Norman City Council will consider the Rock Creek Entertainment District phasing plan and hear the proposed fiscal year 2026 enterprise funds budget in a special meeting Tuesday.
The meeting was originally going to be held at 5:30 p.m. but was later changed to 2 p.m. The meeting will be held in the council chambers.
City Deputy Clerk Jamie Meyer told OU Daily on Friday that several council members had grade school graduations on Tuesday and council wouldn't meet quorum if held at the originally planned time.
Rock Creek Entertainment District Project Plan phasing plan
The phasing plan, which is included on Tuesday’s agenda, outlines the Rock Creek Entertainment District construction timeline and investment amounts of each component of the project. According to a staff report, the total cost of the project is around $622 million, though costs may vary by up to 15%.
Construction timeline, investments
Part 1, or “Anchor Project,” will include:
• Infrastructure and portions of the mixed-used project: Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2032.
• Multipurpose performance venue and sports arena: Nov. 1, 2026-Dec. 31, 2029.
Part 2, or “Mixed Use Project,” will include:
• Public and private utility and stormwater infrastructures: Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2032.
• Outdoor community plaza: July 1, 2027-June 30, 2029.
• A 140,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space: July 1, 2027-June 30, 2029.
• A 150-room hotel: Jan. 1, 2031-Dec. 31, 2032.
Part 2 projects that are subject to market demand include:
• Up to 180,000 square feet of office space: Jan. 1, 2031-Dec. 31, 2032.
• About 500 multifamily housing units: July 1, 2027-Dec. 31, 2032.
• Up to 177 medium density and/or multifamily housing units: Jan. 1, 2031-Dec. 31, 2032.
Background
The phasing plan was originally on council’s April 22 agenda, but was postponed in a 5-4 vote due to the ongoing referendum petition case.
Ward 7 Councilmember and Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman, Ward 2 Councilmember Matt Peacock, Ward 3 Councilmember Bree Montoya, Ward 4 Councilmember Helen Grant and Ward 5 Councilmember Michael Nash voted in favor of the postponement. Mayor Larry Heikkila, Ward 1 Councilmember Austin Ball, Ward 6 Councilmember Joshua Hinkle and Ward 8 Councilmember Scott Dixon voted against the postponement.
On Sept. 20, three Norman residents filed a petition to turn the district to a public vote. Petitioners collected 11,602 signatures in 30 days, of which 10,689 were certified by City Clerk Brenda Hall, exceeding the 6,098 required.
In November, David Nimmo, former president and CEO of Chickasaw Nation Industries; Kyle Allison, director of Allison’s FUN Inc.; Vernon McKown, CEO of Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods; and Dan Quinn, former Ward 8 council member and a real estate agent for Dillard Cies, filed a suit contesting the explanation, or gist, of the petition.
On Feb. 21, Cleveland County Judge Jeff Virgin ruled that the gist contained in the petition was insufficient and that it did not comply with an Oklahoma Statute requiring a referendum petition to summarize the nature of the proposed referendum vote in a manner that can be understood by those who do not practice law.
On April 24, a notice of default to the city of Norman stated that if the Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority does not approve the phasing plan by May 24, the city could be sued. On April 28, Norman residents filed a brief with the Oklahoma Supreme Court appealing for the reversal of Virgin’s ruling.
Fiscal year 2026 proposed enterprise funds budget
According to a presentation included on Tuesday’s agenda, enterprise funds are goods or services to the general public, such as sanitation, water and water reclamation, which are intended to be financed or recovered primarily through user charges.
This item is an information item, no action will be taken.
This story was edited by Natalie Armour. Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
