What’s in your water?
Curious what’s in your Oklahoma City drinking water? Read the City’s latest Drinking Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report. The report provides information related to the testing and treatment of your drinking water. Public drinking water treatment is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality under the auspices of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. Last year, the City tested more than 250,000 samples from the City’s water system to ensure our water continues to meet, or surpass, all State and Federal requirements. You can read the report at okc.gov/ccr, or request a hard copy by mail by calling (405) 297-2833.
OKC Golf app
Make tee time at the four City-owned golf courses more convenient by downloading our new “OKC Golf” app to your mobile devices. (Insert QR Code). The app features on-course GPS, live scoring, tee time reservations, the ability to place food orders (Lincoln only), hot deals and more. Download “OKC GOLF” in your phone’s app store today! City courses also have great deals all summer long. Sunset fees begin at 6:30 p.m. and allow you to play until dark for $9 ($10 at Lincoln Park). The twilight promotion (1 to 4 p.m.) saves you $5 on fees and $4 on cart rental Monday – Thursday, June - Sept. All prices before tax. Restrictions apply. Visit okcgolf.com or the new golf app to reserve your time or call:
Lake Hefner Golf Course: (405) 843-1565 Earlywine Golf Course: (405) 691-1727
Lincoln Park Golf Course: (405) 424-1421 Trosper Golf Course: (405) 677-8874
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Budget approved
The Oklahoma City Council adopted the City Manager’s 2024 budget on June 6. Visit okc.gov/budget to see the budget book. The operating budget, which pays for the City’s day-to-day operations, is $904.3 million.
Conference of Mayors
Mayor Holt was elected to serve as the 2025-2026 President of the United States Conference of Mayors. Holt is the second Mayor of Oklahoma City to hold the position, joining Mick Cornett, who served as President from 2016-2017. A member of the Osage Nation, Mayor Holt will be the first Native American President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. During their year in office, the President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors speaks for the nation’s mayors and their cities.
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Fight mosquitoes
Mosquito-borne illnesses are a threat in OKC every spring and summer. Reduce your chances of getting bit by following these tips:
- Drain standing water around your house so mosquitoes won’t breed nearby.
- Use insect repellent on your clothes and exposed skin.
- Stay inside at dusk and dawn because that’s when mosquitoes are around the most.
- Wear long sleeves and pants.
2023 homeless count
The community conducted its annual Point in Time Count of the homeless population on Jan. 26, and 1,436 people were counted. This is slightly up from 1,339 in 2022. Communities that receive funding from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development are required to conduct the survey at least once every two years, although OKC typically conducts the survey annually.
The count also found:
- 9% of the population are veterans
- 20% are members of families with children
- 36% are female, 62% are male, 1% are transgender and 1% are nonconforming
- 48% are white, 32% are black, 7% are Native American, 12% identify as multiple races and 1% identify as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- 11% are youth aged 24 or younger
- 23% of the population reports mental illness
- 28% are considered “chronically” homeless
- 54% were staying in a shelter, 13% in transitional housing and 31% unsheltered
Among the biggest challenges homeless service providers are facing include the continued limited availability of affordable housing and rising eviction rates. According to Legal Services Corporation’s Eviction Tracker, 46.4% of residents in Oklahoma County are rent-burdened and nearly 16% live under the poverty level.
Extreme heat
Hot weather affects us all and there are steps you can take to protect yourself from health risks. Check the weather forecast and when temperatures are high, limit time outdoors when possible, drink plenty of fluids, take frequent breaks, shelter indoors when possible and find a cooling center by calling 211. Those most at risk include children, older adults, athletes, both indoor and outdoor workers, emergency responders, those in low-income areas, people of color, people with health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, poor blood circulation, mental illness, heart disease, lung conditions, and pregnancy. Learn more about extreme heat and what the Office of Sustainability is doing to address these issues at: okc.gov/extremeheat.
Become a police officer
The OKC Police Department is hiring police officers. They are accepting applications for the January and April 2024 academies with a $10,000 hiring bonus. General requirements:
- 21-45 years of age on the first day of the academy
- Valid driver’s license (for at least 2 years)
- High School Diploma/GED
- U.S. Citizen
- Good moral & ethical character
- Get your application in today: JoinOKCPD.com. Send any inquiries to ocpd.recruiting@okc.gov or call (405) 297-1116
- Follow us on social media for updates and more info - @JoinOKCPD
MAPS 4 Parks survey
Parks are critical to great neighborhoods and a great city. MAPS 4 includes $70.2 million to upgrade 105 neighborhood and community parks across Oklahoma City. Park improvements will be based on onsite park assessments and current park standards, in addition to community feedback from the survey and public meetings. Improvements potentially include bathrooms, playground equipment, shade structures, splashpads, furnishings, trees, paths, activity facilities and signage. Let us know what improvements you want to see by taking the survey or attending an upcoming public meeting. For more information about the project, meeting dates, project facts and to take the survey, visit MAPS4Parks.com.
Prevent drowning deaths
The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to ten drowning emergencies through May 31. Drowning is the leading cause of death in American children between 1- 4 years old. Here are a few safety tips to help prevent drowning from happening:
- Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
- Provide close and constant attention to the children you supervise, even when a lifeguard is present, no matter how well the child can swim or how shallow the water. Avoid distractions including cell phones.
- Teach children to float on their backs as soon as possible.
- Young children and inexperienced swimmers should always wear a Coast Guard Certified Life Jacket.
- Never swim after drinking alcohol, eating or taking medications.
- Learn CPR.
Spokies
The Spokies Bike Share program fleet now includes 113 bikes total, with 53 electric-assist bikes (or E-bikes) and 60 pedal-only bikes. All bikes in the fleet are smart bikes, enabling customers to choose a conveniently located bike and leave it at their destination within the Spokies service area, which stretches north-to-south from the Paseo Arts District to Capitol Hill and east-to-west from the Plaza District to The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. To use the bike share, download the app found on spokiesokc.com or in the Apple or Google Play app store.
Outdoor watering tips
Summer heat means lots of outdoor water use. Cut down on water waste by practicing these simple waterwise tips:
- Run your sprinkler system in the early morning, not the heat of the day.
- Check your system for leaks or broken sprinkler heads.
- Gauge your pressure. Too much or too little pressure can keep a healthy lawn from thriving.
- Let the soil dry out before the next watering. In the summer, most grass types don’t need more than 1” of water weekly.
- Mow at a higher height. Mowing too low stresses turfgrass, encourages weak growth and requires more frequent watering.
- Check your pool for leaks, including your autofill feature.
- Use Oklahoma-tough plants in your garden or landscape.
For more water-saving tips, visit squeezeeverydrop.com.
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