The Tulsa City Council Public Works Committee met on April 1, 2026, to consider appointments to two commissions, discuss the proposed hotel guest tax (including feedback from a March 30 town hall and a shift to a November election timeline), and deliberate on possible charter amendments for future ballots. No formal votes were taken; appointments are scheduled for a vote on April 15, and further discussions on charter amendments will continue.
Item 2 – Lacey Richards to Route 66 Commission: Lacey Richards, a local small business owner (co-owner of a brewery), introduced herself, emphasizing her advocacy for small businesses and community engagement. She expressed enthusiasm for serving on the commission to help market and support businesses along Route 66. Councilors Gilbert and Archie praised her experience. A vote is scheduled for April 15.
Item 3 – Obumakabum (Chair of Tulsa Arts Commission) Reappointment: The appointee, also chair of the commission, described her background in theater and youth arts training (including founding Black Broadway Tulsa). She highlighted goals of expanding access for artists, especially in performing arts, and preserving arts funding. Councilors expressed support. A vote is scheduled for April 15 (noted as "tax day").
To the 2 30 Wednesday, April 1st Public Works meeting. I'm Councillor Dr. Wright calling me into order. Item number two is Lacey Richards appointment to the Route 66 Commission replacing Amber Lit Whack. Term expires July 1st, 2028. Ms. Richards is from District 2. Right next to it. Chair Gilbert, if you want me to pass it right here. Welcome. Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you would like to serve in this capacity on the Route 66 Commission. Yeah, for sure. I'm a native Colson. Also Mary and a Broken Hair Boy. And we have uh lived here our whole lives on and operated a business or a couple businesses here in Tulsa. Um I have a background uh a master's degree from Northeastern State University. Um, but I think my real heart is in um advocacy for small business owners and other small businesses like me. Um we've grown our business from just a uh little Texaco at Sixton Rockford um and revitalize that little guy um into from about 1200 square feet to almost 10,000 square feet of production tap room. Um so we do a lot of marketing, we take care of a lot of customers in Tulsa, really transforms what people consider um just beer into a place that serves many people as a third space, what people are calling third space these days, um, and having a place for the community, and we do a lot of um oh community events, a lot of social outreach programs that come and visit us and use our venue as a home to operate and have meetings out of. And um as far as myself goes, um I have a background in counseling and therapy and um do a lot of marketing as well, and so I think I have a different kind of approach for other businesses and other people um who are also utilizing a community uh focused thing like Route 66. Okay, great. Um any specific ties to the route? None other than being in Tulsa, no. My grandparents are also from here, they're from Drumwright. Uh my dad's side is also from Tulsa. Um gosh, it's something not really, just me. Uh Counselor Gilbert and then Counselor Archie. Did you have to do that? Yeah, so Lacey, thank you for everything that you and your husband have done to uh bring up your your small business. You guys have done a phenomenal job, and I think that you would bring a lot of your expertise in that to the table of the commission and helping um other small businesses along Route 66 to um not just follow what you have done, but also I mean you're great with working with other uh businesses and uh just giving uh tips and everything uh to others and um uh I can't thank you enough for wanting to to serve on this and taking the time to do it. So I'm sure Amber did a wonderful job. I know Amber Litwack, she's wonderful, and so what a loss. But I would love to fill those big shoes. Yeah. Um and yeah, I I do have a heart for people who there's a lot of great people who go into business and small business, but they don't know how to market themselves, or maybe they don't know how to advocate for themselves or how to reach customers in different um groups. So yeah, so that that's what we're trying to do along the route is to build up those small businesses or even uh get more interest of small business owners to set up shop along the route. So um I'm super excited that you're willing to do this. So thank you. I appreciate that. Counselor Archie. Thank you. Lacey, good to see good to see you. We've probably known each other for it'll be 20 years coming up. I'll say that. But um you all look very good. Um you are smart. There's so much that you're gonna contribute to um to the commission, and so um I'm very grateful that you chose to to say yes to serving and um love it. So anything else, counselors? Well, Miss Richards, um, we will actually take up a vote on the 15th at 5 o'clock. You are welcome to be there if you'd like.