Council approves MOU to back new South Broken Arrow library, with up to $4 million reimbursement contingent on ballot approval

Broken Arrow City Council on its meeting agenda advanced a memorandum of understanding with the Tulsa County Library Commission to develop a new 20,000-square-foot public library in South Broken Arrow.

Fire Chief Jeremy Moore, presenting the agreement, said the library system is a third-party partner and the city’s participation is contingent on voters approving Proposition 7 on the April ballot. The MOU would commit the city to placing Proposition 7 on the ballot and to bearing the election costs. Moore said the city would reimburse the library up to $4,000,000 or 40% of construction costs, whichever is less, and that reimbursements would not be made before Jan. 31, 2030.

Kim, the library commission’s executive director, told the council the total project is estimated at $13,000,000 and that the commission sought $4,000,000 of the construction budget. She said the commission was raising private funds but did not intend to exceed the amount requested; she also welcomed contract language to address how private fundraising would be handled. Kim recommended that the MOU include a latest permissible reimbursement date and proposed ‘‘no later than Dec. 31, 2030’’ as a working deadline.

Councilors asked how private fundraising would affect the city’s obligation and whether a firm outside deadline for reimbursement should be added. Moore and Kim said the MOU’s obligation remains $4,000,000 or 40% as written but that staff could draft amendment language to set a firm final reimbursement deadline. One councilor asked staff to extract the precise motion language from the meeting video to ensure the record reflected the agreed amendment.

The council made a motion and second to approve the MOU with the proposed amendment to clarify reimbursement timing. The approval was recorded by roll call.

The MOU ties the city’s payment to completion and receipt of a certificate of occupancy; the city would not disburse funds until the library is built and eligible for reimbursement. If voters do not approve Proposition 7, the MOU’s city obligations would not be triggered. The council did not adopt specific project design details at the meeting; staff said the library would undertake design and return with implementation timelines if the referendum succeeds.

The council referred additional technical language to staff; the item will proceed as amended. The next procedural steps are ratification by the library commission’s board and final contract language preparation.