By Carol Cole-Frowe
The TIF ball now bounces back to Norman city councilmembers.
Councilmembers will consider at their regular Tuesday meeting a revised amendment to the University North Park Tax Increment Financing project plan from the UNP TIF's statutory committee, which is comprised of ad valorem taxing entities including the school system, library and other concerns.
The amendment came forward when hotelier John Q. Hammons offered to release the City from its agreement to purchase the newly constructed conference center for $15 million with a $1.5 million contingency, with Hammons urging instead that the City use $7.75 million of the funds to help construct the Rock Creek Road overpass that would connect 24th Avenue NW and 36th Avenue NW over Interstate-35.
Councilmembers debated about what should happen to the leftover $8.75 million. Some believed the entire amount should stay in the TIF, with others wanting to take the entire amount off the table.
Mayor Cindy Rosenthal offered a compromise amendment that would take half of the amount off the table, or $4.375 million.
But the statutory committee, which approves any amendment that's deemed "major", decided that construction overruns could cause the development not to perform as well as expected from an ad valorem standpoint. They voted to recommend that the entire $8.75 million stay in the TIF project plan for future costs.
The committee also did not approve "Objective H," in Rosenthal's amendment that would have authorized the council to spend the funds in any manner needed in the TIF area. Instead, they said they would like to be part of the process on how the funds are spent, if changes are made, and did not vote in favor of Objective H.
They voted unanimously to support construction of the Rock Creek overpass.
To make changes in the amendment as revised by the statutory committee, would take a supermajority of six councilmembers.
Also on the council's regular agenda are:
· Consideration of a preliminary plat for the Immanuel Baptist Church Addition, at the northeast corner of East Robinson Street and Northcliff Avenue.
· Consideration of an amendment to the Norman 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan from office to medium density residential for an about 5-acre tract at the northeast corner of Imhoff Road and Oakhurst Avenue. Rezoning from suburban office commercial district to planned unit development for the tract would also be considered and a revised preliminary plat for Crimson Creek East Addition at the northeast corner of Imhoff Road and Oakhurst Avenue.
· Consideration of addition of a definition of social host in a city ordinance.
An extensive executive session is planned to consider purchase of property for two fire stations, library facilities and regional stormwater detention facilities.
Right-of-way for the Rock Creek Rod widening project is also on the executive session agenda including possible litigation to acquire the property.
The session will also deal with the potential settlement of the Anderson vs. Blake and the City of Norman case in district court.
More detail on the council agenda is available online at the City of Norman's Web site at www.NormanOK.gov.
