Ward election candidates discuss homeless shelter, entertainment district, visions for Norman Forward

The Norman Chamber of Commerce hosted a forum for wards 2, 4, 6 and 8 candidates discussing homelessness, business growth and the proposed entertainment district in the leadup to the Feb. 13 Norman City Council election. 

Candidates from wards 4, 6 and 8 were present at the first forum. Ward 2 candidates Jeff Dismukes, Ray B. Howerton and current Ward 8 Councilmember Matthew Peacock attended the second forum.

Ward 2 has five candidates running for the seat. Dismukes previously worked as the director of communications for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and is the current executive director of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Oklahoma. Howerton is a former information technology expert. Peacock is the current Ward 8 council member and owner of Peacock Design, LLC, a local architecture and design firm.

Russell Rice, co-founder of Norman Care-A-Vans and organizing member of Red Dirt Collective, and Aleisha Karjala, political science professor at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and former Ward 2 council member, are both running for the Ward 2 seat but weren’t present at the forum.

Ward 4 candidates include current Ward 4 Councilmember Helen Grant, who has served since 2022, and Judy Moss, a retired Norman resident.

Ward 6 candidates include Jerry Drewery, a minister of 40 years and current pastor of Norman First Assembly of God, and Joshua Hinkle, a Norman native with 18 years in financial services and Ward 6 representative on the Norman Economic Development Advisory Board.

Ward 8 candidates include Kyle Hurley, director of EMSSTAT paramedic services at Norman Regional Health System and Scott Dixon, an account manager for NCS Multistage, which provides engineered products and services for oil and natural gas wells.

Wards 4, 6 and 8 forum

Homelessness and Gray Street shelter:

Ward 4 incumbent Grant was the only candidate who supported expanding the Gray Street homeless shelter to increase its capacity to 100. Grant added they will vote to remove asbestos from the shelter. 

They added with the help of Norman Parks and Recreation, the city has since removed the building’s boarded-up windows and added glass.

Grant said the city, county and state should collaborate to analyze recidivism.

“We need to look at how people are released from jail and if they're following the best practices outlined by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration,” Grant said. 

Ward 4 candidate Moss said the shelter’s building should be sold to someone who could create apartments. Moss added builders, developers and philanthropists should not be addressed as enemies but instead welcomed. 

“Most of the giving is done by the philanthropists. … They have lost interest in putting money into Norman because of the way they've been perceived and treated in our city,” Moss said. 

Ward 6 candidate Drewery said the city cannot afford a homeless shelter. He said the funding should be invested in other ways to help the homeless.

“There is a difference between vagrancy and homelessness,” Drewery said. “I really don't think that's something that the city should be investing in. … It has caused nothing but trouble.”

Drewery said organizations targeting homelessness should coordinate to fight it together. 

Ward 6 candidate Hinkle said the resources should go to more suitable housing locations, believing the Gray Street shelter is incompatible with downtown Norman.

“I wish that we could find another location and make a better facility than the one that we're kind of just putting Band-Aids on right now,” Hinkle said. 

Hinkle added Norman should coordinate with other surrounding entities, citing homelessness as a universal issue. 

“In order for us to really make a dent in the unhoused issue, we're going to have to be good partners again with the county, as well as find additional funding for the agencies to provide that support,” Hinkle said. 

Ward 8 candidate Dixon said the shelter creates problems for patrons and businesses downtown. He said funding from the Community Development Block Grant program should be used to help people stay in their homes. 

Ward 8 candidate Hurley said he supports a 24-hour shelter, but added the location of the Gray Street shelter is inadequate. He added Norman should let the police chief enforce the law while the city should partner with developers to create low-income housing options.

Norman growth

Grant said the city should develop the stormwater utility fee. They said pattern zoning could match housing types with neighborhoods. 

Moss said Norman residents should not disdain developers, adding they are crucial in housing development. 

Drewery said council should listen to and assist housing experts to accomplish growth. 

Hinkle said the city should look into denser types of housing. He added the city should work on water infrastructure first. 

“We're running out of water as it is right now,” Hinkle said. “The water that we purchased from Oklahoma City is just not sustainable and the water that we get from our flood reserves is cheap, but again, that only happens when there's reserves.”

Dixon said Norman should allow accessory dwelling units, which are smaller residential units located on single-family lots. He added he agreed with Hinkle regarding water infrastructure. 

Hurley said the city should work with developers on zoning infrastructure. He cited road infrastructure as important, as well as more Norman Forward initiatives. 

Business districts 

Grant said they support a business improvement district. They added the tax increment finance master plan should go through participatory budgeting.

Participatory budgeting is a process where community members decide how to spend portions of a public budget.

Moss said she supports the TIF master plan, and that it should be coordinated with the Norman Chamber of Commerce and Norman Economic Development Coalition. She added she does not support participatory budgeting. 

Drewery said council should listen to people and businesses. He added council’s position allows them to ensure business concerns are met. 

Hinkle said he hopes to support Norman’s businesses by reassessing street closures and creating business improvement districts. 

Dixon said he would listen to business owners and their needs, as well as work with the Norman Chamber of Commerce. He added he would develop a course of action to assist businesses. 

Hurley said he would also support a business improvement district for downtown, alongside working with businesses. He added he would vocally support shopping locally and considers local business promotion a social responsibility.  

Every candidate approved the use of TIFs in other areas of Norman outside of University North Park, where a proposed entertainment district would be built. 

Sales tax growth

Grant said increased wages, affordable housing and mindfulness about TIFs could increase sales tax growth. They added Norman’s internal auditor should ensure sales tax money is collected.

Moss said the city should be responsible for Norman’s sales tax revenue. 

Drewery said council should ensure sales tax money is reinvested appropriately. He added the city should work towards making itself more attractive.

Hinkle said the city should add a position to find high-paying manufacturing jobs to be brought into Norman. He said OU’s move to the SEC, along with Norman Forward initiatives and city activities, contribute to sales tax growth.

Dixon said attracting young professionals and promoting businesses would increase sales tax growth.

Hurley said Norman Forward initiatives bring activity and new net growth for Norman.

Entertainment district

In September, Team Norman revealed plans for a $1 billion entertainment district located along Interstate-35 between Rock Creek Road and 24th Avenue Northwest. The plans include an 8,000-seat arena for events including OU basketball and gymnastics, space for restaurants and a festival street. 

Grant said they do not support the entertainment district. They added they might have supported it if the sales tax for the next 25 years also went toward affordable housing. 

Moss said she supports the entertainment district, citing support from OU, the Norman Chamber of Commerce and Visit Norman. She said the city should collaborate further with developers. 

Drewery said he supports the entertainment district. He added if complications arise, he will listen to both sides. 

Hinkle said he supports the entertainment district, adding that it drives tourism. 

“If we have an entity that wants to make that large of an investment into our community, then we need to listen to it,” Hinkle said.

Dixon said he supports the entertainment district plans. He added he has spoken with Mayor Larry Heikkila, OU athletic director Joe Castiglione and Trent Wells, chief financial officer of the OU Foundation.

“Right now it's just dirt, it's not generating any money for the city nor the county,” Dixon said. “We have a chance to transform it into something magical.”

Hurley said he supports the entertainment district but added the plan should be tweaked to ensure it generates revenue.

Visions for Norman Forward

Norman Forward is an initiative passed by Norman residents in October 2015 to fund multiple quality-of-life projects. Since 2015, Norman Forward has completed the Griffin Park, Westwood Family Aquatic Center, Norman Public Library Central, which was closed late November due to mold, Norman Public Library East and others.

Should Norman Forward be renewed by voters after it expires in 2030, Grant said they would like to see an investment in public art, including an arts and culture center they have discussed with the Norman Economic Development Coalition. They said they are considering a weather museum. 

Moss said she would like to see development at Lake Thunderbird and investments in the film industry. 

Drewery said he is unsure what his ideal project is, adding he has to wait until he is a council member.

Hinkle said he would like to improve Sooner Theatre to host more events, citing a lack of funding. He added he would like to see a new police facility. 

Dixon said he would like to see the youth baseball and softball fields receive Norman Forward support, saying they drive economic growth. 

Hurley said he would like to see a weather museum and mountain bike trails around Lake Thunderbird, referencing Norman Forward’s role as a quality-of-life venture. 

Ward 2 forum

Homelessness and Gray Street shelter:

Dismukes said he opposes the Gray Street shelter expansion. He added neither the location nor the building’s security are ideal. Adding that he does not support public funding to aid homelessness. Stating that instead nonprofits should be utilized to create affordable and supportive housing.

“I don't think we need to be creating services, but I do think we need to make those services that we have in our community work,” Dismukes said. 

Howerton said he does not oppose an expansion of the Gray Street shelter. He added he hopes to modernize Norman’s shelters to make homeless residents active members of society. 

Howerton said he believes homelessness is a city-wide issue that is relevant to all residents. 

“If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem,” Howerton said. “We all need to get together and work things out.” 

Ward 8 incumbent Peacock said he supports a 24-hour shelter but believes downtown is not the ideal location for one. He added the county and state should collaborate with the city in regards to homelessness. 

Peacock cited funding affordable housing and drug addiction treatment as other potential solutions.

“The city is the one who has the responsibility to fix (homelessness) at this point,” Peacock said. “So, I am willing to put my efforts and resources into making that happen.”

Norman growth

Dismukes said affordable housing and mixed-use development could attract people to Norman. He added the city should prioritize developing East Norman. 

“We're going to be moving east and we really need to get in front of that and think about the infrastructure pieces that we're going to need moving forward as we're going to develop these areas,” Dismukes said. 

Howerton said the city could work with vocational-technical students to build homes. He said outward expansion will affect water quality.

“We're going to have to build in town and we're gonna have to build up,” Howerton said. “You can't build out.”

Peacock said the city needs to be more effective in using Norman’s land. He added pattern zoning would also decrease housing costs. Peacock said water is integral in further expanding Norman.

“If we cannot secure that source, we can't sustain that growth, and really, we just cannot sustain the future development,” Peacock said. 

Business districts

Dismukes said the city should invest in East Norman and work with business owners in envisioning its development. 

“We need to really be attracting in business and providing different incentives for businesses to come in and attract the type of workforce that we want within the community,” Dismukes said. 

Howerton said downtown is a historical area that needs to be preserved. He added the city should make it more of an attraction for tourists.

Peacock said the districts should be built upon, citing downtown, midtown and uptown Oklahoma City. He added the city should discuss a business improvement district as well as a TIF master plan.

“I think we leverage the events and the unique characteristics of each of those districts, they already have ... made identities and so why reinvent the wheel?” Peacock said. “Let's take what is working and enhance it.”

Sales tax growth

Dismukes said the sales tax discussion should be constant, adding the city should hear from other parties.

Howerton said the city needs to support local businesses to attract new residents. 

“We have to support each other. Doing that will make Norman more attractive, bring in more residents, bring in more diversity and bring in more culture,” Howerton said. “It’s what this town needs.”

Peacock said he supports utilizing affordable housing programs to increase sales tax growth. He added it would increase the population while creating housing. 

“This approach just happens to kill multiple birds with one stone and (that’s) exactly why we need to go all in on new housing for Norman of all shapes and sizes,” Peacock said.

Entertainment district

Dismukes said he requires more answers regarding the entertainment district. He added he does not want to take business or development away from core and East Norman.

“That's an area where we just don't have resources and we need to develop those resources for our community to thrive,” Dismukes said.

Howerton said he does not support the entertainment district. He said it takes away from core Norman and OU.

“We don’t need to take OU away from OU and put it out in University North Park,” Howerton said.

Peacock said he is conflicted about the entertainment district and requires more answers to decide. He added he is concerned with the design of the district.

Visions for Norman Forward

Dismukes said he would like to invest more in youth sports, adding youth sports generate revenue.

“All over the country, people have invested in this and I would like to see us invest more in that and have more of these opportunities for kids within our community,” Dismukes said.

Howerton said he wants to expand the Norman Music Festival and the Medieval Fair. He added he wants the city to provide more mental health services.

Peacock said he would like to expand ecotourism in Norman by expanding Lake Thunderbird and reimagining Andrews Park. 

“The key behind all these projects is they generate increased tourism, which increases hotel tax and sales tax collections, the majority of which will be coming from residents outside of Norman,” Peacock said.

This story was edited by Peggy Dodd and Anusha Fathepure. Ryan Little and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.