Council rejects proposed amendments to Endeavor 2045 after weeks of public comment

The Bartlesville City Council voted 3-2 on May 20 to reject proposed amendments to the Endeavor 2045 comprehensive plan, after a public comment period that included sharply divided testimony for and against the changes.

Supporters of the amendments said the edits add definitions and clarify language in the plan. "We made over 60 changes to the plan to make it better aligned with Bartlesville values by adding definitions to terms used in the plan to make it clear what was intended," said Sarah Burnett, who said she served on the reconciliation committee that prepared the suggested edits. Opponents said the amendments would weaken language on equity, inclusion and affordability. "The proposed edits remove or either water down essential language around equity, around inclusion, around walkability, and housing affordability," said Siobhan Robles, executive director of the Westside Community Center.

Planning staff reminded the council that the Planning Commission had held a public hearing and voted unanimously, 7-0, to recommend retaining the original adopted plan. "The Planning Commission acknowledged the work of the original committee and the extensive public engagement and expressed concern that reopening the plan so soon after adoption could undermine public trust," planning presenter Larry Curtis told the council.

Councilman East moved to adopt the committee's proposed amendments; the motion was seconded by Councilman Sherrick. The roll-call vote was: - East: Aye - Sherrick: Aye - Kirkpatrick: No - Vice Mayor Dorsey: No - Mayor Curt: No The motion failed.

Several residents also spoke during the public-comment portion immediately before the council discussion. Quinn Shipper told councilors he supported the original November 2024 version and praised the City Planning Commission's unanimous vote to reject amendments. "I commend the City Planning Commission recently for unanimously rejecting all amendments to the comprehensive plan," he said. Sarah Burnett and others who had participated in a reconciliation committee urged council members to adopt the edits they had negotiated.

The council's formal decision rejects the reconciliation committee's redline edits; the previously adopted Endeavor 2045 plan remains the city's guiding comprehensive plan. Council members and staff said future, more narrowly targeted changes could be considered through the normal planning and ordinance process if specific implementation language or zoning updates are required.

The vote came after roughly a month of heightened public attention and social-media disagreement about the plan's language; several council members and staff commended the original advisory committee and planning staff for the year-long public process that produced the plan. The Planning Commission and staff will remain the next step should councilors request specific, ordinance-level follow-up.

Ending note: Because the comprehensive plan is a policy guide adopted by resolution, staff said any implementation actions (zoning text changes, design standards, or capital projects) would return to the Planning Commission and council through separate ordinance or budget items.