City capital needs review progressing nicely
BY World's Editorials Writers
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
2/26/13 at 8:54 AM
City leaders are continuing with their methodical, thorough review of capital improvements needs with the aim of identifying the top needs before the community. The latest round of review was of recreational possibilities.
As much as $192.8 million in parks and Tulsa Zoo projects could be included in the $800 million capital improvements package that likely will be decided by local voters in November.
Proposals under consideration include about $109 million for the River Parks Authority, which would help fund Zink Dam improvements, $43.5 million for the zoo and $40 million for the Park and Recreation Department.
City councilors are putting together a new package to continue the progress made by the 2008 Fix Our Streets initiative. That program's funding is set to end in fiscal 2014.
In 2008, when that program won voter approval, streets were just about everyone's top priority. And while there still are many street needs to be addressed, the fact is there are many other capital needs that also require some attention.
City leaders have said much of the upcoming package will be directed to streets, but they also feel some attention should be directed to other needs as well.
"There is no fluff or froufrou in this deal," said City Councilor G. T. Bynum when the review process kicked off a few weeks ago. "There's going to be making sure that our fire stations aren't falling apart on the firefighters who live in them and that police officers can get to crime scenes without their cars breaking down. This is as basic, bread-and-butter government needs as you get."
City councilors will hold town-hall meetings around the city throughout March and April to get citizen input about the evolving plan.
Our leaders are going about this the right way - thoroughly reviewing the needs, making the effort to address the top ones, and letting Tulsans express their views. This deliberative process has worked well in the past and likely will serve us well yet again.
Original Print Headline: City needs
