Hillsborough County commissioners on Wednesday “took another step forward” for the proposed Rays ballpark as they “approved the Tampa Sports Authority as the city and county representative to review design and construction documents for the ballpark.” The Sports Authority would also “have to answer any questions from city or county officials about the project.” The Sports Authority hired construction firm Skanska, the same firm it used to vet the ballpark’s $2.3B cost projection, to review the documents. That is “expected to cost about $300,000, which the county would pay under terms of the vote.” Commissioners Joshua Wostal and Donna Cameron Cepeda, both of whom opposed public financing of the ballpark last month, also voted “against using the Sports Authority to review design and construction plans.” Wostal “raised concerns” on spending money before other legal documents have been approved in the Rays deal. County Attorney Julia Mandell said that the money “is included in the project’s budget.” She recommended that commissioners “approve the agreement so the county is included in the design process of the ballpark.” Leading up to the county and city’s approval of a funding agreement with the Rays, local officials acknowledged that “there are still agreements that need to be negotiated for the project to move forward.” That includes a community benefits agreement (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/16).
