PROPEL2040: BUILDING THE FUTURE
Check back soon for more CIP project updates!
ProclamationResolution of Intent
Click here to read the first announcement regarding the PROPEL 2040 Proposal, presented to Lawton City Council on April 22, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Doesn’t the City of Lawton already have a CIP in place?
Yes! In 2019, voters approved PROPEL Lawton. This combined the 2015 & 2016 CIP & was funded by 2.125% sales tax in the City of Lawton. The 2019 CIP is set to expire in 2034. By extending the CIP to 2034, it gave the Council and Staff the ability to plan into the future and has opened up the funding to make many of the advancements that you see in our City today, as well as those planned in the near term. See #4 & #7.
2. What is the purpose of a CIP?
CIP stands for “Capital Improvement Plan” & provides a working blueprint for improving and sustaining the community’s infrastructure. It gives the citizens the power to vote to allocate additional sales tax monies to fund projects that exceed $50,000, which qualify as capital expenditures. Capital expenditures are major, long-term expenses while operating expenses are the day-to-day expenses.
3. Why do we need an extension of the 2019 CIP?
The City of Lawton remains behind on infrastructure improvements for water, sewer, and roadways. In addition, there is a serious lack of funding for community institutions capital projects, like the Lawton Animal Welfare building, the Museum of the Great Plains, the Lawton Community Theater, and the many of the city parks. Youth programs & activities remain to be an area for improvement.
4. What would be funded through an extension of the current CIP?
- The creation of an amphitheater and boardwalk in Elmer Thomas Park
- Renovations to several of the City’s historical buildings such as Central Fire Station, Carnegie Library, the Armory (Lawton Community Theater)
- Improvements and repairs to the Great Plains Museum, McMahon Memorial Auditorium, Lawton Animal Welfare, as well as the establishment of the Youth Sports Complex
- The creation of a Discovery Lab
- Support for the Sexual Assault Response Team (Victim Resource Center)
- Youth programs, including summer work program and Arts for All Camps
- Crime fighting technology for the Lawton Police Department
- Updates to the city’s traffic controls through automation for improved commuting
- Improvements to streets, roads & sidewalks, public transportation (LATS), crime fighting technology, and City beautification
Click here to view a more comprehensive look at several Proposed CIP Projects: Notable Projects of Proposed 2040 CIP Extension
5. How will the extension affect taxes?
The PROPEL 2040 CIP Extension would not affect taxes because it would be an extension to what voters passed in 2019.
6. What projects have been funded by the 2019 CIP?
2019 PROPEL CIP ACCOMPLISHMENTS
COMMUNITY SERVICES
- The 2019 CIP has allowed the City of Lawton to demolish 241 dilapidated properties paid for by the City. In addition to this, 241 structures were voluntarily demoed by the property owner after being declared.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
- 25 miles of waterline replacement currently under construction.
- Another 25 miles of waterlines are currently in design to be replaced.
- 2023 CIPP Liner Project has rehabilitated approximately 6,251 ft of sewer line so far (17,500 ft total project).
- 20 miles of sewer line replacement currently under construction.
- Another 20 miles of sewer line are currently in design to be replaced.
Completed: Industrial Water Line Extension Project Phase I, $2.5 million. Phase II is at 60% design for $6 million.
Under Construction:
- Cache Road 12" Waterline Project: 35% complete - $9.6mil
- Cache Rd 36” Waterline Project: 25% complete - $15.5mil
- Meadowbrook & 67th St Waterline Replacement Projects: 80% complete – $3.6mil
- Map 09 Waterline Replacement Project: 15% complete - $14mil
- Map 11 Waterline Replacement Project Phase 1: 5% complete - $6.4mil
- South Wolf Creek Expansion #5 Sewer Rehabilitation Project: 45% complete - $4mil
- Sub-Basins 104, 105, & 106 Sewer Rehabilitation Project: 5% complete - $ 4mil
- SCADA Improvements: 70% complete - $5mil
Currently Advertising for Construction:
- Map 10 Waterline Replacement Project- Bid Opening Date July 30th, 2pm, $6mil
- Map 11 phase II Waterline Replacement Project- Bid Opening Date August 6th, 2pm, $9mil
- Map 39 Waterline Replacement Project- Bid Opening Date August 13th, 2pm, $5mil
Under Design:
- Map 46 & 53 Waterline Replacement Projects - $8 mil
- Map 58 Waterline Replacement Project - $9 mil
- Map 8 Waterline Replacement Project - $6 mil
- Belmont Lift Station Replacement Project – $1.5 mil
- 2024 Sewer Rehabilitation Project Phase I - $6 mil
- 2024 Sewer Rehabilitation Project Phase II - $5 mil
- 2024 CIPP Liner Project - $5 mil
PUBLIC WORKS:
- $1,076,000 worth of Arterial Lane Marking currently in progress
- $250,592 in arterial crack sealing on Lee Blvd currently in progress
- SW Bishop Rd (SW Woodstock Ave to SW 82nd St) Construction Phase 4 in progress
- NW 14th St (NW Bell Ave to NW Lake Ave) Reconstruction $205,013.00 Complete
- Guardrail Repair $75,565.55 Complete
- SW 14th St (SW F Ave to SW E Ave) Reconstruction $197,470.00 Complete
- SW Cornell Ave (SW 25th St to SW 26th St) Reconstruction $297,547.00 Complete
- SW 13th St (SW F Ave to SW E Ave) Reconstruction $179,850.00 Complete
- NW Ferris Ave (NW Ft. Sill Blvd to NW 3rd St) Overlay $65,445.75 Complete
- Pavement Analysis $368,436.00 Complete
- Arterial Intersection Striping $451,315.66 Complete
- Interstate Dr Repairs $353,628.00 Complete
- Arterial Crack Sealing
- Cache Rd $249,081.04 Complete
- Sheridan Rd $114,560.00 Complete
- Gore Blvd $334,179.80 Complete
ARTS & HUMANITIES:
- $4.5 million designated for improvements to the McMahon Memorial Auditorium
- $250,000 was designated to support Arts & Humanities Programming.
- McMahon Auditorium Authority entered their first Partnership Agreement with the City in fiscal year 2022, and requested 1/12th of the CIP funds to be distributed each year for 12 years to support Arts and Humanities Programming in the City of Lawton. The McMahon Auditorium Authority has received $20,833 each year for fiscal years, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and the funding has been spent to support Arts and Humanities Programming.
FIRE:
- Public Safety Facility
- The citizens voted for Lawton Fire, Police, Jail, and Municipal Court to have a new Facility at Railroad and Gore. Fire Crews from Central Fire Station moved into their new modern home in May 2021. The new 3-bay two-story fire station houses Engine 1, Ladder 1, Rescue 1, and Battalion 1. Annually crews respond to more than 3,000 incidents from Station 1.
PARKS & RECREATION:
- Purchase of new playground sets for the following parks:
- Wayne Gilley Park, Panther Park, Fred Bently Park, MacArthur Park, Mattie Beal Park, Gray Warr Park, George M Lee Park, McMahon Park, Country Club West Park
- Lawton Parks & Recreation Master Plan completed
- Aquatics Master Plan
- Elmer Thomas Park Conceptual Plan
- Lakes Master Plan
- Owens Center Gym AC Replacement
- Security Cameras in Parks
- Design for Aquatics Center
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:
- Tyler Software
- Network Overhaul: Installed Unifi networking equipment in all locations and created the datacenter with a Unifi backbone.
ENGINEERING:
- Pavement Assessment Program
- Gore Boulevard Waterline & Sewerline Reconstruction
- Pavement resurfacing, Lee Boulevard - Phase A (SW 67th to SW 97th Street)
- Propel CIP Program Planning
- Pavement Corridor Study
- East Gore Sidewalk (Flowermound to 51st Street)
- Public Safety Facility
- Larrance Street Reconstruction
- Rehabilitate Neal & Ard
- On-call citywide sidewalk contract
- Library restroom renovation
- 45th, 5 lane reconstruction from Lee to Bell Avenue
Ongoing Projects:
- Elmer Thomas Park Aquatic Center
- Wading Pool improvements
- Mattie Beal Park improvements
- Eastside and Lee West Park improvements
- McMahon Memorial Auditorium addition & renovation (Phase I)
- City Hall renovation
- Landfill Cells 6 & 7
- Goodyear Boulevard Reconstruction (Lee Boulevard to Cache Road)
- ODOT Tap Grant Project - East Gore Bike Path & Sidewalk
- East Gore Boulevard/I-44 Pedestrial Bridge
- 38th Street from Bishop to Gore Boulevard
- Goodyear Boulevard Extension to US-62 Interchange
- Rogers Lane
- Design of Bridges
YOUTH & FAMILY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:
- 12+ youth programs targeted to help “at-risk” youth. Each program identifies opportunities for the community’s at-risk youth to develop life and career enhancing skills which helps them to avoid involvement in the criminal justice system. Some of the most notable programs include the Marie Detty Gang Prevention Program, Teen Court, LPS Makerspace Summer Camp, the Arts for All Summer Program for the Underserved, and MIGHT.
7. How does the CIP work?
The CIP is funded through sales tax. Meaning, when a citizen shops in the City of Lawton, 2.125% of that will go into a fund that can be used for Capital Improvement Projects, as referenced in #3. However, Mayor Stan Booker is proposing that ¼ of a cent be designated for roads, and another ¼ of a cent be designated for parks of the existing tax. This would not increase taxes.
8. How will the community be involved in the CIP extension process?
We have two community meetings scheduled for citizens to give their input on what they would like to see as a result of the CIP on May 16th & May 20th, 2024 at 6 p.m. in Wayne Gilley Auditorium in City Hall at 212 SW 9th Street, Lawton, OK.
9. When can I go to the polls to vote on the extension?
- Election Date: August 27, 2024
- Voter Registration Deadline: August 2, 2024
- Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: August 12
- Early voting dates & hours: August 22-23, 2024, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and August 24, 2024, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- For more information on voting, or to find your polling location, visit elections.ok.gov.
10. Can you explain how the City of Lawton receives the CIP money? Sales tax? Is this something that citizens can see on their receipts when they visit a store in Lawton?
CIP money comes from an existing special sales tax. Sales tax is collected at point of sale by the Oklahoma Tax Commission on items that are subject to the sales tax collection and transferred to the City for specific needs. Citizens can see the sales tax on their receipts for purchase (receipts do not break down sales taxes by state, county, local, special purpose, they will only see the total amount of tax).
11. Are there any specific legal constraints or limitations on the types of projects that can be funded through bonds?
In general, projects funded by bonds are capital projects, such as building a new water treatment plant, or repairing a city owned building.
12. What are the disclosure requirements for bond issuance?
Disclosure requirements on bonds being issued depend upon type of bond being issued. But all information provided to investors must not be fraudulent or misleading.
13. What happens to CIP money that is not spent?
City Council can allocate CIP money to other capital improvement projects consistent with the resolution of intent for the use of CIP funds.
14. How can we ensure that the money generated from the CIP is being spent on what has been proposed?
The City has passed a Resolution of Intent with the projects specified in it. CIP funds must be spent on those projects. The City intends to comply with the Resolution of Intent. In order to change the projects, the decisions must be approved by a vote of City Council made in open meeting, so citizens know what the projects are at all times.
15. Does the City of Lawton have to follow requirements to obtain the money generated from the CIP?
CIP funds are collected by the Oklahoma Tax Commission and transferred to the City of Lawton. There are no special requirements for the receipt of CIP funds.
16. Is there language in the CIP that accounts for inflation?
Yes, the CIP accounts for 3% growth annually so that can be used toward projects in the event the original dollar amount increases due to inflation.
17. Is there a cap on how much money the City could receive from the CIP?
The only limit on CIP funds is how much sales tax is collected.
18. What happens if the revenue projections for paying back the bonds fall short?
Bonds issued from the CIP are only payable from CIP funds and will not become general debts of the City.