The Cleveland County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting Friday morning to discuss potential action regarding the University North Park entertainment district.
According to the special agenda, the county commissioners’ recreational and entertainment facilities authority will meet at 10 a.m. Friday to discuss and consider possible action upon approving the development agreement for the entertainment district.
This proposal would create an economic development agreement for the entertainment district, according to the special agenda. An economic development agreement is a contract that outlines the obligations and expectations of a project that aims to stimulate economic growth.
Jacob McHughes, Cleveland County commissioner for District 2, will serve as chair of the meeting and Rod Cleveland, Cleveland County commissioner for District 1, will serve as vice chair.
Members listed on the agenda include Cleveland CountyDistrict 3 Commissioner Rusty Grissom, OU executive deputy athletic director Larry Naifeh and Steve McDaniels.
Dan Schemm, president and CEO of Visit Norman, told OU Daily Wednesday afternoon that he had not known about the scheduled meeting until the Daily informed him.
Visit Norman is part of Team Norman, a coalition of organizations committed to growing Norman’s opportunities and economy. Team Norman is comprised of Visit Norman, Norman Chamber of Commerce and Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition.
“I don't know who would have scheduled the meeting, or called it, or any of that,” Schemm said.
The original proposal for the entertainment district was under the jurisdiction of the Norman City Council, which voted 5-4 to approve the entertainment district in September.
Following council’s approval, Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development submitted a referendum petition to turn the University North Park entertainment district to a public vote. In February, a Cleveland County judge ruled that the explanation contained in the petition was insufficient, striking the vote from the ballot.
On Feb. 26, the Norman Economic Development Coalition announced its transition to the Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition.
In a press release sent to OU Daily on Friday, the Cleveland County coalition will now include Lexington, Moore, Noble, Slaughterville, south Oklahoma City and property that doesn’t fall into a municipality.
This story was edited by Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
