OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

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

City Council — Wednesday, 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?

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.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com