City Council Recap | November 6, 2024
- Tulsa City Council
- Dec 17, 2024
- 5 min read
The City Council met on November 6, 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 - Canceled
Public Works Committee Meeting | 2:30pm
Turkey Mountain Parking Lots Budget Amendment
Councilors discussed a proposed budget amendment to utilize $1 million in funding from the River Parks Authority to construct a new parking lot on the west side and improve the existing parking lot on the east side of the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area.
View the discussion here
View the proposal here
Tulsa City Council Meeting | 5:00pm
Vote on Rocket Engine Testing Facility
Councilors approved a resolution authorizing the City of Tulsa to participate in the State of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Pooled Finance Product Development Program to provide economic development benefits in connection with a proposed rocket engine testing facility at Tulsa International Airport (TIA).
Representatives from Tulsa International Airport (TIA) and Agile Space Industries discussed the proposed rocket engine testing facility at a committee meeting on October 30.
Agile, a manufacturer based in Colorado, designs, manufactures, and tests rocket engines for the in-space segment of space travel. Its focus is on smaller engines that maneuver satellites, exploration vehicles, and other space vehicles while in space.
Agile plans to provide educational opportunities to inspire interest in the aerospace field by investing in STEM programs and partnering with Tulsa schools to allow students to experience the industry first-hand. The company aims to provide hundreds of jobs in the design, engineering, and testing areas of the facility.
View the vote here
View the Committee discussion here
View the proposal here
Vote on Rezoning Application for Property Located at Reservoir Hill
Councilors voted to approve a rezoning application for the property located at Reservoir Hill that will split two lots into three. Plans for the property include the development of three detached homes.
The Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission voted 9-0-0 to recommend approval.
View the Council vote here
View the TMAPC discussion here
View the rezoning application here
Vote on Data Center and River Design Overlay Zoning Code Amendments
Councilors approved two zoning code amendments regarding the River Design Overlay (RDO) and Data Centers.
The amendment to the River Design Overlay was initiated by the Council in August. The Council adopted the full River Design Overlay in 2016 and applied the overlay to certain properties within the river corridor. Since 2016, it has been identified that some of the specific design regulations may not work when literally applied to larger properties. This amendment exempts properties 20 acres or more from the standards in the RDO if the development is in a Master Plan Development (MPD) and meets the purpose and intent of the River Design Overlay.
The amendment regarding Data Centers creates a definition for these facilities in the code as a Low-Impact Manufacturing and Industry use. It also covers the addition of accessories to Data Centers such as towers for wireless communications and parking requirements.
View the Committee discussion here
View the proposed amendments here
Vote on Ethics Code Ordinance Amendment
Councilors approved an amendment to the Ethics Code Ordinance. The ordinance applies to all City Officials, which includes every currently serving City of Tulsa elected official, officer, employee, or member of a City of Tulsa board, commission, or committee.
The amendments would align the code with State Law, provide brighter and clearer guidance for officials, and establish a process for independent investigations, process adjustments and the Ethics Advisory Commission.
View the Committee discussion here
View the presentation and proposal here
Vote on Budget Amendments for District 2 Community Development Projects - Route 66 Village & Bell Station
Councilors approved a budget amendment to allocate funds to the District 2 Community Development Project at Route 66 Village and the new Bell Station.
Improvements at the Route 66 Village include three neon signs, improved sound proofing, accent lighting, building upgrades/maintenance of the Route 66 Main Street headquarters and detached garages for storage and safety, ADA improvements, landscaping, and installation of public art.
The new Bell Station project will include an enclosed courtyard that will house a Plymouth Prowler and Time Capsule, and improvements to the surrounding landscaping at the Route 66 Village.
The goal is to continue to support Route 66 as an attraction for both residents and visitors to Tulsa.
District 2 Councilor Jeannie Cue first brought these projects to the Council in September where the concept were approved by the Council at the 5pm regular meeting.
View the Committee discussion here
View the Route 66 Village proposal here
View the Bell Station proposal here
View the September Committee discussion here
Vote on ARPA Budget Amendments
Councilors approved budget amendments from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support multiple projects.
Housing Services
This amendment allocates $4 million in funding to support a residential care center and provide a safe and stable environment with services to help formerly homeless individuals and families who have no other housing options achieve personal objectives and transition into permanent housing within 120 days. The residential care center will work in partnership with other local agencies for a comprehensive strategy to meet Path to Home goals.
The Board of Adjustment approved the special exception for the facility in September.
View the Committee discussion here
View the proposal here
Airmen Center
Councilors approved moving $2 million in allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the correct account to construct a new Airmen Center at the National Guard base in Tulsa.
ARPA funds were awarded to the Oklahoma National Guard (ONG) to construct the new Airmen Center in March 2024. After further discussion between the City and the ONG, it has been decided that the City will oversee the project. This transfer will move funds between project strings to account for this change.
This item was first presented to Councilors at a committee meeting in March from the Oklahoma National Guard 138th Fighter Wing. The facility will cater to all veterans by focusing on physical and mental health, as well as offer resources and services.
View the Committee discussion here
View the funding proposal here
View the March presentation here
View the Airmen Center project proposal here
Route 66, 36N Comanche, City of Tulsa IT Upgrades, Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, Tulsa Animal Services
This amendment allocates funds to separate projects within the City of Tulsa including:
Beautification efforts along Route 66
Installation of public sidewalks around the redevelopment of 36N Envision Comanche project
Technology updates to meeting rooms at City Hall
Covering increased costs of equipment to be installed at the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry’s BAZAR Automated Micro-Convenience Store project
Capital improvements at Tulsa Animal Services
View the Committee discussion here
View the proposal here
Vote on Housing Initiaitves Funding for Housing Programs - Path to Home
Councilors voted to approve a resolution that would allocate $75 million in Housing Initiatives funding to Tulsa housing programs. The funds come from the voter-approved Improve Our Tulsa Housing Program funding package.
This $75 million is part of a 10-year funding goal of $370 million that plans to support the creation of 13,000-15,000 housing units. It’s based on a housing study stating at least 12,900 units need to be made available in the next 10 years to meet the current housing demand.
View the Committee discussion here
View the proposal here
Find more information on Path to Home here
Find more information on the Housing, Homelessness & Mental Health (3H) Task Force here
