Greetings!
Tulsa is on a roll! Gov. Brad Henry came to Tulsa last week to sign the $475 million state bond issue that will provide $25 million in funding for low water dam and Zink Lake improvements on the Arkansas River.
This investment will be leveraged with private and federal dollars to put water in the river to spur the future development of this great regional asset and enhance the enjoyment of recreation along the river.
I am thankful for the leadership of the Tulsa Metro Chamber and the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) who worked with me to persuade our local state legislators to request river funding be included in the bond package. The Tulsa delegation supported the river funding, and we now have resources to build dams to keep water in the river all year. New bike and running trails are completed, thanks to the GKFF donations, and Vision 2025 funds have paid for a new skybridge connecting trails over Route 66 (Southwest Boulevard) at Southwest Tulsa’s gateway.
Heavy winds continued last week, damaging or destroying trees in Tulsa, adding to the devastation already caused by the ice storm. I am pleased to hear how our local companies and organizations are ReGreening Tulsa. The University of Tulsa announced recently it has planted 500 trees on campus since January, the launch of ReGreen. Thanks to TU for greening up! If you are planting trees in your neighborhood or on your property, register them online to help us reach our goal of 20,000 trees by 2010.
Sincerely,
Kathy Taylor
Mayor
I Believe in Tulsa!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Airport Recognized by TFA
The Tulsa International Airport was recently recognized by the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture as their 2008 Foundation Landmark Award recipient. The Landmark Award identifies and honors a physical artifact, building, structure or place that is a significant part of Tulsa's heritage.
Tulsa International Airport's current terminal building has been a landmark for more than 40 years.
Mayor Appoints Durkee Director Of Strategic Communications
Mayor Kathy Taylor announced she hired former KRMG and Cox Radio News director John Durkee to join her management staff as Director of Strategic Communications.
“John has spent 20 years in the Tulsa community covering the news, and his experience is valuable to our management team. John will provide direction to the City’s communications team and help us tell our story to ensure the public has a greater understanding of their local government, its services and opportunities,” Taylor said.
Durkee, 53, joined KRMG in 1989 as a reporter, and then advanced to News Director in 1991.
Neighborfest at Clark Park
Tuesday, June 10
Mayor Kathy Taylor and District 6 City Councilor Dennis Troyer invite Tulsans to join them at Clark Park, 11440 E. Admiral Blvd., from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, for Neighborfest ‘08 – a series of nine events where citizens can meet their elected officials and form new friendships and renew old ones with their neighbors.
There is a Neighborfest event in each City Council District. (See "Read More" for the entire schedule.)
TU Plantings Support
‘ReGreen Tulsa’ Program
The University of Tulsa is supporting Mayor Kathy Taylor’s ReGreen program to plant 20,000 trees by 2010, an effort launched after thousands of trees were devastated by the December 2007 ice storm.
TU contractors are planting more than 150 trees on TU’s new south entrance on 11th Street. Work on the front entrance is expected to be completed by August.
Don't Just Recycle, Precycle
One way to save energy is to "precycle." Precycling is paying attention to what you're buying...before you buy it. Can it be recycled? Is there a lot of extra packaging? Is it made of recycled material?
For example, imagine you’re in a toy store. There are two really great toys you’ve always wanted….and you can’t make up your mind which one to get. How do you choose between them?
Give them a “precycling test” – check out how each toy is wrapped. Then pick the toy that has less packaging to be thrown away after you get home.
Street Town Hall
June 16 at Zarrow Library
The next streets town hall meeting will be held Monday, June 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the Zarrow Regional Library South Room, 2224 W. 51st St. Although the location is most convenient for residents of Council District 2, all Tulsans are invited to attend.
The meeting will feature a presentation about Tulsa’s street needs and possible ways that those needs can be met. City departments including Finance, Public Works, and Legal, are working with the Tulsa City Council to prepare lists of street projects and funding sources for voters to consider in an election later this summer.