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Downtown leaders urge council to back ART 2 paramedic expansion to cover evenings and weekends
Summary
Downtown Tulsa Partnership urged support for funding to expand ART 2 paramedic coverage into evenings and weekends, saying expanded hours will help people in crisis and support downtown businesses and public safety.
Brian Kurtz, chief executive officer of the Downtown Tulsa Partnership, asked the council to approve appropriations to expand ART 2 paramedic coverage to include evenings and weekends.
"This expansion allowing evening and weekend operations Thursday through Sunday is going to do a lot to benefit not only the individuals who are in crisis and mental health situations experiencing substance abuse ... but also the businesses, the visitors who are coming into downtown generating sales tax revenue," Kurtz said.
Kurtz described ART 2 as a supportive program with two paramedics operating in downtown and said expanding hours would help reach repeat callers and people in crisis while aiding downtown economic activity. He thanked Mayor Monroe Nichols' administration and council members for moving the appropriation forward and said the Downtown Tulsa Partnership stood ready to partner on the effort.
The council received the public comment during consideration of budget appropriations on second reading (agenda item 7 d). After public comment, councilors moved to approve the series of ordinances on second reading, including the appropriation tied to ART 2 expansion; the items were approved by roll call.
