Norman residents deliver petition to entertainment district | News

Norman residents will present the results of a month-long petition to open the vote on the Rock Creek Entertainment District to the public Thursday morning at City Hall.

According to a news release from Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development, a nonprofit organization founded to give community members a say in the city’s economic development decisions, petitioners and members will present their findings at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at City Hall.

“All Norman neighbors are invited to gather and celebrate this achievement,” the statement said.

The petition seeks to initiate a referendum to open the Rock Creek Entertainment District – which was approved by the Norman City Council by a vote of 5-4 around 1 a.m. on Sept. 18 – to the public. According to ORED’s website, the referendum is scheduled to take place on February 11, during the next regular local elections.

ORED submitted the petition on September 20 and has since set up six petition sites throughout Norman, including Yellow Dog Coffee Company, STASH, Green Feather Book Company, Alameda Market & Tackle, B&B Liquor Market and Westside Library.

Oklahoma law states that petitioners have 30 days after the law’s passage to collect and submit signatures. Tiffany Vrska, communications director for the city of Norman, told OU Daily that ORED has until Oct. 18 to collect 6,098 signatures.

ORED co-founder Russell Rice told OU Daily last week that the petitioners are on track to exceed their goal. He added that he could not disclose the number of signatures.

“As long as we continue to get as many signatures as we have, we will be successful,” Rice said. “It’s been a constant stream of people…everyone wants their voice to be heard.”

Cynthia Rogers, OU economics professor and founding member of ORED, told OU Daily that she had collected over 200 signatures herself as of Oct. 7. She said her main priority in working with ORED is educating residents about the county’s tax increment financing model.

The City Council’s vote to approve the Rock Creek Entertainment District created two tax increment financing districts in the University North Park area that use tax revenue generated in an area for economic development. ORED’s website states that the organization is opposed to the TIF model and not to economic growth or the OU sector.

“Typically these things split up so they only get some of the growth, but (the TIF) will take all of the growth,” Rogers said. “They take that tax revenue and put it into a no-touch fund so that the city, the county and the schools can’t take advantage of that tax revenue growth.”

Rogers said the district would also shift economic activity away from companies that already boost the city’s tax revenue.

“It attracts activities to the TIF that are not taxed, (and) it hurts your city services and your county services and your school funding as a result,” Rogers said. “We are literally changing the place where basketball is played. The core activity in the arena is OU men’s basketball, which is already happening in Norman – not a new thing.”

Ward 7 Councilman Stephen Tyler Holman, who voted against the entertainment district, said he has supported a referendum “from day one.”

The day after the district was approved by the City Council, Holman announced his candidacy for mayor. Although the entertainment district did not directly influence his decision to run, Holman said the public should vote on the project because of its potential impact on the city’s general fund and the long-term commitment of city finances.

“This is just one of many major issues that Norman has to deal with,” Holman said. “The best way to finally resolve this issue is a public vote on the issue.”

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Ana Barboza. Natalie Armor and Sophie Hemker copied this story.

Thomas Pablo reports on politics and education in the Norman city. Thomas joined the Daily Daily over a year ago because of his experience and experience covering Oklahoma affairs. It is a world that Thomas wants to document and inform, even on a local level. Thomas can be reached at [email protected].