What a divided city council had to say on Rays stadium deal

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa City Council voted 4-3 Thursday to approve a development and funding agreement for a $2.3 billion ballpark that moves the Tampa Bay Rays one step closer to playing in Tampa.

The agreement includes an $80 million city contribution toward construction of a new ballpark on Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus. Council members Charlie Miranda, Guido Maniscalco and Lynn Hurtak voted no.

The vote followed hours of public comment and council discussion. Applause broke out in council chambers and overflow rooms at city hall after the measure passed.

“It’s been a long time coming. This is going to elevate Tampa to new heights,” Rays fan Brett Gross said.

Council member Luis Viera said the city’s contribution represents about 4% of the total project cost, with all project spending taking place within city limits.

Chair Alan Clendenin said the agreement protects the city’s interests.

“We’re not agreeing to cover cost overruns. We’re not assuming responsibility for construction defects. We’re not committing to unlimited public funds without conditions, oversight, or accountability,” Clendenin said.

Hurtak said she believes the agreement is a bad deal for taxpayers.

“Consider that it is currently also a blank check to the Rays to maintain and repair the stadium, because that sentence isn’t in there yet, that Tampenos are expected to put up all this money but won’t own a share, or that we cede all control over the land development to the county even though it’s literally in Tampa,” Hurtak said.

Council member Bill Carlson cast the deciding vote. Carlson had said in May, when council approved a memorandum of understanding, that he would vote no on the final project.

On Thursday, Carlson said changes made between the MOU and the final documents changed his position.

“I said, ‘Well, number one — no CIT. Everybody I talked to said no CIT.’ We took that off the table immediately. The second thing I said is, ‘We’re essentially giving $180 million. I don’t want to give $180 million.’ We took that off the table,” Carlson said.

Rays CEO Ken Babby said the vote was an important step, but not the end of the process.

“Great step today, important milestone. We’re obviously really thrilled, but the real work continues tomorrow,” Babby said.

The Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners has scheduled a special meeting for 9 a.m. Friday to vote on its own agreement with the Rays.

Property tax reform was also a concern for some council members. Maniscalco said Amendment 3 could be catastrophic for Tampa if it passes, saying the city stands to lose $35 million in the first year of the homestead property tax exemption expansion.

Maniscalco said he is not against the development, but believes the timing is bad. He voted against the agreement.