Public Works Committee Meeting - June 10, 2026: Water Rates, Vacancy Program, and FY2026 Budget
Public Works Committee Meeting - June 10, 2026
The Public Works Committee met at 2:30 PM on June 10, 2026, to discuss several items including a judgment payment, water and sewer rate adjustments, a vacancy improvement program, the ONG franchise ordinance, and the proposed FY2026 budget. The committee recommended approvals and set next steps for several items.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution authorizing payment of $223,561.50 in attorney fees and $61,288.95 in interest/litigation costs to Tracy Lewis and associated law firms from the sinking fund. Chad Becker (Treasury) confirmed sufficient cash balance and that the judgment had been approved by the court and mayor. Michelle McGrew (City Legal) noted the case was a jury verdict from April 2024 involving a former police major’s First Amendment retaliation claim. The committee approved without objection.
Discussion Items
- Water and sewer rate adjustments (Item 3): An ordinance amending Title 11 to implement previously discussed rate increases (3% and 6% for water and sewer, with stormwater separate). The increase supports nearly $500 million in five-year water/sewer infrastructure investments, including new water meters. Council members noted this is the 40th anniversary of the Ferris Bueller film and engaged in brief trivia. No vote was taken; first reading expected.
- License agreement for decorative driveway (Item 4): A license agreement with Julian Nickel for a decorative concrete driveway (Bowmanite finish) and brick paver sidewalk at 2525 E. 30th Street. Paul (Public Works) stated utilities had no objections and recommended approval. The committee discussed the specialty concrete and potential decorative driveway tours. Recommended approval.
- Vacancy Improvement Program ordinance (Item 5): Presented by James Wagner (Planning and Neighborhoods), this ordinance implements state law HB 2147 to allow the city to foreclose on vacant properties with outstanding abatement liens over $1,500 (within three years). The program aims to reduce dilapidated properties, increase affordable housing, and disrupt cycles of neglect. It includes a six-month cooling-off period, outreach to owners, a list of vetted developers, and potential grants from the Tulsa Housing Impact Fund. Council members expressed support for historic preservation and affordable housing. No vote; further discussion expected.
- ONG franchise ordinance (Item 6): An ordinance to allocate 0.9% of Oklahoma Natural Gas Company (ONG) gross receipts into the public ways fund for street maintenance, median enhancements, landscaping, lighting, sidewalks, and corridor improvements. The ordinance requires voter approval of the ONG franchise in August 2026 and mandates an annual five-year plan for equitable district distribution. Presented by Sarah Davis (Council Administrator). First reading occurred; second reading scheduled for June 17.
- FY2026 budget discussion (Item 7): The committee discussed outstanding budget concerns including code enforcement staffing (four additional positions proposed), animal welfare communication, homelessness funding (safe move program planned at $1.5 million quarterly), eviction prevention, utility assistance, and potential municipal drug court. Council members noted the need to better communicate investments to the public. The committee decided to defer public comment on the budget to June 17 and hold further committee discussion at 1 PM on June 10 (or next week) to finalize amendments.
Key Outcomes
- Approved payment of $284,850.45 from sinking fund for attorney fees and litigation costs.
- Recommended approval of the decorative driveway license agreement.
- Moved ONG franchise ordinance to second reading on June 17.
- Deferred public comment on FY2026 budget to June 17; committee will continue budget discussions at 1 PM next week to incorporate amendments on code enforcement, homelessness funding structure, and eviction prevention.
- No votes taken on water rates or vacancy improvement program; further deliberation expected.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the public works committee meeting, 2 30 p.m. I call this meeting to order number two on the agenda resolution authorizing payment of 223,561.50 for attorney fees and 61,288.95 cents for outstanding interest and litigation costs to Tracy Lewis, plaintiff and David Mitchell Garrett, Law Office, PLLC, and Christopher Camp, attorney at law from the sinking fund. Hi. Chad Becker from Treasury. I'm here as always to give council assurance that there's a sufficient cash balance in the sinking fund to pay this judgment ahead of the levy placement on property tax rolls. And this judgment has already been approved by the court and by the mayor. And the council's approval finance will issue payment to the claimant in full and forward the necessary pay paperwork to the county to levy uh repayment uh to the seeking fund over a three-year period. And uh Michelle McGrew is joining me this afternoon to from City Legal to discuss the case. Yes, this was a jury verdict from uh April of 2024. Uh, a former police major who filed the first amendment retaliation action, and the jury awarded her damages, and we just got the award of attorney's fees from the judge last Thursday, and so we have uh made a calculation of the the interest and the attorney's fees, and what the judge awarded uh for the attorney's fees, and then the litigation costs for a total of as Chad said 284,850 and 45 cents. All righty. Any questions, comments? No, Phil? Oh, what the guess is? Yeah, I don't know, 74.68 million dollars. 95.2. Dang. You were closed, just around the air. All righty, thank you. Thank you. Item number three ordinance amending title 11 C Tulsa revised ordinances, water works and sewerage, amending chapter three, titled water rates, amending sections 302 through 307 and 308 to provide water and sewer rate adjustments, amending chapter 7. Sanitary Sewer User Charge System amending section 702, 703, and 708 to adjust sewer service charge rates. Should I read the 302, 303 on all that? Is that okay to skip the seven? Eight okay. All righty. Who do we have? Anyone speaking on this today? I can speak to you. Yeah, do I have any questions from the council? It is like the 30th or 40th anniversary. It is. It was on the news this morning. From Euler. So this is, yeah. So wait a second. Two weeks in a row. Yeah, we're live. Yes, this is honored. I'm just gonna wait for the camera. We have any trivia related to Bueller that we can ask Mr. Miller before he makes his presentation. Umler. When was the film made? You might have to do the math. What four years ago? For Ferris Dealer's Day off. That's a 83 or 85. No, it's 86. The 40th year.
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