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Sales Tax Overview Committee reports progress on Turkey Mountain trails, Tulsa Zoo habitat and Retail Revitalization loan fund
Summary
The Sales Tax Overview Committee (STOC) presented updates on parks and infrastructure projects, Tulsa Zoo development, and the Retail Revitalization Revolving Loan Fund, reporting $725,058 awarded to date and ongoing construction and design activities across multiple projects.
Kathy Siebert, presenting for the Sales Tax Overview Committee, told the Tulsa City Council that several city capital projects are progressing on budget and schedule and provided an update on the Retail Revitalization Revolving Loan Fund (RRLF).
Siebert said the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness project is coming in on budget; additional trails (referred to as the Sanctuary Trails) are under construction but will not open to the public until the planned trail network is complete. Parking-lot projects tied to Elwood and West 61st and a new trailhead lot are funded via Vision Tulsa and Tulsa County ARPA funds, she said.
Siebert reported that the Tulsa Zoo’s carnivore habitat project is advancing and that the zoo has combined a sales-tax allocation with private fundraising. She said the current cost estimate for the carnivore habitat is $37,000,000, with approximately $20,920,000 in private funding secured to date and an $8,000,000 allocation from a sales-tax budget line (noted in the supporting materials). Siebert said cost-control measures (value engineering) and additional fundraising are ongoing.
Other STOC items Siebert summarized included River Parks preliminary design for a tunnel to create a safe crossing, trail maintenance and erosion work, delayed bridge work on East 21st and South Mingo requiring 45 additional days for seat replacement, a Civic Center parkade elevator modernization contract (reported at $1,350,000), and procurement activity for Tulsa Animal Services facility bids.
On economic-support programs, Siebert noted that the voter-approved Vision Tulsa citywide and Route 66 Beautification and Reinvestment Fund provided $1,500,000 for the RRLF. As of Dec. 1, 2024, the city had awarded $725,058 from that fund; Siebert reported the average loan per business as $103,580 and said 57% of awards were under $100,000, leaving roughly 48% of the RRLF still available for 2025 marketing and outreach.
The STOC presentation also mentioned McClure Park pool improvements, Woodward Park construction adjustments due to a nonstandard 90-inch pipe fabrication, and the scheduled placement into service of new fire engines in March and April. Siebert closed by noting staffing and appointment updates for STOC vacancies.
Quotes from the presentation and public comment were limited to the speakers on the agenda and public commenters who addressed STOC items and city projects.
