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Record of Proceedings

Visit Broken Arrow Board Meeting – August 11, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BodyBroken Arrow, Oklahoma
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 32:43

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:01

Okay, so we will need to have a nomination for who gets to run this meeting because the chair and the vice chair are both out.

0:09

Oh, okay.

0:10

So if anyone would like to nominate someone else or volunteer.

0:15

I'll nominate Ben to run the meeting.

0:17

I'll second that.

0:23

Umy.

0:28

Yes.

0:29

You can do it.

0:30

We believe in you.

0:31

Yes.

0:32

Here.

0:33

Schneider.

0:34

Yes.

0:34

Swanson.

0:35

Yes.

0:35

He's done it before.

0:38

And I will just say we're having technical difficulties on your computer, so you cannot see the agenda yet from where you are sitting.

0:44

But it's up here on the screen.

0:45

The agenda is here.

0:46

Agenda is.

0:47

Oh, we're good.

0:47

Yeah, you got it.

0:48

It's a media five screen.

0:50

Okay.

0:53

Okay.

0:53

Perfect.

0:54

So I just can't see it.

0:56

Okay.

0:59

So I'll call this meeting to order five minutes late at 3 35.

1:05

All right.

1:07

Here.

1:07

Ford.

1:08

Here?

1:08

La.

1:09

Here.

1:09

Schneider.

1:10

Here.

1:10

Swanson.

1:11

Here.

1:28

Are we doing the presentations now?

1:30

Uh there's no presentation, so you can just go to first.

1:34

Uh discussion and possible approval of the meeting minutes.

1:37

Anyone want to talk about meeting minutes?

1:40

I will make a motion to approve the meeting minutes.

1:45

Second.

1:47

Bowie?

1:47

Yes.

1:48

Ford.

1:48

Yes.

1:49

Lop.

1:50

Yes.

1:50

Schneider.

1:51

Yes.

1:51

Swanson.

1:52

Yes.

1:53

Discussion impossible approval of Oklahoma Wesley and 918 wrestling open rebate request and an amount not to exceed $2,500.

2:02

So he'll be on teams.

2:10

So we have Tom Carr.

2:12

He is with Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

2:15

If you guys remember last year they came for an event and they had such a great time and it was so successful that they're back again for next year and or for this year.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Tourism Promotion█████████████████████████████████33%
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Budget Equity Analysis███████████11%
Personnel Matters█████████9%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Technology and Innovation████████8%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Visit Broken Arrow Board Meeting – August 11, 2026

The Visit Broken Arrow board met on August 11, 2026, at 3:35 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber. Chairman Brian Dean and Vice Chair Tommy Yardy were absent; member Ben Buie was nominated and unanimously elected to chair the meeting. The board considered four rebate requests, approved out-of-state travel for a board member, and received an update from the Tourism Director. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of July 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes – Motion by Ben Buie, seconded, passed unanimously.
  • Oklahoma Wesleyan 918 Wrestling Open Rebate Request – Not to exceed $2,500. Tom Carr of Oklahoma Wesleyan University presented via Teams, noting the event returns December 12, 2026 at the Broken Arrow Event Center with an estimated 40+ hotel room nights and over 1,000 attendees. Board approved on condition receipts are submitted.
  • Christian Interpreters Conference Hotel Rebate – Not to exceed $12,500. Angie Mathis reported the July 9–11 conference at Stony Creek drew 367 attendees from 35 states plus D.C. and two foreign countries. The conference may return in 2028, possibly combined with a Deaf Leaders Conference. Board approved.
  • 2027 National Senior Racquetball Championship Rebate – Not to exceed $12,500. Organizer Joe Williams (audio connection poor) expected 150–200 players plus family/friends, with an estimated 500 hotel room nights. Event scheduled for June 26–July 3, 2027 at RAMA. Board approved.
  • Out-of-State Travel for Board Member Lisa Ford – Attendance at U.S. Travel’s ESTO Innovation Award ceremony in Philadelphia. The board approved travel for Councilor Lisa Ford to accompany staff; the item will also go to City Council for final approval.

Discussion Items

  • Tourism Director Report – Director provided updates:
    • Fiscal Year 26 Budget: Ended with surplus; unspent funds return to reserves. Final payment to in-house made; initial meetings with Sparkloft marketing agency underway.
    • Hotel Feasibility Study: Joint project with Economic Development; $7,000 consultant analyzing feasibility of a new hotel in south Broken Arrow near Racers/Home Depot area, to provide data for attracting developers.
    • Tax Collections: June 2026 collections up 13% over June 2025; fiscal year 26 total up 3%.
    • Conferences: Staff attended Destinations International in Portland; AJGA golf event at Indian Springs held; Sparkloft kickoff and Zartico economic impact software implementation begun.
    • Uber Program: Usage spiking ($5,000 and $3,000 in recent months vs. $13,000 annual budget). Staff investigating potential code-sharing abuse and considering policy adjustments such as unique codes per trip or per-conference codes to ensure proper use for tourism attraction rather than routine business traveler commuting.
    • Amphitheater Update: Operator (Legends Global) hired; fall 2026 opening still anticipated but no concert announcements yet.
  • Board Appointments: Three terms expire September 30 (Sonja Schneider, Ben Buie, and a vacant position). Councilor Craig indicated he typically appoints someone new after two terms; Sonja Schneider may continue if needed. Tammy Seal volunteered for the vacant seat.

Key Outcomes

  • All four rebate requests and the travel approval passed unanimously, with all five present members (Buie, Ford, Lopp, Schneider, Swanson) voting yes.
  • The board will consider adjustments to the Uber program policy at a future meeting.
  • The meeting adjourned unanimously after the Tourism Director report.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, so we will need to have a nomination for who gets to run this meeting because the chair and the vice chair are both out. Oh, okay. So if anyone would like to nominate someone else or volunteer. I'll nominate Ben to run the meeting. I'll second that. Umy. Yes. You can do it. We believe in you. Yes. Here. Schneider. Yes. Swanson. Yes. He's done it before. And I will just say we're having technical difficulties on your computer, so you cannot see the agenda yet from where you are sitting. But it's up here on the screen. The agenda is here. Agenda is. Oh, we're good. Yeah, you got it. It's a media five screen. Okay. Okay. Perfect. So I just can't see it. Okay. So I'll call this meeting to order five minutes late at 3 35. All right. Here. Ford. Here? La. Here. Schneider. Here. Swanson. Here. Are we doing the presentations now? Uh there's no presentation, so you can just go to first. Uh discussion and possible approval of the meeting minutes. Anyone want to talk about meeting minutes? I will make a motion to approve the meeting minutes. Second. Bowie? Yes. Ford. Yes. Lop.

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