Edmond to seek proposals for an operator and maintenance provider every 7 years maximum. The contract is expected to be in place on July 1, 2021. The 21-22 budget includes the City’s 20% match with federal funds to purchase equipment for fleet maintenance, and upgrades to the existing maintenance facility. These funds will continue to improve the maintenance of all CITYLINK vehicles and improve efficiency by reducing “deadhead” miles for such situations. Additionally, the City of Edmond has been awarded $254,070 from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Office of Mobility and Public Transit, to replace two buses in our fleet in our next budget year. The CARES Act funding for COVID-19 provided approximately $2M that enable the City to support the capital, operating, and other expenses, including those related to the preparation for, and response to, COVID-19. CITYLINK continued operating on all our routes including the Broncho Link during the pandemic. CITYLINK has also recently been awarded additional federal funds in the amount of $635,885 from the American Rescue Plan Act for COVID-19 relief. These funds will again assist CITYLINK in providing full service to all routes. As a result of this temporary funding, next year’s CITYLINK projected budgeted revenues total $2,482,442 which is broken down into $400,000 from the General Fund and $2,082,442 in federal and state funding. The possibility of regional commuter rail service in central Oklahoma continues to gain traction through the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). This group is working with the consulting firm of Holmes & Associates in considering regional funding options to provide a fixed guideway transit system that will initially serve the six original partnership communities of Edmond, Oklahoma City, Norman, Midwest City, Del City and Moore. James Boggs is our Edmond representative on the RTA and he is a dedicated and enthusiastic advocate of this concept and is serving our community’s interests very well. The Board is working with Kimley-Horn to select locally preferred alternatives and routes for the system.
Art in Public Places Fund Public art in Edmond is financed through this fund. This program features an impressive public/private partnership in the form of a dollar-for-dollar match for up to $30,000 for a single piece of art. This program began in 2002, and there are 254 total pieces that have been acquired, mainly located in local parks or along local streets. Next year’s funding request from the Edmond Visual Arts Commission VAC is for $250,000, which is larger than previous years, in anticipation of both a large private donation and the potential of sculpture park on private land at 2nd and Coltrane that would eventually be donated to the City (their letter is included in Appendix ). For comparison purposes, last year the EVAC request was a reduced amount of $90,000 in recognition of the pandemic. Also included is a $3,000 allocation for administrative expenses associated with the program through the City Clerk’s office. Hospital Trust Fund The proceeds from the City’s 1982 sale of the hospital facility now known as OU Medical Center Edmond and a portion of the accrued interest are included in this fund. A public vote
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