The Tahlequah City Council on Dec. 1 authorized staff to pursue several projects and funding steps, including a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant application, creation of a TIF review committee for the River Center project and award of multiple construction contracts.

Planning staff told the council the city previously won roughly $800,000 in FY25 TAP funds for downtown improvements and is applying for FY26 TAP funding. "We’re gonna ask for, probably around $1,200,000," the planning speaker said, adding the city would need to budget a 20% local match.

Council approved a resolution to create a Tax Increment Financing review committee under the Oklahoma Local Development Act for the River Center project. Staff described a 10-member review group composed of the mayor, a planning commission member, representatives of five taxing districts (city schools, public library, county commissioners, VOTEC and the health department) and citizen nominees; that group will review the TIF proposal and make a recommendation to council.

The council also accepted staff recommendations to award low-bid construction contracts for multiple projects, including street work on Kelly and Larry Streets and curb-and-gutter work for Cherokee Fields parking, and approved Phase 2 of White Avenue. Staff and council discussed an existing eight-inch waterline in the White Avenue corridor and engineering mitigations, including a planned 6-inch curb and contingency plans if the waterline is encountered during construction.

Separately, staff said an agreement sent by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for a 4th Street drain/surface project needed revision to match prior understandings; the council authorized the mayor to sign the agreement once the city attorney and staff confirm the requested revisions.

Motions to approve the TAP application, create the TIF review committee and award the listed construction contracts were made, seconded and carried by the council.