Editor’s note: This article was updated at 3:48 p.m. to include a statement from Acting City Attorney Rick Knighton. At 3:53 p.m., this article was updated to reflect that these statements came from Knighton and not Tiffany Vrska, director of communications. At 4:26 p.m., this article was updated to include a statement from Tiffany Vrska, Norman’s communications director.
The Rock Creek Entertainment District will not appear on the Feb. 11 ballot as petition petitioners and protesters await the results of a court hearing scheduled for Feb. 19.
On November 19, a legal notices was filed in Cleveland County Court challenging the legitimacy of the Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Developmentcertification of the petition. According to court recordsthe case is assigned to Cleveland County Judge Jeff Virgin.
Two hearings are scheduled, according to the Oklahoma State Courts Network. The first will take place at 9 a.m. on February 19, with the second scheduled for 9 a.m. on February 25.
In the early hours of September 18, the Norman municipal council approved the entertainment district by 5 votes to 4.
On September 20, three Normans filed a referendum request put the entertainment district back to the public vote. After 30 days of collecting signatures, the city certified more than 10,000 signatures on Nov. 6, surpassing the required 6,098.
The $1.1 billion Rock Creek Entertainment District was introduced in September 2023. The development would include an arena to replace the Lloyd Noble Center, new offices, housing and retail.
The protest was filed by David Nimmo, president and CEO of Chickasaw Nation Industries; Kyle Allison, director of Allison’s FUN Inc.; Vernon McKown, CEO and co-founder of Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods; and Dan Quinn, former Ward 8 City Council member and realtor for Dillard Co.. Nimmo and Allison, before the protest was filed, spoke out in favor of the entertainment district during a October 2 press conference held by the leaders of the OU and the Normans.
According to the notice of protest, the petition does not fully comply with the Oklahoma lawwhich requires a referendum petition to summarize the nature of the proposed referendum vote in a way that can be understood by those who do not practice law.
Paul Arcaroli, a member of ORED and one of the residents who filed the petition, said those running for office know Normans want the election.
“They’re saying our signatures aren’t valid, (the special election) isn’t valid, and even with a little marketing, they’re saying, ‘The old TIF was so successful,'” Arcaroli said. “They’re just trying to bleed us to death.” They want to rack up legal fees and think we won’t be able to handle that.”
Arcaroli said that although the university is not named in the lawsuit, he believes it is involved. He said residents were taking advantage of the court process to allow Norman residents to vote for the entertainment district.
“The only option (residents) have is to petition. It’s part of the legal process,” Arcaroli said.
OU Daily has reached out to Nimmo, Allison, McKown, Quinn and the city of Norman for comment. This article will be updated with any additional information received.
OU Marketing and Communications wrote in an email to OU Daily that the university will await the results of the court hearing and then determine next steps accordingly.
Cynthia Rogers, an economics professor at OU and a founding member of ORED, said the contested election is delaying the vote and moving forward with the project.
“I knew it was going to be scheduled, … but they were working to agree on a date. February just drags things out,” Rogers said. “A lot of people signed the petition. People understood that this was an opportunity to vote on this project, whether they liked it or not. …I don’t know how it could be any clearer to people.
Rick Knighton, Norman’s acting city attorney, wrote in an email to OU Daily that the deadline to give notice to the Cleveland County Board of Elections for the Feb. 13 election is Dec. 14. 10.
Knighton wrote that the next available date is April 2. The deadline to provide notice for this election date is January 17. According to Knighton, the Norman City Council may consider a resolution to provide notice to the Cleveland County Board of Elections by Jan. 17. and withdraw the notice if there is no final decision by April 2.
“This is not advisable because the unsuccessful party will most likely appeal the district court’s decision and will likely not obtain a final appellate decision until April 2, 2025,” Knighton wrote.If the measure is not put before voters on April 2, 2025, it is not yet clear when it will be.»
Tiffany Vrska, Norman’s communications manager, wrote in an email to OU Daily that the city believes it is possible to move forward with construction of the entertainment district, but that developers would proceed at their own risk in due to the status of the referendum petition.
This story was edited by Peggy Dodd and Anusha Fathepure. Mary Ann Livingood and Sophie Hemker edited this story.