Public Works Committee Meeting - April 29, 2026: Appointments, ONG Franchise Update, and Utility Fee Discussions
Public Works Committee Meeting - April 29, 2026
The Public Works Committee, chaired by Councillor Director Wright, met on April 29, 2026, to consider two appointments to city commissions, discuss the proposed Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) franchise ordinance, and receive updates on refuse, stormwater, water, and sewer collection fees for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. No votes were taken; the meeting served as a discussion and information session.
Appointments to City Commissions
- Simone Gitten was introduced as a nominee to the Greater Tulsa Area African American Affairs Commission, filling a vacancy. She shared her background as a Tulsa Remote participant, her work in ed-tech, and community involvement. The committee expressed support, and her confirmation vote is scheduled for May 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
- Fatima Linares appeared for reappointment to the Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic Latinx Affairs Commission. She has served since 2014 and chairs the education committee, organizing the Tomaji Bera Awards. She attended 9 of 11 meetings and lives in District 4. Her confirmation vote is also set for May 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Discussion: Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) Franchise Ordinance
- Sarah Davis (Council staff) provided an update on the franchise ordinance, which grants a 20-year term at a 4% rate for ONG, with additional funds going to the public ways fund for right-of-way maintenance and corridor enhancements. Key changes include ADA compliance standards (Section 307) and improved coordination for facility relocation (Section 308).
- Justin Frederick (ONG) explained the annual rate review process with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, noting that recent rate increase notices are part of that routine review and not extraordinary.
- The committee discussed the 20-year term, technology updates (removing pager/fax requirements), and the importance of ADA compliance. No vote was taken; a public hearing is scheduled for May 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Discussion: Refuse, Stormwater, Water, and Sewer Fee Updates for FY 2026-2027
- Refuse (Terry Ball, TEAR): The current refuse hauling contract expires September 30, 2026, and a new contract with New Solutions begins October 1, 2026, running through 2036 with a five-year renewal option. New trucks with AI camera systems for contamination detection and service verification will be introduced. The residential rate increase is 4%, though underlying costs rose more. Backyard service will be consolidated to a single $20 fee (up from $5.36/$9.43). Optional services (additional carts, bulky waste) will see price increases. The bulky waste fee rises from $10 to $20, but remains subsidized. Green waste changes: TEAR exited the commercial green waste business; a new commercial gate opened. The residential green waste site remains free for residents. The household pollutant disposal facility set a new customer record. TEAR's fund balance is projected to decrease from $14 million to $4.5 million by FY 2030, partially due to inflation and new contracts. The committee discussed the need for public outreach on the new rates and medical exemptions for backyard service.
- Stormwater (Terry Ball): The stormwater utility rate increase is 7%, raising the monthly residential bill to $14.65 (about $0.03/day). The increase supports the 8th year of a 12-year Black & Veatch study, new staff and equipment for MS4 compliance, and capital projects. The stormwater fund relies solely on utility charges. Key projects include Hager Creek storm sewer and 43rd & Sheridan flood mitigation (FEMA BRIC grant pending). The committee discussed private vs. public ownership of detention ponds and the impact of infill development on stormwater systems.
- Water and Sewer (Eric Lee): The water rate increase is planned at 6% (up from 4% originally) and sewer at 3% (down from 5%), balancing the two funds. Major capital needs: $400 million over five years for water system expansion, including expanding AB Jewel treatment capacity and addressing pressure issues in South Tulsa. Sewer capital is $360 million over five years. The committee discussed PFAS monitoring, private sewer line issues, and the need for additional resources for repairs. The utility bill for water and sewer is expected to increase by about $3.90 per month. The cost to replace water lines has more than doubled from $20 per inch-foot to $50.
Key Outcomes
- The appointments of Simone Gitten and Fatima Linares will be voted on by the full council on May 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
- The ONG franchise ordinance will be discussed at a public hearing on May 6, 2026, with a first reading and potential vote later.
- The committee acknowledged the proposed fee increases for refuse (4%), stormwater (7%), water (6%), and sewer (3%) for FY 2026-2027, but no formal action was taken. The increases will be part of the budget process.
- TEAR will provide informational materials to council members for public outreach on the new refuse rates and services.
- The water and sewer departments will present a comprehensive compensation study to the council in the coming months.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the 230 Public Works Committee meeting. I'm Councillor Director Wright, and I call this meeting to order. Item number two is Simone Gitten's appointment to the Greater Tulsa Area African American Affairs Commission, filling a vacancy. The term will expire May 1st, 2029. Ms. Gittons, come on, Dan. Did I say your last name? Yeah, Gitten. He's like kittens. Okay, I thought we would talk. Well, welcome to our table. And why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself and why you would like to serve in this capacity? Yeah, well, um, my name is Simone, of course. Um, I like to say I'm a new Tulson still, kind of sorta. I came here through Tulsa Remote about three and a half years ago, and I just really fell in love with the city. Um, it reminds me of Tucson, Arizona, where I went to school at, so it's same, but it's like big city, but small town. Small town. I like to say two uh Tulsa is like five people removed. So every time I meet five people, I'm like, oh, I know so and so, and yada. So it's really exciting in regards to that. Um I love all of the things that are happening in Tulsa. I get to know about a lot of things and go to a lot of events and just get involved in a lot of opportunities. Um I guess my real job that like allows me to exist. Um I work for an ed tech company that services NYU's master's degree of mental health and wellness counseling. Um, so get to talk to students all day about why they want to get into mental health counseling, if that's actually a thing, if they need to maybe go a new route, all that jazz. And um, I mean, outside of my real job, I like Sam really involved. Um right now I'm in Typrose, so I get to do their welcome committee, so I'm co-chair of that. Um I'm on the Tulsa Voter Coalition that represents TIPRO's, so we do a lot of voter initiatives and such. Um I mean, is there anything else that you want to know specifically? I don't know. Let me see. Let's look at a lot of things. Do we have any questions? If you have any with all of those, I don't have like kids or anything like that, so I feel like I just everything that I do is already exciting to me. So that is what I do. I'm doing my master's degree right now in higher education administration, and I guess something not serious. I like to go to brunch. You guys have a lot of good brooch spots. Yes. So, you know, still trying to find good Mexican food, so if anybody has Arizona Mexican food is very different than what is over here. Yes. No, that's right. We haven't lost very often. Oh, if you want to pour within my way. Not a problem. You know, that's not sexy. That's great. Yeah, yeah. I'm from New Mexico, so we got the bot. Okay.
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