Broken Arrow City Council Meeting Summary - November 17, 2025
Broken Arrow City Council Meeting - November 17, 2025
The Broken Arrow City Council convened to discuss several key initiatives, including updates on the upcoming $405–$414 million bond package, the creation of a new Citizens Engagement Academy, and approvals for various financial instruments and capital projects. The meeting also featured a unanimous vote to approve a new Drone First Responder (DFR) program and the adoption of two bond sale ordinances. The evening concluded with remarks on the success of the recent tree lighting event and upcoming holiday activities.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved as a whole without items removed.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments or testimony were received during the Citizens' Opportunity to Address the Council.
Discussion Items
-
Bond Package Update (December 2025): The City Manager presented the timeline for the "Build Our Future Phase Two" bond package. The administration will present a proposal for council consideration on December 2nd, followed by a two-week layover period. If approved, the council will vote on December 16th to move forward with legal work for an election on April 7, 2026. The proposed package value has been narrowed to approximately $405–$414 million from an initial $600 million+ concept.
-
Citizens Engagement Academy: Council discussed a proposal to create a Citizens Engagement Academy, similar to the successful Police Academy, to educate residents on city departments, utilities, and governance. The program would target 20–25 residents annually, potentially starting in Q1 2026. Council members expressed strong support, citing the need for better public understanding of city operations.
-
Downtown Master Plan Advisory Committee: Council appointed members to the new advisory committee to establish a vision for downtown Broken Arrow. Nominations included city council members, planning commissioners, and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and school district. One nominee's residence status was briefly clarified to ensure he met the participation criteria.
-
Rose District Plaza Design Concept: Council debated two options for the Rose District Master Plan. Option 1 features a central open lawn and stage with the pavilion relocated north along El Paso Street. Option 2 keeps the pavilion in the center and moves the lawn/stage north. After discussion regarding pedestrian flow, visibility from Main Street, and future event capacity (including the Christmas tree and concerts), Council expressed a preference for Option 1 to maximize open space and visibility, though no formal vote was taken to lock in the design concept itself, rather a lean was recorded.
-
Visit Broken Arrow Strategic Plan: The council reviewed a five-year tourism strategic plan developed by Clarity of Place. The plan outlines five imperatives: leveraging infrastructure, maintaining authenticity, strengthening the visitor ecosystem, expanding veterans' heritage tourism, and capitalizing on the arts/culture scene. Council approved the plan.
-
Drone First Responder (DFR) Program: Chief Lance Arnold presented a proposal for a contract with Brink and Motorola Solutions to deploy autonomous drones capable of flight beyond visual line-of-sight. The program boasts a 70-second average response time and can deliver medical supplies (Narcan/EpiPens). The City Manager noted that negotiations reduced the cost significantly from the initial quote. The program includes a one-year trial with no cost to the city, followed by a six-year contract for years two through six at $79,000 per drone annually. Council members expressed strong support for the program as a public safety innovation.
Key Outcomes
- Bond Package Authorization: Council authorized the sale of $14.5 million in 2025 General Obligation Bonds (Series A) and $2.5 million in 2025 General Obligation Bonds (Series B) via Ordinance 3899 and Ordinance 3900, with emergency clauses approved.
- Bid Awards: Bids were received and approved for the sale of the $14.5 million bond series (awarded to TD Financial Products LLC at 3.669651%) and the $2.5 million bond series (awarded to TD Financial Products LLC at 3.11%).
- Resolution 1721: Approved to formalize the use of electronic documents and signatures via DocuSign.
- Downtown Advisory Committee: Approved the appointment of members to the Downtown Master Plan Advisory Committee.
- Rose District Plaza: Council indicated a preference for Option 1 of the design concept, directing staff to proceed with further planning and costing to align with the bond project boundaries.
- Drone Program: Motion to approve Contract #25-16** (specific number redacted in transcript, referred to as 25-16** in speaker text) for the Drone First Responder program passed with a roll call vote.
- Expenditure Approvals: Approved expenditure of $50,000 in 2018 Prop 6 funds for the design phase of a drainage project for the 6100 Business Center; approved the award of a $565,940 construction contract to Gober Construction for water and drainage improvements on Houston Street in Old Town.
Next Steps
- Staff to send appointment letters to the new Downtown Master Plan Advisory Committee members.
- Finalize the Bond Package presentation for December 2nd.
- Develop a proposal for the Citizens Engagement Academy for Q1 2026.
- Execute the Drone First Responder contract and begin the one-year trial period.
- Prepare for the Holiday Parade on December 6th.
Meeting Transcript
Call the broken era city council meeting to order. We have an invocation by Pastor Conley. If you would bow your heads and close your eyes, prayer with me. Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today and we're just so thankful to be here. We're thankful for your great love for us and for this wonderful city that we live in. We ask you today that as we move forward and and all the things that we have to discuss that you'd fill us with wisdom and discernment. We pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you, sir. All right, roll call. Here. Excuse me. Um Green here. Ford. Here. Parks. Here. Wimpy. Here. Please stand and join Councillor Lisa Ford for the Pledge of Allegiance. Attention, salute, pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, ma'am. Are there any items to be removed from the consent agenda? I'll make a motion we approve the consent agenda as it stands. I'll second. Y'all call. Item seven, hearings, appeals, presentations, recognitions, and awards. 7-8 update on the upcoming December presentations to the city council for the 26th go bond. Well, good evening, Mayor, members of council, those in the audience and that are also watching the meeting uh on home at home tonight. Uh just wanted to mention two things to the governing body and and our in our community. The main one is is that I wanted to share the exciting news that December 2nd, the administration is going to give the council members a I would say proposal or presentation with regard to what projects we would like for council to consider in each of the various propositions for the uh basically build our future phase two, which will be before the voters if council approves the appropriate ordinances and and resolution for April 7th of next year. And then I'm gonna ask the council members really just to take it under advice and then for two weeks to let it lay over. And at that time, we'll actually make sure that the city clerk's office has the complete package that the staff is as recommended to the governing body for the public to come in to look and we'll also place it online for those folks that may be interested to see what's being uh before the council. And then I'm excited that on the 16th I'm I'm going to ask the council to take the package under consideration and actually vote to move forward to to officially allow our legal and special council to work together along with the engineering construction with Kenny Schwab to bring forth the ordinance and the resolution calling for the the actual election and pretty much finalizing the the packages proposals for the for the the bond the bond package on April 7th. And so as council knows as we we've narrowed this down from over 600 million dollars to to where now we're right right around 400 million, maybe between 405 and 414. And I'm very excited for the public to see this uh um this package. Obviously, the council has the the final decision on what goes in each of the respective propositions. And so I do know that many of the user groups that uh have been participating all along, maybe in attendance, asking counsel, they may be some you may be some folks that are here asking for you for them to for you to support some of the projects that we've we've presented, and they may have there may be some folks that have questions. Uh and that'll essentially wrap up the actually the preparation of the of the package itself, and then legal will take over, and then there'll be one really one phase left, and that's the the actually the funnest phase, I believe, it's the public education. That's where the the council members and the leadership team as well as many of the community organizations get to go out for approximately 60 days and actually working with Build a Better Broken Arrow, share the proposed package and what these amazing projects are that the voters will be voting on April 7th. And so we are nearing the end of that of this phase of actually finalizing the projects. I know the council is excited. Many of the organizations are as well, and I just want to let the council members know where we're at and the public more importantly. So hopefully they'll be tuning in and we'll have some folks that'll show some interest in looking at the package once council accepts it after December 2nd. And I'll be glad to answer any questions if you have any. Now I will say there is one thing later in the agenda which regards to the roads or plasma. So council is going to actually have to make a decision tonight tentatively on which design so that way we can make a full for the full presentation. And I'm really excited about the options that are coming before you so that way the public will first time get to see what those are.
openpublica.com