City Council Recap | July 17, 2024
- Tulsa City Council
- Jul 23, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2024
The City Council met on July 17, 2024, for committee meetings and a regular meeting.
Below are the highlights of Council discussion and action items.
Urban & Economic Development Committee Meeting | 10:30am
Tulsa Household Study
Tulsa Planning Office presented a study on Tulsa household sizes and living preferences to Councilors, which will be the first of three discussions on housing trends in the city.
The 2022 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that almost 70% of Tulsa households have only one or two people, and 36% of Tulsans live alone. The study also showed that renter households in Tulsa are 14% smaller than homeowner households. The study also included households with children and how many vehicles per household.
The goal for this discussion was to provide more information on demographics and living preferences to support current and future housing initiatives and amendments. Future discussions will include housing environments and housing types in the Tulsa zoning code.
The City of Tulsa centralizes all initiatives related to Tulsa housing under the Path to Home Initiative. Path to Home is a central source for all programming as it relates to homelessness, housing, and mental health within the city. The initiative gives a comprehensive overview of all programming and policy work at the local government level focused on helping individuals experiencing homelessness or struggling with mental health, promoting citywide housing efforts, and supporting the work of dedicated service providers.
View the presentation here
Learn more about Path to Home here
Budget Amendment Discussions
Councilors discussed various budget amendments to support efforts from different programs and projects.
ART-2
This amendment will appropriate funds to the Fire department, within the Walgreens Opioid Settlement Subfund, to expand the Alternate Response Team-2 (ART-2) program. The program will help to reduce front line fire company emergency medical responses, connect homeless individuals to community partners for housing (which accounts for over 50% of the current call volume), provide wellness checks, and return 9-1-1 first responders to service.
View the discussion here
Financial Empowerment Center
This amendment will transfer funds from grant revenues received from the U.S. Treasury American Rescue Plan Act Sub Fund (ARPA). The funds will assist the Financial Empowerment Center to provide free one-on-one financial counseling to citizens and counselor training.
View the discussion here
Work on Sidewalks
This amendment will transfer funds to the Public Works Department for work on sidewalks along 37th Place from S. Madison Ave. to S. Peoria Ave., and along 28th Place from S. Jamestown Ave. to S. New Haven Ave.
View the discussion here
Emmett Till Cold Case Program
The Emmett Till Cold Case Program is an effort to provide education with an emphasis on genealogy as it relates to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. In 2022, the city was awarded a grant from the Department of Justice.
View the discussion here
PartnerTulsa Quarterly Report
Representatives from PartnerTulsa presented their Quarterly Report on current projects and efforts, as well as talking about PartnerTulsa’s new CEO. The report included updates on housing developments and strategies, neighborhood conditions and revitalization efforts, and upcoming programs and events.
View the presentation here
Public Works Committee Meeting | 2:30pm
Title 49 Amendment - Administrative, Permit, and License Fees
Councilors discussed a proposed Ordinance amending administrative, permit, and license fees. The amendment is part of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and would adjust the fees to meet cost of service, inflation, and other factors. The fees include:
General Administrative Fees
Annual Permit Fees
Building Permit Fees
Electrical Permit Fees
Mechanical Permit Fees
Manufactured Homes Permit
Third Party Plan Review and Inspections
Plumbing Permit Fees
Infrastructure Development Permit Fees
Special Event Permit Fees
Stormwater Drainage Service Fees
Water and Sanitary Sewer Fees
Fire Prevention Code Fees
Utility Coordination Fees
At the last committee meeting, one concern that councilors discussed was the 10% fee increase for special events. Major events would go from $220 to $242 and minor events would raise from $73 to $80. Councilors questioned the use of private versus public property, and to specify what would be considered a minor event. The Special Events Coordinator was available to address these concerns as well as provide more details on what would be considered a minor event.
Councilors voted to approve the item during the 5pm Regular Meeting.
View the discussion here
View the proposed fee increases here
Discussion on 2024/2025 Medical Control Board Budget
Councilors held a discussion with the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jeffrey Goodloe, regarding the 2024/2025 Medical Control Board Budget.
Dr. Goodloe announced that first responders in the city have started carrying supplies of whole blood for emergency trauma patients. Since the program started a couple of weeks ago, they have administered transfusions to four patients.
The budget helps to support the Medical Oversight Team so they can continue to provide services 24/7. The budget also includes the addition of a third physician that will work part-time. The budget continues special programs aimed at the growing need for services related to mental health and opioid use disorders.
The Council voted to approve the 2024/2025 Medical Control Board Budget at the 5pm Regular Meeting.
View the presentation here
Presentation on District 3 Capital Improvement Project - Bazar Grocery Store
Councilors discussed a proposed District 3 2021 Capital Improvements Sales Tax Community Development Priority Project – Bazar.
This project is located in the Dawson neighborhood and is in partnership with Tulsa Metropolitan Ministries. Bazar will be a fully-automated grocery store providing fresh food, including produce, bulk rice/grains, and fresh vegetable/fruit juice.
The program plans to partner with local food providers to stock the store with healthy and affordable groceries and provide daily meals to area children. The Bazar area also intends to be home to a community gathering space offering programming and resources.
Councilors voted to approve the project plan during the 5pm Regular Meeting.
View the discussion here
Tulsa City Council Meeting | 5:00pm
Public Hearing - Tourism Improvement District No. 1 Assessment Roll
A Public Hearing was held regarding an Ordinance adopting an annual assessment roll for Tourism Improvement District No. 1. The assessment roll applies to property owners within the district that have hotels or motels with 110 or more rooms on the property. Owners are assessed 3% of their monthly gross receipts from the sale of the room at the hotel/motel. The assessment will be used to increase tourism and occupancy at the assessed hotels/motels. There were no public speakers.
Council voted to approve the annual assessment roll, which will begin August 1. Hotels and motels with less than 110 rooms will have the option to opt into the assessment roll.
View the committee discussion here
41st Storage Center Addition Vote
Councilors discussed and voted on a Final Plat for 41st Storage Center Addition on E.41st St. S. and S. Garnett Rd. The item was recommended for approval by the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC). Concerned citizens commented on how they worry the facility will be used for manufacturing and will bring in heavy traffic. The applicant said that the facility would only be used for storage and assembly.
Councilors voted to approve the Final Plat.
View the discussion here
