City Council Recap | January 8, 2025
- Tulsa City Council
- Jan 10
- 5 min read
The City Council met on January 8, 2025, for committee meetings and a regular meeting.
Below are the highlights of Council discussion and action items.
Urban & Economic Development Committee Meeting | 10:30am
Discussion of Proposed Ordinance Amendment Regarding Electronic Message Centers
Councilors discussed a proposed ordinance amending the Tulsa Zoning Code, adding a section and definition for Electronic Message Centers (EMC). EMCs are digital signs that can be utilized to present text or numbers as static messages without frequent transitions. The most common application has been the display of fuel prices at gas stations.
In October, Councilors voted to initiate the process and move forward with proposed next steps. The proposed amendment would add a definition for Electronic Message Centers and provide supplemental regulations to ensure appropriate size, location, and brightness standards.
The Council is scheduled to vote on this item at the 5pm regular meeting on January 15.
View the Committee discussion here
View the October discussion here
View the proposal here
Discussion of Proposed Scenic Hills Land Use Amendments & Zoning Code Amendments
Councilors discussed proposed land use and zoning code amendments for "Scenic Hills," located east and south of Tulsa City limits; west of Gilcrease Museum Road; and north of West Edison Street.
The proposal started as a request from Mayor Bynum's administration to look into an approach to maintain the unique visual and cultural aspects of the northwest Tulsa area by preserving natural habitats and scenery, promoting tree canopy coverage, and accommodating low-intensity uses.
District 1 Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper brought the proposal to the Committee meeting for the Council to consider initiating the process of drafting Comprehensive Plan (land use) and zoning code amendments.
The Council is scheduled to vote on this item at the 5pm regular meeting on January 15. If approved, this proposal will next go before the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC) for study and review and then returned to Council for final approval later in 2025.
View the discussion here
View the proposal here
Discussion of Proposed Budget Amendment Allocating $700K from Grants Awarded by the State
Councilors discussed a proposed budget amendment that will allocate $700,000 in State Opioid Settlement funds granted to the City of Tulsa to be used by the Department of City Experience, Tulsa Fire Department, and external partners to support sustained recover from opioid use and substance use disorder.
The funding will help support programs aimed at prevention, awareness, and stigma reduction via community announcements, education, training, and resource development and referral assistance for Tulsa Fire, Tulsa Police, and Tulsa Public Schools.
The City of Tulsa and Tulsa Public Schools, which applied jointly, received the largest award from the state Opioid Abatement Board.
The Council is scheduled to vote on this item at the 5pm regular meeting on January 15.
View the discussion here
View the proposal here
Discussion of Proposed Sublease Extension Resolution Between Tulsa Municipal Airport & American Airlines
Councilors discussed the proposed extension of the revised sublease between Tulsa Municipal Airport and American Airlines that will include extending the sublease to 2048 and ensuring compliance with Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust (TAIT) security plans.
The sublease includes a projected $162,825,000 in airport upgrades and improvements to be made by American Airlines.
The Council voted to approve the item at the 5pm regular meeting.
View the discussion here
View the proposal here
Tulsa City Council Meeting | 5:00pm
Public Hearing - Proposed Closure of a Portion of Public Way Located at 311 N. Boulder Ave.
Councilors held a public hearing regarding the proposed closure of a portion of a public way located at 311 N. Boulder Ave.
The request for closure of the alleyway is to make way for future development. Since the alleyway has been open for more than five years, a public hearing was held.
Sewer facilities that were once within the alleyway have been relocated. Closing the alleyway would save City resources related to maintenance of the alleyway.
The request has been reviewed by City of Tulsa staff, representatives of various authorities, boards, and/or commissions, and private utility companies with no objections.
The Council is scheduled to vote on this item at the 5pm regular meeting on January 15.
View the Public Hearing here
View the proposal here
Sales Tax Overview Committee Update
The Sales Tax Overview Committee gave updates to current efforts and priorities at the 5pm regular meeting.
Updates were provided for the McClure Park pool project, Woodward Park improvements, and the near completion of the Swan Lake fountain rehabilitation project.
View the update here
View the full report here
Vote on Ordinance Renaming "State Farm Boulevard" to "East 48th Street South"
Councilors voted to approve the ordinance to rename "State Farm Boulevard" to "East 48th Street South."
The name change is in response to the new Public Safety Center that will take over the previous State Farm building. The change will reflect the street's appropriate geographical location and provide clearer to directions to the Public Safety Center.
The name change will go into effect February 1, 2025.
View the Committee discussion here
View the proposal here
Human Trafficking Awareness Day Proclamation
Councilor Lakin presented a proclamation in honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Day to Stand 4 Justice Director Andrea Graver, Oklahoma Coalition Against Human Trafficking (OCAT) Director Karen Smith and OCAT Chair Sara Gadd of Acension St. John. The public is invited to participate in the Blue Campaign's #wearblue day this Saturday, January 11, to support victims and survivors of human trafficking. The proclamation reads:
WHEREAS: human trafficking is a public health issue and crime that exploits the most vulnerable among us and weakens the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities; and
WHEREAS: human trafficking includes the recruitments, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining a person for the purpose of commercial sex act, labor, or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; and
WHEREAS: human trafficking can happen to anyone, but certain populations are disproportionately at-risk including people affected by abuse, violence, poverty, unstable living situations, social disconnection, or discrimination; and
WHEREAS: the Oklahoma Coalition Against Human Trafficking consists of community members, service providers, law enforcement entities, and advocates working together to advance a multidisciplinary response to all forms of human trafficking by focusing on prevention, protection, and prosecution; and
WHEREAS: the Oklahoma Coalition Against Human Trafficking is dedicated to ensuring anyone impacted by human trafficking can receive services that provide individualized care, understand the impact of trauma, and incorporate cultural and linguistic needs while also working to prosecute traffickers;
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, the Mayor of the City of Tulsa and the Tulsa City Council, do hereby proclaim Saturday, January 11th as
Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
View the presentation here
