Frequently Asked Questions

During Regular Council Meetings, interested residents may sign up and speak to the Council regarding an item on the agenda. Before doing so, an individual must sign a Request to Speak form in person at the meeting before that item is read, provide their names and addresses and indicate whether they support or oppose that item. A speaker may sign up to speak on multiple items, but speaking time is limited to five minutes total for all items. The exceptions are Public Hearings under Section 3 and Public Comments under Section 11, which do not count against a speaker’s total five minutes. Public input is not received on agenda items during Committee meetings as these meetings are designed for information gathering and in-depth discussion amongst the Councilors. Residents may comment about any issue affecting the City of Tulsa to the Council on the Regular Council Agenda under Section 11, titled “Public Comments.” To do so, they must follow these guidelines: 1. Timing of Request Submission: A topic for the comment must be received no later than 12 p.m. (noon) on the preceding Thursday before the Council Regular Meeting. 2. Language and Content: The language of the submitted topic will be reviewed and revised to guarantee agreement with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. Comments must regard new issues affecting Tulsa and refrain from political, commercial or similar subjects. Citizens are asked to keep comments in good taste and refrain from profanity or crude language. 3. Limitations: Only two public comment items are allowed per agenda per person to ensure the review of all agenda items. Individuals shall be limited to a total of five minutes per meeting. Re-addressing a topic previously discussed within 180 days is not permitted. More information, including the proper forms, contacts and rules, can be found here.

You will have a total of 5 minutes to speak for the agenda items you sign up to speak on. When your 5 minutes is up, a timer will buzz. This 5 minutes does not apply to Public Hearing items. For Public Hearing items, you will have 5 minutes to speak on each Public Hearing item. This time does not count against your 5 minute limit for other agenda items.

Residents may comment about any issue affecting the City of Tulsa to the Council on the Regular Council Agenda under Section 11, titled “Public Comments.” To do so, they must follow these guidelines: 1. Timing of Request Submission: A topic for the comment must be received no later than 12 p.m. (noon) on the preceding Thursday before the Council Regular Meeting. 2. Language and Content: The language of the submitted topic will be reviewed and revised to guarantee agreement with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. Comments must regard new issues affecting Tulsa and refrain from political, commercial or similar subjects. Citizens are asked to keep comments in good taste and refrain from profanity or crude language. 3. Limitations: Only two public comment items are allowed per agenda per person to ensure the review of all agenda items. Individuals shall be limited to a total of five minutes per meeting. Re-addressing a topic previously discussed within 180 days is not permitted. More information, including the proper forms, contacts and rules, can be found here.

Yes! To submit comments to your City Councilor directly, call or email using the contact information here. To find your City Councilor, use the District Finder.

Generally, agendas will be posted on the Council website 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Addenda, or changes and additions, will appear no later than 24 hours before the meeting. These agendas are not official postings and are only for informational purposes. Past agendas and minutes can be found in this archive. Official agenda postings are available for in-person viewing Mondays on the 2nd floor of City Hall at the window to the left of the public entrance, catty-corner from the public entrance security desk. If you cannot find what you are looking for, do not hesitate to contact the Council Office via phone at 918-596-1990 or email secretary@tulsacouncil.org.

Yes! All City Council meetings are televised live on Wednesdays (with the exception of the 4 p.m. pre-meeting) onTGOV - Tulsa Government Access Television, on Cox Digital Cable channel 24. Meetings are also streamed on tgovonline.org and on our Facebook page.

The Council holds its standing committee meetings on Wednesdays in Conference Room 411 on the 4th Floor of City Hall at 175 E. 2nd St. The meeting times for standing committees are: 10:30 a.m. Urban and Economic Development Committee 1:00 p.m. Budget & Special Projects Committee (seasonally) 2:30 p.m. Public Works Committee Committee meetings are where the Council receives reports from City staff and discusses proposed legislation items. Public feedback is not received during these meetings as they are designed for information gathering and in-depth discussion amongst the Councilors.

Regular meetings of the Council are held at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of City Hall at 175 E. 2nd St. This is the business meeting of the Council where feedback from the public is received and votes on legislation are cast.

All street parking downtown is free after 5 p.m. In addition, visitors may park in the PAC Parking Lot (on the southeast corner of 2nd and Cincinnati) for a fee. The entrance to the PAC Parking Lot is accessible heading southbound on S. Cincinnati Ave.

All individuals and groups addressing the Council must limit their remarks to the specific agenda topic they have signed up to discuss. Speakers should remain courteous and respectful at all times. As determined by the Council Chair, any violation of these provisions will initially result in a warning. If there is any further violation, the Council Chair shall direct the individual or group to vacate the podium and forfeit the remainder of their time available to address the Council. Likewise, the Council Chair may expel the individual or group from the meeting. No weapons, including pocket knives, are allowed at public meetings. Persons who require a special accommodation to participate in any Council meeting should contact Tulsa City Council Secretary Lori Doring, 175 East Second Street, Fourth Floor, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 918-596-1990 or via email at loridoring@tulsacouncil.org, as far in advance as possible and preferably at least 48 hours before the date of the meeting. Persons using a TDD may contact OKLAHOMA RELAY at 1-800-722-0353 and voice calls should be made to 1-800-522-8506 to communicate via telephone with hearing telephone users and vice versa.

Public Input: The public can provide feedback on items placed on the agenda by City Councilors, the Mayor’s Office or Authorities, Boards, and Commissions. Public Hearings: Sometimes, the Council addresses topics that have legally required public hearings, such as the annual budget. When the Council addresses this type of item, the Council will place a public hearing on the Council agenda under Section 3. Public Comment: The public may place their own agenda item on the Council agenda. The Council cannot take immediate action on that item. However, they can add it to a future agenda for further consideration.

By City Charter, no ordinance can be adopted until the subject thereof has been on the agenda of the Council for two meetings. This gives the public more time to learn about ordinances and provide input before they are passed. This requirement may be waived by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire Council (6 votes). However, this is a rare occurrence and is included as a safeguard should there be an urgent matter.

An ordinance or resolution can be adopted as an emergency measure when there is a need to provide for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, welfare, or safety. The vote of at least two-thirds of the entire Council (6 votes) is required to adopt any ordinance or resolution as an emergency measure. Ordinances or resolutions adopted as an emergency measure take effect at the time stated in the measure. All other ordinances and resolutions take effect not less than 30 days from the date of first publication.

Yes! We always welcome community members to participate in our meetings. If you or your group would like to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, please email the Council Secretary at secretary@tulsacouncil.org

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