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.

Comments

[Kyle]

Rick speaks? Shut up you closet deal making, non stance taking leader. That's it.

[Kyle]

Curren is killing them.

[Dave in St Pete]

Yeaaa Currran!

[Polson Power]

thank you ... thank you ... thank you

I stayed quiet long enough. I already had my mind set against this whole thing and just wanted to use it as a bigger spring board to Mayor ... just tying to spin this quicker than Curran!

[Thomas]

The Rays are getting worked over right now. Sounds like something I've actually said a few times.

If the Rays want to submit a complete proposal, then awesome.

But until they do. Go away.

Otherwise it reeks like a con job. And people are too smart to fall for that.

[Kyle]

Do they get a bill for the amount of taxpayers dollars that are spent researching an incomplete proposal?

[Raymond The Ray Mascot]

When I pop out of my mother(thats's born to poww fogeys), the doctor rung a COWBELL, then my father grab it & rung it & said son long live this cowbell b/c it will outlast you.

Move it along council, move it along, you know game, err, procedure.

Go Rays!

[josh]

Is the streaming connection not working for anyone else right now?

[Kyle]

Jim- Shutup please. Someone ring the cowbell.

[Dave in St Pete]

Are all Kennedys long winded gas bags?

[Jimbo]

What'd I say? I haven't said anything on this entire post!

[Kyle]

3 minutes? Is this dude a hairlip or something? Jamie? STFU Jim. STFU. STFU. STFU. STFU.
I feel like Archie Bunker with Edith talking to him.

[Jimbo]

Ahh, sorry...my bad. I feel like an idiot now. Not watching the meeting so I ...never mind....

[Rick K]

Great joke by the Council chair after Kennedy read his statement.

Hilarious.

[Mike]

Geez. Polson and Curran are as frothy and disorganized as the organization they shill for ... that's right, POWW! Reminds me of toddlers.

[Thomas]

We did get one very clear answer:

Excise Tax / 103M - PUBLIC
City Owned Parking Revenue / 35M - PUBLIC
Use Fee on Private Parking / 25M - PUBLIC
County Bed Tax / 137M - PUBLIC

Rays / 150M - PRIVATE

$300M PUBLIC
$150M PRIVATE

66.6% Public Cost for New Stadium.

End of Debate on that whole ordeal.

[Dave in St Pete]

Thomas,

Will the Rays be paying rent from day one on top of that 150 mil?

[Help me out here ...]

So $137 million comes from the extension of the bed tax that gets levied on tourists who use Pinellas County's hotels? Is that correct?

[Thomas]

Dave,

Unknown.

Speculation was that the $150M was a lump sum rent payment. But that is unconfirmed.

Several of the Council mentioned that the Lease Term Sheet needs to be completed and published.

[Ron]

This is 100% public financing, unless the Rays are willing to donate $150 million for construction anf then STILL PAY RENT!!!

[Thomas]

"Help me out"

Affirmative. $137M from the Bed Tax.

(Assuming the county approves that extension/use of the tax)

[Will Ferrell]

Vote Yes for Cowbell. A generation of Cowbell lovers will thank you.

[Let us vote NO!!]

WOOOHOOOO The Council is "very nicely" telling the Rays to POUND SAND and withdraw their request before they get BEAT DOWN at the polls!!!

NOT ON OUR WATERFRONT!!!!!

[Tommy Lee]

Go Jamie. Go Jamie. Go Jamie. Now ring your cowbell.

[Jimbo]

Yeah, Help, $137M would be paid by tourists (since people in Pinellas County usually don't stay in hotels in Pinellas County on a regular basis). While it may be public, you and me won't be paying that one.