City Council Recap | June 12, 2024
- Tulsa City Council
- Jun 17, 2024
- 1 min read
The City Council met on June 12, 2024 for committee meetings and a City Council meeting.
Below are the highlights of Council discussion and action items.
Urban & Economic Development Committee Meeting | 10:30am
Crutchfield Tax Increment (TIF) Update
Property representatives and the City of Tulsa gave an update on the Crutchfield Tax Increment Finance (TIF). The project is intended to encourage and leverage private and public investment for the purpose of increasing and improving housing stock in the Crutchfield Neighborhood.
View the update here
Public Works Committee Meeting | 2:30pm
Stormwater Rate Increase Discussion
Representatives from Public Works met with Councilors to provide a presentation on how they calculate and collect stormwater fees before they vote on the proposed rate increase for stormwater, water & sewer, and trash services. The proposed increase for stormwater services is 15% and would raise residential customers' bills from $10.63 per month to $12.22 per month.
View the presentation here
Zink Lake Water Quality Concerns
Councilor Miller sponsored a discussion with representatives from the Arkansas River Rights Coalition (ARRC) and Tulsa Area Arkansas River Advocates (TAARA) about their concerns with the water quality of Zink Lake and to provide feedback on the water quality testing dashboard.
View the discussion here
View the Water Quality Dashboard here
Tulsa City Council Meeting | 5:00pm
Kendall Whittier Improvement District No. 1 Public Hearing
Councilors received comments from the public on the proposed Ordinance that would adopt the annual assessment roll for Kendall Whittier Improvement District No. 1 (KWID). KWID was created in 2022 and is meant to provide improvements and services to the District. The District contains parcels of property located along the Lewis Ave. corridor between E. Archer St. and E. 6th St. South and along E. Admiral Blvd. between Yorktown and Birmingham Ave.
View the public hearing here
Budget and Capital Plan Vote
The City Council voted 8-0 to approve the proposed Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget with a total of $1.033 billion.
The City Council worked with the Mayor and finance team to make changes to the budget, such as increases in Animal Welfare staffing and multi-family housing inspection scaling. The changes were made by identifying available funding sources and not by increasing the total budget amount or taxes.
Read about the budget here
Watch the vote here
View the FY24/25 Budget and Capital Plan here
Utility Rate Increase Vote
Councilors voted to approve the proposed rate increase for Stormwater, Water, Sewer and Trash collection fees and charges for services.
Residential water rates will not increase for homes inside the City's limits, but sewer rates will increase about $1.58 for median usage.
Residential customers will see their total monthly stormwater bill increase from $10.53 to $12.22, or $0.05 per day.
Trash services will see a 9% rate increase.
By law, the City can't charge more than the cost of the service and can't make a profit.
View the vote here
How can I get help paying my bill?
There are three main ways to get help with your bill, namely:
1. If you’re behind on your bill, call 311 to setup a payment plan. If you find yourself behind on utility payments, you can call 311 to setup payment plan through the automated system so you are able to make your utility payments on time to avoid any potential service disruptions due to non-payment.
2. Call 211 for assistance. 2-1-1 has various resources to help individuals and families in need. You can text “HELP” to (877) 836-2111 for help with food, rent, utilities and more. For more information, visit https://csctulsa.org/211eok/.
3. Utilize the Tulsa Financial Empowerment Center. The City of Tulsa and Goodwill Industries of Tulsa have an entirely free way for anyone to get help managing their finances. To schedule a no-cost appointment with a financial counselor who can help you create a budget, get rid of debt, and stay on top of your finances, visit www.goodwilltulsa.org or call (918) 820-7279.
Hearing of Appeals- Nuisance Abatement
Councilors voted 5-2-1 to deny the appeal case regarding Stephen Buford of Quapaw Investments contesting the decision of the Nuisance Abatement Officer declaring six properties a public nuisance and should be abated. Councilor Fowler abstained from the vote and Councilor Miller was absent.
View the decision here
Proclamations
Juneteenth
A proclamation in honor of Juneteenth. This federal holiday honors the freedom established in our nation by celebrating the Emancipation Proclamation's final herald to the last known slaves in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the decree was originated by President Abraham Lincoln.
Oklahomans for Equality's 44th Annual Equity Gala
A proclamation for the Oklahomans for Equality's 44th Annual Equity Gala. The theme for this year's Gala is Equality, Art, and Masterpieces. Donations from this event benefit the local community through tangible and needed programs and services.
Dennis Whitaker Retirement
A proclamation to City of Tulsa employee, Dennis Whitaker, for his years of service upon his retirement. Dennis started with the City 38 years ago and served in various capacities until joining the Planning Department in 2000. Here, he worked on projects such as Route 66 revitalization, the State's first multi-grade Quiet Zone, the Arts District Property Owners Association, the Tulsa Comprehensive Plan Update, and many more.
