From a new community garden master plan to an economic development incentive policy, the Broken Arrow City Council, Municipal Authority, and Economic Development Authority reviewed nearly 60 items on the agendas of the meetings on July 31, 2023. Here is a recap of the governing bodies’ meetings on Monday night.
Please watch City Council Rewind which features City Manager Michael Spurgeon breaking down and providing more information about few of the items. Click the graphic below to watch City Council Rewind.
In the City Council meeting...
The City has entered into an agreement with Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the Pedestrian/Bike/Trail Improvements Project in south Broken Arrow. The project includes a $765,000 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant toward the estimated cost of $1.02 million for design and subsequent construction. The City is responsible for $255,000 of the cost. The project includes a mile and a half on-street bicycle route with road markings and two pedestrian signal crossings to improve pedestrian and bicycle movement safety. The next step is selecting a consultant to develop the design plans. Click here to read more and to see a conceptual drawing of the route.
Broken Arrow Fire Department received approval to donate gear that is no longer used by BAFD. Approximately 20 sets of pants and coats will be donated to the City of Coweta Fire Department to assist its efforts to create a volunteer fleet of personnel. Read more here.
The purchase of three new dump trucks with snowplows and spreaders for the Streets and Stormwater Department was approved. The cost of the budgeted dump trucks is $910,295. More about this agenda item can be found here.
At the request of City Council to review the City's nepotism policy during an earlier meeting this year, City Manager Michael Spurgeon presented the results of an employee survey about the current rules and regulations. More than 30 percent of the workforce responded to the survey, and as a result recommendations to define “immediate family” and new language about direct supervision were brought forward for the Council to consider for an ordinance to be drafted. Learn more about the discussion here.
The Master Plan for the new Central Park Rose Garden was approved. This is a joint project with Keep Broken Arrow Beautiful to be located west of Central Park Community Center. The Master Plan includes several separated gardens, seating, a future water feature, a future gazebo, walking trails, and fitness equipment. City Council also approved an amendment to the consulting services agreement with R.L. Shears Company to complete the Phase 1 design of the project.
The Central Park Rose Garden was included in the propositions voters approved as part of the 2018 General Obligation Bond package. You can view the conceptual drawings of the Master Plan here.
The Callary Pear Tree, or more commonly known as the Bradford Pear Tree, will no longer be on the list of Approved Trees of the city’s Zoning Ordinance. According to the Oklahoma Wildlife and Conservation Department, the tree is a significant threat to grasslands and grassland wildlife, it invades and outcompetes other plants, and its flowers produce an unpleasant smell. Review the agenda item here.
You may view the full agenda and video of the City Council meeting here.
In the Broken Arrow Municipal Authority meeting...
The Utilities Department presented the monthly water report for June. The total amount of water treated at the Verdigris River Water Treatment Plant was 461.1 million gallons with a daily average use of 15.4 million gallons.
You may view the full agenda and video of the BAMA meeting here.
In the Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority meeting...
The governing body approved an amendment to its agreement with OakTrust Development, LLC, with respect to the development timeline of Aspen Ridge on Aspen Avenue north of the Creek Turnpike. Due to several reasons, including the sale of Reasor’s to Brookshire Brothers, unforeseen property rights issues, and stormwater detention modifications, the developer needed additional time to meet the expectations of the agreement. The amendment extends the date for completion of the construction of the Reasor’s grocery store to June 30, 2024. It also extends the time to develop or begin construction of a 168-unit apartment complex to April 30, 2025. You can read the background of the original agreement and amendment here.
The Authority approved the Broken Arrow Economic Development Incentive Policy that creates consistent guidelines to be followed for requests from the private sector to incentivize new economic development opportunities in the City. In February 2023, Broken Arrow voters passed the 25-year PSO Franchise Agreement that called for a new 1 percent to be collected for Economic Development purposes. This policy will be used to consider incentives requests. Projects must meet these goals and objectives:
- Diversify the local economic base
- Retain local jobs
- Create quality new jobs and opportunities
- Create new capital investment in Broken Arrow
- Increase sales tax revenues
- Increase ad valorem revenue and property values
Applications will go through a thorough review process by staff with the Broken Arrow Economic Development Team and must be deemed a net positive for the City of Broken Arrow to be considered. Projects determined to have a negative fiscal impact on the City will not be supported or recommended. You can read more about the new incentive policy here.
You may view the full agenda and video of the BAEDA meeting here.
The next regular meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
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