On Thursday, Mayor G.T. Bynum announced the Department of City Experience, a new organizational structure that will prioritize community focus in all aspects of the city's design, planning, neighborhood engagement, and investment. The Public Works Department will also be reestablished effective July 1, 2023.
“As we strive to grow as a world-class city, we have to be more community-focused in everything we do while streamlining processes from start to finish that align our planning processes with departments that are responsible for carrying out the vision Tulsans establish for our city,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “This move will strengthen the collaboration between citizens and our team at the City as we build the Tulsa we want to leave to the next generation.”
The Working in Neighborhoods Department will transition into the DCE, with a focus on citizen-centric design and engagement. The department will be comprised of six offices: Animal Welfare, Neighborhood Inspections, Community Development and Housing, Tulsa Planning Office, City Design Studio, and the Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Equity.
The City Design Studio in the DCE will lead the design and community engagement process for projects. The office will consist of architects, planners, and urban designers and will frequently involve students, volunteers, and design professionals in its decision-making processes.
The Streets and Stormwater Department and most of the current Engineering Services Department will form the new Public Works Department, allowing for direct collaboration on projects from concept to completion.
The restructure will simplify the city's public works functions by creating two departments instead of three.