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AMENDMENT NO. ONE TO CONTRACT K-1718-136: A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BY AND BETWEEN NORMAN MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY AND THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES ("ODMHSAS"), REGARDING THE LEASING AND RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO PURCHASE REAL PROPERTY, NAMELY 160 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF 12TH AVENUE N.E. AND EAST ROBINSON STREET.
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BACKGROUND: On August 11, 2015, the Norman City Council voted unanimously to approve the NORMAN FORWARD Project Package ("NORMAN FORWARD"), through its approval of Ordinance O-1516-5 and Resolution R-1516-14. On October 13, 2015 72% of Norman voters approved a temporary one half percent (1/2%) sales tax to fund NORMAN FORWARD effective January 1, 2016. O-1516-5 included the following among its "Tax Fund Projects": "to acquire certain land utilized by the City of Norman and known as Griffin Park," "to construct and equip sports complex at Griffin Park for soccer fields and facilities." NORMAN FORWARD's project plan allocated approximately $10 million in funds as a placeholder toward the acquisition of certain City park properties located on land owned by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), namely Sutton Wilderness, Griffin Park, and Cate Park.
Since NORMAN FORWARD and its accompanying sales tax measure's approval by City Council and Norman voters, the City and the Norman Municipal Authority (NMA) has engaged in discussions with the ODMHSAS regarding acquisition of properties to fulfill these project objectives, namely for: (1) the acquisition of the 160 acres on the northwest corner of east Robinson Avenue and 12th Avenue NE for the purposes of constructing and/or maintaining soccer and other sports facilities (hereafter "Griffin Park"); and (2) the acquisition of the 40 acres located on the southeast corner of east Robinson Street and 24th Avenue NE for the purposes of constructing and maintaining adult softball and other sport...
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