The council will consider three plans at its regular meeting regarding the $30 million issue. The MAPS 3 money had been proposed to be set aside to move an OGE substation located next-door to the future MAPS 3 park.
The $30 million in question was originally tucked into the fund for the MAPS 3 convention center, since the 2008 Core to Shore plan suggested the convention center be located on the current substation site. However, after the Fred Jones dealership site was selected for the convention center, Eric Wenger, MAPS 3 program manager, said the convention center project was slated for $250 million, and the $30 million was still set aside to move the substation.
Read more about MAPS 3 and '$30 million question' here.
When consultant Architectural Design Group presented budgets for all eight projects, the convention center was set at $250 million with $30 million in a separate contingency fund. The MAPS 3 convention center subcommittee disagreed with that number, and sent a recommendation to the MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board that its budget be $280 million, a recommendation the advisory board approved.
The council is considering three options for the convention center budget: $250 million as first recommended by ADG, $280 million as recommended by the Citizens Advisory Board, or a hybrid, with the convention center budget at $265 million and $15 million put in the park budget.
The council is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Photo by Mark Hancock
