OKC CIVIC LIFE
Rules due for concertgoers
Concert-goers attending the free Kings of Leon show at the Scissortail Park grand opening later this month will be allowed to bring in a hat, a mobile phone, a blanket, a bag about the size of a medium-sized purse, and a little food and water, and that's about it. The city council is set to adopt a temporary ordinance listing prohibited items for that evening. Lawn chairs, glass, fireworks, glow sticks, umbrellas, cameras and illegal drugs are among the items excluded. The list is driven in large part by requirements set by the band, and by safety concerns.
Worth noting: The ordinance takes effect the morning of Sept. 27 and expires after 13 hours; under state law, individuals with a permit will be allowed to carry guns into the concert.
Briefly noted: Marijuana, junk food
• The city council approved an ordinance requiring marijuanarelated businesses to demonstrate compliance with zoning regulations and fire, safety and health codes. A certificate of compliance issued by the city is necessary before a grower, processor or dispensary can get or renew an Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority business license.
• The council advanced a pilot project slated for northeast Oklahoma City, with the goal of improving residents' health by limiting the proliferation of junk food. Councilwoman Nikki Nice said small-box retailers that don't sell fresh fruits, vegetables and meats "prey on lowincome communities;" proposed zoning restrictions now head to the Planning Commission.
• Norman landscape painter Tim Kenney was in El Paso, Texas, last week, where he donated five paintings to an auction to raise money for families affected by last month's mass killing at a Walmart. The sale raised $13,500. Kenney regularly contributes to charitable causes in Oklahoma City.
City on holiday Monday
City offices will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day. The animal shelter, recreation centers and the household hazardous waste facility also are closed. Buses will run on the weekend schedule and the streetcar will run on its regular schedule. Trash and recycling pickup will be Wednesday for residents whose usual pickup day is Monday.
They said it
"I think we'll have a lot to discuss about how the legal environment after Nov. 1 affects community gatherings."
— Mayor David Holt, in response to a question about whether Oklahoma City would seek an exception for the new MAPS 3 park from a state law requiring cities to allow individuals to carry guns in municipal parks. Nov. 1 is the day the state's "permitless carry" law authorizing individuals to carry a gun in public without training or a license takes effect. Holt said the city has a process to determine legislative priorities and noted the next legislative session won't begin until Feb. 3. "Policymakers need to hear the real world effects and we'll all need to collaborate on common sense solutions," Holt said. Since the MAPS 3 park is a municipal park, individuals with a handgun license will be free under current law to carry a firearm at the grand opening events the weekend of Sept. 27-29. After Nov. 1, the requirement for a handgun license goes away.
Mayor joins national council
Mayor David Holt has joined the advisory council of Accelerator for America, which collects and shares among cities information on initiatives producing positive results at the local level. The organization helped Oklahoma City with a prospectus describing investment potential in the city's Opportunity Zones, which offer tax advantages for private investment in lowincome areas.
Of note: Holt is hosting a national meeting this week of the Accelerator; mayors from Austin, Texas, Los Angeles, and Rochester Hills, Michigan, are among those expected to attend.
Present/absent
Mayor David Holt and all eight city council members attended last week's regular meeting. The council voted unanimously to send the MAPS 4 proposal to voters on Dec. 10.