Oklahoma City Council member criticizes about MAPS 3 decision process

However, if the vote were delayed two weeks, a second council member who was absent, Meg Salyer, would have been able to cancel out Shadid's vote anyway.

Shadid said his attendance at the meeting was paramount because he wanted to voice concerns about the new convention center included in MAPS 3 and its location, which also was approved Tuesday by the council.

The councilman said he thinks the convention center is likely to wildly exceed its budget and will be built in an undesirable spot if the approved location west of Oklahoma City Arena remains the choice.

Shadid said the extensive underground construction work required with the approved site could send costs spiraling out of control, and the site isn't close to enough restaurants, retail stores and other amenities. Consultants have also said the center needs a $50 million hotel to be successful, and money for the hotel is not included in MAPS 3 or any other city budget.

Shadid said he also would have joined Councilmen Pete White and Skip Kelly during pre-vote debate in criticizing the approved timeline, which moves up the convention center's construction by 30 months and moves other projects back.

Shadid asked for the MAPS 3 vote to be delayed until the next meeting, July 19. Mayor Mick Cornett said at the meeting that Salyer had indicated she was fine with the vote proceeding without her.

Shadid missed the vote because he had trouble with an airline connection Monday in Boston on his way back from a long-planned overseas vacation with his children. He called White and City Manager Jim Couch saying he could get back to Oklahoma City in time for the vote by paying $4,000 for him and his children to fly to Dallas and drive home from there.