City Council - Regular Meeting

all right good evening and welcome to the 5 p.m tulsa city council meeting you can view this meeting on our facebook page our youtube channel cox channel 24 or at tgov online.org assisting the council tonight are jack blair our city attorney lori doring secretary to the council and beth tankard council to our council staff if you wish to speak on an agenda item please see beth to complete a request to speak card prior to that item being read, or you will not be allowed to speak on that item after it has been read. We are honored this evening to have our Booker T. Washington Air Force Junior RO

Caller guard, come back. Let's go down for a...

All right, so the continued growth of the city of Tulsa is a direct result of the valued employees that serve our city 24 hours, seven days a week. They are a true representation of service, excellence, loyalty, and commitment, for sure. Their work does not go unnoticed, and their many sacrifices are truly appreciated. Thank you so much. Bengal, Bengal, out of the line. All right, many employees who are receiving their years of service award this month could not be here tonight, but we would also like to acknowledge their contributions to our great city. For 40 years of service, Brian Comfort

Here. All right. Item number one, receipt and filing of minutes. 1A, minutes of regular meeting held at 4 p.m. on August 26th of 2026. B, minutes of regular meeting held at 5 p.m. on August 26th.

All right. Items 1A and B are approved. Two appointments and reappointments. 2A, Annie Chang, appointment to the Asian Affairs Commission. B, Joyce Roberts, reappointment to the Human Rights Commission. And C, Brian Humphrey, reappointment to the Greater Tulsa Area African Affairs Commission. Do we have any speakers?

Thank you, Mr. Huffines. Is there council discussion? I move to approve items 2A through 2C.

All right, items 2A through 2C are approved. Any commissioners here with us this evening? I don't see any. Okay, moving on. Item number three, public hearings. 3A, public hearing to receive comments regarding a proposed ordinance closing an alleyway as a public way located at 608 East Third Street situated between lots one through four and lots five through nine. Block 113 Tulsa original town addition. Do we is there a motion to go into public hearing.

Councilor Dutton. Yes. Okay please call the first speaker.

All right, without objection, we will exit public hearing. Four mayor's items, 4A, report from the mayor or his designee on community events, briefing on city activities, city efforts, and new businesses. Anybody from the mayor's office here? All right. The remaining items 4B through 4N will not be read aloud. However, public comments will be received on these items. Do we have any speakers?

Thank you. All right, is there council discussion?

I move to approve items 4B through 4N with the emergency clause on 4B. Second.

All right. Items 4B through 4N are approved with the emergency clause on 4B. 5. Authorities, boards, and commissions 5A rezoning application SA-9 to apply neighborhood character overlay to zoning for multiple properties located within the Florence Park neighborhood surrounded by East 15th Street South and East 21st Street South, Harvard Avenue and Broken Arrow Expressway. Do we have any speakers?

Thank you. Beth, is there more speakers?

Okay. Beth, is that the last speaker? Yes. Okay. Is there any council discussion? Councillor Bellis and then Councillor Dutton.

Yeah. Just really briefly, sorry to put you on the spot, Susan. Would you mind clarifying just for all of us what's happening with this zoning overlay today versus the next steps? Because I know this, when we've done these character overlays, I just wanted to make sure we're clear on what we're doing today compared to down the line, because I think this is part of...

Okay, thank you. I think that was my only just really quick pulse checking where we were in that process. And then just to my colleagues or the folks that spoke, and I know I understand the concerns about the driveways. That's come up with other character overlays. They're one are still BOA exceptions someone can pursue. I know that can add a layer, but it's kind of that balancing act of how do you... put in some stipulations, allow for infill housing while also doing the character preservation pieces. And two, I will name part of the issue that's happened that we've seen in some of these olde

Yeah so I'm actually going to counter what you're saying in my district the Brookside area all through up and down Peoria Riverside there has been properties that have been scraped and the McMansions are in and we have severe flooding issues it's happening every day in my district. So it is a real possibility. I appreciate the overlay on this. I'm very familiar with your neighborhoods. I have several friends that live over there, and I think it's a good idea to prevent probably what's been happening in other areas of the city that have been problematic, especially because we do lose the permea

And I do want to kind of second on to a counselor Bush just shared Yeah, this was seen repeatedly when Gathering Place went in and Brookside Maple Ridge area became a really highly desirable area to live Homes of a similar size in mass We've watched it repeatedly happen got built out to the lot lines of people doing a roof as high as they could go and the flooding issues I must get an email Probably every other day daily where someone's like having flooding newly come into their yard and it has big infrastructure implications And as I've been discussed about these overlays previously this real

Yeah, come on up, Susan. I don't think that's, that's not the, yeah.

All right. Is there more council discussion?

Oh, I guess that's my cue, sorry. I'll make a motion to approve item 5A.

All right, item 5A is approved. Six ordinances, first reading. Item 6A will be read and voted on separately. 6A, ordinance amending the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget to make supplemental appropriations of $7,604,163.81. I recognize from grant revenues to be received from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust within the social and economic development non-federal grants sub fund. Do we do we have any speakers.

OK. This is requesting the waiver of city charter council rules in order of business and requesting approval and adoption on this first reading. So is there a council discussion.

I make a motion to approve item 6A with waiving city charter council rules and order of business and that we adopt on first reading. Second.

All right, 6A is approved, waiving the charter, council rules and order of business and adoption on first reading. Councilor Bellis, did you want to say something?

Yeah, I just wanted to clarify, because I know sometimes people will see or what seems like a rapid or urgent motion, and it can seem, of course, and is serious when we opt to waive Charter rules order of business. It's not unprecedented, but it does occur when there is a time-sensitive Circumstance and these are very belated Incoming grant dollars from the state level that are needed to reimburse ongoing programming and so just wanted to clarify for folks that Well, it is not a usual action for us to take it's not unprecedented. It had extenuating circumstances Thank you

All right, the following items in this section of the agenda will not be read aloud and without objection, 6B through 6I will be forward to the next council meeting for action. I know some signed up for 6C, but this is first reading and so we do not allow comments on first reading. It's second reading that we do allow public comments. So that item will be back next week. So those are the rules. All right, let's see, moving on to seven ordinances. Second reading, 7A will be read and voted on separately. 7A ordinance providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds series 2026A in the sum

Yeah, gotcha. I move to approve item 7A with the emergency clause. Second. Wait a minute. Are we supposed to do it separately? That's where I'm... Yeah. Okay. Scratch that. I'm going to make a motion just to approve item 7A. Second.

Yes. All right, 7A is approved. Is there a motion for the emergency clause?

I make a motion to approve the emergency clause on 7A. Second.

All right. The emergency clause on seven a is approved seven B ordinance amending title 15 Tulsa revised ordinances titled franchise and grants by adopting a new chapter 11 titled Coxcom LLC franchise granting. to Coxcom LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. It's a successor and assigns for a period of 10 years a non-exclusive franchise and a right to use the public rights of way for the purpose of providing cable services to consumers and the general public within the city. C, Ordinance ZCA 40, amending the City of Tulsa Zoning Code Title 42, Tulsa Revised Ordinances for the purpose of a

Beth that was the only speaker. Correct.

All right. Any council discussion. Colleagues I did want to call folks attention to that. The backup had a slightly newer amended version. You may not have had an opportunity to see yet. I mean I promised Sarah and Jack I would make sure everyone noted the one little amendment is in the garage setback. It changed from for this specific neighborhood. 18 feet to 36 feet that was after a lot of negotiation that I know the neighborhood did with the planning office to arrive at something that was a solid objective standard and still met what they were pursuing and of course still is up for any type

Move to approve item 7B through C with the emergency clause on item 7B. Second.

All right, items 7B through 7C are approved with the emergency clause on 7B. Eight council items, 8A, councilors' announcements and reports on current community events, activities, efforts, and concerns. Other than announcements and reports, no discussion will ensue. Anybody have any reports?

Wow. 8B resolution of the City of Tulsa expressing its intent to support the establishment and funding of an eviction prevention and legal representation program do we have any speakers we have five speakers on 8B the first is Jack Seawright

Thank you. Good evening, counselors. Good evening.

Ms. Alexander, you're done speaking. Just go ahead and speak to us.

Great. Thank you. All right, Beth. Next speaker.

All right, is there council discussion? Oh, Councilor Lakin?

I just want to thank my council colleagues for having an ongoing collaborative workshopping process. I think we've got a lot of really good amendments and feedback throughout from folks. And one thing I really do want to surface because I acknowledge a lot of folks that we are getting concerns from our property owners or people who potentially you know are the ones that legally do like the eviction docket. And. if we pass this tonight, which I'm very optimistic about, that means that we have this opportunity to create a table where various voices are represented and we can all be at that decis

unless there's more council discussion. Are you making a motion? If you don't mind.

Yes, yes. I would like to move to approve item 8B with the amended backup as distributed in the 4 p.m. meeting today. Second.

All right. Item 8B is approved. Now on to item 8C. Councilor Hall-Harper? Yes. Exit stage right. All right, 8C, travel authorization per council rules and order of business, an estimated amount of $1,300 for Council Hall-Harper to travel to Omaha, Nebraska to attend African American Leadership Conference to be held on September 30th through, September 30th, excuse me, through October 3rd. Do we have any speakers?

Sir, you need to address us, the council.

This is just about a travel, so thank you very much. Next speaker.

Thank you. Beth, was that the last speaker? Correct. All right. Is there a council discussion? Yes. Councilor Dexter Wright.

Thank you. I agree this is an important conference to attend. I attended it in 2021 with a group of Tulsans, and it is put on by the Empowerment Network in Omaha, and they have people from all across the country and around the world to learn what they've been doing for 30 years to close gaps and bridge longstanding disparities in employment, education, housing, and entrepreneurship, to build wealth and support minority-owned businesses, and to strengthen the community. They're also working with my brother's keeper. If this sounds familiar, a lot of this is being implemented in North Tulsa righ

Yes. All right, item 8C is approved. Nine new business, no items. Ten hearing of appeals, no items. Eleven hearing of public comments. This concludes the televised portion of this meeting.