Jenks State of the City 2024

The Jenks State of the City 2024 event brought together community leaders, residents, and business owners to celebrate the city's achievements and discuss future plans. The mayor, alongside various department heads and community partners, highlighted significant progress in public safety, economic development, and infrastructure. The event also featured a look at upcoming projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life for Jenks residents.

A City on the Rise

Jenks is growing fast. The mayor shared that the city's population is now around 29,000, making it the fastest-growing city in Oklahoma. Jenks is also home to the best public school district in the state and has been named Oklahoma Magazine's "Best of the Best Small Town" for five years in a row. The city is also recognized as a Tree City, a Purple Heart City, and is newly certified as a film-friendly city by the Oklahoma Department of Music and Arts.

Key Takeaways:

• Jenks is experiencing rapid population growth, now estimated at 29,000 residents.

• The city boasts the top public school district in Oklahoma.

• Jenks has received multiple accolades, including "Best of the Best Small Town" for five consecutive years.

• New certifications include being a Tree City, Purple Heart City, and a film-friendly city.

Public Safety: A Top Priority

Jenks takes public safety seriously. The city was recently ranked the safest suburb in Oklahoma by SmartAsset, based on various safety metrics like crime rates, excessive drinking, and traffic accidents. This achievement is thanks to the hard work of the Jenks Police and Fire Departments.

Police Department Highlights:

• Increased Staffing: Five new police officers were added, funded by a SAFER Grant.

• Community Engagement: Officers participated in over 20 local events and nearly 50 smaller community gatherings, like school visits and block parties.

• Training: Over 2,500 hours of training were completed, with 116 hours focused on mental health.

• Response Time: Maintained an average response time of 3.5 minutes for over 18,000 calls for service.

• Animal Control: Fred, the Animal Control officer, organized four adoption events, finding homes for over 50 animals.

• Emotional Support Dog: Lizzy, the police department dog, is now certified as an emotional support dog.

• Drone Operations: The Emergency Services Air Support Division conducted over 600 drone flights for various emergency scenarios.

Fire Department Highlights:

• Training: Nearly 9,000 hours of training were completed this year.

• Response Time: Maintained an average response time of 5 minutes and 40 seconds.

• Incidents: Responded to over 1,900 incidents and assisted with 31 mutual aid calls.

• New Equipment: All existing helmets were replaced with lighter, full-leather helmets to reduce fatigue and injury risk.

• New Fire Station: Ground was broken for a new $4 million Station One, located across from City Hall, expected to open in summer 2025. This state-of-the-art facility will improve training and recruitment efforts.

Economic Development and Growth

Jenks has seen a record-breaking year for major projects, with many already completed and more in the pipeline. The city's economic growth is a result of careful planning and partnerships.

Key Projects and Initiatives:

• Tulsa Premium Outlets: This major development, a $100 million-plus investment, opened on August 15th. It created over 800 jobs and is expected to significantly boost tax revenues and tourism. The outlets also feature public amenities like a playground and shaded seating areas.

• New Businesses: Jenks welcomed several new businesses, including Roy's Chicken, Ace Hardware, Cedar and Lily, Frontier Justice, and the Oklahoma Medical Eye Group headquarters. City Hall Steakhouse is also set to open soon.

• Downtown Revitalization: The city invested $750,000 in Commercial Kitchen Grants and $50,000 in Business Improvement Grants to help downtown businesses with facade improvements and infrastructure needs. A downtown master plan is also in the works.

• Residential Growth: New residential developments like Harvard Oaks, The Laurel, and Aquarium Place Carriage House Apartments are expanding housing options. The city is balancing growth with the needs of current residents, even saying "no" to some residential proposals to maintain standards.

Infrastructure and Public Works

Jenks' engineering and public works departments have been busy maintaining and improving the city's infrastructure.

Recent Infrastructure Projects:

• Main Street Improvement Project: Focused on improving drainage and road safety from Date to the railroad tracks.

• Northeast Mall Entrance Redesign: Improved traffic flow for the Tulsa Premium Outlet Mall.

• Aquarium Place Overlay: Construction of a new sidewalk on the east side of Elm from B to K Place.

• Trail Connection: A new trail connecting Park West and Park West to Elm Street and 101st Street.

• Florence Avenue Culvert Repair: Quick repair to minimize road closure.

• Pavement Improvements: Repairs in over 12 neighborhoods.

• Central Park Improvements: A new pavilion with picnic tables, new playground equipment, and landscaping.

• Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements: Three phases of improvements planned over the next 20 years to support population growth.

• Lions Park: Added dedicated parking and a fence around the pickleball court.

• Pedestrian Bridge Repair: Project still underway.

• Purple Heart Memorial: A new memorial constructed at Veterans Park to honor wounded or killed service members.

Community Engagement and Communication

Jenks is committed to keeping residents informed and involved. The city has increased its social media presence and implemented new communication initiatives.

Communication Efforts:

• Social Media: Significant increase in reach and engagement on Facebook and Instagram.

• Alert System: Encouraging residents to sign up for alerts on water breaks, road closures, and events.

• Lunch and Learns & Walk-in Talks: Events covering various topics, allowing community members to provide feedback on downtown walkability, safety, and aesthetics.

• Public Safety Town Hall: Chiefs answered questions from residents and business owners.

• Open House: An opportunity for residents to speak with staff about specific projects.

• Ask Jenks: A social media initiative where council members answer frequently asked questions from residents.

The Future of Jenks

The city has exciting plans for the future, focusing on continued growth and enhancing amenities for residents.

Upcoming Projects:

• The Ranch Property: This newly purchased property will be developed into a future public park, new office space for the Jenks Chamber, and potential public access to a conservation area. The funding for this project comes from a tax increment financing project area, ensuring it doesn't impact other city projects.

• Entertainment Venues: High Five and Camp Pickle are approved entertainment spots expected to break ground soon.

• New Restaurants: The Lodge Eatery recently opened, and City Hall Steakhouse is coming soon.

• Seven Brew: A new coffee shop is under construction on the north side of the bridge.

• Full-Service Hospital: A hospital is planned for the Gateway Development District, a significant addition to the city's healthcare infrastructure.

• Jenks Food Hall: A food hall concept, similar to Mother Road Market, is in the works at the Aquarium campus.

• Peoria Elm Widening: Construction on widening Peoria Elm from 111th to 131st Street is expected to begin in January 2025. This will be a major project, and residents are encouraged to stay informed through city alerts.

The mayor emphasized that the state of Jenks is good, with an amazing trajectory for the future. The city is working to address staffing issues and continue its positive growth. The goal is to attract high-quality businesses, keep taxes low, and ensure Jenks remains a great place to live for generations to come.