Possible Downtown Museum

[dsjeffries]

This is the response that i received from her last week:
"I received your e-mail regarding the issuance of bonds to fund construction of the OK Pop Museum.   I appreciate you taking the time to contact me.  I do agree with you and believe it would make a great addition to Tulsa.

It should add value to our state by bringing tourists in from out of state, and ensure an appropriate archiving of an important piece of Oklahoma History.

Again, thank you for contacting me.  Feel free to do so on any subject of concern to you.  My door is always open.

Representative Jadine Nollan
District 66"

She didn't say that she would vote for it, but at least she agrees that it will be good for Tulsa.

I've emailed my Rep, Sean Roberts, a few times in the last couple weeks and haven't heard anything from him. Based on his past votes, I doubt he'll vote for it, but my fingers are crossed. My senator, Eddie Fields, voted against it yesterday.

[DTowner]

Sounds like the votes were not there.  It is better to pull it from consideration than have a recorded no vote.

No bonds for OKPOP this year


Courtesy
By WAYNE GREENE World Senior Writer
Published: 5/25/2012  1:49 PM
Last Modified: 5/25/2012  1:49 PM

Tulsa advocates of a proposed popular culture museum for downtown's Brady District have given up hopes for a state bond issue to support the project this year.

"After lengthy discussions and the urgency of other issues on the last day of the legislative session, we believe it is prudent to wait another year before pursuing the state's support to partially fund the OKPOP Museum," said Mike Neal, president and chief executive officer of the Tulsa Metro Chamber. "The good news is private donors and Oklahomans across the state remain excited about the project."

More preliminary work will be done on the project until the issue can be put before lawmakers again, Neal said.

The Tulsa museum was the only one of three contending bond issues to pass the Oklahoma Senate this year. Bond proposals for repairs to the Oklahoma Capitol and a half-built Native American Cultural Center in Oklahoma City failed in Senate votes.

A House vote on the Tulsa project would have sent it to Gov. Mary Fallin, but backers said there was little support in the House for the proposal.

"We go into the summer with renewed optimism to achieve success in next year's session," Neal said.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=336&articleid=20120525_336_0_Tulsaa407364

[TheArtist]

There is a new museum starting in Downtown, the Tulsa Art Deco Museum.  We may be tiny for now, but hey, at least we do exist lol.  All we need in order to keep growing and getting better is the occasional dollar or two, the occasional "way to go, good job!" to keep our spirits up, and some volunteers to watch the space for a few hours... and someday, I promise, we will have something really wonderful for Tulsa.      

Oh, and Deco Ball tickets, which will help us pay the rent for another year, are still on sale!   http://decopolis.net/DecoBall2012.html

and if you missed the TW article from last week....   http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=272&articleid=20120517_272_D1_CUTLIN144659   

[dioscorides]

well, this is a surprise:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Senate_committee_passes_funding_for_OKPOP_Indian_center/20130516_13_0_OLHMIY217875?subj=298

Senate committee passes funding for OKPOP, Indian center
By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau on May 16, 2013, at 5:44 PM 

OKLAHOMA CITY — In a surprise move, a Senate panel approved a measure Thursday to fund construction of a popular culture museum in Tulsa and finishing the financially troubled American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City.

The Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget passed Senate Bill 1133 that provides $40 million for the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture in Tulsa, dubbed OKPOP, to be built in the Brady District.

The funds would come from sales taxes taken out of gross revenues before funds are placed into the general revenue fund. It calls for $5 million in fiscal year 2015, another $5 million in fiscal year 2016, $10 million in fiscal year 2017 and a final apportionment of $20 million in fiscal year 2018.

The measure passed by a vote of 13-12 with little notice given that the OKPOP measure would come up in the committee.

The Legislature is not subject to the notice requirements of the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act because both the House and Senate have exempted themselves from the law.

It now heads to the House Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget, which is expected to meet next week.

The panel also passed Senate Bill 1132 to provide $40 million to finish the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum, which has been mothballed since last year when lawmakers balked at providing additional bond funds to complete it.

Under the measure, $15 million from use taxes would be diverted from gross revenue in fiscal year 2015, followed by $15 million in fiscal year 2016. A final apportionment of $10 million would be made in fiscal year 2017. Use taxes are paid on out-of-state purchases and online purchases in lieu of sales taxes.

The measure passed by a vote 16-10 and heads to the House Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget.

[TheArtist]

Didn't see that coming.  Hope it really happens. But, there are a lot of years there ripe and ready for something to go wrong. 

[Conan71]

Didn't see that coming.  Hope it really happens. But, there are a lot of years there ripe and ready for something to go wrong. 

I can think of a certain Art Deco Museum which could make great use of $40 million.

[tulsasooner]

Lets get this passed!  This will be a great asset to the area.  It will bring in revenue as well as be an excellent addition to this expanding area!  Spread the word, and lets get this passed!!  Lets keep up the momentum downtown...things are looking great down there again!!

[heironymouspasparagus]

I can think of a certain Art Deco Museum which could make great use of $40 million.

Look at what he has done on a shoe string, with a "pittance"....geez, I bet he could make national news with just a few million!!

[TheArtist]

  Thanks guys.  As per the Art Deco Museum, we are making some good progress this year that should position us to feel comfortable with making some bigger requests and moves down the road.  

1. We are finally getting enough people involved that we can branch out the work loads into different committees, vs just one small group trying to do everything. May not sound like a big deal, but it is trust me lol.

2. Will be adding a nice new display in the lobby this month, and have a new intern from OSU's Museum Studies program that will be teaming up with the Tulsa Foundation For Architecture to create another great new display focused on Tulsa's Art Deco Architecture. These two, new, larger window displays and some small upgrades to some of the older ones will really flesh out what we have already started and will help us look much more respectable.

3. We have booked the Union Depot for Friday November 8th, as the date for our next big fundraiser/ Deco Ball and Gala. So save the date and come on out to support our efforts!  More info, ticket prices, entertainment etc. to come soon.

   And hey, we are as always still looking for more volunteers.  As a young group we have all kinds of things that we could use help with.  No matter what your interest or skill level we can find something that you could do that would be a big help (one thing we really need is a new website that can be accessed and easily updated with new info by several different people. The old one started out great but we are having trouble making changes, only one person could do it and now he or the program, isn't working correctly lol. Learning curve here. ).  If you would like to help with ideas and things for the next Deco Ball and Gala let me know and I will get your info to that committee. We can always use more volunteers to watch the Gift Shop & Visitor Center.  One day per month for 3 hours is our minimum requirement. It's an easy task and if you know of anyone who might be interested, let me know and I will forward their contact info to our Volunteer Committee.

Thank You All for your Support!

[DTowner]

There had been rumors swirling all week at the Capitol about something happening on this issue.  While any progress on this is good news, I have a few serious concerns.

1)  This barely passed by one vote in the Senate committee and still has to be approved by the whole Senate and then get through the House, where as I recall there was more opposition last year.

2)  As predicted, the only way the Oklahoma Pop Museum is going to get any state funding is to pour more money into that giant white elephant at I40 and I35.

3)  Worse, the funding payout could leave Tulsa holding the bag.  The Indian Museum gets its money front loaded in increments of $15, $15 and $10 in years 2015-2017.  Whereas Tulsa gets its money back loaded in increments of $5, $5, $10, and $20 in years 2015-2018.  Sounds like the age-old problem of OKC gets its money now with a promise that Tulsa will get taken care of "next year."  Of course, next year never seems to come.

4)  Even if all of this happens, it means OKC received well over $100 million for a museum and Tulsa received only $40 million.

[tulsasooner]

How can we show support to get this approved?  Call Representatives?

[DowntownDan]

If this happens, it'll be great to continue filling the District.  On a related note, anyone know who owns the large white warehouse just east of the Philbrook downtown (old Mathews Warehouse)?  It should be becoming prime real estate with tons of foottraffic, including a bunch of people who walk by it to get to ballgames.  It and the big red warehouse in the Blue Dome district are great spots for retail, living, or anything else really other than industrial or storage.

[DTowner]

How can we show support to get this approved?  Call Representatives?

Tulsa Chamber's action alert:

http://onevoicetulsa.channeldemocracy.com/alert/view/765

[JCnOwasso]

If this happens, it'll be great to continue filling the District.  On a related note, anyone know who owns the large white warehouse just east of the Philbrook downtown (old Mathews Warehouse)?  It should be becoming prime real estate with tons of foottraffic, including a bunch of people who walk by it to get to ballgames.  It and the big red warehouse in the Blue Dome district are great spots for retail, living, or anything else really other than industrial or storage.

I have wondered about that red warehouse for ages.  I also wonder about the old office building caddy corner to it.

[PonderInc]

If you're excited about making the OKPOP a reality, now's the time to act!

Contact your state representative and senator to support OKPOP and SB 1133!  

This will be voted on by the House GCCA (General Conference Committee on Appropriations) at 10:30 am on Monday, May 20.  

If it passes, it will go to the floor of the Senate on Tues, May 21 and the House on Wed, May 22.

I just confirmed that SB 1133 is the correct bill.  (I was confused b/c the language that is posted online has nothing to do with OKPOP.)  Here's the explanation I received:

SB 1133 was a shell bill they pulled off the shelf yesterday and the new language has still not been posted. In essence, it would grant the OKPOP $5 mill in FY15, $5 mill in FY16, $10 mill in FY 17, and $20 mill in FY18, or a total of $40 mill over four years. We can make that work and still open in early 2018. The vote in the House GCCA is at 10:30 am on Monday, so notes need to be on their desks early Monday. If passed there, it goes to the floor of the Senate on Tuesday and the floor of the House of Wednesday. I think the general efforts should go specifically from a voter to his or her rep or senator. The message should be to support OKPOP and SB 1133.

Please take a few minutes this weekend and send your state senator and representative a personal email supporting OKPOP and SB 1133.  

Then encourage all your facebook friends to do the same!