The Ponca City Board of Commissioners held their regular session on Monday, March 13 at 5:30 pm in the Commission Chamber at City Hall.

Mayor Homer Nicholson called the meeting to order.

At the top of the meeting, the Mayor presented an Arbor Day proclamation declaring the week of March 19 through March 25 as Arbor Week. Parks and Recreation Executive Director Eric Newell also shared that there will be an Arbor Day celebration at the Marland Mansion this year, and that they will be planting a white wood tree.

The commission held a vote for election of Vice-Mayor in accordance with provisions of Section 60 of the City Charter.

The commissioners voted unanimously to name Commissioner Robert Bodick as Vice-Mayor.

The commissioners continued onto the consent agenda. The consent agenda contains items that are deemed to be non-controversial and routine in nature by the governing body. They are approved by one motion. The following are the items approved on the consent agenda: - The minutes of the regular Board of Commissioners session held on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.

- A resolution appropriating money for payment claims against the City of Ponca City.

- A resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Ponca City appointing members to various board and commissions, and establishing the terms of office thereof.

- A resolution of the Board of Commissioners amending the operating budget of various funds for fiscal year 2022-23.

The next item on the agenda was City Manager Craig Stephenson’s report.

The east and west side rodeo bleachers have been installed, they are now waiting on the parts for the northeast section. A fence was also added to the outside area of the bleachers to prevent people from getting underneath.

The Ponca City Police Department held their annual awards banquet on Friday, March 10. The 2022 Officer of the Year award was presented to Sergeant Caleb Landis; Civilian Employee of the Year was Records Specialist Dolley Rolland; Patrolman of the Year was Patrolman Evan Tom; and Detective of the Year was Detective Sergeant Cory Vincent.

Hartford Ave. from Northeast Woodland to El Camino is now open following construction to replace the old deteriorated water line.

The Ponca City Chamber of Commerce’s Ponca Politics Committee will be holding a school board candidate forum at City Hall on Friday, March 17 at noon. Both candidates, Judy Throop and Rod Wohl, will be in attendance.

Ponca Politics will also host a legislative update forum with Senator Bill Coleman and Representatives Ken Luttrell and John Pfeiffer on Friday, March 24 at City Hall at noon.

The annual Ponca City Spring Clean-Up will be held from April 22 to April 29.

The Ponca City Citywide Garage Sale will be held on Saturday, April 22.

The commissioners then voted to approve a proposal for service from Sikes Abernathie Architects for architectural and engineering services for the improvements to the Santa Fe Depot in Ponca City. The amount is $168,550.

In March of 2021, city staff began investigating several COVID grants that were available to Ponca City. They came across the community funding projects that were a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act in 2022. They worked with the congressional delegation and were able to secure a grant in the amount of $2 million.

In March of 2022, they were informed that the earmarked project was funded and the money would flow through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

In December of 2022, the Mayor and commissioners entered into a funding agreement with the State of Oklahoma.

The commissioners then voted to exit the regular session and enter into the Ponca City Utility Authority (PCUA) meeting.

The commissioners approved the consent agenda that included the following items: - The minutes of the Ponca City Utility Authority regular session held on Feb. 27, 2023.

- A resolution appropriating money for payment of claims against the PCUA.

- A resolution of PCUA amending the operating budget of various PCUA funds for Fiscal Year 2022-23.

The commissioners then voted to approve an amended development agreement with Prestige Worldwide PC, LLC for the rehabilitation of the former Pioneer Apartment Complex located at 715 Monument Road.

Development Services Director Chris Henderson was on hand to share information about this topic. This extended the original development agreement the city signed back in October of 2021. The complex was originally constructed in 1976 and was a popular place to rent until maintenance work fell behind and the city was forced to condemn the property in 2021 due to numerous code violations.

Prestige Worldwide PC, LLC purchased the property in 2021.

The commissioners voted to return to the Board of Commissioners regular meeting, where they then voted to convene in executive session.