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Today’s guest columnist is Ron Blatman.

The year was 1998.

Oklahoma City was moving full speed ahead with huge economic development projects that were transforming the city.

They called it MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects Strategy).

Birmingham residents were captivated by the Oklahoma City experience and sought to emulate its success.

Although today some still lament that Jefferson County voters turned down a MAPS-like ballot initiative that was touted as pulling a rabbit out of the hat for the Magic City, in retrospect, the public wisely wasn’t buying what civic leadership was selling.

Oklahoma City MAPS

Reeling from a recent energy bust and a major corporate snub, Oklahoma City in the early 1990s had a wish list in the hopes of changing the city’s flat line trajectory:

• A new minor league ballpark
• A new sports arena
• An expanded convention center
• A canal for Bricktown modeled on San Antonio’s Riverwalk
• A new main library
• Renovations to the Civic Center Music Hall
• Construction of an active riverfront and recreational dams
• Upgrades to the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds

And then they built them all. All at once.

It took a Chicago corporation, United Airlines, to stir the leadership of Oklahoma City to think big as the way to radically transform their city.

When seeking a home for a new jet maintenance base, the choice came down to OKC and Indianapolis. Oklahomans were hopeful, but then United executives came down from Chicago to see the city and came away asking themselves why would anyone locate there? United flew off to Indiana.

So OKC leadership went to work led by then Mayor Ron Norick. The idea? Get voters in a red city and an even redder state to approve a limited sales tax increase to change the city’s fortunes through a capital improvements agenda centered on downtown.

Dubbed MAPS, 55% of voters approved the measure in December 1993 for the host of projects listed above.

So what made MAPS in Oklahoma City such a success?

The city promised delivery on time and on budget. Projects were fully paid for with sales tax monies so no debt was incurred. A dedicated government team administered the program and a 21-member Citizens Oversight Board acted as overseer. Here was a City Hall action plan that was truly accountable.

Birmingham MAPS

Loosely modeled on the OKC MAPS program, the Birmingham-area version promised a host of regional goodies including a light rail line, zoo expansion and funding for science and cultural attractions, but in reality was a front to get a domed stadium that today would need hundreds of millions of dollars of upgrades for an outdated white elephant. It wasn’t even pitched as a sports facility, but rather a “domed convention center.”

Unlike a citywide referendum in OKC, Birmingham’s vote included hesitant suburbs, the sales tax increase was to be coupled with debt so projects were not fully funded up front, and at least half the funding was for the controversial domed stadium.

An alternative for Birmingham

Is it time for Birmingham to revisit the idea of MAPS as a way to better put the city and region on the map, or should Birmingham and surrounding communities consider creating a funding mechanism for mostly city-based regional assets that enrich residents and visitors alike?

It’s being done in several cities — the St Louis city and county Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District dates to 1971, while Denver and six surrounding counties have had a Scientific and Cultural Facilities District since 1988.

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County created a Regional Asset District for arts and culture in 1993, while the Detroit Zoo benefits from a tri-county property tax add-on begun in 2008. It could be a worthwhile first step towards better regional cooperation between Birmingham and its neighbors.

Meanwhile MAPS notches success after success for Oklahoma City

MAPS 2: In 2001, then OKC mayor, Kirk Humphreys, sought to fund an overhaul of city schools, which spread out over 24 school districts in four counties. With the original seven year funding for MAPS expiring, MAPS for Kids was passed by 61% of voters.

MAPS 3: By 2009, with two successful MAPS programs in place, Mayor Mick Cornett initiated a quality of life campaign which led to MAPS 3. 54% voted to fund another eight major capital projects including a 70-acre downtown park, new convention center and streetcar line, selected from dozens suggested through extensive citizen input.

MAPS 4: And in 2019, with the MAPS brand firmly established, current Mayor David Holt’s MAPS 4 passed with a 71% plurality. MAPS 4 has 16 components, heavily weighted towards social services, health care, parks and civic infrastructure.

Through a combination of visionary leadership, excellent execution and citizen involvement, MAPS has truly transformed Oklahoma City. They no longer roll up the sidewalks at 5pm but roll them down to welcome visitors to a much improved place that’s still a work in progress.

Birmingham didn’t get it right the first time.

Maybe it’s time for Birmingham to take another approach.

Ron Blatman is Executive Producer/Producer for the Saving the City: Remaking the American Metropolis documentary series about making cities better places now in production. To get a sense of the series, visit www.savingthecity.org for preview videos and more.

He also created and produced the acclaimed Saving the Bay national PBS series narrated by Robert Redford about the history of San Francisco Bay. Visit https://savingthebay.org/ for video clips and an extensive education section. The series won four regional Emmy awards including for Best Documentary.

Ron previously worked in real estate development and finance in his native San Francisco and on Wall Street in New York as well as serving as the Director of Business Development in the San Francisco mayor’s office.

David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

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Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. [email protected]