BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR SESSION HELD MARCH 25, 2024

The Ponca City Board of Commissioners met in regular session on March 25, 2024. Mayor Homer Nicholson called the meeting to order, which was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Commissioners Stephanie Austin, Robert Bodick, Garrett Bowers and Kelsey Wagner were in attendance.

Ceremonies and Proclamations

Under Ceremonies and Proclamations, Mayor Nicholson presented a National Library Week proclamation, and encouraged all citizens to connect with the Ponca City Library by visiting online or in person to access resources and services.

Consent Agenda

Under the Consent Agenda, the City Commission approved the minutes of the Ponca City Board of Commissioners regular session held March 11, 2024 and work session held March 18, 2024; a resolution appropriating money for the payment of claims against the City of Ponca City, Oklahoma; a resolution appointing members to various boards and commissions and establishing the terms of office; and submitting an application for the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Forest Service for funding in the amount of $50,000.00 and authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to execute any and all necessary documents.

Reports

Under Reports, City Manager Craig Stephenson reported that Hembree and Hodgson Construction, LLC has entered a contract with the City of Ponca City to reconstruct Standing Bear Parkway from Highway 60 to Circle Drive. The road will be closed to traffic beginning Monday, March 25, 2024 and the total construction time for the project is estimated to be 60 calendar days. During the project, Standing Bear Parkway will be closed to all traffic from the north driveway of Standing Bear Museum up to Circle Drive. Standing Bear Museum will remain open normal operating hours throughout the duration of the project and will be accessible from the south from Highway 60.

The City of Ponca City will observe the Good Friday holiday on Friday March 29, 2024:

• City Hall Offices, the Ponca City Library, and Ponca City Senior Center will be closed Friday, March 29, and will REOPEN Monday, April 1.

• Residential Refuse will not be picked up Friday March 29, and will resume Monday, April 1. As there will be no residential trash collection on Friday, March 29, please only put trash out on the scheduled day of collection. Trash left out overnight or for several days is susceptible to scatter from animals and/or weather which can result in a City code violation.

• The Ponca City Landfill, Marland’s Grand Home and Marland Mansion & Estate will be closed Friday, March 29, OPEN Saturday, March 30, CLOSED Sunday, March 31, and will REOPEN Monday, Monday, April 1.

• Lew Wentz Golf Course will be OPEN Friday, March 29.

• Ponca City RecPlex will be OPEN Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30, CLOSED Sunday, March 31, and will REOPEN Monday, April 1.

Stephenson encouraged the public to Pretty Up Ponca as the annual City-Wide Garage Sale to be held Saturday, April 6; Spring Clean-Up will be held April 6 thru April 13 for Ponca City residents; the Recycling Center, located at 1001 W. Prospect is open Wednesday thru Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and the bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be held on Saturday, April 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Stephenson reminded the pubic that AARP is offering free tax service until April 13, 2024 at the Ponca City Library, Earth Day 2024 will be held on Monday, April 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Unity Gym; and City Commission Budget Hearings will be held April 15 and 16, 2024 in the Commission Chamber of City Hall.

Public Hearings

A Public Hearing was held and the City Commission approved a resolution to affirm the City’s commitment to take all action within its power to facilitate the receipt of assistance of an Oklahoma Abatement Revolving Fund Grant. The City of Ponca City is eligible to submit a grant application in the amount of $125,000.00 to the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board for the Oklahoma Abatement Revolving Fund. The purpose of this grant request will be to complete a Ponca City Strategic Opioid Response Plan. This plan will address the opioid crisis in our community utilizing SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) SPF (Strategic Prevention Framework). The SPF sets forth five steps to completing this comprehensive approach as follows: (1) Assessment: Identifying local prevention needs based on available data; (2) Capacity: Build local resources and readiness to address prevention needs; (3) Planning: Find out what works to address prevention needs and how to do it well; (4) Implementation: Deliver evidence-based programs and practices; and (5) Evaluation: Examine the process and outcomes of programs and practices. The resolution is a requirement of the grant submission and provides that the City desires to receive the grant assistance and that the City will be committed to take all actions necessary to facilitate the receipt of the grant, and if funds are awarded, to administer said grant by the rules and regulations established by the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board, and all other empowered agencies, thereof.

PCUA (PONCA CITY UTILITY AUTHORITY)

PCUA Consent Agenda

Under the PCUA Consent Agenda, the PCUA Trustees approved the minutes of the PCUA regular session held March 11, 2024 and a resolution appropriating money for the payment of claims against the PCUA Of Ponca City, Oklahoma