Tulsa City Council Urban & Economic Development Committee Meeting – October 28, 2026

The Urban & Economic Development (UED) Committee met on October 28, 2026, at 10:30 AM Central Time in Room 411, One Technology Center. Chair Anthony Archie called the meeting to order. Note: The agenda and transcript indicate a 10:30 AM start, while the provided timestamp (2026-10-28 16:30:00+00:00) corresponds to 11:30 AM CT; this discrepancy is acknowledged. The committee considered appointments, a budget amendment, a rezoning, a human remains ordinance, and received an update from the Homelessness Working Group.

Appointments and Reappointments

• Tonya Grant – Appointment to Tulsa Housing Authority (Item 2): Grant, a 15-year resident of THA housing, was introduced as an appointee to replace Sheila Johnson Brown for a term expiring January 20, 2029. She expressed a desire to be a voice for residents. No vote was taken; the appointment will be considered by the full City Council on November 4, 2026.
• Nathalie Cornett – Reappointment to Infrastructure Development Advisory Board (IDAB) (Item 3): Cornett, a land use attorney, was reappointed for a term expiring September 30, 2029. She has attended 9 of 11 meetings. She stated her philosophy of improving systems. No vote taken; forwarded to council.
• Bob Jack – Reappointment to IDAB (Item 4): Jack, with 50 years in construction, was reappointed for a term expiring September 30, 2029. He has attended all 11 meetings. He discussed IDAB’s collaboration with city staff on permitting and data. No vote taken; forwarded to council.

Consent Calendar

No items were placed on a consent calendar. All items were considered individually.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Item 5 – Budget Amendment (Sewer Capital Projects): The committee considered an ordinance transferring $52,878 from the Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant Lagoon No. 7 project to the Haikey Creek Lift Station project. Jared from the Budget Office explained it cleans up completed projects. Councilwoman Lakin noted the infrastructure supports housing development. The item was forwarded to the full council for same-day consideration.
• Item 6 – Rezoning Z-7871 (RS-1 to AG-R): The committee reviewed a request to rezone approximately 2.5 acres from RS-1 to AG-R to allow horses on the property. Councilwoman Lakin reported that neighbors prefer RS-1 but may be open to discussing a switch to RE for other lots. The Planning Commission had recommended approval 6-0. The committee voted to forward the rezoning to the full council; the transcript does not record the committee vote tally.
• Item 7 – Ordinance on Human Remains and Cultural Artifacts: Councilwoman Hall-Harper presented a proposed new Chapter 3 of Title 7, “Human Remains and Cultural Artifacts,” establishing procedures for protection, consultation, identification, treatment, and reinterment of remains connected to racial violence or historically marginalized Black communities. The ordinance includes descendant-centered consultation, a review panel, reinterment and memorialization standards, and responsibilities for city projects and regulated development. Amendments were discussed:
  • Exemption for planned government-sponsored investigations from work stoppage.
  • Risk-based pre-construction review for documented high-risk sites.
  • Penalties not to conflict with state felony statutes.
  • Tying the ordinance to Resolution 2113 (June 2, 2021).
  • Requirement to cover remains believed to be of African descent with the Pan-African flag during transfer.
  • Requirement for written explanation when city decisions differ from descendant consensus. Council members debated geographic scope and treatment of veterans’ remains. Dr. Alicia O’Neal, an archaeologist, presented artifacts from the Langston/Tulsa collection that highlight the need for preservation. The committee did not vote but forwarded the ordinance to the full council for a vote that evening.
• Item 8 – Homelessness Working Group Update: Council members Lakin, Bellis, Decter Wright, and Gilbert presented standardized reporting metrics and budget formats for Safe Move Tulsa. Key statistics:
  • Goal: 1,300 people exit homelessness by end of 2026.
  • As of October 20, 2026: 792 people had exited (260+ through subsidy/stabilization, ~500 through rapid exit).
  • Return-to-homelessness rate (within 12 months of exit): under 5% among those tracked.
  • 12 encampments decommissioned and maintained closed.
  • Funding: $6 million public (ARPA, opioid, coronavirus relief) + $5 million private. ARPA funds fully expended or invoiced; opioid funds committed to current placements.
  • The committee discussed quarterly appropriation structure; administrators noted that $1.5 million per quarter limits capacity to make long-term commitments and adjust to scale. Council members expressed willingness to be flexible on funding cadence.
  • A live performance dashboard is available at safeMoveTulsa.com; quarterly reports will be presented to the committee.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments: The committee forwarded the appointments of Tonya Grant (THA), Nathalie Cornett (IDAB), and Bob Jack (IDAB) to the full City Council for a vote on November 4, 2026.
• Budget Amendment: The ordinance transferring $52,878 between sewer capital projects was forwarded to the full council for same-day approval.
• Rezoning Z-7871: The committee advanced the rezoning request to the full council with a recommendation (implied approval).
• Human Remains Ordinance: The committee forwarded the proposed ordinance to the full council for a vote on October 28, 2026, after incorporating amendments. Councilwoman Hall-Harper agreed to meet with concerned experts afterwards.
• Homelessness Reporting: The committee endorsed the performance dashboard and budget reporting format. The Homelessness Working Group will continue to evaluate funding needs and may recommend adjustments to the quarterly allocation structure to avoid impeding progress.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned after completing all agenda items.