More than two decades ago, controversy over the city's representation resulted in an overhaul of the city's government changing it from a city commission to the current strong mayor-city council form.

Now, ongoing controversy between the mayor and City Council is driving two separate efforts to once again change the government's structure.

The council proposes a council-city manager and Save Our Tulsa, a group of citizens, proposes changes to the current structure that include adding the mayor to the council, at-large councilors, creating nonpartisan races and modifying the terms and election cycle.

Both proposals are expected to face each other on the November municipal general election ballot.

Contact the reporters
P.J. LASSEK, 581-8382 or pj.lassek@tulsaworld.com
BRIAN BARBER, 581-8322 or brian.barber@tulsaworld.com
Headlines
Costly city-run elections feared   8/10/2011

City councilors were told Tuesday that voter approval this fall of an initiative petition ballot question for nonpartisan races would be 'extremely' costly for Tulsans because it would force the city to conduct some of the elections on its own.
Tulsa residents go easy on city officials at District 7 meeting   3/27/2012

No one city issue dominated the discussion or elicited more than a question or two at District 7's City Hall in Your Neighborhood meeting Monday.
Attorney general revises 'personhood' petition wording   3/25/2012

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt determined that the wording on a personhood initiative petition did not comply with state laws. As a result, his office has rewritten it because it did not adequately explain the effects.
Tulsa councilors question city's role in intermodal (land swap) project with TU Tulsa councilors question city's role in intermodal (land swap) project with TU   3/19/2012

City Councilor Blake Ewing is questioning the wisdom of the city's proposed financially lopsided land swap to pursue a possible intermodal facility near the airport when capitalist entities aren't scrambling to invest there.
City Hall report   3/18/2012

'Hey, I broke the law. It's only fair.'
Tulsa City Council breaks with tradition, consolidates workdays   12/15/2011

The new City Council voted Thursday to move its committee meetings from Tuesdays to Thursdays.
2 charter changes defeated   11/9/2011

Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a pair of proposals that would have overhauled the city's strong-mayor form of government.
Light crowd expected for council vote   11/7/2011

Although there are four proposals seeking to change the city's current form of government and seven City Council races on Tuesday's general election ballot, voter turnout is expected to be fairly light, Tulsa County Election Board Secretary Patty Bryant said.
Poll: Majority oppose City Charter changes   11/6/2011

Tulsans may be fed up with City Hall controversies, but a new Tulsa World-sponsored poll indicates a majority of voters aren't ready to adopt a council-city manager form of government or to add at-large councilors to the current structure.
Tuesday elections to decide members, changes to council   11/6/2011

Tulsa voters Tuesday will decide the fate of four proposed City Charter amendments and seven City Council races.
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Charter Proposals

Two City Charter proposals to change the city’s current strong mayor-city council form of government

City Council proposal:
The adoption of a council-city manager structure similar to Oklahoma City.

There would be a 10-member council made up of the mayor, who would be elected citywide, and nine councilors, who would be elected by district.
The council would hire a professional city manager to run the daily operations of the city. The city manager would be subject to firing by a two-thirds vote of the council.

Save Our Tulsa proposal:
The adoption of several changes to current form government contained in three ballot questions.

- In addition to the nine councilor, there would be three at-large councilors and the mayor to form a 13-member City Council. The mayor would be its chairman and would vote only in cases of a tie.
- Returning council positions to two-year terms and merging elections with the state and federal cycle.
- Changing elected offices to nonpartisan races. A candidate who gets more than 50 percent of the vote wins the seat. Otherwise, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election.

Read the full text of the proposed charter amendments.




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