The Ponca City Board of Commissioners met in regular session on April 11, 2022. Mayor Homer Nicholson called the meeting to order, which was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Commissioners Bodick and Taylor were present. Commissioners Chapman and Scott were absent.
Ceremonies and Proclamations
Under Ceremonies and Proclamations, the following were presented: a Fair Housing Proclamation, a Ponca City Linemen Appreciation Day Proclamation and the April Charter Trait of Forgiveness.
Consent Agenda
Under the Consent Agenda, the City Commission approved the minutes of the Ponca City Board of Commissioners regular session held March 28, 2022 and the work session held April 4, 2022; a resolution appropriating money for the payment of claims against the City of Ponca City, Oklahoma and a resolution by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Ponca City, Oklahoma for the City of Ponca City Community Development Block Grant Section 3 Plan.
Reports
Under the City Manager’s Report, City Manager Craig Stephenson announced that the City of Ponca City will observe Good Friday on Friday April 15, 2022:
• Residential Refuse WILL NOT BE PICKED UP Friday April 15 and WILL RESUME Monday, April 18.
• Ponca City Landfill will CLOSE Friday, April 15, OPEN Saturday, April 16, CLOSE Sunday, April 17 and will REOPEN Monday, Monday, April 18.
• Ponca City Library will CLOSE Friday, April 15 and will REOPEN Monday, April 18.
• Ponca City Senior Center will CLOSE Friday, April 15 and REOPEN Monday, April 18.
• Ponca City RecPlex will be OPEN Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16, CLOSED Sunday, April 17 and REOPEN Monday, April 18.
• Marland’s Grand Home will be OPEN Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16, CLOSED Sunday, April 17 and Monday, April 18, and REOPEN on Tuesday, April 19.
• Marland Mansion and Estate will be OPEN Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16, CLOSED Sunday, April 17 and Monday, April 18, and REOPEN on Tuesday, April 19.
• Lew Wentz Golf Course will be OPEN Friday, April 15.
Stephenson reminded the public that the City Commission will meet with City Departments to review and discuss budget requests for Fiscal Year 22-23 on Monday, April 18 and Tuesday, April 19. He also reminded the public that Ponca City Small Business Assistant Grant and Non-Profit Assistance Grant Applications are available by contacting the Ponca City Development Authority at 580.765.7070 and Covid-19 Rent/Mortgage Assistance and Utility Assistance grants are available by contacting NERA at 580.765.5372.
Stephenson noted that Leadership Ponca City will be touring various City facilities for Local Government Day on April 13, 2022. And, he also noted that the second week of April is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, recognizing 911 Dispatchers.
Stephenson reminded the public of several upcoming events:
• Ponca Politics will hold an Oklahoma Legislators Forum on Friday, April 22, in the Commission Chamber of City Hall, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The speakers will include: Representative Pfeiffer, Representative Luttrell, and Senator Coleman. Ponca Politics will be rebroadcast for viewing via: the City of Ponca City’s web page, http://www.poncacityok.gov/civic media; a link on the City of Ponca City’s Facebook page, City of Ponca City, OK and a link on the City of Ponca City’s Twitter, twitter@PoncaCityOKgov.
• The City of Ponca City will celebrate Earth Day 2022 on Friday, April 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Unity Gym, 1908 E. Woodland Rd. Citizens are invited to attend and receive educational information about composting, recycling, energy savings and stormwater pollution prevention. Individuals may bring personal papers for safe document shredding between 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., but please no commercial shredding. Free trees to plant will be available on a first come basis.
• The City of Ponca City, in partnership with Phillips 66 will hold Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, April 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Phillips 66 parking lot at Oak Street and South Avenue.
The City Commission received the PCDA (Ponca City Development Authority) Review from PCDA Executive Director David Myers. An Executive Session was also held for purposes of conferring on matters pertaining to economic development upon finding that the matter to be discussed would interfere with the development of products or services or public disclosure would violate the confidentiality of the business.
New Business
Under New Business, the City Commission approved a resolution by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Ponca City, Oklahoma pledging $25,000.00 from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund for the purchase of a synthetic ice-skating rink to be operated by Ponca City Main Street as a tourist attraction to be combined with funds received from T-Mobile in the amount of $50,000.00. At the regularly scheduled City Commission Work Session held on Monday, April 4, 2022 the City Commission received information from Ponca City Main Street staff in regards to them having received a grant in the amount of $50,000.00 from T-Mobile to purchase a synthetic ice-skating rink. The City partnered with Ponca City Main Street in the form of a pledge, as stated in this resolution, in the amount of $25,000.00 from the Hotel/Motel Tax fund to promote tourism within Ponca City. These funds will be used to help in the purchase of the synthetic ice-skating rink. Main Street is working with other community members to raise operational funds as well as to launch this project during the upcoming Christmas Holiday Season.
The City Commission also approved purchasing new 2-way radio communications equipment, to include software, hardware, programming, installation, training and first year support from Motorola Solutions, through BearCom Inc. in the amount of $281,051.10. This is a planned upgrade of the dispatch radio communications system, timed to coincide with moving into the new Police Station and dispatch center. BearCom Inc. is the current vendor and equipment/software pricing is all part of H-GAC (Cooperative Purchasing Program) Contract # RA05-21. BearCom Inc. will receive, program, deliver and install the equipment, as well as train dispatchers regarding the new software and equipment. The price quoted of $281,051.10 is a turnkey solution and the funds sources is the Public Safety Sales Tax.
PCUA (PONCA CITY UTILITY AUTHORITY)
PCUA Consent Agenda
Under the PCUA Consent Agenda, the PCUA Trustees approved the minutes of the Ponca City Utility Authority regular session held March 28, 2022 and a resolution appropriating money for the payment of claims against the Ponca City Utility Authority of Ponca City, Oklahoma.
New Business
Under New Business, the PCUA Trustees voted to continue Change Order No. 1 to Trans-Tel Central, LLC. regarding the acceptance of work complete for Phases 2 and 3 of the Fiber To The Home project.
