City Councilor Blake Ewing: "We have become an increasingly vibrant city, ... (but) so has Wichita, so has Oklahoma City and so has Little Rock."
Tulsa must do more to encourage tourism if it hopes to survive with an aging work force and increasingly self-sufficient suburbs, City Councilor Blake Ewing said during the first in a possible series of economic development strategy meetings with city leaders.
"We've had reports ... that point to an interesting future for Tulsa if we stay on the current path," he said. "And that is one of an aging population, a growing suburban ring outside the city and stagnant population within the city, an increase in lower-income citizens and more people going on fixed income every year."
Ewing organized the meeting Tuesday to ask city and Tulsa Regional Chamber officials how the city can naturally maintain or increase its chief source of income - sales tax collections - in the face of trends that point to declining revenue.
Tulsa's median age grew from 34.5 in 2000 to 34.7 in 2010, and the spending power of its average household, adjusted for inflation, remained statistically level during that time with an increase of $902.94, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Attracting visitors is an obvious way to boost sales tax revenue, Ewing said.
"I still think (tourism) has been an under-supported aspect of economic development from the city of Tulsa," he said. "I think it's this funny thing, this kind of phenomenon that happens in cities, where people think that everybody else's city is great but wonder why anybody would want to come see theirs. We kind of have that attitude sometimes."
City councilors, Mayor Dewey Bartlett, former Mayor Kathy Taylor and chamber representatives discussed economic development philosophies for more than an hour, largely agreeing that the city has made significant progress over the last decade - particularly in downtown development - but that room for improvement remains.
The group agreed to meet Aug. 13 and possibly regularly beyond that with the goal of brainstorming ways to implement the economic development strategies outlined in the city's comprehensive plan and those in other plans developed over the years, Ewing said.
The comprehensive plan, PlaniTulsa, calls for supporting small businesses, education and downtown development.
Ewing also cited a 2003 chamber planning group report that recommended supporting tourism, attracting new residents and developing retail businesses.
Chris Benge, the Tulsa Regional Chamber's senior vice president of government affairs, said Tulsa is already amid an economic resurgence, pointing to downtown's Brady Arts District and high-profile events such as the recent Bassmaster Classic, but he added that it would be helpful to outline the next steps.
"I would really challenge anyone to say that Tulsa's not a vibrant, dynamic city," he said. "What has transpired over the last several years has really been amazing."
Ewing agreed but added, "We have become an increasingly vibrant city, ... (but) so has Wichita, so has Oklahoma City and so has Little Rock in that same period.
"It means we've got to keep our foot on the gas so that we're not driving 30 mph while someone else is driving 50."
He said that although the group should discuss all aspects of economic development, it should pay attention to ways to encourage new tourist attractions and support existing ones.
Ewing suggested Route 66 beautification and transit lines serving Philbrook Museum.
More aggressive marketing might also help, Councilor Jeannie Cue said.
Bartlett, who said he strongly supports Ewing's efforts, argued that the city might do better trying to attract permanent working-age residents who are "more consistent in their spending patterns."
Taylor countered that aspects of a city that attract tourists also attract residents.
Bartlett and Taylor will battle for the next mayoral term in the Nov. 12 election.
Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486
zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Tourism boost termed vital
Tulsa City Council
Mayor Dewey Bartlett and former Mayor Kathy Taylor have eight weeks to make their cases before voters go to the polls Nov. 12.
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