Top-ten goals for Tulsa, drafted by the Mayor and city council

TULSA - The top 10 to-do list for the city of Tulsa was unveiled today.

Top 10:

1. River development/ Task force with concrete steps as goal
2. Public Safety/ “Safest City” goal and task force
3. Economic development/ Energy focus
4. Economic development/ Find way to drive investment in underutilized areas
5. Economic development/ Develop urban core and corridors (Ark. River, Route 66, Memorial)
6. Transportation/ Intermodal facility
7. Government/ Continue KPMG follow-through via MRO and reinvest savings
8. Beautification/ Taskforce to identify concrete steps to achieve goal of “America’s Most Beautiful City”
9. Government/ PlaniTulsa implementation schedule
10. Economic development/Tourism

It's drawn-up by Mayor Bartlett and city councilors. Not surprisingly, we have been talking about some of the ideas for years.

The No. 1 priority is more business on this river. But it's not the only waterway getting attention.

Walking around The Blue Rose Cafe there is an unavoidable presence of mother nature.

"Thank God there's water in the river more often now than there's not," business owner Tom Dittus said.

The city is trying to capitalize on that water. Dittus is the very first business owner on the Arkansas, but might not be for long.

"What we would like to create is our own Cherry Street or Brookside right here on the river. It just makes sense," he said.

"We are going to do it and support one another. At the end of the day, something very good is going to happen on the Arkansas River," Bartlett said.

Another item on this year's list is the building of an intermodal facility. This combines water, rail, air, and road to transport more cargo. 

"We just happen to be sitting on the furthest North waterway that's open year around to barge traffic," said Bob Portiss, Port of Catoosa director . "So lets take advantage of it."

If all goes as planned, The Port of Catoosa will handle three barges within the year.

"Every single barge holds the equivalent to at least 60 semi trailer trucks," Portiss said.

"When we all have the same understanding and same commitment," Bartlett said, "in my opinion, that sets the stage for something to be accomplished."