Swan Lake Neighborhood Association

Mayor Taylor's Neighborhood Promises

Jan 11, 2007

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor was elected April 4, 2006 and took office six days later.
During that time, she has had a plate-full of issues to deal with, including budget over-runs on the new BOK Events Center, Police, Fire and EMSA issues as well as other issues.

In reviewing her campaign web site (http://taylorfortulsa.com), we thought it worth mentioning her position at the time, in regards to Tulsa neighborhoods.
Her campaign promise included:

> appoint a Mayor's Neighborhood liaison

> Implement specific measures to fight blight and reduce crime

> Update and complete a comprehensive plan for Tulsa

> Establish a Neighborhood web page as a hub of communication and knowledge about Tulsa

> Establish a program of neighborhood symposiums and recognition

In a few months, we'll review her first year of progress in these areas.

Below, you may find the full text from her cmapaign web site on neighborhoods, or go directly to the link:
http://taylorfortulsa.com/page.php?page=NeighborhoodPlan

Also worth reading, is last years' Mayors' "State of the City" pdf, found on our "Community Pages" web site, or go to the link:
http://www.cityoftulsa.org/OurCity/Mayor/documents/StateoftheCityfinal.pdf

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Kathy Taylor Believes In Planning with Tulsa's Neighborhoods

Kathy Taylor understands that Tulsa?’s neighborhoods - where we live, raise our families and make our homes are the heart and soul of our community. The quality of life in neighborhoods depends, in part, upon meaningful government and community partnerships. Neighborhood associations and groups must be empowered to work hand in hand with city hall to effectively communicate, identify assets, take advantage of unique opportunities and find practical strategies to achieve positive, sensible growth.

As Mayor I will:

Appoint a Mayor's Neighborhood liaison

The Liaison Will:

Serve as a direct pipeline to city hall and as a voice for neighborhood planning & support.
Communicate regularly and directly with the Mayor?’s office;
Troubleshoot for community organizations and connect neighborhoods with services across agency lines;
Serve as an intermediary between neighborhood groups, employers and private developers to assist in promoting dialogue, consensus, coordination of efforts and innovative partnerships that benefit all stakeholders;
Work to ensure that interdepartmental responses to neighborhood needs and initiatives are timely and well coordinated.
Implement specific measures to fight blight and reduce crime

Vibrant neighborhoods are an essential tool in fighting crime. We must tackle the problem of abandoned and decaying properties that blight our neighborhoods, lower property values and waste city resources. As Mayor I will investigate innovative methods to reduce crime, strengthen neighborhoods, increase community pride and make all areas of Tulsa beautiful and safe places to live and work.

I will invite residents, business owners, and community leaders to report dilapidated or abandoned homes and empty lots, excessive graffiti, and repairs needed for street lights, parks and roadways.
City hall will collaborate with neighborhood organizations, businesses and community groups to plan a community wide clean up.
Corporate sponsorships and contributions from the private sector will be sought to assist in these clean-up efforts
Update and complete a comprehensive plan for Tulsa.

As Mayor I pledge to complete a comprehensive plan for Tulsa. This has not been done since the late 1970?’s and much has changed since that time. A comprehensive plan must balance business development, neighborhood stability and livability to achieve positive growth.

There should be an extensive public involvement process, first undertaken to develop and adopt a plan, and to develop a form-based code. It is important to be able to demonstrate the efforts of the community to actively seek out various interests that can provide strong support for this effort.
I will work hard to ensure that our plan incorporates true neighborhood planning and authentic inclusion of neighborhood residents and stakeholders with City staff as facilitators.
Given our limited resources we must focus and prioritize our efforts to make sure we bring together economic and community development functions to maximize coordination and reduce administrative overhead.
Toward this goal, we must bring together large and small businesses, labor, non-profit and neighborhood leaders to advise the Mayor on how the City should best move on critical projects that are essential to encouraging job growth and investment in this region, not just in this City.
In this way we can prioritize our economic development efforts and serve as key advocates in encouraging support from County, State and federal leaders. We must join together with proactive small area planning initiatives instead of engaging in reactive problem management.
We must set a goal to create a city that works for all members of our community. By planning with our neighbors rather than for our neighborhoods we can identify and make the unique future of each neighborhood a reality.

Establish a Neighborhood web page as a hub of communication and knowledge about Tulsa.

Strong and effective communication between residents, City government, and neighborhoods is essential to building healthy community. I support increased use of technology and greater accessibility to City Hall to benefit neighborhoods and businesses. As Mayor I will establish a dynamic virtual neighborhood website which will serve as a vital tool to strengthen communication between neighborhoods and increase understanding and access to City services and resources. This will also augment our efforts to fight crime and to market our great city.

Establish a program of neighborhood symposiums and recognition.

As Mayor I will champion educational and skill building opportunities for neighborhood and community leaders in areas of city government, public-private partnerships, preservation of our historic resources and community involvement. I will find innovative ways to challenge and encourage neighborhoods to identify their unique qualities and find creative ways to foster growth in those areas. I will formally recognize the neighborhoods and leaders who best meet this challenge.