Meeting Summary
The city council held a teleconference meeting to discuss the Fiscal Year 2022 proposed budget. Presentations were given by the Public Transportation and Parking, Development Services, and Parks and Recreation departments, covering various departmental initiatives, financial allocations, and service improvements. No votes were taken during this session.
Upcoming Community Events
First Americans Museum opening
Parks and Recreation will manage grounds and partner on outdoor activities.
Willa D. Johnson Center opening
First full-service, full-age group recreation center in Ward 7.
Woodson Park sports complex rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of the 240 sports complex.
Earlywine Golf Course clubhouse groundbreaking
Construction of new clubhouse.
Financial Matters
FY22 Overall COTPA Operating Budget (Public Transportation and Parking)
Total budget for public transportation and parking services.
City's General Fund Contribution (Public Transportation)
43% of the overall public transportation budget.
Federal Funding (Public Transportation)
37% of the overall public transportation budget, a combination of CARES funding and FTA 5307 grant.
Fare Revenue (Public Transportation)
5% of overall public transportation funding sources.
State Revenue (Public Transportation)
Programmed into the budget.
Other Revenue Sources (Public Transportation)
Includes interest, agreements with other cities (Norman, Midwest City, Oklahoma County), Area-Wide Aging Agency funding, and CDBG funding for emergency transit services.
Bus Shelter Cleaning Program (Public Transportation)
Adds frontline staff and a supervisor to maintain bus shelters and empty trash.
Additional Frequency to Route 18 (Public Transportation)
Adds an additional bus to provide 30-minute frequency to Route 18, serving Lincoln Boulevard and the new Homeland grocery store.
Increase General Fund Subsidy for CARES Replacement (Public Transportation)
Strategic incremental approach to slowly build back the general fund subsidy as CARES funding runs out.
Senior Project Manager (Public Transportation)
To manage the multitude of ongoing projects.
Spokies Bike Share Program (Public Transportation)
Continuation of the program.
Restoring Oklahoma Ferry Service (Public Transportation)
Addition to restore river ferry service, with expectations from FTA due to federal investment.
Parking Increases for New Garage and Event Labor (Public Transportation)
Includes labor costs (cleaning, utilities) for the new convention center parking garage and event labor in anticipation of future events.
Proposed Operating Budget (Development Services)
Just under a 7% increase for the department.
Business Intelligence Specialist (Development Services)
To help with technology and automation in the development center.
Restore Electrical Inspector and Building Inspector (Development Services)
To address increased demand for building permits and inspections.
Unit Operations Leader (Development Services)
To manage the new business service center in the Jim Couch building.
Code Inspector Two and Two Co-Inspection Officers (Code Enforcement)
Restoring positions reduced last year.
Office Assistant (Code Enforcement)
To help with paperwork and notices.
Restore Subdivision of Zoning Tech (Development Services)
To help maintain service levels with increased zoning cases.
Animal Welfare Officer, Two Animal Welfare Officers, Animal Welfare Representative, Vet Assistant (Animal Welfare)
To support shelter operations, public interaction, and animal care.
Proposed Budget (Parks and Recreation)
Budget for FY21-22, increasing to 183 positions, with increases in general fund, capital, and non-operating budgets.
Nine Grounds Maintenance Positions (Parks and Recreation)
Restoring positions eliminated during the pandemic to allow for two-week mowing in neighborhood and community parks.
Four Positions for First Americans Museum (Parks and Recreation)
To manage the grounds and partner with museum staff for outdoor activities. This is part of a $1.4 million increase for Natural Resources.
Five Positions for Willa D. Johnson Center (Parks and Recreation)
For the opening of the new full-service recreation center.
Oklahoma River Security (Parks and Recreation)
Reestablishing security along the Oklahoma River to prevent damage to facilities.
FY22 Projects (Parks and Recreation)
City investment in various park projects.
Public Comments
A citizen expressed concerns regarding the proposed police department budget, specifically criticizing the lack of substantial change and reform, the allocation of $2 million to the state asset forfeiture program (calling it a Fifth Amendment violation), and $600,000 for court enforcement of municipal warrants. The speaker felt the budget perpetuated existing practices rather than addressing community calls for reform.
Coming Up
Watch For
- Next budget meeting on June 1st (Public Works, Utilities, Airports).
- Maps 4 subcommittees to take shape late summer/early fall after implementation plan adoption.
- Shine program contract potentially for May 25th council meeting.
- Board of Park Commissioners to review CB Cameron Park naming in June, City Council in July.
- Groundbreaking for Earlywine Golf Course clubhouse in early June.
- First Americans Museum opening in September.
- Deep Fork Trail of the Greenway River Trail under construction this fall.
- Willa D. Johnson Center opening Spring 2022.
- Woodson Park sports complex rehabilitation and opening for Spring 2022 ball.
Announcements
- If the teleconference is disconnected, the meeting will stop and reconvene once audio is restored. If not restored within 30 minutes, items will be continued to May 18th at 1:00 p.m. via teleconference.
- The agenda and documents are located on okc.gov.
- Anyone wishing to speak about an agenda item, public hearing, or under citizens to be heard should call 405-297-2391, text 405-219-7987, or email cityclerk@okc.gov. Speakers are allowed three minutes.
- All participants should keep phones on mute until recognized to speak and may press *6.
- Pastor Daryl Stetler II of Bible Methodist Church provided the invocation.
- City Manager Craig Freeman acknowledged Director Doug Kupper's upcoming retirement and leadership.
- The next budget meeting is scheduled for June 1st, focusing on Public Works, Utilities, and Airports. Public comments can be submitted via okc.gov/budget, budgetcomments@okc.gov, text 405-252-1053, or mail to the City Clerk at 200 North Walker, Suite 200.
Agenda Summary
Presentation and discussion of Fiscal Year 22 Proposed Budget: Public Transportation and Parking
Director Jason Fairbrush presented the FY22 budget, highlighting accomplishments like bus shelter installations, a mobile parking app, streetcar real-time map, new convention center parking garage, and the OKC Moves operational analysis. He discussed ridership declines due to the pandemic, noting Oklahoma City's smaller decline compared to national peers. The proposed budget includes a bus shelter cleaning program, increased Route 18 frequency, an increased general fund subsidy for CARES replacement, a senior project manager, Spokies program continuation, ferry service restoration, and parking increases for the new convention center garage.
Presentation and discussion of Fiscal Year 22 Proposed Budget: Development Services
Director Bob Tiener presented the FY22 budget, focusing on animal welfare, code enforcement, construction permitting, and licensing. Major changes include adding a business intelligence specialist, restoring electrical and building inspectors, adding a unit operations leader for the new Jim Couch building business service center, adding code inspectors/officers and an office assistant, restoring a subdivision/zoning tech, and adding animal welfare officers, a representative, and a vet assistant. The presentation highlighted increased permit requests and inspections, successful code enforcement response times, and a high live release rate for animal welfare.
Presentation and discussion of Fiscal Year 22 Proposed Budget: Parks and Recreation
Director Doug Kupper presented the FY22 budget, emphasizing the department's mission and vision, and addressing Oklahoma City's low ranking in national park systems. Budget changes include restoring nine grounds maintenance positions for two-week mowing in neighborhood parks, adding four positions for the First Americans Museum grounds management, and five positions for the new Willa D. Johnson Recreation Center. The presentation discussed the importance of public-private partnerships, the need for lifeguards, and upcoming projects like the Woodson Park sports complex, Deep Fork Trail, Crown Heights walking trail, and new golf clubhouses.