Did you see the television report last night about how difficult it will be to pay utility bills at the new city hall? They contrasted 10 cent parking at the old city hall with $2.00 parking at the new. There was also discussion of difficulty in accommodating citizens that show up to pay their bills. This was reported along with changes that will allow citizens to pay their utility bills online but apparently there are some extra charges attached to that.
This report reminded me of the discussion here about draw backs to the new city hall. Some posters talked about how the new building did not encourage citizen access.
The cynic in me thought diminishing citizen access to city hall might not be entirely unwelcome by our city government.
The new city hall is perfectly suited to back offices but it was not designed as a civic building and those limitations are now becoming more apparent. There is also the question of what will become of Tulsa's civic center now that its primary tenant has departed?
They are working on a new lobby for items like bill paying and parking is likely to change with 1-2 new garages being discussed for that area. If meters were used only by short-term visitors like they are meant for then parking would be the same price but meter enforcement is not a priority right now.
Even with the possibility of some improvement I would guess that access will never be what it was.
And the opening of the BOK Arena will probably decrease available parking for city hall. Restaurants in the city hall vicinity that relied on street parking for their patrons now find that their regular customers are having difficulty finding parking close to the restaurants when the Arena has an event.
quote:
Originally posted by Hometown
Even with the possibility of some improvement I would guess that access will never be what it was.
And the opening of the BOK Arena will probably decrease available parking for city hall. Restaurants in the city hall vicinity that relied on street parking for their patrons now find that their regular customers are having difficulty finding parking close to the restaurants when the Arena has an event.
That's good.
Can we say good and bad?
Some of both.
The on line bill pay is a joke. They should offer ebilling and work to eliminate mailings to on line customers. Why would anyone pay the extra charges when their bank will draft and mail a check for free?
I normally don't complain about customer service, but the people that man the phones in the city services office need a little motivation. People that call them should be considered "customers" even though we don't have any choices for water, sewer and trash. I called to ask about my sewer cap which is 130% higher than my water bill month over month even during peak watering months. I was basically dismissed. I called again to ask if I could get the recycle tub (I signed up for curb side last year and never got the green tub) and they told me that they don't manage that.
Oh well. rant over.
quote:
Originally posted by carltonplace
The on line bill pay is a joke. They should offer ebilling and work to eliminate mailings to on line customers. Why would anyone pay the extra charges when their bank will draft and mail a check for free?
I normally don't complain about customer service, but the people that man the phones in the city services office need a little motivation. People that call them should be considered "customers" even though we don't have any choices for water, sewer and trash. I called to ask about my sewer cap which is 130% higher than my water bill month over month even during peak watering months. I was basically dismissed. I called again to ask if I could get the recycle tub (I signed up for curb side last year and never got the green tub) and they told me that they don't manage that.
Oh well. rant over.
When I used Bank of America, I always wondered why so many muncipalities had the ebill option, but the City of Tulsa didn't. Heck, you couldn't even pay your bill online
Then I remembered we live in the City of Tulsa.
[:D]
ChoicePay...
quote:
Originally posted by Hometown
Can we say good and bad?
Some of both.
Again, if the city would go to 30&60-minute max meters in front of retail and ticket serial parkers, we would have no issues.
The main mall is always full of cars, not a single one belongs to a person shopping or eating there.
You can't take IF to the bank.
At my old building in the financial district we knew when the meter maids were scheduled to drive by and every other trick in the book.
I was thinking about those folks wading through the puddles last night on the way to the Arena. Tulsans just don't make a habit of carrying umbrellas. Same would apply to rainy days and paying your bills at city hall.
This new arrangement just isn't as citizen friendly in many ways.
Checking account.
Envelope.
.42 stamp.
Pay bill on time.
Don't have to go to City Hall to pay utilities.
I guess I never really realized people went there to pay utility bills.
I've only been to pay a ticket, and I deserved the inconvenience then.
quote:
Originally posted by tulsacyclist
I guess I never really realized people went there to pay utility bills.
I've only been to pay a ticket, and I deserved the inconvenience then.
Same here. Most utilities don't have the option of paying in person anymore.
Guys there are still people out there that do all their business on a cash basis. We had a friend that carried his cash rolled up inside his shoes. Point is we live in an era when choices are supposed to be multiplying not diminishing.
quote:
Originally posted by Hometown
Guys there are still people out there that do all their business on a cash basis. We had a friend that carried his cash rolled up inside his shoes. Point is we live in an era when choices are supposed to be multiplying not diminishing.
How do they pay their electric and gas bills?
I went to the Cox Store at North Pointe center at Pine & Cincinnatti a couple of weeks ago to get a Hi-Def box.
They are in the same room as a Western Union which takes payments for AEP, ONG, Cox, and I do believe that COT was on the list.
There are more centers like this around town, which pretty much negates the need to go to City Hall unless service has been cut off, I'd guess.
There remains something off about having to pay to pay a bill. If someone wants to demand money from you, they should provide a means for you to get it to them. I don't consider $5 at ChoicePay an option.
USPS is the cheapest option at a stamp and whatever it takes to get it into a mailbox.
They all should accept major online payment services like PayPal, though.
As for City Hall, we tried to tell you all it wasn't built for or intended for public access.
quote:
Originally posted by Wrinkle
As for City Hall, we tried to tell you all it wasn't built for or intended for public access.
True dat. We told you so. I'd rather be an honest naysayer than a dishonest cheerleader. Where are all those spin doctors who adamantly maintained parking and accessibility would not be an issue and actually improve with the new city hall, now?
I find that a stamp works well for paying bills. And parking has not been a problem for me at the new City Hall.
quote:
Originally posted by Wrinkle
There remains something off about having to pay to pay a bill. If someone wants to demand money from you, they should provide a means for you to get it to them. I don't consider $5 at ChoicePay an option.
USPS is the cheapest option at a stamp and whatever it takes to get it into a mailbox.
They all should accept major online payment services like PayPal, though.
Agree on all of the above.
quote:
Originally posted by Wrinkle
There remains something off about having to pay to pay a bill. If someone wants to demand money from you, they should provide a means for you to get it to them. I don't consider $5 at ChoicePay an option.
USPS is the cheapest option at a stamp and whatever it takes to get it into a mailbox.
They all should accept major online payment services like PayPal, though.
ChoicePay isn't $5. It's $1.15.
I supposed that you could walk to City Hall, if you don't feel like paying for parking.
By the time I drive from home or work to that part of downtown, idle, find a parking spot, pay to park, etc. it's way worth it to me to splurge for the stamp. Better yet, they meter it for me at work and I reimburse them so I don't even have to drive to the PO to buy postage- ever.
At any rate, accessibility (or supposed lack thereof) is a good incentive to watch my speed and make sure I plug my meter. [;)]
What if you were elderly, didn't have credit cards and didn't have computer? What if you had all of those things but you just got used to the convenience of what Tulsa had until recently?
I know we can't go backwards but we've lost something important.
I love that core of top-drawer, well-kept blocks where the new city hall is located. I was in 320 Boston the other day and I felt like I was in a first class building in San Francisco's financial district. It's unlike the rest of downtown which has not been as well maintained. I can understand wanting to be located in that area. But I still believe the building is not suited for a civic building for this and other reasons. We are throwing away a city hall that is both historic and well suited for public use (other than some security issues).
I'm not at all convinced about the touted savings of the new digs.
Seems a lot people were looking through rose colored glasses when they sought out that building. Seems the mayor is mostly about flash and dash.
What's this about proposed parking garages for the area?
quote:
Originally posted by Double A
quote:
Originally posted by Wrinkle
As for City Hall, we tried to tell you all it wasn't built for or intended for public access.
True dat. We told you so. I'd rather be an honest naysayer than a dishonest cheerleader. Where are all those spin doctors who adamantly maintained parking and accessibility would not be an issue and actually improve with the new city hall, now?
How can you guys spew and rant against something that hasn't happened yet? The public entrance to City Hall is under construction. The teller windows haven't moved yet. Don't you think you ought to wait to see how it turns out before saying "the access is bad"?? Might be good, might be bad... we don't know yet!
It is because they are against anything associated with the Mayor. Their life is spent attacking everything related to her or the city.
I think they look rather silly, and I appreciate you pointing it out.
quote:
Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE
quote:
Originally posted by Double A
quote:
Originally posted by Wrinkle
As for City Hall, we tried to tell you all it wasn't built for or intended for public access.
True dat. We told you so. I'd rather be an honest naysayer than a dishonest cheerleader. Where are all those spin doctors who adamantly maintained parking and accessibility would not be an issue and actually improve with the new city hall, now?
How can you guys spew and rant against something that hasn't happened yet? The public entrance to City Hall is under construction. The teller windows haven't moved yet. Don't you think you ought to wait to see how it turns out before saying "the access is bad"?? Might be good, might be bad... we don't know yet!
Well Joe on this I have to disagree with you.
The City is already preparing those, accustomed to paying their bills at City Hall, with the bad news to come.
http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0908/552292_video.html?ref=newsstory
quote:
Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE
quote:
Originally posted by Double A
quote:
Originally posted by Wrinkle
As for City Hall, we tried to tell you all it wasn't built for or intended for public access.
True dat. We told you so. I'd rather be an honest naysayer than a dishonest cheerleader. Where are all those spin doctors who adamantly maintained parking and accessibility would not be an issue and actually improve with the new city hall, now?
How can you guys spew and rant against something that hasn't happened yet? The public entrance to City Hall is under construction. The teller windows haven't moved yet. Don't you think you ought to wait to see how it turns out before saying "the access is bad"?? Might be good, might be bad... we don't know yet!
I recently attended the historic preservation strategy meeting (//%22http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11107%22) in the 10 th floor south conference room at the new city hall as you might recall. I was disturbed, yet somewhat amused at the irony of attendees tripping over a step to enter the conference room that so clearly is not ADA compliant(Now that's public access!). Even the staff at an informational table outside the conference room were commenting that they needed to get a sign or something to warn people about the step.
City officials keep trying to force feed the bulls a steady diet of B.S. only to cry and complain when they get the horns. To keep up the trendy theme of animal metaphors, you can put lipstick on this pig, but you can't make chicken salad out of chickens*#t.
quote:
Originally posted by RecycleMichael
It is because they are against anything associated with the Mayor. Their life is spent attacking everything related to her or the city.
I think they look rather silly, and I appreciate you pointing it out.
Not me. You know full well I have a strange infatuation with her now.
I'm still amazed that people are too inconveneienced using stamps and checks to pay bills via snail mail. I'm totally hip to on-line options, but don't utilize them. Used to be the internet would save us from checks being stolen from mailboxes. Now the internet facilitates stealing all sorts of info.
You got me- internet paranoid. Just let me put that .42 sticker on that there envelope and let me go...PLEASE!!!
I never thought parking at the old city hall was all that great...I have to go to the courthouse quite often to look at plats, etc.. Nine times out of ten I have to park across 6th street and walk since there never seemed to be spaces in the shared underground parking. I pay my water bill with BOK.com's online bill pay. The other alternatives for people paying with cash are money orders, which you can get at Quik Trip and mail.
I'm not saying I'm for this move - I think it's the dumbest move Kathy Taylor has made, and will probably hurt her in the next election more than anything else - the old city hall as a hotel site seems dumb to me, considering the parade of vagrants (homeless, criminals with court dates, etc.) you usually see on the plaza out there. The blank site across the street that was pitched by Heavenly Hospitality makes more sense as a hotel site to me. Remodeling the old city hall would have made much more sense. Too small? Talk about an incentive not to bloat the bureaucracy! Please tell me they're keeping building permits at the Hartford building??
quote:
Originally posted by tulsa1603
Please tell me they're keeping building permits at the Hartford building??
Nope.
I thought parking in the lot SE of new City Hall was free.
quote:
Originally posted by TulsaSooner
I thought parking in the lot SE of new City Hall was free.
Nope.