Broken Arrow City Council Meeting - February 3, 2026

The Broken Arrow City Council convened on February 3, 2026, to address a wide range of urban planning, infrastructure, and public safety agenda items. Key discussions centered on the public education campaign for the upcoming 2026 General Obligation Bond, the awarding of contracts for transportation and fire station projects amidst bid disputes, and significant updates to zoning and short-term rental ordinances. The meeting concluded with a vote to table the new short-term rental ordinance for further work session discussion to address community concerns and technical nuances.

Consent Calendar

• Items from the consent agenda were reviewed; however, Councillor Ford experienced technical difficulties with the voting display, requiring troubleshooting before proceeding.
• Routine approvals were prepared for the agenda items listed below, contingent on further discussion in the "Discussion Items" section.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tyler Dietring (Ascend Commercial Builders, Appellant for Fire Station Bid): Expressed strong opposition to the recommendation bypassing the lowest bidder for Fire Station #8. He argued that minor warranty items on a completed field office project do not constitute a valid reason to reject the lowest responsible bidder and accused the city of having a "contractor of choice." He requested the council award the bid to his firm or re-bid the project.
• Sherry Pullman (Sherry's Cozy Cottages, Short-Term Rental Operator): Expressed support for noise monitoring requirements but strongly opposed the mandate for a million-dollar insurance policy, stating the cost is prohibitive for small operators with limited revenue. She also opposed the requirement to notify abutting property owners upon license renewal, arguing it invites "pettiness" and unnecessary conflict for established hosts who are present on-site.
• Colton J. (Resident, Adjacent Property): Expressed concern regarding the potential impact of the Kenosha/Onita Road commercial rezoning (BAZ 2565-2025). He argued that Onita Road is not currently capable of handling semi-trucks and proposed removing the northern truck entrance to prevent traffic issues. He also urged that strict landscaping (rolling hills, broad trees) and a stormwater detention pond be mandated to protect against flooding and light pollution.
• David Tapp (Peterson Plus Farm Developer): Expressed enthusiasm for the "Pediatrics Plus Farm" project. He clarified that the facility would not house staff, would not include roosters or exotic animals, and would operate Monday through Friday only. He stated they are committed to minimizing lighting and following city ordinances regarding animal ordinances.

Discussion Items

1. 2026 General Obligation Bond Public Education

• Aaron McCullough (Communications Team) presented the education strategy, noting the bond package includes seven property tax propositions (no rate increase) and one temporary half-cent sales tax proposition (Prop 8) for sports facilities. The public education blitz runs from February 16 to April 7.
• Proposed Strategies: A digital campaign featuring the website buildourfutureba.org, an AI-powered "GoBond answer line" (demonstrated to answer tax and project questions), utility bill inserts, and extensive in-person meetings with Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and civic groups. Four public forums are scheduled in March and April.
• Councillor Ford suggested utilizing specific neighborhood targeting for meetings, similar to previous programs, to increase attendance.
• City Staff confirmed they would accommodate specific neighborhood requests and ensure the two-council-member limit per meeting is strictly adhered to to comply with Open Public Meeting Acts. A "one-sheet" for each proposition has been created for distribution at these meetings.

2. Award of 9th Street Intersection Project (Cherokee Pride Construction)

• Travis Smalls (Engineering) recommended awarding the $2.2 million contract to Cherokee Pride Construction, the lowest bidder for the 9th/Washington intersection project, which is under the original $2.7 million estimate.
• Councillor Green inquired about the specific design, confirming the project involves widening lanes in all four directions with a new traffic signal and turn lanes, rather than a roundabout.
• City Manager Spurgeon noted the project is part of the 2018 bond package, with over 70% of the projects completed or in the construction cycle, and emphasized the importance of addressing the bottleneck on Lynn Lane immediately.

3. Broken Arrow Creek Trail Phase Two Funding

• Charlie Bright (Engineering) requested approval to pay an additional $468,362.20 to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) after bid amounts exceeded the federal grant cap. Staff recommended transferring funds from closed projects to cover the deficit. Councillor Ford expressed full support for the trail system, citing its importance for connectivity and quality of life.

4. Award of Fire Station #8 Construction (Myers Cherry Construction)

• Charlie Bright explained the recommendation to award the contract to Myers Cherry Construction (the second-lowest bidder) over Ascend Commercial Builders (the lowest bidder), citing a less than 1% cost difference and a higher determination of "responsibility" based on past performance and warranty response times.
• Councillor Ford voiced strong disagreement with the implication of a "contractor of choice," affirming support for the staff's recommendation based on legal compliance and the need to ensure responsible performance.
• Councillor Green supported the recommendation, emphasizing that the decision was based on the legal definition of the "lowest responsible bidder" where weight is given to both "lowest" and "responsible."
• Motion: Made and passed to accept Myers Cherry Construction as the award winner.

5. Rezoning BAZ 2565-2025 (Kenosha/Onita Road)

• Rocky Hinkle (Community Development) presented the rezoning from Agricultural to Commercial General, supported by a traffic impact analysis (TIA) showing no degradation of Level of Service.
• Councillor Ford and Councillor Green expressed significant concern regarding the adequacy of Onita Road for commercial semi-truck traffic, noting current physical limitations and a lack of future improvement plans.
• Developer Rep (Natalie Cornette) confirmed access is planned via Onita Road and Kenosha, with the TIA indicating acceptable traffic levels.
• Council Consensus: Despite the developer's presentation, the council recognized the TIA was conceptual. They determined that conditions regarding dual-lane turn lanes on Onita Road and street maintenance partnerships must be addressed during the engineering and platting phases. The motion to approve the rezoning was passed with the understanding that final engineering conditions would resolve the traffic concerns.

6. PUD and Rezoning for "Pediatrics Plus Farm" (PUD 2514-2025 / BAZ 2575-2025)

• David Tapp detailed the therapeutic farm concept, involving children with autism working with animals (chickens, sheep, donkeys) and farm products for therapy.
• Councilors praised the project's community benefits. Councillor Ford confirmed the project would not require a staff member to live on-site and that the animals (no roosters) comply with city ordinances. The motion to approve the PUD and split zoning was passed unanimously.

7. Short-Term Rental Ordinance Preview (Ordinance No. 3905)

• Police Chief Lance Arnold highlighted recent incidents involving unlicensed parties, underage drinking, and firearms at short-term rentals, arguing current ordinances lack enforcement teeth. He proposed new requirements including a local 24/7 agent, noise monitoring devices, and a $1 million liability insurance policy.
• Councillor Ford and Sherry Pullman expressed opposition to the mandatory million-dollar insurance requirement, arguing it is unfair to small, responsible operators (especially those living on-site) who already have coverage. They also questioned the necessity of notifying neighbors upon renewal.
• Councillor Peck emphasized the need for the city to have the legal authority ("meat") to pull permits and enforce consequences, noting that the current system leaves officers without leverage.
• City Staff (Travis Burrus/Rocky Hinkle) explained the proposed "ladder" system of permit suspension/revocation for violations.
• Action: Councillors voted to table the preview of the ordinance to schedule a special work session to address the insurance mandates, owner-occupancy distinctions, and neighbor notification requirements before advancing the legislation.

8. Adoption of Ordinance No. 3901 (Amplified Music)

• Travis Burrus noted that the ordinance was passed in December 2025 but not published due to administrative oversight. The council moved to adopt and apply the emergency clause to ensure proper publication.

Key Outcomes

• Bond Education: Council approved the public education strategy for the 2026 Bond, with a 51-day blitz launching February 16, featuring a new website, AI hotline, and community forums.
• Construction Awards:
  • Approved award of $2.2M contract to Cherokee Pride Construction for the 9th Street Intersection (Item 9A).
  • Approved funding transfer of $468,362.20 for Broken Arrow Creek Trail Phase Two (Item 9B).
  • Approved award of Fire Station #8 construction to Myers Cherry Construction (Item 9C).
• Zoning:
  • Approved BAZ 2565-2025 (Kenosha/Onita Road commercial rezoning), with engineering conditions to be finalized later.
  • Approved PUD 2514-2025 and BAZ 2575-2025 for the "Pediatrics Plus Farm."
• Ordinance Action:
  • Approved Ordinance 3901 (Amplified Music).
  • Deferred the Short-Term Rental Ordinance (Item 10A) to a future work session to refine insurance requirements and notification procedures based on public testimony.
• Executive Session: Council recessed to Executive Session to conclude closed-session business.
• Recognition: Council members publicly thanked the City Department of Streets and Emergency Management for excellent winter weather response. Councillor Green also highlighted traffic monitoring initiatives for the upcoming NSU and Amphitheater expansion.