#OKCBOXSCORE
MAPS 3 leader honored
MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board Chairman Tom McDaniel will receive the 2017 Leadership Oklahoma Lifetime Achievement Award. McDaniel is the American Fidelity Foundation’s president and former president and chancellor of Oklahoma City University. He retired as vice chairman and director of Kerr McGee Corp. in 2000. The Leadership Oklahoma awards for 2017 will be presented in Tulsa on April 1.
Worth noting: MAPS 3 projects are financed by a 1-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2009. Besides the advisory board, McDaniel chairs the convention center subcommittee.
The week ahead
The city council meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, for a generalobligation bond planning workshop. The agenda includes a review of bond propositions since 1989 and update on the latest bonds, approved by voters in 2007. Bonds are sold to finance capital improvement projects, such as the new police headquarters downtown, and repaid with property taxes.
Worth noting: To submit ideas for projects the council should consider for the 2017 bond program or to learn more, go online to okc.gov/ GO. The 2017 bond election is expected to be in September.
New development fees to take effect
Development impact fees approved by the city council for new residential and commercial development take effect Jan. 1. Proceeds will help pay for streets, trails and parks needed to meet the demands of growth. City leaders say that will free up proceeds from voterapproved bonds to maintain existing infrastructure. Planning Director Aubrey Hammontree describes impact fees as a “pay-as-wegrow” formula to meet the city’s needs.
Smoke alarms now required
A new ordinance requires every residence in Oklahoma City to have smoke alarms. The city council last week approved an ordinance requiring smoke alarms in single-family homes, which previously were exempt. The Oklahoma City Fire Department will provide and install smoke alarms for free. Call or visit any Oklahoma City fire station, call 297-3318 or email FirePIO@okc.gov.
They said it
“They will not be able to compete in the years to come. I think they know that.” — Ward 2 Councilman
Ed Shadid, who traveled at his own expense to North Dakota and reported back on the standoff over construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline crossing at the Missouri River. Shadid said religious leaders from Oklahoma City had also visited the demonstrators’ camp near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Shadid asserted fossil fuels would be unable to compete in the energy marketplace as renewable energy expands its reach. Shadid drew parallels between the pipeline opponents’ concerns over drinking water and Oklahoma City’s vulnerability to earthquakes induced by saltwater disposal wells.
Present/absent
Eight city council members attended last week’s meeting. Mayor Mick Cornett was returning from Washington and missed the meeting. Cornett is president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and was in Washington for a panel discussion on urban and suburban infrastructure needs. The vice mayor, Ward 7 Councilman John Pettis, presided.
It’s a fact
The visitor education building at Martin Park Nature Center, 5000 W Memorial Road, will be closed for renovations until May 2017. Grounds and park trails remain open to the public.
Tweet of the week
“Three councilmen to defend seats in February election”
— @NewsOK; follow coverage of the 2017 city council races at NewsOK. com. William Crum, Staff Writer wcrum@oklahoman.com Twitter: @williamcrum