City Council Highlights 8.18.2026

The City Council, Municipal Authority, and Economic Development Authority met on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, with over 80 items on the agendas.

Two items were discussed at a special meeting of the Broken Arrow Municipal Authority at 5:30 p.m. First, the Utilities Department presented findings from a comprehensive study by HDR Engineering. The study found that Broken Arrow's drinking water meets and exceeds new federal requirements, with the city's PFOS and PFOA levels at half the mandated limits.

The Utilities Department also proposed updates to the City's Fats, Rags, Oils, and Grease (FROG) ordinance that will help prevent blockages to the City's sanitary sewer system, lift stations, and wastewater treatment facilities. Proposed updates include additional requirements for inspection, maintenance, monitoring, education, and enforcement for businesses and facilities.

At the City Council meeting, City Manager Michael Spurgeon provided an update on the data center moratorium, which will remain in effect until at least Dec. 31, 2026. He announced the creation of a Data Center Study Committee to provide policy guidance on land use, utilities, engineering, finance, economic development, legal, safety, technology, and operations. Based on the study's findings, the committee will draft an ordinance specific to data centers. Spurgeon will continue to provide updates over the next few months.

The Council approved a construction variance allowing temporary construction activity noise outside the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The variance permits Myer Cherry Construction, the contractor building Fire Station #8, to pour concrete when temperatures are cooler. The contractor expects three or four occasions when concrete placement activities may need to begin as early as 2 a.m. to provide adequate time for placement, finishing, and curing before daytime temperatures rise.

The Council presented a Citation of Recognition to Court Clerk Mikayla Pacin, who received the Sara Bizzell Court Clerk of the Year Award from the Oklahoma Municipal Court Clerk's Association. The award honors her exemplary service, dedication, and meaningful contributions to her profession and to the City of Broken Arrow.

Thor, a nine-year-old German Shepherd K-9 Police Officer, has served the city since 2018 and will retire on Aug. 21, 2026. He will spend his remaining years with his handler.

Visit Broken Arrow is a finalist for U.S. Travel's 2026 ESTO Innovation Award for its submission "Small City, Big Screen: How Broken Arrow Rewrote the Rules of Tourism Growth." Staff will attend the annual conference and award ceremony in Philadelphia, Aug. 24-27.

The Council approved a Drainage Advisory Committee recommendation for an additional $150,000 in construction funding for drainage improvements at Indian Springs Golf Course.

Design options for Tucson Street between Olive and Aspen were presented to Council. Staff will proceed with engineering a four-lane design from Olive to about 1,200 feet west of Aspen. The eastern 1,200 feet of Tucson will have a five-lane roadway due to commercial development near Aspen.

The Council approved an Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Supplemental and Modification Agreement for the Olive Avenue, Kenosha to Albany Street project. Under this agreement, the City's matching funds requirement was reduced by 20 percent, to $1,964,332. ODOT is expected to advertise the construction contract for public bid in early 2027.

At the regular Municipal Authority meeting, employees announced the Gold Lid Recycler Program, which recognizes customers who consistently recycle and keep their carts free of contaminants.

The Trustees also received the July 2026 Solid Waste and Recycling Monthly Report.

A contract with Tulsa Transfer and Recycling was renewed with a 3% annual rate increase, bringing the total to $85.89 per ton.

Several additional agenda items were considered by the City Council,Municipal Authority, and Economic Development Authority. The meetings are streamed live on the City's YouTube channel by clicking the Live tab or visiting the Virtual Meetings page on the City's website.

The next regular meeting of the governing bodies will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 6:30 p.m.