Tulsa City Council and mayor's office work to find common ground

TULSA - The Tulsa City Council and Mayor Dewey Bartlett are hoping to find some type of compromise.

The ground work has been laid for a moderated and open discussion between the two parties.

"The council sincerely wants to work with Mayor Bartlett in a very genuine, cooperative way," Chairman Rick Westcott says the relationship between the council and Mayor Bartlett could be better.

Thursday afternoon, councilors voted against using a legal mediator to address several issues that brought up by the mayor's attorney in a letter.

Two councilors supported the mediation plan and the mayor is making plans to meet with them.

"At least they did show the desire to enter into mediation. So, I think that I should respect their desire," Mayor Bartlett said.

Other councilors had issues with using an attorney or judge to sort things out.

A former State Supreme Court justice and former federal magistrate have volunteered their services.

"Both sides are in separate rooms and a mediator goes back and fourth with private discussions to resolve legal issues. That's not exactly going to be productive in most of these issues," Chairman Westcott said.

But, the mayor says there may be no way around it, "Since legal issues have been raised by the council and got us into this situation attorneys are part of that process."

The council did approve a public forum to discuss policy issues and the use of a moderator for a public meeting.

They are efforts to smooth out a strained relationship.

"So much of this has been played out in the public and in the press; there's no reason to hide these discussions behind closed doors," Chairman Westcott said.

Mayor Bartlett says he's had an open-door policy since he's been in office, "I've always said if you have any questions about anything we're doing, give me a call, come up to see me or I'll come down. Let me know where, I'll meet you any place."

Councilors have tentatively set that open discussion meeting for late next month.

The mayor has not formally agreed to the meeting, just yet.