Norman City Council will consider repealing an ordinance related to the Rock Creek Entertainment District<\/a> during its Tuesday meeting, according to a council member\u2019s social media post.<\/p>\n In a Facebook post<\/a> Friday evening, Ward 7 councilmember Kimberly Blodgett wrote that she, along with Ward 1 Councilmember David Gandesbery and Ward 5 Councilmember Brandon Nofire, \u201cused the rule of 3 to get the ordinance repeal on the agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n An ordinance repeal<\/a> is a legislative action that removes a previously adopted law from a city\u2019s code.<\/p>\n Blodgett wrote it was one of her \u201cproudest days on city council.\u201d<\/p>\n Blodgett confirmed in the comments of her post that the ordinance repeal was in relation to the Rock Creek Entertainment District.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was important to me to serve the over 500 emails I received to do this,\u201d Blodgett wrote in response to a comment from Cynthia Rogers, an OU economics professor and member of Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development, a Norman-based group opposing the establishment of the entertainment district.<\/p>\n In a comment on Blodgett\u2019s post, Rogers wrote that the ordinance repeal would give Norman residents \u201cthe best chance\u201d to send the entertainment district\u2019s tax increment financing, or TIF, districts to a public vote.<\/p>\n Tuesday\u2019s meeting agenda had not been updated with the ordinance repeal at the time of this article\u2019s publication.<\/p>\n OU Daily reached out to Blodgett, Gandesbery, Nofire and Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman for comment and more information on the ordinance repeal Friday night but did not immediately receive a response.\u00a0<\/p>\n ORED’s attorney Rob Norman wrote in an email to OU Daily Friday that the organization is “pleased” council will consider the repeal.<\/p>\n “We remain steadfast in our goal to put the ARENA TIF Project… to a vote of the People of Norman,” Norman wrote.<\/p>\n Friday evening, Gandesbery made a post on Facebook<\/a> with accompanying images related to a horoscope reading which read \u201cactions speak louder than words, and following through wholeheartedly will make a difference in the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy pisces horoscope was dead on today. Glad to be able to lead by keeping promises to the voters,\u201d Gandesbery wrote.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
In February, City Attorney Rick Knighton told council members he did not believe the city had the authority<\/a> to bring a TIF ordinance for the entertainment district to a vote of the people.<\/p>\n Knighton said the city does not have the authority, as set out by a 1983 opinion from a former Oklahoma attorney general, required to hold an election for the TIF ordinance.<\/p>\n Knighton said he would anticipate legal action if council sought to repeal the TIF ordinance, due to the economic development agreement already being approved<\/a> by the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners’ recreational and entertainment facilities authority.<\/p>\n In the event of a lawsuit, Knighton estimated the city\u2019s minimum liability would be $230 million.<\/p>\n Around 1 a.m. on Sept. 18, 2024, Norman City Council approved the University North Park entertainment district 5-4<\/a>. During the meeting, over 70 residents voiced support and opposition<\/a> to the district and its TIF model.<\/p>\n Days later, ORED filed a referendum petition with the city to turn the Rock Creek Entertainment District over to a public vote.<\/p>\n In February, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled<\/a> the gist of ORED\u2019s petition to turn the entertainment district to a public vote was insufficient.<\/p>\n Ward 4 Councilmember Helen Grant and Holman \u2014 who served as Ward 7 council member at the time \u2014 were among those who voted against the entertainment district. Former Ward 3 Councilmember Bree Montoya and former Ward 5 Councilmember Michael Nash also voted against the entertainment district.<\/p>\n Ward 2 Councilmember Matthew Peacock, Ward 6 Councilmember Joshua Hinkle and Ward 8 Councilmember Scott Dixon were among those who voted in favor. Former Ward 1 Councilmember Austin Ball and former Mayor Larry Heikkila also voted in favor.<\/p>\n Alongside Blodgett, Gandesbery and Nofire, Ward 3 Councilmember Robert Bruce has expressed support for a public vote on the entertainment district. In a February Facebook post<\/a>, Bruce, who was appointed to the seat<\/a> in October following Montoya\u2019s resignation<\/a>, wrote he would continue to provide opportunities for residents to raise their concerns as the project progressed.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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