All right, good evening, and welcome to the 5 p.m.

Tulsa City Council meeting.

You can view this meeting on our Facebook page or our YouTube channel, Cox Channel 24 or at Tgov Online.org.

Assisting the council tonight are Jack Blair, City Attorney, Lori Doring, our sec secretary to the council, and Brandon Worley, Council staff.

If you wish to speak on an agenda item, please see Brandon to complete a request to speak card prior to that item being read.

You will not be allowed to speak on any item that has already been read.

Please join us in pledging allegiance to the flag of our country and remain standing for a moment of silence.

Um tonight we have a proclamation for a National Financial Literacy Day.

Please let him read it.

So well, but not not enough.

Not enough.

I'm gonna let you read it tonight.

All right.

Well as proof the mayor of the city can read, we'll do it.

Well, first you do we want to call up the come on up, come on up.

Yeah, bring the whole team up.

Bring it on.

Bring it on.

Let's do it.

Okay.

Yeah, failed that one.

All right.

Um, whereas National Financial Literacy Month is observed in April to promote awareness and action surrounding financial education and the continued stability of Tulsans and families everywhere.

And whereas Oklahoma has been noted as having a lower than average financial literacy rate, and many Tulsa many Tulsa citizens continue to face barriers to equitable financial resources and trusted guidance.

And whereas the City of Tulsa's Financial Empowerment Center provides free access to counsel to financial counseling in an annual event in April in recognition of National Financial Literacy Month to allow citizens direct access to resources they need now more than ever.

And whereas and whereas since 2020, the FEC has conducted 9,700 one-on-one financial counseling sessions and helped residents achieve over 1 million five hundred and twenty-seven thousand three hundred and seventy-two dollars in savings and three million.

We're not even done yet.

Yeah, absolutely.

And three million six hundred and forty-four thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight dollars in debt reduction.

Now clap.

Advancing financial financial stability and legacy building across the city.

And whereas National Financial Literacy Month calls upon all Tulsans to actively engage in their financial well-being by seeking available resources and educating themselves while urging local government leaders to ensure equitable access to essential financial educational tools to empower citizens to obtain long-term prosperity.

Now therefore, we the mayor of the city of Tulsa and the Tulsa City Council do hereby recognize April 1st 22 2026, sorry, 2026 as National Financial Literacy Day, and witness thereof, and you have us all signed.

Well, hold up here now.

You have it all all of us have signed here.

So to DeAntree, Amber, the team, Crystal.

Come on up, Deputy Mayor Reyes.

And to everybody on behalf of all of us, happy National Financial Literacy Day.

First off, do you guys want to say anything?

Yes.

Amber.

I just want to thank everybody who's standing here and those who want to be here who are not present.

This is an act and labor of heart.

Is it able a labor of love and passion that does not lie in one organization or institution?

It takes a community to uplift the community.

And I want to commend our director who leads these efforts every day with support from Kennedy.

Thank you all.

Thank you to all of our partners.

We are greater together, and I'm just excited about what's to come.

Thank you.

Well, I feel like DeAndre encompassed the uh it really well, but I'll just say, you know, thank you to the city council.

Thank you to you, Mayor Nichols, um, for your intentionality, and obviously, Deputy Mayor Reyes, um, around bringing the financial empowerment center here and making sure that that really was an area of focus for our city and really understanding that we need to make sure that financial literacy is available to all citizens, and it's important for people to have opportunity and access financially.

And so thank you all.

All right, everybody in Madame.

Take 15 steps to the Mayor.

Down there though?

And Amber And we will guys need to come together if we can.

Hold up, we're going up there.

Sorry, I didn't like it.

Hold on, one more here.

No.

Hey, Steve, good to see you.

Uh, someone left their phone up front.

Never mind.

I think it's being sorry, April Fool's closed.

All right, it's a recording device.

Yeah, it is Wednesday.

All right.

Announcements.

Uh, people wishing to speak on an agenda items are lit are limited to five minutes total per meeting.

Public input is a time for members of the public to provide insight on the agenda item.

Due to the meeting format, public input is not a time for question and answer period.

All comments should be relevant to the agenda item and directed to the council.

We are using an electronic timing system in front of the speakers are a microphone.

Uh, there is a timer that will count down the time used.

A green light will indicate your time is running.

Yellow light will come on when you have 30 seconds remaining, and in your allotted time and a blinking red light uh will be shown when your time has concluded.

We ask that you stay within your time limits.

I bless you.

Uh so everyone wishing to speak is given equal time.

Thank you.

Um, please keep the podium area, railings, and aisles free from recording devices and tripods, recording equipment and accessories, including tripods must be set up in the media center.

As posted on tonight's agenda, certain items are subject to uh consideration and possible approval, adoption, denial, amendment, or revision.

Uh I call this meeting to order.

Please call the roll.

Counselor Hall Harper here, Counselor Archie, Councillor Dutton?

Counselor Dutton.

Here.

Counselor Bellis.

Here.

Counselor Gilbert?

Here.

Counselor Bengal.

Here.

Counselor Dr.

Wright?

Here.

Counselor Lakin.

Counselor Bush.

Here.

All right.

Um item number one.

Uh receipt a filing of minutes.

There are no items this week.

Two appointments and reappointments to a Sylvia Powell reappointment to the Sales Tax Overview Committee term expires December 31st, 2028.

C, Scott, I mean I know I'm gonna mess this up.

Osbard Oz.

As Bjornenson, uh reappointment to the HUD Community Development Committee term expires June 30th of 2027.

Are there any speakers?

We have three speakers.

Our first speaker, Mr.

John Hoffines.

He's for two A, B, and C we didn't read B, so right now it's just A and C.

Thank you.

Peace.

Yes, peace.

I'm grateful for our honorable leaders.

Our honorable council chair, Karen Gilbert, the honorable vice chair, Christian Bengal, Honorable Counselors, staff, team, and security.

We're thankful to the citizens of this great city of love, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

It is a joy to be with you on this first day of April in the year of our loving Lord Jesus Christ, 2026.

Yes.

Appointments and reappointments.

A Sylvia Powell, reappointment to the Sales Tax Overview Committee.

And C Scott Asby Jorenson, reappointment to the HUD Community Development Committee.

Yes, may we continue to honor our volunteers and employees.

Thank you, family.

Thank you, Mr.

Huffines.

Um, is there another speaker?

Our next speaker, Mr.

James Alexander Jr.

for 2C.

Good afternoon, Counselor.

I'm here to uh promote myself.

I want to be on this uh committee.

And I should be thank you.

Next speaker.

Bernice Alexander for 2C.

All right.

All right.

Is there a council discussion on 2A and C.

Move to approve items 2A and C.

Second.

Uh please call the roll.

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush.

Yes.

Counselor Hall Harper.

Yes.

Counselor Archie?

Yes.

Counselor Dutton.

Yes.

Counselor Bellis.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert.

Yes.

Counselor Bengal?

Yes.

Counselor Dr.

Ray?

Yes.

All right.

Now we will go back to 2B.

Stephen Mitchell.

Reappointment to the Tulsa Development Authority.

Term expires July 31st, 2028.

Move to deny items.

Hold on.

Do we have any speakers?

We have three speakers.

Our first speaker, Mr.

John Hoffeinz for 2B.

I pray for the wisdom of the Lord.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Hoffines.

That's the only speaker.

Uh no, ma'am.

We also have James Alexander Jr.

for 2B.

Once again, I'm promoting myself.

I want to be on this committee.

I can handle both of these committees.

Is that it?

And Bernice Alexander.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Council discussion on 2B.

Move to deny item 2B, Steve Mitchell.

For reappointment to the Tulsa Development Authority.

Second.

All right.

There's a motion to deny.

Deny and a second.

Will you please call the roll?

Nope.

We have some council discussion.

Council discussion.

Do we have discussion?

Yeah.

Okay.

Discussion.

Yes, I would like to re uh state why I'm taking this decision since it is such a rare occasion.

This is the first time since I've served since 2016 that I have moved to deny an appointment to any authority board or commission.

And so again, it's rare that I've had to do to do this, but I think it's important, and I feel strongly about it.

In 2018, and I'm going to give you a couple of examples.

Why?

In 2018, most of you either was if you weren't weren't serving, probably saw in the news that I had a problem in my community regarding food insecurity.

And I was trying to address the proliferation of dollar stores in my community, uh, that ultimately result resulted in a healthy neighborhoods overlay.

But the proliferation of dollar stores causes and creates food insecurity in food deserts.

And as the city counselor at that time, I went before the Tulsa Development Authority and asked them not to sell land to any more stores in my community.

And when I made that request, it was Steve Mitchell who looked me in my face and told me your community needs these types of developments, and they pursued to uh build to sell land and build another grocery store in my community, even though I shared why this didn't need to happen and what I was working towards in bringing a grocery store to my community.

Uh a second incident that I feel that was very inappropriate is um a year, maybe year and a half ago.

Uh the previous executive director for partner Tulsa, who was a new hire at the time.

Uh Mr.

Mitchell asked him out for lunch and basically demanded it as soon as possible when he went once he uh was hired.

Um and in that meeting, he asked him to reverse a decision that he had made by dismissing a previous employee who was uh Casey Stowe at the time.

And he said he was sorry that he could not do that, but there were reasons why he was dismissed.

And Mr.

Mitchell went proceeded to tell him that if you want to stay in this community any amount of time, then I would not recommend you making these types of uh major decisions so soon.

I considered that a threat.

Um I don't believe uh Mr.

Mitchell has the empathy, the lived experience, or the historical content that my community, unless let's be honest, Tulsa Development Authority, most of the land that they are making decisions on is in my district.

This is an urban renewal community.

We know hopefully what urban renewal is uh and how it has impacted black communities all over this country, and these were federal policies and mandates uh that have that have been brought down.

But I do not believe he makes decisions for the people and in the best interest.

He he will say, I'm an economist, and if the market dictates, then that's what we should have.

Well, markets dictating destroys black, brown, and poor communities.

That is not an approach to addressing this.

I simply don't do not believe that he has the empathy, the history, um, the lived experience to serve in this seat to make decisions that impact my community.

So I humbly ask my counselor, my fellow counselors, to vote with me in denying this appointment so that we can reappoint someone that does have the empathy, the lived experience, the historical context, uh, and simply the care for my community.

I think I need that, and that's what I'm asking for.

Thank you.

Any other counsel discussion.

I'll say something real briefly.

Counselor Hall Harper, thank you for those comments.

I just have a completely different experience with Mr.

Mitchell.

I find them to be uh extremely savvy from a business perspective, uh, very helpful in his opinions as provided through the volunteer service that he's uh given and volunteered to the city, and he's extremely uh generous and charitable in his works as well.

So I just have a different perspective and just wanted to make sure I provided that as well.

Counselor Dr.

Simmilar White Ridge Meeting.

Thank you.

Uh thank you, Chair Gilbert.

Thank you, Counselor Hall Harper for Um taking time in this very public meeting to say those things.

I know that's not easy, and I know in the eight years I've been on council, I can't remember a time where we would um vote in a split vote on an appointment.

We usually try to use diplomacy to avoid this kind of situation.

Um obviously counselor Lakin spoke in favor, and I think any number of appointees that come before us, any number of us up here might have personal interactions or professional interactions or civic interactions with those people where we may or may not um personally support, but we vote and support because the mayors brought them to us.

So I just did want to elevate for those in the room and those watching at home and media, um that it's extremely rare that you would even see this kind of conversation happening in this way because at the end of the day we are asking citizens to volunteer and to um give their time and talent and expertise on an authority border commission.

We have diplomatic and procedural ways to avoid these circumstances, and unfortunately, in this case, as you're seeing here today, those steps were taken but not um effective in the way that they have been over the years.

So it's regrettable that we have to have such a public debate about anyone's service.

Um, but there is a reason that we have checks and balances between mayoral appointees and council confirmation.

So there's a motion and a second on the floor if we're done with discussion.

We have counselor Denton.

Yeah, so I just want to bring back when he was at council last week.

Um when he was asked about why he wanted to serve.

And at the end of that meeting, he did a plug for data centers.

And I found that offensive when that's not what the item was about when he spoke, and um just giving us his experience or um why he felt he could serve on here would have been enough without a plug for pro data centers.

Counselor Archie.

Okay, I um I must have been late to this meeting.

I didn't I didn't get to meet Steve.

Um but is he here tonight?

He is not here tonight.

Okay.

Um what I'm looking at here of the 15 meetings, he only made seven.

So that's what I'm looking at.

That's what you know it is very rare that someone would say, you know, vote no.

I appreciate the support for Scott and Cynthia, because both of those are in my district.

Um and I believe that if I were to bring substantive concerns about any appointee that my colleagues would take it, you know, very seriously.

So um I have a lot of respect for council uh woman Hall Harper and tremendous amount of respect for Counselor Lakin as well.

Um so I'm looking at I'm looking at the seven out of fifteen right now.

Uh so I serve with uh Steve Mitchell on the Tao Board of Trustees.

So like Counselor Lake and I have a different experience with Steve to Counselor Dutton's point.

I think when we bring people to the council, we give them wide latitude.

So the fact that he said what he said about data centers, I don't think is relevant to the conversation, but I do respect every one of my single one of my colleagues up here, and so um uh I'm challenged about you know, when we go through this process and and you know, as counselor Paul Harper said, Um, it's rare that you would go through this process, and as counselor Dr.

Wright said, you do want to kind of avoid this kind of discussion, especially when you've had the person come to committee and explain why they can want to continue serving, and uh um from my understanding, she did try to approach this from uh a diplomatic standpoint, and so um it it is a challenge, and so I however I vote, I would hope that uh my colleagues uh would understand that while I don't under know personally the concerns that counselor Hall Harper is, we just might have different experiences, and so I I just want her to understand that um I hear her as a counselor, and so I appreciate her expressing that publicly.

Counselor Lakin.

Yeah, just real quick to Counselor Dutton's point.

Um he is seeking um uh an appointment to the Tulsa Development Authority.

So so I think his comment relating to the data centers was just in relation somewhat to his professional expertise and his volunteer experience as well.

Um his professional role is to um buy companies, make companies better.

He's very successful at it.

A lot of the companies that he has uh purchased um have remained in Tulsa, come to Tulsa, build in Tulsa, and so our economy is a lot stronger because of his investment to Counselor Archie's point, uh, the seven of the fifteen, you know, he's been on this board for quite some time.

Um I don't know what his past attendance has been, but he does he does travel quite a bit, but when he is available and active, he does provide a lot of professional experience and insight that is different than levels that others can provide sometimes just because of the role that he has as president of the company that he runs, and then he serves on boards of uh I don't even know dozens of companies as well.

So that experience is pretty vital for a board like this one and the other one that he serves on as well.

So uh counselor Bellis.

I'll wait.

Are you counselor Hall Harper?

Did you want to say Yeah, I just wanted to add to what uh Counselor Lakin was saying, and and I can appreciate his business acumen, but it is that reason why he is not best fit for the decisions that TDA has to make in communities that have bus disenfranchised.

He is making business decisions, and this is not a place for business decisions.

This is a community that needs decisions based on the disenfranchisement that has happened historically for many, many years in a community in that business acumen because he's saying, hey, if it makes money, it's good.

That's not necessarily the case in this community.

That may be fine out at 14 shared it.

But it's not when it comes to the historic Greenwood district in North Tulsa.

That is the very reason why he shouldn't be on this board because he is not making decisions based on people, based on a country and a city that puts profits over people.

That is his experience.

So yes, he's doing what he's been trained and raised up to do.

He's a rich white man who rarely even comes to North Tulsa, but he's making decisions that impacts the lives for decades of my community.

I wish you looked would look into his background a little bit before making competitions.

I couldn't care less.

I know you can't.

He is making decisions uh based on my community.

I come before you as a city councilor and tell you I'm facing a food insecurity issue.

Please don't let any more dollar stores come in my district, and you look at me and tell me your community needs these types.

He knows better than I constituents voted for me.

They didn't vote for him.

They don't even know him.

But he's making decisions that impact my community's lives, and he's making them based on American capitalism business, and that has destroyed my people from the institution of slavery clearing up until today.

Slavery was a business decision.

And that's how he's making these decisions.

All right, Counselor Bellis, do you want to make your comment now?

Yeah, I um I wish that we were, you know, you mentioned uh Councilor, thank you for mentioning, you know, he has served on this body for quite some time.

I'm trying to remember the number of years he said.

I wish the conversation we were having in this moment got to be, hey, thank you for your service.

It's time to let someone else, you know, have an opportunity to serve in this space.

I always think it's really healthy for boards and bodies to have natural turnover and have new voices and perspectives on them.

And so I I wish we could do that.

Um, though I know that's not what's before us right now.

Um I can appreciate that he has from his you know private equity lens a lot of economic experience.

But I am really struck by what Counselor Al Harper is sharing with us, especially when so much of what TDA does is so specific to North Tulsa.

Um he did make clear with some of his language during committee meeting, and I'm not, you know, gonna police every little word or thing that he said or did.

You know, I know that he is a nuanced person, and you all have had you know different experiences and work with him, but I did find the way that he was talking about that community to sound bereft of a lot of information about it.

Um I know we didn't get a lot of time with um him to kind of dig into that more.

But I I kind of I appreciate what Counselor Archie said, where you know, if any one of us was bringing something like this forward, I would hope my colleagues really heard that heartfelt concern, especially if it's something that's not you know hasn't been pursued in 10 years of service as Counselor Hall Harper said, Hey, I've never asked this, but this has such a high impact.

Um to me, I just think healthy turnover also is present here.

Um, and when someone's making outsized decisions who lives in a different community, um, who has a really different um and understandably profit-driven lens, which people may have different values around.

I can really appreciate that that may not be a fit for making these very hyper-local community-specific decisions.

Um I I share the perspective of thinking that it just to me sounds like a timer and opportunity for a fresh voice at the table.

And I those don't come up often on a lot of these bodies.

So that's just wanted to share what I'm kind of hearing or reflecting on with you all.

Thank you for saying that.

Um counselor Denton and then Archie.

Okay, I just want to thank my colleagues for expressing their opinions and uh perspectives on this gentleman.

And I appreciate um what counselor Archie also said, seven out of fifteen meetings he's attended less than half.

And that's huge when you are a volunteer and you want to say on a commission.

Um that's a lot of missed meetings.

And to the point of uh what counselor Hall Harper also said about her district, yeah, her people did elect her to represent them, and apparently um standing up for harm reduction in her district was really important.

And the fact that he did mention these data centers, I'm not uh gonna let that go because they are predominantly on the east side.

And that's not harm reduction.

And yeah, he might be a guy that does development and brings money to Tulsa, but on the back of disenfranchised communities, and I just I can't go along with somebody that's that entitled to come in and make decisions for north and northeast Tulsa.

I just can't, the harm.

Um I mean, I don't think that anybody out south um at say 91st in Yale or Sheridan wants a data center over there, and so to promote it to me was really inappropriate.

Counselor Archie.

So uh no, I appreciate all of the conversation because I'm genuinely torn.

Um I think that if Steve was here now, I would ask him to come forward and make a recommitment of himself to North Tulsa and to collaborating with Councilor Hall Harper, or just at TDA in general, if you're gonna serve, there needs to be a uh just a closer working relationship to just to recognizing our partnership with the council.

But okay.

Um this question is more for counselor Lakin if if you don't mind uh answering it.

What do you think we would lose if we lost Steve from the board?

Yeah, I I just think that he's one of the smartest business people that we have in the city.

He's he's obviously been very successful in in life, um, and he's able to bring um so many different opportunities to the city because he's out he he's decided to live in Tulsa.

He could I mean he moved back from LA to Tulsa, which is where he's from.

Um he's a memorial high school grad.

Um don't hold that against him either way.

I know.

Go chargers five.

Go chargers.

I know.

I knew you wouldn't hold it against him.

But he's he's a person who said, look, this is my place and this is the city that I want to build.

He's very charitably minded, he's very civically oriented.

Um I understand that counselor Hull Harper had a run-in on some things that were were said, and he he just has different ideas.

He he is a little bit more direct in that regard.

Um but when he's at the table, you tap into a mind and a lot of experience that very few people in the city of Tulsa have.

So that's what we lose whenever we say the people like Steve.

Hey, look, you weren't here um, you know, seven but seven of fifteen times.

So thank you for your service, but we don't need you.

When he's when he's there the seven of fifteen times, then he's very effective and providing input that the the entire group can or cannot take.

It's still a diverse group, um, just like we're a diverse group up here.

You know, there's some of us that have different kinds of abilities, and that's what makes us a pretty strong council.

Same thing with TDA, same thing with any ABC that we populate.

So I don't think it can look the same.

I don't think it can be the same in every regard.

So having additional insight, having that expertise is is really critical.

And then beyond that, you have to you have to think what else does he do outside of the meetings?

Being at a meeting is one thing.

Um we're at these meetings, but how much work do we do outside of council that's also important?

That's what Steve is doing for the city and providing lots of expertise, lots of guidance to either the mayor or the counselors or ABCs, or just generally doing something for the good of the city.

All right, counts.

I have Councillor Bellis and then Councillor Hall Harper.

I think this is just making me curious, kind of going back to my thought about his longitudinal service, and I understand not wanting to lose certain perspective to me.

I'm now hearing uh is this the best spot for that perspective to be situated, or you know, obviously this is someone who does care about our city more you know more broadly, and I'm curious if there's some other entity that their perspective, you know, could serve on or be a voice on that might less disproportionately impact a specific district or a specific area.

Just just naming that I'm hearing that they bring a lot to the table in a really specific and niche lens that is of value, but I am wondering that could be a value in a lot of different settings, and given that disproportionate impact in one area, I can understand that this may not be the best fit in perpetuity.

Just voicing that there are a lot of different ways we could be leveraging and thanking people for their time and service and making sure that their voices are heard and that we can like you know learn and get resource from them.

But maybe there's a different we have over 50 authorities boards and commission, so I'm just wondering if there's a different one that this person would be really helpful on as well if they want to volunteer continue to collaborate with us in this way, Councillor Hall Harper.

Um I agree, Councillor Bellas.

Uh, maybe the regional chamber is a better place for him to sit.

But I will I will finally say that uh I wholly think it was inappropriate for him to threaten uh a new employee of partner Tulsa uh with the fact that you know based on a decision that was made if you want to stay around here any amount of time, I wouldn't recommend doing these things.

Um I think that was totally inappropriate, wholly inappropriate.

He had no authority to do that, uh, but he did, but he felt privileged enough to do it.

And so to a black man, yeah, the man was a black man, yeah.

That's true.

Um, so we have uh a motion to deny in a second.

So Lori, will you please call the roll?

Counselor Lakin, no, Counselor Bush, no, Counselor Hall Harper, yes, Counselor Archie.

How did you vote Phil?

No.

And how did you vote?

Uh Counselor Hall Harper.

Well, she made the motion.

I made the motion yes.

This is a motion to it's uh yeah, right.

So you have to deny yes, that's a yes.

So you're a yes, yes, just want to make sure.

Thank you.

Counselor Dutton, yes, counselor Bellis, yes, Counselor Gilbert, no, counselor Bengal?

No, counselor dector right?

Yes, okay.

Motion was approved to deny.

All right.

Um item three, public hearings.

Public hearing for the council to receive and consider proposed charter amendments.

Is there a motion to enter public hearing?

I move to enter public hearings.

Second.

Uh we have a first and a second.

Will you please call the role?

Counselor Lakin.

Yes, Counselor Bush, yes, counselor Hall Harper, yes, Counselor Archie?

Yes, Counselor Dutton, yes, counselor Bellas, yes, counselor Gilbert, yes, Counselor Bengal?

Yes, Counselor Dr.

Wright?

Yes.

Okay, so we are now in public hearing.

Um will you please call the first speaker?

Yes, our first speaker is Carmen Glunt for public safety oversight.

Okay, and I'm sorry, Brandon.

How many speakers do we have?

Three.

Okay.

Thank you.

Hello again.

Hi.

Um I think it's funny that it's financial literacy day, because I feel like this is a pretty easy math problem.

You know, public safety is about half of the Tulsa County budget, right?

Around like 240 million.

And over the last couple months, we've spent how much of taxpayer money in civil rights settlements cases, or excessive force, or wrongful imprisonment.

Over 90 years that people have served for crimes that they were found innocent of.

And those policemen retired after long careers while those innocent people sat in prison.

And the recent cases, are those police officers still working?

How are they reprimanded?

We don't know because Tulsa fraternal order of police have fought to keep their disciplinary record secret.

I think it's time that external independent oversight is due, especially for the city of Tulsa.

I think the numbers show it, and that for people that are stewards of our money and our tax dollars, I think your vote should be yes is at least send this to the ballot for Tulsa to vote on it.

I think for it to die here would be an injustice to Tolsans, especially the ones that are at risk when we're not funding mental health care like we should, when 36% of arrests are for people that have mental health care problems.

I think there is a gap between the money that we spend for mental health care and the money that we're giving to police.

And I think that at least police oversight for you know, any complaints on public safety officers.

But what you're working on with the safety commissioner is not enough.

So I appreciate the work that you and uh Laura Roberts are doing, but it is not enough.

And I appreciate the work that uh uh both of you have done for the um for the oversight charter amendment.

Um I know just from what we've been through, it shows that you guys care about what happens in Tulsa.

And I know my mom also thinks you as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Our next speaker is Nate Morris for Public Safety Oversight.

Okay, um, good evening, y'all.

So my name is Nate Morris, just for the record, as all of you know at this point.

Um, District 3 homeowner, and I'm speaking in favor of a charter amendment for broad public safety oversight.

Um, I've called Tulsa home for 14 years at this point.

Uh, and while I've lost track of the number of times I've come up before this microphone, some of y'all might have been counting, but I've lost track.

Um, I have absolutely not forgotten the first time that I stood here.

So in August 2013, I was preparing to teach students for another year at Tulsa Med High School.

I was teaching a lot of students that didn't have the resources that they needed to be successful.

And so I came here and I voiced my concern about the city allocating an additional $500,000 to buy an additional SWAT vehicle for the Tulsa police department.

And it wasn't because I didn't think TPD deserved it, I just literally thought as a teacher, do y'all really need two of these?

Um, so no one at the die on the dais at that time needed to listen.

Nobody needed to take any action.

But I remember that one counselor did.

Then counselor G.T.

Biden made a motion to postpone the vote until the following meeting in order to give the council more time to review that request.

For all of the public policy differences that I had with Mayor Bynum, I will always remember that in that moment he demonstrated to me that government can and should be responsive to the people it serves.

For almost a decade, Tulsans have been coming here to this chamber asking for increased oversight of our public safety departments and increased accountability and transparency and collaboration to and with the broader Tulsa community.

This call for oversight is far from new.

So just to give a high-level overview of this long timeline.

In 2016, Tulson's demanded change after the killing of Terrence Crutcher while he was driving home unarmed from his classes at TCC.

In 2017, Tulson's called on the city to address the gross racial, social, and economic disparities that black and brown Tulsons have experienced in their interactions with law enforcement as laid out in the Tulsa Equality Indicators.

In 2018, hundreds of Tulsons, hundreds filled this chamber calling on this body to hold hearings around the those same racial disparities.

And again, hundreds of Tulsons showed up to support that ordinance, but it that effort fell short.

In 2020, those calls were renewed again, but it didn't move forward.

And so for the past six years, members of this body have time and again heard the concerns of Tulsons and time and again tried and tried to move something forward, whether through an ordinance or now through a city charter, but it hasn't been successful.

So we're at about a decade of residents of the city, including myself still coming here and asking for the government to hear us, to acknowledge us, to be responsive.

A proposed city charter amendment currently sits before this council, and it's one that provides a very different vision for public safety oversight than the one that Mayor Bynum initially proposed.

This oversight office would not focus specifically on one department, but it would cover the broad infrastructure of public safety across our city.

And if I get any of this wrong, please correct me.

This is my understanding.

While this office would be able to use data and draft reports that could help inform policy improvements to better serve all Tulsons, it would not, in contrast with the original model proposed by Mayor Bynum, put a strict focus on discipline specifically for one department.

Rather, this office would follow established models here in Oklahoma and across the country with a broadened lens to enhance accountability, transparency, and trust between Tulsons and their government.

As was mentioned earlier in today's 230 meeting, Oklahoma City is one of those cities in our state that has leaned into this kind of oversight.

And last year, Oklahoma City City Council, just as we were talking numbers while we were in, I was listening in on Facebook, but um Oklahoma City City Council allocated 1.2 million dollars to begin implementing a list of recommendations made by its law enforcement task force.

And one of those many recommendations was strengthening the citizens advisory board to enhance that citizen oversight.

And so I'll say I fully respect the conversation that was had earlier today to take more time to think this through.

I've I fully respect take being intentional and careful with something that is this important.

And I think honestly, just my opinion that waiting until November to put this on the ballot is not a bad idea.

I think is actually a wise choice given everything that's happening this summer.

But I do hope that any pause is met with real work to internalize, strengthen this charter amendment, and ultimately give the people of Tulsa the opportunity to decide if this is something that we want.

About 13 years ago, I walked into this chamber for the first time and a government official, made sure that I knew that my voice as a Tulson mattered.

No one is asking for this body to vote for or against public safety oversight directly.

We are simply asking you to ensure that our voices as Tulsons get heard.

Thank y'all.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Our last speaker is Anna Barros for Public Safety Oversight.

Hi, good afternoon, Ana Barros.

Um I was not planning on speaking, but um I wanted to let y'all know that there's a group of people here who have never been to a city council meeting.

Um they're part of a community advisory group that I run that has been uh, you know, that that brings together service providers, teachers, students, parents, uh, to address barriers um to the success of families with young children in Tulsa, specifically around mental health, um around financial empowerment, um, and around childcare.

And a big reason why you know we brought them here today is to see how our decisions made.

Um, and so I wanted to kind of model, right, like how you can share your your uh your opinion and your thoughts with uh a decision-making body.

And there have been a few of you who have spoken to this group in the past.

So I came up here, I signed up at the front, and now I'm going to speak in support of what uh my friend Nate uh just spoke on, right?

I have been an educator here in Tulsa uh for a very long time.

I came here in 2018 while I'm no longer in the classroom.

Uh I now work at Impact Tulsa, supporting the mayor's office of children, youth and families as well.

Um, throughout my time in the classroom and in my time now, looking at every single day the data of our of our students and their outcomes.

There is nothing, I think, more pressing in this city than for us to figure out how to ensure that this is a city that's safe for everybody for all students, right?

Um, maestra siempre para mí lo importante es que nuestros estudiantes sean seguidos, no?

Um and esta ciudad.

And so when we're talking about, as Nate mentioned, like this has been a conversation for such a long time.

Um, and so I just want to uh reiterate my support uh for an Office of the Independent Monitor for citizen oversight, knowing that um we are currently, as the previous speaker mentioned, spending millions of dollars uh to you know pay for lawsuits and and go through processes that are entirely avoidable.

Um, you know, we're we're debating at the state level if we're gonna spend about 200 million dollars to support reading initiatives across an entire state, but we're spending locally 40 million dollars on lawsuits, right?

That could have been avoided.

Um, it just is is not something that I can ignore.

Um, so yeah, I hope that uh that this is taken into consideration, right?

You're able to speak your mind uh and share with decision makers.

Um, and that, yeah, as as Nate mentioned, that we take the steps to actually put this in front of the people and actually move this forward.

Um, cannot emphasize enough how important it is for people to be able to exercise oversight um and to ensure that our our civic institutions are actually serving us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, uh without objection, we will exit public hearings for mayor's item uh for a report from the mayor or his designee on community events briefing on city activity, city efforts, and new business.

Seeing that the mayor is not left and does not have a designee to speak on anything this evening.

All right.

Um the remaining items for B through 4H will not be read aloud.

However, public comments uh will be received on these items.

Uh do we have any speakers?

Yes, we have one speaker, Mr.

John Hoffines for 4B and E.

Thank you, Counselors.

Yes, agenda item 4B.

This event highlights a time for remembrance, culture, and community gathering in Tulsa.

Events such as this invite people to honor history while encouraging unity and shared purpose.

As people gather and conversations grow, many also look toward a deeper foundation for lasting hope, harmony, and unity for many families and communities.

This foundation rises from the love offered through Jesus Christ, love that restores hearts, strengthens relationships, and brings people together across every background.

The Lord's message continues to inspire renewal and genuine unity in times of remembrance and celebration alike.

The light of Christ offers a pathway forward where compassion, respect, and hope guide communities toward a future marked by peace and goodwill.

And almighty God, we invoke your guidance.

And I thought maybe I signed up for 4E also.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

This agenda item regarding security upgrades for the Gil Creest Division reminds us how much our community values the men and women who serve in law enforcement.

Providing them with safe and well-equipped facilities helps them carry out their work with excellence as they serve the people of Tulsa.

As we consider improvements that strengthen safety in our city, I'm grateful that we continue to build a culture of unity, respect, and love for one another.

When neighbors lift one another up, and when leaders serve with wisdom, our whole city benefits.

My lovely wife Bonnie, our lovely wife Bonnie, and I have the joy of encouraging folks through music and prayer.

And we continue to see how hope grows when hearts turn toward the love of Jesus Christ.

His love brings people together and inspires us to serve one another with grace.

Thank you, counselors, for your leadership and for seeking the peace and well-being of our city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Do we is there any council discussion?

Move to approve items 4B through 4H with the emergency clause on 4B.

Second.

Okay, will you please call the roll?

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush?

Yes.

Counselor Hall Harper?

Yes.

Counselor Archie?

Yes.

Counselor Dutton?

Yes.

Counselor Bellis.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert?

Yes.

Counselor Bengal?

Yes.

Counselor Dr.

Wright?

Yes.

All right.

Items 4B through 4H are approved with the emergency clause on 4B.

Five authorities, boards, and commissions.

A monthly status report from the Sales Tax Overview Committee on Current Activities and Efforts.

Mr.

Johnson.

He was sitting right there.

Do we have music to play in between?

I can tell us.

That's right.

Just move forward.

Okay.

Since no one is here to speak on that item, we will uh move forward.

5B is the Brandon come back in.

No.

Still out there.

Okay.

Okay.

Five.

All right.

We're moving on.

Uh 5B final plat for villas at uh Watercrest 1, consisting of 73 lots, six blocks on 15.5 acres located at the southwest corner of 131st Street South and South Sheridan Road.

C final plat of cottages at Watercrest consisting of 84 lots on six blocks on 28.85 acres located on the northwest corner of 131st Street South and South Sheridan Road.

D rezoning application Z 7848 from CS to RM2 for property located west of the southwest corner of Charles Page Boulevard and South 49th West Avenue requested by Matthew Ward.

Do we have any speakers?

We have no speakers.

All right, is there council discussion?

Move to approve items 5B through 5D.

Second.

Please call the roll.

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush.

Yes.

Counselor Hall.

Yes.

Counselor Archie?

Yes.

Yes.

Counselor Bellis.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert?

Yes.

Counselor Bengal.

Yes.

Counselor Dr.

Wright?

Yes.

All right.

Items 5B through 5D are approved.

Six ordinances first reading.

The following items in this section of the agenda will not be read aloud and without objection.

Item 6A through 6D will be forwarded to the next council meeting for action.

Seven ordinances, second reading, 7A, reconsideration of rezoning ordinance.

MPD 6 from AG to MPD6 for multi or multiple properties bound by U.S.

Highway 412 east of 41st Street, South South 193rd East Avenue, and South 273rd East Avenue.

Do we have any speakers on this item?

We have no speakers.

Any discussion?

Move to approve item 7A.

Second.

Okay, please call roll.

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush?

Yes.

Counselor Hall Harper.

Yes.

Counselor Archie?

Yes.

Counselor Dutton?

Yes.

Counselor Bellis.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert?

Yes.

Counselor Bengal.

Yes.

Counselor Dr.

Wright?

Yes.

All right.

Item 7A is approved.

B rezoning ordinance MPD 6 from AG to MPD 6 for multiple properties bound by again U.S.

Highway 412 East 41st Street and South 193rd East Avenue and South 273rd East Avenue.

Do we have any speakers?

We have no speakers.

Is there council discussion?

Move to approve item 7B.

Second.

Madam Chair.

Yes.

Can we be specific as to the revised backup?

Oh on the motion.

Let me read the italicized note.

Move to approve item 7B with the revised language as presented in the backup documentation.

Second.

Okay.

Now please call the roll.

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush.

Yes.

Counselor Hall Harper.

Yes.

Counselor Archie?

Yes.

Counselor Debton?

Yes.

Counselor Bellis.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert?

Yes.

Counselor Bengal?

Yes.

Counselor Dr.

Wright?

Yes.

All right.

Uh 7B is approved.

7C ordinance amending fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to make supplemental appropriations of 10,000 recognized from grant revenues to be received from the Internal International Association of Chiefs on Police within the Victims Service Technical Assistant Program Subfund.

D ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to make supplemental appropriations of $50,000 recognized from the unappropriated fund balance within the PD Equitable Sharing Justice Subfund.

E ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to transfer unencumbered and unexpended appropriations of 146,000 511 between account groups within the sexual assault kit initiative subfund.

G ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to make supplemental appropriations of $41,000 recognized from available fund balance and transfer available available appropriations of $18,000 and 49 cents between departments and account groups within the social and economic development non-federal grant fund.

H ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to make supplemental appropriations of 110,000 and 20,000 recognized from grant revenues to be received from Oklahoma Department of Commerce and a grant match of $90,000 transfer to be received from the cultural culture and recreation non-federal grants subfund to transfer unencumbered and unexpected unexpended appropriation balance of $90,000 between departments and account groups within the 2014 sales tax fund.

We're gonna read I separately uh J ordinance amending the Tulsa revised ordinances uh title 35 infrastructure development by amending chapter two infrastructure development permits section 200 definitions and amending section 202 contracts bonds and insurance to eliminate the requirement uh for filing the certificate of formal acceptance um in the office of the county clerk K ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to make supplemental appropriations of $5,390 recognized from grant revenues to be received from the Oklahoma Department of Homeland Security within the Homeland Securms Subfund L ordinance amending fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to make supplemental appropriations of $22,532 recognized from the grant revenues to be received from Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation within the Internet Crimes Against Children's Subfund.

M Ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to transfer unencumbered unexpended appropriations of 196,000 uh hundred sixty dollars and nineteen cents uh between departments within the 2025 Vision Capital Fund.

Do we have any speakers?

We have two speakers uh for 7F.

The first speaker, James Alexander Jr.

This has been uh um a thorn on my side ever since it came up to the city council and how the city used it.

Now this money was sent to the city, county, and state for one reason COVID was going on, and what the city did with this money, very little was given to people to improve the conditions at that time, and the conditions again was COVID 19.

Now, this is a transfer of 82,560 67, but was left for different projects, and most of us going to the courts was three million four hundred and sixty-two dollars thousand sixty dollars.

And this was to go to seven different projects municipal courts, middle health initiatives, organization capacity, and community outreach.

Now you put on the end of this money, which you should have done with the beginning of this money.

And anybody wants to know what American Rescue Act is, look it up through the federal government.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Our next speaker is Bernice Alexander for 7F.

Good evening, counselors.

Good evening.

First of all, I want to thank Ms.

Harper, Councillor Harper.

All right.

I brought this to her attention about the people on Burgen Street and Northosa requesting uh those speed bumps.

And finally, the speed bumps are there.

So I appreciate that.

Whoever answered that request.

Now more about the funds spoken of in this particular item.

There's a big concern about the projects that these monies are being used to accommodate.

But I plan to do one on this particular area.

These are some very important areas that need to be dealt with.

And I know you're moving money around and doing this and that.

And how this person worked so uh seemingly uh in a disrespect it disrespectful way to the people, particularly in the North Tulsa community.

Now we know we have a black and white issue here that we need to resolve in this city.

It's a big one.

My husband and I, we've been spending over 30 years working in the North Tulsa community, and uh we have founded a support group organization that's registered with the state of Oklahoma concerning that area, and it hasn't been an area that has been seemingly represented by the people who sit on this council and say they represent in that area, but work is getting done, and a lot of it is getting done through federal complaints that our group has filed to get things done, and we're continuing to work on the behalf of the people.

So my whole point about this is when we receive funds for certain um reasons.

We need to direct those funds to where we say that we're putting them because they don't go there a lot, and particularly in the North Tulsa community.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Any other speakers, Brandon?

We have no other speakers.

All right, is there council discussion?

Move to approve item 7C through M, except 7i.

Second, please call the roll.

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Hull Harper, yes, Counselor Archie.

Yes, Counselor Dutton, yes, Counselor Bellis, yes, Counselor Gilbert, yes, Counselor Bengal, yes, Counselor Dr.

Reddit, yes, all right.

Item 7C through 7M excluding I has been approved, going back to 7i ordinance amending the title revised ordinances, Title 5 Board, Commissions and Committees, Chapter 5, Tulsa, Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission, uh reorganizing for readability, re restructuring commissions, appointees, and terms providing for tribal delegates from the Muscogee Creek Nation, the Cherokee Nation, and the OSH Nation, providing that the City of Tulsa, director of tribal policy and partnerships or similar position in absence thereof shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the commission.

Is there are there any speakers on this item?

We have no speakers.

Council discussion.

Uh Madam Chair, I'd like to move to remand item seven I back to committee for further discussion by the council and an updated um presentation from those who requested the changes.

All right, then we'll put seven eye back into in on a committee agenda.

8A, counselor's announcements and reports on current committee events, activities, efforts, and concerns other than announcements and reports.

No discussion will ensue.

Councilor Dunton, are you sure you have an announcement?

I am.

Okay.

Oh, I've changed my mind a couple of times today already.

So I appreciate that.

Counselor.

So on Tuesday, April 7th.

Um that is the election day, by the way, for school board and bond issue for TPS.

So I want to say first and foremost, everybody get out and vote.

Very important.

But also on that evening, Councillor Vanessa Hall Harper and myself will have a joint town hall, and the mayor's senior advisor of housing, Jean Bullmash, and the City Deputy Administrator and Director of Planning and Neighborhoods, James Wagner, who also oversees code enforcement, will join the counselors to discuss a proposed new city program, the vacancy improvement program.

The meeting details will be at the Tulsa Dream Center, North Campus, 200 West 46th Street North.

You can go to the City Council Facebook page of both Councillor Harper and myself and get the details as well.

As well as everybody voting before coming to the meeting.

Thank you.

Any other announcements?

Councilor Bellis?

Passover is about to start, so I just wanted to wish an enjoyable Seder at all.

Celebrate, but you're probably not watching this.

Any other announcements?

All right.

Um 8B travel donation from the Tulsa Regional Chamber in the amount of $600 for Council Administrator Sarah Davis to travel to Kansas City, Missouri on April 6th through the 8th in 2026 to attend the Tulsa Regional or Regional Chamber Intercity Visit Scout Trip.

Do we have any speakers?

We have no speakers.

Is there council discussion?

Move to approve item 8B.

Second.

Please call the roll.

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush?

Yes.

Counselor Hall Harper.

Yes.

Counselor Archie?

Yes.

Counselor Dutton.

Yes.

Counselor Bellis.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert.

Yes, only because everything is up to date in Kansas City.

Counselor Bengal.

Okay.

Counselor Dictor Wright.

Yes.

All right.

Item 8B is approved.

New business.

No business no items this week.

Hearing of appeals, no items this week, hearing of public comments, no items.

12, we are adjourned.