Council votes 7-1 to move Rays' plans forward
Councilman Herb Polson and Mayor Rick Baker talk after City Council voted 7-1 to proceed with the proposed referendum for a new waterfront stadium. Polson was the only one who voted no. [Martha Rial, Times]
The City Council just voted 7-1 to move the Rays stadium plan forward. Herb Polson is the lone no. A second vote is scheduled July 17.
The council is in session. They have a few other unrelated legal items to tackle before taking up the stadium issue. We'll be back here once the talk turns to the stadium.
UPDATE: While we wait, here's a lay of the land real quick. Norm Brown, president of the local NAACP branch is here, as is chamber CEO John Long. For the Rays, Matt Silverman and Michael lead a six-to-seven person contingent. Barbara Heck is here representing CONA. Will Michaels (St. Pete Preservation) is here. As are Hal Freedman and Hamilton Hanson from POWW.
UPDATES: Here we go. Leslie Curran starts by asking Matt Silverman to postpone the stadium question. Silverman says, politely, no. City administrator Rick Mussett is now taking the podium to go through details of the process.
City internal services administrator Mike Connors just gave a report at the environmental conditions at Tropicana Field. He estimated the maximum clean-up costs would not exceed $94,000 (excluding soft costs). "If it’s that modest, it might be something we do and get done with," council member Karl Nurse, whether or not the Rays' plan moves forward.
The talk is now turning to financing. City economic development official Joe Zeoli is now going through the Hines and Archstone-Madison redevelopment proposals. Neither proposal, right now, includes a sales price that would cover all of the existing debt at Tropicana Field. The Archstone proposal is $2.3-million -to-$3.135-million short. The Hines proposal is short between $4-million-to-$5.8-million. The city is still negotiating with the devevelopers on a purchase price.
"I believe we're in striking distance of accomplishing that objective," Zeoli said about paying off the Tropicana Field debt.
* The council is now doing it's 'we're mad and frustrated by the process speech.' They're taking some of the frustration out on the Rays and some of their frustration out on city staff. Mayor Rick Baker said Herb Polson was barking. Polson responded, "If I choose to bark, you will hear it." Leslie Curran just called the Rays bull-headed.
* Danner moved approval of moving forward; Newton seconds... It's Jamie Bennett's turn to talk. I think we're going to have a 7-1 vote.
7-1 it is. Polson alone voting no.
The Tampa Bay Rays continue to pursue plans for a new baseball stadium. Host 
Did they vote for the Cowbell?
Posted by: Will Ferrell | June 05, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Dude, the cowbell stuff was funny about a decade ago. You're lame.
Posted by: Mike | June 05, 2008 at 01:36 PM
The Cowbell never gets old. Go Cowbell!!!
Posted by: Will Ferrell | June 05, 2008 at 01:41 PM
sorry,
Cowbell never gets old. As a matter of fact, the cowbell grows expenentially... the more you boo the cowbell, the more it comes.
Posted by: Ray F | June 05, 2008 at 01:47 PM
exponentially... sorry
Posted by: Ray F | June 05, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Mike- If the cowbell stuff was cool about a decade ago, then you are slow.. Man, I've been rocking the cowbell for over 2 decades now.
Posted by: Tommy Lee | June 05, 2008 at 01:55 PM
Mike- If the cowbell stuff was cool about a decade ago, then you are slow.. Man, I've been rocking the cowbell for over 2 decades now.
Posted by: Tommy Lee | June 05, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Disagree completely. It's about as cool as yelling out "Freebird" at a rock concert these days. No, even worse. It's about as cool as being in POWW. It's about as cool as having a red sign in your yard. It's about as cool as Karl Nurse's failed referendum proposal.
Speaking of signs ...
Are those signs biodegradable or made out of recyclable materials? What a waste of our precious natural resources! An unmitigated environmental disaster, if you ask me! And such an eyesore! These bigger red signs that have been popping up are ruining my views of our quaint city and have desecrated our waterfront.
POWW appears to be little more than a group that keeps local sign-makers in business. Personally, I think they are the political arm of the sign-makers union.
Eh, screw it. Give me some cowbell. It'll drown out these whiners.
Posted by: Mike | June 05, 2008 at 01:59 PM
The Yankees hate the Cowbell. Therefore, the Cowbell is good.
Posted by: Will Ferrell | June 05, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Rays draft Tim Beckham, SS, out of Georgia HS to the sound of cowbell echo.
Posted by: Kyle | June 05, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Woo-Hoo the Cowbell is Happy!
Posted by: Will Ferrell | June 05, 2008 at 02:19 PM
City Staff's presentation about the DEP request for deed restrictions and the city's involvement in ongoing environmental monitoring at the Trop field property has been a HOME RUN!
Each day, more and more of the "arguments" of the ANTI's get stripped away. Eventually, they will have to stand up like men and admit they simply don't want these projects, that their "against" position is merely a matter of personal choice.
All the silly scare tactics are slowly being eaten up!
Posted by: Rick K | June 05, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Woo Hoo ... yelling "Freebird" is just as cool as the mullet, the Camaro and JEAN SHORTS!!!
Posted by: All Gator Fans | June 05, 2008 at 02:35 PM
And just as cool as winning national championships in basketball and football too!
Posted by: All Gator Fans | June 05, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Did I mention that we're also prone to living in the past?
Gotta go ... WalMart is having a sale on Tim Tebow underwear!
Posted by: All Gator Fans | June 05, 2008 at 02:48 PM
We also have thin skin and little peepee's
Posted by: All Gator Fans | June 05, 2008 at 02:50 PM
103 million in NEW city tax revenue, 137 million in NEW tax revenue coming from the TDC, OUR parking lots & the revenue that go with it, all the be handed to the Rays.....with ZERO guarantee in return?? LMAO good luck with that.
The Rays CONTINUE to change the starting line AND the goal posts..!!!
Ain't gonna happen, folks!!
Posted by: Let us vote NO!!!! | June 05, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Your envy reeks and is flattering, but please keep this to the new stadium.
Posted by: All Gator Fans | June 05, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Steve Spurrier was a Co ck even when he was a Crock.
Posted by: All Gator Fans | June 05, 2008 at 02:55 PM
LOL
gayturds and nolies
WE OWN YOU BOTH!
Posted by: All Hurricane Fans | June 05, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Why do some people dislike the chance of success? If we did not move forward, we would be moving backward. If some had their way we would put the green benches back in, light the streets with kerosene lanterns, and tear down any building above 4 stories. No thanks. I look forward to the new stadium, driving a hydro-powered car, and using electricity forever. Stop being obstructionists just for the sake of being obstructionists. Your arguments against the stadium are lousy.
Posted by: ConservativeBlonde | June 05, 2008 at 02:57 PM
LOL NOW the Rays want to force the city to LEGISLATE to PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS (who own lots) to TAX THEM TOOO????
THAT'S where the parking "revenue" coming from???
BAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted by: Let us vote NO!! | June 05, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Hey does Stu have his hand up Rick Mussett's back? Sure looks like a paid puppet to me!!!
Posted by: Let us vote NO!! | June 05, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Polson is hammering them!!
GO POLSON!!
Posted by: Dave in St Pete | June 05, 2008 at 03:01 PM
POLSON FOR MAYOR!!!!!
Posted by: Let us vote NO!! | June 05, 2008 at 03:03 PM