Proposals Continue for Vision Tax
By EMILY RAMSEY
Managing Editor
TRANSIT HUB: District 4 City Councilor Blake Ewing speaks during a Sept. 17 City Council meeting about the Transit Hub Vision proposal.
EMILY RAMSEY for GTR Newspapers
As the Vision 2025 sales tax prepares to expire, city leaders hope to see Tulsa County residents vote to renew the 0.6 percent sales tax in April 2016.
Through a series of Vision meetings, residents have had the opportunity to pitch proposals to be included in the Vision tax extension package. The full list of proposals can be found at www.cityoftulsa.org.
During a Sept. 17 city council meeting, city councilors pitched their own proposals.
District 1 City Councilor Jack Henderson proposed the development of the 162-acre site bound-ed by 36th Street North, North Peoria Avenue, North Lewis Avenue and Mohawk Boulevard in order to attract commercial development. He anticipates that the proposed area has the potential to create up to 1,500 jobs.
“I’ve never been so excited in my life. This is the shot in the arm that North Tulsa needs,” he said.
The Transit Hub proposal, backed by Coucilor Blake Ewing, is named the Center of the Universe Expansion Concept. The idea is to expand the Center of the Universe site between the Blue Dome and Brady Arts districts, at 1st and Archer Streets, creating a downtown transit hub on the street level with a park built above it on the existing bridges. The park would span five blocks from Main Street to Elgin Avenue.
The transit hub would include general bus transit, a downtown circulator, bike sharing and car sharing options, bike trails and tenant space possibly for rental car companies, said Ewing.
District 6 Councilor Connie Dodson made four proposals: improvements to 11th Street near the Creek Turnpike, extension of 31st Street and of 161st Street in Broken Arrow, implementation of an incentive program to encourage travelers to visit area attractions, and an east Tulsa park facility.
Other councilor proposed projects include:
District 2, 7, Jeannie Cue, Anna America:
Creation of a Citywide Strategic Commercial Revitalization Plan and creation of a Retail Development Fund, which would target the revitalization of aging commercial areas.
District 3, David Patrick:
Creation of the Route 66 Trust Fund, which would serve as a permanent, citywide organization that would be the leading advocate for the preservation and revitalization of Route 66 throughout Tulsa.
District 7, Anna America:
The construction of South Mingo Road, from 71st to 91st Streets, and 91st Street from Mingo Road to Memorial Drive.
Supporting Area Schools
Regarding programs that strengthen the local economy, The Credit Union, through its 50/50 checking promotion, gave more than $80,000 last year to local schools.
Through December, when individuals open a checking account, they will receive $50, with $50 also going to their school of choice.
The 50/50 promotion combined with its School Pride program has allowed to donate more than $500,000 to area schools since the promotion began.
is also helping area schools through its free financial literacy program, FoolProof, that it began in 2011. The program is offered through the website.
began the program in response to the 2007 passage of the Oklahoma Passport to Financial Literacy Act, which mandates that all high school seniors, starting with the class of 2014, pass a financial literacy course in order to graduate.
“We see the need for healthy financial habits in Oklahoma’s youth and are committed to helping young people take the right steps to a successful financial future,” says Georgia Steele, relationship management manager. “What’s great is that these graduates can now take the skills they learned in the program and make smart financial decisions as they enter a new season of life.”
Updated 10-06-2015
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