Commissioners to vote on contracts with groups Monday

The Ponca City Board of Commissioners will vote on several contracts with different groups at its meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday in City Hall.

The contracts are part of the consent agenda, which means they will all be voted on with one motion without discussion from the board.

One of the contracts is a lease agreement between City of Ponca City and Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship-Ponca City (OEF-Ponca City).

OEF-Ponca City is developing a bike trail adjacent to Lake Ponca for public recreational use. The club will be responsible for maintaining the trail, including proper litter control.

According to the contract, OEF-Ponca City shall be solely responsible for selection of crews and supervision of the work during construction and during all repairs and maintenance.

This is the second agreement with OEF-Ponca City. The only change is increasing the term of agreement from one to three years.

The property on which the bike trail is being built is city owned and will remain available to citizens. OEF-Ponca City approached the City of Ponca City and requested permission to construct an off-road bicycle path adjacent to city-owned Lake Ponca and the city has given its approval.

OEF-Ponca City is licensed to enter the property to develop a bicycle trail. The term of this license shall expire June 30, 2019.

The trail shall be constructed in such a manner that it will not be used by four wheeled motorized vehicles except in open areas it traverses, where it is presently possible for such vehicles to access the property. Upon construction of the trail, City shall place signs denoting the location of the trail and any rules of use, such as "no motorized vehicles".

The group may not remove any trees with a trunk diameter larger than 5 inches without first obtaining the consent of the City's Park and Recreation Director. There are other terms the group must follow as well, including notifying the city of any plans to build a bridge or culvert crossing or to fill any waterways with gravel.

If the trail comes to be in poor repair, is being used in a manner inconsistent with its intended purpose or in a dangerous manner, in the sole and absolute discretion of the City or its Park and Recreation Director, the trail may be closed.

Other agreements on the consent agenda include those with:

The Chamber of Commerce to operate the Tourism Bureau;

Ponca City Main Street;

Community Action Program to operate Cimarron Transit;

Northern Oklahoma Youth Services;

$5,000 to the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce's Santa Bucks Giveaway;

Wheatheart Nutrition Project to provide a weekday hot lunch program at the Ponca City Senior Center.

The consent agenda also includes an item allowing a variance in the Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance to allow a beer garden for the Crazy Day event on Aug. 4.