Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development is hosting a community town hall at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at St. Stephens United Methodist Church.
ORED member, Paul Arcaroli, encouraged Norman residents to attend the event in an interview with OU Daily.
“It’s important to be informed about the financial and social consequences of any sort of project that any stakeholder wants to introduce to the community,” Arcaroli said. “We’re talking about the Moore Norman Technology Center bond, $90 million bond, and then also the arena.”
According to an ORED Facebook post, attorney Rob Norman will give a presentation about the University North Park arena and tax increment finance district petition appeal.
OU economics professor Cynthia Rogers will give a presentation on the $90 million bond vote for Moore Norman Technology Center.
The $90 million is set to be used to upgrade vocational education facilities, expansion of healthcare programs and upgrades for the Business Workforce Development Training Center.
Moore Norman Technology Center was invited to present at the town hall.
In a text message to OU Daily Ward 4 Councilmember Helen Grant wrote that the town hall is an opportunity for residents to learn how they can continue efforts to bring the two issues to a public vote.
“Norman is an actively engaged, civic-oriented community. When I look at these collective efforts, which bridge our various political divides, I do not see mob mentality nor mass hysteria," Grant wrote. "I see an issue that has managed to permeate Norman’s various communities and much of it is centered on equity, meaning, what is a good deal for Norman as whole, not what is a good deal for select entities.”
According to the Norman Transcript, the bond, if passed, would raise property taxes in surrounding counties by 1.25% for ten years.
Background
In October, ORED submitted a petition to force a referendum that would put the fate of the Rock Creek Entertainment District in the hands of the public. Petitioners collected 11,602 in 30 days, nearly doubling the required 6,098. City Clerk Brenda Hall certified 10,698 of the signatures.
In November, just a month after the petition was submitted, David Nimmo, 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 councilmember, filed a suit challenging the petition.
Last Friday, Cleveland County Judge Jeff Virgin ruled in favor of the challenge, finding the referendum petition invalid.
“After reviewing the pleadings presented as well as argument of counsel, the Court finds, for the reasons stated in Petitioners’/Protestants’ pleadings as well as oral presentation, that the gist contained within Referendum Petition 2425-1 is insufficient,” court records read. “As such, the Court finds Referendum Petition 2425-1 to be invalid and the same shall be stricken from the ballot.”
In a press release posted to his Facebook Tuesday, Mayor Larry Heikkila praised Virgin for his decision, writing that the rule of law was defended against "the will of the mob."
Arcaroli, one of three residents who filed the petition on behalf of ORED, said they are appealing the ruling and trying to expedite their appeal.
“I still think that we did the right thing, and I think that we will have a good chance at appealing,” Arcaroli said following Virgin’s ruling.
Norman represented the defendants, Pamela McCoy-Post, Arcaroli and Richard Lorenz Sondag.
This story was edited by Ismael Lele and Anusha Fathepure.
