During the public-comment portion of the Dec. 1 Tahlequah City Council meeting, residents and community organizations raised neighborhood concerns and offered program updates.

A speaker described a proposed Step Up program meant to bridge McKinney-Vento identification in schools with transitional housing near Phoenix Park, in partnership with the Cherokee Nation and local institutions. The speaker said the program would offer one-year placements in about "5 to 8 transitional housing units," include two-bedroom units for children and one-bedroom units for adults, and that "the rent will be discounted to about $500 a month." He said ICTC had offered tuition support for participating parents.

A separate resident urged the council to repair a stretch of Shawnee Street between Bluff and Cedar, calling the section a "series of potholes" and saying residents who pay taxes deserve better roads.

Kayla Richter, speaking for American Legion Post 50, thanked the council for allowing the post to present, recapped recent activities including a Nov. 4 ribbon cutting and Veterans Day participation, and said the post had adopted 16 children and nine adults for holiday support; she invited council and the public to a holiday dinner and program on Dec. 8 at 6 p.m.

Council did not take action on public-comment items during the meeting consistent with open-meeting rules; staff and councilors noted the issues for follow-up where applicable.