Tulsa World: New round of tax projects on OKC ballot

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New round of tax projects on OKC ballot

This is an artist's rendering of an aerial view looking north across the planned 70-acre downtown Oklahoma City Central Park, one of the elements in the MAPS 3 sales-tax proposal. The park would have a lake and amphitheater. Courtesy / Hargreaves Associates

By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Published: 11/22/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 11/22/2009 4:50 AM

Oklahoma City voters will decide Dec. 8 whether to buy into another round of MAPS, the 16-year-long series of sales tax-funded projects that have remade the city's interior and rebuilt its sprawling school system.

MAPS 3 would include downtown light rail, a 70-acre downtown park and a $280 million convention center. The overall cost is $777 million, making it the most expensive Metropolitan Area Projects package yet.

It may also be the most controversial. The local police and fire unions oppose it, and others charge that it would unfairly benefit some of the city's wealthiest residents.

Still, no one really disputes the impact MAPS has had on Oklahoma City. When the latest extension expires next spring, the 1-cent sales tax will have generated nearly $1.2 billion since it first was approved in 1993. That total includes the current 15-month extension, approved in January 2008, for improvements to the Ford Center related to the arrival of the Oklahoma City Thunder professional basketball team. Although the extension is not officially part of MAPS, it has functioned in essentially the same way.

Many credit MAPS for prodding Tulsa toward the 2003 passage of Vision 2025, the $575.5 million countywide series of projects that included the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa.

Whether a new MAPS would have a similar effect is problematic. For one thing, the Vision 2025 tax doesn't expire until 2016. Also, Tulsa has just embarked on an aggressive streets program.

Mike Neal, the president of the Metro Tulsa Chamber, says it is "premature to spend too much time" thinking about another round of local capital projects.

The MAPS 3 proposal, however, "makes sense" for Oklahoma City, he said.

"You don't ever want to let one of these proposals lapse," he said. "People don't like new taxes, but they don't mind paying what they already are paying, if they like what they are getting."

The original MAPS included the Ford Center, the Bricktown Ballpark, renovations of the former Myriad Convention Center and the Civic Center Music Hall and a new downtown library.

The second MAPS, called MAPS for Kids, focused on schools in Oklahoma City and its suburbs. The tax ended in 2008, but MAPS for Kids projects continue through 2012.

Major components of MAPS 3 are: fairgrounds improvements ($60 million), 70-acre downtown park ($130 million); public transit, including several miles of streetcar lines ($130 million); new convention center ($280 million); sidewalks ($10 million); Oklahoma River improvements, including whitewater and rowing courses ($60 million); health and wellness aquatic centers for seniors ($50 million); and walking and bicycling trails ($40 million).

Police and fire unions are upset about what is not in the proposal — public safety.

City officials quickly put together a promise to provide police and firefighter funding through an associated city use tax, but the unions said it was too late. They have joined with other opponents of MAPS 3.

Others question the fairgrounds improvements, which were not among the priorities identified by Oklahoma City residents who participated in the MAPS 3 planning process.

Another somewhat controversial element is a tax increment financing district that primarily includes Devon Energy Corp.'s new headquarters under construction in the city's downtown. The TIF, as it is called, would divert new tax revenues generated by the improvements to the district to pay for infrastructure upgrades.

What’s in MAPS 3?

The $777 million initiative would provide money for eight projects and a contingency fund in case of any unforeseen project costs. It would extend for seven years and nine months a 1- cent sales tax that is now paying for Ford Center improvements. The current tax expires in April.

Downtown park: $130 million
A 70-acre park is planned along downtown’s southern edge, between the Oklahoma River and a planned boulevard that will replace the Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway when it is relocated.

The park would have a cafe, a lake, an amphitheater and other amenities. City leaders compare the idea to Discovery Park in Houston, Millennium Park in Chicago and Centennial Park in Atlanta.

Convention center: $280 million
A new convention center is planned on the south edge of downtown near the proposed park. The center would have exhibit halls, meeting rooms, ballrooms and parking. Plans for the Cox Convention Center are not yet complete. The Cox center, which was opened in 1971, is now considered inadequate by city leaders.

Transit: $130 million
The money would pay for several miles of downtown streetcar lines and a downtown transit hub that will link streetcar, commuter rail and bus systems. Some of the money could be used to build commuter rail lines, but the city is also seeking federal transportation money for commuter rail.

Oklahoma River: $60 million
About $25 million would go toward a whitewater kayaking venue the exact location of which has not been chosen. The rest of the money would pay for improvements on the east end of the river, where the city has rowing competitions. Those improvements would include grandstands, lighting, parking, a floating stage, river beautification and other work on the rowing course.

State Fair Park: $60 million
The money would be used to upgrade public buildings at State Fair Park. The park’s horse barns and State Fair Arena are undergoing a $75 million overhaul. MAPS money would be used for other buildings at the fairgrounds such as exhibit space and meeting halls used during the fair.

Health and wellness aquatic centers for senior citizens: $50 million
An undetermined number of the centers would be built across the city. Officials have not announced sites.

Trails: $40 million
A master plan that calls for additional bicycle and walking trails all across the city has been largely unfunded. This money would pay for 57 miles of new trails, virtually completing the city’s trails plan.

Sidewalks: $10 million
Following on the 2007 bond issue, which included $68 million for sidewalks, MAPS 3 will fund sidewalks along major streets and near public buildings such as schools and libraries.

Contingency fund: $17 million The contingency fund could help pay for any unforeseen costs along the way.

— THE OKLAHOMAN

Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Webmeister, Tulsa (11/22/2009 7:24:47 AM) After spending $10,000,000's remodeling the Myriad Convention Center to become the Cox Convention Center, the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and their Mayoral Mouthpiece want to spend $280 million on a new convention center. Does anyone smell Manhattan Construction Company.
	Report Comment fld11, (11/22/2009 8:10:19 PM) I hope the folks in OKC are smart enough to vote this stupid thing down. In case they don't know, we're in the midst of an economic crisis and higher taxes will do nothing in this case to strengthen anything except the big government agenda. It's a bill of goods people. Vote no.

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