The Oklahoma City Council meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays on the third floor of City Hall, 200 N Walker Ave., and live broadcasts are available on Cox Channel 20, www.youtube.com/cityofokc/live and www.okc.gov. A recording of each meeting is then added to the City's YouTube channel.
First buildings added to list of abandoned properties
The Council voted Tuesday to declare 21 buildings as abandoned, the first buildings to be designated as such as part of an effort to recuperate the cost of public safety services for emergencies on abandoned property. Future calls for emergency public services to abandoned buildings will result in fees charged to the property owners. Owners would be responsible for costs up to $63 per hour per police officer and $67 per hour per firefighter. Repeated public service calls to abandoned properties put additional strain on emergency services and the resources to pay for them.
Convention and Visitors Bureau report: Trends still positive
Interest in Oklahoma City as a convention and leisure tourism destination continues to grow, Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau President Mike Carrier said Tuesday during his quarterly report to the Council. Hotel-motel tax receipts through the second quarter of the current fiscal year grew by 5.5 percent to $7.5 million. Tour groups continue to visit the City at an increasing pace, and the Bureau's website traffic is skyrocketing.
Disaster relief sought through partnership with Moore, state
The Council voted Tuesday to approve letters of partnership with the City of Moore and the state Commerce Department in an attempt to secure federal disaster relief funds related to the May 2013 tornadoes and flooding. The City did not receive direct federal relief funds for those storms from the Community Development Block Grant-National Disaster Resilience Competition program, but the City could benefit from the funds if they are sought in partnership with Moore and the Commerce Department. Those are the only two entities in Oklahoma eligible for those funds in relation to to the May 2013 storms. If the City is successful in seeking the money, it will be used to fund redundancy systems at the Lake Stanley Draper Water Treatment Plant, drainage projects, special needs housing, street repairs and other efforts.
Industrial wastewater program and fee change proposed
City Utilities Director Marsha Slaughter on Tuesday introduced a proposed industrial wastewater pre-treatment program and fee change that will comply with new federal regulations. The federal Clean Water Act requires the City to pre-treat wastewater with extra-strong or hazardous waste, protecting treatment plants, workers and sanitary sewers. Metal finishers, centralized waste treatment facilities, hospitals and commercial laundry facilities are examples of operations most affected by the proposed program and fee changes needed to cover the cost. Medical clinics and restaurants are also affected, but to a lesser degree. Fee changes will be phased in over three years. The proposal is set for a public hearing Tuesday, Feb. 24, and potential adoption Tuesday, March 3.
Quarterly investment report issued
The City's quarterly investment report for the second quarter of the current fiscal year showed earnings of about $1.3 million. The second quarter runs from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.
