San Antonio voters will get another vote on new Spurs arena — whether they want one or not - Texas News Beep

A rendering provided by the city shows what Project Marvel could look like. Credit: Courtesy Image / City of San Antonio

San Antonio City Council on Monday will debate Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’ request that the city’s $489 million contribution to the new Spurs arena be added to the November ballot.

While it appears unlikely Jones will succeed — a majority on council recently told KSAT they oppose the proposal — city voters will likely get another say on the arena project anyway because voters must approve a bond to fund Hemisfair improvements needed before arena construction can get underway.

According to the arena term sheet that council approved last August, the availability of city funds for the project is “subject in all respects” to voters approving a city bond project “to support the first phase of transportation and pedestrian infrastructure improvements for the Sports and Entertainment District” around Hemisfair.

City spokesperson Brian Chasnoff confirmed that, as of press time, citywide approval of the proposed $220 million-plus infrastructure bond and the broader Project Marvel sports-and-entertainment district is necessary before the city can disburse its $489 million contribution toward the NBA arena.

“The proposed bond program and ballot structure have not yet been determined,” Chasnoff said. “Staff will brief City Council in September.”

Even so, Chasnoff said the bond election “would be a vote on public infrastructure funding — not a vote on the $489 million arena contribution” — even though one is dependent on the other.

City Manager Erik Walsh and City Attorney Andy Segovia didn’t respond to the Current’s questions about whether they informed Jones of the bond stipulation after she sent a memo to council colleagues calling for the arena’s public funding to be added to the November ballot.

As of press time, Jones’ office also hasn’t responded to the Current’s request for comment on the details in the term sheet.

Unlike the downtown Spurs arena, which would be financed by a web of creative public financing mechanisms, the money for the infrastructure improvements around Hemisfair would come from a general obligation bond, which must go to a public vote, according to Texas state law.

General obligation bonds are typically repaid through local property taxes or allocations from the city’s general fund to cover principal and interest.

“That’s why making sure people have the opportunity to vote on the city’s contribution is important, because as we’ve discussed, the city taxpayer is going to pay towards the county’s $311 [contribution], they will pay towards the city’s $489 million, and they will also pay towards the city’s infrastructure bond,” Jones told the Current last week after a town hall meeting.

District 4 Councilman Ed Mungia has also advocated that the Hemisfair infrastructure bond vote be separate from other city bond projects so that residents will be able to have a say in that specific project.

However, Jones told the Current she’s unsure if that’s possible.

“That infrastructure bond will go to voters,” Jones said. “If you recall, there’s always been a desire for some to say, ‘Hey, I’d like to vote on the downtown infrastructure all by itself.’ But it doesn’t look like that is possible. That’s just kind of my sense.”

Jones will hold the last public listening session for input on her proposed public vote from 7 p.m.-8p.m. Wednesday at Blanco BBQ, 13259 Blanco Road.

San Antonio voters will get another vote on new Spurs arena — whether they want one or not

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