City Council Recap | March 13, 2024

The City Council met the week of March 13 for committee meetings and a City Council meeting.

Below are the highlights of Council discussion and action items.

Tribal Nations Relations Committee | March 12, 2024, 10:00am

Route 66 Centennial Partnership Opportunities & Update on Upcoming Tribal Activities

Tulsa City Councilors along with Tribal Representatives met for the first meeting of the year for the Tribal Nations Relations Committee. The committee hosted Rhys Martin from the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and Ken Busby from the Oklahoma Route 66 Alliance to talk about the upcoming 2026 Route 66 Centennial. They each presented what their associations are doing to help promote not only the story of Route 66 in Oklahoma but also how each of the tribes enhances that story. They also discussed how their specific associations could help to promote the tribes' stories to travelers along the route. The committee got updates from both the Muscogee Nation and the Cherokee Nation on events that were happening with each of their respective nations.

Watch the meeting here.

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Urban & Economic Development Committee | 10:30am 

Bus Service Update and Rebrand

Representatives from Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority (MTTA) provided updates on current operations including the rebranding of the city’s bus service from Tulsa Transit to MetroLink Tulsa:

• Ridership for the Fixed Route in 2023 was 2.2 Million.

• Fixed Route Ridership is up 30% in 2024 over 2023.

• MicroLink (MicroTransit) ridership doubled compared to routes previously ran.

• Continue seeking opportunity to increase daytime MicroLink service.

• Broken Arrow MicroTransit begins Monday, March 18.

• Increase in usage of GoPass app of 300%.

• Fare Capping and OnBoard Validators coming soon.

• Proposed increase in fares starting July 1st .

For more information, visit: https://www.metrolinkok.org/

View the update here.

View the discussion here.

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Public Works Committee | 2:30pm

Public Works and Water & Sewer Department Reorganization Updates

Representatives from Public Works and Water & Sewer presented updates on the 2023 department reorganizations. This is a progress update on consulting needs and current initiatives related to the 2023 Mayor/Council Retreat Capital Programs priority, which included an overview of the new department structures, corresponding process improvements, and external customer feedback on these adjustments.

View the plan here.

View the presentation here.

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Regular Council Meeting | 5:00pm

Community Development Priority Project: Dream Keepers Park Remodel

Councilors voted to support the Dream Keepers Park Remodel as a District 4 Community Development Priority Project. Representatives from the Parks Department and Indian Affairs Commission presented plans to turn the park into an important cultural and event space for Native Americans and a benefit to the neighborhood and continued growth of the 18th and Boston, "SoBo" area.

The project will include improvements to the park with design elements reflecting native Oklahoma features:

• Expanded playground

• One mile trail loop

• Three tribal gardens with seating areas

• Monument signage

• 39 tribal flags

• Multipurpose plaza

• Expanded parking

• Improved connection to Council Oak Park

• New crosswalk/light

• Focal sculpture

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. This project would receive $500,000 in District 4 funding.

View the presentation here.

Read the plan here.

Opioid Grant Award Application

Councilors voted to approve a Resolution authorizing the submission of a joint application with Tulsa Public Schools for the Oklahoma Opioid Grant Award; finding the extraordinary need to combat the Opioid Crisis in the City of Tulsa.

The City of Tulsa will partner with Tulsa Public Schools, Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, Tulsa Fire Department, and Tulsa Police department to utilize any awarded opioid abatement funds to save lives otherwise at risk to substance use disorder, use evidence-based practices to improve outcomes, invest in youth substance use prevention, promote equitable access to services and supports, and create a transparent and collaborative continuum of development, implementation, and analysis for Tulsa’s Opioid Abatement Program processes.

If awarded funds, the City of Tulsa will convene a governance committee that includes cross-sector representation and community members with lived experience. The OAP Governance Committee will include healthcare and mental healthcare professionals, first responders, prevention and recovery specialists, and individuals and family members (including youth) with lived experience.

View the project summary here.

View the discussion here.

Proposed Illegal Immigration Ordinance

In a 6-2 vote, Councilors voted to deny Councilor Fowler’s proposed Ordinance to add local regulations defining "illegal immigrant" and prohibiting the use of funds to provide public benefit to "illegal immigrants." The Ordinance also proposed compliance measures, enforcement provisions and penalties. It may be brought before the Council again for a discussion and vote after 90 days.

Read the proposed ordinance here.

View the Council Committee discussion here.

View the Council Meeting discussion and vote here.

This Ordinance was previously discussed on Feb. 28 and Feb. 21.

National Safe Place Week Proclamation

Councilors presented a proclamation declaring it National Safe Place Week in Tulsa to recognize organizations and volunteers who give their time, effort, and resources to provide safety to young people.

In the Tulsa area, Safe Place is operated by Youth Services of Tulsa and has provided shelter access to more than 5,600 youth, making safety readily available to those in crisis.

The Tulsa community has many businesses that have charitably opened their doors to offer Safe Place and Safe Place-trained employees including QuikTrip, Tulsa City-County Library, Tulsa Glassblowing School, MedWise Urgent Care, Tulsa Transit, EMSA, and the Tulsa Fire Department.

The City of Tulsa is grateful to have Safe Place operating in our community supporting our future generation with the opportunity for free access to qualified and compassionate assistance to work through a crisis situation.