OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Tulsa City Council Meeting – June 3, 2026: Budget Hearing, Appointments, and Public Comments

City CouncilWednesday, June 3, 2026
BodyTulsa, Oklahoma
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, June 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 46:25
Transcript — Verbatim
0:11

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

0:14

Tulsa City Council meeting.

0:15

Today is Wednesday, June 3rd.

0:18

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

0:27

Assisting the council tonight are Jack Blair, City Attorney, Lori Doring, our Secretary to the Council, and Beth Tinkard.

0:34

Council staff.

0:35

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

0:42

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

0:47

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

0:54

I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America.

1:00

And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, individual with liberty and justice for all.

1:21

All right.

1:21

Thank you.

1:22

You may be seated.

1:27

We do not have any proclamations or special presentations this evening.

1:32

So people wishing to speak on an agenda item are limited to five minutes total per meeting.

1:37

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

1:46

It's not a time for a question and answer period.

1:49

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

1:54

We are using an electric timing system in front of the speaker.

1:59

Is a microphone.

2:01

There is a timer that will count down the time used.

2:04

A green light will indicate your time is running.

2:06

Yellow will come on when you have 30 seconds remaining in your allotted time.

2:11

A blinking red light will be shown when your time has concluded.

2:16

We ask that you stay within your time limits so everyone wishing to speak is given equal time.

2:23

Please keep the podium area railings and aisles free from recording devices and tripods.

2:29

Recording equipment and accessories included, tripods must be set up in the media center as posted on tonight's agenda.

2:37

Certain items are subject to consideration and possible approval, adoption, denial, amendment, or revision.

2:44

Item 6B has been pulled this evening.

2:53

Counselor Hall Harper.

2:54

Here, Counselor Archie?

2:56

Here.

2:56

Counselor Denton?

2:57

Here.

2:58

Counselor Bellis.

2:59

Here.

2:59

Counselor Gilbert?

3:00

Here.

3:01

Counselor Bengal.

3:02

Here.

3:02

Counselor Director Wright.

3:04

Here.

3:04

Counselor Lakin?

3:05

Here.

3:07

All right.

3:09

One receipt and filing of minutes.

3:11

1A, minutes of regular meeting held at 4 p.m.

3:14

on May 13th, 26.

3:17

B minutes of regular meeting held at 5 p.m.

3:20

on May 13th of 26.

3:22

Do we have any speakers?

3:24

There are no speakers.

3:26

Is there a council discussion?

3:27

I move to approve items 1A and B.

3:29

Second.

3:30

Please call the roll.

3:32

Counselor Hall Harper.

3:33

Yes.

3:34

Counselor Archie?

3:35

Yes.

3:35

Counselor Dutton.

3:36

Yes.

3:36

Counselor Bellis.

3:37

Yes.

3:37

Counselor Gilbert?

3:39

Yes.

3:39

Counselor Bengal.

3:40

Yes.

3:40

Counselor Dr.

3:41

Wright?

3:41

Yes.

3:42

Counselor Lakin.

3:43

Yes.

3:43

All right.

3:44

Items 1A and B are approved.

3:48

Two appointments and reappointments.

3:50

2A, Miss Omelia, appointment to the Arts Commission for the City of Tulsa.

3:56

B, Miss Rihanna, reappointment to the Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic Latinx Affairs Commission.

4:04

But do we have any speakers?

4:05

There are no speakers.

4:07

Sir Council discussion.

4:12

No speakers.

4:15

Oh.

4:18

Yeah, good.

4:21

This is okay.

4:23

I guess I'll okay.

4:24

Discussion or there.

4:27

We were told no speakers, so.

4:29

Sorry, this is unprecedented.

4:30

Okay.

4:31

Beth, no speakers.

4:34

I'm sorry.

4:35

Which section?

4:36

Uh two.

4:38

There are no speakers.

4:39

Whoa okay.

4:40

Move to approve items two A and B.

4:44

Second first.

4:46

You got beat.

4:47

All right.

4:49

Will you please call the roll?

4:51

Counselor Hall Harper.

4:52

Yes.

4:52

Counselor Archie.

4:54

Yes.

4:54

Counselor Dutton.

4:55

Yes.

4:56

Counselor Bellis.

4:57

Yes.

4:57

Counselor Gilbert?

4:58

Yes.

4:58

Counselor Bengal?

4:59

Yes.

5:00

Counselor Lakin.

4:59

Yes.

5:02

All right.

5:02

Items two A and B are approved.

5:06

Are any of the commissioners here?

5:09

Don't see either one of them.

5:12

All right.

5:14

Three.

5:15

Public hearings.

5:15

Three A public hearing to receive comments regarding a proposed ordinance approving the increased assessments for parcels within the Tulsa Stadium Improvement District Number One.

5:27

This carries the emergency clause.

5:29

Is there a motion to go enter public hearing?

5:31

I move to enter public hearing.

5:33

Second.

5:34

Please call the roll.

5:36

Counselor Hall Harper.

5:37

Yes.

5:37

Counselor Archie.

5:39

Counselor Dutton.

5:40

Yes.

5:40

Counselor Bellis.

5:41

Yes.

5:41

Counselor Gilbert?

5:42

Yes.

5:43

Counselor Bengal.

5:44

Yes.

5:44

Counselor Doctor Wright?

5:45

Yes.

5:45

Counselor Lakin.

5:46

Yes.

5:48

Okay.

5:48

Do we have any speakers?

5:50

There are no speakers on 3A.

5:52

All right.

5:52

Without objection, we will exit public hearing.

5:55

B public hearing to receive comments regarding a proposed ordinance closing a public way.

6:02

Um with uh closing a certain portion of an alleyway as a public way of the city of Tulsa located at 702 South Main Street.

6:12

Uh lots one through eight block 174 of the Tulsa Original Town Edition for the development of a parking garage.

6:22

Is there a motion to enter public hearing?

6:24

Move to enter public hearing.

6:26

Second.

6:27

Please call the roll.

6:28

Counselor Hall Harper.

6:30

Yes.

6:30

Counselor Archie?

6:31

Yes.

6:32

Counselor Dutton.

6:33

Yes.

6:33

Counselor Bellis.

6:34

Yes.

6:34

Counselor Gilbert.

6:35

Yes.

6:36

Counselor Bengal?

6:37

Yes.

6:37

Counselor Dector Wright.

6:38

Yes.

6:38

Counselor Lakin?

6:39

Yes.

6:40

Alright.

6:41

Do we have any speakers?

6:43

There are no speakers on 3B.

6:45

All right.

6:46

Without objection, we will exit that public hearing.

6:50

C public hearing to receive comments regarding a proposed ordinance amending Title 11, Tulsa Revised Ordinances.

6:57

Public Works Department Chapter 9, Street Maintenance Section 901.

7:11

Gross receipts nine-tenths of 1% of the Oklahoma Natural Gas Company.

7:18

Gross receipts shall be remitted into the fund, amending the purpose of the fund requiring annual approval of a five-year plan to use a funds providing that the ordinance shall be void if the ONG franchise is not approved by the voters, repealing all ordinances and conflicting here with and providing for a severability.

7:42

Is there a motion to enter public hearings?

7:44

I move to enter public hearings.

7:46

Second.

7:47

Please call the roll.

7:48

Counselor Hall Harper.

7:50

Counselor Archie?

7:51

Yes.

7:51

Counselor Dutton?

7:52

Yes.

7:52

Counselor Bellas?

7:53

Yes.

7:54

Counselor Gilbert?

7:55

Yes.

7:55

Counselor Bengal?

7:56

Yes.

7:56

Counselor Dr.

7:57

Wright?

7:57

Yes.

7:58

Counselor Lakin?

7:59

Yes.

8:00

All right.

8:00

Do we have any speakers on this one?

8:02

There are no speakers.

8:04

All right.

8:04

Without objection, we will exit that public hearing.

8:07

Move on to the next one.

8:09

Uh D public hearing to receive comments regarding a proposed ordinance amending title 43K of Tulsa revised ordinances, which is the City of Tulsa's expenditure policy for the 2017 limited purpose economic development temporary sales tax, omitting the projects and purposes for which expenditures and proceeds may lawfully be made, providing for severality.

8:34

This carries the emergency clause.

8:36

Is there a motion to go into public hearing?

8:37

I move to enter public hearing.

8:39

Second.

8:39

Please call the roll.

8:41

Counselor Hall Harper.

8:42

Yes.

8:42

Counselor Archie?

8:43

Yes.

8:44

Counselor Dutton.

8:44

Yes.

8:45

Counselor Bellis.

8:46

Yes.

8:46

Counselor Gilbert?

8:47

Yes.

8:48

Counselor Bengal?

8:48

Yes.

8:49

Counselor Dector Rice.

8:50

Yes.

8:50

Counselor Lakin?

8:51

Yes.

8:52

All right.

8:53

Do we have any speakers on this one?

8:55

There are no speakers.

8:56

Oh, all right.

8:59

Without objection, we will exit that public hearing.

9:01

Move into the next one.

9:03

E-public hearing to receive written and oral comments regarding the proposed city of Tulsa FY 2026 27 budget and capital plan.

9:12

Is there a motion to enter public hearing?

9:14

I enter public hearing.

9:15

I'm make a motion to enter public hearings.

9:17

Second.

9:20

Please call the roll.

9:21

Counselor Hall Harper.

9:22

Yes.

9:23

Counselor Archie?

9:24

Yes.

9:24

Counselor Dutton.

9:25

Yes.

9:25

Counselor Bellis.

9:26

Yes.

9:27

Counselor Gilbert?

9:28

Yes.

9:28

Counselor Bengal.

9:29

Yes.

9:29

Counselor Dr.

9:30

Wright?

9:29

Yes.

9:29

Counselor Lakin.

9:32

Yes.

9:33

All right.

9:34

Do we have any speakers?

9:35

We have one speaker, Brian Turner.

9:40

Good evening.

9:43

What is happening with the parking lot?

9:47

Yeah.

9:48

I know.

9:49

I didn't want to start until I actually had the mic.

9:51

Thank you.

9:52

Okay.

9:52

I am Brian Turner.

9:54

I'm a resident of District 9.

9:57

I'm here tonight representing eradicate poverty Tulsa.

10:01

The citizens group has been talking about how best to attack this problem in the city for since April 2024.

10:10

We are focusing on chronic absenteeism at TPS in the McLean High School feeder pattern.

10:18

And we have a specific project.

10:20

We have developed a budget.

10:22

We have developed a work plan, and I'm happy to discuss that further with all members of council.

10:27

I hope we get the opportunity to do that.

10:30

We urge the Tulsa City Council to adopt the Tulsa Resiliency Resiliency Investment Fund, TRIF, to reduce chronic absenteeism at Tulsa Public Schools and the McLean High School feeder pattern.

10:48

The public schools have made real progress in reducing chronic absenteeism, but they can't do it all.

10:55

They have undertaken improvements in educational processes as well as outreach efforts.

11:03

But the community, we here on Tulsa have to step up for our part in creating the conditions for chronic absenteeism.

11:11

And you are our representatives, and that's why we're here this evening.

11:17

Now I have supplied copies by email to all council members on this executive summary budget.

11:27

And as I said, we can go into more specific detail if you would like.

12:25

So we know it works, and it doesn't need to be a pilot demonstration project because it's been demonstrated all over the country already, and we can resource that with you if you like.

13:03

To receive this benefit in 10 cohorts of 30 people each, and we're looking for a trusted community partner in that area in the McLean feeder pattern to actually administer the program, not to control it, but to administer it.

13:22

The controls come with the lived experienced people.

13:25

We're asking for just under 11 million dollars to do it for 28 months.

13:32

Now the lived experience, it's an exercise and participatory budgeting.

13:40

The council will set a limit of how many dollars can be spent, and the lived experienced people supported by professionals and educators and city staff and others will actually hone the project to fit within that budget.

13:54

There's people acting on behalf.

13:57

We've had successful efforts at that already in this city, specifically in Sequoia, where they designed a project for themselves that was going to work.

13:58

So it's not that far off in terms of what we're asking you to do now.

14:13

Now, as I said, I'm available for comment and questions in any format.

14:22

I'd love to meet with you to talk further about this.

14:24

The need is urgent.

14:26

We can spend 30 million dollars on putting wood in the ground over the next nine months.

14:32

But we can start this project and start having results within September.

14:39

And there are people hurting right now.

14:41

We all know that.

14:42

We see it on the streets.

14:43

We have to take action, and that the people's need is right now.

14:49

There are 14,000 kids at GPS who are diagnosed as being chronically absent.

14:56

4,000 of those are McLean.

15:00

Thank you.

15:01

Thank you very much.

15:03

Bet that was our one speaker?

15:05

Correct.

15:05

Alright.

15:06

Uh, without objection, we will exit public hearings.

15:10

Uh going on to item four, mayor's items for a report from the mayor or his designee on community events briefing on city activities, city efforts, and new business.

15:23

Don't see the mayor here this evening.

15:27

Mr.

15:27

Miller, do you have anything you would like to report for the mayor?

15:30

Okay.

15:31

Uh, the remaining items for B through 4Q will not be read aloud.

15:36

However, public comments will be received on these items.

15:41

Do we have any speakers?

15:44

Yes, we have three speakers.

15:45

The first is Mr.

15:46

John Huffines on 4F, G, I, and Q.

15:56

Good evening, Mr.

15:57

Half Hines.

15:57

Good evening.

15:58

Thank you, Counselors.

16:00

Peace.

16:00

Yes, peace.

16:02

I'm thankful for our honorable leaders.

16:04

I'm grateful for our honorable council chair, Karen Gilbert, the honorable vice chair, Christian Bingel, honorable counselors, staff, team, and security.

16:15

We are thankful to the citizens of this great city of love, Tulsa, and this great nation under God, the USA.

16:22

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

16:30

Yes.

16:31

4F.

16:33

This is a donation from the Major Cities Chiefs Association for Chief Larson to participate in executive leadership training and bring potentially valuable insights back to Tulsa.

16:48

And I'm sure he will take valuable insights.

16:51

It seems like he's going to be a mentor there.

16:58

They serve our community with professionalism, courage, and a commitment to public safety.

17:04

Their work helps families, neighborhoods, and businesses throughout our city thrive.

17:19

May wisdom, favor, and guidance continue to rest upon our police officers and their leadership.

17:25

As we remain people of prayer, they are able to do their assignments lovingly and successfully.

17:33

Agenda item 4G.

17:35

Gifts such as the Pendleton blanket help preserve history, creativity, and the stories that connect generations.

18:03

May we continue to be faithful stewards of the cultural, of the cultural treasures entrusted to our community.

18:10

Agenda item I'm appreciating this effort to support the revitalization of the Kendall Radio District and the Tulsa Global District.

18:20

Strong neighborhoods help families, businesses, churches, and community organizations flourish together.

18:28

As these areas continue to grow.

18:30

I'm reminded of Psalm 127-1, where it speaks of the importance of the Lord building the house.

18:37

I'm grateful for citizens, business owners, and community leaders who invest their time and energy into strengthening these parts of Tulsa.

18:46

Almighty God, we invoke your guidance.

18:52

Tulsa Firehouse 5K Run, scheduled for June 13th, 2026, starting at 1800 South Boulder Park Drive.

19:01

I'm grateful for all of Tulsa's firewomen and men.

19:05

Also grateful for Tulsa's fire chief Mike Baker speaking and sharing beautifully to an interested audience of Brookside Neighbors at the BA meeting two nights ago.

19:17

Thank you, counselors, for always doing your best to help Tulsa be her best.

19:24

Next speaker, please.

19:25

James Alexander Jr.

19:27

on 4-H.

19:31

Good evening, Mr.

19:32

Alexander.

19:33

Good evening.

19:33

How's everyone?

19:35

Great.

19:35

How about yourself?

19:36

I'm doing well.

19:39

I sit and watch the uh committee meeting on this today, and I'm a little bit upset because when you talk about Greenwood and knowing the history, pay attention, ladies, knowing the history of how Tulsa has treated this area for over 105 years, including probably next year also and beyond.

20:09

The problem I have is that I'm it's not the money.

20:13

We need all the money we can muster up for the Greenwood area, but also what must happen in the Greenwood area is it's to be historical, there are too many things going on in that area for it to be a black historical area.

20:31

You had a ballpark, you have a PWI, public white institution.

20:40

You have uh a whole lot of things that's not going on that should be going on.

20:46

This is an area is set up different from any other area in Tulsa, and there will never be another one.

20:54

To be a world class city, you have to do world-class things, and Tulsa at this time is nowhere close to being world class because it looks like you're stealing from North Tulsa, and that's what's happening.

21:09

And I have a uh a memo that I got from uh Tulsa, stating that in uh it was 19, it was 2017, and it stated that 20 years before the city of Tulsa changed the designation of the money that was supposed to be for North Tulsa, and at that time, there was no designated change from the federal government, which means the money was stolen from North Tulsa.

21:45

Now I'm for this uh uh agenda item, but there must be some stuff to clean up North Tulsa.

21:55

North Tulsa is a jewel.

21:57

I don't care about uh anything else that would bring people to Tulsa, but with Tulsa's history and the uh growth of Greenwood, there will be no better tourist attraction than Greenwood.

22:13

Check it out.

22:15

Next speaker, our final speaker is Bernice Alexander on 4H.

22:20

I K L and M.

22:25

Good evening, Miss Alexander.

22:28

Yes, um, this item is the same one that my husband was speaking on, and we did look at the council meeting today about what your intent is for that area and other areas, and all those other areas, I'm familiar with Main Street projects and cities.

22:59

Greenwood stands alone.

23:05

And I'm concerned and will be watching and working very closely about what happens with this provision that this city now has to rebuild that area and that community.

23:23

You know, there's enough provision for every person.

23:30

And when there's a shortage, a lot of times it's because somebody is taking what they shouldn't be taking from someone else.

23:40

Now, like I said, my family looks like you all like the United Nations.

23:48

So I'm not, I don't understand this racist stuff that's going on in this city.

23:57

I don't understand it.

23:59

And why it continues, and why this council, this local government wants to take some of the provision that it has been designated for the North Tulsa area to bring to restore that community and spread it in many other areas of the city.

24:23

I'm gonna object to this, and I'm gonna object to it in a legal fashion, because that area has been destroyed once once it's been destroyed, and it was because the people were black or African American that were doing well, and people in community in this community didn't like it, I don't know how come people have to mistreat each other.

24:59

I don't understand that.

25:26

These kids are in trouble in this city, all over the city, but I can speak very specifically about North Tulsa because I took a business course at TCC some years back, and I wrote a proposal for the young people in that area, and the program was funded, and it received great awards for what we were doing to children, but I learned about the children.

26:03

I'm not from Tulsa, I grew up in Oklahoma City, but I learned a lot about the children, and we work with children from uh kindergarten age to 17.

26:23

The school system allowed us to use the school buses.

26:27

I wrote the proposal in my business class at TCC, and a attorney was the teacher for that class, and she gave me a hundred plus on that proposal.

26:43

It was a very successful program that went from seven o'clock in the morning during the summer until nine at night with those kids.

26:56

It was an award-winning program, so we need to stop sitting up, making up, foolishness, to destroy members of this community.

27:16

Every person in here matters, none of us had a choice to be born.

27:23

I have two sons, Mr.

27:27

Alexander and I didn't choose to be born.

27:35

Every person matters.

27:38

Thank you, Miss Bernice.

27:39

Your time's up.

27:40

Thank you.

27:28

I won't finish this sentence.

27:43

So we need to be more considerate of how we treat each other.

27:50

Because we all matter.

27:53

And we're all important.

27:55

And we all have something to bring to where we live.

28:01

I'm really tired of the nastiness that I've been dealing with here in the city.

28:05

Enough is enough.

28:07

Thank you, Miss Alexander.

28:09

Thank you.

28:11

All right.

28:12

Is there council discussion?

28:17

Move to approve items 4B through Q.

28:20

Second.

28:22

Please call the roll.

28:23

Counselor Hall Harper.

28:26

Yes.

28:26

Counselor Archie?

28:27

Yes.

28:28

Counselor Duncan.

28:29

Yes.

28:29

Counselor Bellas.

28:30

Yes.

28:30

Counselor Gilbert.

28:31

Yes.

28:32

Counselor Dengo?

28:33

Yes.

28:33

Counselor Dr.

28:34

Wright?

28:34

Yes.

28:35

Counselor Lakin.

28:36

Yes.

28:37

All right.

28:38

Items 4B through 4Q are approved.

28:41

Five authorities, boards, and commissions, 5A monthly status report from the Sales Tax Overview Committee Committee on Current Activities and Efforts.

28:52

Ms.

28:53

Jenkins.

28:54

Good evening.

29:00

Good evening, everyone.

29:02

I do also want to acknowledge that Mario Johnson, one of the other members of the Sales Tax Overview Committee, is also here tonight.

29:11

I would also say that although I have enjoyed coming to give my presentations to you all.

29:33

So I am now a representative, a very proud representative for District One, but no longer vice chair.

29:41

So you will see other members of the SDOC coming in to give you their presentations every month.

29:47

So happy to do that.

29:51

But I will encourage them to make sure they reference District 1 when they come.

29:57

So I will start tonight with an update on a vision project, which is number 17005, South Tulsa, Jinx Lake, Low Water Dam, and related amenities.

30:11

We received a presentation on the project from Veronica Page, senior engineer at our meeting on May 26th.

30:20

The presentation included information on the following four topics: conceptual design process overview, differences between scope and complexities of this project and the Zinc Dam project.

30:36

Project funding per the 2022 member memorandum of understanding between the City of Tulsa, City of Jinx, Indian Nations Council of Governments, and the McScogee Creek Nation.

30:50

And then fourth and finally, we discuss the conceptual designs and cost estimates for the project.

30:58

We do appreciate the staff coming in and giving us such a comprehensive overview of the project.

31:12

Next, it's a pleasure to note progress on Project 1708, which is the citywide gateway signage with the West Sign located near the historic Route 66 Historical Village near Yukon Avenue and Southwest Boulevard, just south of Interstate 244, turned on by Mayor Nichols on last Tuesday, May 26th.

31:43

And we're optimistic that the East Sign being installed near the Interstate 44 and Interstate 244 split east of 129th East Avenue will be completed and turned on soon.

31:59

Very exciting to see that sign.

32:05

The last vision project I will give an update on this evening is Project 17-0145, which is Vision Arts, the Tulsa Arts Commission.

32:18

34 applications were received for the 150,000 available through the seventh round of funding.

32:27

The independent review panel will present its recommendations at the June 8th Arts Commission meeting.

32:34

The Arts Commission will present its recommendations to the mayor for approval.

32:39

After mayoral approval, agreements will be established with the awardees with funding available beginning on July 1st.

32:50

I want to turn to give you a few updates on a few some parks.

33:01

The park is in District 9 at 6002 South Riverside Drive.

33:09

Last month, Magnum was awarded the contract of the bid, with all five ad alternates included.

33:17

So it's very exciting that the base was approved, and that there's funding to do all the ad alternates.

33:25

Contracting with Magnum is in progress.

34:18

It's going to be very nice.

34:33

And then the asphalt treatment that's going to have patterns to it and with pedestrian lighting that's going to be part of it.

34:43

So it sounds very exciting, and definitely a big change for Johnson Park today.

34:50

Construction is expected to begin in August with completion by next August.

35:15

And Mohawk Park is in District 1 at 5701 East 36th Street North.

35:33

That report was submitted on August 28th.

35:36

Stormwater is reviewing the draft report with Parks, Golf, and Zoo staff before proposing updates to WSB for the final report.

35:47

It's important to note that the results of this study will lay the foundation for the work to be completed through the $4 million Mohawk Golf Renovations Project.

35:59

Really important to be able to have that information to make the determination of the scope and the renovations that we'll be able to do with the golf course.

36:10

And finally, a transportation project in District 1.

36:15

Work on the Gilcrease Museum Road continues with the expectation.

36:20

It will be completed on schedule by the end of the year.

36:23

And noting that the Tulsa World did a story about the project on May 10th with some great aerial photos to show the changes occurring through the project.

36:35

Kudos to them for really being able to show people what's happening there.

36:39

So very excited about the improvements that'll be made.

36:43

And that it'll coincide with the opening of our new Kilcrease Museum.

36:50

Any questions?

36:51

Anybody have any questions?

36:54

Yeah.

36:55

Thank you.

36:56

Great report.

36:56

Thank you very much.

36:57

And that is exciting news about Johnson Park.

37:01

It's been a long time coming.

37:03

I remember going to Johnson Park to watch junior high football games when I was growing up.

37:08

So that's where the Nimitz Admirals played.

37:11

So yeah, back in the day.

37:13

So thank you.

37:15

Yep.

37:16

Counselor Dectorwright.

37:18

I just wanted to thank you for your leadership on the sales tax overview committee.

37:23

And I know you'll still be around, but we'll miss your reports.

37:26

Thank you.

37:27

Thank you again.

37:29

All right.

37:30

Do we have any speakers on the STOC report?

37:33

We have one speaker, Mr.

37:34

John Hoffe.

37:43

Thank you, Councillors.

37:45

Yes.

37:47

Authorities, boards, and commissions.

37:49

Agenda item 5A.

37:51

I'm grateful for the unity and harmony demonstrated by the STOC committee as they come together to produce this report.

37:59

Their collaborative spirit strengthens trust and helps guide wise decisions for our city.

38:05

And under parks, we have seen supporting documentation regarding our public zoo, a place that celebrates the beauty of nature.

38:13

It offers a wonderful opportunity to appreciate creation and our creator, God, the Father and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

38:22

I heard recently the elephants, Billy and Tina, are living alongside each other and they're doing well.

38:28

And also, I just like to say this.

38:31

Thank you, family.

38:32

Thank you, Mr.

38:33

Haffines.

38:36

All right.

38:37

Uh 5B final plat for Highland Park Villas consisting of 12 lots, one block on 2.91 acres located on the northeast corner of East 36th Street and South Braden Avenue.

38:51

Do we have any speakers on this item?

38:53

There are no speakers.

38:55

Alright, is there council discussion?

38:57

I move to approve item 5B.

38:59

Second.

39:01

Please call the roll.

39:02

Councillor How Harper.

39:03

Yes.

39:04

Counselor Archie.

39:05

Counselor Denton?

39:06

Yes.

39:06

Counselor Bellard.

39:07

Yes.

39:07

Counselor Gilbert?

39:09

Yes.

39:09

Counselor Bengal?

39:10

Yes.

39:10

Counselor Dector Ray?

39:12

Yes.

39:12

Counselor Agen.

39:13

Yes.

39:14

Yeah.

39:18

So let's see, six ordinances first reading.

39:22

The following items in this section of the agenda will not be read aloud.

39:26

And without objection, 6A through 6.

39:30

Um L except 6B will be forwarded to the next council meeting for action.

39:37

Moving on, turning pages.

39:41

Seven ordinances, second reading, 7A ordinance approving the increased assessment for parcels located within the Tulsa Stadium Improvement District Number 1.

39:52

B ordinance closing a certain utility easement located at 1533 East 31st Street, lot for block one of uh Golderbrock 2nd.

40:05

Let's see, C ordinance amending the fiscal year 2526 budget to make um supplemental appropriations of 160,000 from unappropriated between lots of lots one through eight and lots nine through sixteen of block six in or cut edition.

40:40

Um do we have any speakers?

40:43

There are no speakers.

40:44

Sir Council discussion.

40:46

I move to approve item 7A through D with the emergency clause on 7A.

40:50

Second.

40:51

Please call the roll.

40:52

Councillor Hall Harper.

40:54

Yes.

40:54

Counselor Archie?

40:55

Yes.

40:56

Counselor Denton.

40:57

Yes.

40:57

Counselor Bellard.

40:58

Yes.

40:58

Counselor Gilbert.

40:59

Yes.

41:00

Counselor Bengal?

41:01

Yes.

41:01

Counselor Dictor, right?

41:02

Yes.

40:59

Counselor Lakin.

40:59

Yes.

41:04

All right.

41:05

Items 7A through 7D are approved with the emergency clause on 7A.

41:11

Eight council items, 8A counselors' announcements and reports on current community events, activities, efforts, and concerns other than announcements and reports.

41:20

No discussion will ensue.

41:22

Counselor Archie, you have an announcement?

41:26

You always do.

41:27

That's what we first.

41:28

Oh, appreciate that.

41:30

Uh please.

41:31

Um June 22nd, which is a Monday.

41:35

Please join us.

41:36

We're having a community meeting at the um Tulsa Hills Church of the Nazarene, which is the church uh at the south end of Tulsa Hills.

41:45

Uh we'll be joined by Odot to talk about the upcoming diverging.

41:49

Actually, well, it's not upcoming.

41:50

They're starting like right now.

41:52

It's happening right now.

41:53

The diverging diamond intersection that's being put in uh at the bottom of uh Tulsa Hills.

41:59

We'll also um have folks from our um streets department to talk about the traffic pattern at Tulsa Hills, and then um there is a um community project.

42:11

Uh we have uh some dollars left over for a community project and we'll be talking about um concave mirrors to make our intersections just a little bit safer.

42:21

Um so please join us on that Monday on the 22nd.

42:25

If you can't join us on the twenty-second, join me on the 23rd uh the next day.

42:30

Uh I'll be with the mayor at our final community conversation.

42:34

It'll be at the Tulsa Hills uh, sorry, at the uh West Tulsa Dream Center, uh in the um South Haven neighborhood.

42:42

And so all the department heads will be there.

42:44

I'll be there and um come with your questions, concerns, and so um June 22nd and 23rd.

42:52

Thank you so much.

42:53

All right, Councilor Bangle.

42:56

Thank you.

42:57

I love I love the diamond, diamond divergent intersection, right?

43:03

I love that.

43:04

Um so it works great over there off of, you know, cleared all that backfill off of 169.

43:11

Um so if you all aren't aware, I adopted or I not adopted.

43:17

Let me let me kind of suck all that back in.

43:21

Let me reverse course here.

43:24

I fostered a litter of kittens from uh Tulsa Animal Services over the past eight weeks.

43:32

Um today I turned all of those kittens and the mother back in.

43:36

So most of the kittens and uh the mama are spoken for, so there's still two out there.

43:42

They're Manx kittens, uh which means they don't have tail.

43:45

They are the breed originates from the island man.

43:49

Beautiful cats, uh, very playful, very loving.

43:52

So what a journey uh when you are taking care of a litter of kittens and a mama.

43:59

So uh all of us up here love our animals, love uh some of my colleagues and I serve on the animal welfare working group, and obviously our shelter is constantly over capacity.

44:11

So if you have room and you have time, everybody loves cats and dogs until uh they grow up to be big dogs and big cats.

44:20

Um I would encourage you to go adopt an animal or potentially foster one for uh a while also uh secondly, um we're having our final um district six um park projects town hall on June 8th at 5 30 p.m.

44:41

It'll be Monday at 5 30 p.m.

44:45

and that'll be in the lecture room at Martin Regional Library, and as most of you know, we've been going through this for the past three years in these discussions, and so because of our economy, we want to make sure that um we're not having to scale back on our projects.

45:02

So we want to be very deliberate and get those dollars spent so that they can be spent across the district on quality of life.

45:08

So again, Monday, June 8th, um, lecture room at Martin, excuse me, Martin Regional Library on America will be there.

45:19

So that way uh she can present the final intent for those IOT 2 funds.

45:24

Thank you.

45:25

Okay, all right.

45:26

Anyone else?

45:29

All right.

45:30

Oh, and I am keeping two of those kittens, by the way.

45:32

I said cats out of the bag.

45:37

Congratulations and thank you for taking on that responsibility and helping out that mama and her babies.

45:45

Appreciate that.

45:46

Um I would like to remind uh district five uh residents that June 9th we will have our next uh District 5 meeting.

45:54

It'll be held at uh Tulsa Tech Limley campus uh from five or six to seven, and we will have a representative from IMSA there to talk to residents.

46:04

So uh please don't forget and I'll see you there.

46:09

All right, uh moving on to nine new business.

46:13

There are no new items this week, 10 hearing of appeals, no items this week, eleven hearing of public comment.

46:20

This concludes the televised portion of this meeting.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████34%
Youth Programs████████████████16%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Public Safety█████5%
Racial Equity█████5%
Animal Welfare█████5%
Historic Preservation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Tulsa City Council Meeting – June 3, 2026

The Tulsa City Council held its regular 5 p.m. meeting on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The council approved consent items, heard one public comment on the FY 2026-27 budget, and received updates on capital projects and community events. Several members of the public spoke during the mayor's agenda items, raising concerns about funding allocations for North Tulsa and Greenwood.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved minutes of the May 13, 2026, regular meetings (4 p.m. and 5 p.m.) (Item 1A-B).
  • Appointments: Approved appointment of Ms. Omelia to the Arts Commission and reappointment of Ms. Rihanna to the Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic Latinx Affairs Commission (Item 2A-B).
  • Ordinances – First Reading: Items 6A through 6L (except 6B, which was pulled) were forwarded to the next council meeting without objection.
  • Ordinances – Second Reading: Approved Items 7A-D, including the Tulsa Stadium Improvement District assessment and a budget amendment, with the emergency clause on Item 7A.
  • Final Plat: Approved Highland Park Villas (12 lots, 2.91 acres at E. 36th St. and S. Braden Ave.) (Item 5B).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Budget Hearing (Item 3E): Brian Turner, representing Eradicate Poverty Tulsa and a resident of District 9, urged the council to adopt the Tulsa Resiliency Investment Fund (TRIF) to reduce chronic absenteeism in the McLean High School feeder pattern. He cited that 14,000 TPS students are chronically absent, including 4,000 at McLean. The proposed program would serve 10 cohorts of 30 people over 28 months at a cost of just under $11 million. Turner stated the approach is proven and could begin in September 2026.
  • Mayor's Items (Items 4F, G, I, Q): John Huffines expressed appreciation for police training donations, cultural gifts, the Kendall Radio District and Tulsa Global District revitalization, and the Firehouse 5K Run. He offered prayers of gratitude.
  • Item 4H: James Alexander Jr. raised concerns about the city's handling of the Greenwood area, accusing the city of stealing funds designated for North Tulsa based on a 2017 memo. He argued that Greenwood must remain a Black historical area and that current development undermines that.
  • Items 4H, I, K, L, M: Bernice Alexander echoed her husband's concerns and objected to spreading funds intended for North Tulsa to other areas. She stated she would pursue legal action and criticized the city for mistreatment. She cited her experience running an award-winning youth program in North Tulsa.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor's Items (Items 4B-Q): The mayor was absent; no report was given. Following public comments, the council approved the entire block of items (including gifts, grants, and agreements) unanimously (8-0).
  • Sales Tax Overview Committee (Item 5A): Representative Ms. Jenkins presented the monthly report. Key updates included:
    • Vision Project 17005 (Jinx Lake low water dam): Presentation received on May 26, covering funding and conceptual design.
    • Project 1708 (Citywide gateway signs): West sign at Route 66 Historical Village turned on May 26; East sign near I-44/I-244 split expected soon.
    • Vision Arts (Project 17-0145): 34 applications received for $150,000 in round 7; recommendations to Arts Commission on June 8.
    • Johnson Park (District 9): Contract awarded to Magnum with all five add alternates; construction from August 2026 to August 2027.
    • Mohawk Park (District 1): Stormwater review of draft report for $4 million golf renovation; final report pending.
    • Gilcrease Museum Road (District 1): On schedule for completion by end of 2026.
  • Council Announcements (Item 8):
    • Counselor Archie: Community meeting on June 22 regarding Tulsa Hills diverging diamond intersection and traffic patterns; mayor's community conversation on June 23 at West Tulsa Dream Center.
    • Counselor Bangle: Fostered kittens from Tulsa Animal Services; encouraged adoption/fostering. Also announced District 6 park projects town hall on June 8 at Martin Regional Library to finalize Improve Our Tulsa 2 fund spending.
    • Counselor Gilbert: District 5 meeting on June 9 at Tulsa Tech Lemley campus with IMSA representative.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes: All votes were unanimous (8-0) where recorded. Items 1A-B, 2A-B, 3A-E (entering/exiting public hearings), 4B-Q, 5B, 7A-D all passed without dissent.
  • Budget Hearing: No action taken; public comment received on the FY 2026-27 budget and capital plan.
  • Next Steps: The council will continue review of ordinances at first reading; the FY 2026-27 budget will proceed through adoption process. Several community meetings and town halls were announced for June.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening and welcome to the 5 p.m. Tulsa City Council meeting. Today is Wednesday, June 3rd. You can view this meeting on our Facebook page, our YouTube channel, Cox Channel 24, or at TGovonline.org. Assisting the council tonight are Jack Blair, City Attorney, Lori Doring, our Secretary to the Council, and Beth Tinkard. Council staff. If you wish to speak on an agenda item, please see Beth 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. I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. All right. Thank you. You may be seated. We do not have any proclamations or special presentations this evening. So people wishing to speak on an agenda item 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. It's not a time for a question and answer period. All comments should be relevant to the agenda item and directed to the council. We are using an electric timing system in front of the speaker. Is a microphone. There is a timer that will count down the time used. A green light will indicate your time is running. Yellow will come on when you have 30 seconds remaining in your allotted time. A blinking red light will be shown when your time has concluded. We ask that you stay within your time limits so everyone wishing to speak is given equal time. Please keep the podium area railings and aisles free from recording devices and tripods. Recording equipment and accessories included, tripods must be set up in the media center as posted on tonight's agenda. Certain items are subject to consideration and possible approval, adoption, denial, amendment, or revision. Item 6B has been pulled this evening. Counselor Hall Harper. Here, Counselor Archie? Here. Counselor Denton? Here. Counselor Bellis. Here. Counselor Gilbert? Here. Counselor Bengal. Here. Counselor Director Wright. Here. Counselor Lakin? Here. All right. One receipt and filing of minutes. 1A, minutes of regular meeting held at 4 p.m. on May 13th, 26. B minutes of regular meeting held at 5 p.m.

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