The mission of the City of Ponca City is to provide quality public services to all citizens in the most efficient and effective manner possible, engaging qualified and dedicated employees, with publicly accessible, well-maintained facilities and infrastructure.

The City of Ponca City operates under a City Commission-City Manager form of government.

This system of local government combines the representative leadership of five elected officers that compose the Ponca City Board of Commissioners with the managerial experience of an appointed officer who functions as City Manager.

The Board of Commissioners

The Ponca City Board of Commissioners, which consists of the mayor and four city commissioners, is the legislative and policy- making body of the municipality. These representatives are elected by the registered voters of Ponca City, with three-year terms of office staggered to lend continuity to City operations.

The Board of Commissioners is responsible for overseeing City expenditures and the tedious, sometimes unpopular task of ensuring that community needs are prioritized and addressed under the constraints of the operating budget.

The commissioners meet in “regular" session on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Public Safety Center, 200 East Oklahoma Avenue. These meetings are televised live on Cable One's government access channel 11.

They also meet at afternoon work sessions on the first and third Mondays of each month. These meetings are used for discussing and deciding issues, which may or may not be brought to a regular session for a vote.

The City Manager

A professional City Manager, who is appointed by the mayor and approved by the commission, serves as the chief of operations responsible for all administrative and operational functions of the municipal government.

The City Manager's office provides guidance and leadership to all City departments, and includes implementation of the City Commission's policy direction. The City Manager also assists departments in achieving the goals and vision of the City Commission and department directors.

City Officials

• Homer Nicholson — Mayor (term expires March 2010)

• Stan Paynter — Commissioner (term expires April 2009)

• Wayne Foxworthy — Commissioner (term expires April 2009)

• Diane Anderson — Commissioner (term expires April 2011)

• Lanita Chapman — Commissioner (term expires April 2011)

Management Staff

• City Manager — Gary Martin

• Assistant City Manager — Tana McKinley

• City Attorney — Kevin Murphy

• City Engineer — Randy Lauritsen

• Community Development Director — Chris Henderson

• Finance Director/ City Clerk/ Treasurer — Marc La Bossiere

• Environmental Services Director — Chad Morris

• Human Resources Director — Terry Brown

• Information Services Director — Craige Baird

• Library Director — Holly LaBossiere

• Parks & Recreation Director — Jim Sindelar

• Public Works Director — Craig Stephenson

• General Manager of Electric Utilities — Phillip Johnston

• Police Chief— Clayton Johnson

• Fire Chief— Butch Herring

Advisory Boards

The city has a number of advisory boards and commissions composed of volunteers from within the community, who serve without compensation.

Members of those boards are nominated by the mayor and focus on a specific service area or responsibility of the City, study it in depth, and make recommendations to the mayor and the commissioners.

The citizen advisory boards, commissions, and authorities include:

• Board of Adjustments

• Airport Advisory Board

• Animal Control Commission

• Construction Appeals Board

• Cultural Affairs Commission

• Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB)

• Energy Advisory Board

• Historic Preservation Advisory Panel

• Hospital Authority

• Housing Authority

• Library Board

• Marland Estate Commission

• Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

• Personnel Board

• Planning Commission

• Ponca City Tomorrow

• Traffic Commission

• Tourism Authority

Citizens who wish to serve on a board may apply by contacting the mayor's office at the Civic Center, 516 East Grand Avenue, or at 580-767-0339.

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