MAPS 4 would raise an estimated $978 million to extend Oklahoma City's renaissance 'to all residents'

MAPS 4 would raise an estimated $978 million over eight years for 16 projects, with spending concentrated on improving the quality of life in neighborhoods throughout Oklahoma City and for individuals caught on the edges of society.

A 10-page "resolution of intent" to be considered by the city council on Tuesday offers hope that public investments can help lift individuals out of the traps of poverty, mental illness, domestic violence and substance abuse, and can point at-risk youth away from crime by enhancing facilities for activities from theater to video games to sports.

The outline developed by Mayor David Holt after months of public input that included sometimes dramatic presentations this summer before the city council by advocates of various initiatives marks a distinct shift from the large downtown construction projects emblematic of MAPS 3.

With the council's consent, plans are to ask voters on Dec. 10 to extend the 1-cent Metropolitan Area Projects sales tax into the next decade, with collections to begin April 1, 2020.

Proposed are:

• $70 million for construction of at least four youth centers focused on after-school and summer programming; another $10 million would be allocated for ongoing capital improvements such as technology upgrades and $30 million for an operating fund.

• $15 million for construction of a fifth senior health and wellness center, adding to the four centers included in MAPS 3. Additionally, $15 million would go toward a financial-assistance fund for low-income seniors at any of the MAPS senior centers.

• $63 million for enhancing and renovating every neighborhood and community park with improvements including trees, play structures, bathrooms, shade structures and walking paths.

• $38 million for construction of a permanent home for the Palomar Family Justice Center, a facility housing agencies concerned with reducing the incidence of domestic violence.

• $22 million for construction of a "restoration center" housing mental health and addiction services, $11 million for two mental health crisis centers and $7 million for transitional housing.

• $60 million to help finance bus rapid transit lines to northeast and south Oklahoma City, park-and-rides, and transit innovations such as micro transit; $10 million for 500 new bus shelters; $12 million for new buses and gear to give buses priority at traffic signals, and $5 million for planning and land acquisition.

• $87 million for sidewalks, trails, bike lanes and streetlights, guided by needs identified in the BikeWalk OKC plan.

• $50 million with the potential to leverage up to $400 million in outside funding for affordable housing, with the intent of reducing homelessness by facilitating a "housing first" policy.

• $38 million for a new animal shelter.

• $63 million toward construction of a new "Big House." The Fairgrounds Coliseum would host horse shows, state basketball and wrestling tournaments and other events, replacing the out-dated Jim Norick Arena.

• $115 million for expansion and renovation of Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the NBA's Thunder.

• $71 million for job-creation through investments in the Innovation District that is being developed around and within the Oklahoma Medical Center campus south of the state Capitol; projects would include improving bridges over Interstate 235 to more closely link and Innovation District and the central business district.

• $17 million toward development of a "diversion hub" to centralize services aimed at providing alternatives to jail for low-level criminal offenders; the facility would be expected to reduce pressure on the county jail, Advocates anticipate a private donor would offer $20 million to support operations.

• $25 million for renovation of the Freedom Center, a landmark in civil rights history, and construction and operation of a museum to be named for civil rights leader Clara Luper.

• $37 million for construction for a stadium suitable for professional and college soccer, high school football and soccer, and concerts; the venue would be the home of the Energy FC professional soccer team.

• $25 million for beautification projects on major traffic corridors, including approaches to Will Rogers World Airport.

Many of the initiatives are predicated on the arrangement of partnerships with community organizations. Agreements would establish "measurable benchmarks" to assess success in meeting goals.

Voters approved MAPS 3 in December 2009. The 1-cent tax was collected for seven years and nine months, beginning April 1, 2010, and ending Dec. 31, 2017, and has brought in more than $800 million so far.

Its successor was the MAPS for streets initiative, which is expected to raise $240 million for street resurfacing and other improvements by the time it expires on March 31, 2020.

Tuesday, the city council is expected to set Dec. 10 as the date for the MAPS 4 election and adopt various housekeeping measures to meet legal requirements for scheduling and conducting the election.

The resolution of intent amounts to a promise to voters by the city council to complete MAPS 4 projects as outlined in the resolution, in a timely way and within budget.

Council members adhere to the promises made to voters to maintain the credibility of the program and in hopes of maintaining voters' support for further extensions.

MAPS is a temporary sales tax first approved by voters and renewed several times since, including for MAPS for kids, which renovated or constructed public schools throughout Oklahoma City.

MAPS is unique in municipal finance in that projects are constructed on a pay-as-you-go basis and open debt-free.

MAPS drove the Oklahoma City renaissance and revitalization of downtown, with public investments of around $2 billion since 1993 attracting billions more in private investment.

MAPS financed renovation of the Civic Center Music Hall and construction of the main library downtown, the Bricktown ballpark and canal, and the Chesapeake Energy Arena. MAPS 3 financed the downtown convention center, park and streetcar; the whitewater park on the Oklahoma River; the Bennett Event Center; senior health and wellness centers; and sidewalks and trails.