Action set on Ward 7 appointment

The Oklahoma City Council is expected to meet privately Tuesday, in executive session, to consider a temporary appointment to the vacant Ward 7 seat. Eighteen individuals applied to be appointed to serve for the next three to six months, until voters select a permanent replacement for John Pettis. The council is giving itself options including filling the seat on Tuesday or limiting Tuesday’s action to interviewing applicants. If the seat is not filled Tuesday, the council most likely will make the choice at its next regular meeting, June 19.

Of note: Pettis resigned effective last week amid allegations that he converted donations intended for charity to his personal use.

Smooth sailing for budget

City Manager Jim Couch’s proposed $1.57 billion budget for 2018-19 is set to be adopted by the Oklahoma City Council on Tuesday. The general fund— the primary account for day-to-day operations— is up $44.8 million, or 10.8 percent, to $460 million. Drivingthe increase are expectations for continued overall growth in sales tax revenue, along with revenue from the quartercent sales tax increase approved by voters last September. The budget includes full funding for the 120 additional police and fire positions OK’d by voters in the sales tax election. Keys to the budget:

• The 1-cent MAPS for streets sales tax adds $125 million to the upcoming budget. Revenue will be spent almost as fast as it comes in to rehab and resurface streets.

• After 101 job cuts the past two years in austerity moves forced by declining sales tax revenue, the 2018-19 budget includes a net increase of161 positions.

• The budget includes funding for downtown streetcar operations, additional evening bus service and, for the first time, Sunday bus service. Streetcar service begins in December.

• The council will vote on adding$62,500 to the Municipal Courts’ budget for an additional community relations coordinator, to help defendants make informed decisions about their cases.

They said it

“We want the system to operate efficiently and we want to be kind, and help people, once they get there.”

— Ward 8 Councilman Mark Stonecipher, speaking in favor of amending the proposed 2018-19 budget to include money for an additional community relations coordinator. The coordinators serve as liaisons in breaking down barriers to the criminal justice system for Municipal Court defendants. “I’ve heard this example several times,” Stonecipher said, “where people show up. They are intimidated, they are scared, they’re afraid they’re going to be arrested, and just walk away. What’s the effect on us by them walking away? Well, a bench warrant is issued and the next time they get pulled over, then they’re arrested and then we’re paying the county jail to incarcerate that person.”

City could join opioid litigation

The Oklahoma City Council will consider whether to join national litigation aimed at recovering costs associated with the opioid epidemic. A memo from the city attorney says opioid usage in Oklahoma City reportedly is about 60 percent higher per capita than the national average. The memo says abuse, addiction and overdoses lead to lost productivity and increased health care costs, and burden the criminal justice system. Hundreds of city, county and tribal opioid lawsuits are being handled in a multi-jurisdictional proceeding in federal court in Cleveland, Ohio.

Of note: The state of Oklahoma has filed its own lawsuit against opioid manufacturers. The state’s case is set for trial May 28, 2019, in Cleveland County District Court in Norman.

Convention center contract

The city council is expected to award a$168.2 million construction contract to Flintco LLC on Tuesday to build the MAPS 3 convention center. The contractor could receive the go-ahead to begin work as soon as Wednesday. The convention center is being built between SW 4 and SW 6 streets on the east side of S Robinson Avenue, south of Chesapeake Energy Arena and across Robinson from the MAPS 3 downtown park. Construction is expected to take two years.

Library promotes summer reading

The Metropolitan Library System’s summer reading program, “Libraries Rock,” has begun. Children earn prizes while reading for fun, while the Read It Forward program will donate books to nonprofits for children, and others, in need. Learn more: www.metrolibrary.org/ or visit a local library.

Police recruits begin training

The Oklahoma City Police Department’s 137th police academy began with 51 recruits. They will receive more than 1,000 hours of training between now and Dec. 13. The curriculum ranges from traffic accident investigation, to firearms and driver training, crime scene investigation, and Spanish language courses.

Of note: The class includes eight women. Thirteen recruits have military experience and 32 have postsecondary degrees.

Streetcar construction

MAPS 3 streetcar system construction continues throughout downtown. For updates, follow the weekly downtown area traffic advisory online at okc.gov. Streetcar service is to begin in December. New this week:

• The intersection of NW 4 and Harvey opens and Hudson opens to northbound traffic.

• Track installation continues on Robinson south of NW 4 through Sept. 7; one lane will be open northbound on Robinson.

Present/absent

Mayor David Holt and six of the eight city council members attended last week’s meeting. Ward 7 Councilman John Pettis was absent. He faces felony allegations of embezzlement and intentionally failing to file state tax returns and resigned effective last Thursday. Ward 6 Councilwoman Meg Salyer was away, on personal business.

Calendar

The Oklahoma City Council meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 200 N Walker Ave. The council is expected to adopt the $1.57 billion fiscal 2019 budget and award a $168.2 million contractto Flintco LLC for construction of the MAPS 3 convention center.

• The 27th annual Recognition & Awards Luncheon of the Latino Community Development Agency will be Sept. 26, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.