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Tahlequah council approves TAP grant application, TIF review committee and multiple street contracts
Summary
The Tahlequah City Council on Dec. 1 approved a package of infrastructure actions: staff will seek about $1.2 million in Transportation Alternatives Program funds for a trail and drainage project, the council authorized creation of a TIF review committee for a River Center project, and members approved several street and parking-lot contracts, while staff were authorized to finalize a supplemental drainage agreement for 4th Street once revised.
The Tahlequah City Council voted Dec. 1 to pursue a roughly $1.2 million Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant for downtown trail and stormwater work, approved formation of a tax-increment financing review committee for the River Center project and awarded several construction contracts for local street and park work.
Planning and development staff told the council the city previously won about $800,000 in FY25 TAP funds and is applying for FY26 TAP funding, requesting approximately $1.2 million and budgeting a 20% local match. The proposed project would extend the existing trail near the dog park at East 4th Street and Basin Avenue and add stormwater detention, lighting and outdoor fitness equipment, the director said.
A resolution to create a review committee under the Oklahoma Local Development Act to consider forming a TIF district for the River Center project was approved. City staff described the committee makeup as including the mayor, a planning commission member, representatives of taxing entities (including local school and library systems, county commissioners and health districts) and citizen appointees; that committee will study whether to create an increment district and return a recommendation to the council.
Councilors also approved contract awards for several public-works projects: a drainage/intersection improvement at Kelly and Larry Streets (project 252025), curb-and-gutter work for Cherokee Fields parking (project 202510), and White Avenue Phase 2. During discussion of White Avenue Phase 2, the street commissioner warned of a fragile 8-inch waterline in the project trench that engineers call a 'glass line'; staff described contingency plans (plan A/B/C) if the line is damaged and said engineers agreed to a 6-inch curb and site work agreements with affected property owners.
City staff asked the council to authorize the mayor to sign a supplemental project agreement from the department of transportation for a 4th Street drainage project once the agreement is revised and reviewed by the city administrator and city attorney; the council approved that authorization.
Votes at a glance (recorded actions in meeting): - Consent agenda: motion carried. - TAP grant application for East 4th/Basin: approved (motion carried). - TIF review committee resolution (River Center): approved (motion carried). - Construction awards (projects 252025, 202510, White Avenue Phase 2): approved (motions carried). - Authorization for mayor to sign supplemental 4th Street agreement after staff review: approved (motion carried).
City staff said letters of community support have been collected for the TAP application and that the TAP project includes a required local match the council must budget if the grant is awarded. The supplemental agreement discussed at the meeting was not in the council packet because the version received did not match prior negotiations; staff recommended the mayor sign a corrected version after attorney and administrator review so the project can be transitioned to city control.
The council chair closed the item by urging continued public feedback on project boundaries and property-ownership questions before final design and budgeting.
