G.T. Bynum: The city councilor said he's sympathetic with those who argue that the BOK Center should use its existing revenues to maintain its facilities where possible.
It would be misleading to say there was a theme to Monday night's third town hall meeting on the city's proposed $919.9 million capital improvements package.
It was more like recurring themes: wants versus needs, the bicycle-pedestrian master plan, public transit, downtown development and the BOK Center. Again.
Mike Haddican was one of the first speakers to step to the mic inside the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center auditorium, arguing - as others have at the first two public meetings - that facilities such as the BOK Center should not receive funding from the package.
The BOK Center would receive $450,000 for a new fire alarm system under the current proposal.
"Why do they want to be funded additionally when they already have money?" Haddican asked, referring the BOK Center's nearly $5 million reserve fund for capital projects.
Donna Beekman made the same point late in the nearly two-hour meeting, saying the street rehabilitation components of the package should be separate from "all the wants" of such places as the BOK Center, the Gilcrease Museum and the Cox Business Center, formerly called the Tulsa Convention Center.
"Anything that charges a fee needs to fund their own wants," she said.
Streets, bridges and traffic engineering would receive 65 percent of the funding under the proposal. A total of about 4 percent of proposed funding would go to the BOK Center, the Cox Business Center, the Performing Arts Center, the Gilcrease Museum, the Tulsa City-County Library and the Tulsa Zoo.
City councilors expressed concern last week that they have not made it clear to residents that the capital improvements package - while including money for more than road repairs - is about maintaining existing facilities that are owned by the people of Tulsa.
Councilor Blake Ewing said those who write off the Tulsa Zoo and the library and other city attractions as "silly, frivolous things" don't appreciate those assets' value to the city.
"I tell you they are as important to the success of our city as paving the streets," he said, adding: "In Tulsa, we have to be worried about the guest experience."
Councilor G.T. Bynum said after the meeting that he is sympathetic with those who argue that the BOK Center should use its existing revenues to maintain its facilities where possible.
He said the council will meet with BOK Center General Manager John Bolton at a committee meeting Thursday to discuss the issue.
"What I want to know is, the City Council set it up so that a portion of their revenue for ticket sales goes towards maintenance and capital items," Bynum said. "I want to know what they're planning to spend that on and what their prioritization is."
The town hall meetings are getting feedback on specific projects as city councilors and Mayor Dewey Bartlett look to tweak their draft proposal before putting it on the Nov. 12 ballot.
Remaining town hall meetings
The City Council has approved a draft list of $919.9 million in capital improvement projects that it has been presenting to the public in town hall meetings. Councilors will use the input from those meetings to complete the list of projects before sending the proposal to voters Nov. 12.
All meetings are at 6 p.m. unless noted.
Tuesday: Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford Ave.
Aug. 13: Carbondale Assembly of God, 2135 W. 51st St.
Capital projects
The Tulsa World breaks down
the proposed $919.9 million
capital improvements package
to be voted on Nov. 12.
Kevin Canfield 918-581-8313
kevin.canfield@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Funding priorities challenged
