This is a developing story.
Update — Tuesday, July 7: The city of Norman and the Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority motioned to dismiss the lawsuit, according to the Oklahoma State Courts Network.
Update — Thursday, June 25: The lawsuit lists 45 plaintiffs, including:
• Michael Nash, Brandon Nofire and Sereta Wilson, former Ward 5 Norman City Council members. Wilson and her husband Rob own Yellow Dog Coffee Company.
• Paul Bell, former dean of the OU Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences.
• Amy Cerato, professor at OU's School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science.
Update — 11:46 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23: Following Norman City Council's regular meeting Tuesday, OU Daily spoke to Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman, who referenced Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development's March 6 letter to the city and Cleveland County.
"It looks like ORED is just following through with the letter that they sent to us a few months ago," Holman said.
‘Stood up for the community’: Council members on lawsuit against city, county entities
10:16 p.m.:Â In an email to the Daily, OU Marketing and Communications wrote it is aware of and is monitoring the lawsuit.
"Continued attempts to delay the project will not deter us from advancing what is designed to be a vibrant, community-centric development aimed at strengthening long-term economic growth for Norman and its citizens," the email states.
8:21 p.m.: In an email to the Daily, Alyse Moore, Cleveland County director of communications, wrote the Cleveland County Recreational and Entertainment Facilities Authority does not comment on pending litigation.
7:11 p.m.:Â Tiffany Vrska, Norman's chief communications officer, told the Daily in an email that the city and Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority will submit timely responses to the lawsuit.
6:25 p.m.:Â City Attorney Rick Knighton told the Daily he is not prepared to make a comment because the city has not been officially served yet.
6 p.m.: When speaking to the Daily before Norman City Council's regular meeting Tuesday, Ward 1 Councilmember David Gandesbery and Ward 5 Councilmember Trey Kirby both referenced the over 11,000 signatures ORED gathered in 2024 to send the Rock Creek Entertainment District to a public vote.
"I ran on the responsibility of trying to help those 11,000 voices be heard, so anything that comes from that is good in my opinion," Gandesbery told OU Daily.
Read our original coverage below.
Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development filed a lawsuit against multiple authorities, including the city of Norman, in regard to the Rock Creek Entertainment District Tuesday.
The lawsuit is against the city of Norman, Norman’s Tax Increment Finance Authority, Cleveland County Recreational and Entertainment Facilities Authority and University North Park, LLC.
A press release from ORED states the lawsuit involves dozens of individual plaintiffs who believe Norman City Council violated Oklahoma Constitution when it approved the Rock Creek Entertainment District tax increment financing project. The lawsuit seeks to halt the project.Â
Tuesday, April 14: Council failed to hear an agenda item that would have helped determine if council has the authority to hold a public vote on the entertainment district TIF districts.
Friday, March 6: ORED sent the city of Norman a letter stating the organization’s intent to sue the city and Cleveland County, claiming the municipalities violated the Open Meetings Act in connection with the adoption of and attempt to move forward with the Rock Creek Entertainment District project plan.
Read more about the Rock Creek Entertainment District:
