Get a rain barrel
Conserve water and help your garden by ordering a recycled rain barrel through the City of Oklahoma City and the Central Oklahoma Storm Water Alliance (COSWA). The 55-gallon barrels are made using recycled materials and come with screens to keep out mosquitoes and critters. Visit upcycle-products.com/ok-programs/ok-city/ by April 30 to order one for $69.50. Scroll down the page to choose your barrel, plus find upgrades, composters and more. Ordered barrels can be picked up from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. May 6 or 13 at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center, 1621 S. Portland Ave. Call (405) 297-1797 for details or a printed order form.
Register alarm systems
Residents and business owners in Oklahoma City with a burglar or fire alarm are required to register and renew their system annually with the Police Department. Police don’t investigate automatic alarms from security systems without a permit.
Alarm registrations are $27, and cost $17 to renew annually. Complete the online registration through the Crywolf alarm program at www.crywolfservices.com/oklahomacityok or call 1 (833) 281-8738. Registrations and renewals can also be done in person at OKCPD Permits & ID Unit, 616 Colcord Dr.
If fire and police respond to four or more false alarms per year, the registered alarm user could face a series of graduating fees, ranging from $82 to $200 for each violation. Excessive repeated false alarms (six fire and/or police in a year) may result in the suspension of police response to alarm-generated calls to that location. Proof must be provided that the alarm has been fixed. Of the 50,000 security alarm calls OKCPD responds to every year, about 98% are false. For more information about the alarm program, go to www.okc.gov/alarm or call the OKCPD’s Permits & ID unit at (405) 297-1109.
Safe streets grant
Oklahoma City was recently awarded an $800,000 Action Plan Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This grant, combined with $200,000 in matching funds from the City, will fund the creation of a detailed plan to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries to drivers, transit riders, pedestrians and cyclists. The plan is expected to take 18 months to develop. Residents will be able to weigh in through surveys and meetings over the next year. Between 2016 and 2020, there were 402 vehicle-involved fatalities on Oklahoma City streets.
Recycling 101
Help stop contamination at the curb. Make sure your recyclable bottles, cans, jars and containers are empty, clean and dry before you toss them in your Big Green Recycling Cart. For more information, visit okc.gov/recycle.
Be an informed senior
Seniors are invited to attend a free Informed Senior Seminar hosted by OKC Police from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on April 14 on the third floor of OSU-OKC’s student center, 900 N Portland Ave. Seniors can meet with police, the attorney general’s office and banking experts. The seminar will feature a panel on “How to Protect Your Assets” and breakout sessions with experts on transportation, elder law, nerve renewal and Villages OKC. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Preregistration not required. For more information, call Sheryl Presley at (405) 316-4336.
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Point in Time Count
In late January, OKC and the Homeless Alliance coordinated the annual Point in Time Count of people who are experiencing homelessness. Beginning at 3:30 a.m. and throughout the day, more than 200 volunteers visited encampments, shelters, hot meal programs and the streets to speak with our unhoused neighbors in every corner of the city. The survey helps the community identify trends, plan services and housing programs and ultimately better help people end their homelessness. Results of the 2023 count will be compiled, analyzed and released later this year.
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Need an extra trash cart?
The City’s weekly residential trash and recycling service includes two Big Blue trash carts and one Big Green recycling cart. Customers who need a little extra space may order up to two additional Big Blue trash carts and one additional Big Green recycling cart for a monthly fee of $2.41 per cart. The total number of carts per customer should not exceed six. Business customers may have up to three total Big Blue trash carts. Rates vary depending on the number of carts used. To order additional carts, visit okcutilties.com or download the app and click on the “Services” tab. You can also call Utilities Customer Service at (405) 297-2833. Select “Option 3” in the voice response menu.
Help improve parks
What improvements would you like to see in your neighborhood or community park? MAPS 4 includes $70 million to upgrade 105 neighborhood and community parks across Oklahoma City. For more information about the project, upcoming events and meetings, project facts and to take the survey, visit MAPS4Parks.com.
PAL Futsal League
Fifth- and sixth grade OKCPS students can register to participate in the Police Athletic Leagues’ (PAL) four-week-long futsal league June 3-24. This league’s purpose is to introduce students to the basics of futsal and help the sport grow in the OKCPS district. Students can sign up by contacting a PAL officer, by visiting www.okcpal.org or by emailing Ryan Richter at ryan@okcpal.org.
BRT feedback needed
Where do you want BRT service in South and Northeast Oklahoma City? MAPS 4 EMBARK BRT includes $61 million to build two additional BRT lines. For information about the project, public meetings, project facts and to take the survey, visit MAPS4BRT.com.
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