More than 50 items were on the agendas of the Broken Arrow City Council, Municipal Authority, and Economic Development Authority meetings on September 17, 2024. Here’s a recap from Tuesday night. 

Council set Oct. 15, 2024, as the date it will award the sale of the ninth series of bonds from the 2018 General Obligation Bond election. The total sale will be $23,500,000 to fund various phases of 15 different capital improvement projects approved by voters. Click here to see the final project list . 

Council approved a construction contract with Cherokee Pride Construction for the Arrow Forge - Innovation District Improvements located south of Florence Street between Olive Avenue and Aspen avenues. The improvements include: 

• 4,700 feet of asphalt roadway. 

• 960 feet of sidewalk. 

• 8,326 linear feet of curb and gutter. 

• 2,509 linear feet of storm sewer. 

• 6,720 feet of waterline. 

• 4,060 feet of gravity sewer. 

The cost of the improvements is $4.6 million dollars. More information can be found here. The master plan of Arrow Forge was presented during the Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority meeting. You can read more further down this page. 

The Council green-lit the City of Broken Arrow’s participation in the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Transportation Discretionary Grant Program for the Multimodal Improvements Project. The project scope includes planning and preliminary design improvements for vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the Highway 51 corridor: 

• Improvements along Elm Place from Kenosha to Albany streets 

• Improvements along 9th Street from Kenosha to Albany streets 

• Pedestrian connectivity along Hillside Drive beginning at Camino Villa and proceeding west to 9th Street  

• Connecting trail extension to tie into Nienhuis Park and Broken Arrow High School   

• Pedestrian connectivity corridor along Kenosha Street beginning at 9th Street continuing west to Aspen Avenue  

• Pedestrian connectivity corridor from Kenosha Street to 46th Street (entrance to Union Public Schools Rosa Parks Elementary) 

• Planning and preliminary design for widening and improvements to the intersection at Aspen Avenue and Omaha Street with arterial widening extending north to 46th Street. 

• Pedestrian connectivity with trail and sidewalk improvements along several roadway corridors 

The grant will provide for preliminary engineering design, environmental planning and services, public outreach and coordination, preliminary right-of-way and utility planning/coordination. Total federal funding is $5,840,000, with the City contributing a 20% match of $1,460,000. More information on this item is available here. 

The Council accepted the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant for Broken Arrow Fire Department. The SAFER grant provides funding directly to fire departments to assist with increasing the number of firefighters. Funding for 12 entry-level firefighters for a period of three years begins on March 2, 2025, and will conclude on March 1, 2028.  

The Council also accepted grant funding for the micro-transit pilot program, Broken Arrow Transit, and approved Phase 2 of the program. The grant is for $250,000 with a 20 percent match from the City at $50,000. Phase 2 of the program will extend the geographic range that covers the High School to the north and cover the Indian Springs Sports Complex in the south. For more information on Broken Arrow Transit, click here. 

Council received an update on the Uber rideshare pilot program that began in the fall of 2022. The program is for guests staying overnight at a Broken Arrow hotel and provides them with no-cost rides to the Rose District and New Orleans Square. The Visit Broken Arrow board and staff plans to continue the program as a regular offering and recommended that the Tulsa Airport be added to the list of eligible rideshare locations. VBA also recommended the hours of the program be increased to 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. You can see the presentation here. 

A Change Order with Tri-Star Construction was approved for the Iola Street Rehabilitation project from Elm Place to North 1st Street. City Engineering and Construction staff identified additional work within the scope of the project including additional full-depth asphalt pavement patches due to unforeseen grade and pavement conditions, subgrade modifications, and additional driveway repair, curb and gutter, sidewalk, and ADA ramps. The cost of the additional work is $207,000. For more information, click here. 

The Council approved the Promotional License agreement with Ice Challenge Enterprises for the Ice Rink in The Rose District! The setup of the Ice Rink will start on Nov. 1, and opening day is one week later. Learn more about the BA Ice Rink here. 

Council approved a rezoning request and a specific use permit for the Floral Haven Expansion. The rezoning is from Agriculture and Single Family Residential to Agriculture along with the Specific Use Permit which will allow the cemetery to expand 27 acres for future use. 

You can view the full City Council meeting agenda here.  

In the Municipal Authority meeting, the Authority approved surplus items that have outlived their usefulness to the City. Bargain hunters interested in obtaining used cars, trucks, electronics, can find a list of items for sale later on the City website. Check back soon for details. 

To view the full BAMA agenda, click here. 

In the Economic Development Authority meeting, the Authority approved the Master Plan for Arrow Forge. The Master Plan for the 90-acre project includes: 

• Preparing a request for quotes for the purpose of bidding on the project 

• Awarding the design and layout contract to the successful bidder 

• Developing a scope of work with the conceptual design firm for layout and design 

• Oversee the preparation of a conceptual plan 

• Develop a specific timeline for executing the work and completing the development 

Interim President and CEO of the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce and EDC Jim Fram introduced Bradley Sheofee, Business Retention and Expansion Manager to the Authority. In his new position, Mr. Sheofee will ensure that local businesses have the state and federal resources they need to connect them with incentives and tax credits, promote a list of available business location options, and focus on business retention and expansion visits. Congratulations, Mr. Sheofee, on your new position.