CHARTER AMENDMENTS
What is a City Charter?
A city charter is a unique document that, in many ways, acts like a constitution for the city. It can only be adopted, amended, or repealed by a majority vote of a city’s voters.
Tulsa's charter is the city’s legal framework. It defines the organization, powers, functions, and essential procedures of city government.
Why is the Charter amended?
The Council is required to periodically review the amended Charter of the City of Tulsa and submit to the voters any such amendments as are necessary to provide for representative, efficient and economical administration of City government as follows:
A. CITY ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE SCHEDULE
On or before October 15 of every odd-numbered year, the City Attorney provides to the Council a schedule for considering proposed amendments to the amended Charter. The Council may adopt, amend or reject the schedule. Any schedule adopted by the Council is filed in the Office of the City Clerk and is available for public inspection on or before November 15 of each odd-numbered year.
B. COUNCIL TO SUBMIT NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO QUALIFIED ELECTORS
The Council submits to the voters of the City proposed Charter amendments necessary to provide for representative, efficient and economical administration of city government. Proposed Charter amendments are submitted for approval or rejection by the qualified voters of the City as provided by the Oklahoma Constitution and laws of Oklahoma.
| CHARTER AMENDMENT SCHEDULE
| LIST OF CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Listed is the date of approval by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma, the substance, and the place in the text where the amendment is quoted.
October 9, 2024 - Setting salaries | Art. II, Sec. 2, Art. IV Sec. 2
March 28, 2023 - Council to set Mayor's salary by ordinance; 365-day residency requirements; City Auditor's term | Art. III Sec. 1.2, Art. VI Sec. 7, 1.2 Par. B
September 10, 2021 - Deleting mention of primary elections; Use of gender-neutral words; Removal of Authority, Board and Commission members; City Attorney appointment and confirmation; City Attorney duties | Art. VI Sec. 3.3, 5, 7, Art. VII, Sec. 1.2, Art. XI Sec. 3, 4.3, Art. XII, Sec. 4, 11 Par. C, Art. X Sec. 4.1, Art. III Sec. 4
November 14, 2017 - General grant of power; Council meetings; Effective date of ordinances and resolution; General elections; Election procedure; Time of filing; Election District Commission; Adjustment of election district boundaries | Art. I Sec. 3, 3.1, 10, Art. II Sec. 1,3, 2.2, Art. VI Sec. 3.4, 10.1, 10.2, Par. O
November 14, 2017 - Civil Service Commission - Political activities permitted; Fire Department - Political activities permitted | Art. X Sec. 10.1, Art. XI Sec. 5.1
November 14, 2017 - Budgets, prohibiting diversion of public safety sales tax revenues to any other purpose; Prohibiting expenditure of public safety sales tax revenues for any other purpose | Art. II Sec. 7.1, Art. III Sec. 1.4, Par. C
November 12, 2013 - Setting salaries | Art. II, Sec. 2.2, 3.4
June 26, 2012 - Establishing election dates, terms of office, and time of filing | Art. VI, Sec. 2.2, 3.4
February 21, 2012 - Election and Qualification of Officers; Primary Elections; Filing for Office-Political Parties; Campaigning for Office | Art. VI, Sec. 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2
February 21, 2012 - Election and Qualification of Officers; Terms | Art. VI, Sec. 1.2
March 18, 2011 - Primary Election Dates provided by Oklahoma for County Election Board to conduct elections | Art. VI, Sec. 2
March 18, 2011 - Creation and maintenance of an Economic Stabilization Reserve Fund for the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma | Art. II, Sec. 7.4 - 7.10
January 5, 2010 - Both Mayor and Council shall approve settlement of all claims equal or greater than $1 million ($1,000,000) | Art. II Sec. 20, Art. XII Sec. 3
January 5, 2010 - Staggered three-year terms for City Council elections | Art. VI, Sec. 1.2, 1.3, 2, 3.4
January 5, 2010 - City Auditor shall be a certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor at the time of filing for the office of City Auditor | Art. IV Sec. 1, Art. VI Sec. 7
May 1, 2008 - Change of address of qualified elector will not prevent voting if within period of time which would prevent valid registration in their new election district | Art. VI, Sec. 1.4, 2, 7
May 1, 2008 - Fall Election Dates, Terms of Office, and Time of Filing | Art. VI, Sec. 1.2, 1.3, 2, 3.4
June 6, 2006 - Mayor to Make Appointments Within Sixty Days or Council May Make Appointments, Should the Mayor Fail to do so | Art. XII, Sec. 11
June 6, 2006 - Grounds for Recall of Elected Officers; Provisions for Petitions for Recall | Art. VII, Sec. 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3
June 6, 2006 - Election Dates and Terms of Office to Correspond with State Law | Art. VI, Sec. 1.2, 1.3, 2
June 6, 2006 - Residency Requirements for Members of City Boards, Commissions, Authorities, and Agencies | Art. III, Sec. 1.4, Par. G
June 6, 2006 - Resolutions Approved by the City Shall be Published | Art. II, Sec. 11
June 6, 2006 - Affirmative Vote of Three-fourths of Entire Council Membership Required to Effect a Protested Change of Zoning | Art. II, Sec. 6.3
June 16, 1998 - Council and Councilors May Communicate with Heads of Each Division and Department of the City | Art. II, Sec. 19
June 16, 1998 - Candidates for Elected City Offices to Either Pay a Filing Fee or File an Election Petition | Art. VI, Sec. 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, Par. D
June 21, 1996 - Special Election Dates | Art. VI, Sec. 5
June 21, 1996 - Elected Officials in the Employ of Franchise Holders | Art. XII, Sec. 13
June 21, 1996 - Firefighters' Probation Period | Art. XI, Sec. 3
June 21, 1996 - Civil Service Appeals | Art. X, Sec. 8.3
June 21, 1996 - Civil Service Time Frames | Art. X, Sec. 8.2
June 21, 1996 - Records, Accounts, Personnel, Facilities, and Inventories Available to City Auditor | Art. IV, Sec. 5
May 2, 1994 - Internal Audits | Art. IV, Sec. 3, Par. F, G
May 2, 1994 - Qualified Elector | Art. XII, Sec. 1
May 2, 1994 - General Election Dates | Art. VI, Sec. 1.3