Oklahoma City Council approves MAPS 3 timeline

Mayor Mick Cornett voted in favor of the measure along with council members Gary Marrs, Larry McAtee and Pat Ryan. Council members Pete White, David Greenwell and Skip Kelly voted against it. Ed Shadid and Meg Salyer were absent from the meeting.

White had motioned for the vote to be delayed two weeks until the next council meeting because Shadid and Salyer were unable to attend. Shadid, who had problems with a connection on an international flight while returning from vacation, had called White asking for the delay. But only White and Kelly voted in favor of it, setting the stage for a contentious debate and a thin approval margin for a council accustomed to approving measures unanimously.

The approved timeline calls for construction to begin in 2016. This was one of two timelines presented to the council for consideration, but it was the only one to be voted upon. The other timeline moved up the convention center construction by only 21 months, allowing other projects to be completed sooner.

The council in a separate vote also approved the location of the convention center recommended by the MAPS 3 Citizen Advisory Board. Only White voted against the location, directly west of Oklahoma City Arena on the grounds of a former Ford dealership.