Official seeks answers to extended power outages

Ward 6 Councilwoman Jobeth Hamon says constituents are telling her the "huge" number of power outages after the ice storm likely was due to a cutback on trimming tree branches around power lines by Oklahoma Gas & Electric. Hamon tweeted a map showing outages in her inner southwestside ward and expressed frustration at hearing from many residents who had been without power for 10-plus days. Hamon said by text she was exploring ways for the city to have a "more direct line of communication" with regulators and the utility regarding vegetation management and other preventive maintenance.

Contractors bid on ice storm debris cleanup

Bids were due Friday from contractors who will pick up the tree limbs and other ice storm debris piled curbside throughout Oklahoma City. Tentative plans are to have the first pass through the city done by Jan. 30, with a second pass done by March 6, a little more than four months after the Oct. 26-27 storm. To help keep things moving, city officials' advice for homeowners includes:

• Avoid illegal dumping, in public parks or anywhere else. Storm debris is being accepted free of charge at four Oklahoma City landfills, every Saturday through Jan 2. Find details at okc.gov/ice.

• Rural residents must have a permit from the Fire Marshal before burning debris.

• Avoid stacking downed limbs on water meters, or near poles, mailboxes and trees.

COVID-19: Mayor responds to daily case record

Asked whether Gov. Kevin Stitt should issue a statewide mask mandate after the weekend report of a sharp increase in new daily COVID-19 cases, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said, "We would absolutely welcome a mask requirement encompassing the OKC metro." A metro-wide mandate "simplifies the process and brings continuity across the many political jurisdictions" in the region, Holt said. He said the state Health Department regularly distributes data that "plainly demonstrates" cities with a mask requirement for public places have lower transmission rates of COVID-19 than cities that don't.

Of note: Oklahoma City's emergency management office issued an unusual weekend situation report after the state Health Department reported a record 4,741 new COVID-19 cases Saturday. The update noted Saturday's figure doubled the previous one-day record. The state revised the number downward on Sunday, to 4,507, citing duplicates that had been removed from the list. There was no additional daily report Sunday.

Present/absent

The mayor and all eight city council members attended the Oct. 27 virtual meeting.

Calendar

The city council meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Find the agenda and instructions for dialing in under the "Government" tab at okc.gov. A temporary state law allowing virtual meetings — a response to the pandemic — expires Sunday. The city is planning to conduct the Nov. 24 council meeting in-person, at City Hall. Strict guidelines to limit coronavirus spread will be enforced. The council last met inperson March 17.

• The council is expected to confirm the mayor's appointment of former council member the Rev. Lee Cooper

Jr. to the Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority and the Urban Renewal Authority.