Tulsa City Council approves appointments, special-event permits, fee ordinance and medical control board budget

The Tulsa City Council convened May 20 and approved a series of routine and ceremonial items, including appointments to city boards, multiple special-event permits for Memorial Day and other community events, a second-reading ordinance adjusting several municipal fees (with an emergency clause), and adoption of the Medical Control Board budget.

The actions were taken largely on unanimous roll calls after limited discussion. Councilors approved minutes and appointments to citizen boards, advanced one group of first-reading ordinances to a future meeting, granted multiple special-event permits grouped under the mayor’s items, and adopted the medical control board budget.

Why it matters: collectively these votes set administrative and permitting decisions that affect upcoming community events and routine city operations for the coming fiscal year. The special-event approvals included Memorial Day–weekend activities that draw large public attendance and require city services and coordination. The fee ordinance approved on second reading includes an emergency clause, which accelerates its effective date.

Votes at a glance

- Items 1a–1c (receipt and filing of minutes from special and regular April meetings): Motion to approve carried (unanimous). The minutes were approved as presented.

- Items 2a–2c (appointments/reappointments): Yotaka Fields to the Arts Commission; Nathaniel Binion reappointed to the Infrastructure Development Advisory Board; Crystal Reyes reappointment to the Tulsa City-County Board of Health. Motion to approve carried (unanimous).

- Item 3 (entering/exiting public hearing on the proposed City of Tulsa FY budget and capital plan): Council voted to enter the public hearing; one public speaker commented about River Parks accessibility during the hearing.

- Items 4b–4w (mayor’s item batch of special-event permits and related items): The council approved the grouped mayor’s items, which included special-event permits and related approvals. That group included the Field of Heroes special-event application (item 4p), the National Eucharist Pilgrimage procession (item 4m), Guthrie Green events, and other scheduled activities; all were approved together.

- Item 6a–6i (ordinances, first reading): Without objection, items 6a–6i were forwarded to the next council meeting for action.

- Items 7a–7b (ordinances, second reading): Ordinance amending portions of the Tulsa Revised Ordinances (building permit and related fees) and an ordinance closing a portion of a utility easement (requested by Drew Veach for property at 10820 South Toledo Avenue) were approved. Council adopted the emergency clause for item 7a. Motion carried (unanimous).

- Item 8b (consideration and possible approval of the Medical Control Board budget for FY 2025–26): Motion to approve carried (unanimous).

What council members and speakers said

- Joshua Starks, first lieutenant, infantry commanding, spoke during public comment in support of the Field of Heroes memorial installation and described event timing: “We put the boots out on the 23rd … The dedication ceremony will be on the 24th. We put the boots out on the 23rd and we run that all the way through until the 26th, the entire Memorial Day weekend.” He said last year’s installation included more than 700 boots and that volunteers and the city provide evening lighting for visitors who prefer private time.

- Nicole Montgomery, lifetime member of American Legion Post 1 and VFW Post 577, urged support for the Field of Heroes project. “Memorial Day isn't just a holiday. It's a day that … honors those who didn't come home,” she told council members.

- John Huffines commented during multiple agenda items, including appointments and special-event approvals, and raised a separate request during the public hearing for improved accessible trail surfacing at River Parks for people using walkers or wheelchairs.

- Bernice Alexander used her public-comment time to discuss long-standing concerns about North Tulsa, saying the community continues to face neglect and urging the council to act on persistent infrastructure and housing issues.

A note on process and scope

The meeting included routine proclamations and ceremonial remarks (for example, recognition of emergency medical services), which the council presented but did not treat as policy actions. Most formal actions on the agenda were taken by roll call with unanimous support among councilors present. Where items were advanced on first reading, the council did not adopt final ordinance language and will revisit those items at a later meeting.

Next steps

- Items advanced on first reading (6a–6i) will return for final action at a future meeting.

- Special-event organizers for Memorial Day installations and other permitted events will coordinate with city staff on logistics and city services as listed in the approved permits.

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