paving.
Additional Soccer Fields
Plan to expand the existing soccer facility by two fields, make a portion multi-purpose for various age groups, and add lighting.
New Multi-Purpose Athletic Facility
Proposed fully synthetic surface facility on 29th Street, designed for various sports including baseball, softball, football, micro/macro soccer, and lacrosse.
New Mission to Mid-America Park
Development of a new destination park on the north side, with access off Midwest Boulevard, featuring outdoor volleyball and basketball courts, trail extensions, fitness stations, and an 18-hole disc golf course.
Town Center Park Improvements
Proposed amenities for the park near the clock tower property, including a plaza connecting to Charles Johnson Central Park for festivals, a small splash pad, dog park activities, and outdoor performance spaces.
New Animal Welfare Center
Proposal for a state-of-the-art facility to double animal capacity, reduce euthanasia rates, improve cleaning and disinfection, and provide a welcoming environment for adoptions.
Joint Training Center (Police & Fire)
Development of a shared classroom building and a burn building for live fire training, tactical team maneuvers, rappelling, and rope rescue, reducing reliance on external facilities.
Fire Department Apparatus Replacement
Funding for the replacement of a ladder truck (approx. $1 million) and an engine (approx. $800,000) to maintain a dependable fleet.
Fire Department Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Replacement
Replacement of outdated SCBA units and composite bottles to meet current NFPA standards, costing approximately $450,000.
Hose and Nozzle Replacements
Upgrade of fire hoses and nozzles that have been in service for 16+ years to meet recommended NFPA water flow requirements.
New Shift Command Vehicle and Mobile Breathing Apparatus Unit
Acquisition of a mobile unit to refill SCBA bottles on-scene at fires, enhancing operational efficiency and supporting neighboring departments.
Remodel at Fire Station One
Renovation of the 1976 headquarters fire station, addressing crumbling infrastructure, clay pipes, old electrical, boiler system, and upgrading living conditions with individual bedrooms and kitchen.
Fire Station Exhaust Systems
Installation of systems to capture and remove diesel exhaust from fire trucks in all stations, reducing firefighter exposure to harmful particulates.
Public Safety Radios
Proposal to purchase new handheld and mobile radio units for the police department and establish a backup tower site for additional coverage and disaster redundancy.
Outdoor Warning Devices (Tornado Sirens)
Replacement of eight older tornado sirens and addition of two new ones, increasing the total to twelve. New sirens will be omnidirectional and mounted on concrete poles for improved reliability and coverage.
Public Safety Technology Improvements
Consolidated projects including 911 software enhancements, mobile device updates for police cars and fire trucks, mobile ticket writing, and a Storage Area Network (SAN) for body camera and in-car camera data storage.
Residential Street Rehabilitation
Citywide rehabilitation of approximately 355 residential streets, ranging from concrete panel replacement to complete asphalt overlays, leveraging bond funds for local needs.
Water Storage Facility Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of the original underground water storage facilities on Felix Street, built in the late 1940s/early 1950s, which are showing signs of decay and leakage.
Financial Overview of Bond Issue
Explanation of the bond's financial structure, including a 10-mil cap for the sinking fund, issuance in series, and estimated first-year cost to taxpayers.