Ideas 4 MAPS

[jedicurt]

It still blows me away how many people don’t understand what maps is for.

Sponsoring an NCAA bowl game is all time non sensical ridiculous idea.

haha... i was thinking the exact same thing

[Sooner.Arch]

I'd love to see more trees in the urban core and all around okc, and sidewalks in neighborhoods fixed (Paseo,Plaza). I like the idea of a soccer stadium but i do worry, so im back and forth.

[Mott]

Change Maps so monies can be raised from the sales tax to maintain current and future projects

[shawnw]

The mayor has mentioned doing this via endowments established with MAPS funds.

[Pete]

Even the new sidewalks need maintenance.

I have newish ones all around my neighborhood and most have huge weeds growing up through them which is going to cause big problems down the road.

And we already pay a big chunk to the Myriad Gardens and now Scissortail Park out of our general city budget. Many of these projects place a strain on our existing tax dollars.

[OKCRT]

If people want a soccer stadium they need to have an owners group that can get the attention of the MLS and get on their radar. Then if the MLS agrees to place a team in OKC that is the time to talk stadium. That would be the time to ask the public to pitch in and HELP build a stadium. It should not be up to the citizens of OKC to build a 100-200 mil. dollar stadium. It should be a partnership with the owners group. And it will cost 100-200 mil to build an MLS stadium depending on where it's built.

[Hutch]

My brother just sent me a text from Dubai with a picture of their incredible indoor ski resort. If we can't find a way to dedicate a portion of the MAPS tax to fund the regional transit system, then I'm all in for building one of these in OKC:







Now that would be transformational

[pw405]

My brother just sent me a text from Dubai with a picture of their incredible indoor ski resort. If we can't find a way to dedicate a portion of the MAPS tax to fund the regional transit system, then I'm all in for building one of these in OKC:







Now that would be transformational

I wonder what one of these cost? I would love something like this and something like Crystal Lagoons. Since we're landlocked, why not get some mountain and beach activity here? Sign me up!

That said, I bet that some minor updates such as trees and LED street lighting could go pretty far. I HATE the orange high pressure sodium lights. They are only good for growing cannabis. When I drive at night in the rain, the lighting is so terrible on many OKC streets I can't even tell where the lane markers are.

[gopokes88]

I wonder what one of these cost? I would love something like this and something like Crystal Lagoons. Since we're landlocked, why not get some mountain and beach activity here? Sign me up!

That said, I bet that some minor updates such as trees and LED street lighting could go pretty far. I HATE the orange high pressure sodium lights. They are only good for growing cannabis. When I drive at night in the rain, the lighting is so terrible on many OKC streets I can't even tell where the lane markers are.

I've been on the Crystal Lagoon train since the start. Put it over by the white water rapids and boathouses. Would be an amazing thing in the summer. No beach? Build one

[pw405]

I've been on the Crystal Lagoon train since the start. Put it over by the white water rapids and boathouses. Would be an amazing thing in the summer. No beach? Build one

So I did some Googling Maps'ing and came up with this. The Epperson Lagoon on Florida is a recently completed one.

https://www.google.com/maps/search/e.../data=!3m1!1e3

Epperson lagoon needs ~ 1 sq mile of land:



The scrapyard is just about the only lot that would fit near the river. But, I guess it could work, based on my crude mockup:

[PaddyShack]

I wonder what one of these cost? I would love something like this and something like Crystal Lagoons. Since we're landlocked, why not get some mountain and beach activity here? Sign me up!

That said, I bet that some minor updates such as trees and LED street lighting could go pretty far. I HATE the orange high pressure sodium lights. They are only good for growing cannabis. When I drive at night in the rain, the lighting is so terrible on many OKC streets I can't even tell where the lane markers are.

You shoudl drive through Bethany along 39th expressway. They just finished installing new LED street lights and they are amazing!

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I'd still love to see a massive investment in what I'll generally call "beautification." Without the natural beauty and geography of many cities, Oklahoma City can look a little lacking. Think fountains, more boulevard-like streets with medians and turn lanes, raise community standards for accountability in dilapidated structures all over the metro, So many possibilities that could change the perception of our city, inside (and especially outside) the core.

[pw405]

I'd still love to see a massive investment in what I'll generally call "beautification." Without the natural beauty and geography of many cities, Oklahoma City can look a little lacking. Think fountains, more boulevard-like streets with medians and turn lanes, raise community standards for accountability in dilapidated structures all over the metro, So many possibilities that could change the perception of our city, inside (and especially outside) the core.

I agree, with so many run down streets, curbs, sidewalks to nowhere, "parks", and other issues spread all around the city, there's no shortage of beautification work!

[hoya]

I'd still love to see a massive investment in what I'll generally call "beautification." Without the natural beauty and geography of many cities, Oklahoma City can look a little lacking. Think fountains, more boulevard-like streets with medians and turn lanes, raise community standards for accountability in dilapidated structures all over the metro, So many possibilities that could change the perception of our city, inside (and especially outside) the core.

I'd be on board with that.

[Pete]

^

Thanks for the effort!

Remember though that the new OG&E substation is at the east end of that parcel.

[Pete]

^

The problem is we have no budget to maintain what we have now. Weeds and trash everywhere.

Ironically, at least part of that is due to keeping our sales tax artificially low to accommodate MAPS.

Even with the $.01 for MAPS, OKC is still a little below average when it comes to neighboring sales tax rates.


So, effectively, we have not raised our sales tax for operating budget to make room for MAPS and because our operating budget is so low, we have a difficult time doing routine maintenance.

This is part of MAPS that few people understand.

[pw405]

^

The problem is we have no budget to maintain what we have now. Weeds and trash everywhere.

Ironically, at least part of that is due to keeping our sales tax artificially low to accommodate MAPS.

Even with the $.01 for MAPS, OKC is still a little below average when it comes to neighboring sales tax rates.


So, effectively, we have not raised our sales tax for operating budget to make room for MAPS and because our operating budget is so low, we have a difficult time doing routine maintenance.

This is part of MAPS that few people understand.

Even though I've been a HUGE proponent of MAPS, I do tend to agree. Living in the part of the city that was built in the late 50's/early 60's, it is MORE than apparent that basic infrastructure is long overdue for upkeep. Dramatically so, in many ways.

Three things come to mind:.

1. What would it cost to fix 90% of the "core" of OKC's roads? I've seen the project list & cost for Better Streets/Safer City, and I truly think it would cost near $3,000,000,000 to fix the majority of highly trafficked roads.

2. Is "Better Streets II" more important than MAPS 4? In some ways I kinna think, ya.

3. Should we just stop the "initiatives" parade and raise the damn tax to 8.5% and go on with our lives? This gives me pause too, but.. I kinna agree.

I'm torn. If we're going MAPS 4 though, build me a damn beach!

[Laramie]

That is so true, Pete.

As we build lets hope our sales tax collections grow proportionately to cover operation expenses.

Continue the ideas of what posters want? We know that any idea posted here falls into the category of what some individual poster doesn't want--think about it. Also, don't forget that some ideas don't come under the category of capital improvements.

What are capital improvements:

A capital improvement project provides for the construction, repair, or improvement of buildings or grounds. This includes new construction, additions, renovations, renewals, repairs, site development, utility services, extensions and plant improvements, parking facilities, roads, fixed equipment installation and similar projects.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) does capital improvements on roads, bridges etc; therefore some of these may overlap.

[gopokes88]

Sales tax collections are up like 10% YOY and at an all time high. The system is working. We have the operational revenue to pay for the new toys because the new toys drive new revenue.

Even during the worst oil bust since the 80s, sales tax revenue declined but definitely didn’t plunge.

[okccowan]

One project for MAPS4 needs to be a downtown middle/high school for the John Rex kids

[SouthSide]

They need to take care of the overcrowding at southside schools first.

[Jersey Boss]

Not enough students to warrant either. When there are 2 or 3 elementary schools dt, then would be the time.

[Midtowner]

How about investment in renewable energy production to bring power to the City of OKC at or near cost, delivering more cost effective power to benefit businesses and the people?

[OKCRT]

How about investment in renewable energy production to bring power to the City of OKC at or near cost, delivering more cost effective power to benefit businesses and the people?

That would be great for the people but OG&E might not like that idea so much. And from what I understand they have a very powerful voice around these parts.

[Midtowner]

That would be great for the people but OG&E might not like that idea so much. And from what I understand they have a very powerful voice around these parts.

That's one company vs. ALL of the other companies and people. One company shouldn't get to decide. If they have a business model which doesn't hold up because they are selling us power at too high a markup, too bad.