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RESOLUTION R-1819-110: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, FORMALLY IDENTIFYING REAVES PARK AS THE PREFERRED SITE FOR THE NORMAN SENIOR CENTER; DIRECTING STAFF TO PROCEED WITH SELECTION OF A DESIGN FIRM FOR THE SENIOR CENTER; RE-PROGRAMMING $7.6 MILLION FROM THE NORMAN FORWARD GRIFFIN PARK PROJECT TO THE NORMAN FORWARD SENIOR CENTER PROJECT TO BE USED FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A FREE-STANDING SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER; AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $760,000 FROM THE NORMAN FORWARD FUND BALANCE.
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BACKGROUND: In 2008, Norman voters were asked to approve two ballot questions that would authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds - one proposed to provide funding for a new public library, and the other proposed to provide funding for the renovation of the City's Municipal Complex, including the renovation of the existing library building into a renovated space for a City development center and the expansion and relocation of the City's Senior Citizen's Center (after the Norman Public Library moved to a new space). The proposition for the renovation of the City Municipal Complex and relocation/expansion of the Senior Citizen's Center was approved by the voters; however, the general obligation bond proposition for the new library failed.
In 2015, Norman voters were asked to approve a quality of life initiative to be funded by a temporary (15-year duration), one-half percent sales tax ("NORMAN FORWARD") which included a number of projects around the community, including a new public library. After Norman seniors expressed a desire to have a new free standing center, as opposed to the site in the existing library building (now projected to be vacated by September 2019), the City began exploring other options. The NORMAN FORWARD proposition was amended to include a senior citizen's center as an authorized project. Voters approved the initiative on October 13, 2015.
The City has explored a number of optio...
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