City Council Chair Alan Clendenin initially submitted a memo, requesting to delay the vote until July 23.<\/p>\n
“The negotiations behind the scenes are still not completed. So, the Rays organization, the county, and the city, and also our CRA attorney, I believe, has been part of this discussion,” Clendenin said.<\/p>\n
Council member Lynn Hurtak said she hadn\u2019t heard any updates from staff or from the Rays, arguing any conversations should include the entire CRA board.<\/p>\n
“They didn’t come to me, I went to them. Because the phones work both ways,” Clendenin said in response. “The agenda item was posted, and I was concerned because of information that \u2013 I mean, I pay attention to what’s happening as well. I do my research, and I also serve on the Tampa Sports Authority. So, I’m involved in a lot of conversations. I picked up the phone and called them. I said, \u2018Where are we on negotiations?\u2019 They said they’re still ongoing. So, what is the point of having this discussion today if they are still negotiating?”<\/p>\n
Tampa Bay Rays stadium funding<\/p>\n
By the numbers<\/p>\n
At the center of the debate is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would outline the city’s financial commitment to the $2.3 billion ballpark project. The proposal includes a 31,000-seat stadium and a 130-acre mixed-use development near Hillsborough College\u2019s Dale Mabry campus.<\/p>\n
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Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says she supports the Rays coming to Tampa. Image is courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays.<\/p>\n
As reported last month, the\u00a0proposal\u00a0has the county contributing about $796 million and the city of Tampa contributing about $180 million. The Rays would contribute approximately $1.27 billion.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the city\u2019s portion, $100 million would be drawn from the Drew Park CRA and $80 million from the Community Investment Tax.<\/p>\n
Vote delay<\/p>\n
What we know<\/p>\n
The motion to delay the vote to August passed 5-2, with council members Hurtak and Charlie Miranda voting no to pushing it back two months, arguing they first want to see what happens with a property tax measure heading to Florida voters this November.<\/p>\n
“If you want to go the right way, we should go to after the public votes on whether or not they want to lower the ad valorem tax,” Miranda said. “So, my opinion is to have it anytime after the vote is taken on whatever date it is in November. If not, we’re just fooling ourselves.”<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to continue to prepare month after month, reminding myself what I needed to say every single month. I don’t want the public to keep having to take time off of work to come out here to speak,” Hurtak said. “So, my motion is to take this off the agenda until it’s time that it’s ready to come back on.”<\/p>\n
Divided community<\/p>\n
What they’re saying<\/p>\n
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