Tulsa City Council Meeting – June 17, 2026: Budget Adoption and Zoning Approvals
Tulsa City Council Meeting – June 17, 2026
The Tulsa City Council met at 5:00 p.m. on June 17, 2026, to consider a range of items including reappointments, zoning requests, annual budget adoption, and multiple ordinances. All votes were unanimous, with several items carrying emergency clauses. Public comments were received on appointments, rezoning, and the budget.
Consent Calendar
- Item 2A – Rick Hudson Reappointment to Tulsa Utility Board/Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority: Approved unanimously (9-0) after one public comment in support.
- Items 4B–4Q – Mayor’s Items (reports, contracts, special event applications, etc.): Approved unanimously (9-0) with emergency clauses on items 4B–4K. One public comment offered prayers and support for city staff, first responders, and the Juneteenth festival.
- Items 5A–5C – Final plat and rezoning applications: Approved unanimously (9-0) after public comment and discussion on item 5C.
- Item 7A – FY 2026‑2027 Annual Budget Ordinance: Approved unanimously (9-0) incorporating technical changes distributed at the earlier budget committee meeting.
- Items 7B–7L – Multiple ordinances (capital improvements plan, use tax code amendments, water/sewer rate adjustments, street maintenance fund, budget amendments): Approved unanimously (9-0) with emergency clauses on 7B–7E and amended backup on items 7C and 7E.
- Item 8B – 2026‑2027 Medical Control Board Budget: Approved unanimously (9-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- John Huffines spoke on item 2A (supporting Rick Hudson’s reappointment) and on items 4D, 4M, 4P, 4Q, offering prayers and expressions of gratitude for city leadership, first responders, and the Juneteenth celebration.
- Ivana Gardner spoke in opposition to item 5C (rezoning from RS‑3 to MX‑1‑F‑35), questioning the need for mixed‑use zoning in an interior residential neighborhood and requesting conditions on hours, traffic, lighting, and stormwater management.
- Kaylee (project developer, 616 South Maine) explained the intent behind item 5C: creating a neighborhood‑scale mixed‑use building with ground‑floor commercial and upper‑floor residential units, designed for local gathering.
- Miss Brees spoke on item 7A, communicating in silence and referencing a forthcoming letter on ARPA funds.
Discussion Items
- Item 5C – Rezoning Z‑7861 (RS‑3 to MX‑1‑F‑35): Councilor Dutton requested clarification of the MX‑1 zoning district. Susan Miller (Planning) described it as a neighborhood‑scale mixed‑use district with building height limits matching single‑family homes. Developer Kaylee added that the project would include four residential units atop commercial space (e.g., coffee shop) and is intended to serve the immediate neighborhood. Councilors Gilbert and Dutton expressed support, noting benefits for community gathering and neighborhood association meetings.
- Item 7A – FY 2026‑2027 Budget Adoption: Councilor Bengal commended colleagues for a thorough budget review, stating “we made a commitment to do a deep dive into this budget to the citizens earlier this year.” The motion passed with technical changes as distributed.
- Council Announcements: Councilor Archie announced a free movie night (Zootopia) at Reed Park on July 24, 2026, sponsored by HF Sinclair, and a back‑to‑school bash on August 15, 2026, giving away 500 backpacks with supplies. Councilor Hall Harper invited the public to Tulsa Juneteenth events (June 18‑20, 2026) in the Greenwood district.
Key Outcomes
- All listed consent items were approved unanimously (9‑0) with stated emergency clauses where noted.
- The FY 2026‑2027 city budget was adopted with technical amendments.
- The rezoning application Z‑7861 (MX‑1‑F‑35 at East Newton Street and North Oswego Avenue) was approved, allowing a mixed‑use development with neighborhood‑focused commercial and residential uses.
- The medical control board budget for 2026‑2027 was approved.
- No items were read for first readings; item 6A was forwarded without objection to the next meeting.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening and welcome to the 5 p.m. Tulsa City Council meeting. You can view this meeting on our Facebook page, our YouTube channel, Channel 24, or at TgovOnline.org. Assisting the council tonight are Jack Blair, our city attorney, Lori Doring, our secretary to the council, and Bailey Rogers. Council staff, if you wish to speak on an agenda item, please see Bailey 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. Uh, 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. All right, thank you. You may be seated. All right, 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 is not a time for question and answer period. All comments should be relevant to the agenda item and directed to the council. We are using a electronic timing system in front of the speakers at the microphone. There is a timer that will count down the time used. A green light will indicate your time is running, yellow light will caution you that you have 30 seconds remaining, and 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 time, equal time. Uh please keep the podium area railing and aisles free from recording devices and tripods, recording equipment and accessories, including tripods, must be set up in the media center as posted on tonight's agenda. Certain items are subject to consideration of possible approval, adoption, denial, amendment, or revision. I call this meeting to order. Please call the roll. Counselor Hall Harper, here counselor Archie, here, Counselor Dudden. Here, Councilor Bellish here, Counselor Gilbert, here. Counselor Bengal, Counselor Dr. Wright, Counselor Lincoln? Yes. Counselor Bush. Here. All right. Um item one, receipt and filing of minutes. There are no items this week. Two appointments and reappointments to a Rick Hudson reappointment to the Tulsa Utility Board, Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority. Do we have any speakers? We have one speaker, Mr. John Huffines, for item two A. Good evening, Mr. Huffhein. Good evening. Peace. Yes. Peace. I'm thankful for our honorable leaders. I'm grateful for the honorable council chair, Karen Gilbert, the honorable vice chair, Christian Bengal, honorable counselors, staff, team, and security. We're thankful to the citizens at this great city of love, Tulsa, and this great nation under God, the USA. It is a joy to be with you on this 17th day of June in the year of our loving Lord, Jesus Christ, 2026. Yes. Appointments and reappointments. A. Rick Hudson.
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