I stated earlier this is it is my pleasure to be here with you today for this naturalization ceremony.

This is the best part of my job.

If people knew what I did for work, everybody would want to do what I do.

Um, I'm very grateful to the city of Tulsa for allowing us to have these ceremonies here, and for the support that they give us.

Today, we will have the presentation of the colors by the Tulsa Fire Department and Tulsa Police Department, after which I will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

If you at all please rise for the posting of the colors.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

In today's ceremony, we have twenty individuals from nine different countries naturalizing.

You represent the strength of the world.

Thank you for coming here.

As I read through the countries in this ceremony, if you would please stand when the country that you are from read, take a moment, turn around, wave a little flag so somebody back there can get a photo, and then have a seat, and then I will read the next country in no particular order other than alphabetical.

Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Mexico, Norway.

South Africa.

And Vietnam.

Now at this point in time, I will administer the oath of allegiance.

Those of you who are naturalizing today, please stand and raise your right hands.

And I'm gonna grab the podium because I have too many things in my hands.

Please repeat after me.

I hereby declare on oath.

That I absolutely and entirely.

Renounce and abjure.

All allegiance and fidelity.

To any foreign prince.

Potentate.

State or sovereignty.

Of whom or which.

I have heretofore.

Been a subject or citizen.

That I will support and defend the Constitution.

And the laws of the United States of America.

Against all enemies.

Foreign and domestic.

That I will bear true faith.

And allegiance to the same.

That I will bear arms.

On behalf of the United States.

When required by the law.

In the armed forces of the United States.

When required by the law.

That I will perform work.

Of national importance.

Under civilian direction.

When required by the law.

And that I take this obligation freely.

Without any mental reservation, or purpose of evasion.

So help me God.

Congratulations, you are now our newest United States citizens.

We will now hear from our keynote speaker, Deputy Mayor Crystal Reyes.

I have had the opportunity to work with her.

Sorry, you can be seated now.

I've had the opportunity to work with her on these ceremonies for many years now, and it is always a privilege to hear from her.

Thank you, Bruce.

And it's always been a pleasure to work with the USAS and Bruce and your team to host these.

Yes.

What a special day.

You are becoming citizens within a whole week of America's two hundred and fiftieth birthday.

So you're the first uh first uh group that we've had since that since that holiday um after July fourth.

Uh so congratulations.

And we always say now, whenever you drive by City Hall or family, you know, members visit you from out of town, you can say, I became a U.S.

citizen right there at City Hall.

So we're so happy for you.

Today is a special day full of pride and promise and possibility.

Uh as I mentioned, for the past seven years, we've had the honor of hosting these ceremonies here in City Hall.

And we often say this is the happiest day in Tulsa.

Our cheeks kind of hurt from all the smiling.

Um, and we're smiling because we are celebrating with you and to show you that you, your families, and your hopes for the future matter deeply in Tulsa in this community.

To all of you who have become official U.S.

citizens today, congratulations again.

Tulsa is your home, and you are welcome here.

On behalf of Mayor Nichols, our city council members, we're joined by City Councilor Christian Bengal here today.

Um, our City of Tulsa employees, and we have the wonderful team that organizes these.

A DeAndre, chief resilience officer, and Tabitha, our manager of immigrant and refugee affairs, and we have some community partners I see here.

Everyone present today, and the 413,000 people who live in Tulsa, we extend heartfelt congratulations.

This country is strengthened by the people who choose it.

Becoming a U.S.

citizen is a profound milestone.

It means you are now part of shaping the future of this country in a deeper way.

Your voice, your ideas, your traditions, your hard work.

They matter.

The United States of America is built by individuals from all over the world who bring their hopes, their talents, their commitment to the ideas that so many people for generations before us believed in.

Freedom, opportunity, possibility.

You and your families are a vital part of what makes this country great, and you're what makes Tulsa great.

I also want to share that being here at these ceremonies is a professional joy, of course, and it's also a personal one.

As the deputy mayor of Tulsa, I'm also the daughter of immigrants.

I know how meaningful today is.

Um my parents came to the United States from Mexico, and my mother became a U.S.

citizen when I was in high school.

So I remember all the studying and those questions and the waiting sometimes and and you know the anticipation.

Um, so it truly is a milestone uh for you and your whole family.

Uh and what an accomplishment it is.

And I am proud of my background, my family, my ancestors, and the two languages that I speak, and I carry those experiences with me every day in the work that I do as deputy mayor.

And I hope you will do the same in whatever work that you do and wherever you go in Tulsa.

Being a U.S.

citizen does not mean leaving your culture behind, it means bringing it with you into this into this community.

And when we share our cultures, our languages, our perspectives, we open minds and we open hearts, and that is how communities grow stronger and accomplish great things together.

So years ago, uh Tulsa leaders agreed that every resident, whether they arrived in Tulsa five minutes ago or five generations ago, deserve to feel welcome.

And that commitment is why we host events like this today.

Part of being welcoming means that we celebrate our community and strive for unity, not division, that we honor our diverse cultures because we don't think everyone needs to be the same, and that we value ideas and perspectives, different ideas and perspectives because that makes us stronger, more creative, more compassionate.

This is what makes Tulsa a world class city.

A city that welcomes immigrants is a city that looks forward, not a city that's looking back.

Immigrants strengthen our economy, neighbors, neighborhoods, schools, arts organizations, our government, and every part of our social fabric.

You are part of Tulsa's story, and we are looking forward to building it with you together.

And being welcoming is not just city government's role, it is the responsibility of all of us, our businesses, our schools, colleges, arts organizations, museums, community programs, every part of our city plays a role, making sure that everyone feels supported and valued.

And I hope you feel that today and every day, that this city has its arms around you, encouraging you to pursue the opportunity that you seek and inviting you to help make Tulsa the best city in America for immigrants and everyone.

So once again, on behalf of the entire city of Tulsa, never forget how important you are.

This city, this state, and this country are lucky to have you.

Congratulations, everyone on becoming U.S.

citizens.

Now, at this time, if our dignitaries could come up and stand here to my left, and I'm going to hand out the certificates of naturalization at this time.

If you would come up and get your certificate right here and shake a few hands because they're really excited to shake your hands.

You are the celebrities today.

They want to shake your hands.

It's great.

And as I read through these, this is a great time to cheer and yell and stomp your feet and make just a bunch of noise.

But give me enough space in between that I can read the names.

For those of you who are naturalizing today, I have not looked through these certificates yet, but there is something that I know about them, and that is that you all have wonderful, lovely, beautiful names.

Some of which will be hard for me to say.

The Jean Omar Dema.

Myra Yaraseima.

Quintanas Sigala.

Lynn Duncan.

That is everyone with their certificates now.

We will now have our closing remarks by Tabitha Edon.

Good morning.

Congratulations to you all once again.

I know you're going to be hearing congratulations the whole of the day, but just bear with us because we are just excited.

So congratulations to our newest citizens once again.

Let's give them a round of applause.

My name is Tavita Docasadom, and I am the immigrant and refugee affairs manager here at the city of Tulsa's Department of Resilience and Equity.

I just want to take a brief moment to recognize what it took for each and every one of you to be here today.

This journey is far more than paperwork.

I know most of the time people think immigration is just about paperworks and processes, but as an immigrant myself, I know that this journey is far more than that.

This journey is about learning new systems and how to navigate them.

This journey is also about learning new things and on learning some of the old ones that we knew.

It is also about carrying the memories of our home countries and families and friends whilst attempting to build a new home here.

So this journey is far more complicated than paperworks.

I know that it is possible that we may all have arrived here in this country through different paths, but as immigrants, although we came through different parts, we all arrived in this country united in hope and in a shared commitment of building a future here together.

And this year, this month in particular, as America celebrates its 220 250 year anniversary, your stories are a constant reminder that this country's strength is shaped by people like you who come here and as a deputy mayor said, who bring their talent and hope and innovation to this country, and now your stories have become part of that continuing tradition.

And so, on behalf of the city and on behalf of the Office of the Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, I want to say congratulations once again and welcome to Tulsa in America.

A success.

Thank you so much for being a keynote speaker.

We have a counselor here, Councillor Bengal, thank you so much.

We have the Chief Resilience Officer, DeAndre Hayes.

Thank you so much for your support and leadership.

We also have the USCIS officer here.

Thank you so much for being here today.

Thank you so much for coming today.

There he is, and take off of you so much.

He's a go-to person, whatever you need, you can go to him.

He gets everything done.

So thank you so much.

And I also want to thank all the beautiful family and friends that are here today.

Thank you so much for taking our time to be here to support your clapping and smiling.

It is so beautiful.

So thank you so much for being here today.

The city of Tulsa, as Deputy Mayor said, we are committed to building an equitable city for everybody, whether or not you came today or you've been here five generations ago.

And so these opportunities and resources are available to you when you look at the packet that has been given to you.

We have more of those.

If you go home, you can uh just take your time and go through and see which of the resources or opportunities that you are interested in.

So one of the programs that we are particularly proud of is our language access program.

It helps our bilingual and multilingual residents to gain access to our city resources and programs regardless of the languages they speak.

Uh, we also work closely with many of the city's authorities and boards and commissions.

And these uh commissions, for instance, we have the Asian Commission, we have the Latino Commission, we have uh commission's focused on women and human rights, and so if you are interested in any serving on any of if you are interested in serving on any of these commissions, uh we have the application on our website.

We also have the application outside.

Our team is outside.

If you have questions, uh, we are available to answer them for you and help you fill it out.

But if you're confident, you can uh go home and just go on our website and fill out those applications.

Uh also as our newest citizens, you have an opportunity to participate in civic life in new ways.

And so we encourage you to look into all these opportunities.

Now, talking about creating memories, uh, once the ceremony is over and it is over, we will be we'll be taking pictures with our officials right here.

So our newest citizens uh you will come right here and we'll be taking photos with our officials that are here.

Uh, this photo is available.

If you look on the program that has been given to you, it's available on our Facebook Resilient Tulsa.

I also encourage you to follow our Facebook.

Uh you get updates on what the Department of Resilience and Equity is doing every day.

So uh you can go ahead and follow us on Facebook, and the photo will be available.

This ceremony has also been recorded, and then you can watch it if you just want to go back and relax and watch it with friends.

You can watch it here at Tgov.

Uh, you have all the information right here.

Thank you so much.

And once again, congratulations.

So I'll get about 10 of y'all to come up here.

We'll have 10 of y'all line up here, 10 of y'all up front to take the picture.

One more of them.

So everybody else will go front.

Yeah, thank you.

Okay, okay.

Part one or alternate Response team One is a co-response model.

And it is a team that is staffed with two individuals, a firefighter paramedic who is trained in crisis intervention, and a COPS clinician from Family and Children's Services.

And so the Cope's clinician is a licensed professional counselor, and the TFD paramedic is someone who has had extra training in mental health and de-escalation techniques.

And this unit responds to mental or behavioral health crisis calls throughout the city of Tulsa.

Art One is able to respond to any age individual in crisis.

Now we do see a big need in the 18 to 45 range.

We also know that about 20% of Art One's responses are to unhoused individuals.

There's a lot of work being done, not just locally but nationally with addressing mental health.

We were out ahead of the game in regards to a lot of the other cities in America in trying to address our needs within our community.

How can we better serve it?

What we found was early on, we were seeing some of these people call 911 who just needed this assistant.

And so these programs were invented very early on to meet that need.

And it's proven to be so valuable when we look at the resource that Art One provides to the community with the ability to have a paramedic and provide a medical evaluation of someone who's in crisis to rule out any physical health needs, along with that clinician to address the psychological needs of that individual who's in crisis.

Another big thing that Art One does is they've responded to what we call high utilizers or people who are calling 911 a lot looking for help.

So Art One can also respond to those individuals and start social services.

So we're very big on addressing social determinants, which is education, employment, health care, social and community context.

We want to address those items to improve somebody's life situation.

The benefit of having family children's services along with us is that we have that clinician there.

They can schedule an appointment for that individual to go in and get checked.

When we're not able to accomplish that, we take that individual to what we call sometimes an alternate destination.

So they may go to a crisis care center or an urgent recovery center or somewhere where it's going to best benefit that individual in that moment who's in crisis.

9-1-1 and public safety have done an incredible job of responding to an emergency incident, intervening and taking care of that situation.

But moving forward, we've got to find ways to continue that relationship with those individuals to make sure those needs are met.

And that's really where the follow-up piece comes in.

If a unit responds to an individual on Monday, a case manager is going to follow up with them on Tuesday or Wednesday that week and make sure their needs are being met.

This is so important when you're talking about providing a continuum of care, meaning a care that just doesn't stop on that response, but it follows what that individual stays with them.

We can connect people very quickly to those resources, and we have that institutional knowledge to know what's the best resource for that person.

We can really begin to move the ball forward in helping our most vulnerable populations in Tulsa to be in better situations.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we explore cultural destinations, the spaces where Tulsa came together to be entertained, inspired, and connected, whether through music, film, or storytelling.

These iconic venues have helped define Tulsa's cultural identity.

They reflect not only the city's love of the arts, but also its enduring commitment to preservation, creativity, and community.

Let's take a look at three of Tulsa's most beloved cultural landmarks.

First, Cain's Ballroom, where Western Swing was born and legends still take the stage.

Built in 1924, as a garage, Canes was converted into a dance hall academy and soon became home to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.

With its spring loaded Napal dance floor, Neon Glow, an intimate stage.

Keynes has hosted everyone from country pioneers to punk icons.

Known as the Carnegie Hall of Western Swing, it remains a living piece of Tulsa's musical legacy.

Today, it continues to operate as one of the region's premier music venues, drawing national touring acts and loyal local crowds.

Next, Circle Cinema.

Tulsa's oldest operating movie theater and a hub for independent film.

Opened in 1928 as a silent movie theater, the circle has survived fires, closures, and shifting trends.

But its mission remains the same: to bring meaningful, thought-provoking cinema to the community.

Restored with care, the theater blends historic charm with modern programming.

It's more than a place to see a film.

It's where Tulsa comes to think, discuss, and dream.

It regularly hosts screenings, film festivals, and community events, keeping its screens and conversations alive.

And finally, the Museum of Tulsa History, nestled in the heart of Woodward Park.

Located in a 1919 Italian Renaissance Revival Mansion.

That was originally the home of oilmen and philanthropist Sam Travis.

The museum preserves Tulsa's collective memory through exhibits, archives, and artifacts.

One of the first grand residences in what became known as Tulsa's Millionaire Row.

The venue is surrounded by the blooming landscapes of Woodward Park.

This property is as much about reflection as celebration.

A place where the stories of Tulsa's neighborhoods, industries, and people are honored and shared.

The museum hosts rotating exhibits, lectures, and public programs that invite the community to engage directly with Tulsa's past.

These venues remind us that history isn't only built in stone or steel.

It's also written in cheers, laughter, and applause and the stories we pass on.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa, one historic property at a time.

Alternate Response Team 2 is a very innovative program.

So R2 is staffed with two sworn firefighter paramedics who are community paramedicine trained, which means they have extra training in mental health, they have extra training in taking care of wound management.

We have basically stuck the hypothetical fire station right in the center of downtown Tulsa and said any medical call that comes in within the IDL or downtown Tulsa, R2 will respond to.

They will also respond and provide outreach services and wellness checks for unhoused population within the IDL.

So when they're not on a run, when they're not providing medical coverage, they're out there making sure people are as healthy as they possibly can be.

They provide blood pressure checks, they check pulse rates.

Whether you're a housed or homeless, doesn't really matter.

Do you have the medications that you need to manage your health conditions?

They provide water on hot days, they make sure you're warm on cold days.

And R2 coordinates very well with our community partners, making sure that we're coordinating our efforts with everyone else.

The impact they've had has been significant.

And I believe the reason is they take the extra time to spend with individuals.

As soon as they're done with that call, they're gonna go over there and have conversations with people and say, hey, are you working with somebody right now?

Do you have a plan?

If not, we can help you coordinate that effort.

We can get you help you get housing, we can help you get food.

What we love about the Tulsa Fire Department and what this program has been able to do is we work with everybody within the community.

So we're utilizing every resource that we have within the city of Tulsa to get the best outcomes for these individuals.

It does have that follow-up mechanism very much like Art 1 and CRT, where the buck doesn't stop at the call.

Someone's staying with them, someone who has been unhoused for five years, had some history with alcohol, and they stayed with this individual, built rapport and started with just outreach, just having conversations and sticking with him, walked him through the steps, filled out housing applications with him, made sure the gaps were filled in service delivery.

After five years, this person's house now.

They've actually got a dog living in their apartment.

I mean, the best that we've ever seen them and living their best life, and that's really our hope through these programs, is we can help facilitate that.

Whenever I pull up a heat map, we continue to see some of our greatest responses in the downtown area.

And when we begin to dive into what that looks like and why so, we do see a house population in the downtown area, and we see a great response there.

We've been able to determine a lot of information that we didn't know before.

Busy times of the day, demographics that we're responding to, and really focus our approach into helping those individuals and really meeting those needs where they're at.

We want to provide what we call a community health needs assessment with art too, and really determine, hey, when this unit's gonna go, they're gonna ask more questions than maybe you would traditionally see on a fire trucker and aimless response.

They're gonna get into depth of what's going on with that individual.

You know, that call came in as a chest pain, but what was it really?

I do talk to a lot of different departments across the US, and so we're seeing cities want to adopt this.

There is models that are similar, but they've not had the impact.

I think the difference you see is R2 is able to respond to real-time 911 calls in place of other apparatus, but they also provide those other social services that are really critical to getting out of the community.

All these units, whether it's CRT R1 or ART2, they're able to let law enforcement ambulances, fire trucks go back in service to be ready to respond to fires, critical emergencies, and let these units spend the extra time with people in mental health crisis or unhoused populations and not rush that you don't want to rush those situations.

You want to spend the extra time.

Hi, I'm Sherry Carrier, Director of Tulsa Animal Services.

I want to take a moment to share a little bit about the incredible work happening behind these doors.

Every single day, our team is here, taking in lost, abandoned, and injured animals, giving them the care that they need, and working hard to find safe and loving homes.

It's easy to think that this is just a city service, but behind the scene are real people, people who love animals and pour their hearts into this work, even on our toughest days.

We're proud to say it's making a difference.

Thank you for standing with us.

Together, we're creating a safer, more compassionate Tulsa for animals.

Recycling rent is easy, but do you know what happens when you don't think before you throw and contaminate your blue recycling cart?

The city of Tulsa produces 450 tons of contaminated waste per month.

That's almost 5,500 tons per year that will now be going straight to the landfill.

To put into perspective how much waste that is, it's equivalent to 250 golden driller statues.

Think before you throw and keep recycling clean and waste free.

For more information about the correct way to recycle, please visit Tulsa Recycles.com.

The Tulsa Professional Connector Program will help you build a professional network and get in touch with highly networked individuals and professionals in your field of expertise.

To learn more, visit our webpage and contact us.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we explore river views, the grand homes that overlook the Arkansas River and reflect Tulsa's lasting connection to its natural landscape.

For more than a century, the river has shaped the city's layout, its neighborhoods, and its sense of beauty.

These historic properties near its banks are more than homes, they're places where art, industry, and civic life converged.

Let's take a look at three of Tulsa's most iconic riverside estates.

First, Harweldon Mansion, Tulsa's Storybook Manor, overlooking the Arkansas River, built in 1923 by Oilman Earl Harwell.

This English tutor style estate blends gothic arches and hand carved detailing.

The exterior facade consists of brick, stone window surrounds, balustrade and stone coins at the corners, leading up to the slate roof.

Inside, the home featured custom furnishings, a music room, and one of the city's earliest residential elevators.

Today, Harweldon operates as a cultural and event center, welcoming guests from around the world for weddings, concerts, and arts programming all with a river view.

Next, the Lee Clinton House, an understated gem tucked into the curves of Riverside Drive.

Constructed in 1919, this elegant colonial revival home belonged to civic leader and businessman Lee Clinton, founder of Union National Bank, and co-founder of the Tulsa stockyards, along with oil man William G.

Skelly.

With its classical detailing and perfectly manicured grounds, the home reflects quiet confidence and refined taste.

Privately owned and beautifully preserved.

It's one of the few original homes in the area that still retains its historic charm along Tulsa's most scenic stretch.

And finally, the Dresser Mansion, where Italian Renaissance Flair meets Tulsa's oil era opulence.

Built in 1919 for oil executive Carl Dresser.

This mansion draws on Mediterranean design with arched loggias, ornate ironwork, and a red tile roof.

Designed for entertaining, the home once hosted lavish parties with views stretching across the river valley.

Now restored and used as a venue.

Dresser Mansion continues to host celebrations, echoing its original purpose as a home made for gathering.

The Arkansas River shaped Tulsa's growth and offered a scenic corridor for some of the city's most remarkable residences.

These iconic properties remind us that Tulsa's past wasn't just built, it was carefully placed with beauty, nature, and legacy in mind.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa.

One historic property at a time.

The trail system at Bill Park opened in the fall of 2022 after a hundred and ninety thousand dollar donation.

You know that for decades, the West Side has geographically been cut off from many amenities and services.

But this new trail system is a part of a grassroots effort to improve the quality of life for Tulsans right here on the West Side, especially near Bell's Park.

This trail also serves the wider Tulsa community by providing beginner-level trails for those who are new to mountain biking, as well as a downhill bike-only section for intermediate riders.

And Turkey Mountain is right next door.

Enjoy the trails.

There's not much traffic.

Safety practices and skill building.

The after school program generally operates for fourth and fifth graders and in middle school, fundraising and the kind people that give us dollars to operate allows us to offer all these programs free to the district and free to the kids.

We'll have storage for all our surplus inventory, a bike workshop.

We'll have offices, a classroom for training, workshops, team building.

And then we'll also be able to host our volunteers here.

We really see a secondary use as a community spot.

Other community partners can come out here, do some training, team buildings.

We know that being outside is really really healthy for us mentally and physically.

So spaces like this that do this kind of programming should be available to everyone in our city.

And we want to make sure that every Tulson has the opportunity to get outside and enjoy.

We love Bells Park, and the best is yet to come.

Every year around the 4th of July, our shelter fills up with pets who ran off during fireworks.

Most of them live just a few houses away from where they're found.

That's why Tulsa Animal Services partnered with Tulsa Fire to bring microchip scanners to every fire station in our city.

If you find a lost pet, you can now stop by any Tulsa Fire Station and ask a firefighter to scan for a microchip.

No shelter visit required.

The scanner will show a chip number that can help you contact the owner directly through an online lookup system.

Most pets aren't truly lost.

They just need a little help getting home.

This partnership helps us keep animals in their neighborhoods where they belong.

Our fire stations are already part of the community.

This is one more way we're stepping up to keep Tulsa families two-legged and four-legged safe and together.

Because the best place for a pet is home.

TFD CARES stands for community assistance referrals and educational services.

Really seeks to connect 911 high utilizers and vulnerable populations to those critical community resources to help improve the lives of individuals within our community.

And the University of Tulsa did a study on CARES back in 2017, and from January to March, we had about a 70% reduction in 9-1-1 usage by connecting vulnerable populations in our community to social determinants of health.

And our scope and scale has grown.

We are now working with local community partners, whether it's hospitals, behavioral health partners, or other vital community resources to really connect individuals to those services.

We get referrals in from all different kinds of partners, whether it's hospitals, the fire department, sometimes the police department, or the aimless service in town.

And I think what makes TFD CARES really strong and really a great program is we're connected and integrated with all the community support structures in place.

We have two very good case managers that really navigate these community resources.

Ascension St.

John and the Czech Foundation is who supports our case managers and helps to integrate those within the Tulsa Fire Department.

We go all over Tulsa.

We are connecting with individuals when that referral comes in.

We'll send a case manager to someone's house and identify hey, what's going on today?

We'll address those social determinants of health.

We'll create goals off of that.

And we utilize a system called gelatin to communicate and connect with all those community partners, and it helps us to kind of capture our workflow and the work that's being completed.

But our case managers they stay with those clients until those needs are met.

They're working with them, they're navigating things like hand bars, wheelchair ramps, food insecurity, medication adherence.

They also help with individuals who are not currently housed.

We also send a firefighter paramedic or a community paramedic to the home, and they'll try to make that home safer and they'll work with those residents or those community members to make sure that their home is a safer place to live, that's a reducing falls, reducing injuries, and ultimately having better health outcomes.

We thought was very important moving forward in the growth of this program, being an extension of the hospitals and helping firefighters reduce those 9-1-1 calls.

One thing we're really proud of with TFD CARES is their impact that they're making and the results because that's what matters to us.

How are we improving that individual's life?

And so TFT CARES has been able to reduce 911 utilization by 80%.

We've been tracking this data through gelatus since 2023.

We're getting help to those individuals in need.

About 52% of the time, we're able to take care of those needs within two weeks.

We're trying to use this information in different parts of Tulsa to be more proactive in helping our citizens and our community members, social services has got to be a part of public safety.

The benefit is incredible, and as we continue to try to address root cause issues, why is that individual calling 911?

Programs like TFD cares answer that call and they get to those root cause issues and help improve that person's life.

The overdose response team was created to address a prevalent community need in Tulsa and that's overdoses.

We've seen opiates causing a lot of havoc within our community, not just in Tulsa or Oklahoma, but really nationally.

Public safety, whether it's fire and police are responding to right around eight to ten overdose calls a day.

We created a specialized team that has a community paramedic along with a peer recovery support specialist or someone with lived experience to respond to real-time overdose calls and provide follow-up to individuals who have overdose within our community.

So the lived experienced individual, that's someone who has used some sort of substance in the past and recovered.

I've always had a passion for addiction recovery, things like that because I'm in recovery myself from drugs and alcohol.

So when the opportunity came up, I snagged it up.

I was very excited to be a part of it, and I still am.

I love it.

It's probably my favorite day out of the week because it's a chance for me to give back to the community that I came from.

I've been in recovery for five years from drugs, and I haven't drank in like 10 years.

I came from a pretty tough background, lots of trauma growing up, gotten trouble a lot as a kid, been homeless, I've been part of domestic violence and everything from alcohol to prescription opiates to methamphetamine.

So when I first got clean, I decided I wanted to be a part of the movement for recovery.

And I got into working at a drug and alcohol treatment center for several years, and I really loved it.

And what that gives us is the ability for someone to really connect on a personal level and say, hey, I've been in a similar situation before, but I've recovered.

So the overdose response team is meant to complement the current infrastructure we have in place that will go identify individuals who have overdosed, build rapport, connect to services, and stay with them until they've gotten the help they need.

Are you on a housing list?

Yeah.

Yeah?

Good.

How long have you been on it?

With the interactions that we've made, we're slowly building relationships with people through outreach.

I think there's a trust there that some programs don't get.

Thank you.

This is a model that has worked in other cities.

We went and looked in specifically San Antonio.

Oklahoma City implemented this program in August 2023 to address these needs.

And what these previous communities have found is they're able to get people help earlier in the substance addiction than they were previously.

We do emphasize the harm reduction supplies and the hands-on CPR and some of that education because we're very passionate about giving someone another chance to get it right.

And so the harm reduction boxes complement our overdose response team.

We put those boxes in areas of our community where we see the most overdoses.

And so we have these at a couple fire stations, easy access to NARCAN, leave behind kids as well as fentanyl test strips and education pamphlets.

We want to prevent someone from losing their life.

I think in some areas we've seen a significant drop in overdoses, and our hope is that we're playing a role in that by giving out Narcan and test strips and things that people might need so they uh have a chance to stay alive.

You don't gain recovery by force.

You've got to want it for it to be successful.

So we're just there to help guide that situation and keep people safe for as long as we can.

I think another part of it is people seeing us out and about all the time in these areas.

They know that if they wave us down, we'll stop.

We'll give them whatever it is that they need, even if it's just somebody to listen to them.

And so I think that can build a bridge with certain members in our community to sit there and say, hey, you know, we're just here to lend a helping hand.

It helps to humanize the situation, I think.

You got this?

All right.

That's something we're very passionate about is continuing to move that ball forward with these individuals and making sure they know this is the things available to help you, and we can help walk alongside you during that process.

But we'll also do follow-ups with them with their family, see if we can connect them to resources or get them to treatment or get them harm reduction supplies, whatever it is that they need, is what we're there to do.

And whenever anybody's asked us for help, we've been there and we'll help them.

Whether that's response, somewhere to go.

We want to make sure that we have the best system in America here in Tulsa.

The NCI Pilot Program is all about empowering neighborhoods.

We're giving communities tools, resources, and the confidence they need to take charge and create real meaningful change.

Neighborhood associations, local leaders, and neighbors come together with city departments to identify their top needs and then build a plan to tackle them.

We started by looking at the NCI reports and identifying the neighborhoods with the highest priority needs.

It established a cross departmental task force, got together with them and looked at the resources we could provide the neighborhoods.

These departments that we worked with were police department, animal services, code enforcement, and public works.

Suburban Hills was a perfect fit for this program.

Their participation shows just how much this community values growth and togetherness.

The city has helped a lot.

Once you build the partnerships with the city, they're going to continue with us.

The city departments involved worked hard, the neighborhoods worked hard.

We couldn't have done it without their support and their involvement.

Together, we're creating neighborhoods where every voice matters and every block has a strong story worth telling.

Look ahead to the planned Route 66 BRT line, set to redefine our city's transit network, reducing travel time and enhancing the way Tulsans navigate their city.

Celebrate with us as we mark a significant milestone.

Two million riders in 2023.

Say hello to Metrolink Tulsa, your main bus service, along with Micro League and Link Assist.

As MetroLink Tulsa evolves and finds new ways to serve residents, witness the joy of riders boarding Metrolink Tulsa, realizing our mission to safely link people, places, and communities in Oklahoma.

What is zoning?

Zoning requirements state how people can use land in certain areas.

In order to use the land in a different way, the owner needs to get permission from the city.

The application will go to the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, the City Board of Adjustments, or the County Board of Adjustments, depending on the type and location of the request.

TMAPC handles zoning changes, subdivisions, and comprehensive plan amendments.

After filling out the proper application, Tulsa Planning Office staff will check to make sure everything is in order.

They then assign the application a case number and pass it to the planning commission with a recommendation on what to do.

Any rezoning application requires notice to the public in the form of posted signs, a newspaper section, and mail notice to the property owners within 300 feet of the lot.

The application fee covers these costs, and the planning office sends the notifications out.

The notices must be mailed, posted, and published at least 20 days before its appearance before the planning commission.

TMAPC then holds a public hearing.

Applicants may be called to the podium to speak, and the interested parties are allowed to give public comments for or against the request.

The commissioners then deliberate.

If recommended for approval, the application moves on to the city council.

The application appears on council agendas three times.

The first appearance is at the council's committee meetings.

The planning commission staff gives and explains a recommendation based on the application's consistency with policy and intent of the comprehensive plan.

This appearance is only a discussion, not a vote.

Counselors and planning office staff are the only ones permitted to participate in discussion, but the public is permitted to view and attend the meeting.

The next appearance is at the city council's 5 p.m.

council meeting.

Another public hearing is held to give an opportunity for citizen input before the council vote.

The applicant is again allowed to make a presentation.

The city council then votes to either approve the application, approve it with modifications, or deny it.

In most cases, the application needs a simple majority to pass.

If the application passes, it then appears at the following city council meeting as an ordinance reflecting the council vote to implement the decision.

Welcome back to the top recycling play of the day.

Team Johnson is facing off against a tough competitor.

Plastic.

Don't trust those numbers on the bottom.

You have to stick to what you know.

Only bottles and jugs found in the kitchen, bath, or laundry.

They're quick to pick up and empty those bottles before sinking that shot.

Always empty your bottles before recycling.

Score big by recycling your plastic bottles and jugs.

Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.com.

The Canis Latrans, also known as the Coyote, Coyote, or Prairie Wolf, has been spotted in all areas of Tulsa.

Coyotes migrated to the Tulsa area beginning in the early 20th century, when forest fragmentation and the extermination of larger predators like red and gray wolves led to their spread eastward.

Many strategies have been tried to rid urban areas of coyotes, but the effort is often costly and ineffective.

Coyotes are notoriously hard to catch and don't survive relocation.

Any area cleared of coyotes will quickly be repopulated.

Coyotes do provide an essential role in the ecosystem by helping to control the rodent population.

They are predators of geese, squirrels, mice, moles, gophers, possums, and other small animals.

While rodents make up a majority of their diet, coyotes also feed on fish, insects, blueberries, apples, prickly pears, persimmons, peanuts, and carrots.

Although their diet includes a variety of foods, coyotes have been known to kill small pets.

The best way to protect pets is to avoid attracting coyotes near your home by following these four best practices.

Best practice number one, supervise pets.

While coyotes don't usually attack humans, your pets can be a target.

Coyotes may see large dogs as rivals and small dogs and cats as prey.

Always walk your dog on a leash.

Keep cats indoors.

Letting cats roam free is also a violation of City of Tulsa ordinances.

And the best way to protect your pets is to not leave them outside unattended.

Especially at dusk through dawn when coyotes are more active.

In some cases, coyotes can climb fences.

Best practice number two.

Remove food attractive.

Remove bowls of pet food.

Keep trash cans securely closed.

Pick up any fruit or nuts from your yard.

Best practice number three.

Remove possible shelters.

Eliminate places for a coyote to make a den, like access under a deck or large bushes.

Cut down any tall grass or brush that could provide shelter for coyotes.

Best practice number four, respond appropriately during encounters.

If you do encounter a coyote, stay at your ground.

Don't turn your back or run away.

The coyote can reach speeds of 40 miles an hour.

Top speed of a human is 28 miles an hour.

Stay away from injured, cornered, or nursing coyotes.

Slowly back away.

Most importantly, use hazing techniques to discourage coyotes you come across.

Act large, yell, clap your hands, use a noisemaker, throw sticks at the coyote's feet, hit hands, etc.

Hazing helps keep wild animals wild as coyotes can become a nuisance or aggressive when they lose their fear of people.

If you see a coyote that seems aggressive, or if you have more questions, call a Tulsa County Game Warden with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

They can connect you with a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator.

Do not contact the Tulsa Animal Shelter as it does not handle wildlife issues.

By following best practices, you can help limit negative interactions between people, pets, and the urban wildlife we live alongside.

Do you know what happens to all of the waste we leave behind in our yards, driveways, and streets?

Runoff water carries all of the trash, chemicals, and other pollutants straight into our storm drains, which lead to miles and miles of pipes and drains right below our feet that drain directly into our rivers and streams.

Along the way, all of the trash, chemicals, and pollutants add up until even something small, like one cigarette butt, one oil spill, or one pile of leaves accumulates inside our drains and pipes and becomes a big problem, causing blockages in the system and pollution in our rivers and streams.

The waters we fish and play in, the water that sustains our wildlife.

By protecting what goes into our drains, we can save our streams.

You and I can do our part together.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we explore the opulent homes of Tulsa's early oil titans.

These men shaped the future, the barons.

Situated south of downtown is one of Tulsa's most prestigious historic neighborhoods, Maple Ridge, adjacent to the iconic Woodward Park, Grand 20th century homes, front tree lined boulevards, timeless architectural styles and details tell the story of a city built on oil.

Let's take a closer look at three of Tulsa's most iconic homes.

One of Tulsa's most notable homes, this Georgian revival style mansion, built in 1923, was home to William G.

Skelly, a prominent figure in Tulsa's oil and radio industries.

Skelly purchased this neoclassical house not long after it was constructed in 1924.

The three-story mansion is approximately 10,000 square feet, seated on a spacious wooded corner lot.

Exterior walls are composed of red brick masonry, and the home features a striking green tile roof.

The main feature of the ground floor is the long 40-foot dining room, a large second floor veranda with iron rail and iron staircase, offered access to the yard to entertain Skelly's elite guests.

The home remained in the Skelly family until 1968 and remains one of Tulsa's premier historical homes.

Nestled within the neighborhood stands a captivating model of early 20th century architecture.

Constructed in 1915, this two-story mission revival home was designed by esteemed architect Noble B.

Fleming, whose work significantly shaped Tulsa's architectural landscape during the oil boom era.

The home showcases hallmark features of the mission revival style.

The all-brick exterior, red tile roofing, and arched entryways are its defining characteristics.

Inside, the residence boasts original quarter sawn, oak mill work, intricate ceiling structures, and drawn glass windows that frame views of downtown Tulsa.

This residence not only embodies the elegance of its era, but also serves as a testament to the visionaries who propelled Tulsa into its golden age.

Another early land developer targeting oil producers and business elite was real estate developer Grant Stebbins.

A lucrative land offer attracted former Congressman Bird McGuire.

Mr.

and Mrs.

McGuire built their home in 1916 with native red sandstone.

A notable Tulsa builder, John Blair designed the house using a Frank Lloyd Wright theory.

Mrs.

McGuire handpicked each stone.

The stately McGuire home was one of the first built in the new subdivision, and Tulsa's golden age of oil production and real estate development was off to the races.

The homes of Tulsa's barons remind us of a time when ambition and architecture rose together as living monuments to the city's bold beginnings.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shaped Tulsa, one historic property at a time.

They're starting off slow today.

Probably trying to figure out what to do with those styrofoam plates since they're not recyclable.

Completely empty cardboard boxes dunked in the cart.

Score big by recycling your cardboard and paper.

Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.com.

With every raindrop.

Water impacts the world around us every day.

But all the little things we do can build up in a big, big way.

Together, we can make a difference.

A difference in our streams.

A difference in our water.

In our city.

Every yard, every street, every neighborhood is an opportunity to help protect our water, our wildlife, and our community.

You and I can do our part together.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we visit one of Tulsa's most charming and distinctive neighborhoods, Swan Lake.

Nestled just east of downtown, the Swan Lake Historic District offers a peaceful oasis of early 20th century homes and elegant apartment buildings.

Centered around a tranquil pond that gives the neighborhood its name.

This area was once a streetcar suburb.

A place where Tulsa's growing middle and upper middle class found escape from the hustle of the city.

Let's take a closer look at some of the district's most iconic properties.

These homes represent a time when thoughtful planning and picturesque design gave shape to a neighborhood unlike any other in the city.

At the heart of the Swan Lake neighborhood lies its namesake lake, a peaceful pond today, but once the centerpiece of a bustling amusement park in the early 1900s.

It quickly became a popular weekend destination for Tulsa families during the oil boom.

This man-made body of water was part of a private recreation area, complete with boat rides, a dance pavilion, and even a small zoo.

Though the amusements are long gone, the lake remains a serene reminder of a bygone era.

As Tulsa expanded, the demand for multi-unit housing grew.

In 1918, Samuel Augustus Orcutt responded to that need by constructing the first apartment building in what would become the Swan Lake Historic District.

This marked the beginning of Orcut's development enterprise, which would shape the neighborhood for decades.

Thanks to his efforts, Swan Lake now boasts more apartment buildings from Tulsa's boom era, spanning the 1920s through the late 1930s than any other neighborhood in the city.

The Orchead apartments remain a cornerstone of Tulsa's shift toward urban living.

As Tulsa's oil industry boomed and oil fortune soared.

Areas like Swan Lake became havens for industry leaders, managers, and visionaries.

Standing proudly at the edge of the lake is 1583 Swan Drive, the first home built along Swan Lake, completed in 1919.

This stately Italian Renaissance residence was designed by Noble B.

Fleming, an architect from Kansas City, whose work also includes Tulsa's beloved garden center at Woodward Park.

The home was commissioned by J.

M.

Hayner, president of the Monarch Royalty Company, a firm heavily involved in oil leasing and mineral rights during Tulsa's boom years.

As one of the first to settle on the lake, Hayner helped set the tone for a neighborhood that blended natural beauty with architectural grace.

From craftsman bungalows to classical revival and tutor revival.

Swan Lake is a showcase of architectural grace, each street a reflection of Tulsa's early 1900s aspirations.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa.

One historic property at a time.

Team Johnson is facing off against one tough competitor, glass.

That's right, only glass bottles and jars are recyclable.

Don't even think about sinking and drinking glass or mirror.

Always good to empty your glass bottles and jars before recycling.

These two get it, emptying both bottles from far out, and they remove the lids.

Score big by recycling your glass bottles and jars.

Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.com.

Okay.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we journey east of downtown to explore two of Tulsa's most charming early twentieth century neighborhoods.

Yorktown and Gillette.

Developed during Tulsa's rapid post-oil boom growth.

These districts were shaped by a rising middle class, oil workers, business owners, and civic leaders, who brought with them pride, ambition, and a love for craftsmanship.

Let's take a look at a few of the standout homes.

Our first stop is the illustrious Gillette Mansion.

Constructed in nineteen twenty-one.

This three-story gothic Tudor masterpiece was the residence of J.

M.

Gillette, an important merchant, real estate entrepreneur, an oil man, and the namesake of the surrounding Gillette Historic District.

Gillette cited his home outside the city limits.

The mansion grounds included a natural stone goldfish pond, handcrafted concrete tables and benches, and a clay tennis court, crafted with brick, stucco, and heavy timber.

The mansion boasts rock accents, multi-paned leaded glass windows set within cutstone gothic arches, and a slate roof.

Its grandeur stands as a testament to Tulsa's oil boom era and the architectural ambition it inspired.

Next, we visit 1731 South Yorktown Avenue, a charming tutor style duplex built in 1940.

This 1200 square foot residence reflects the architectural trends of the time.

With its brick facade and characteristic design elements, duplexes like this were often home to middle class professionals, bank clerks, and laborers drawn to the neighborhood's quiet streets and proximity to downtown.

It exemplifies the city's mid-century residential expansion.

And the move towards more modest yet stylish, multi-family middle class dwellings.

Our final feature is the Craftsman Bungalow, constructed in 1923.

This 1700 square foot residence embodies the craftsman ethos with its emphasis on handcrafted woodwork and a welcoming front porch.

It offers a glimpse into the architectural preferences of Tulsa's residents, favoring functionality blended with aesthetic appeal.

The classic craftsman bungalow.

The home features broad eaves, exposed rafters, and a welcoming front porch that speaks to the American arts and crafts movement.

Houses like this typically sheltered young families and skilled tradespeople, offering an affordable yet stylish entry into homeownership.

Two classic neighborhoods from Tulsa's Golden Age.

Still alive today.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa, one historic property at a time.

On average, we have 200 collisions between an automobile and a pedestrian every single year.

Of those, a very high number results in injury or death.

This is a serious problem that impacts all of us.

And we can do our part in taking precautions and minimizing risk by using crosswalks and sharing the road with pedestrians.

The first thing is pedestrians could only cross the street in a designated crosswalk.

When you're in this crosswalk, pedestrians have their right of way.

One thing to keep in mind if you're lucky enough to find this, find yourself a button.

Push your button, these sides will illuminate, allowing you to then cross the street.

Secondly, pedestrians must walk along this sidewalk and not in the street.

If you're walking adjacent to the street and no sidewalk has been provided for you, you need to walk as close to the curb as possible while facing oncoming traffic.

Finally, blind pedestrians always have the right of way over all other pedestrians and vehicles.

Blind pedestrians must indicate this right of weight by holding out horizontally a white cane in the direction they wish to travel.

The Tulsa Police Department takes this issue very seriously.

We are here to protect all citizens of Tulsa.

Any violation, particularly by motorists putting other Tulsons' lives at risk, you're gonna get a ticket.

Help us keep you from getting a ticket and help keep Tulson safe.

We all have a responsibility to share the road.

Together, we can be kind and make streets a safer place for everyone.

The bazaar is a micro neighborhood grocery.

So my good grocery store has a very small footprint and it's specified for smaller communities.

It's membership based.

Those in the Dawson community will have a free membership.

For community members who are outside of Dawson, they can purchase a membership for a very nominal fee.

It is a cashless grocery.

So that means that there will be no cash that transfers on site.

You can use your bank card, you can use your snap card, or you can upload cash onto your bazaar card much like you would at the laundromat.

We're hoping to connect with our Oklahoma producers, so our farmers here in Oklahoma to be able to provide a market for them.

Started in 2012 trip to Indonesia and living with the farmers overseas.

And so I want to kind of connect those two bubbles together to create something that would be more in the farmers' favor and the community itself.

It's to provide healthy food at a nonprofit cost in an area that is considered to be a food desert.

On top of that, we have a mission to make sure our children do not go without food.

So the bazaar is prepared to feed one free meal per child for all 450 students that go to school in the Dawson neighborhood, K-312.

It's just going to be a much-needed connection point for the community.

This is phase one currently in this project, and phase one is the grocery store and the food trucks.

We are trying to decrease our carbon footprint.

So our store we ran completely on solar energy.

Our packaging will be biodegradable packaging.

Our bags will be cloth bags that will be reusable.

They have applied and received ARPA funding.

That this is the Dawson neighborhood market.

Bob, most people think of the kitchen for this opponent.

But aluminum and steel cans like empty shaving cream cans also play extremely well in bathrooms all over Tulsa.

Wow, right into the bin.

King Johnson has buttoned up another win.

Score big by recycling your aluminum and steel cans.

Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.com.

The project is Flet Rock Creek, and that is a partnership with the Tulsa Housing Authorities 36 North.

And so it will be as some would like to call it the Turkey Mountain of North Tulsa.

Connection with nature.

Very excited about the possibility of having a fishing pond.

Having access to all of these amenities in this area is going to be needed for the entire area of North Carolina.

The need is great.

There are several schools in the immediate area, and this could be an outdoor learning experience.

It just will be enhanced with these outdoor amenities for the community splendid.

We have held community meetings, my town hall meetings concerning this project, and it received overwhelming support.

The future is very bright for this project.

When you consider the housing that is returning to the area, not only the apartments that are owned by Tulsa Housing Authority, but also several hundred homes will be built in that immediate area as well.

And so having the community in the houses all in the St.

Ami area is very broad.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we head downtown to explore the boom, an era when Tulsa soared upward on steel and ambition.

Fueled by oil money and optimism, the city's skyline became a canvas for architects, artisans, and entrepreneurs who believed there was no limit to what Tulsa could be from grand hotels to gleaming towers.

The art deco designs of the 1920s and 30s reflect a city at the height of its confidence.

Let's take a closer look at four iconic landmarks from Tulsa's golden age.

First, the Philcade and the Phil Tower, two masterpieces born of oil and vision, commissioned by oil magnate Wade Phillips.

These buildings were designed to complement one another inside and out.

The Phil Tower, completed in 1928, blends gothic revival with art deco, rising 24 stories with ornate terracotta detailing and a signature green tile roof.

Just across the street, the Philcade opened in 1931, flaunting pure Art Deco glamour from its gilded lobby to its geometric flourishes.

Together, they form a striking architectural dialogue, capturing both the romance and the reality of the oil boom.

Next, the Minx Adams Hotel, once the social centerpiece of downtown Tulsa, built in 1927, the hotel was a symbol of prosperity and polish with Italian Renaissance styling, intricate terracotta, and a two-story grand ballroom.

During the oil boom, it welcomed dignitaries, deal makers, and dreamers from all over the world.

It blends historic elegance with modern energy.

An enduring tribute to Tulsa's roaring twenties.

Is one of downtown Tulsa's most striking silhouettes, the Cosden Building, now known as the Mid-Continent Tower.

The original 16-story structure was a symbol of oil boom ambition, commissioned by oilman Joshua Cosden, a man often called the Prince of Petroleum.

Originally completed in 1918, its most eye-catching chapter came decades later, when in 1984, an extraordinary engineering feat nearly doubled its height.

Rather than demolish the original structure, architects and engineers built a 20-story tower directly above it, cantilevered over the historic building with a hidden steel frame.

The result is a seamless blend of past and present.

A modern high rise perched atop a century-old skyscraper, mirroring its style so perfectly, it's often mistaken as a single, unified design.

Today, the mid-continent tower stands as a testament, not just to Tulsa's architectural legacy, but to its visionary spirit, where preservation and progress rise side by side.

These iconic buildings remind us of a time when Tulsa was growing fast, thinking big, and laying the foundation for the city we know today.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa.

One historic property at a time.

Now we're going to go in and fix those storm inlets.

We're going to bring those storm inlets up and completely take those dips out.

So it'll be a smooth ride on the outside lanes going northbound and southbound.

So we identified some funding resources.

$75,000 from Vision allocated funds for District 8, which I get to represent.

And then I with a map out of the District 7 community development funds for $150,000 total.

And then $100,000 from the city's general fund, which will be used to repair the inlets to bring those inlets up to grade and to smooth out the ride for all of us up memorials.

Thank you for everyone's patience as we identified this new funding source to now elevate the drainage for our stormwater drains and to smooth out the road.

I think you'll find a smoother ride as you head north or south on South Memorial Drive in South Tulsa.

After a very short time frame for construction, we'll have smooth lanes, just as I think the vast majority of our constituents want.

This summer, I think we'll finally get to a place where it's smooth sailing, no more dips in the road, and no potholes.

I'd like to say thank you.

We cannot have the equipment that we have without the support of Tulsa's taxpayers.

All of the trucks that the Tulsa Fire Department uh buy, we keep them consistent with one manufacturer.

That allows us to ensure that our fleet mechanics know exactly what they're working on.

Daily checks and maintenance and keeping these vehicles in tip top shape really provides effective response, but it also ensures that everyone, it's public, firefighters, and the community as a whole are safe when we're operating in the areas.

Some of the important things to look for are how body panels are fit, how the paint is, is it durable?

You want to make sure it's gonna last because this is the city's investment uh for 10 plus years.

We want to get as much out of this truck as we can.

Right behind our people, this is the most expensive thing that we purchase.

From the time we design and purchase uh an engine is 36 months.

We want consistency to buy a certain number each year to replace um a certain number of engines, certain number of ladders and specialty units every year.

These trucks are kind of a final evolution in probably three versions that we've built over the last four or five years.

We like a little bit shorter length.

Um it's a little bit easier to move within apartment complexes and and some of our two-lane South Tulsa roads.

This is a point of pride for the fire department, and the firefighters that are assigned to this vehicle will take care of it, inspect it, and ensure it's working.

They're passionate about that that work.

Investment up front equals quality and safety over time.

Ensures that uh we have readiness and readiness is the most important part for us is having the ability to receive the alarm quickly, get out the door, having confidence in that equipment, making sure it's ready to go, and then it performs effectively is key to saving lives and property.

Starting in 2024 and continuing over the next four years, the city of Tulsa will start installing new automated water meters at more than 145,000 residential locations across the city.

The program is known as true reads.

While the city of Tulsa has had reliable process for reading and changing out water meters for many years, automated meter reading technology has improved to the point that it now makes financial and operational sense to make the switch.

These new meters will minimize property access needs, control meter reading costs, cause fewer employee injuries, and eliminate estimated bills, and deploy more environmentally friendly technology.

While there isn't much you need to do, we do want you to be aware that work will happen in your yard sooner or later.

Before contractors even touch that meter in your yard, you will have advanced notification and day of notification.

First, the city will maintain a regularly updated online map showing neighborhoods where meters are currently being installed.

That map can be found online at cityoftulsa.org forward slash true reads.

Second, one to two weeks before your meters installed, a door hanger with more information will be left on your door.

And finally, the day of your meter installation, you will be personally contacted by the contractor with a knock on your door.

While your meter's being changed, you will be briefly without water for a maximum of 30 minutes.

And once crews are finished, all we ask is that you run your water for a few minutes to build pressure back up in your lines.

And that's because any time water is turned off, there is a chance your system will lose some pressure, and you could see cloudy water until it's restored.

Lastly, while contractors work to swap your meter out, they'll also perform what's known as a lead service line inspection.

Lead, which is a toxic metal that was used in plumbing materials in the past, can cause adverse health effects.

Well, we don't think there are many, if any, lead service lines remaining in our system.

We do want to find, document, and remove any lead that may be left in our system.

As part of the automated meter reading installation process, crews will do a quick check of the service line material, and results of that lead inspection will be made available on the online map.

For more information and to see a detailed list of frequently asked questions about the process, along with the map that we mentioned earlier.

Visit city of Tulsa.org forward slash true reads.

Can you show me 97 on my A12 on the second place, please?

I was raised on a farm growing up.

I was raised to respect animals and care for them.

My heart is really just to care for these animals when when they don't have anyone else to care for them.

We have a ton of strays in the city limits of Tulsa, and a lot of people just see them as strays that, you know, they might just be on the streets forever.

They still deserve every chance that a dog has that is owned or cared for.

That's really my heart is to care for those animals that don't have an owner, to bring them here, give them a soft bed to lay on, give them food and water to where they can go out and get a loving home to continue their life into.

Good girl.

The most important part to me for this job is to, you know, build a relationship with the community.

If your dog doesn't have a doghouse or it needs a tie out to where it can't get loose, I want them to feel comfortable enough to come to us to where we can give them those resources.

We're not here to just write you tickets or, you know, take your dog.

We're here to give you the resources that the community needs to be able to let you keep your dog.

Because a lot of times, the dog can be a big part of your family and for your kids and everything.

We're not here to just take those animals.

We're here to give you those resources, give you dog food, cat food, anything that you need to let you keep your dog in the best way that you can.

Come on, Tweedy.

I think a lot of people don't realize if there's a stray baby goat, if there's a pig, we have to go get those animals.

And sometimes it can get a little hairy, you know, if you're trying to wrangle a pig and you're chasing it.

Sometimes it gets a little crazy, but it definitely makes it fun.

Good girl.

We're here, you know, 24-7 to help the community.

Those are the relationships that I want to build with the community.

It's to know that we're here for them.

We're here to care for them and their animals.

Being an animal welfare is not just for the animals, it's for the people just as much as the animals.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we explore the church.

A story written not in brick alone, but in belief, community, and truthfully bold design.

In Tulsa's cathedral district, rising spires and stained glass tell the story of a city shaped by faith and architecture.

These houses of worship reflect both spiritual devotion and the ambition of a growing city.

Let's take a look at three of Tulsa's most iconic sacred spaces.

First, the Boston Avenue Methodist Church, a national landmark of Art Deco architecture.

Completed in 1929, this church broke from tradition with its vertical lines, abstract ornamentation, and innovative design by architect Bruce Goff and artist Ado Robinson.

From its soaring central tower to its streamlined detailing, the building blends modernism with reverence.

It's not just one of Tulsa's greatest architectural achievements, it's one of the most important Art Deco churches in the country.

Next, the Holy Family Cathedral, the spiritual heart of Tulsa's Catholic community, built in 1914 in the neoclassical style.

The cathedral's masonry walls and steel-framed spires are faced with stone and brick.

The 251-feet tall main spire is faced with four large clocks, and its design evokes the great European cathedrals as one of the oldest churches in Tulsa.

Holy Family is more than a place of worship.

It's a foundation stone in the city's story.

And finally, at the corner of 11th and Boulder stands First Methodist Church, the third home for a congregation, whose story stretches back to Tulsa's earliest days.

Founded in 1886, the church built a modest white chapel.

And as the city expanded, so did the congregation.

First into a red brick church at ninth and boulder, then in 1921 into the grand structure that still welcomes worshippers today.

Built in the perpendicular Tudor Gothic style.

The church's design draws the eye heavenward with pointed arches and vaulted ceilings, an architectural expression of reverence.

Its cruciform layout, a cross shape anchors the building in Christian tradition.

A symbol that this church, like its people, is grounded in faith.

These churches remind us that Tulsa's past wasn't just built with industry and ambition, but with faith, artistry, and community at its core.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa.

One historic property at a time.

One hundred years ago, the Spavanaugh Water Project transformed the future of Tulsa.

In 1924, Tulsa embarked on one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country with a goal of getting clean, reliable water to the city.

In the early 1900s, Tulsons used water from springs, wells, and the Arkansas River, which was full of gypsum, salt, and silt.

People used to say that after you took a bath, you dried off and then you dusted off.

In 1908, during a hunting trip, a group of influential Tulsans came upon Spavanaugh Creek, a crystal clear spring-fed stream.

In the summer of 1921, the City Water Commission hired 28-year-old civil engineer W.

R.

Hallway to conduct surveys to determine if Spavanaugh Creek water could be brought to Tulsa by gravity flow.

In his report on October 24th, Hallway confirmed this was possible.

And a month later, the citizens of Tulsa passed a $6,800,000 bond issue by an overwhelming margin to fund the Spavanaugh Water Supply Project.

Hallway was hired to design and build what was one of the largest water projects in the nation.

Construction took two years to complete at a cost of seven and a half million dollars.

Spavanaugh Dam is two-thirds of a mile long, five stories high, and impounds eight and a half billion gallons of water in Spavanaugh Lake.

When first built, the reservoir became the largest lake in the state of Oklahoma.

Water from Spavanaugh Lake flows by gravity to the city of Tulsa, 54 miles away.

This original flow line was the longest raw water line in the United States at the time of construction.

Over its length, the pipeline drops by an elevation of only 90 feet.

Crosses under two rivers, over eight creeks, and tunnels through a 200-foot tall ridge.

On November 17, 1924, Tulsons lifted glasses of clean and clear water to toast the completion of the Spavanaugh water system.

After construction was complete, Hallway allowed the Tulsa mayor to put his final $15,000 paycheck in a bottle to float through the flow line, where he caught it as it came out at Mohawk.

Today, the city of Tulsa provides an average of 105 million gallons of refreshing award-winning water to over 650,000 customers in and around the Tulsa metropolitan area every day.

In 1924, the Tulsa World wrote, oil may have built Tulsa in the past, but Spavanaugh water will be the product by which the future will be built.

There was no development that was occurring out here.

It was important that we try and figure out how to activate this corridor for future development.

And I think by doing this, we've created a place where small developers or even larger developers can look at this and it be an attractive place to spur growth and development.

I think it's important that when we invest in ourselves, investors will invest in us.

When we first brought this issue to the attention of our district, everyone was a little bit overwhelmed by the fact that we had citizens that didn't have the basic necessity.

Most of us, when we turn on our water, we expect that clean, clear water is going to come out of our faucet.

Everybody got behind this initiative.

So thank you for going down this journey with us and making sure that we invest in our district and its future potential.

And so the COPS clinician is a licensed professional counselor, and the TFD paramedic is someone who has had extra training in mental health and de-escalation techniques.

And this unit responds to mental or behavioral health crisis calls throughout the city of Tulsa.

Art One is able to respond to any age individual in crisis.

And we do see a big need in the 18 to 45 range.

We also know that about 20% of Art One's responses are to unhoused individuals.

There's a lot of work being done, not just locally but nationally with addressing mental health.

We were out ahead of the game in regards to a lot of the other cities in America and trying to address our needs within our community.

How can we better serve it?

What we found was early on, we were seeing some of these people call 911 who just needed this assistance.

And so these programs were invented very early on to meet that need.

And it's proven to be so valuable when we look at the resource that Art One provides to the community with the ability to have a paramedic and provide a medical evaluation of someone who's in crisis to rule out any physical health needs along with that clinician to address the psychological needs of that individual who's in crisis.

Another big thing that Art One does is they've responded what we call high utilizers or people who are calling 911 a lot looking for help.

So Art One can also respond to those individuals and start social services.

So we're very big on addressing social determinants, which is education, employment, health care, social and community context.

We want to address those items to improve somebody's life situation.

The benefit of having family children's services along with us is that we have that clinician there.

They can schedule an appointment for that individual to go in and get checked.

When we're not able to accomplish that, we take that individual to what we call sometimes an alternate destination.

So they may go to a crisis care center or an urgent recovery center or somewhere where it's going to best benefit that individual in that moment who's in crisis.

911 and public safety have done an incredible job of responding to an emergency incident, intervening and taking care of that situation.

But moving forward, we've got to find ways to continue that relationship with those individuals to make sure those needs are met.

And that's really where the follow-up piece comes in.

If a unit responds to an individual on Monday, a case manager is going to follow up with them on Tuesday or Wednesday that week and make sure their needs are being met.

This is so important when you're talking about providing a continuum of care, meaning a care that just doesn't stop on that response, but it follows what that individual stays with them.

We can connect people very quickly to those resources, and we have that institutional knowledge to know what's the best resource for that person.

We can really begin to move the ball forward in helping our most vulnerable populations in Tulsa to be in better situations.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we explore cultural destinations.

The spaces where Tulsa came together to be entertained, inspired, and connected, whether through music, film, or storytelling.

These iconic venues have helped define Tulsa's cultural identity.

They reflect not only the city's love of the arts, but also its enduring commitment to preservation, creativity, and community.

Let's take a look at three of Tulsa's most beloved cultural landmarks.

First, Cain's Ballroom, where Western Swing was born and legends still take the stage.

Built in 1924, as a garage, Canes was converted into a dance hall academy and soon became home to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.

With its spring-loaded Naple dance floor, Neon Glow, an intimate stage.

Keynes has hosted everyone from country pioneers to punk icons.

Known as the Carnegie Hall of Western Swing, it remains a living piece of Tulsa's musical legacy.

Today, it continues to operate as one of the region's premier music venues, drawing national touring acts and loyal local crowds.

Next, Circle Cinema.

Tulsa's oldest operating movie theater and a hub for independent film.

Opened in 1928 as a silent movie theater.

The circle has survived fires, closures, and shifting trends.

But its mission remains the same: to bring meaningful, thought-provoking cinema to the community.

Restored with care, the theater blends historic charm with modern programming.

It's more than a place to see a film.

It's where Tulsa comes to think, discuss, and dream.

It regularly hosts screenings, film festivals, and community events, keeping its screens and conversations alive.

And finally, the Museum of Tulsa history, nestled in the heart of Woodward Park, located in a 1919 Italian Renaissance revival mansion.

That was originally the home of oilmen and philanthropist Sam Travis.

The museum preserves Tulsa's collective memory through exhibits, archives, and artifacts.

One of the first grand residences in what became known as Tulsa's Millionaire Row, the venue is surrounded by the blooming landscapes of Woodward Park.

This property is as much about reflection as celebration.

A place where the stories of Tulsa's neighborhoods, industries, and people are honored and shared.

The museum hosts rotating exhibits, lectures, and public programs that invite the community to engage directly with Tulsa's past.

These venues remind us that history isn't only built in stone or steel, it's also written in cheers, laughter, and applause, and the stories we pass on.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa, one historic property at a time.

Alternate Response Team 2 is a very innovative program.

So Art 2 is staffed with two sworn firefighter paramedics who are community paramedicine trained, which means they have extra training in mental health, they have extra training in taking care of wound management.

We have basically stuck a hypothetical fire station right in the center of downtown Tulsa and said any medical call that comes in within the IDL or downtown Tulsa, Art 2 will respond to.

They will also respond and provide outreach services and wellness checks for unhoused population within the IDL.

So when they're not on a run, when they're not providing medical coverage, they're out there making sure people are as healthy as they possibly can be.

They provide blood pressure checks, they check pulse rates.

Whether you're housed or homeless, doesn't really matter.

Do you have the medications that you need to manage your health conditions?

They provide water on hot days, they make sure you're warm on cold days.

And R2 coordinates very well with our community partners, making sure that we're coordinating our efforts with everyone else.

The impact they've had has been significant.

And I believe the reason is they take the extra time to spend with individuals.

As soon as they're done with that call, they're gonna go over there and have conversations with people and say, hey, are you working with somebody right now?

Do you have a plan?

If not, we can help you coordinate that effort.

We can get you help you get housing, we can help you get food.

What we love about the Tulsa Fire Department and what this program has been able to do is we work with everybody within the community.

So we're utilizing every resource that we have within the city of Tulsa to get the best outcomes for these individuals.

It does have that follow-up mechanism very much like Art One and CRT, where the buck doesn't stop at the call.

Someone's staying with them, someone who has been unhoused for five years, had some history with alcohol, and they stayed with this individual, built rapport.

Just having conversations and sticking with him.

Walked him through the steps, filled out housing applications with him, made sure the gaps were filled in service delivery.

After five years, this person's house now.

They've actually got a dog living in their apartment.

I mean, the best that we've ever seen them and living their best lives, and that's really our hope through these programs is we can help facilitate that.

Whenever I pull up a heat map, we continue to see some of our greatest responses in the downtown area.

And when we begin to dive into what that looks like and why so, we do see a house population in the downtown area, and we see a great response today.

We've been able to determine a lot of information that we didn't know before.

Busy times of the day, demographics that we're responding to, and really focus our approach to helping those individuals and really meeting those needs where they're at.

We want to provide what we call a community health needs assessment with R2 and really determine hey, when this unit's going to go, they're going to ask more questions than maybe you would traditionally see on a fire tracker and angels response.

They're going to get into depth of what's going on with that individual.

You know, that call came in as a chest pain, but what was it really?

I do talk to a lot of different departments across the U.S.

And so we're seeing cities want to adopt this.

There is models that are similar, but they've not had the impact.

And I think the difference you see is R2 is able to respond to real-time 911 calls in place of other apparatus, but they also provide those other social services that are really critical to getting the outcomes you need.

All these units, whether it's CRT, Art 1 or R2, they're able to let law enforcement, ambulances, fire trucks go back in service to be ready to respond to fires, critical emergencies, and let these units spend the extra time with people in mental health crisis or unhoused populations and not rush that.

You don't want to rush those situations.

You want to spend the extra time.

I believe very strongly that R2 is a model for the future.

Right now it's just in downtown Tulsa.

I see this as something that you could really implement citywide.

You don't see this anywhere else in America.

So I'm excited because I love when we are able to push the bar forward and really set an example on a national stage, and that's exactly what we're doing with R2.

Hi, I'm Sherry Carrier, Director of Tulsa Animal Services.

I want to take a moment to share a little bit about the incredible work happening behind these doors.

Every single day, our team is here, taking in lost, abandoned, and injured animals, giving them the care that they need, and working hard to find safe and loving homes.

It's easy to think that this is just a city service.

But behind the scene are real people.

People who love animals and pour their hearts into this work.

Even on our toughest days.

We're proud to say it's making a difference.

Our save rate has jumped from 67% in 2018 to nearly 80% today.

Thanks to adoptions, foster homes, and the incredible support of our community.

One of the biggest lifesavers, span neuter.

Preventing unwanted litters means fewer animals entering our shelters and more resources for every pet who needs us.

Thank you for standing with us.

Together, we're creating a safer, more compassionate Tulsa for animals.

Recycling rent is easy, but do you know what happens when you don't think before you throw and contaminate your blue recycling cart?

The City of Tulsa produces 450 tons of contaminated waste per month.

That's almost 5,500 tons per year that will now be going straight to the land though.

To put into perspective how much waste that is, it's equivalent to 250 golden driller statues.

Think before you throw and keep recycling clean and waste free.

For more information about the correct way to recycle, please visit Tulsa Recycles.com.

The Tulsa Professional Connector Program will help you build a professional network and get in touch with highly networked individuals and professionals in your field of expertise.

El programmatos roles.

To learn more, visit our webpage and contact us.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we explore river views, the grand homes that overlook the Arkansas River and reflect Tulsa's lasting connection to its natural landscape.

For more than a century, the river has shaped the city's layout, its neighborhoods, and its sense of beauty.

These historic properties near its banks are more than homes.

They're places where art, industry, and civic life converged.

Let's take a look at three of Tulsa's most iconic riverside estates.

First, Harweldon Mansion, Tulsa's storybook manor, overlooking the Arkansas River, built in 1923 by oilman Earl Harwell.

This English Tudor style estate blends gothic arches and hand carved detailing.

The exterior facade consists of brick, stone window surrounds, balustrade and stone coins at the corners leading up to the slate roof.

Inside, the home featured custom furnishings, a music room, and one of the city's earliest residential elevators.

Today, Harweldon operates as a cultural and event center, welcoming guests from around the world for weddings, concerts, and arts programming all with a river view.

Next, the Lee Clinton House, an understated gem tucked into the curves of Riverside Drive.

Constructed in 1919, this elegant colonial revival home belonged to civic leader and businessman Lee Clinton, founder of Union National Bank, and co-founder of the Tulsa Stockyards, along with oil man William G.

Skelly.

With its classical detailing and perfectly manicured grounds, the home reflects quiet confidence and refined taste.

Privately owned and beautifully preserved, it's one of the few original homes in the area that still retains its historic charm along Tulsa's most scenic stretch.

And finally, the Dresser Mansion, where Italian Renaissance flair meets Tulsa's oil era opulence, built in 1919 for oil executive Carl Dresser.

This mansion draws on Mediterranean design with arched loggias, ornate ironwork, and a red tile roof.

Designed for entertaining, the home once hosted lavish parties with views stretching across the river valley, now restored and used as a venue.

Dresser Mansion continues to host celebrations, echoing its original purpose as a home made for gathering.

The Arkansas River shaped Tulsa's growth and offered a scenic corridor for some of the city's most remarkable residences.

These iconic properties remind us that Tulsa's past wasn't just built, it was carefully placed with beauty, nature, and legacy in mind.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa.

One historic property at a time.

The trail system at Bill Park opened in the fall of 2022 after a hundred and ninety thousand dollar donation.

You know that for decades the West Side has geographically been cut off from many amenities and services.

But this new trail system is a part of a grassroots effort to improve the quality of life for Tulson right here on the west side, especially near Bells Park.

This trail also served the wider Tulsa community by providing beginner-level trails for those who are new to mountain biking, as well as a downhill bike only section for intermediate riders.

And Turkey Mountain is right next door when riders are ready to take on if they have sports.

Our Bale's park trails are amazing.

People come, park your car, get out, enjoy the trails.

There's not much traffic.

So I want you to come out and enjoy the park here at Bables.

We do a third grade bike PE program where we're there for four days doing a condensed bike club curriculum where we're teaching them safety practices and skill building.

The after school program generally operates for fourth and fifth graders and in middle school.

Fundraising and the kind people that give us dollars to operate allows us to offer all these programs free to the district and free to the kids.

We'll have storage for all our surplus inventory, a bike workshop.

We'll have offices, a classroom for training, workshops, team building, and then we'll also be able to host our volunteers here.

We really see a secondary use as a community spot.

Other community partners can come out here, do some training, team buildings.

We know that being outside is really really healthy for us mentally and physically.

So spaces like this that do this kind of programming should be available to everyone in our city, and we want to make sure that every Tulson has the opportunity to get outside and enjoy.

We love Bell's Park and the best is yet to come.

Every year around the 4th of July, our shelter fills up with pets who ran off during fireworks.

Most of them live just a few houses away from where they're found.

That's why Tulsa Animal Services partnered with Tulsa Fire to bring microchip scanners to every fire station in our city.

If you find a lost pet, you can now stop by any Tulsa Fire Station and ask a firefighter to scan for a microchip.

No shelter visit required.

The scanner will show a chip number that can help you contact the owner directly through an online lookup system.

Most pets aren't truly lost.

They just need a little help getting home.

This partnership helps us keep animals in their neighborhoods where they belong.

Our fire stations are already part of the community.

This is one more way we're stepping up to keep Tulsa families two-legged and four-legged safe and together.

Because the best place for a pet is home.

TFD CARES stands for Community Assistance Referrals and Educational Services.

Really seeks to connect 911 high utilizers and vulnerable populations to those critical community resources to help improve the lives of individuals within our community.

And the University of Tulsa did a study on CARES back in 2017, and from January to March, we had about a 70% reduction in 9-1-1 usage by connecting vulnerable populations in our community to social determinants of health.

And our scope and scale has grown.

We are now working with local community partners, whether it's hospitals, behavioral health partners, or other vital community resources to really connect individuals to those services.

We get referrals in from all different kinds of partners, whether it's hospitals, the fire department, sometimes the police department or the aimless service in town.

And I think what makes TFD CARES really strong and really a great program is connected and integrated with all the community support structures in place.

We have two very good case managers that really navigate these community resources.

Ascension St.

John and the Czech Foundation is who supports our case managers and helps to integrate those within the Tulsa Fire Department.

We go all over Tulsa.

We are connecting with individuals.

When that referral comes in, we'll send a case manager to someone's house and identify, hey, what's going on today?

We'll address those social determinants of health.

We'll create goals off of that.

And we utilize a system called gelatin to communicate and connect with all those community partners, and it helps us to kind of capture our workflow and the work that's being completed.

But our case managers, they stay with those clients until those needs are met.

They're working with them, they're navigating things like hand bars, wheelchair ramps, food insecurity, medication adherence.

They also help with individuals who are not currently housed.

We also send a firefighter paramedic or a community paramedic to the home, and they'll try to make that home safer and they'll work with those residents or those community members to make sure that their home is a safer place to live, that they're reducing falls, reducing injuries, and ultimately having better health outcomes.

We thought was very important moving forward in the growth of this program, being an extension of the hospitals and helping firefighters reduce those 911 calls.

One thing we're really proud of with TFD CARES is their impact that they're making and the results because that's what matters to us.

How are we improving that individual's life?

And so TFT CARES has been able to reduce 911 utilization by 80%.

We've been tracking this data through gelatin since 2023.

We're getting help to those individuals in need.

About 52% of the time, we're able to take care of those needs within two weeks.

We're trying to use this information in different parts of Tulsa to be more proactive and helping our citizens and our community members, social services has got to be a part of public safety.

The benefit is incredible, and as we continue to try to address root cause issues, why is that individual calling 911?

Programs like TFD CARES answer that call and they get to those root cause issues and help improve that person's life.

The overdose response team was created to address a prevalent community need in Tulsa, and that's overdoses.

We've seen opiates causing a lot of havoc within our community, not just in Tulsa or Oklahoma, but really nationally.

Public safety, whether it's fire and police, are responding to right around eight to ten overdose calls a day.

We created a specialized team that has a community paramedic along with a peer recovery support specialist or someone with lived experience to respond to real-time overdose calls and provide follow-up to individuals who have overdose within our community.

So the lived experienced individual, that's someone who has used some sort of substance in the past and recovered.

I've always had a passion for addiction recovery, things like that because I'm in recovery myself from drugs and alcohol.

So when the opportunity came up, I snagged it up.

I was very excited to be a part of it.

And I still am.

I love it.

It's probably my favorite day out of the week because it's a chance for me to give back to the community that I came from.

I've been in recovery for five years from drugs, and I haven't drank in like 10 years.

I came from a pretty tough background.

Lots of trauma growing up.

Gotten trouble a lot as a kid, been homeless, I've been part of domestic violence and everything from alcohol to prescription opiates to methamphetamine.

So when I first got clean, I decided I wanted to be a part of the movement for recovery.

And I got into working at a drug and alcohol treatment center for several years, and I really loved it.

And what that gives us is the ability for someone to really connect on a personal level and say, hey, I've been in a similar situation before, but I've recovered.

So the overdose response team is meant to complement the current infrastructure we have in place that will go identify individuals who have overdosed, build rapport, connect to services, and stay with them until they've gotten the help they need.

Are you on a housing list?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Good.

How long have you been on it?

With the interactions that we've made, we're slowly building relationships with people through outreach.

I think there's a trust there that some programs don't get.

Thank you.

This is a model that has worked in other cities.

We went and looked in, specifically San Antonio, Oklahoma City implemented this program in August 2023 to address these needs.

And what these previous communities have found is they're able to get people help earlier in the substance addiction than they were previously.

We do emphasize the harm reduction supplies and the hands-on CPR and some of that education because we're very passionate about giving someone another chance to get it right.

And so the harm reduction boxes to complement our overdose response team.

We put those boxes in areas of our community where we see the most overdoses.

And so we have these at a couple fire stations, easy access to NARCAN, leave behind kids as well as fentanyl test strips and education pamphlets.

We want to prevent someone from losing their life.

I think in some areas we've seen a significant drop in overdoses, and our hope is that we're playing a role in that by giving out Narcan and test strips and things that people might need so they uh have a chance to stay alive.

You don't gain recovery by force.

You've got to want it for it to be successful.

So we're just there to help guide that situation and keep people safe for as long as we can.

I think another part of it is people seeing us out and about all the time in these areas.

They know that if they wave us down, we'll stop.

We'll give them whatever it is that they need, even if it's just somebody to listen to them.

And so I think that can build a bridge with certain members in our community to sit there and say, hey, you know, we're just here to lend a helping hand.

It helps to humanize the situation, I think.

You got this?

All right.

That's something we're very passionate about is continuing to move that ball forward with these individuals and making sure they know this is the things available to help you, and we can help walk alongside you during that process.

But we'll also do follow-ups with them with their family, see if we can connect them to resources or get them to treatment or get them harm reduction supplies, whatever it is that they need, is what we're there to do.

And whenever anybody's asked us for help, we've been there and we'll help them.

I would say we're continuing to address this issue within our community and really make sure we're providing resources, whether that's response, somewhere to go.

We want to make sure that we have the best system in America here in Tulsa.

The NCI Pilot Program is all about empowering neighborhoods.

We're giving communities tools, resources, and the confidence they need to take charge and create real meaningful change.

Neighborhood associations, local leaders, and neighbors come together with city departments to identify their top needs and then build a plan to tackle them.

We started by looking at the NCI reports and identifying the neighborhoods with the highest priority needs.

It established a cross-departmental task force.

Got together with them and looked at the resources we could provide the neighborhoods.

These departments that we worked with were police department, animal services, code enforcement, and public works.

Suburban Hills was a perfect fit for this program.

Their participation shows just how much this community values growth and togetherness.

The city has helped a lot.

It's full of resources and guidance, and they're still there for me if I need them.

The Sequoia neighborhood shine through this program.

They set ambitious goals, work together, and they achieved every single one of them.

Now they have the skills and momentum to keep pushing their community forward.

Just seeing some neighbors and residents really engage in the process.

They were the ones that championed going out into the neighborhood, passing out information, doing door hangers, knocking on doors, and that allowed us to have a little bit more sense of what was really going on in the broader community.

The Charles Pitch neighborhood has been an inspiring part of this pilot.

They're building the kind of community they want to live in.

The neutering and spay program, that was a huge success.

The neighborhood cleanup was a huge success.

I'm so grateful that we still have them as we move forward.

Once you build the partnerships with the city, they're going to continue with us.

The city departments involved worked hard, the neighborhoods worked hard.

We couldn't have done it without their support and their involvement.

Together, we're creating neighborhoods where every voice matters.

And every block has a strong story worth telling.

We take pride in serving the rich fabric of this vibrant community.

Today, as Tulsa Transit continues to evolve, we're excited to share a significant chapter in our journey.

Enter the era of Aero, where the bus rapid transit takes center stage.

The Peoria Aero BRT transformative force has doubled ridership connecting Tulsons to progress and prosperity.

Look ahead to the planned Route 66 BRT line, set to redefine our city's transit network, reducing travel time and enhancing the way Tulsans navigate their city.

Celebrate with us as we mark a significant milestone.

Two million riders in 2023.

The community echoes with the voices of riders, employees, and partners, each contributing to the vibrant life that is Tulsa Transit.

Anticipation builds as we proudly unveil our new names.

Say hello to Metrolink Tulsa, your main bus service, along with Micro League and Link Assist.

As Metro League Tulsa evolves and finds new ways to serve residents, witness the joy of riders boarding Metrolink Tulsa, realizing our mission to safely link people, places, and communities in Oklahoma, what is zoning?

Zoning requirements state how people can use land in certain areas.

In order to use the land in a different way, the owner needs to get permission from the city.

The application will go to the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, the City Board of Adjustments, or the County Board of Adjustments, depending on the type and location of the request.

TMAPC handles zoning changes, subdivisions, and comprehensive plan amendments.

After filling out the proper application, Tulsa Planning Office staff will check to make sure everything is in order.

They then assign the application a case number and pass it to the planning commission with a recommendation on what to do.

Any rezoning application requires notice to the public in the form of posted signs, a newspaper section, and mail notice to the property owners within 300 feet of the lot.

The application fee covers these costs, and the planning office sends the notifications out.

The notices must be mailed, posted, and published at least 20 days before its appearance before the planning commission.

TMAPC then holds a public hearing.

Applicants may be called to the podium to speak, and the interested parties are allowed to give public comments for or against the request.

The commissioners then deliberate.

If recommended for approval, the application moves on to the city council.

The application appears on council agendas three times.

The first appearance is at the council's committee meetings.

The planning commission staff gives and explains a recommendation based on the application's consistency with policy and intent of the comprehensive plan.

Counselors and planning office staff are the only ones permitted to participate in discussion, but the public is permitted to view and attend the meeting.

The next appearance is at the city council's 5 p.m.

council meeting.

Another public hearing is held to give an opportunity for citizen input before the council vote.

The applicant is again allowed to make a presentation.

The city council then votes to either approve the application, approve it with modifications, or deny it.

In most cases, the application needs a simple majority to pass.

If the application passes, it then appears at the following city council meeting as an ordinance reflecting the council vote to implement the decision.

Hey Tulsa, welcome back to the top recycling play of the day.

Team Johnson is facing off against a tough competitor.

Plastic.

Don't trust those numbers on the bottom.

You have to stick to what you know.

Only bottles and jugs bound in the kitchen, bath, or laundry.

They're quick to pick up and empty those bottles before sinking that shot.

Always empty your bottles before recycling.

Score big by recycling your plastic bottles and jugs.

Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.com.

The Canis Latrans, also known as the Coyote, Coyote, or Prairie Wolf, has been spotted in all areas of Tulsa.

Coyotes migrated to the Tulsa area beginning in the early 20th century, when forest fragmentation and the extermination of larger predators like red and gray wolves led to their spread eastward.

Many strategies have been tried to rid urban areas of coyotes, but the effort is often costly and ineffective.

Coyotes are notoriously hard to catch and don't survive relocation.

Any area cleared of coyotes will quickly be repopulated.

Coyotes do provide an essential role in the ecosystem by helping to control the rodent population.

They are predators of geese, squirrels, mice, moles, gophers, possums, and other small animals.

While rodents make up a majority of their diet, coyotes also feed on fish, insects, blueberries, apples, prickly pears, persimmons, peanuts, and carrots.

Although their diet includes a variety of foods, coyotes have been known to kill small pets.

The best way to protect pets is to avoid attracting coyotes near your home by following these four best practices.

Best practice number one, supervised pets.

While coyotes don't usually attack humans, your pets can be a target.

Coyotes may see large dogs as rivals and small dogs and cats as prey.

Always walk your dog on a leash.

Keep cats indoors.

Letting cats roam free is also a violation of City of Tulsa ordinances.

And the best way to protect your pets is to not leave them outside unattended, especially at dusk through dawn when coyotes are more active.

In some cases, coyotes can climb fences.

Best practice number two.

Remove food attractive.

Remove bowls of pet food.

Keep trash cans securely closed.

Pick up any fruit or nuts from your yard.

Best practice number three.

Remove possible shelters.

Eliminate places for a coyote to make a den, like access under a deck or large bushes.

Cut down any tall grass or brush that could provide shelter for coyotes.

Best practice number four.

Respond appropriately during encounters.

If you do encounter a coyote, stand your ground.

Don't turn your back or run away.

The coyote can reach speeds of 40 miles an hour.

Top speed of a human is 28 miles an hour.

Stay away from injured, cornered, or nursing coyotes.

Slowly back away.

Most importantly, use hazing techniques to discourage coyotes you come across.

Act large, yell, clap your hands, use a noisemaker, throw sticks at the coyotes' feet, hit hands, etc.

Hazing helps keep wild animals wild as coyotes can become a nuisance or aggressive when they lose their fear of people.

If you see a coyote that seems aggressive, or if you have more questions, call a Tulsa County Game Warden with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

They can connect you with a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator.

Do not contact the Tulsa Animal Shelter as it does not handle wildlife issues.

By following best practices, you can help limit negative interactions between people, pets, and the urban wildlife we live alongside.

Do you know what happens to all of the waste we leave behind in our yards, driveways, and streets?

Runoff water carries all of the trash, chemicals, and other pollutants straight into our storm drains, which lead to miles and miles of pipes and drains right below our feet that drain directly into our rivers and streams.

Along the way, all of the trash, chemicals, and pollutants add up until even something small, like one cigarette butt, one oil spill, or one pile of leaves, accumulates inside our drains and pipes and becomes a big problem, causing blockages in the system and pollution in our rivers and streams.

The waters we fish and play in, the water that sustains our wildlife.

By protecting what goes into our drains, we can save our streams.

You and I can do our part together.

Situated south of downtown is one of Tulsa's most prestigious historic neighborhoods, Maple Ridge, adjacent to the iconic Woodward Park, grand twentieth century homes, front tree-lined boulevards, timeless architectural styles and details tell the story of a city built on oil.

Let's take a closer look at three of Tulsa's most iconic homes.

One of Tulsa's most notable homes, this Georgian revival style mansion, built in 1923, was home to William G.

Skelly, a prominent figure in Tulsa's oil and radio industries.

Skelly purchased this neoclassical house not long after it was constructed in 1924.

The three-story mansion is approximately 10,000 square feet, seated on a spacious wooded corner lot.

Exterior walls are composed of red brick masonry, and the home features a striking green tile roof.

The main feature of the ground floor is the long 40-foot dining room.

A large second floor veranda with iron rail and iron staircase offered access to the yard to entertain Skelly's elite guests.

The home remained in the Skelly family until 1968 and remains one of Tulsa's premier historical homes.

Nestled within the neighborhood stands a captivating model of early 20th century architecture.

Constructed in 1915, this two-story mission revival home was designed by esteemed architect Noble B.

Fleming, whose work significantly shaped Tulsa's architectural landscape during the oil boom era.

The home showcases hallmark features of the mission revival style.

The all-brick exterior, red tile roofing, and arched entryways are its defining characteristics.

Inside, the residence boasts original quarter sawn, oak mill work, intricate ceiling structures, and drawn glass windows that frame views of downtown Tulsa.

This residence not only embodies the elegance of its era, but also serves as a testament to the visionaries who propelled Tulsa into its golden age.

Another early land developer targeting oil producers and business elite was real estate developer Grant Stebbins.

A lucrative land offer attracted former Congressman Bird McGuire.

Mr.

and Mrs.

McGuire built their home in 1916 with native red sandstone and notable Tulsa builder, John Blair designed the house using a Frank Lloyd Wright theory.

Mrs.

McGuire handpicked each stone.

The stately McGuire home was one of the first built in the new subdivision, and Tulsa's golden age of oil production and real estate development was off to the races.

The homes of Tulsa's barons remind us of a time when ambition and architecture rose together as living monuments to the city's bold beginnings.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shaped Tulsa, one historic property at a time.

Hey Tulsa, we have a crushing recycle play of the day for you.

Team Johnson versus Paper and Cardboard.

They're starting off slow today, probably trying to figure out what to do with those styrofoam plates, since they're not recyclable.

There's the big play we were waiting for.

Boom!

Completely empty cardboard boxes dunked in the cart.

Score big by recycling your cardboard and paper.

Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.com with every raindrop.

And every stream.

Water impacts the world around us every day.

We may not know it or even see it.

But all the little things we do can build up in a big, big way.

Together, we can make a difference.

A difference in our streams.

A difference in our water.

In our city.

Every yard, every street, every neighborhood is an opportunity to help protect our water, our wildlife, and our community.

You and I can do our part together.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we visit one of Tulsa's most charming and distinctive neighborhoods, Swan Lake.

Nestled just east of downtown, the Swan Lake Historic District offers a peaceful oasis of early 20th century homes and elegant apartment buildings.

Centered around a tranquil pond that gives the neighborhood its name.

This area was once a streetcar suburb.

A place where Tulsa's growing middle and upper middle class found escape from the hustle of the city.

Let's take a closer look at some of the district's most iconic properties.

These homes represent a time when thoughtful planning and picturesque design gave shape to a neighborhood unlike any other in the city.

At the heart of the Swan Lake neighborhood lies its namesake lake, a peaceful pond today.

But once the centerpiece of a bustling amusement park in the early 1900s, it quickly became a popular weekend destination for Tulsa families during the oil boom.

This man-made body of water was part of a private recreation area, complete with boat rides, a dance pavilion, and even a small zoo.

Though the amusements are long gone, the lake remains a serene reminder of a bygone era.

As Tulsa expanded, the demand for multi-unit housing grew.

In 1918, Samuel Augustus Orcutt responded to that need by constructing the first apartment building in what would become the Swan Lake Historic District.

This marked the beginning of Orcutt's development enterprise, which would shape the neighborhood for decades.

Thanks to his efforts, Swan Lake now boasts more apartment buildings from Tulsa's boom era, spanning the 1920s through the late 1930s than any other neighborhood in the city.

The Orcut apartments remain a cornerstone of Tulsa's shift toward urban living.

As Tulsa's oil industry boomed and oil fortune soared, areas like Swan Lake became havens for industry leaders, managers, and visionaries.

Standing proudly at the edge of the lake is fifteen eighty-three Swan Drive, the first home built along Swan Lake, completed in nineteen nineteen.

This stately Italian Renaissance residence was designed by Noble B.

Fleming, an architect from Kansas City, whose work also includes Tulsa's beloved garden center at Woodward Park.

The home was commissioned by J.

M.

Hayner, president of the Monarch Royalty Company, a firm heavily involved in oil leasing and mineral rights during Tulsa's boom years.

As one of the first to settle on the lake, Hayner helped set the tone for a neighborhood that blended natural beauty with architectural grace.

From craftsman bungalows to classical revival and tutor revival, Swan Lake is a showcase of architectural grace.

Each street a reflection of Tulsa's early nineteen hundreds aspirations.

Always good to empty your glass bottles and jars before recycling.

Score big by recycling your glass bottles and jars.

Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we journey east of downtown to explore two of Tulsa's most charming early 20th century neighborhoods, Yorktown and Gillette.

Developed during Tulsa's rapid post-oil boom growth, these districts were shaped by a rising middle class, oil workers, business owners, and civic leaders, who brought with them pride, ambition, and a love for craftsmanship.

Let's take a look at a few of the standout homes.

Our first stop is the illustrious Gillette Mansion.

Constructed in 1921, this three-story Gothic Tudor masterpiece was the residence of JM Gillette, an important merchant, real estate entrepreneur, an oil man, and the namesake of the surrounding Gillette Historic District.

Gillette sighted his home outside the city limits.

The mansion grounds included a natural stone goldfish pond, handcrafted concrete tables and benches, and a clay tennis court.

Crafted with brick, stucco, and heavy timber.

The mansion boasts rock accents, multi-paned leaded glass windows set within cutstone gothic arches, and a slate roof.

Its grandeur stands as a testament to Tulsa's oil boom era and the architectural ambition it inspired.

Next, we visit 1731 South Yorktown Avenue, a charming tutor-style duplex built in 1940.

This 1200 square foot residence reflects the architectural trends of the time.

With its brick facade and characteristic design elements, duplexes like this were often home to middle-class professionals, bank clerks, and laborers, drawn to the neighborhood's quiet streets and proximity to downtown.

It exemplifies the city's mid-century residential expansion.

And the move towards more modest yet stylish multi-family middle-class dwellings.

Our final feature is the Craftsman Bungalow, constructed in 1923.

This 1,700 square foot residence embodies the craftsman ethos with its emphasis on handcrafted woodwork and a welcoming front porch.

It offers a glimpse into the architectural preferences of Tulsa's residents, favoring functionality blended with aesthetic appeal.

The classic craftsman bungalow, the home features broad eaves, exposed rafters, and a welcoming front porch that speaks to the American arts and crafts movement.

Houses like this typically sheltered young families and skilled tradespeople, offering an affordable yet stylish entry into homeownership.

Two classic neighborhoods from Tulsa's Golden Age.

Still alive today.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa.

One historic property at a time.

One thing to keep in mind if you're lucky enough to find this, find yourself a button.

Push your button, these sides will illuminate, allowing you to then cross the street.

Secondly, pedestrians must walk along this sidewalk and not in the street.

If you're walking adjacent to the street and no sidewalk has been provided for you, you need to walk as close to the curb as possible while facing oncoming traffic.

Finally, blind pedestrians always have the right of way over all other pedestrians and vehicles.

Blind pedestrians must indicate this right of way by holding out horizontally a white cane in the direction they wish to travel.

The Tulsa Police Department takes this issue very seriously.

We're here to protect all citizens of Tulsa.

Any violation, particularly by motorists putting other Tulsons' lives at risk, you're gonna get a ticket.

Help us keep you from getting a ticket and help keep Tulson safe.

We all have a responsibility to share the road.

Together, we can be kind and make streets a safer place for everyone.

It's membership based.

Those in the Dawson community will have a free membership.

For community members who are outside of Dawson, they can purchase a membership for a very nominal fee.

It is a cashless grocery, so that means that there will be no cash that transfers on site.

You can use your bank card, you can use your snap card, or you can upload cash onto your bizarre card, much like you would at the laundromat.

We're hoping to connect with our Oklahoma producers, so our farmers here in Oklahoma to be able to provide a market for them.

Started in 2012, trip to Indonesia and living with the farmers overseas.

And so I want to kind of connect those two bubbles together to create something that would be more in the farmers' favor and the community itself.

It's to provide healthy food at a non-profit cost in an area that is considered to be a food desert.

On top of that, we have a mission to make sure our children do not go without food.

So the bazaar is prepared to feed one free meal per child for all 450 students that go to school in the Dawson neighborhood, K-12.

It's just going to be a much needed connection point for the community.

This is phase one currently in this project, and phase one is the grocery store and the food trucks.

We are trying to decrease our carbon footprint.

So our store we ran completely on solar energy.

Our packaging will be biodegradable packaging.

Our bags will be cloth bags that will be reusable.

They have applied and received ARPA funding.

I chose to use 500,000 of the district three buttons to help with infrastructure.

The main goal of this initiative is to restore humanity and to give life to these communities.

I think it will be life-changing.

Having good, healthy access to food at a reasonable price in this community will be a game changer.

So it really provides a sense of ownership of belonging.

That this is the top recycling play of the day.

Team Johnson is looking to defend their title against aluminum and steel cans.

Bob, most people think of the kitchen for this opponent, but aluminum and steel cans like empty shaving cream cans also play extremely well in bathrooms all over Tulsa.

That is nothing but bin, Bob.

Wow, right into the bin.

Team Johnson has buttoned up another win.

Score big by recycling your aluminum and steel cans.

Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.com.

The project is Flat Rock Creek, and that is a partnership with the Tulsa Housing Authorities 36th North.

And so it will be as some would like to call it the Turkey Mountain of North Tulsa.

This project will provide bifoon and walking trails, connection with nature, very excited about the possibility of having a fishing pond.

Having access to all of these amenities in this area is going to be for the entire area of North.

The need is great.

It always has been when it comes to being able to safely exercise, walking by, and learn about nature.

I'm excited not only for the community as a whole, but particularly for the students.

There are several schools in the immediate area, and this could be an outdoor learning experience.

It just will be enhanced with these outdoor amenities for the community.

We have held community meetings, my town hall meetings concerning this project, and it received overwhelming support.

The future is very bright for this project when you consider the housing that is returning to the area.

Not only the apartments that are owned by the Tulsa Housing Authority, but also several hundred homes will be built in that immediate area as well.

And so having this amenity in that house and all in the St.

Amelia area is very bright for the speed.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we head downtown to explore the boom.

An era when Tulsa soared upward on steel and ambition.

Fueled by oil money and optimism, the city's skyline became a canvas for architects, artisans, and entrepreneurs who believed there was no limit to what Tulsa could be.

From grand hotels to gleaming towers, the art deco designs of the 1920s and 30s reflect a city at the height of its confidence.

Let's take a closer look at four iconic landmarks from Tulsa's golden age.

First, the Philcade and the Phil Tower, two masterpieces born of oil and vision.

Commissioned by oil magnate Wade Phillips, these buildings were designed to complement one another inside and out.

The Phil Tower, completed in 1928, blends Gothic revival with art deco, rising 24 stories with ornate terracotta detailing and a signature green tile roof.

Just across the street, the Philcade opened in 1931, flaunting pure Art Deco glamour from its gilded lobby to its geometric flourishes.

Together, they form a striking architectural dialogue, capturing both the romance and the reality of the oil boom.

Next, the Minx Adams Hotel, once the social centerpiece of downtown Tulsa.

Built in 1927, the hotel was a symbol of prosperity and polish with Italian Renaissance styling, intricate terracotta, and a two-story grand ballroom.

During the oil boom, it welcomed dignitaries, deal makers, and dreamers from all over the world.

It blends historic elegance with modern energy.

An enduring tribute to Tulsa's roaring 20s.

Rising above fourth in Boston is one of downtown Tulsa's most striking silhouettes, the Cosden Building, now known as the Mid-Continent Tower.

The original 16-story structure was a symbol of oil boom ambition.

Commissioned by oilman Joshua Cosden, a man often called the Prince of Petroleum.

Originally completed in 1918.

Its most eye-catching chapter came decades later, when in 1984, an extraordinary engineering feat nearly doubled its height rather than demolish the original structure.

Architects and engineers built a 20-story tower directly above it, cantilevered over the historic building with a hidden steel frame.

The result is a seamless blend of past and present.

A modern high rise perched atop a century-old skyscraper, mirroring its style so perfectly, it's often mistaken as a single, unified design.

Today, the mid-continent tower stands as a testament, not just to Tulsa's architectural legacy, but to its visionary spirit where preservation and progress rise side by side.

These iconic buildings remind us of a time when Tulsa was growing fast, thinking big, and laying the foundation for the city we know today.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa.

One historic property at a time.

If you've driven down South Memorial Drive between East 71st Street and East 81st Street, you have been treated to somewhat of a roller coaster ride over the last couple of years.

So we identified some funding resources.

$75,000 from Vision allocated funds for District 8, which I get to represent.

And then I with a map out of the District 7 community development funds for $150,000 total.

And then $100,000 from the city's general fund, which will be used to repair the inlets to bring those inlets up to grade and to smooth out the ride for all of us on Memorial.

Thank you for everyone's patience as we identified this new funding source to now elevate the drainage for our stormwater drains and to smooth out the road.

I think you'll find a smoother ride as you head north or south on South Memorial Drive in South Tulsa.

After a very short time frame for construction, we'll have smooth lanes, just as I think the vast majority of our constituents want.

All of the trucks that the Tulsa Fire Department uh buy, we keep them consistent with one manufacturer.

That allows us to ensure that our fleet mechanics know exactly what they're working on.

Daily checks and maintenance and keeping these vehicles in tip top shape really provides effective response, but it also ensures that everyone, it's public, firefighters, and the community as a whole are safe when we're operating in the areas.

Some of the important things to look for are how body panels are fit, how the paint is, is it durable?

You want to make sure it's gonna last.

Because this is the city's investment uh for 10 plus years.

We want to get as much out of this truck as we can.

Right behind our people, this is the most expensive thing that we purchase.

From the time we design and purchase uh an engine is 36 months.

We want consistency to buy a certain number each year to replace um a certain number of engines, certain number of ladders and specialty units every year.

These trucks are kind of a final evolution in probably three versions that we've built over the last four or five years.

We like a little bit shorter length.

Um, it's a little bit easier to move within apartment complexes and and some of our two-lane South Tulsa roads.

This is a point of pride for the fire department, and the firefighters that are assigned to this vehicle will take care of it, inspect it, and ensure it's working.

They're passionate about that that work.

Investment up front equals quality and safety over time.

Ensures that uh we have readiness and readiness is the most important part for us is having the ability to receive the alarm quickly, get out the door, having confidence in that equipment, making sure it's ready to go, and that it performs effectively is key to saving lives and property.

Starting in 2024 and continuing over the next four years, the city of Tulsa will start installing new automated water meters at more than 145,000 residential locations across the city.

The program is known as True Reeds.

While the city of Tulsa has had a reliable process for reading and changing out water meters for many years, automated meter reading technology has improved to the point that it now makes financial and operational sense to make the switch.

These new meters will minimize property access needs, control meter reading costs, cause fewer employee injuries, eliminate estimated bills, and deploy more environmentally friendly technology.

While there isn't much you need to do, we do want you to be aware that work will happen in your yard sooner or later.

Before contractors even touch that meter in your yard, you will have advanced notification and day of notification.

First, the city will maintain a regularly updated online map showing neighborhoods where meters are currently being installed.

That map can be found online at cityoftulsa.org forward slash true reads.

Second, one to two weeks before your meters installed, a door hanger with more information will be left on your door.

And finally, the day of your meter installation, you will be personally contacted by the contractor with a knock on your door.

While your meters being changed, you will be briefly without water for a maximum of 30 minutes.

And once crews are finished, all we ask is that you run your water for a few minutes to build pressure back up in your lines.

And that's because anytime water is turned off, there is a chance your system will lose some pressure and you could see cloudy water until it's restored.

Lastly, while contractors work to swap your meter out, they'll also perform what's known as a lead service line inspection.

Lead, which is a toxic metal that was used in plumbing materials in the past, can cause adverse health effects.

While we don't think there are many, if any lead service lines remaining in our system, we do want to find, document, and remove any lead that may be left in our system.

As part of the automated meter reading installation process, crews will do a quick check of the service line material and results of that lead inspection will be made available on the online map.

For more information and to see a detailed list of frequently asked questions about the process, along with the map that we mentioned earlier.

Visit city of Tulsa.org forward slash true reads.

Can you show me 97 on my A12 on a second?

Place, please.

I was raised on a farm growing up.

I was raised to respect animals and care for them.

My heart is really just to care for these animals when they don't have anyone else to care for them.

We have a ton of strays in the city limits of Tulsa, and a lot of people just see them as strays that you know they might just be on the streets forever.

They still deserve every chance that a dog has that is owned or cared for.

That's really my heart is to care for those animals that don't have an owner, to bring them here, give them a soft bed to lay on, give them food and water to where they can go out and get a loving home to continue their life into.

Good girl.

The most important part to me for this job is to, you know, build a relationship with the community.

If your dog doesn't have a dog house or it needs a tie out to where it can't get loose, I want them to feel comfortable enough to come to us to where we can give them those resources.

We're not here to just write you tickets or, you know, take your dog.

We're here to give you the resources that the community needs to be able to let you keep your dog because a lot of times the dog can be a big part of your family and for your kids and everything.

We're not here to just take those animals.

We're here to give you those resources, give you dog food, cat food, anything that you need to let you keep your dog in the best way that you can.

Come on, Tweedy.

I think a lot of people don't realize if there's a stray baby goat, if there's a pig, we have to go get those animals.

And sometimes it can get a little hairy, you know, if you're trying to wrangle a pig and you're chasing it.

Sometimes it gets a little crazy, but it definitely makes it fun.

Good girl.

We're here, you know, 24 7 to help the community.

Those are the relationships that I want to build with the community.

To know that we're here for them.

We're here to care for them and their animals.

Being in animal welfare is not just for the animals, it's for the people just as much as the animals.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we explore the church.

A story written not in brick alone, but in belief, community, and truthfully bold design.

In Tulsa's cathedral district, rising spires and stained glass tell the story of a city shaped by faith and architecture.

These houses of worship reflect both spiritual devotion and the ambition of a growing city.

Let's take a look at three of Tulsa's most iconic sacred spaces.

First, the Boston Avenue Methodist Church, a national landmark of art deco architecture.

Completed in 1929, this church broke from tradition with its vertical lines, abstract ornamentation, an innovative design by architect Bruce Goff and artist Ado Robinson.

From its soaring central tower to its streamlined detailing.

The building blends modernism with reverence.

It's not just one of Tulsa's greatest architectural achievements, it's one of the most important art deco churches in the country.

Next, the Holy Family Cathedral, the spiritual heart of Tulsa's Catholic community, built in 1914 in the neoclassical style.

The cathedral's masonry walls and steel framed spires are faced with stone and brick.

The 251 feet tall main spire is faced with four large clocks, and its design evokes the great European cathedrals as one of the oldest churches in Tulsa.

Holy family is more than a place of worship.

It's a foundation stone in the city's story.

And finally, at the corner of 11th and Boulder stands First Methodist Church, the third home for a congregation, whose story stretches back to Tulsa's earliest days.

Founded in 1886, the church built a modest white chapel.

And as the city expanded, so did the congregation.

First into a red brick church at Ninth and Boulder, then in 1921 into this grand structure that still welcomes worshippers today.

Built in the perpendicular Tudor Gothic style.

The church's design draws the eye heavenward with pointed arches and vaulted ceilings, an architectural expression of reverence.

Its cruciform layout, a cross shape, anchors the building in Christian tradition.

A symbol that this church, like its people, is grounded in faith.

These churches remind us that Tulsa's past wasn't just built with industry and ambition, but with faith, artistry, and community at its core.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa, one historic property at a time.

One hundred years ago, the Spavanaugh Water Project transformed the future of Tulsa.

In 1924, Tulsa embarked on one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country with a goal of getting clean, reliable water to the city.

In the early 1900s, Tulsons used water from springs, wells, and the Arkansas River, which was full of gypsum, salt, and silt.

People used to say that after you took a bath, you dried off, and then you dusted off.

In 1908, during a hunting trip, a group of influential Tulsans came upon Spavanock Creek, a crystal clear, spring-fed stream.

In the summer of 1921, the City Water Commission hired 28-year-old civil engineer W.R.

Hallway to conduct surveys to determine if Spavanock Creek water could be brought to Tulsa by gravity flow.

In his report on October 24th, Hallway confirmed this was possible.

And a month later, the citizens of Tulsa passed a $6,800,000 bond issue by an overwhelming margin to fund the Spavanaugh Water Supply Project.

Hallway was hired to design and build what was one of the largest water projects in the nation.

Construction took two years to complete at a cost of seven and a half million dollars.

Spavanaugh Dam is two-thirds of a mile long, five stories high, and in pounds, eight and a half billion gallons of water in Spavanaugh Lake.

When first built, the reservoir became the largest lake in the state of Oklahoma.

Water from Spavanaugh Lake flows by gravity to the city of Tulsa, 54 miles away.

This original flow line was the longest raw water line in the United States at the time of construction.

Over its length, the pipeline drops by an elevation of only 90 feet.

Crosses under two rivers, over eight creeks, and tunnels through a 200-foot tall ridge.

On November 17, 1924, Tulsons lifted glasses of clean and clear water to toast the completion of the Spavanaugh water system.

After construction was complete, Hallway allowed the Tulsa mayor to put his final $15,000 paycheck in a bottle to float through the flow line where he cut it as it came out at Mohawk.

Today, the city of Tulsa provides an average of 105 million gallons of refreshing award-winning water to over 650,000 customers in and around the Tulsa metropolitan area every day.

In 1924, the Tulsa World wrote oil may have built Tulsa in the past, but Spavanaugh water will be the product by which the future will be built.

Because this is a sparsely populated area, there was no development that was occurring out here.

It was important that we try and figure out how to activate this corridor for future development.

And I think by doing this, we've created a place where small developers or even larger developers can look at this and it be an attractive place to spur growth and development.

I think it's important that when we invest in ourselves, investors will invest in us.

When we first brought this issue to the attention of our district, everyone was a little bit overwhelmed by the fact that we had citizens that didn't have the basic necessity.

Most of us, when we turn on our water, we expect that clean clear water is going to come out of our faucet.

Everybody got behind this initiative.

So thank you for going down this journey with us and making sure that we invest in our district and its future potential.

We knew that we needed to address mental and behavioral health in a larger scale.

We also know that about 20% of Art One's responses are to unhoused individuals.

There's a lot of work being done, not just locally but nationally with addressing mental health.

We were out ahead of the game in regards to a lot of the other cities in America in trying to address our needs within our community.

How can we better serve it?

What we found was early on, we were seeing some of these people called 911 who just needed this assistance.

And so these programs were invented very early on to meet that need.

And it's proven to be so valuable when we look at the resource that Art One provides to the community with the ability to have a paramedic and provide a medical evaluation of someone who's in crisis to rule out any physical health needs, along with that clinician to address the psychological needs of that individual who's in crisis.

Another big thing that Art One does is they've responded what we call high utilizers or people who are calling 9-1-1 a lot looking for help.

So Art One can also respond to those individuals and start social services.

So we're very big on addressing social determinants, which is education, employment, health care, social and community context.

We want to address those items to improve somebody's life situation.

The benefit of having family children's services along with us is that we have that clinician there.

They can schedule an appointment for that individual to go in and get checked.

When we're not able to accomplish that, we take that individual to what we call sometimes an alternate destination.

So they may go to a crisis care center or an urgent recovery center or somewhere where it's gonna best benefit that individual in that moment who's in crisis.

9-1-1 in public safety have done an incredible job of responding to an emergency incident, intervening and taking care of that situation.

But moving forward, we've got to find ways to continue that relationship with those individuals to make sure those needs are fed.

And that's really where the follow-up piece comes in.

If a unit responds to an individual on Monday, a case manager is going to follow up with them on Tuesday or Wednesday that week and make sure their needs are being met.

This is so important when you're talking about providing a continuum of care, meaning a care that does doesn't stop on that response, but it follows what that individual stays with them.

We can connect people very quickly to those resources, and we have that institutional knowledge to know what's the best resource for that person.

We can really begin to move the ball forward in helping our most vulnerable populations in Tulsa to be in better situations.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we explore cultural destinations, the spaces where Tulsa came together to be entertained, inspired, and connected, whether through music, film, or storytelling.

These iconic venues have helped define Tulsa's cultural identity.

They reflect not only the city's love of the arts, but also its enduring commitment to preservation, creativity, and community.

Let's take a look at three of Tulsa's most beloved cultural landmarks.

First, Canes Ballroom, where Western Swing was born and legends still take the stage.

Built in 1924, as a garage, Canes was converted into a dance hall academy and soon became home to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.

With its spring loaded Naple dance floor, Neon Glow, an intimate stage.

Canes has hosted everyone from country pioneers to punk icons.

Known as the Carnegie Hall of Western Swing, it remains a living piece of Tulsa's musical legacy.

Today, it continues to operate as one of the region's premier music venues, drawing national touring acts and loyal local crowds.

Next, Circle Cinema.

Tulsa's oldest operating movie theater and a hub for independent film.

Opened in 1928 as a silent movie theater.

To bring meaningful, thought-provoking cinema to the community.

Restored with care, the theater blends historic charm with modern programming.

It's more than a place to see a film.

It's where Tulsa comes to think, discuss, and dream.

It regularly hosts screenings, film festivals, and community events, keeping its screens and conversations alive.

And finally, the Museum of Tulsa History, nestled in the heart of Woodward Park.

Located in a 1919 Italian Renaissance Revival Mansion.

That was originally the home of oilmen and philanthropist Sam Travis.

The museum preserves Tulsa's collective memory through exhibits, archives, and artifacts.

One of the first grand residences in what became known as Tulsa's Millionaire Row.

The venue is surrounded by the blooming landscapes of Woodward Park.

This property is as much about reflection as celebration.

A place where the stories of Tulsa's neighborhoods, industries, and people are honored and shared.

The museum hosts rotating exhibits, lectures, and public programs that invite the community to engage directly with Tulsa's past.

These venues remind us that history isn't only built in stone or steel, it's also written in cheers, laughter, and applause, and the stories we pass on.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa.

One historic property at a time.

Alternate Response Team 2 is a very innovative program.

So Art 2 is staffed with two sworn firefighter paramedics who are community paramedicine trained, which means they have extra training in mental health, they have extra training in taking care of wound management.

We have basically stuck a hypothetical fire station right in the center of downtown Tulsa and said any medical call that comes in within the IDL or downtown Tulsa, R2 will respond to.

They will also respond and provide outreach services and wellness checks for unhoused population within the IDL.

So when they're not on a run, when they're not providing medical coverage, they're out there making sure people are as healthy as they possibly can be.

They provide blood pressure checks, they check pulse rates.

Whether you're housed or homeless, doesn't really matter.

Do you have the medications that you need to manage your health conditions?

They provide water on hot days, they make sure you're warm on cold days.

And R2 coordinates very well with our community partners, making sure that we're coordinating our efforts with everyone else.

The impact they've had has been significant.

And I believe the reason is they take the extra time to spend with individuals.

As soon as they're done with that call, they're going to go over there and have conversations with people and say, hey, are you working with somebody right now?

Do you have a plan?

If not, we can help you coordinate that effort.

We can get you help you get housing.

We can help you get food.

What we love about the Tulsa Fire Department and what this program's been able to do is we work with everybody within the community.

So we're utilizing every resource that we have within the city of Tulsa to get the best outcomes for these individuals.

It does have that follow-up mechanism very much like Art 1 and CRT, where the buck doesn't stop at the call.

Someone's staying with them, someone who has been unhoused for five years, had some history with alcohol, and they stayed with this individual, built rapport.

It started with just outreach, just having conversations and sticking with them.

Walked him through the steps, filled out housing applications with him, made sure the gaps were filled in service delivery.

After five years, this person's house now, they've actually got a dog living in their apartment.

I mean, the best that we've ever seen them and living their best life, and that's really our hope through these programs is we can help facilitate that.

Whenever I pull up a heat map, we continue to see some of our greatest responses in the downtown area.

And when we begin to dive into what that looks like and why so, we do see unhoused population in the downtown area, and we see a great response to there.

We've been able to determine a lot of information that we didn't know before.

Busy times of the day, demographics that we're responding to, and really focus our approach into helping those individuals and really meeting those needs where they're at.

We want to provide what we call a community health needs assessment with R2 and really determine hey, when this unit's gonna go, they're gonna ask more questions than maybe you would traditionally see on a fire tracker and angelist response.

They're gonna get into depth of what's going on with that individual.

You know, that call came in as a chest pain, but what was it really?

I do talk to a lot of different departments across the US, and so we're seeing cities want to adopt this.

There is models that are similar, but they've not had the impact.

And I think that the difference you see is R2 is able to respond to real-time 911 calls in place of other apparatus, but they also provide those other social services that are really critical to getting the outcome community.

All these units, whether it's CRT, ART 1 or ART 2, they're able to let law enforcement, ambulances, fire trucks go back in service to be ready to respond to fires, critical emergencies, and let these units spend the extra time with people in mental health crisis or unhoused populations and not rush that.

You don't want to rush those situations.

You want to spend the extra time.

I believe very strongly that R2 is a model for the future.

Right now, it's just in downtown Tulsa.

I see this as something that you can really implement citywide.

You don't see this anywhere else in America.

So I'm excited because I love when we are able to push the bar forward and really set an example on a national stage, and that's exactly what we're doing with R2.

Hi, I'm Sherry Carrier, Director of Tulsa Animal Services.

I want to take a moment to share a little bit about the incredible work happening behind these doors.

Every single day, our team is here, taking in lost, abandoned, and injured animals, giving them the care that they need, and working hard to find safe and loving homes.

It's easy to think that this is just a city service.

But behind the scene are real people.

People who love animals and pour their hearts into this work.

Even on our toughest days, we're proud to say it's making a difference.

Our save rate has jumped from 67% in 2018 to nearly 80% today.

Thanks to adoptions, foster homes, and the incredible support of our community.

One of the biggest lifesavers, Spain Neuter.

Preventing unwanted litters means fewer animals entering our shelters and more resources for every pet who needs us.

Thank you for standing with us.

Together, we're creating a safer, more compassionate Tulsa for animals.

Recycling rent is easy, but do you know what happens when you don't think before you throw and contaminate your blue recycling cart?

The city of Tulsa produces 450 tons of contaminated waste per month.

That's almost 5,500 tons per year that will now be going straight to the land zone.

To put into perspective how much waste that is, it's equivalent to 250 golden driller statues.

Think before you throw and keep recycling clean and waste free.

For more information about the correct way to recycle, please visit Tulsa Recycles.com.

The Tulsa Professional Connector Program will help you build a professional network and get in touch with highly networked individuals and professionals in your field of expertise.

To learn more, visit our webpage and contact us.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we explore river views, the grand homes that overlook the Arkansas River and reflect Tulsa's lasting connection to its natural landscape.

For more than a century, the river has shaped the city's layout, its neighborhoods, and its sense of beauty.

These historic properties near its banks are more than homes.

They're places where art, industry, and civic life converged.

Let's take a look at three of Tulsa's most iconic riverside estates.

First, Harweldon Mansion, Tulsa's Storybook Manor, overlooking the Arkansas River, built in 1923 by Oilman Earl Harwell.

This English tutor-style estate blends Gothic arches and hand-carved detailing.

The exterior facade consists of brick, stone window surrounds, balustrade and stone coins at the corners leading up to the slate roof.

Inside, the home featured custom furnishings, a music room, and one of the city's earliest residential elevators.

Today, Harweldon operates as a cultural and event center, welcoming guests from around the world for weddings, concerts, and arts programming all with the river view.

Next, the Lee Clinton House, an understated gem tucked into the curves of Riverside Drive.

Constructed in 1919, this elegant colonial revival home belonged to civic leader and businessman Lee Clinton, founder of Union National Bank, and co-founder of the Tulsa Stockyards, along with oil man William G.

Skelly.

With its classical detailing and perfectly manicured grounds, the home reflects quiet confidence and refined taste.

Privately owned and beautifully preserved.

It's one of the few original homes in the area that still retains its historic charm along Tulsa's most scenic stretch.

And finally, the Dresser Mansion, where Italian Renaissance Flair meets Tulsa's oil era opulence.

Built in 1919 for oil executive Carl Dresser.

This mansion draws on Mediterranean design with arched logias, ornate ironwork, and a red tile roof.

Designed for entertaining, the home once hosted lavish parties with views stretching across the river valley, now restored and used as a venue.

Dresser Mansion continues to host celebrations, echoing its original purpose as a home made for gathering.

The Arkansas River shaped Tulsa's growth and offered a scenic corridor for some of the city's most remarkable residences.

These iconic properties remind us that Tulsa's past wasn't just built.

It was carefully placed with beauty, nature, and legacy in mind.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shape Tulsa.

One historic property at a time.

The trail system at Bail Park opened in the fall of 2022 after a hundred and ninety thousand dollar donation.

You know that for decades, the West Side has geographically been cut off from many amenities and services.

But this new trail system is a part of a grassroots effort to improve the quality of life for Tulsons right here on the West Side, especially near Bell's Park.

This trail also serves the wider Tulsa community by providing beginner-level trails for those who are new to mountain biking, as well as a downhill bike-only section for intermediate riders.

And Turkey Mountain is right next door when riders are ready to take on if they have sports.

Our Bales Park trails are amazing.

People come, park your car, get out, enjoy the trails.

There's not much traffic.

So we should come out and enjoy the park here at Bales.

It's building confident cyclists in great Tulsons through community engagement.

We do a third grade bike PE program where we're there for four days doing a condensed bike club curriculum where we're teaching them safety practices and skill building.

The after school program generally operates for fourth and fifth graders and in middle school.

Fundraising and the kind people that give us dollars to operate allows us to offer all these programs free to the district and free to the kids.

We'll have storage for all our surplus inventory, a bike workshop.

We'll have offices, a classroom for training, workshops, team building, and then we'll also be able to host our volunteers here.

We really see a secondary use as a community spot.

Other community partners can come out here, do some training, team buildings.

Should be available to everyone in our city, and we want to make sure that every Tulsa has the opportunity to get outside and enjoy.

We love Bell's Park, and the best is yet to come.

Every year around the 4th of July, our shelter fills up with pets who ran off during fireworks.

Most of them live just a few houses away from where they're found.

That's why Tulsa Animal Services partnered with Tulsa Fire to bring microchip scanners to every fire station in our city.

If you find a lost pet, you can now stop by any Tulsa fire station and ask a firefighter to scan for a microchip.

No shelter visit required.

The scanner will show a chip number that can help you contact the owner directly through an online lookup system.

Most pets aren't truly lost.

They just need a little help getting home.

This partnership helps us keep animals in their neighborhoods where they belong.

Our fire stations are already part of the community.

This is one more way we're stepping up to keep Tulsa families two-legged and four-legged safe and together.

Because the best place for a pet is home.

TFD CARES stands for community assistance referrals and educational services.

Really seeks to connect 911 high utilizers and vulnerable populations to those critical community resources to help improve the lives of individuals within our community.

And the University of Tulsa did a study on CARES back in 2017, and from January to March, we had about a 70% reduction in 911 usage by connecting vulnerable populations in our community to social determinants of health.

And our scope and scale has grown.

We are now working with local community partners, whether it's hospitals, behavioral health partners, or other vital community resources to really connect individuals to those services.

We get referrals in from all different kinds of partners, whether it's hospitals, the fire department, sometimes the police department or the aimless service in town.

We have two very good case managers that really navigate these community resources.

Ascension St.

John and the Czech Foundation is who supports our case managers and helps to integrate those within the Tulsa Fire Department.

We go all over Tulsa.

We are connecting with individuals.

When that referral comes in, we'll send a case manager to someone's house and identify, hey, what's going on today?

We'll address those social determinants of health.

We'll create goals off of that.

And we utilize a system called gelatin to communicate and connect with all those community partners, and it helps us to kind of capture our workflow and the work that's being completed.

But our case managers, they stay with those clients until those needs are met.

They're working with them, they're navigating things like hand bars, wheelchair ramps, food insecurity, medication adherence.

They also help with individuals who are not currently housed.

We also send a firefighter paramedic or a community paramedic to the home and they'll try to make that home safer and they'll work with those residents or those community members to make sure that their home is a safer place to live, that they're reducing falls, reducing injuries, and ultimately having better health outcomes.

We thought was very important moving forward in the growth of this program, being an extension of the hospitals and helping firefighters reduce those 911 calls.

One thing we're really proud of with TFD CARES is their impact that they're making and the results because that's what matters to us.

How are we improving that individual's life?

And so TFT CARES has been able to reduce 911 utilization by 80%.

We've been tracking this data through Gelata since 2023.

We're getting help to those individuals in need.

About 52% of the time we're able to take care of those needs within two weeks.

We're trying to use this information in different parts of Tulsa to be more proactive in helping our citizens and our community members, social services has got to be a part of public safety.

The benefit is incredible, and as we continue to try to address root cause issues, why is that individual calling 911?

Programs like TFD cares answer that call and they get to those root cause issues and help improve that person's life.

The overdose response team was created to address a prevalent community need in Tulsa, and that's overdoses.

We've seen opiates causing a lot of havoc within our community, not just in Tulsa or Oklahoma, but really nationally.

Public safety, whether it's fire and police are responding to right around eight to ten overdose calls a day.

We created a specialized team that has a community paramedic along with a peer recovery support specialist or someone with lived experience to respond to real-time overdose calls and provide follow-up to individuals who have overdose within our community.

So the lived experienced individual, that's someone who has used some sort of substance in the past and recovered.

I've always had a passion for addiction recovery, things like that because I'm in recovery myself from drugs and alcohol.

So when the opportunity came up, I snagged it up.

I was very excited to be a part of it.

And I still am.

I love it.

It's probably my favorite day out of the week because it's a chance for me to give back to the community that I came from.

I've been in recovery for five years from drugs, and I haven't drank in like 10 years.

I came from a pretty tough background, lots of trauma growing up, got in trouble a lot as a kid, been homeless, I've been part of domestic violence and everything from alcohol to prescription opiates to methamphetamine.

So when I first got clean, I decided I wanted to be a part of the movement for recovery.

And I got into working at a drug and alcohol treatment center for several years, and I really loved it.

And what that gives us is the ability for someone to really connect on a personal level and say, hey, I've been in a similar situation before, but I've recovered.

So the overdose response team is meant to complement the current infrastructure we have in place that will go identify individuals who have overdosed, build rapport, connect to services, and stay with them until they've gotten the help they need.

Are you on a housing list?

Yeah.

Yeah?

Good.

How long you've been on it?

With the interactions that we've made, we're slowly building relationships with people through outreach.

I think there's a trust there that some programs don't get.

Thank you.

This is a model that has worked in other cities.

We went and looked in, specifically San Antonio.

Oklahoma City implemented this program in August 2023 to address these needs.

And what these previous communities have found is they're able to get people help earlier in the substance addiction than they were previously.

We do emphasize the harm reduction supplies and the hands-on CPR and some of that education because we're very passionate about giving someone another chance to get it right.

And so the harm reduction boxes complement our overdose response team.

We put those boxes in areas of our community where we see the most overdoses.

And so we have these at a couple fire stations, easy access to NARCAN, leave behind kids, as well as fentanyl test strips and education pamphlets.

We want to prevent someone from losing their life.

I think in some areas we've seen a significant drop in overdoses, and our hope is that we're playing a role in that by giving out Narcan and test strips and things that people might need so they uh have a chance to stay alive.

You don't gain recovery by force.

You've got to want it for it to be successful.

So we're just there to help guide that situation and keep people safe for as long as we can.

I think another part of it is people seeing us out and about all the time in these areas.

They know that if they wave us down, we'll stop, we'll give them whatever it is that they need, even if it's just somebody to listen to them.

And so I think that can build a bridge with certain members in our community to sit there and say, hey, you know, we're just here to lend a helping hand.

It helps to humanize the situation, I think.

You got this?

All right.

That's something we're very passionate about is continuing to move that ball forward with these individuals and making sure they know this is the things available to help you, and we can help walk alongside you during that process.

But we'll also do follow-ups with them, with their family, see if we can connect them to resources or get them to treatment or get them harm reduction supplies, whatever it is that they need is what we're there to do.

And whenever anybody's asked us for help, we've been there and we'll help them.

I would say we're continuing to address this issue within our community and really make sure we're providing resources, whether that's response, somewhere to go.

We want to make sure that we have the best system in America here in Tulsa.

The NCI Pilot Program is all about empowering neighborhoods.

We're giving communities tools, resources, and the confidence they need to take charge and create real meaningful change.

Neighborhood associations, local leaders, and neighbors come together with city departments to identify their top needs and then build a plan to tackle them.

We started by looking at the NCI reports and identifying the neighborhoods with the highest priority needs.

It established a cross-departmental task force.

Got together with them and looked at the resources we could provide the neighborhoods.

These departments that we worked with were police department, animal services, code enforcement, and public works.

Suburban Hills was a perfect fit for this program.

Their participation shows just how much this community values growth and togetherness.

The city has helped a lot.

It's full of resources and guidance.

And they're still there for me if I need them.

The Sequoia neighborhood shine through this program.

They set ambitious goals, work together, and they achieved every single one of them.

Now they have the skills and momentum to keep pushing their community forward.

Just seeing some neighbors and residents really engage in the process.

They were the ones that championed going out into the neighborhood, passing out information, doing door hangers, knocking on doors, and that allowed us to have a little bit more sense of what was really going on in the broader community.

The Charles Peach Neighborhood has been an inspiring part of this pilot.

They're building the kind of community they want to live in.

The neutering and spay program, that was a huge success.

The neighborhood cleanup was a huge success.

I'm so grateful that we still have them as we move forward.

Once you build the partnerships with the city, they're going to continue with us.

The city departments involved worked hard.

The neighborhoods worked hard.

We couldn't have done it without their support and their involvement.

Together, we're creating neighborhoods where every voice matters, and every block has a strong story worth telling.

Today, as Tulsa Transit continues to evolve, we're excited to share a significant chapter in our journey.

Enter the era of Aero, where the bus rapid transit takes center stage.

The Peoria Aero BRT transformative force has doubled ridership, connecting Tulsons to progress and prosperity.

Look ahead to the planned Route 66 BRT line, set to redefine our city's transit network, reducing travel time, and enhancing the way Tulsans navigate their city.

Celebrate with us as we mark a significant milestone.

Two million riders in 2023.

The community echoes with the voices of riders, employees, and partners, each contributing to the vibrant life that is Tulsa Transit.

Anticipation builds as we proudly unveil our new names.

Say hello to Metrolink Tulsa, your main bus service, along with Micro League and Link Assist.

As MetroLink Tulsa evolves and finds new ways to serve residents, witness the joy of riders boarding Metrolink Tulsa, realizing our mission to safely link people, places, and communities in Oklahoma.

What is zoning?

Zoning requirements state how people can use land in certain areas.

In order to use the land in a different way, the owner needs to get permission from the city.

The application will go to the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, the City Board of Adjustments, or the County Board of Adjustments.

Depending on the type and location of the request.

TMAPC handles zoning changes, subdivisions, and comprehensive plan amendments.

After filling out the proper application, Tulsa Planning Office staff will check to make sure everything is in order.

They then assign the application a case number and pass it to the planning commission with a recommendation on what to do.

Any rezoning application requires notice to the public in the form of posted signs, a newspaper section, and mail notice to the property owners within 300 feet of the lot.

The application fee covers these costs, and the planning office sends the notifications out.

The notices must be mailed, posted, and published at least 20 days before its appearance before the planning commission.

TMAPC then holds a public hearing.

Applicants may be called to the podium to speak, and the interested parties are allowed to give public comments for or against the request.

The commissioners then deliberate.

If recommended for approval, the application moves on to the city council.

The application appears on council agendas three times.

The first appearance is at the council's committee meetings.

The planning commission staff gives and explains a recommendation based on the application's consistency with policy and intent of the comprehensive plan.

This appearance is only a discussion, not a vote.

Counselors and planning office staff are the only ones permitted to participate in discussion, but the public is permitted to view and attend the meeting.

The next appearance is at the City Council's 5 p.m.

council meeting.

Another public hearing is held to give an opportunity for citizen input before the council vote.

The applicant is again allowed to make a presentation.

The city council then votes to either approve the application, approve it with modifications, or deny it.

In most cases, the application needs a simple majority to pass.

If the application passes, it then appears at the following city council meeting as an ordinance reflecting the council vote to implement the decision.

Hey Tulsa, welcome back to the top recycling play of the day.

Team Johnson is facing off against a tough competitor.

Plastic.

Don't trust those numbers on the bottom.

You have to stick to what you know.

Only bottles and jugs found in the kitchen, bath, or laundry.

They're quick to pick up and empty those bottles before sinking that shot.

Always empty your bottles before recycling.

Score big by recycling your plastic bottles and jugs.

Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.com.

The Canis Latrans, also known as the Coyote, Coyote, or Prairie Wolf, has been spotted in all areas of Tulsa.

Coyotes migrated to the Tulsa area beginning in the early 20th century, when forest fragmentation and the extermination of larger predators like red and gray wolves led to their spread eastward.

Many strategies have been tried to rid urban areas of coyotes, but the effort is often costly and ineffective.

Coyotes are notoriously hard to catch and don't survive relocation.

Any area cleared of coyotes will quickly be repopulated.

Coyotes do provide an essential role in the ecosystem by helping to control the rodent population.

They are predators of geese, squirrels, mice, moles, gophers, possums, and other small animals.

While rodents make up a majority of their diet, coyotes also feed on fish, insects, blueberries, apples, prickly pears, persimmons, peanuts, and carrots.

Although their diet includes a variety of foods, coyotes have been known to kill small pets.

The best way to protect pets is to avoid attracting coyotes near your home by following these four best practices.

Best practice number one, supervise pets.

While coyotes don't usually attack humans, your pets can be a target.

Coyotes may see large dogs as rivals and small dogs and cats as prey.

Always walk your dog on a leash.

Keep cats indoors.

Letting cats roam free is also a violation of City of Tulsa ordinances.

And the best way to protect your pets is to not leave them outside unattended, especially at dusk through dawn when coyotes are more active.

In some cases, coyotes can climb fences.

Best practice number two.

Remove food attractive.

Remove bowls of pet food.

Keep trash cans securely closed.

Pick up any fruit or nuts from your yard.

Best practice number three.

Remove possible shelters.

Eliminate places for a coyote to make a den, like access under a deck or large bushes.

Cut down any tall grass or brush that could provide shelter for coyotes.

Best practice number four.

Respond appropriately during encounters.

If you do encounter a coyote, stand your ground.

Don't turn your back or run away.

The coyote can reach speeds of 40 miles an hour.

Top speed of a human is twenty eight miles an hour.

Stay away from injured, cornered, or nursing coyotes.

Slowly back away.

Most importantly, use hazing techniques to discourage coyotes you come across.

Act large, yell, clap your hands, use a noisemaker, throw sticks at the coyote's feet, hit hands, etc.

Hazing helps keep wild animals wild as coyotes can become a nuisance or aggressive when they lose their fear of people.

If you see a coyote that seems aggressive, or if you have more questions, call a Tulsa County game warden with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

They can connect you with a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator.

Do not contact the Tulsa Animal Shelter as it does not handle wildlife issues.

By following best practices, you can help limit negative interactions between people, pets, and the urban wildlife we live alongside.

Do you know what happens to all of the waste we leave behind in our yards, driveways, and streets?

Runoff water carries all of the trash, chemicals, and other pollutants straight into our storm drains, which lead to miles and miles of pipes and drains right below our feet that drain directly into our rivers and streams.

Along the way, all of the trash, chemicals, and pollutants add up until even something small, like one cigarette butt, one oil spill, or one pile of leaves accumulates inside our drains and pipes and becomes a big problem, causing blockages in the system and pollution in our rivers and streams.

The waters we fish and play in, the water that sustains our wildlife.

By protecting what goes into our drains, we can save our streams.

You and I can do our part together.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we explore the opulent homes of Tulsa's early oil titans.

These men shaped the future, the barons.

Situated south of downtown is one of Tulsa's most prestigious historic neighborhoods, Maple Ridge, adjacent to the iconic Woodward Park, grand twentieth century homes, front tree-lined boulevards, timeless architectural styles and details tell the story of a city built on oil.

Let's take a closer look at three of Tulsa's most iconic homes.

One of Tulsa's most notable homes, this Georgian revival style mansion, built in 1923, was home to William G.

Skelly, a prominent figure in Tulsa's oil and radio industries.

Skelly purchased this neoclassical house not long after it was constructed in 1924.

The three-story mansion is approximately 10,000 square feet, seated on a spacious wooded corner lot.

The exterior walls are composed of red brick masonry, and the home features a striking green tile roof.

The main feature of the ground floor is the long 40-foot dining room.

A large second floor veranda with iron rail and iron staircase offered access to the yard to entertain Skelly's elite guests.

The home remained in the Skelly family until 1968, and remains one of Tulsa's premier historical homes.

Nestled within the neighborhood stands a captivating model of early twentieth century architecture.

Constructed in 1915, this two-story mission revival home was designed by esteemed architect Noble B.

Fleming, whose work significantly shaped Tulsa's architectural landscape during the oil boom era.

The home showcases hallmark features of the mission revival style.

The all-brick exterior, red tile roofing, and arched entryways are its defining characteristics.

Inside, the residence boasts original quarter sawn, oak mill work, intricate ceiling structures, and drawn glass windows that frame views of downtown Tulsa.

This residence not only embodies the elegance of its era, but also serves as a testament to the visionaries who propelled Tulsa into its golden age.

Another early land developer targeting oil producers and business elite was real estate developer Grant Stebbins.

A lucrative land offer attracted former Congressman Bird McGuire.

Mr.

and Mrs.

McGuire built their home in 1916 with native red sandstone.

A notable Tulsa builder, John Blair designed the house using a Frank Lloyd Wright theory.

Mrs.

McGuire handpicked each stone.

The stately McGuire home was one of the first built in the new subdivision, and Tulsa's golden age of oil production and real estate development was off to the races.

The homes of Tulsa's barons remind us of a time when ambition and architecture rose together as living monuments to the city's bold beginnings.

Watch more and learn with us as we uncover the places that shaped Tulsa, one historic property at a time.

Hey Tulsa, we have a crushing recycle play of the day for you.

Team Johnson versus Paper and Cardboard.

They're starting off slow today, probably trying to figure out what to do with those styrofoam planks, since they're not recyclable.

There's the big play we were waiting for.

Boom!

Completely empty cardboard boxes dumped in the cart.

Score big by recycling your cardboard and paper.

Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.com.

With every raindrop, and every stream.

Water impacts the world around us every day.

But all the little things we do can build up in a big, big way.

Together, we can make a difference.

A difference in our streams.

A difference in our water.

In our city.

Every yard, every street, every neighborhood is an opportunity to help protect our water, our wildlife, and our community.

You and I can do our part together.

Welcome to Tulsa, the oil capital of the world.

In this episode of our historic preservation series, we visit one of Tulsa's most charming and distinctive neighborhoods, Swan Lake.

Nestled just east of downtown, the Swan Lake Historic District offers a peaceful oasis of early 20th century homes and elegant apartment buildings.

Centered around a tranquil pond that gives the neighborhood its name.

This area was once a streetcar suburb.

A place where Tulsa's growing middle and upper middle class found escape from the hustle of the city.

Let's take a closer look at some of the district's most iconic properties.

These homes represent a time when thoughtful planning and picturesque design gave shape to a neighborhood unlike any other in the city.

At the heart of the Swan Lake neighborhood lies its namesake lake, a peaceful pond today, but once the centerpiece of a bustling amusement park in the early 1900s.

It quickly became a popular weekend destination for Tulsa families during the oil boom.

This man-made body of water was part of a private recreation area complete with boat rides, a dance pavilion, and even a small zoo.

Though the amusements are long gone, the lake remains a serene reminder of a bygone era.

As Tulsa expanded, the demand for multi unit housing grew.

In 1918, Samuel Augustus Orcut responded to that need by constructing the first apartment building in what would become the Swan Lake Historic District.

This marked the beginning of Orcutt's development enterprise, which would shape the neighborhood for decades.

Thanks to his efforts, Swan Lake now boasts more apartment buildings from Tulsa's boom era, spanning the 1920s through the late 1930s than any other neighborhood in the city.

The Orcut apartments remain a cornerstone of Tulsa's shift toward urban living.

As Tulsa's oil industry boomed and oil fortune soared, areas like Swan Lake became havens for industry.