Tulsa City Council Urban & Economic Development Committee Meeting - August 5, 2026
Tulsa City Council Urban & Economic Development Committee Meeting - August 5, 2026
The Urban & Economic Development Committee of the Tulsa City Council met on August 5, 2026, at 10:30 AM. The meeting covered reappointments to city commissions, budget appropriations, a park improvement project, a controversial donation of boulders, a presentation on City Council charter authority, and travel authorizations for an intercity visit.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public provided testimony. However, nominees for reappointments spoke about their service and motivations.
Discussion Items
- Reappointment of Geoff Evans to the Tulsa Preservation Commission (Item 2): Evans, a landscape architect and partner at Planning Design Group, expressed his commitment to historic preservation and cited his four years of service on the commission. The committee recommended his reappointment for a term expiring October 1, 2028. (Forwarded to full council.)
- Reappointment of Joshua Starks to the Human Rights Commission (Item 3): Starks, a two-tour combat veteran and seventh-year commissioner, discussed his advocacy for veterans, work on federal legislation, and a proposal for a full-time city military affairs position to connect military training transitions with local economic opportunities. Councilors praised his service and perspective. The committee recommended reappointment for a term expiring July 1, 2028. (Forwarded to full council.)
- Budget Appropriations (Items 4 & 5):
- Item 4: Ordinance to appropriate $500,000 from the TARE Refuse Operating Fund balance for repair of the Gilcrease Expressway Bridge, damaged when a neighborhood dumpster truck struck it. Approved.
- Item 5: Ordinance to appropriate $34,200.89 from the Tulsa Stadium Improvement District Fund balance, representing overcollected assessment revenue, to be turned over to Downtown Tulsa Partnership for services. Approved.
- District 5 Water Fountain at Darlington Park (Item 6): Councilor Gilbert explained that $50,000 in Improve Our Tulsa 2 funds would install a water line and meter to enable use of a fountain previously purchased through a neighborhood grant but never installed due to lack of water infrastructure. The fountain has been stored in a resident's garage. Approved.
- Donation of 24 Boulders from Anchor Stone Company (Item 8): The boulders, originally placed at 4th St. between Denver Ave. and Cheyenne Ave. as perceived hostile architecture, were later moved to the Green Waste Site. Several councilors (Hall-Harper, Bellis, Dutton, Bengel, Archie) criticized the lack of transparency, the characterization of the boulders as art, the removal of the Arts Commission chairwoman who spoke out, and the precedent of donations bypassing council approval. Councilor Bellis noted the boulders collected trash and attracted rats. Councilor Dutton questioned the value and whether they are needed at the Green Waste Site. Councilor Bengel suggested using them for stormwater mitigation. Councilor Hall-Harper emphasized the need for a formal donation acceptance policy and timing requirements. No motion for acceptance or rejection was made; the committee moved to the next agenda item without taking action. The boulders remain at the Green Waste Site pending further discussion.
- City Council Charter Authority Overview (Item 9): Council Administrator Sarah Davis presented on Article II of the Tulsa City Charter, outlining the legislative powers of the council, guardrails (e.g., prohibition on directing mayor's subordinates), investigatory powers (including subpoena authority for formal investigations), and the distinction between informal inquiries and formal investigations. Councilors discussed the role of the city auditor, charter amendment processes, citizen initiative petitions, and the council's limited role in police chief selection. No formal action taken; informational only.
- Travel Authorizations (Items 10–16): Seven councilors (Hall-Harper, Dutton, Bellis, Gilbert, Bengel, Decter Wright, Lakin) were each authorized up to $2,500 to attend the Chamber 2026 InterCity Visit in Kansas City, MO, October 5–7, 2026. Approved.
Key Outcomes
- Reappointments of Geoff Evans (Preservation Commission) and Joshua Starks (Human Rights Commission) advanced to the full City Council with positive recommendations.
- Budget appropriations for bridge repair ($500,000) and stadium district funds ($34,200.89) were approved.
- The District 5 water fountain project ($50,000) was approved.
- The boulder donation from Anchor Stone Company was discussed at length but no formal vote was taken; the item was set aside without resolution.
- Travel authorizations for seven councilors to attend the InterCity Visit were approved collectively.
- The charter authority presentation was received as an informational item; no action taken.
Meeting Transcript
Oh, there we go. If you would like to join us, you've got to sorry. Um, if you wouldn't mind telling us a bit about yourself and why you'd like to continue serving on the commission. All right, I am Jeff Evans. I'm a licensed landscape architect here in Tulsa. Uh, mainly do public work around the state, and so have been doing that for now twenty four years. Um, so we uh company I am a part partner in here in Tulsa called PDG, we're planning design group. Um we do specialize in public stuff, but we also do uh a little bit of land planning work and then we do aquatics and then we have golf course design. So we do a little bit of everything. Um, for the last four plus years I've served on the preservation commission, uh, took over for the gentleman that had left Mr. Shears. Um have a a love for architecture, love for Tulsa growing up here in the area. Um, Coeta actually, where I grew up, uh, but have lived in Tulsa for the last uh twenty three years um continuously. Uh as you said, I am in War Nine. Um, and so really enjoy the historic architecture, really enjoy the preservation of those things. I know Tulsa has a lot of uh heart in architecture, whether it be in the downtown or the districts that are represented in our overlay districts, and we continue to expand that and and grow the the preservation commission areas. Yeah, so I said on the tail board and you know, some of the buildings that are here in Tulsa that you know have had like the Vilcade and some of these buildings. Um I like that you know there's a board that specifically deliberate towards preserving the historic aspects of the city, especially when it comes to its architecture and stuff. So thank you for serving on this and making sure we protect that history. We were just finishing up him, and I forgot to announce that. Okay. So you're welcome to come. If you'd like. Any questions? I don't know where really where we caught it. Oh yeah, channel on the 19th, but I so I will not make it, but if there's anything that's needed, please let me know beforehand. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for continuing to serve. Yeah, well, thank you very much. Okay. Oh, there you are. Joshua starts. Reappointment to the human rights commission. Term expires July 1st, 2028. Got a different way. That's it. 80% of the meetings. I'm good. Good. We don't know you very well. So you got the American chair. Well, I felt like it's because I'm so tall. I am so sorry. Josh, I usually end up with that channel. Well, we we do know you pretty well, so you don't have to go into great detail. But um tell us um why you want to continue serving on the Human Rights Commission and anything else you needed for us to know? Yeah, um, you know, the human rights commission has been extraordinary. I think this is my seventh year. Um after seven years, we're finally getting some movement on access for um uh getting reporting in.
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