Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance Meeting Time topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Owasso council changes regular meeting start time to 6 p.m.; members weigh accessibility trade-offs
Summary
The council approved Ordinance 1248 to change regular council meetings from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., effective 30 days after publication. Debate centered on whether the change boosts staff convenience at the expense of public accessibility for some residents.
The Owasso City Council adopted Ordinance 1248 to change the start time for regular council meetings from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month, after a discussion about accessibility and consistency.
Julie Stevens, who presented the ordinance, said the change was discussed at a March work session and that the ordinance, if approved, would take effect 30 days after publication in the newspaper. "The ordinance gets published in the newspaper and takes effect 30 days following if it were approved tonight," she said, noting that the first meeting at the new time would be the first meeting in May if approved.
Councilors split on priorities. Some argued that a consistent, earlier time benefits staff and predictable scheduling for regular attendees; others warned that moving action items earlier could make it harder for working residents and parents to attend in person. One councilor suggested moving the work session instead of the regular meeting time as an alternative to preserve accessibility.
After discussion, the council moved to adopt the ordinance; the motion passed by roll call (majority in favor). Staff said other access options remain available for residents — written comments, letters to be read, or remote listening and later email input.
Implementation: the ordinance will be published and take effect per statutory publication timelines; staff expects the first meeting at 6 p.m. to be the first regular meeting in May after the publication period.
