City manager endorses his team
City Manager Jim Couch made the strongest endorsement for choosing Oklahoma City’s next top administrator from among those on the current leadership team.
“We’ve got quality people in a lot of different areas. I really believe that the cabinet is not empty,” Couch said in September when he announced plans to retire.
The city council is interviewing candidates for city manager Monday, and at least five internal candidates are on the list of those who earned interviews.
Council members appear intent on keeping the closeknit leadership team intact.
Dennis Clowers, one of three assistant city managers, announced his retirement last week, so regardless of the choice, there will be some shuffling at the top.
Couch’s achievements are significant, from overseeing the MAPS-led renaissance to his role in bringing the NBA’s Thunder to town to keen financial management.
His vision in achieving long-range water security will make him a generational leader.
Still, when asked in September, he singled out development of city staff as among the accomplishments he values most.
His focus on building for the future could be affirmed in the choice of the next city manager.
Briefly: MAPS 3 updates
• The city council will vote on $1.3 million to add a service elevator to the MAPS 3 convention center and $3.5 million to expand the Rockwell Avenue MAPS 3 senior health and wellness center.
• The city of Norman is paying an executive search firm $24,500 to recruit candidates to become its next city manager. Oklahoma City kept its search in-house, and had 52 applicants.
• Partially closed while stamped concrete along the streetcar line was redone, the intersection of NW 7 and Broadway reopens this week. That should be the last of the major construction.
• The federal trial on a challenge to Oklahoma City’s panhandling ordinance opens Monday.
Streetcar construction disputes resolved
The MAPS 3 office reached a $675,000 agreement with the streetcar system contractor, Herzog/Stacy & Witbeck, to resolve “contested” items and costs associated with special requests that cropped up during construction. One significant dispute was over whether specifications allowed for aggregate mixed with recycled concrete to be installed beneath the track bed. The city said aggregate containing no recycled concrete was required and is paying the contractor $115,000 to resolve the question.
Of note: Cost to install the 6.9 miles of service track, overhead poles and wires, electrical substations, boarding platforms and related equipment stands at $56.1 million.
Police to receive 2 percent raises
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 123 members have approved a new one-year contract with the city of Oklahoma City. The tentative contract includes 2 percent across-the-board pay raises. The city council is expected to ratify the agreement on Tuesday. Of note: Lodge 123 members re-elected President John George to a fourth two-year term, making him the second-longest serving president in the lodge’s 50-year history.
Present/absent
Mayor David Holt and six of the eight city council members attended last week’s joint meeting with the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority board for a regional transit workshop.
Calendar
• The Oklahoma City Council meets at 9 a.m. Monday at City Hall, 200 N Walker Ave., to interview candidates to succeed Jim Couch as city manager.
• The Oklahoma City Council meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 200 N Walker Ave.