Norman City Council Meeting - May 12, 2026: TIF Policy, Hotel Tax, Homeless Encampments
Norman City Council Meeting - May 12, 2026
The Norman City Council met on May 12, 2026, to discuss three main agenda items: amendments to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) ordinance, a cleanup of the transient guest room tax ordinance, and a response to homeless encampments in public parks, particularly Kate Park. The meeting involved extensive deliberation on legal, financial, and humanitarian aspects.
Discussion Items
1. TIF Policy Ordinance (First Reading)
- City staff presented an ordinance amending the TIF process. Key changes include:
- But-for test: Even for properties in enterprise zones, historic preservation areas, or reinvestment areas (which currently per se qualify under state law), the ordinance would require a but-for analysis to determine if development would be difficult but possible with TIF assistance, in line with city goals.
- Sales tax protection: New TIF districts would only capture ad valorem (property) tax unless the proposal is limited to non-dedicated sales tax revenue, preserving dedicated funds like PSST and Norman Forward.
- Economic and risk analysis: Mandated a detailed analysis of proposals, including fiscal impact on the city.
- Ad hoc stakeholder committee: A seven-member committee representing businesses, residents, and nonprofits within the project area to provide early input.
- EDAB review: The Economic Development Advisory Board would review economic aspects.
- Councilmember questioned the ability to require a supermajority vote for TIFs; city attorney noted a charter amendment would be needed.
- Staff confirmed that all current TIFs are in enterprise zones, so the but-for test does not apply to them under state law, but the new ordinance would impose additional requirements.
- Councilmember expressed concern about preserving dedicated sales tax funds and ensuring adequate public input.
- The ordinance was on first reading; second reading is scheduled for May 26, 2026.
2. Transient Guest Room Tax Ordinance (First Reading)
- Staff proposed amendments to clarify definitions and exemption processes:
- Definition of hotel: Updated to remove outdated references and accommodate new lodging types.
- Exemptions: Clarified that permanent residents of Norman are exempt, and provided practical methods to prove residency (e.g., showing ID or utility bill at check-in).
- Removed the 1980 requirement for exemptions to go through the finance director; hotels will document exemptions on a remittance form.
- Councilmember asked about impact on bed and breakfasts; staff did not anticipate any change.
- The ordinance was on first reading.
3. Homeless Encampments in Public Parks (Kate Park and City-Owned Property)
- City manager reported that Kate Park has become a large encampment (from 11 to 60 people in two weeks), which violates the municipal park code and may trigger a lease reversion clause with the state (land leased from the state must be used as a municipal park).
- The state lease could be nullified, returning the land to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health.
- Options discussed:
- Expand existing shelter capacity: City staff can invest in the current shelter (owned by the state) to add about 60 beds within 60 days; capital is available.
- Allow temporary camping on city-owned property: The city owns land near the current shelter, but it is the future site of the permanent shelter (voter-approved bond). There are active sewer line replacement and upcoming survey work that could be delayed by an encampment.
- Emergency ordinance: Councilmember suggested a temporary ordinance allowing camping on private property (e.g., front yards) with homeowner insurance and registration, to relieve pressure on parks.
- Outreach team: Councilmember advocated for a dedicated outreach team (as in other cities) to serve as a buffer between police and the unhoused; the city recently hired a community resource manager.
- Statistics: 641 people on the Norman Housing Authority waiting list for Section 8 vouchers; no new vouchers are being issued due to federal funding cuts.
- Councilmember raised concerns about safety for children as schools let out soon; referenced a past violent crime in a park 33 years ago.
- Councilmember argued against using parks as encampments, citing lease risk and public safety.
- Councilmember proposed a seven-day reprieve for the Kate Park encampment to move to the city-owned property, but concerns about raw sewage from a broken sewer line and upcoming construction were raised.
- Councilmember requested an end to the 10 p.m. park curfew citywide, but city attorney advised that designated camping policies with specific rules would be more enforceable.
Key Outcomes
- TIF Ordinance: First reading approved; second reading scheduled for May 26, 2026, with possible postponement if further discussion needed.
- Transient Guest Room Tax Ordinance: First reading approved; second reading to follow.
- Homeless Encampments:
- Council provided consensus to invest in expanding the existing shelter capacity (additional beds) as soon as possible, with staff to commence work immediately.
- Council directed staff to explore an emergency ordinance to allow temporary camping on city-owned property (the permanent shelter site) for a limited time (e.g., seven days), despite risks of sewage and construction delays, to provide an immediate alternative to Kate Park.
- The city manager will return with a plan for the emergency ordinance and further discussion at the next council meeting (May 14, 2026, oversight meeting) and the regular meeting on May 26, 2026.
- No immediate enforcement action was ordered at Kate Park; council acknowledged the need for a structured approach rather than displacement.
Meeting Transcript
Property as part of an enterprise zones mean it is by definition unproductive, undeveloped, underdeveloped, or blighted for the purpose of TIFF financing, and therefore it automatically qualifies under the Local Development Act. Because it automatically qualifies, the court says it doesn't violate the constitutional provision or the 8521 and two, the but for test in the local development act. The AG is weighed in since then when asked how the city's compliance with those two provisions measured. They say districts in historic preservation reinvestment or enterprise areas are per se consistent with such guidelines. So you see a difference there when we look at historic preservation reinvestment or enterprise areas. Currently, all of our TIFFs that are in existence are in enterprise areas. So that but four test does not apply. They have per se met that for the Oklahoma Supreme Court. So the example of the University North Park District. It's a great example. Many of us would view that as not being economically depressed, not being undevelopable. It's flat fronts. Prime I 35 property. It's completely developed all the way around it. So it's a prime target to be developed on its own, but because of that first one, it is in an enterprise, a grandfathered enterprise zone. That is what qualified the original UMP TIF and this new one as well. Correct. Okay, so and that's important because in this ordinance, we are implementing a BUT 4 test even for enterprise zones or historic preservation areas or reinvestment areas. So under the Local Development Act, if it's not one of those areas, you see the butt four tests that I read earlier over there in the left column, and then you have you go through those remaining legislative guidelines. Under this ordinance, we're talking about implementing a test regardless of whether that project is in a historic preservation reinvestment or enterprise area. So that would require an analysis to look at whether, and this is what's in the ordinance right now, whether to I'm sorry, whether investment development and economic growth in that area would be difficult but uh possible with TIFF assistance in line with the city goals. So Griffin is the example we talked about last week, right? Blank property essentially uh it's got some buildings on it, but it's a primarily largely undeveloped. And so if someone were to buy it, would it develop? Sure, it could. But would it develop with affordable housing? Would it develop uh with all the public infrastructure needs that are there that need to be addressed? There's asbestos we know in some of the older buildings. So there are things that would make it difficult, not impossible. Uh but TIF assistance could help it develop in a way that meets the council's goals. And so that's what based on our discussion last week, that's what's in the ordinance right now in 12 702 A2. Again, if it's an area that's not in a historic preservation reinvestment or enterprise area, it still has to meet the test in the local development act. Uh but for those areas that don't have to meet that test. This is a test that that we would be implementing that they don't currently have to meet. And is that the case made for the entertainment district? Is that most of us believe that the property could ease could develop on its own if the owners of it allowed it to? Um, that it would be very attractive for that. Their argument is well, but without this TIF, we can't get this development. That could be type of development. This is this entertainment district. It would otherwise maybe just be commercial or just apartments or whatever it may be, but that's the argument that they're making for why they wanted this. Yeah, and I think the key here is um in this language is it has to be in line with the city's goals. Ultimately, it comes down to you guys to make that determination. And what we're trying to set up here is a process where you get more information and you get more input. And I'll go through the input here in a minute. But uh the ordinance also talks about you have to make a determination that use of a TIFF is an appropriate incentive tool. Are there other tools out there that could be used instead? Are there other ways to finance the project that are more appropriate? Uh, the area proposed for designation as a TIFF district is projected to increase in real property taxable value within the first five years. That's that's not will it uh increase within the first five years regardless of the TIF, but but will the financing provide some development quickly?
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