Vision 2025 Extension - Package Details

[TulsaGoldenHurriCAN]

"It needs to be final from us," America said. "We've all made our case for the things we feel passionately about.

Bartlett agreed and supported America in the meeting, at one point giving her a thumbs up.

As they clearly stated over and over, Bartlett and his team believe the decisions need to come from them and should only be things they feel passionate about. Ignore public opinion on which items make the final cut (which looks to be their plan all along) despite giving lip service to an open process. The public has not had any input since they narrowed it down and if it weren't for Blake Ewing, this would be the final package (which is still terrible and looks to have very little public support).

[TulsaGoldenHurriCAN]

I want to know what the $45,000,000 under "Other" is which says "Design, inspection, contingency & advance funding" is for. Does anyone know?

There is still $52 million (plus another $14-40 million) allotted to the Jenks/Casino dam. We don't want to fund their dam. It will help River Spirit and Jenks. It will not help Tulsans. I see virtually zero return on investment for Tulsa and huge subsidies for a small amount of people who will benefit from this.

What is the "Peoria Connection and "South Mingo Corridor"?

How can they possibly believe this will pass as-is? I see the signs already "River Tax 2.0 - VOTE NO"

[Townsend]

How can they possibly believe this will pass as-is? I see the signs already "River Tax 2.0 - VOTE NO"

It's got my "no" vote.  And anyone else I know who'll listen to me.

I've always voted yes.  This is incredibly disappointing.

[Townsend]

Tulsa Vision Renewal Moving Toward Several Separate Ballot Measures, More Funding Sources

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/tulsa-vision-renewal-moving-toward-several-separate-ballot-measures-more-funding-sources

Tulsa residents will vote on a handful of sales tax measures in April — if city officials can reach an agreement in time to get them on the ballot.

Public safety, transportation, the river and economic development will each have at least one ballot measure spelling out the sales tax rate and term and how revenues will be spent. Senior Assistant City Attorney Mark Swiney said they're trying to avoid the specter of logrolling.

"You don't want the voter to say, 'Well, I want this, but I don't want this. So I have to vote for this thing I don't want in order to get what I do want,'" Swiney said. "That's unfair to the voter. It's illegal."

Tulsa's Vision renewal package has grown to include Improve Our Tulsa and bonds. City Finance Director Mike Kier crunched numbers through 2031 to make sure everything works.

"You know, this is a long period of time to be forecasting, but I think we've got some pretty solid numbers," Kier said.

Right now, voters would separately approve four sales tax measures totaling 0.55 percent: a permanent 0.2 percent sales tax for public safety, which would increase to 0.3 percent after five years; a permanent 0.05 percent sales tax for public transportation; a 15-year, 0.125 percent sales tax for river projects; and a 15-year, 0.175 percent sales tax for economic development projects.

Councilor Phil Lakin said the funding package is still just a draft.

"And I think everybody agreed that, yeah, there may be changes," Lakin said.

Draft ordinances are ready should Tulsans approve those sales tax measures this spring. Councilor Blake Ewing thinks the city has skipped a step.

"Have we felt like we've had public comment about a 15-year program, ever once with the public? Have we ever had a scenario where the public was allowed to weigh in over — " Ewing said during Thursday's Vision task force meeting, at that point cut off by Councilors Karen Gilbert, Jeannie Cue and Anna America saying yes. "Then what planet was I on when we had that public meeting after we've created a draft on [Dec.] 18?"

The ordinances came out of a mayor-council retreat Dec. 18 to build consensus on Vision renewal projects.

City officials rushed to schedule a slate of public hearings next week after Ewing's comments. They are tentatively scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with additional time for public feedback during Thursday's regular council meeting.

Feb. 4 is the deadline to file for an April election.

This is the first time I can think of that I've seen the image of VisionTulsa sinking into the abyss.

[RecycleMichael]

It's got my "no" vote.  And anyone else I know who'll listen to me.

I've always voted yes.  This is incredibly disappointing.

I once tried to vote NO, but I had my ballot upside down. Turns out I voted ON.

[utulsadenverite]

That proposal is a disaster. Public safety isn't an investment and Bartlett is an ahole.

[Townsend]

I once tried to vote NO, but I had my ballot upside down. Turns out I voted ON.

This ballot should be turned upside down and lit on fire.

[TheArtist]

I will fight tooth and nail against this thing and get everyone I know to do the same.  The whole process and criteria for consideration shifted several times which was quite frustrating and we never felt that we were fairly acknowledged.

Several "newcomers" like the Arts Alliance, got more consideration and funding for instance.

We have been working on this museum project for over FIVE YEARS!  I think if anything that certainly shows determination and resolve, a willingness to be in it for the long haul and work hard.  I think of all the events we have thrown like fundraisers large and small, all the students and interns we have worked with, all the tours given to people from around the world, the tens of thousands of dollars of just my own personal money, not to mention the incredible amount of time and work organizing things, keeping the accounts, doing the appropriate legal work, paying rent and insurance on our current space, coordinating projects with other groups, creating displays, educational worksheets, maps and material, etc. etc. etc.  We have put a LOT of work into this for over FIVE YEARS!  A lot of people, from all walks of life and having lots of different talents and skills have worked very hard for this.

Then out of the blue someone has an idea and ends up getting funding!?     

I call BS.

I am also frustrated that Gilcrease got such a huge amount of money.  You know, I am on the ground floor seeing what many visitors and tourists say and want to do in Tulsa.  Many aren't interested in "Western Art" and throwing another 60 some odd million at that museum won't make them any more interested in it!

Not everyone is interested in Art Deco either, but how the councilors could not see that also having a National Art Deco Museum in the mix for only 4.5 mill could greatly enhance our draw, is beyond me.  Utterly baffling. 

Surely a diversity of attractions to satisfy more interests would be a positive, especially when we could FINALLY truly take advantage of something that people from around the world, already have a positive view of our city about, and when we have a dedicated, determined, talented group of people who have shown that they would work hard to make this pan out and be something great for this city.

Seeing what is on that list is like a kick in the gut for all those years of hard work.  Apparently meant nothing to those councilors.

[Townsend]

Seeing what is on that list is like a kick in the gut for all those years of hard work.  Apparently meant nothing to those councilors.

I'm sorry your project was tossed out.

I agree with you.  I'll do my damnedest to make this fail.

[Townsend]

Maybe we should just bring back the "No Islands in the River" signs and place them near the polling places.

That'd probably kill it.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I once tried to vote NO, but I had my ballot upside down. Turns out I voted ON.

Good to see you back...haven't heard from you in a while.




Count me as "no"...or "on"...whichever...

[Conan71]

I will fight tooth and nail against this thing and get everyone I know to do the same.  The whole process and criteria for consideration shifted several times which was quite frustrating and we never felt that we were fairly acknowledged.

Several "newcomers" like the Arts Alliance, got more consideration and funding for instance.

We have been working on this museum project for over FIVE YEARS!  I think if anything that certainly shows determination and resolve, a willingness to be in it for the long haul and work hard.  I think of all the events we have thrown like fundraisers large and small, all the students and interns we have worked with, all the tours given to people from around the world, the tens of thousands of dollars of just my own personal money, not to mention the incredible amount of time and work organizing things, keeping the accounts, doing the appropriate legal work, paying rent and insurance on our current space, coordinating projects with other groups, creating displays, educational worksheets, maps and material, etc. etc. etc.  We have put a LOT of work into this for over FIVE YEARS!  A lot of people, from all walks of life and having lots of different talents and skills have worked very hard for this.

Then out of the blue someone has an idea and ends up getting funding!?     

I call BS.

I am also frustrated that Gilcrease got such a huge amount of money.  You know, I am on the ground floor seeing what many visitors and tourists say and want to do in Tulsa.  Many aren't interested in "Western Art" and throwing another 60 some odd million at that museum won't make them any more interested in it!

Not everyone is interested in Art Deco either, but how the councilors could not see that also having a National Art Deco Museum in the mix for only 4.5 mill could greatly enhance our draw, is beyond me.  Utterly baffling. 

Surely a diversity of attractions to satisfy more interests would be a positive, especially when we could FINALLY truly take advantage of something that people from around the world, already have a positive view of our city about, and when we have a dedicated, determined, talented group of people who have shown that they would work hard to make this pan out and be something great for this city.

Seeing what is on that list is like a kick in the gut for all those years of hard work.  Apparently meant nothing to those councilors.

Since arts enhance the quality of life and economic development in a city, a better arts package would spread $60M over many projects and ideas rather than staking it all on one entity which (to quote CF's term) makes an alchemist's promise that $80M (I think that was their original ask) would make Gilcrease an attraction on par with Crystal Bridges in Bentonville.  The return is every bit as speculative as an outlet mall in the middle of an urban wilderness, a sporting goods store in a city park, etc. 

Gilcrease had a very nice proposal. 

One that made you want to stand up and cheer.  However, the call to the public from the council was for ideas that would improve economic development, health outcomes, address transportation (and two other criteria that escape me at the moment).  I honestly do not see how a massive investment in Gilcrease will get people to book flights to Tulsa to come see the museum all the sudden or convince Boeing or GE to relocate their corporate HQ here. 

If the total collection value at Gilcrease is $2 billion, as claimed, why aren't investors or bankers lined up waiting to loan the museum the money for expansion? 

I hope Blake is still monitoring this thread.  He was one of the councilors saying there needed to be public commentary on what has been fleshed out by the council and mayor thus far.

[AquaMan]

There were plenty of opportunities for public comment, during the presentation phase. And, there were plenty of ideas presented. Good ideas. I always had the feeling that, as in the past, these were merely theatre.

To put this in perspective.
     -forms based zoning had lots of input from innovative planners....they nodded their heads and ignored it.
     -Aquarium originally planned for west bank....interfered with zoo plans, Jenks got it
     -Outlet Mall planned for heavily used hiking/biking area....leaders listened, nodded heads and proceeded...barely saved
     -Sports retail complex planned for (arguably) park land next to river....leaders got input, nodded and ignored...to be announced

Now its more formal. Yes, we will have more public comment but no changes allowed.

At least they're being more honest about it.

[AquaMan]

Came across this quote in an article drawing from WalletHub ranking the fitness of cities. Thought it might apply here as to leadership or lack thereof.

"However, lifestyle behaviors lie in the hands of the city policy makers, as well as the residents. "We need to change our physical and built environment," Heather A. Hausenblaus, PhD, physical activity and healthy aging expert and associate professor at Jacksonville University's Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences, tells Yahoo Health.

For example, she suggests that city officials "close off streets to motorized traffic and open the streets to bikes, walking and jogging," and provide their communities with more sidewalks and bike lines "making it harder to drive."

Stop electing people with closed minds and authoritarian attitudes Tulsa. They appoint people they can identify with and over time your community ossifies.

[dbacksfan 2.0]

There were plenty of opportunities for public comment, during the presentation phase. And, there were plenty of ideas presented. Good ideas. I always had the feeling that, as in the past, these were merely theatre.

To put this in perspective.
     -forms based zoning had lots of input from innovative planners....they nodded their heads and ignored it.
     -Aquarium originally planned for west bank....interfered with zoo plans, Jenks got it
     -Outlet Mall planned for heavily used hiking/biking area....leaders listened, nodded heads and proceeded...barely saved
     -Sports retail complex planned for (arguably) park land next to river....leaders got input, nodded and ignored...to be announced

Now its more formal. Yes, we will have more public comment but no changes allowed.

At least they're being more honest about it.

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