Tulsa City Council Regular Meeting - April 29, 2026

The Tulsa City Council met at 5 p.m. on April 29, 2026, with all nine councilors present. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, a reappointment, a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to amend the expenditure policy for the 2023 temporary sales tax, approval of routine items, and an appeal hearing. The public hearing on the sales tax amendment drew 15 speakers with sharply divided views.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the April 15, 2026, meetings (items 1A and 1B) unanimously.
• Approved the reappointment of Ashley Webb to the Sales Tax Overview Committee (item 2A) unanimously after a public comment from John Hopines.
• Approved items 4B through 4J (including resolutions on affordable housing trust funds, a travel donation from Bloomberg Philanthropies, and a Cinco de Mayo event application) unanimously after a public comment from John Hopines.
• Approved ordinances 7A (rezoning), 7B (auditor duties), and 7C (easement closure) unanimously, with the emergency clause on 7A. Bree Barrett spoke in support of the rezoning.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 3A – Public Hearing on Proposed Ordinance Amending Title 43M (Sales Tax Expenditure Policy): The council entered the public hearing unanimously. Fifteen speakers signed up; seven were in favor, five were opposed, and two were undeclared. Key speakers and their positions:

  • John Hall (Executive Director, Greenwood Legacy Corp): Opposed the amendment, arguing it would destabilize the Kirkpatrick Heights Greenwood Master Plan implementation that involved nearly 2,000 community voices. He stated the $5 million was specifically for that plan and should remain with the community-led governance structure.
  • Christy Williams (Chair, Beyond Apology Commission): Supported transferring the $5 million to the Tulsa Economic Development Corporation (TEDC), citing TEDC's proven track record with projects like OASIS Fresh Market and Moton.
  • Rose Hardwick (District 1 resident): Supported the amendment, expressing concern that the district's elected councilor was excluded from major decisions.
  • Jack Henderson (former councilor): Opposed the amendment, arguing the funding was voted by the people and should stay where it is. He accused Councilor Hall Harper of trying to move the money for personal reasons.
  • Tyler Duncan (small business owner, Cherokee Nation member): Questioned the choice of TEDC and suggested other CDFIs like Cherokee Nation. He did not state a clear position but raised concerns about transparency.
  • James and Bernice Alexander: Opposed the amendment, accusing Partner Tulsa of working to displace Black residents and urging the council to honor voters' intent.
  • Matisse Mason (childcare business owner, nonprofit leader): Supported the amendment, sharing a personal story of TEDC's help with a business loan and arguing TEDC is a trusted partner.
  • Mary Williams: Opposed the amendment, warning that disempowering voters breeds apathy and mistrust. She urged the council to respect the voter-approved measure.
  • Seta Bayes (owner of historic Vernon AME church tours): Expressed support for transferring the funds to TEDC, stating the community needs to examine receipts of work already done.
  • Greg Taylor (District 1 resident): Supported the amendment in spirit, calling for equitable land transfers and reparations, but did not explicitly endorse the specific ordinance.
  • Ashley Phillipson (Chair, Tulsa Development Authority): Opposed the amendment, arguing that the original voter-approved language tied the $5 million specifically to the Kirkpatrick Heights Greenwood Master Plan implementation, not broad economic development. She warned that redirecting funds would erode public trust in future ballot measures.
  • Terry Gateward (retired city employee, small business owner): Opposed moving the money, citing mistrust from past reallocations, but praised TEDC's work in general.
  • Kayan Caymus (community member): Opposed the ordinance, asking the council to dig in with the people who have been working on the master plan for years and to honor the certainty of public funding.
  • Berlinda Radney (Executive Director, Historic Greenwood District Main Street; member of Citizens Advisory Team): Remained agnostic but acknowledged community distress and the complex history of urban renewal. She noted the master plan boundary is fluid and cautioned against resurrecting blight studies.

• Item 4F/H/J: John Hopines spoke in support of the affordable housing trust fund allocation, the Bloomberg Philanthropies donation, and the Cinco de Mayo event.

• Item 7A: Bree Barrett spoke in support of the rezoning.

Discussion Items

• The council did not deliberate on the proposed ordinance (item 3A) during this meeting; only public testimony was received.
• Item 10 – Appeal Hearing (Property at 5707 N. Frankfurt Ave.): Mr. Adatula, the property owner, requested more time to address the nuisance finding. He stated he had attempted to sell the property and now plans to use it for his nonprofit (Joseph Aditula Foundation) once he obtains 501(c)(3) status. Councilor Hall Harper clarified that the property is secured and clean. The council moved to grant a 90-day extension to August 5, 2026, and all councilors voted in favor.

Key Outcomes

• Public hearing held on the proposed ordinance to amend the 2023 temporary sales tax expenditure policy; no vote was taken. The ordinance will be considered at a future meeting.
• The council granted a 90-day extension (to August 5, 2026) for the property at 5707 N. Frankfurt Ave. to allow Mr. Adatula time to bring the property into compliance or sell it.
• All consent agenda and second-reading items were approved unanimously.
• Councilor Bengal announced that the Route 66 centennial event (May 28-30, 2026) has reached over 3,000 registered cars from 41 states and still needs volunteers.