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Early end to mask mandate up for OKC council vote Tuesday

Daily Oklahoman - 3/29/2021

Mar. 29—"There's been a great deal of feedback regarding a proposal to shorten the length of the ordinance."

— Mayor David Holt, remarking on a measure to lift Oklahoma City's mask ordinance effective Wednesday, a month earlier than the current expiration date. The city council votes Tuesday on the proposal. Holt asked public health officials for a recommendation on the best course of action and wrote on Twitter that he intended "to support whatever the Oklahoma City-County Health Department recommends."

Of note: Replying to Holt on Twitter, @ThundrrStruck wrote, "The CDC has stated they are concerned by all the roll backs & fear they are just a bit too early w/spring break travel & vax just ramping up."

Construction bids for the fourth MAPS 3 senior health and wellness center, to be named the Willa D. Johnson Recreation Center, are due April 21. The setting for the center at 13660 S Western Ave. is a park, overlooking a pond with lots of natural light in the mornings. The 40,000-square-foot center will include pickle ball courts, a pool, fitness studios, meeting rooms and an upstairs walking track. Plans are to open around September 2022.

Of note: The YMCA is the city's operating partner. The construction budget is $12 million; the total cost including land and architects' designs is $16.4 million,

—A businessman with interests in telemedicine who formerly worked as a Hollywood actor announced he would run for Oklahoma City mayor next year. Jason Padgett has never voted in a municipal election, according to Election Board records.

—City officials are closely monitoring a measure in the Legislature providing a sales tax exemption to the University Hospitals Trust. They estimate House Bill 2874 would cost Oklahoma City$4.5 million to $6 million per year. That's about how much was cut from the police operations budget last year.

—The First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City is featured on the cover of the 2021 state highway map, Maps are free and available at Transportation Department offices and Tourism Information Centers, or order online at TravelOK.com/Brochures,

—The city's MAPS office plans to reopen the West River Trail by May 1. Riverbank erosion forced the city to close the trail. Construction of a bypass is wrapping up.

The city council meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. The meeting is being held virtually due to the pandemic. Find instructions for taking part under the Government tab at okc.gov.

—Early in-person voting for the Ward 1 and Ward 3 council runoffs will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, at county election boards. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day, April 6.

The mayor and all eight city council members attended the March 16 meeting.

Staff writer William Crum. Email wcrum@oklahoman.com. Twitter:@williamcrum. For civic news and more, subscribe at oklahoman.com.

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