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UH, WE HAVE A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING WORKSHOP TODAY ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF PRESENTATIONS, A LOT OF DISCUSSION, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JANE AND WE CAN START.
AND ROBERT MANAGEMENT SERVICES MANAGER, UH, LIKE THE MAYOR MENTIONED WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT, OH, THERE WE GO.
UH, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT ARCO FUNDS.
UM, SO A BRIEF OUTLINE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO COVER IN OUR PRESENTATION TODAY.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT A RECAP OF WHAT ARPA FUNDS ARE, HOW MUCH WE'VE BEEN ALLOCATED AS THE CITY OF EDMOND, HOW WE'LL BE USING THOSE FUNDS DESIGNATIONS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THE FINAL RULE.
SO AT THE LAST WORKSHOP WE HAD, WE'LL TALK ABOUT, UM, WHAT WE'VE EXPENDED SO FAR AND THEN THE EFFECTS OF THE FINAL RULE AND WHAT THAT MEANT FOR DESIGNATIONS.
AND SOME OF THE NEW PROJECTS WE HAVE ADDED ON, UH, IN LIGHT OF THOSE CHANGES WITH THE FINAL RULE.
SO WHAT ARE ARPA FUNDS? THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 WAS PASSED, UM, IN 2021 AND IT PROVIDED $350 BILLION TO ELIGIBLE STATE, LOCAL TERRITORIAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.
UM, THESE ARE ALSO KNOWN AS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.
IT WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS ON MARCH 10TH, 2021.
THE U S TREASURY IS THE GOVERNING AND ADMINISTRATIVE BODY FOR THESE FUNDS.
UM, SO THEY SET ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
THE INTERIM RULE WAS RELEASED ON MAY 17TH, 2021.
THE INTERIM ROLE WAS ESSENTIALLY THE LIST OR THE DOCUMENT OF WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH ARPA FUNDS.
THEY'VE BEEN RELEASED TO FINAL RULE ON JANUARY 6TH, 2022 WITH FURTHER CLARIFICATION OF WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T USE FUNDS FOR.
UM, AND THAT WENT INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1ST, 2022, THERE ARE FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES OF FUNDING THAT YOU CAN USE ARPA FUNDS FOR.
UM, I WON'T READ THOSE FULL DEFINITIONS, BUT THEY ARE SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURES ADDRESS.
NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, REPLACING LOST PUBLIC SECTOR REVENUE, PROVIDING PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND INVESTING IN WATER, SEWER, AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO THOSE ARE THE FIVE GENERAL BUCKETS AS WE SOMETIMES CALL THEM THAT YOU CAN SPEND FUNDS ON WHAT DID WE RECEIVE? SO THE CITY OF EDMOND RECEIVED AT $12,741,315.
THE MONEY WAS DELIVERED INTO INSTALLMENTS OR TRONCHES.
UM, AND BOTH OF THOSE HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
WE HAVE TO ENCUMBER THOSE FUNDS OR PROMISE THEM BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
AND WE HAVE TO SPEND THEM BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.
SO THERE IS A TIMELINE ON WHEN WE HAVE TO SPEND THESE FUNDS BY HOW WE'LL BE USING ARPA FUNDS.
SO BEFORE THE FINAL WORLD, WE HAD A WORKSHOP, UM, THIS IS THE SPREADSHEET THAT WAS PRESENTED AT THAT TIME.
UM, I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR FIGURE AND PROJECT, BUT THE PROJECTS WE HAD ON HERE WAS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, ASSESSMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, VAN COVID EXPENSES, MENTAL HEALTH CONTINGENCY, OUR KATIE LIKE MASTER PLAN STEVENSON PARK IMPROVEMENTS, THE SPLASH PAD PARK TRAILS, MAINTENANCE, ARCADIA, LAKE WATER, AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE SPEEDING THE RECOVERY OF IMPACTED INDUSTRIES, WAY, FINDING SIGNAGE DESIGN, AND THEN IMPLEMENTATION INDOOR SPORTS COMPLEX, EXPANDING WIRELESS AND CITY PARKS AND BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICES AS A POTENTIAL MATCHING PROGRAM WITH OKLAHOMA COUNTY.
UM, THERE WAS ABOUT $15,000 OUT OF THAT, THAT HADN'T BEEN DESIGNATED WHAT WE'VE SPENT SO FAR.
SO IN TOTAL, UM, WE HAVE TO REPORT TO THE U S TREASURY 30 DAYS AFTER THE END OF EACH QUARTER.
UM, SO THAT WAS JUST SUBMITTED.
WE SPENT $216,819 AND 40 CENTS AS OF 6 30, 20 22.
AND WE'LL GO THROUGH WHAT EACH OF THOSE EXPENSES WERE.
WE SPENT $87,500 ON THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
SO THIS WAS TO FUND THAT ASSESSMENT.
UM, IT IS BEING CONDUCTED BY HEALTHY MINDS.
IT INVOLVES A PROCESS TO COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA BEFORE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION PLANNED.
UM, THE ASSESSMENT IS NOT COMPLETE AND WE'RE PENDING THAT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
WE SPENT $48,936 AND 87 CENTS FOR SPEEDING RECOVERY OF IMPACTED INJURY, UH, INDUSTRIES.
SO TOURISM TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY.
THOSE HAVE BEEN USED TO FUND, UM, BY VISIT EDMUND TO FUND A VARIETY OF ADVERTISING FOR EVENTS.
SO THINGS LIKE BIKE NIGHT, ARTS FESTIVAL, LIBERTY, FAST CCO ENDEAVOR GAMES, UM, AS WELL AS ADVERTISE THE CITY OF EDMOND AS A DESTINATION WAY, FINDING SIGNAGE AND DESIGN, WE SPENT $68,156
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AND 53 CENTS.THIS WAS APPROVED BY YOU IN JULY OF 2021.
UM, SO THIS IS THE DESIGN PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
UM, THEY ARE THROUGH, UH, THE DESIGN OF THE SIGNS AND THEY WERE WORKING ON THE LOCATION PLAN.
THEY WERE OUT HERE, I THINK LAST WEEK TO LOOK AT SPECIFIC SITES.
UM, THE DESIGNS WERE PRESENTED TO YOU IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
UM, AND THEY'RE ALMOST DONE WITH THAT SIGN LOCATION PLAN COVID EXPENSES, $12,226.
UH, THESE FUNDS WERE USED BY THE STUDY TO PAY FOR COVID RELATED EXPENSES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
ALL OF THESE FUNDS SO FAR WERE FOR, UH, TESTING FOR COVID-19.
UM, THIS WAS NOT ARPA FUNDING, BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE DID ALSO ALLOCATE TO SOME CARES FUNDING, WHICH WAS $150,000.
UM, CARES WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FEDERAL FUNDING RELATED TO COVID.
UM, AND WE THROUGH THE EDA HELPED FUND A SMALL BUSINESS MICRO GRANT PROGRAM.
UM, SO THAT $150,000 WAS ADMINISTERED BY THE EDA SMALL BUSINESSES APPLIED.
UM, THEY WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE UP TO $5,000 IN ASSISTANCE, EACH COMBINED WITH SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE EDA.
UM, THIS MONEY WAS ABLE TO AID 71 BUSINESSES.
SO AFTER THE FINAL RULE, UM, HERE'S WHAT THE FINAL RULE, UM, AFFECTED.
SO ANYTHING IN THE ORANGE COLOR, UM, WE REMOVED AFTER READING THROUGH THE FINAL RULE, THERE IS A TEAM OF SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS, UM, THAT READ THROUGH THAT AND THEN THE YELLOW REMOVED FOR OTHER REASONS.
SO THEY AREN'T INELIGIBLE, BUT THEY REMOVED FOR OTHER REASONS.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT EACH ONE OF THOSE.
UM, SO BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICES, THIS WAS A PLACEHOLDER FOR POTENTIAL MATCHING PROGRAM WITH OKLAHOMA COUNTY.
WE WERE KIND OF WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE STATE AND COUNTY WERE GOING TO DO IN TERMS OF EXPANDING BROADBAND.
THE STATE NOW HAS THEIR OWN BOARD, UM, FOCUSED ON, UH, EXPANDING BROADBAND WIRELESS.
AND SO WE FELT THAT WOULD BE DUPLICATING EFFORTS.
UM, SO THAT WAS PULLED OFF THE CRISIS INTERVENTION VAN.
THERE WERE LAWS THAT CHANGED IN TERMS OF RADIUS AND HOW FAR OFFICERS CAN GO.
UM, AND SO WE HAD TO PULL THAT OFF.
THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER IMMEDIATE, UM, FEASIBLE OPTIONS.
SO THAT WAS PULLED OFF COVID EXPENSES.
WE REDUCED THESE, UM, AT THE DIRECTION OF OUR HR DEPARTMENTS BASED OFF OF WHAT WE'VE SPENT SO FAR.
SO AGAIN, THESE WERE TO PAY FOR THINGS LIKE COVID-19 TESTING FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND WE DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD NEED THE FULL 250,000 AT THIS POINT, THE ORANGE SQUARE CONTAINS THOSE THAT WERE DEEMED INELIGIBLE.
SO INDOOR SPORTS COMPLEX, $4 MILLION, THERE WAS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE.
AND THE FINAL RULE, UM, THAT TALKED ABOUT WE CAN'T FUND THE, UM, CREATION.
SO CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR LARGE SPORTS COMPLEXES.
AND SO WE PULLED THAT OFF FOR THAT REASON SPLASH PAD.
UM, THE PROPOSAL LOCATION WAS NOT WITHIN A QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACT AND IT'S THE CREATION OF A NEW PARK.
UM, AND SO IT DIDN'T MEET REQUIREMENTS AND THEN STEVENSON PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, THIS WAS, WE ORIGINALLY HAD 3 MILLION DESIGNATED FOR THIS.
WE ENDED UP, UH, SHIFTING GEARS A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF PARKS.
AND YOU'LL SEE, LATER ON, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PROJECT PROPOSED FOR, UM, EXPENDING FUNDS FOR PARKS AND QCT IS WE DIDN'T WANT TO FOCUS SO MUCH MONEY ON ONE PARK.
UM, WE FELT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO INVEST IN MULTIPLE PARKS IN THAT AREA.
SO AFTER THE FINAL RULE, UM, THE PROJECTS IN Y ARE PROJECTS WE ALREADY HAVE IN MOTION.
MOST OF WHICH WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, THE ONES WE HAVEN'T.
SO OUR KATY LAKE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, THAT IS IN DESIGN PHASE AT THE MOMENT, WE DID PAY FOR THE DESIGN CONTRACT OUT OF THESE FUNDS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T INVOICED US YET.
SO THAT DIDN'T HIT THE EXPENDITURES FOR THIS REPORTING PERIOD YET THE IMPLEMENTATION THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY COME AFTER THE DESIGN PHASE FOR WAYFINDING, UM, WE DID INCREASE THAT DOLLAR FIGURE AND IT'S BOLDED.
SO ORIGINALLY WE HAD 250,000 BUDGETED.
OUR CONTRACTOR MERGE WAS OUT LAST WEEK, UM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME SORT OF AN ESTIMATE OUT OF THEM AND THEY SAID, WE SHOULD BE BUDGETING MORE LIKE 750,000 FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE PLANS.
EXPANDING WIRELESS AND CITY PARKS WERE ALSO GETTING READY TO GO INTO CONTRACT FOR, UM, AN ASSESSMENT FOR THAT, UH, PROJECTS IN GREEN ARE NEW PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE DETAILS ON THAT WE BELIEVE ARE READY FOR ACTION AND PROJECTS FOR STAFF PLANNING.
SO THESE ARE, UM, PROJECTS THAT ARE, WE KNOW ARE ELIGIBLE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE CONCRETE DETAILS ON.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, AN OKAY FROM YOU ALL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND PLANNING AND THEN PROJECTS IN BLUE ARE ONES THAT
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NEED ADDITIONAL RESEARCH.SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE THINK WE CAN DO, BUT WE FEEL WE NEED ADDITIONAL RESEARCHER, MAYBE SOME OUTSIDE LEGAL CONSULT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE FINAL RULE.
AND WE'LL GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE.
SO THE GREEN PROJECTS, THINGS ARE ALREADY FOR ACTION.
UM, NORTH CARE FACILITY RENOVATIONS, A MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, SO THIS IS A FACILITY THAT NORTH CARE, UM, HAS PURCHASED AND IS GETTING READY TO REHABILITATE.
UM, THE BIDS CAME BACK FOR THAT FACILITY OVER ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDS TO COMPLETE THOSE RENOVATIONS.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER FUNDS FROM STATE OR FEDERAL THAT THEY COULD APPLY FOR TO COMPLETE THE RENOVATIONS.
UM, SO THIS WOULD HELP, UH, FUND THE REST OF THE RENOVATIONS.
THEY'LL ALSO BE GETTING SOME CARES MONEY FROM US, AND WE HAVE CHRISTIE BATTERSON AND SOME REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM NORTH CARE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL AS CHRISTY.
DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING AT CHRIS BATTERSON'S? UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN EDMOND PUBLIC, UM, EDMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT AND US.
UM, THEY PURCHASED THE FACILITY USING, UM, SOME STATE FUNDING, BUT THE, WE ESTIMATED AT THE TIME THAT YOU APPROVED THE CARE'S FUNDING OF 400 AND 450,000 TO BE RIGHT UNDER A MILLION AND THEY'VE COME BACK, UM, AT ABOUT RIGHT AT ABOUT 1.5 MILLION.
UM, AND SO IN ORDER TO FINISH THIS FACILITY AND PROVIDE A UNIQUE, UH, PIECE OF THE PUZZLE FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH, UM, FOR THE CITY OF EDMOND, IT'S AN URGENT CRISIS CENTER FOR PEDIATRICS, AS WELL AS, UM, THOSE ADULT SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED.
WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION AT CITY COUNCIL OVER IT FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
IF YOU FEEL THAT, UM, THE NEED IS THERE TO MOVE ON.
DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR NORTH CARE ABOUT THAT FACILITY? I JUST SEE AT THE END, THE REMAINING REHABILITATION COSTS, WHAT ARE RECOVERING THAT LATER? OR SHOULD WE DIVE INTO THAT? IT'S UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO DIVE IN LATER OR LATER, OR NOW I DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES HERE, BUT IT WOULD BE FOR THE REMAINING COSTS.
UM, YOU ARE, ARE YOU ALL DEBT APPROVED BACK IN FEBRUARY 450,000 AND CARES FUNDING THROUGH OKLAHOMA COMMERCE THAT WE, UM, ASKED FOR? AND THEN THEY ARE RECEIVING A SMALL STATE, A MENTAL HEALTH GRANT THAT IT'S ABOUT 133,000.
UM, THIS 1.5 DOES HAVE A CONTINGENCY BUILT INTO IT.
UM, BUT THAT IS THE BID PACKAGE THAT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CONSTRUCTED AND PUT OUT, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS AND WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE BUILDING.
YES, YES, NO, NO FURNISHINGS, NO SERVICES, NO NET CASE MANAGERS, ANY OF THAT.
UM, THEY HAVE OTHER GRANTS THAT THEY'RE APPLYING FOR AND RECEIVED, I BELIEVE, OR WILL BE APPLYING FOR THAT, WHAT THAT WILL COVER THAT WE WON'T BE DOING ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE REHABILITATION OF THE BUILDING.
THE OTHER PROJECT THAT WE FEEL WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON IS REPLACING AED UNITS WITHIN CITY FACILITIES.
SO ALL OF OUR AED UNITS NEED TO BE REPLACED.
UM, AND THIS WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION RECENTLY, THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THOSE WOULD BE $46,200.
UM, AND THERE'S 12 UNITS IN CITY BUILDINGS, UM, NINE OR FOR CITY VEHICLES AND THEN ONE TRAINER TO TRAIN STAFF ON HOW TO USE AUV UNITS.
SO ON THESE UNITS, UH, THAT'S JUST TO GET THE NEW UNITS IN PLACE.
SO FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THEM AND THE SERVICING OF THEM, THAT'S JUST GOING TO GO INTO OUR BUDGET.
IF HE WANTS TO ANSWER JIM MILLS RISK MANAGEMENT, UH, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH MAINTENANCE FREE.
UH, WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ARE SOME, A PHILLIPS HEARTSTART.
AND WE JUST FOUND OUT THIS YEAR THAT THE LIFE EXPECTANCY ALONE WAS ONLY 12 TO 14 YEARS, AND WE'RE AT 13, 14 YEARS ON MOST OF THEM RIGHT NOW, UH, FACILITY MAINTENANCE MAINTAINS MAJORITY OF THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE BUILDINGS AND THEN ELECTRIC HAS IN THEIR UNITS AND THEY JUST DO PERIODIC INSPECTIONS ON THEM.
SOME HAVE MAINTENANCE FREE, AND THE UNITS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING ARE LOOKING AT GETTING RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT UNITS AND IT'S THE SAME UNITS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT USE AS WELL.
AND SO THEY ENCOURAGE THOSE THAT WAY.
WHEN THEY COME TO, IF WE HAD TO USE ONE AND RESPOND OR THEY HAD TO RESPOND, IF THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHETHER YOU'RE USE AND THEY'D BE ABLE TO GRAB THE EQUIPMENT AND RUN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? UM, SO PROJECTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, FURTHER STAFF PLANNING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THIS WOULD BE A MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, WE'RE PREPARING TO CONDUCT A HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDING IDENTIFIED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF WHATEVER THE FINDINGS OF THAT ASSESSMENT ARE.
UM, THIS WOULD BE TO SEED ANY PROGRAM OR SOLUTION TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EDMOND.
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SOME OF THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW COULD INCLUDE ACQUIRING LAND, A NEW CONSTRUCTION OR MATCHING FUNDS FOR SOME OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS. AND WE DO HAVE OTHER PLANNING STAFF HERE.IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, I'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE.
IF THERE IS MORE THAT COULD BE SHARED RANDY OR CHRISTIE, UH, RANDY, AND WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AND I QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T HAVE A LOT MORE THAN TO BE SHARED UNTIL WE GET THE HOUSING ASSESSMENT DONE AND AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FROM IT.
WE WON'T KNOW WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS ARE OR HAVE A GOOD IDEA.
UH, IDEALLY WE WANT TO SET THIS UP WHERE IT COULD HOPEFULLY BE SOME SORT OF REVOLVING MONTHS SO THAT WE COULD KEEP THAT MONEY CIRCULATING THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND KEEP PROVIDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS PARKSON QCT? SO I TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER ON, THIS WOULD BE A MILLION DOLLARS.
THERE ARE EIGHT PARKS AND OUR QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACT, WHICH IS THAT YELLOW LINE ON THE MAP.
UM, POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS CAN INCLUDE, UH, UPGRADES TO PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT SIDEWALKS AROUND THE PARKS OR OTHER MAINTENANCE NEEDS.
UM, WE COULD CONCENTRATE THEM ON ONE OR TWO PARKS OR SPREAD THEM OVER SEVERAL OF THE PARKS IN THAT AREA.
UM, HERE'S SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THOSE PARKS.
UM, THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT WAS NOT PART OF THE BUDGET FOR THE, UM, CURRENT IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, AND SO THIS IS ONE POTENTIAL PARK WE COULD USE, UH, FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT, THAT IS A METAL SLIDE.
UM, A LOT OF THE PARKS AND THE QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACT HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED OR RECEIVED AS MUCH ATTENTION.
THEY'RE NOT AS HIGH PROFILE PARKS, THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY VISITORS.
SO THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT SOME FUNDS INTO THOSE.
UM, AND ONE IDEA WE HAVE FOR THIS PROJECT WOULD BE TO UTILIZE THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD, UM, TO HELP DETERMINE HOW WE SHOULD EXPAND THOSE FUNDS, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND DOWNTOWN $2 MILLION, UH, FUNDS WOULD BE USED FOR PROJECTS TO INCREASE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR THROUGH, UM, SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS, WHICH ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE BLUE BUBBLES ON THE MAP, UM, SOLUTIONS THAT WE WOULD BE EXPLORING WOULD BE ADM ENHANCED MINTS AND RESTRICTING.
SO WE WOULD CONCENTRATE, UM, OUR FOCUS ON THOSE FIRST TWO, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE MOST IMMEDIATELY FEASIBLE, BUT WE WOULD ALSO LOOK AT UPGRADING TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE TIME, UH, FOR PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS AT INTERSECTIONS, UH, INCREASED SIGNAGE AND LIGHTING.
UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH IN DOWNTOWN, UM, IT'S OF INCREASING IMPORTANCE THAT OUR PEDESTRIANS ARE SAFE WHEN NAVIGATING THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR WATERLINE REPLACEMENTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, A MILLION DOLLARS, AGAIN, AS THIS AREA CONTINUES TO DEVELOP, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WHATEVER'S COMING IN.
UM, SO SOME OF OUR WATER LINES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA DO NEED TO BE REPLACED.
SO WE WOULD WORK WITH CITY STAFF TO DETERMINE, UM, WHICH WATER LINES WOULD BE BEST TO EXPEND THOSE FUNDS ON THE PROJECTS THAT NEED SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH OR POSSIBLE OUTSIDE LEGAL CONSULT, A MITCH PARK TRAIL, WHERE YOU SERVICING ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
SO DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW A GREAT INCREASE IN USE OF ALL OF OUR PARK SYSTEM, BUT ALSO MICHE PARK, UM, INCLUDING OUR TRAILS AND WITH INCREASED USE COMES INCREASED, WEAR AND TEAR ON THOSE TRAIL SYSTEMS SO THAT THESE FUNDS WOULD BE USED TO, UM, OVERLAY THE, UH, INNER AND OUTER TRAILS, AS WELL AS WIDEN THE OUTER TRAIL, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE ACCESSIBILITY AND MORE USES.
UM, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE TRAIL SMALL SECTION OF THE TRAIL LOOKED LIKE IN 2020, THIS IS AN OVERVIEW, AND THEN HERE'S 2021.
SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE FADING, UM, AND SOME OF THE LITTLE LINES, IF YOU CAN SEE THOSE, THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE MUCH FROM A LARGE AERIAL VIEW, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM UP CLOSE, THEY'RE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
UM, I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT WANT TO GO OVER THOSE WITH A BIKE OR, UM, ANY SORT OF, UH, MOBILIZED DEVICE.
UM, SO THE FUNDS AGAIN, WOULD BE USED TO REPAIR THE INNER AND OUTER TRAILERS AND EXPAND THE OUTER TRUE.
OUR KATY LAKE IMPROVEMENTS, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, A TRASH AND POSSIBLY OTHER MAINTENANCE.
SO AGAIN, WITH COVID, OUR PARKS ALL SAW A RECORD INCREASE IN NUMBERS, BUT THE LAKE SPECIFICALLY SAW A RECORD INCREASE IN VISITORS, AND THAT HAS ONLY CONTINUED, UM, KIND OF POST PANDEMIC WITH THE INCREASE IN VISITORS.
UNFORTUNATELY, OUR STAFF SAW A GREAT INCREASE IN TRASH BEYOND OUR CURRENT, UH, FACILITY CAPACITY.
AND SO THESE FUNDS WOULD BE USED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RECEPTACLES, WHICH LOOK MORE SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE, LIKE AT A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, AS WELL AS AN ATTACHMENT
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FOR A CITY VEHICLE, UH, TO SERVICE ALL OF THOSE ADDITIONAL TRASH RECEPTACLES.UM, SO THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT IS FROM OUR DAY USE AREA THAT WAS PROVIDED BY LIKE STAFF.
AND HERE ARE SOME OTHER EXAMPLES OF WHAT THAT OFTEN LOOKS LIKE.
AND THEN THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE, UH, ATTACHMENT TO A CITY VEHICLE FOR SERVICING THOSE RECEPTACLES.
SO JUST TO RECAP, UM, WE HAVE OUR TWO PROJECTS THAT WE FEEL READY FOR ACTION RETURN, NORTH CARE AND REPLACING ADU UNITS.
THE PROJECTS WITH, UM, NO ARE ELIGIBLE, BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH AND PLANNING ON IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THEM OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARKS AND QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACKS, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND WATERLINE REPLACEMENTS IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR.
AND THEN THE PROJECTS THAT STAFF NEEDS TO DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON AND POSSIBLY GAIN SOME, UH, OUTSIDE LEGAL CONSOLE FOR OUR, THE ARCADIA LAKE IMPROVEMENTS, THE MID-PART TRAIL WE'RE SURFACING.
UM, AND THEN THE ARCADIA LAKE MASTER PLAN.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS YOU HAVE? I MEAN, I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THE DIRECTION THAT IT'S GOING.
I MEAN, THIS IS EVOLVED AND I THINK HAS VERY RESPONSIVE TO, I THINK THE CURRENT NEEDS, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, TWO THOUGHTS ON MY MIND, UH, MR. RIGBY, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT ONE OF THEM.
I'M CURIOUS IF THESE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR, UH, IN SOME WAY OF EMPLOYEE, CITY OF EDMOND EMPLOYEE RETENTION, AND MAYBE SOME OF SOME PROGRAMS LIKE THAT TO, UM, WHETHER IT'S HIRING NEW NEW EMPLOYEES OR, OR BONUSES FOR RETENTION.
AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, IS THERE, DO WE KNOW IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH MAYBE THE METRO LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ON SOME READING OR TUTORING PROGRAMS FOR, UH, FOR EDUCATION, UH, AND MAYBE CATCHING UP ON SOME EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY? UH, MAYOR COUNCIL, MAYOR MOORE, LET ME ASK THE SECOND QUESTION.
FIRST, ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS.
SO, UH, WE'RE DEFINITELY OPEN TO HAVING A CONVERSATION, WHETHER IT'S WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR WITH OUR LIBRARY SYSTEMS, WE KNOW THE BIGGEST IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE IS THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY.
UM, HAVING A DAUGHTER WHO IS A FIRST GRADE TEACHER LAST YEAR, FIRST GRADE, SEEMS LIKE THEY WOULD HAVE HAD A YEAR OF SCHOOL BEFORE, BUT MOST OF THAT IN ARIZONA WAS AT HOME.
SO THEY, THESE KIDS ARE STRUGGLING TO CATCH UP.
SO WE'D BE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH YOU, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
I KNOW WE HAVE AN UPCOMING MEETING, UH, SCHEDULING HERE IN THE FALL TO, TO VISIT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD ABOUT INITIATIVES.
AND MAY, THAT MAY BE A JOINT INITIATIVE, NOT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE FUNDS AVAILABLE WITH THE LONG-TERM INITIATIVE, HOW DO WE WORK WITH OUR YOUNG CHILDREN TO GET THEM READY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL AT AN EARLY AGE? UH, AND I THINK THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A THREE-WAY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN US, THE SCHOOLS, OUR LIBRARY SYSTEMS. SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT WE HAVE LISTED HERE, THESE ARE BUCKETS OF DOLLARS TO FOCUS ON CERTAIN AREAS.
BUT AS, AS WE LEARN MORE, WE MAY BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND SHIFT AND SAY, WE MAY NOT MEET IN AS MUCH AS THIS AREA, OR WE'VE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH THIS.
WE'D LIKE TO SHIFT SOME MONEY TO THAT.
WHATEVER WE APPROVED TONIGHT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS, THIS IS HOW YOU ABSOLUTELY SPEND IT.
THESE ARE AREAS OF FOCUS FOR US.
WE'VE IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC PROJECTS, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY SIX MONTHS FROM NOW.
WE'VE HAD GREAT CONVERSATION WITH OUR PARTNERS AND SAY, WE HAVE SOME BEST PRACTICES ABOUT HOW TO DO A LITERACY PROGRAM.
SO LET'S MOVE MORE DOLLARS TO THAT ASPECTS.
WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO THAT DISCUSSION.
BUT THE FIRST QUESTION YOU ASK ABOUT RETENTION OR BONUSES, THIS IS AN ONGOING CHALLENGE IS NOT JUST FOR EDMOND, BUT FOR MANY CITIES ACROSS THE U S UM, IT'S A QUESTION OF, IS IT A BONUSES RETENTION? AND THAT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE OF HOW TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW OUR POLICE AND FIRE HAVE A, UM, A PROGRAM THAT THEY RECEIVE CERTAIN STEPS AT A FASTER RATE THAN PERHAPS REGULAR EMPLOYEES DO.
I DON'T KNOW IF OUR HR DIRECTORS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TO HEAR, I CAN'T SEE BEHIND JANE'S, SHE'S NOT.
SO, UH, WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, DOING, YOU LOOK AT OUR STEP SYSTEM.
CURRENTLY EMPLOYEES WE'LL CALL IT NON PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES ESCALATE ON A TWO AND A HALF PERCENT STEP VERSUS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AT FIVE TO BE ATTRACTIVE.
IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE LOOK AT, DO WE DO YOUR MIRROR? WHAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IS, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, AS WE TALK WITH STAFF, NOT JUST INTERNALLY, BUT ACROSS IS, YOU KNOW, MY DAD WORKED FOR THE SAME COMPANY FOR 30 YEARS.
I MAY WORK FOR A HANDFUL, BUT I THINK A LOT OF OUR WORKFORCES
[00:25:01]
WHERE'S THE BEST OPPORTUNITY.AND IT'S NOT, WHERE'S THE LEGACY EMPLOYMENT, BUT WHERE'S THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO GET EITHER JOB EXPERIENCE OR TO ACCELERATE MY I'LL CALL IT MY GROWTH POTENTIAL IN WAGES.
SO WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
SO AGAIN, WE CAN, WE CAN WITHHOLD SOME DOLLARS AS WE FINISHED THAT STUDY.
WE MAY BE COMING BACK TO AND SAY, HERE'S OUR PLAN TO DO A TOWN ATTRACTION RETENTION.
SO MAYBE A COMBINATION OF THAT.
SO FOR RIGHT NOW, UH, WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS THAT HAVE REACHED A CRITICAL LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT.
THEY DO CRITICAL THINGS WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT IF WE DID NOT HAVE THEM, THAT WOULD IMPACT DIRECTLY OUR SERVICE OF EMERGENCY NATURE TO OUR PUBLIC.
SO WE'VE HAD TO TAKE STEPS TO DO A RETENTION PROGRAM TO THAT, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE WE'VE REACHED CRITICAL LEVELS.
THIRD, THE OTHER POSITIONS WHEN THEY WERE ASSESSED, AND WE MAY NOT BE AT THAT LEVEL, BUT WE ARE SEEING PRESSURE.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO EXPLORE THAT.
WE'LL PROBABLY COME BACK WITH SOME IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS THAT.
UM, NO, I'LL BE GOING AWAY TO A CONFERENCE IC MAY CONFERENCE IN A MONTH, AND THAT'S A BIG GUMTREE CONVERSATION AS TALENT AND HOW TO RETAIN THAT.
HOW DO YOU DO FLEX SCHEDULING? UM, THESE ARE SOMEWHAT NEW THINGS FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE TO ADDRESS.
CAUSE USUALLY IT'S, YOU SHOW UP, YOU WORK EIGHT TO FIVE FOR 40 HOURS.
SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR THE NEW GENERATION OF WORKERS WHO MAYBE WANT TO FLEX THEIR TIME.
AND HOW DO I DO THAT? IF I'M A UTILITY WORKER, HOW DO YOU FLEX THAT? HOW DO YOU DO THAT? IF YOU'RE PROVIDING CRITICAL SERVICES, BUT WE HAVE TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
SIMPLY SAYING, YOU HAVE TO BE AT A CERTAIN TIME DOING CERTAIN WORK FOR CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS.
WE MAY HAVE TO THERE'S IDEAS OF, DO YOU SPLIT POSITION UP AND SAID, IF IT'S A 40 HOUR POSITION, YOU MAY HIRE TWO PEOPLE WHO CAN DO 20 HOURS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY CAN WORK INTO THEIR SCHEDULE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL OR MAYBE CHILDCARE ISSUES.
SO THESE ARE ALL ISSUES OUR HR DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO LOOK AT.
UM, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT SPENDING THESE DOLLARS TOMORROW.
SO THERE IS SOME TIME THAT WE CAN COME BACK AND ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES, BUT THERE IS A, A TIMELINE ON IT.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE HIM COMMITTED ARE BOUNDED BY 20, 24.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE MY TERM OBLIGATED OR SPENT, OR INVOICED BY 26.
SO KNOWING SOMETIMES WHAT THE PROCESS IS TO GET FROM IDEA TO FINAL CONCEPT AND DELIVERY, IT'S GOING TO GO FAST.
WELL, I SEE SOME, YEAH, LIKE THE, I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE HOUSING ASSESSMENT STUDY AND, AND ARCADIA EVERYTHING ARCADIA LAKE, BUT THAT, I MEAN, THESE ARE SIX AND NINE MONTH PROJECTS THAT ARE JUST STUDIES AND AT WHICH I'M, I'M THRILLED THAT IT'S STARTING THAT WAY, BUT WE'RE, I'M, I AM FAILING THAT.
WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO GET DOWN THE ROAD.
AND IF I SAW, YOU KNOW, POSSIBILITY OF PURCHASING LAND AND IF WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES SOME TIME TO DO THAT THEN, UH, AND I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE DOING THAT OR THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BUT THAT THE CLOCK IS TICKING.
AND THE IDEA IS THAT SOME OF THESE IDEAS MAY BE, I CALL IT PILOT PROGRAMS THAT EVENTUALLY THE CITY COUNCIL MAY SAY, OKAY, THE DOLLARS ARE ENDING BECAUSE IT'S 26, WHATEVER, BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THESE ARM.
SO IT'S NOT JUST A STUDY, JUST FIND OUT HOW DO WE SPEND THESE DOLLARS IN THE NEXT TWO, THREE YEARS.
IT MAY BE, IS THE SAME FOR THE MASTER PLAN FOR PARK REDEVELOPMENT OR LITERACY PROGRAMS OR RETENTION PROMOTES FOR TOWN EMPLOYMENT.
YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL IS NOT TO SPEND THE NEXT YEAR STUDYING THESE ISSUES.
OUR GOAL IS TO START THESE IMMEDIATELY AND GET THEM OUT THE DOOR WITH OUR EITHER CONSULTANTS OR INTERNAL STAFF TO LOOK AT HOW TO ADDRESS THESE LIKE THEIR ACADIA PARK SITUATION WITH THE TRASH.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT THAT.
WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF HOW TO ADDRESS THIS.
UM, SO WE'D BE EAGER TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT EFFORT.
I THINK LOOKING AT OUR SOLID WASTE, PEOPLE IN PARKS, PEOPLE, AS THEY HAVE A PLAN OF HOW TO DO THAT, JUST AS, AS A FUNDING THERE, IF WE, IF WE APPROVE THE FUNDING TO MOVE FORWARD, THEN THEY CAN ESCALATE IN THE PROPER RECEPTACLES AND THE GOAL.
AND THAT ONE WOULD BE PARTICULARLY IS WE'RE ALMOST GETTING TO THE SUMMERTIME, WHICH IS OUR HIGH PERIOD, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION SPRING OF NEXT YEAR.
AND WE JUST KNOW WHAT ARCADIA PARK HAS SEEN, YOU KNOW, MITCH PARK.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT TO CROSS THE T'S AND DOT THE I'S WITH MITCH PARK AND REDOING THAT.
I THINK WE JUST WANT TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL OUTSIDE HELP TO SAY, HOW DO WE CODE THAT WHEN WE REPORT BACK TO THE FEDS? I THINK MOST OF THE COMMITTEE WOULD SAY MENTAL HEALTH IS A CALL MEETING WITH YOUR SHERIFF'S BUYER.
BUT ALSO WE FOUND IS PEOPLE NEED TO BE OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE, THE BEAUTY OF WHAT'S GOING AROUND.
AND IF THAT MEANS, PROVING THAT THE TRAILS THAT OUR PARKS AND OUR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACKS, THAT'S EMOTIONAL HEALTH, SOCIAL HEALTH.
[00:30:01]
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY IN OUR QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACKS, WHERE OFTENTIMES YOU HEAR A LOT OF IT ALL GOING ON IN DIFFERENT AREAS, NEW GROWTH AREAS, BUT SOMETIMES THEY ARE FORGOTTEN AREAS.WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS STAY STRONG, VIBRANT, AND NOT DISREPAIR.
LIKE WE SEE IN THE OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE NATION, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO REINVEST IN? I'LL BRING UP ONE MORE THING.
UM, I'M THINKING ABOUT, UM, SO WE'VE TAKEN REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY EARLIER ON AND HAVING, UH, HAVING THOSE GRANTS.
AND, AND THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL AT THE TIME.
AND I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY BEEN REACHED OUT TO, WITH A LOT OF NEEDS RIGHT NOW, IF THERE'S A GOOD IDEA OUT THERE OR A NEED, I WOULD, I THINK WE'D ALL LOVE TO KNOW, UH, IF THAT'S NEEDED, THERE'S THE STREET ARIES AND THE THINGS THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN DONE DOWNTOWN, WHERE HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL AND POPULAR.
SO PARTNERING WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE OTHER TWO THINGS ON MY MIND, I THINK WE HAVE A CHANCE WITH EVAN SHOWING, SHOWING SOMEHOW WITH THESE FUNDS, HOW CAN WE HELP THEM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS? AND I THINK THERE, I THINK THERE MAY BE A CHANCE SOMEWHERE IN THERE THE OTHER THEN THE THIRD WOULD BE, UM, IS THERE A WAY TO SOMEHOW, UH, SHOW, UH, UCF THAT, THAT WE'RE USING THESE COMMUNITY DOLLARS, UH, TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH UCO.
AND I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I KNOW EVERY TIME WE DO SOMETHING TO OUR PARKS OR TRAILS, WE KNOW COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE USING THOSE THINGS, BUT IS THERE SOMETHING IN THERE IN THE MIX THAT'S INTENTIONAL TO SAY, WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOU, YOU UCO ON THIS.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT JUST BRINGING IT UP ALSO THE POINTS, UM, I LIKE THE IDEAS THAT ARE HERE AND JUST LIKE COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN MOORE.
WE GOTTA KEEP GOING BECAUSE BEFORE YOU KNOW, IT IT'D BE 20, IT'LL BE 23 HERE.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SECOND GUESS HERSELF SAYING, OH, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT'S BECAUSE THESE ARE NEEDS THAT WE IDEAS THAT WE NEED.
UM, BUT I DO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION, UH, SINCE THERE'S OTHER COMMUNITIES, OUR SIZE ROCK ACROSS THE, THE STATE IN THE COMMUNITY, SOMETIMES I LOOK TO, TO STEAL FROM THEM.
HAVE WE LOOKED AT WHAT SOME OF THE IDEAS OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE LOOKED AT? SO SOME OF OUR STAFF MEETS ONCE A MONTH, WHICH WITH A REGIONAL GROUP OF OVER TEAMS, WHICH INCORPORATES OKLAHOMA CITY, AS WELL AS, UM, SOME OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT LIKE COUNTY AND STATE.
UM, SO WE DO HEAR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SOME OF THE CITIES ARE WAITING ON, UM, TO SEE WHAT THE STATE'S GOING TO DO AND ALLOCATE BECAUSE THAT WILL CHANGE THEIR WHOLE PLANS.
UM, SO I THINK PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS AND WE HAVE HEARD THOSE.
UM, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE, BUT IT'S, WE'RE ALL KIND OF IN LIMBO.
I WOULD SAY WAS OKLAHOMA SEEDS.
SO THEY'VE KIND OF ELIMINATED, IDENTIFIED TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AS A KEY.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF ENROLLMENT BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A CENTRAL LOCATION TO STATE WITH STATE GOVERNMENT.
THE STATE GOVERNMENT COMES OUT AND SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON SOME TRANSPORTATION.
THEY WILL PROBABLY FLIP TO DO THE DIFFERENT ITEMS, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY CURRENTLY PLAN.
UM, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES HAVE IDENTIFIED INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS.
THESE ARE NEW FOUND FUNDS, KIND OF ONE TIME FLUSH WITH FUNDS, GO OUT AND DO INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
UM, STREETS ARE A BIG THING, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST TELL YOU, WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION.
THE MAYOR WAS INVOLVED LAST WEEK WITH OUR EDMUND DELEGATION.
WE HAVE AN ARBOR REQUEST STILL INTO THE STATE FOR $13 MILLION TO HELP GO TOWARDS OUR, UH, OUR SCHUBERT PLANNING PROCESS.
WE HAVE A FEDERAL REQUEST IN FOR SOME COMMUNITY PROJECTS TO ASSIST THAT AS WELL.
UM, SO WE'RE TRYING TO COVER ALL BASES TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAPPY WITH THE MONEY WE RECEIVED, BUT WE'D LOVE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE, SOME OF OUR BID PRICES.
I WAS GOING TO JOKE THAT WE, THAT WE NEED THEM DEFIBRILLATORS BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING BID OPENINGS AND GO SHOP.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE, BUT, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF NEEDS, BUT YOU CAN GO INFRASTRUCTURE WAYS OR DO YOU DO A COMBINATION INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS SOCIAL SERVICES OR I'LL CALL IT SOFT POINTS WHERE YOU IMPACT YOUR WOODS.
AND THAT'S WHY I LIKE THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACKS.
EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT OUR CANE.
THAT'S GREAT AND TALKS ABOUT MITCHELL PARK, BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT COMMUNITY THAT REALLY NEEDS A WALKABLE PARK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE 20 MINUTES TO OUR CANE.
YET HE JUST NEED A GOOD PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS OUT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IN A HUNDRED DEGREE HEAT AND STEEL SLIDES IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, UM,
[00:35:03]
IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OF THIS, REMIND OUR STAFF THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXCESSIVE 600 NEW HOUSEHOLDS, UM, IN THE CBD.UM, WHEN WE DO, I THINK WE PROBABLY UNDERESTIMATED OR HAVEN'T TALKED ENOUGH, IN MY OPINION, ON WHAT CHANGES THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO OUR DOWNTOWN.
UM, I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE TALKED ENOUGH ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THE PANDEMIC HAD ON USAGE IN DOWNTOWN.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE LAKE.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT OUR PARKS, BUT THE PEOPLE ALSO CAME DOWNTOWN TO RECREATE AND WALK AROUND AND SEE THINGS AND DO THINGS.
SO SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE PAIN POINTS IN OUR DOWNTOWN THAT ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE EVIDENT EVERY DAY.
AND AS WE GET MORE PEOPLE DOWN THERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IS THE STREETSCAPE.
OUR STREETSCAPE IS REALLY TIRED.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE MERCHANTS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ON BOARD WITH DOING ANYTHING AND PROBABLY WILL NOT CAUSE IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEIR BUSINESS.
AND SO WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT ON HOW TO DO IT.
SECOND THING IS WE HAD A LIGHTENED, A LIGHTING IN AN ADA PROGRAM APPROVED, AND WE'RE PRETTY MUCH READY TO GO.
WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO SOMEWHAT.
AND THE BUDGETS CAME IN WAY OUT OF WHACK.
UM, I'M HOPING THAT THIS CAN HELP US TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
UH, I SAY IT ON THE LIST, UH, BUT IT'S BEEN ON THE LIST BEFORE, UM, LIGHTING AND ADA IS AN EASY ONE TO PUT OFF.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT DONE WHEN WE GET THAT MANY PEOPLE DOWN THERE.
UM, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE HURT UNLESS WE DO.
UH, THE GREAT NEWS IS WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A PARKING ISSUE.
UM, SOMETHING I'VE WANTED A LONG TIME, RIGHT? CAUSE THAT REALLY, REALLY SHOWS THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING.
UM, AND SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE PLACES.
BUT I DO THINK THAT IF THERE IS SOME MONEY TO, TO SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT REDOING, UH, THE PARKING MODEL THAT WE HAVE ON BROADWAY.
AND WHEN WE DO THAT, I THINK IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT, UH, AT A STREET DIET FOR BROADWAY IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH A BETTER PARKING SOLUTION AND MORE PERMANENT, UH, STREET HURRY, UM, FOR THAT STREET.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THIS MONEY CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO, TO LOOKING AT DOING THAT OR NOT.
THE, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE DID THIS ENTIRE YEAR OR THOSE SIDEWALKS IT'S MADE OUR, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD UNBELIEVABLY MORE, UH, ACTIVE AND JUST, IT'S JUST BEEN, THAT WAS A GREAT PROJECT, REALLY WELL DONE.
HATS OFF TO TODD, IF YOU'RE IN HERE, UM, THAT COMPANY DID A GREAT JOB.
I MEAN, IT WAS, THEY WEREN'T THERE ONE DAY AND TWO DAYS LATER, THEY WERE THERE CLEANED UP AND THEY WERE OUT OF THERE.
PERFECT THING, HUGE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
IF WE COULD DO THAT WITH THE ALLEYS AND THE REST OF THE STREET TO THE SIDEWALKS, UM, IT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
ALL OF THIS BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN EDMOND.
UM, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
A LOT OF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED PROBABLY WITH A BID, YOU KNOW, OR AT LEAST THE EMPHASIS WOULD HAVE BEEN, UH, TO GET TOGETHER THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO GET THIS STUFF ACCOMPLISHED.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NOW.
SO WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE, UH, ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS, PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, MARCHING TO THE SAME TUNE LIKE YOU WOULD IF YOU HAD A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
SO THAT PUTS A LOT MORE OF IT, I THINK, UP ON THE CITY, UH, TO ACCOMPLISH THE STUFF.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT YOU'VE, YOU'RE MARKED A BUNCH OF THIS STUFF TO GET DONE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES, UM, BECAUSE IT'S TOO MUCH TO GET DONE WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO PRIORITIZE IT.
WE'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK INTO ANY OF THOSE.
SO MAYOR, IF I CAN RESPOND TO COUNCILOR, CHAPMAN LOVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS.
AND WE HAD A MEETING TODAY, WE'RE GETTING, I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION AND THE 22ND WORKSHOP TO TALK ABOUT STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION.
PART OF THAT IS BIKE, BIKE PATHS BY CLAIMS, SIDEWALKS, ADA, NOT JUST IN DOWNTOWN, BUT THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
HOW DO WE FUND THAT? HOW DO WE REALLY GET AHEAD, CATCH UP? AND THEN HOW DO WE STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE VERSUS WHAT WE'RE RIGHT NOW IS REACTING TO SITUATIONS.
SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT TONIGHT, BUT THIS IS A CALL.
IT'S A START IT'S PRIME, THE PUMP.
AND OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE 22ND TO SAY, IS THIS A PRIORITY? HERE'S, HERE'S THE NEED? HERE'S THE GAP? IS IT SOMETHING WE EITHER LOOK FOR A FUTURE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO TACKLE THAT.
CAUSE WE, WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE BEHIND ON THAT, BUT THEY'VE GOTTA BE, THERE HAS TO BE SOME BUDGETARY DISCUSSIONS, NOT WITH OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF, NOT WITH OUR, NOT JUST WITH OUR CURRENT FUNDING, UH, TOOLS, BUT ARE THERE OTHER FUNDING TOOLS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT DOWN THE LINE TO GET AHEAD OF THAT OR CATCH UP,
[00:40:01]
WHICH HAS BEEN OUR CHALLENGE, WOULD THESE, YOU'VE GOT MY MIND MOVING.WOULD THESE FUNDS BE ALLOWED FOR PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS UNDER THE RAILROAD? OR IS THAT, ARE WE THINKING TIFF IN THAT? AND WE CAN LOOK INTO IT.
WE DON'T REALLY ANSWER ALL THE TOP.
CAUSE THAT STUDIES THERE THAT INVESTIGATION'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW, ISN'T IT? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
WE PUT THE BLUE DOTS ON THERE.
IT'S NOT TO SAY WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO.
MOST OF THEM MAY NOT, BUT WE MAY FIND OUT LOOKING OUT ALONG AND SAY, THIS IS THE, THE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS, OR WE CAN DO THREE OR FOUR OF THESE OR WHAT CAN MOVE OR WHAT TIMELINE, WHAT CAN MOVE.
I THINK I'VE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS FROM COUNSELORS UP HERE IS THE SUCCESS WE'RE SEEING ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS ON OTHER SIDE OF THE RAILROAD.
AND THE CHALLENGE IS HOW DO YOU MOVE PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH ACROSS A RAILROAD IT'S CONCERNING AND SAFETY-WISE AND ABSOLUTELY.
SO THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT JUST US, NOT JUST THE STATE.
NOW WE'VE GOTTA DEAL WITH RAILROADS BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO BE SAFE.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE WORRIED OR WANDERING ACROSS RAILROAD TRACKS.
WE DECREE PER SE, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO CREATE A PRETTY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE PRESSURE TO I'LL CALL IT, EXPAND DOWNTOWN TO THE WEST OF THE TRAIN TRACKS.
SO HOW DO YOU MOVE PEOPLE SAFELY AND PROVIDE A PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE? SO DO WE NEED MORE ITEMS TO GO INTO OUR, OUR WISHLIST THAT MIGHT BE ON THE, ON THE EDGE OF WE CAN OR CANNOT DO CHECKS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH THINGS THAT WE CAN SPEND ALL OUR MONEY.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY DIME IS SPENT, BUT ALSO THAT THERE'S THINGS MAYBE THAT ARE ON THE SHELF THAT AS WE, AS COUNCIL GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS, UH, SOME THINGS MIGHT FALL OFF AGAIN, BUT WE STICK, WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS ON THE SHELTER CAN TAKE ITS PLACE AND WE CAN ABSOLUTELY LOOK INTO ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS YOU'VE MENTIONED.
UM, AND LOOK AT WHAT FUNDING FOR THOSE MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
ARE THEY ELIGIBLE? UM, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE AN EVOLVING LIST AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE A FEASIBLE WITHIN THE TIMELINE TO EXPEND THE FUNDS BY 26.
UM, BUT THIS IS EVOLVING AND WE'RE HAPPY TO LOOK INTO THOSE AND SEE IF WE CAN ADD THEM IN, BUT PROBABLY MIGHT OCCUR IS WE MIGHT PUT THIS ON A REVOLVING WORKSHOP, LIKE EVERY FOUR TO SIX MONTHS WE COME BACK AND SAY, HERE'S THE PROGRESS.
WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO SIX DOWNTOWN NO'S WOULD PROBABLY LOOK MORE FOR, WE ALWAYS COME BACK TO WE JUST TO, HEY, WE WANTED TO DO A, UH, COMMUNITY PARKS OR PARKS AND REC IS EXCITED ABOUT THIS, BUT Y MILLION DOLLARS ONLY GOES SO FAR.
DO WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT OUT? UM, AND I THINK AS WE LOOK AT FUTURE WORKSHOPS IN THE STREETS AND ROADS FUNDING, CAPACITY ISSUES, AS WE LOOK AT, UM, JUST OVERALL FINANCIAL SITUATION, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL START TO SHAPE, TAKE SHAPE AS FAR AS WHAT'S THE FUTURE FOR EDMUND.
AND HOW DO WE FUND? I THINK WE CAN ALL COME UP WITH MANY, MANY NEEDS OR WANTS QUESTION IS HOW DO WE FUND THEM AND HOW DO WE FUND THEM ON THE TIMELINE WE WANT? WELL, THANK YOU.
I'D COMPLIMENT Y'ALL ON YOUR, YOUR WORK.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT A GREAT JUMP ON IT.
YEAH, THESE ARE ALL GREAT THINGS, ALL OF THEM.
SO FOR PLANNING PURPOSES TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME MORE PRESENTATIONS.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO OUR VOICE, TO PEOPLE PUSHING FORWARD AND TO START ACTIVATING SOME OF THESE, GET NEW IDEAS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, DESIRES, WISHES? IS THERE WELL STAFF, ANY PUBLIC, ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO? THIS IS A WORKSHOP.
SHERRY, HEY GUYS, SHERRI JORDAN WITH THE EDMOND CHAMBER.
I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF TAG ONTO WHAT JOSH SAID ABOUT PARTNERING WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I WOULD SAY THE MOST OF WHAT I'M HEARING RIGHT NOW, OR THE MERCHANTS THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED BY OUR ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, NOT JUST LIKE IN BRYANT, BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE WHERE THE WATER LINES GOING IN AND THE COFFEE SHOP ON.
WHEN DOES THAT DANFORTH AND CHANNEL, IS THAT CHANNING NOW? WHAT IS IT? WHATEVER THAT STREET IS? UM, I WOULD JUST SAY IF THERE'S, I DUNNO IF THERE'S A WAY TO HELP THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE AFFECTING AS WE DO ALL OF OUR ROAD PROJECTS WITH ANY OF THIS MONEY AND ANY OF THESE PROJECTS, WE'RE USING ARPA MONEY FOR JUST TO KEEP THEM IN MIND.
[00:45:06]
ANYONE ELSE? WELL, COUNSELING, I THINK THIS WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL WORKSHOP, SETS THE STAGE FOR THIS EVENING AND NO OTHER QUESTIONS.I CAN ADJOURN THIS SPECIAL WORKSHOP.