OKC City Council To Discuss Economic Impact Of COVID-19

The economy and COVID-19 will be a main topic in Tuesday's Oklahoma City city council meeting.

Economist and Oklahoma City University professor Russell Evans will be talking to councilors about the economic impacts of the coronavirus.

So far, city manager Craig Freeman has ordered a hiring freeze for all city departments. This includes part-time, full-time, seasonal, and contract employees.

The city confirms they will still be filling essential positions, but only after a multi-layered executive review.

City-wide there are 482 job vacancies, including more than 90 police positions and almost 50 in public works.

The city says these vacancies could put the Earlywine and Will Rogers aquatics parks in jeopardy this summer. However, police and fire academies will continue as planned.

The council will also discuss the $500,000 set aside for consultants to help small businesses with money, legal and technology issues caused by the pandemic.

This money is coming from the more than $5 million relief package city council passed more than a week ago.

Tuesday’s meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. via teleconference, to keep with social distancing orders.