City Council Recap | January 2024
- Tulsa City Council
- Mar 1, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Mar 15, 2024
The City Council met on January 10, 24 and 31 for committee and Council meetings.
Below are highlights of Council discussion and action items.
| JANUARY 10
Tulsa Housing Strategy Presentation
Councilors received a presentation on the draft Tulsa Housing Strategy, which details how the city can address the housing crisis by meeting the demand for about 13,000 units over the next ten years. This strategy focuses on what funding programs, policies, and supportive actions are needed:
Fund the gap for new development, preservation, rehab & renovation, to make more types of housing at a variety of affordability levels economically feasible.
Facilitate housing development and redevelopment to make housing development opportunities more doable, support demonstration projects, and build a more robust development pipeline.
Double down on Tulsa’s older commercial areas, including downtown and aging and/or underutilized commercial properties, to support housing development.
Advocate, align policy, and make process improvements to remove barriers to housing development of all types, improve messaging around housing needs, and advocate for more resources.
-Watch the presentation here.
-View the full summary here.
Community Development Projects: South Memorial Road Improvements, Comanche Park Connections
The voter-approved Improve Our Tulsa 2 capital improvements package specifies that $9 million be provided for "Community Development Priority Projects", equally divided among the nine City Council districts for projects meeting the following criteria:
The project must be for a public purpose;
The project must conform to the City's Comprehensive Plan; and
The project must promote safe and attractive neighborhoods and/or commercial districts, economic vitality, safe and affordable housing, public recreational opportunities, and/or transportation options.
Councilors Decter Wright and Lakin from Districts 7 and 8 requested $75,000 each, combined with $100,000 in available funding from the Public Works Department, to eliminate the pavement dips near the inlets in the outside lanes on South Memorial Drive between 71st and 81st Streets. This will improve the ride and safety in this corridor.
Councilor Hall-Harper from District 1 requested $1 million to match and leverage funding from Tulsa Housing Authority, ARPA, and philanthropic sources for travel improvements in the Comanche Park neighborhood.
This project enhances connectivity between neighborhoods, commercial businesses,
elementary schools, Tulsa Tech, streets and regional trails, Flat Rock Creek Park, and housing initiatives with sidewalks, multi-use trails, roadway crossings, and bike infrastructure.
Pre‐Hospital Community Healthcare Working Group: Presentation and Updates
Councilors on the Pre-Hospital Community Healthcare Working Group presented an update from their trip to the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) to learn more about its Mobile Integrated Healthcare program. Councilors learned about SAFD programs to care for those experiencing homelessness and visited the dispatch and emergency operations center to see how mobile apps can be used to provide telemedicine to 911 callers before first responders arrive.
The Working Group is planning to issue a request for proposals for 911 Organization and Technology improvements this year.
-Watch the full discussion here.
-View the slideshow presentation here.
| January 24
Mayor/Council Budget Retreat
The City Council and Mayor Bynum held discussions on items to be included in the budget at this year's Mayor/Council Retreat.
The goal of this annual retreat is to focus on strategic plans and priorities for Tulsa.
Councilors and the Mayor discussed progress on last year’s priorities such as homelessness, customer service, the city experience, habitability, employee recruitment and retention, and capital projects.
Ideas that were shared during this year’s retreat include public safety improvements, a focus on the City’s role in art and culture, strategic utilization of financial resources, and preparation for the upcoming Route 66 Centennial.
During a Council Committee meeting on February 28, Councilors will work to finalize their priorities. Next, progress updates on priorities are scheduled for June and October. Dates for the presentations will be posted to the Tulsa City Council website.
Authorizing the Parks Director to Prohibit Alcohol Use in City Parks
Councilors authorized the Parks Director to prohibit and regulate the use of alcohol in individual City parks. It includes an exception for permitted events. This was a recommendation of the Mayor/Council Housing, Homelessness and Mental Health (3H) Task Force to address issues and complaints as they arise, especially in parks downtown.
Neighborhood Infill Zoning for the Dawson Neighborhood (District 3)
In 2022, the City Council adopted a Neighborhood Infill Overlay for several neighborhoods near downtown to address the need for "Missing Middle" Housing typologies. Missing Middle housing typologies are often similar in size to a detached house but have additional units: duplexes, multi-unit houses, townhouses, and even small-scale apartments. Councilor Patrick (District 3) requested a similar overlay in the Dawson Neighborhood with some modifications, including allowing manufactured homes by right, preserving the current parking requirements of the zoning code, and limiting the unit count of apartments to four.
Overlay zoning districts work to modify or supplement the regulations imposed by the base zoning district when necessary to address special situations or accomplish specific city goals. Overlay zoning is intended to be used when the base zoning district applied to an area remains generally appropriate, but when an additional, modified or eliminated requirement could help implement the city's planning goals or address an area-specific planning, design, or land use regulations issue.
The City Council has approved the text of the Neighborhood Infill Overlay and it was incorporated in the Zoning Code as of 8/28/2023. The next step is to apply those regulations inside the Dawson Neighborhood. The Neighborhood Infill Overlay helps to promote a variety of residential housing types in the established area that are compatible, in mass and scale, with the character of surrounding properties.
Home Quarantine of Rabies‐suspected Animals
This revision aligns state law and city ordinance and creates a defined penalty for failure to follow home quarantine guidelines. These guidelines would allow for more animals to remain in their home under the supervision of Tulsa Animal Welfare and a private veterinarian. This will help to reduce the number of animals needing to be housed at Tulsa Animal Welfare for a bite hold while still allowing for penalties if the owner fails to follow home quarantine guidelines. Home quarantine is not available if the animal is not current on rabies or if the injury inflicted is severe. Due to the constant capacity issues at Tulsa Animal Welfare, removing the housing and care burden of owned bite animals would allow staff to focus on unowned or no known owner bite animals.
Nuisance Code Updates
Councilors approved ordinances amending the nuisance code by clarifying and adding types of public nuisances that affect the peace and safety of Tulsa residents and by adding a section that clarifies a property owner's responsibility as to land abutting a public right‐of‐way:
Defining the lack of maintenance of an abutting public right-of-way as a public nuisance
Restricting the use of sprinklers when the outside temperature is 32 degrees or below to help with slip hazards during inclement weather on intersections and sidewalks
Adding language that defines unlawful barbed wire as a public nuisance
Allowing for vehicles blocking a water meter or other public utility to be towed after a 10-business day notice
Making it unlawful to occupy or allow someone to occupy a structure without a Certificate of Occupancy
Prohibiting the storage of trash in a vehicle
Defining the use of a public right-of-way without City approval as a public nuisance
Defining graffiti and codifying it as a public nuisance, allowing Code Enforcement to use the nuisance code for abatements of graffiti, if voluntary abatement is not achieved
All nuisance violations require a 10-business day notice, which allows the owner of the property to voluntarily comply before enforcement action is taken.
Crutchfield Neighborhood TIF
Councilors approved creating a project plan and new tax increment district intended to encourage and leverage private and public investment for the purpose of increasing and improving the housing stock in the Crutchfield Neighborhood. The Crutchfield Neighborhood Development Act Review Committee will make findings and recommendations to the City on proposed projects.
| January 31
Provisions on Roadside Attractions in the Route 66 Overlay District
The Route 66 Overlay was adopted by the City Council in 2018 to ensure the enhancement, development, and revitalization of the authentic Route 66 through the promotion of historic and historically inspired signage, especially neon. Significant private investment has occurred along Route 66 over the past 5 years and property owners are enhancing the route through more than just neon signage, including new businesses and roadside attractions. Currently, the zoning code does not address roadside attractions. As a result, there is a need to consider amendments to the zoning code to establish criteria and a process for roadside attractions within the Route 66 overlay. The Tulsa Planning Office will coordinate with Councilors with districts along Route 66 to draft zoning code amendments to address this issue.
Public Safety Center Zoning Map Amendment
The City has entered into an agreement to purchase a property located at 12222 E. State Farm Boulevard to implement a new public safety center. The proposed facility would house the following operations:
Tulsa Police Department headquarters
Tulsa Fire Department headquarters
Tulsa Area Emergency Management
City Medical
Mingo Valley Police Division
The existing facility on the site was constructed as a State Farm Insurance corporate headquarters. The property is currently zoned CO (Corridor) with an approved development plan from 1988. The original development plan adopted for the site limits the uses to those permitted within an office district. A new corridor development plan will be required to accommodate the proposed uses within the public safety center and adjust site standards for future development. The Tulsa Planning Office will draft a new development plan to be presented to the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC) and the Tulsa City Council at a future date.
Zink Lake Water Quality Communications Plan Update
A new public dashboard will soon be available on the web and mobile providing updates on water quality testing. City officials have worked for the last six months on identifying water quality testing parameters, protocols and reporting methodologies. The City has contracted A&M Engineering and AquaStrategies to assist in the City’s water quality monitoring program for Zink Lake – the only program of its kind in Oklahoma.
Testing protocols are currently being refined for nine different parameters, which include both biological and chemical considerations. Water samples will be taken at five new sites, four of which are in Zink Lake, and another in the Arkansas River closer to the Gilcrease Expressway where the water enters Tulsa.
The City has developed and is in the process of refining a water quality dashboard that will live on the City’s website for anyone to view. That dashboard will go live and be publicly communicated before Zink Lake opens. Dashboard information will be smartphone-compatible and be readily available via on-site signage. The operator is also in the process of developing on-site communication methods (i.e. flagging, signs, lights, etc.).
City leaders will continue to finalize plans and protocols leading up to the planned opening of Zink Lake on Labor Day Weekend 2024. For more information about Zink Dam and Zink Lake, in addition to a list of frequently asked questions, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/Zink.
-Watch the full discussion here.
-View the slideshow presentation here.
| Highlights
January Star Tulsans
Councilors presented two "Star Tulsan" awards this month to residents dedicated to improving their neighborhood and city.
Willard and Linda Koch were recognized by Councilor Bengel for their work to revitalize east Tulsa and for assisting code enforcement in maintaining a more consistent and clean appearance in District 6.
Lisa Rucker was recognized by Councilor Fowler for her daily interactions with her 4th grade students and outstanding work earning her the title of “Teacher of the Year” at Marshall Elementary in District 9.
Residents wanting to nominate a person or group for the “Star Tulsan” award can email their City Councilor by visiting our webpage here or by sending an email to info@tulsacouncil.org.
Pledge of Allegiance
Special thanks to Cub Scout Pack 318 for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance and posting the colors at one of our January City Council meetings. Councilors gave each participant a challenge coin and taught them how to do a coin handshake.
If you know a group of young people who would be interested in leading the Pledge at a meeting, fill out the form on this page or email us at secretary@tulsacouncil.org.
