TulsaNow's thoughts on Vision2

[carltonplace]

What land Aquisition would COT need for a rail system in downtown? Thinking of the streetcars that I've ridden in other cities, you board from the sidewalk or median (city property) and travel in the street (also city property).

[Teatownclown]

Absurdity abounds...

Is the TC in the package? Hope not... http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120828_11_0_TheTul359151



The mayor actually gives the appearance of being interested in what the citizens think....don't be fooled. Big number projects with no numbers.

It's all happening at the zoo....

[nathanm]

What land Aquisition would COT need for a rail system in downtown? Thinking of the streetcars that I've ridden in other cities, you board from the sidewalk or median (city property) and travel in the street (also city property).

If the land isn't already available, we'd need train shed. Not that it has to be put on prime real estate or anything. Seems like TDA or somebody ought to have some land somewhere nearby that would be usable for it.

[AquaMan]

What land Aquisition would COT need for a rail system in downtown? Thinking of the streetcars that I've ridden in other cities, you board from the sidewalk or median (city property) and travel in the street (also city property).

The MAPS project may require purchasing some properties that we wouldn't have to. I was amazed that the construction costs were the major expense (these vary with the economy), with engineering studies at #2 and the cost of purchasing the rails, the land and the buildings way down the line.

I think it makes sense for them. It is serves as an attraction in itself and ties in with other elements of their plan rather than a substitute for other mass transit vehicles. We haven't moved as far along in our plans yet and it doesn't make much sense until we do. We can't be first in the state to do this but we can be next. Make note that they have had an operating shuttle system in the downtown for quite some time.

We can pave the way for rail with a good circulator downtown.

[nathanm]

We haven't moved as far along in our plans yet and it doesn't make much sense until we do. We can't be first in the state to do this but we can be next. Make note that they have had an operating shuttle system in the downtown for quite some time.

We already have the destinations, we just need the transit.

[Townsend]

It's all happening at the zoo....

Then vote it down.

[Teatownclown]

OK...here's an idea. Pay our talented students to come back here and live once they graduate college. Pay them to settle back home and continue to supplement some of their income.

There. I'll try to come up with some other new and different ideas. But I won't be voting for this initiative unless someone convinces me otherwise.

[JCnOwasso]

OK...here's an idea. Pay our talented students to come back here and live once they graduate college. Pay them to settle back home and continue to supplement some of their income.

There. I'll try to come up with some other new and different ideas. But I won't be voting for this initiative unless someone convinces me otherwise.

I want to say that the companies in the area do a very good job at recruiting local talent.  I know the Government agencies recruit student interns to work and work around their schooling, and if they are pretty good at what they do, then tend to get converted to a full time position upon graduation.  I know my previous employer went to great lengths to attend local career fairs held by OU, OSU, and TU.  I also know that there are a good deal of other local companies who also recruit from schools for internships. 

But judging by your comment, you say "Come Back", are you refering to those who attend out of state schools? 

[Townsend]

TW FB post:

OKLAHOMA CITY — Tulsa City Councilor Blake Ewing spoke out against the Vision2 package Tuesday, saying the proposal was taking advantage of the potential loss of aviation industry jobs to fund a wide range of unrelated projects without sufficient public discussion.

There's a story but I'm too cheap to be able to post that part.

[carltonplace]

OK...here's an idea. Pay our talented students to come back here and live once they graduate college. Pay them to settle back home and continue to supplement some of their income.

There. I'll try to come up with some other new and different ideas. But I won't be voting for this initiative unless someone convinces me otherwise.

TTC, the money has to be used for capital improvements. It cannot be used in any other way.

[wylie]

TW article, "Councilor: Vision2 is poorly conceived"

OKLAHOMA CITY - Tulsa City Councilor Blake Ewing spoke out against the Vision2 package Tuesday, saying the proposal was taking advantage of the potential loss of aviation industry jobs to fund a wide range of unrelated projects without sufficient public discussion.

Ewing is the first Tulsa City Council member to speak out against the proposal, which goes before voters Nov. 6. The $748.8 million initiative would extend the 0.6 percent Vision 2025 sales tax rate through 2029. Separate proposals would direct money to economic development improvements on key industrial sites at Tulsa International Airport and a closing fund and to quality-of-life improvements selected by Tulsa County and each of its cities.

"I think Vision2 is poorly conceived," Ewing said. "I think we're being asked to take people's word on too many things."

Ewing expressed his position during the International Council of Shopping Centers IdeaExchange, held Tuesday in the Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center. During a seminar on new retail concepts, a panel moderator asked Ewing to give his position on Vision2.

Ewing said he believes that leaders have a genuine desire to improve the area but have not taken the time to ask what the residents want or to truly think about what the city should be.

"I feel the folks behind this are taking advantage of the possibility of Tulsa losing aerospace jobs, and are using that to include a lot of things that have nothing to do with airport jobs," he said.

Ewing said he's heard from constituents who have told him they feel the plan is too rushed, has too many unanswered questions and has left too little room for public discourse.

Of the proposed items in Vision2, Ewing said he agrees Tulsa International Airport has pressing needs that need to be addressed.

"I've toured the airport," he said. "I know that some of the pressing needs are critical."

However, he believes it is too soon to pass such a large package with so many different items.

"Because we're doing this right now instead of later on, we'll have a lot of bonding expense adding up."

As for the infrastructure of the entire city, Ewing said an extension of the Fix Our Streets program next year should bring in a significant amount of money and maintain the current level of street repair, and other items in Vision2 can be addressed as individual items.

Ewing said he isn't against Vision2 as a knee-jerk reaction against any tax, as he feels PlaniTulsa and the original Vision 2025 were capital improvements done the right way.

However, he said an extension of Vision2 will lead to other future tax increases.

"When you lock in a county to a tax until 2029, that means any other capital needs that arise between now and then will mean a tax increase," he said.

Ewing said he plans to continue to participate in town hall meetings on the subject and wants to ensure the desires of the voters are included.

"If the voters say they want this, I owe it to my constituents that our list of capital projects is as good as they could be," he said.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett said he disagreed with Ewing's assertion that the process has been rushed, noting that projects such as completing the Gilcrease Expressway and developing the Arkansas River have been discussed by community leaders and citizens for decades.

Bartlett told the Tulsa World that the city has drawn its ideas for projects from public formats such as the citizens survey, PlaniTulsa, City Hall In Your Neighborhood meetings, the shared goals of the City Council and mayor as well as this year's EnVision Summit.

"All these things involved thousands of people, a large number of public meetings as well as the collective judgment and wisdom of the elected officials that were elected by the entirety of our city," Bartlett said.

Don Walker, Vision2 co-chairman, said there has been a good deal of opportunity for public input into the plan.

"I know that a lot of municipalities not only have plans, but have made a number of public input opportunities as a part of the planning process. PlaniTulsa is one that comes to mind immediately. Vision2 provides a funding mechanism to make parts of those plans a reality," Walker said.

The city of Tulsa started a series of meetings Monday night to discuss how to best use $157.9 million in the quality-of-life money projected to the city, he said.

"Before the voters go to the polls to vote on Vision2, I believe there will be clarity on what will be voted on as a result of this process," Walker said.

"The timing of this is based on our immediate need as a community in the area of keeping and attracting jobs and I feel like it's the best opportunity to also make a commitment as a community to continue to invest in ourselves with quality of life project," he said.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=717&articleid=20120829_11_A1_CUTLIN402280

[Teatownclown]

TTC, the money has to be used for capital improvements. It cannot be used in any other way.

Oh. My bad...I guess the bribe fund is for cap improv? Kidding. I know the distinction. I'm trying to go back to square one on this. Back where we belong.

JNC....yes. Too many of our vibrant brain thrust leave, never to return except to bury Ma and Pa.


Way to BE, BE!

[Townsend]

What's going on with Bartlett and the Gilcrease?

This money won't come close to completing the Gilcrease Expressway.

[Teatownclown]

What's going on with Bartlett and the Gilcrease?

This money won't come close to completing the Gilcrease Expressway.

I think it's for remaining right of way acquisition. It will most likely be built by the Turnpike Authority.

[AquaMan]

I think it's for remaining right of way acquisition. It will most likely be built by the Turnpike Authority.

And in their own sweet time too. We could buy up remaining rights of way with this and still not see it finished for a long time.