Public Meetings - Tulsa, Oklahoma

The City of Tulsa Board of Adjustment (BOA) convened on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in the Tulsa City Council Chamber. During the meeting, the board considered 10 new business items involving special exceptions and variances for residential and commercial properties. The board approved two sets of minutes, approved or denied several applications, continued two items to future meetings, and adjourned at approximately 3:10 p.m. Consent Calendar - Approved minutes from Meeting 1390 (September 8, 2026) and Meeting 1391 (September 22, 2026). The chair abstained on Meeting 1390 minutes, having not attended that meeting. - BOA-24106 (1111 West 17th Street South, sign variance) was withdrawn by the applicant. - BOA-24114 (317 South Trenton Avenue, low-impact manufacturing and industry for a vinyl record press) was continued to the October 27, 2026 BOA meeting at the applicant's request. Public Comments & Testimony - BOA-24113 (3106 South Gary Avenue): Sheree Long, a neighboring property owner on Florence Court, opposed the garage wall expansion, stating that properties on Gary Avenue sit higher and that water from the existing pool and hardscaping flows over a retaining wall toward her home. Priscilla Haley, the property owner of the Florence Court duplex, said the expansion would add costs and worsen existing runoff and drainage problems. - BOA-24115 (Flat Rock Creek trails): Elizabeth Williams Arnett (4415 East 4th Place) spoke in favor of the proposed trails but asked about fencing and parking lot locations. Brittany Anderson (4012 North Lewis) opposed the trails, citing unclear property lines, floodplain concerns from tree removal, and trespass and security worries. Morgan Kwood (4151 North Trenton) opposed the proposal, stating that the city had already been building trails without authorization, and raised concerns about fencing, security, and the city's refusal to allow her property to be developed as an RV park to complement area recreation. Discussion Items - BOA-24105 – 1009 East Apache Street North: Applicant Torrell Ellison of Ellison Investment Group requested a special exception for a duplex in the RS-3 district and a variance to reduce the required minimum lot width from 60 feet to 50 feet. He explained that the property, platted in 1926, is a legal nonconforming 50-foot-wide lot and that the duplex would provide affordable housing, including units for women leaving abusive marriages. The board approved the special exception and the variance unanimously, finding the request consistent with the neighborhood. - BOA-24108 – 3017 South 129th East Avenue: Applicant Domingo Maldonado requested a special exception to allow personal vehicle sales in the CS district and a variance to allow outdoor storage and display of vehicles within 300 feet of an abutting residential district. The site is a former Sonic restaurant. The applicant proposed a maximum of 25 vehicles displayed outdoors. The board approved the special exception unanimously. The variance portion was first considered with a motion to deny, which failed on a 2-3 vote, and then the board voted to continue the variance request to the October 27, 2026 meeting so the applicant could further explain the hardship. - BOA-24109 – 8408 South Delaware Avenue: Mark Capron of Wallace Design Collective requested a special exception to amend a previously approved site plan for a college or university use in the RM-1 district. The existing building is approximately 27,000 square feet, and the new proposal adds an 11,000-square-foot, one-story building for classrooms and cancer research associated with Oral Roberts University. The board approved the special exception unanimously. - BOA-24110 – 4467 North Rockford Avenue: Mark Capron requested a special exception to permit a market- or community-supported farm in the RS-3 district on behalf of City Lights Foundation. The farm would support a 75-unit residential community, with orchards, gardens, and chicken coops, and produce would be for internal resident use. The board approved the special exception unanimously. - BOA-24111 – 246 East 27th Street South: Bill Powers requested a variance to reduce the minimum open space per unit requirement from 50% to 46% of lot area for a nonconforming lot in the RS-3 district. The variance would allow a carport to be built over an existing driveway without changing the lot's pervious area. The board approved the variance unanimously. - BOA-24112 – 1528 East 55th Place South: Darlene Bennett requested a variance to reduce the required 25-foot street setback to 12 feet 3 inches for an existing garage/carport structure that had been built without a permit. The board denied the variance unanimously, finding the hardship insufficient and not unique to the property. Staff noted that removing the walls and garage door to revert to a carport could be an alternative path. - BOA-24113 – 3106 South Gary Avenue: Mike Thedford of Wallace Design Collective requested a special exception to extend an exterior building wall with a non-conforming rear setback, reducing the required rear setback from 25 feet to 16 feet for a garage expansion. Neighbors opposed the expansion due to existing water runoff and flooding concerns. The board approved the special exception 4-1, noting that drainage review would occur during the building permit process. - BOA-24115 – Flat Rock Creek Trails (multiple properties north of East 36th Street North between North Peoria Avenue and North Lewis Avenue): Dylan Siers of the Tulsa Parks and Recreation Department requested a special exception to permit parks and recreation use in the AG, RMH, and RS-3 districts for approximately 200 acres of city-owned parkland at Flat Rock Creek. The proposal includes about 9 miles of soft-surface trails and two parking lots. After extensive public comment, the board voted to continue the item to the December 8, 2026 meeting to allow for additional community outreach and an open house. Key Outcomes - Approved minutes from Meetings 1390 and 1391. - Approved unanimously: BOA-24105 (special exception and variance), BOA-24109, BOA-24110, BOA-24111, and BOA-24113 (special exception, 4-1). - Denied unanimously: BOA-24112 (street setback variance). - Continued to October 27, 2026: BOA-24114 and the variance portion of BOA-24108. - Continued to December 8, 2026: BOA-24115 (Flat Rock Creek trails). - Withdrawn: BOA-24106. - The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:10 p.m.

The Greater Tulsa African American Affairs Commission (GTAC) held its regular meeting on October 13, 2026. Commissioners received committee updates, heard from a guest speaker from the Mayor's office, and discussed community concerns including early voting access, educator recognition, and the Human Rights Commission's compliance process. Public comment was also heard. Public Comments & Testimony - Oscar Gian, representing East Side Rise, a nonprofit in East Tulsa that provides free citizenship application assistance, gave public comment. He reported that over $150,000 has been reimbursed to Tulsa families in application fees, with more than 90% of clients self-identifying as Hispanic. He expressed a goal to reach more communities and requested help spreading information about the program. Discussion Items - Policy Committee Report (Early Voting Location): Commissioners discussed concerns about the relocation of an early voting location from North Tulsa to East Tulsa, which was seen as posing access and convenience issues for voters, especially elderly residents without transportation. It was reported that the early voting location has since been moved back to North Tulsa. The committee also discussed exploring additional convenient polling and early voting locations in North Tulsa and connecting with the Tulsa Election Board to attend a future meeting. - Community Engagement & Culture Committee Report: Updates were provided on the Green Book Guide to Tulsa, which is being revamped using the existing Black Fox Tulsa website as a base. Newsletters are being distributed at physical locations across the city (e.g., Blackwater Street Liquid Lounge, Max Wings at 71st). The committee also plans to connect Black businesses through a network similar to the Tulsa Awareness Group (TAG) to better coordinate events and avoid scheduling conflicts. - Education Committee Report: The committee has focused on preparing for the Dr. Lavern Wimbley Educator Excellence Awards, scheduled for October 27, 2026. Winners have been selected and will be contacted by the end of the week. The event will include refreshments, certificates, monetary awards, and gift cards. Financial donations continue to be accepted. - Human Rights Commission Update: The Human Rights Commission is working to revamp the compliance process for filing ADA, housing, and other complaints. Currently, the process is difficult and not easily accessible. The goal is to make it available online. La Kendra Carter, compliance officer, is working with the city's IT department. Community testing of the new site will be conducted before launch. - Guest Speaker – Brentum Todd, Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Nichols: Todd provided an overview of the mayor's priorities: putting 15,000 children on a path to economic mobility, ending homelessness by 2030 (making it rare, brief, and non-recurring), increasing affordable housing stock, fixing relationships with the tribes, and being a more business-friendly city. He also discussed the Greenwood Trust, a private charitable trust aiming to raise $105 million, now fully established with a president and CEO, Elena Beverly. Updates were given on homelessness efforts, including a low-barrier shelter opening soon, a decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness this year, and the ongoing 1921 Graves Investigation field season at Oaklawn. Todd encouraged commissioners to feel fulfilled in their service and noted that off-ramps are available. Key Outcomes - The early voting location controversy was resolved with the site moved back to North Tulsa; further engagement with the Tulsa Election Board is planned. - The Educator Excellence Awards ceremony is set for October 27, 2026, at 6 p.m. Winners will be announced. - The Human Rights Commission's online complaint system is under development, with community testing expected before launch. - Commissioners were reminded of the October 15 deadline to lock in fixed gas prices through Oklahoma Natural Gas. - A public reminder was given for the November 3 election. - Commissioner Margaret Love and Commissioner Maybell Wallace were recognized for an award received from Black Wild Street Tours. - The Greenwood Legacy Corporation established its Council of Elders with an induction ceremony on October 24. - The meeting was adjourned by motion.

The Tulsa Animal Welfare Commission met on October 12, 2026, with Commissioners Stucky, Paul, and Coonsweiler present. Animal Services Director Sherry Carrier and guest Melissa Allen, CEO of the Tulsa SPCA, were also in attendance. The meeting covered updates on the new animal shelter facility and the creation of a subcommittee to review department policies. Consent Calendar - The minutes from the September 14, 2026, meeting were approved unanimously (3-0) as submitted. Discussion Items - New Animal Service Facility Update: Director Carrier provided an update on the new shelter. Construction crews are working through the final punch list, including the play yard and landscaping. Kennels are expected by the end of November, but the timeline for occupancy and the move-in depends on completing these items and obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy. The move is currently projected for late December or January. The process will require a 1-2 week shutdown of operations to safely move up to 300 animals. A public awareness campaign will be launched regarding the closure, a sculpture piece is planned for the entryway, and new signage will direct the public to the facility. - Subcommittee for TAS Policies: Staff presented a proposal to create a subcommittee to help review and update the thousands of internal policies for Tulsa Animal Services, many of which are outdated and no longer reflect the department's operations. Commissioners discussed the advisory nature of their role, quorum restrictions for subcommittee meetings, and the potential use of technology to assist in the review process. Key Outcomes - Motion to Create Policy Subcommittee Passed Unanimously: A motion to form a subcommittee for TAS policy review was made, seconded, and passed (3-0). Commissioner Hall and Dr. Coonsweiler volunteered to begin the work. The subcommittee plans to start with a pilot review of a section of policies and report its progress and recommendations to the full commission at the November 2026 meeting.

The Tulsa Title V Commission convened on October 8, 2026. The meeting featured remarks and a Q&A from the City of Tulsa Deputy Chief of Staff, Brenton Todd, presentations from the Gilcrease Museum and Avanzando Juntos, and updates from several commission committees. Consent Calendar - The meeting minutes from September 2026 were approved. Two members who were absent for the previous meeting abstained from the vote. Discussion Items - Deputy Chief of Staff Visit: Brenton Todd introduced himself and thanked the commission for its work as an extension of the Mayor's office. Commissioners raised two concerns: the need for clearer timelines and communication in the city appointment process, and the need for dedicated funding for commission outreach activities and materials. Todd acknowledged these issues and suggested including operational funding needs in the commission's end-of-year recommendations for potential budget appropriation. - Gilcrease Museum Presentation: Alejandro Garay, the new Latin American Art and Culture Curator, presented his goal of acting as a "bridge" between the museum and the Latino community. Commissioners discussed the importance of language access, affordability, and co-creating programming. A commissioner shared positive personal experiences with the museum's past children's programs. - Avanzando Juntos Presentation: Executive Director Onelia presented the organization's work supporting small businesses through loans and education. Reported data includes serving over 2,000 participants, deploying $2.3 million in loans to 228 small businesses, and maintaining 111 active loans. The organization is applying for CDFI certification. A commissioner shared a personal testimony of receiving a critical loan from the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic. - Committee Reports: - Executive Committee: Beginning leadership and project planning for the next year. - Education Committee: Scheduled its first meeting. - Community Advocacy Committee: Attended Fiesta de Tulsa and Festival Americas. A draft community engagement toolkit was circulated for commissioner feedback to standardize outreach. - Public Safety Committee: Reported high activity in outreach, including the TB-D Faith in Blue event and Halloween events with TFD. - Immigration Committee: Planning a meeting with an immigration attorney. Commissioners discussed the difficulty of tracking ICE activity and detainee frequency. A commissioner expressed a belief that the Sheriff's department's perception of its relationship with the Latino community does not match the community's perception, and requested to join the next meeting with the Sheriff to clarify information pathways. The committee aims to establish quarterly engagement with the Sheriff's office. - Human Rights Commission: A commissioner reported that the Human Rights Commission is modernizing its complaints process to include an online filing option, moving beyond the current paper-only system. Language access is a key focus of this update. Key Outcomes - September 2026 meeting minutes were approved (two abstentions). - Commission concerns about appointment timelines and operational funding were formally acknowledged by the Deputy Chief of Staff, with the direction to include budget needs in the end-of-year recommendations. - A community engagement toolkit was introduced for commissioner review. - The Immigration Committee will pursue quarterly engagement with the Sheriff's office for transparency. - The commission received an update on the Human Rights Commission's modernization of its complaints system, including a focus on language access. - A new immigrant services liaison from the Department of Resilience and Equity was introduced and will join the Immigration Committee. - An announcement was made for the Hispanic Author Award event featuring Yui Morales on October 31st at the Martin Regional Library.

The Tulsa Planning Commission held a special meeting on October 7, 2026, to consider routine consent items, a public hearing on a planned unit development amendment, a preliminary plat, an economic development project plan conformance review, and comprehensive plan text amendments. All items on the agenda were approved unanimously. Director's Report - The Director noted that the City Council had recently approved amendments to neighborhood character overlays for Renaissance and Florence Park. A work session was announced for November 4, 2026, to discuss code amendments, open space regulations, housing feasibility, data center zoning, historic preservation, and subdivision regulations. Approval of Minutes - Items 1 & 2: Minutes from Meeting No. 1 (September 2, 2026) and Meeting No. 2 (September 16, 2026) were approved unanimously by roll call vote (Hulse, Hood, Krug, Shivel, Turner Addison, Walker all voting yes). Consent Calendar - Items 3, 5, & 6 (PUD minor amendments: PUD-647-A-1, PUD-638-2, PUD-117-7) were approved together on a single motion. Item 4 (PUD-190-A-41) was pulled to the public hearing per a commissioner's request. The consent items passed unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - Item 4 – PUD-190-A-41 (Mitchell Park Duplex Standards): Three members of the public spoke in opposition or raised concerns: - Lynn Burson (5729 East 75th Place) asked about safety, community impact on park access, sight lines, pedestrian flow, security features, and emergency vehicle access. - John Krueger (5803 East 75th Place) expressed concern that the project would make the park entrance less park-like and that the area already has high density from nearby apartments. - John Wilson (7709 South Kingston Avenue, president of the Minshall Park Homeowners Association representing approx. 650 homes) questioned stormwater drainage into the park pond, the environmental impact of removing mature trees (estimated 80 trees) and compliance with a city tree replacement ordinance, ADA compliance, and the feasibility of building on a steep 45-degree embankment. He noted the wooded area had been untouched for 50 years and supported wildlife including bald eagles. Staff responded that the property is not a stormwater facility, that duplexes and detached houses are exempt from landscape standards, and that the amendment actually makes requirements stricter than the original PUD. No applicant rebuttal was given. Discussion Items - Item 4 – PUD-190-A-41 (Mitchell Park Duplex Standards): Staff explained the request is to rewrite and clarify duplex building standards in a complex, often-amended PUD. The property is zoned residential duplex. The amendment standardizes lot size (6,000 sq ft per duplex unit) and setbacks. Commissioners asked no further questions. A motion to approve per staff recommendation passed unanimously. - Item 7 – Shadow Creek of Tulsa Preliminary Plat: Staff presented a preliminary plat for a private street subdivision on a small RS-4 zoned parcel at the southeast corner of East 101st Street South and South Florence Avenue. The subdivision will have dead-end streets. A letter of map amendment is in process to address floodplain. The plat meets development plan standards. No public speakers. Approved unanimously. - Item 8 – Peak of the Parkway Economic Development Project Plan: Jeff Sabin, TIF counsel for Partner Tulsa, explained tax increment financing (TIF) and the planning commission’s role in determining conformance with the comprehensive plan. Senior Planner Jeremy Baines stated the project’s objectives (housing variety, activating vacant land, commercial investment) and found it consistent with the Major Street and Highway Plan, Future Land Use Map, and comprehensive plan priorities (strategies LU 3.6, ED 1.1, ED 1.5.2). No public speakers. Approved unanimously. - Item 9 – CPA-134 Comprehensive Plan Text Amendments: Staff (Susan) explained the amendment updates references from “TMAPC” to “Planning Commission” and adds staff as an entity that can initiate corrective amendments (alongside planning commission and council). No public speakers. Approved unanimously. Key Outcomes - All items approved unanimously: Minutes, consent items (3,5,6), PUD-190-A-41 (item 4), Shadow Creek preliminary plat (item 7), Peak of the Parkway economic development project plan conformance (item 8), and comprehensive plan text amendments (item 9). - No deferrals or denials. - Next steps: The Peak of the Parkway project plan will proceed to City Council for two public hearings and final approval. The preliminary plat will go through the Infrastructure Design Process (IDP). - Work session scheduled: November 4, 2026, starting at either 10:00 or 10:30 a.m., to discuss pending code and policy amendments.

The Tulsa Asian Affairs Commission convened on October 6, 2026, to approve previous minutes, welcome a new commissioner, hear a data presentation from United Way on Asian business ownership trends, discuss committee updates, and vote on a public comment regarding the 2030 Census. The meeting focused on the commission’s 2026–2027 priority of supporting Asian small businesses. Consent Calendar - The September 30 meeting minutes were approved unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - Aiden, founding president of the Tulsa Asian Collective (TAC), provided community updates: TAC’s monthly Asian Tulsa guide is growing; a Tulsa Asian Community Market is planned for November 14 from 2–4 p.m. (location TBD); and background work on the future of Tulsa Asian Fest is ongoing. Discussion Items - Chair Report: The chair confirmed the commission’s 2026–2027 focus on small business support for Asian business owners. - New Commissioner Introduction: Annie Chang was welcomed. She founded the Tulsa Storytelling Lab and serves on other boards. - Guest Presentation – United Way (Tulsa Equality Indicators): Melanie Pulter and Sarah Parmar presented data on Asian business ownership rates. Key points: - The Equality Indicators compare Asian and Black business ownership rates; the Asian rate has declined from higher levels to 4.5% in the latest data (reflecting 2023). - Total Asian workers increased, but the number of self-employed (incorporated and unincorporated) dropped by about half over seven years. - State and national trends show Asian business ownership rates higher than Black rates; Tulsa’s decline appears unique among peer cities. - The data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) using PUMAs that include areas beyond Tulsa city limits. - Potential factors discussed included COVID-19 impacts, changes in self-identification, and rhetoric affecting the Asian community. - Committee Reports: - Commissioner Wynn reported on the AAPI Leadership Roundtable, which held its third session on relational meetings; participants will choose projects focusing on small business interviews or healthcare research. Upcoming Asian community events were noted. - Masood announced the launch of Luminary Awards nominations (deadline October 15) in categories including business, workforce education, and educator. The awards ceremony is November 9 at 6 p.m. - The Data & Research committee (chair) announced plans to invite Asian small business owners (aspiring, current, or closed) to the November meeting to share stories. A Google form (bit.ly/COTAsianBusiness) was circulated to collect contacts and business shout-outs. - New Business: The chair moved to submit a public comment before the November 2 deadline to the U.S. Census Bureau, advocating for the retention of race/ethnicity questions and inclusion of all residents in the 2030 Census. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Discussion included coordinating with other commissions for a joint comment. Key Outcomes - September minutes approved. - Motion to submit a public comment on the 2030 Census passed unanimously. - The commission will continue data exploration with United Way on Asian business ownership (e.g., by subcategory, industry, age, gender, and comparison with similar cities). - The November meeting will feature Asian small business owners’ testimony. - Luminary Awards nominations due October 15; ceremony on November 9. - The next regular meeting is scheduled for November (date not specified in transcript).

The Tulsa Women's Commission held its regular monthly meeting on October 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting covered approval of minutes, commissioner recognitions, committee reports, and a discussion on issues impacting women. All actions were unanimous. Consent Calendar - Meeting Minutes Approval: The minutes from the September meeting were approved with a correction: under "Pinnacle Awards," the word "option" was changed to "open." Motion carried unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments were made. Discussion Items - Commissioner Recognitions: Chairwoman Lada highlighted Commissioner Jacobs' live art painting feature on the news and her upcoming participation in the 30th annual Art in the Square event (over 89 artists). Commissioner Jackson was recognized for being honored by City Year with a red jacket ceremony. Commissioner Braddock was praised for leading the Lift Every Voice conference. - Chair and Vice Chair Report: Chairwoman Lada announced that the next meeting (November 6) will be her last, and a special election for chair will occur. Nominations for chair must be submitted to Lexi by October 23. The YWCA Pinnacle Awards nominations are open through October 15; one additional nomination committee member is needed. The Donate and Dash event for the Family Safety Center was discussed, scheduled for the following day (October 3) with shifts starting at 8:30 AM; Deputy Mayor Reyes will speak at 10 AM. A group photo will be taken at 10:10:15 AM. - Committee Reports: - Personal Safety (Commissioner Jackson): The committee will meet soon to plan for March as Women's Safety Month. - Housing and Economic Security (Commissioner Bent): The committee held its first meeting, with rich discussion including lived experiences of housing insecurity. Initial focus areas identified: education to reduce stigma around homelessness and violence against women. Possible partnership with TPD via another commission was noted. - Health and Emotional Safety (Commissioner Palacios): The Donate and Dash event is ready; logistical details finalized. Quick Print donated 20 signs. Cones for traffic control were secured. Coordination with other committees emphasized to avoid duplication. - Community Safety and Belonging (Commissioners DuPont and Throw): A survey has been finalized and translated; awaiting Qualtrics access to go live. - Systems Rights and Institutional Safety (Commissioner Edwards): Reported on a documentary screening of "No Country for Mothers" focused on affordable child care. Central Library was identified as a venue (capacity 200, free). Plans include a panel discussion with local experts. Also provided an update on sexual assault kit backlogs: over a year-long backlog; kits triaged into three tiers; meeting with Dr. Laurel Roberts and other officials to understand obstacles. Further research into best practices and state-level studies underway. - Issues Impacting Women: Chairwoman Lada opened a discussion on recent violence against women (e.g., Cornell, failed execution of Krista Pike, maternal mortality). Commissioners shared concerns about systemic issues, the need for infrastructure-level change, and the importance of including marginalized voices (e.g., trans women, women of color). Lexi announced City Council town halls on domestic violence (October 19, 20, 29) and encouraged commissioner attendance. - YWCA Representative Announcement: Jenny Trower (YWCA Tulsa) urged nominations for Pinnacle Awards, noting that the arts and corporate champion categories have no nominations yet. Key Outcomes - Minutes approved with correction. - Chair election process set: Nominations due Oct 23; election at Nov 6 meeting. - Donate and Dash event to proceed October 3 with volunteer shifts and group photo. - One additional nomination committee member needed for Pinnacle Awards; will be solicited via email. - Committees to coordinate to avoid duplication and synergize efforts. - Survey for community safety and belonging not yet live; awaiting Qualtrics. - Documentary screening planned; venue identified; panelists to be determined. - Sexual assault kit backlog research ongoing; further meetings with stakeholders. - Meeting adjourned by unanimous vote.

The Tulsa City Council Public Works Committee met on September 30, 2026, at 2:30 PM in Room 411 of One Technology Center. The committee discussed several items including a reappointment to the Human Rights Commission, a street closure for a church, a resolution supporting the 138th Fighter Wing for an F-35A squadron, and a major rezoning application for a multifamily development. No votes were taken at the committee level; all items will proceed to full City Council for action. Reappointment to Human Rights Commission - Larissa McNeil presented for reappointment to the Human Rights Commission with a term expiring July 1, 2027. She attended 5 of 10 meetings and serves as a librarian and coordinator at Rudisill Library, also sitting on the African American Affairs Commission. She highlighted her role as a liaison between the two commissions. No questions or opposition were raised. The reappointment will be considered by the full Council on October 14, 2026. Ordinance Amending FY 2026-2027 Budget (Agenda Item 3) - This item, a supplemental appropriation of $249,354.44 from 911 Management Authority grant revenues for the Next Generation 911 program, was pulled from the agenda and not discussed. Street Closure for Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (Agenda Item 4) - A proposal to close a public street at 1419 N. 67th E. Ave., between E. Oklahoma St. and E. Oklahoma Pl., to allow safety improvements for the church and school. City staff recommended approval, noting the church owns adjacent property and will donate a 15-foot easement for a sanitary sewer line. Similar closures have been done for other schools. No council objections were raised. A public hearing is scheduled for September 30, 2026, and the item will go to full Council on October 14. Resolution Supporting F-35A Squadron for 138th Fighter Wing (Agenda Item 5) - Councilor Lakin sponsored a resolution urging the Secretary of the Air Force to select the 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa for the next Air National Guard F-35A squadron. Colonel Brad Rutman and Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Garrett presented, highlighting the base's 1,200 airmen and recent city investments including land for ammo/fuel storage, a mission training center, and an $8 million Airmen Center. The base has a $220 million annual economic impact. The National Guard Bureau will issue a shortlist of about four bases in December 2026, with a final decision expected after a year-long process. Council members expressed strong support, with Councilor Dector Wright noting the importance of local advocacy. The resolution will be voted on by full Council on October 14, 2026. Rezoning Application CO-23 – Multifamily Development (Agenda Item 6) - Proposal: Rezone nearly 17 acres from AG to Corridor (CO) zoning for a multifamily development with no more than 275 units, located south and east of W. 71st St. S. and S. Union Ave. (Council District 2). A Corridor Development Plan includes enhanced buffers, setbacks, and landscape requirements. The Planning Commission voted 5-1-1 to recommend approval, with Chairman Walker dissenting and Lana Turner abstaining. - Discussion: Councilor Archie, representing the district, detailed strong opposition from residents, citing traffic congestion from nearby highway projects (I-75, 61st St., 81st St.), narrow roads, and concerns about density and school impacts. An informal petition with 80 signatures (and potentially 200 more) was presented. Other councilors (Dector Wright, Bellis, Bangle, Lakin) generally supported the project, noting consistency with the West Highlands Tulsa Hills Small Area Plan, the need for workforce housing (30-80% AMI), and the eventual completion of highway construction by 2029. Councilor Dector Wright noted that similar density on the Mingo corridor brought road improvements. Councilor Bangle pointed out the presence of a retail corridor and infrastructure investments, contrasting with his own district. The developer intends to pursue Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, not Section 8 vouchers. Concerns about FAA height restrictions, a high-pressure gas line, and truck traffic were discussed, with staff noting these will be addressed through separate permitting processes. No committee vote was taken; the item will go to full Council on October 21 and 28, 2026. Key Outcomes - No votes were taken at the committee meeting. All action items will proceed to the full Tulsa City Council on the following dates: - Reappointment of Larissa McNeil: October 14, 2026 - Street closure for Saints Peter and Paul: October 14, 2026 (public hearing same day) - Resolution supporting F-35A squadron: October 14, 2026 - Rezoning CO-23: Public hearing on October 21, 2026; potential vote on October 28, 2026 - The 911 grant budget amendment (Item 3) was pulled from the agenda.

The Urban & Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at One Technology Center in Tulsa. The committee heard a reappointment presentation and held a detailed discussion with department representatives on a proposed ordinance creating an Office of Independent Review and Oversight of Public Safety. No formal votes were taken; a reappointment vote and continued ordinance discussion are scheduled for October 14, 2026. Reappointment to HUD Community Development Committee - Michelle Lara was interviewed for reappointment to the HUD Community Development Committee, with a term expiring June 30, 2027 (agenda item 26-821-1). - Lara shared that she lives in District 3, has experienced housing instability, and went through programs like Habitat for Humanity. She expressed passion for housing issues and noted barriers to engagement, including limited access to meeting information and complex city processes. - Councilors praised her service and discussed bilingual outreach needs, including languages beyond Spanish and English, such as Burmese. The committee indicated the full City Council would vote on her reappointment on October 14 at 5:00 PM. Public Safety Oversight Ordinance - Discussion - Agenda item 26-734-5 is an ordinance adopting a new Title 16, Tulsa Revised Ordinances, titled "Independent Review and Oversight of Public Safety," creating the Office of Independent Review and Oversight of Public Safety (OIR), a Director position, and a civilian oversight board. Councilors Hall-Harper and Decter Wright are listed as sponsors. - Council Administrator Sarah Davis outlined the questions sent to departments: current practices for reviewing employee behavior and processing community concerns; mechanisms for community feedback and policy generation; historical policy improvements; alternative oversight proposals; workforce impacts; and how policy changes are communicated to the public. - Only three of the six listed departments were present: Tulsa Animal Services, Tulsa Fire Department, and Code Enforcement. Police, City Security, Emergency Management, and a nonprofit organization were scheduled for the October 14 morning committee meeting. Tulsa Animal Services Presentation & Discussion - Animal Services leadership (Director Sherry and Colton) and Animal Welfare Commission Chair Dr. Kutzweiler and Commissioner Hall presented. - They described the current employee discipline process: management investigates complaints, HR may be involved, a neutral hearing officer from another department makes recommendations, and employees can appeal to the Civil Service Commission. - Reported outcomes: the animal life-saving rate has risen 17% since 2023 to 83%, above national and state averages; the department received a 2.6 out of 3 maturity score in a City Auditor community engagement study; and programs such as neighbors helping neighbors, school patrols, and affordable vet care are in place. - They estimated 20-30 complaints per year, mostly minor, with investigations ranging from quick conversations to months-long HR cases. - Positions expressed: Animal Services leadership and commission members voiced concern that the proposed OIR duplicates the Animal Welfare Commission's existing advisory and oversight role, adds administrative burden, and could distract from operations. They suggested enhancing the existing commission, adding body cameras for field staff, and call recording for dispatch instead of creating a new layer. - Councilor Decter Wright clarified that the proposal is not intended to oppose or denigrate existing department work. Councilor Dunn said oversight could build resident trust, especially around dog bite enforcement and liability insurance. Councilor Archie raised the need to define commissioner qualifications if the commission takes on more oversight. Tulsa Fire Department Presentation & Discussion - Fire Chief Michael Baker and Chief Carner presented. - They described a personnel performance review system tied to promotion, a new personnel management system developed with Local 176, and a disciplinary process in which the chief is the final decision maker after a pre-action hearing. - Community complaints average about one per month. Policy is organized through administrative operating procedures, emergency operating guidelines, and clinical protocols; a Lexipol software platform is being implemented for more transparent policy access. - The department reported it is nearly fully staffed (3 vacancies out of 730), has improved apparatus reliability through bonding, uses CPAT physical testing, maintains an ISO 1 rating, and received a 94.5% trust rating in the 918 survey. - Positions expressed: Chief Baker said the fire service is generally not included in such oversight models elsewhere, raised concerns about administrative burden and 3-day/10-day response timelines conflicting with 24/48 shift schedules, and noted difficulty filling headquarters positions. He was open to public dashboards and an annual report, but gave a "thumbs to the side" reaction to the OIR proposal. Councilor Archie suggested considering a quarterly public safety committee that includes Fire, Police, Animal Services, and other agencies as an alternative. Code Enforcement Presentation & Discussion - James Wagner, Director of Planning and Neighborhoods, presented in place of Code Enforcement Director Brant. - He described the city's 11 work rules, respectful workplace policy, HR investigations for discrimination complaints, neutral hearing officer process, and appeal to the Civil Service Commission. - Community feedback mechanisms include 311, the ethics hotline, the mayor's email, the public advocate, and town halls. Feedback led to courtesy notices on summary abatement and a "two-customer" approach that proactively contacts property owners. - Code Enforcement officers have the option to wear ballistic vests; no annual report is currently produced. - Wagner stated that most OIR triggers would likely not apply to Code Enforcement, and he gave a positive reaction to the proposal, calling it "useful, helpful, additive." Councilor Dunn advocated for a cohesive cross-department dashboard to track interactions among Code Enforcement, TPD, and Animal Services. Key Outcomes - No votes were taken on the public safety oversight ordinance during this meeting. - The committee will continue discussions on October 14, 2026, with Police, City Security, Emergency Management, and a nonprofit organization scheduled to appear. - Michelle Lara's reappointment to the HUD Community Development Committee will be voted on by the full City Council on October 14, 2026. - The proposed ordinance remains on the council calendar for October 14, 2026.