City Council agrees to seek Trop proposals

UPDATE (4 p.m.): The City Council agrees to move forward with the request for proposals 7-1. Council member Herb Polson voted no, saying things were moving too fast.

UPDATE (3:30 p.m.): ST. PETERSBURG -- City Council members right now are meeting to decide whether to issue a request for proposals to developers to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site. Based on comments at a workshop earlier today, the measure appears likely to pass.

Under the city's timetable, developers would have until March 18 to submit a proposal to buy and redevelop the Tropicana site.

The issuance of a request for proposals does not commit the city to move forward, senior city development administrator Rick Mussett said. But critics say the decision to do so would at least give the appearance that the city is moving ahead.

The Tampa Bay Rays are pushing the accelerated timetable, saying they hope to have a vote on their $1-billion redevelopment plan -- which includes a new downtown stadium and a redeveloped Tropicana Field site -- in November.

Council members started a morning workshop deciding whether the public should be able to speak during today's discussion. A majority of council members said no, saying there either wasn't enough time to notify the public or a real purpose to them speaking.

Instead, the council agreed to hold three public hearings on the stadium plan. The first public hearing has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 21.

"This is a big RFP, but ... I would think the appropriate time for public input would be better when the proposals were made," council member Jeff Danner said. "All we're doing today is asking a question."

"We're really gathering information," said council member Bill Dudley.

Council members Herb Polson and Wengay Newton said the council should allow public input.

"It looks like we're shutting (people) out," Newton said.

- Aaron Sharockman, Times staff writer

Comments

[John]

This has to be a joke. An open air stadium in Florida. Did we learn anything from the Marlins and all the rainouts they have every year? I won't even start with the humidity during the summer. PLEASE. Someone say APRIL'S FOOL.

[Steve]

Ok all of you "it's gonna be hot people are idiots." Baseball games are played at night...sure it will be humid, but I've been to many Atlanta Braves' games and its just as humid there as it is here and plenty of fans show up for their games.

Now onto your gripe about rainouts. You obviously forgot that this proposed stadium contains a covering that will prevent rainouts. I'm not exactly sold on the stadium yet myself, but it has nothing to do with heat and rain...that should be the least of everyones concerns.

[John]

The Braves get more people in the stands because they have a better product on the field. What happens with all the money still owed on the Trop? How about the tree huggers that are going to lock this project up in court? Do the taxpayers really need to support another billionare? Enough of this. If the Rays want a new stadium I am sure the people of Las Vegas will build it for you. Don't let the door hit you guys on the way out.

[Dan]

I agree, baseball is meant to be played outdoors, not under a roof. I'm not so much worried about a new stadium, which is much needed. I'm worried about the fans who are going to bit moan and complain about it being so far away and dont want to make the 30 min. drive from Tampa or the surrounding areas. From someone who is from CT and had to drive more than 2 hours to see any baseball game, I'm estatic that this plan is being put in place and baseball will remain in the Bay Area for a long time.

[Lawrence]

Well, at least the new guy Mr. Newton had to courage to want to allow the public to speak to the public's business. I'm disappointed in Dudley. He's already one of the gang.

[On our way]

to a re-developed Trop site w/affordable housing, unique local shops / retail, common park space & green areas... I'm estatic as well Dan that this proposal is moving forward & it will forever change the landscape of St. Pete for the better making it even more of a destination place, so thanks for posting sensefully & sharing your northern experience of what you had to go through to see a MLB game.

I'm very hopefully St. Pete residents will see the positives benefits and approve Nov referendum.

It's another great day in St. Petersburg. Go Rays!!!!

[Dr_Dug]

St. Pete doesn't need another Ball Field!! THE VOTERS SAY: NO!!
STOP THE CRAP and GET ON WITH HELPING THE VOTERS OF ST.PETE WITH THIER TAXES!!! The Ballfield is a STUPID IDEA and WASTE of MONEY !!

[Jason]

Bad idea all around. Give up the idea, big waste of money, it destroys historical areas of downtown, and the trop will not be effectively re-developed.
And the city officials who want to keep the public opinions out of this topic, well, lets just say they will not be getting my vote when it comes time for re-election regardless of the other candidate.

[Kim]

Okay build it. "On our way" and others get out your check books and come up with the money. You want it so bad then be up front and pay for it. If we who do not want it and can not afford the increase of taxes it will take to build this thing leave us alone. We won't use it. You use it you pay. How is that? You pay $200.00 tickets and sit out in the heat and enjoy. Write them a big personal check. I know, pay for your seat. like you do in church.
Why should I and others have to pay so you can watch baseball games. We Paid once and it isn't even paid off. Now you want us to pay for another one to sit out in the night as the hot humid breeze come blowing off the Bay.No. YOU build it and they will come.

[Kathleen Ford]

Thank you, Herb Polson for voting against this bassakward proposal. Does anyone believe a credible developer will come forward with a significant cash offer to maybe, sort of, possibly redevelop 86 acres of intown land near some of the city's highest crime districts? This is a continued waste of taxpayer resources. The "behind the scene shenanigans" of Baker, et al, are, however, all too familiar.

People go to Bucs games outside

[Adam]

Kim, we don't have to "come up with the money." Their plan does not create any new tax burden on us and would go forward ONLY upon the sale and re-development of the Trop site, which is currently unused 6 months a year. Thus, the plan ultimately adds to the city's tax base, but does NOT create any new taxes.

[Dr_Dug]

To Adam:

Your an Idiot

[Dr_Dug's Mom]

Sorry Everyone. Sonny forgot to take his meds today.

Please carry on with your respective debate.

[JOE]

ALL of the money comes from the public.
The Rays would repay in rent $150MM of
the $450MM cost to build it.

[SPScott]

A great big thank you to Herb Polson. And at least Mr. Newton, a new council member, went on record as saying the proposal should be open to public comment.

[St Pete Resident]

I don't want it! I love our downtown (except for the shootings and panhandlers) and LIKE going to the restaurants and movies. I don't want to stay home because parking in downtown, which is now not too bad, becomes a nightmare and people shun business because of it. Baseball people eat hotdogs, they don't support downtown businesses

[Donna]

Steve & others:
Sure the games are at night. Do you turn off your AC in the summer at 7:00 PM? Without AC Florida would be the least populated state. St Pete cannot afford to hire enough police to keep shoppers safe at Bay Walk. We do not want to see the next 5 years, during an economic down turn, as a time when construction on the water front and at the current dome site tear up our beautiful city. Hasn't it been about 6 months since folks from Tampa were over here trying to learn how St Pete had improved its downtown? This is not the time. We cannot afford it.

[Donna]

Dr Dug? It's "You're an idiot." It's a contraction of "you are".

Dan: We were going to have baseball here for years to come before this proposal. The Rays have a contract to play at the Trop until 2027. Some believe this is just a way for them to leave St Pete. If they tear it down they can't play in it. See?

[Donna]

Adam: There is no tax money from the current Trop. It belongs to the county. When it is torn down and turned into housing and shopping areas all the tax money will go to the building of the new stadium. So the net increase in tax money that could be used is zero. Not one pot hole can be filled.

[Dr_Dug]

To Adam:

Your an Idiot

[Dr_Dug]

Exactly how does a new Ball-Park bring in more money? The developers make more money, but how does a BAD ballteam bring in money? Oh yea, anyone living downtown will exponentially help thier home value rise. Except that only equals .001 of city voters. Hell,if your looking for new money..how about a waterfront mall?

[Tommy]

Just wait until the Rays make a run for the Wild Card this season, I bet the stadium proposal will be recieved much better. Lets face it, if the Bucs played in a crappy dome like the Trop the entire Tampa Bay area would be demanding a new venue. If the Rays win, they will soon enough get a new stadium.

The stadium will never happen.

There are those who think the weather won't work. There are those who think the process was corrupt. There are those who feel there is no parking or valid traffic management plan in place. There are those who don't like baseball. There are those who don't want more waterfront development. And there are those who think this whole plan is bad for the city, the economy, the environment or whatever else.

And all these people will vote no.

The other 3 citizens of St. Pete will say yes, and lose.

[TH]

Yea Councilman Herb Polson for seeing it correctly! This is moving way too fast and needs to be looked at more seriously than what it currently is. If this is the greatest thing since sliced bread then it will be worth the wait. The city needs to review this in a timely manner to get it done so that it is the best deal for the city and it's citizens! Look at the blank hole in downtown where the grand bohemium is suppose to be - and they still are not done negotiating that deal.

[Dr_Dug]

Whats the problem with the Trop? Didn't the City/Local leaders say it was "going to revitalize Downtown"? Okay! We just want our monies worth? And coincidentally, if WE are to invest so much money,then why can't we pump up the PAYROLL and make other financial decisions regarding our INVESTMENT? There's a reason why the Owners RISK NOTHING!!

[Dr_Dug]

And what if your not a Baseball Fan? Or don't live near the waterfront? And of course, is downtown St.Pete ready for all this SUDDEN prosperity and traffic? Give me a break! I can see it now..15,000 cars driving down Beach Drive..?!?!! Please....
And by the way...the RAYS owe the VOTERS money and a TEAM..!

[Jake]

5 Reasons to Vote for the Ballpark:
1. None of your taxes will fund it.
2. Surface parking lots get replaced by shops, restaurants, housing, and parks.
3. Bring more people downtown and more oppotunity for small business.
4. Both the ballpark and the trop redevelopment claim to be LEED certified green buildings.
5. Jobs, jobs, jobs.

You can't redevelop the Trop without moving the Rays. Why keep so much property locked up for 20 years if its redevelopment could benefit the City now?

Dr. Dug, the Trop design was the last of its breed. It has no urban context and was never going to bring much benefit because it is surrounded by parking lots that act as a barrier.

Thankfully the voters of St Pete will decide, not just the cynical anti-government crazies on this blog. To all the angry cynics who are against EVERYTHING, why don't you all pick out a nice shack in Montana like Ted Kaczynski?

[Lon]

Right on Jake! People in St Pete need a little perspective. I moved here 2 years ago from the midwest, where any city would be estatic to have the potential for a plan like this. If you don't like redevelopment, traffic, or heat, try moving to Flint, Michigan. I hear their economy is great these days.

[peter]

Let's see...Rays and owner Sternberg suggest funding source for new stadium should primarily be tax dollars generated from property taxes from new development at the dome site to pay off bonds. City staff and the bobble-head council are adament about needing to get information about the value of the new development and sticking to the Rays schedule so an RFP is issued without Council allowing any public comment. Staff and council explain to the public, don't worry they haven't committed to anything they are just trying to gather the information necessary to make a decision.

Team owner who is at least a multi millionaire (is it billionaire?) says the most the team can contribute to the construction cost of the 450 million dollar stadium on waterfront property he expects to get for free is 10 million per year. No questions are asked by staff or bobble-head council about why team cannot pay more nor even questioning why the team's books cannot be opened to see if it is true that no more than 10 million per year can be kindly contributed to the cost of the new stadium. This is the same team owner who has said:
"You will never - and I will say it now and hopefully I can say it and you'll follow up - you will not hear the words, "We need to have a new stadium,' " Stern berg told a group of Times editors. "We might like to have a new stadium. We can work with the authorities to have a new stadium and work with businesses to have a new stadium, but it won't be from a sense of "need.'

And just to make sure that we didn't misunderstand him, subsequently said:

Stern berg repeatedly said that he has not altered from his stance that the remaining life expectancy of the Trop is "from five to 20 years." Also, he said this: "I will never demand a new stadium." And this: "I don't expect the taxpayers to buy me a new stadium."

Am I missing something? Does city staff simply take Sternberg's word that no more then 10 million per year can go to the stadium. Or which word do we trust that Sternberg has said? When does city staff gather the information to see what share of the stadium cost the Rays can put up so that a decision can be made as to how many tax dollars really will be needed if we generously decide to build a new home for the Rays?

[TH]

Hey Dr_Dug, I hope you leave St. Pete after the stadium is approved. This city needs to progress from the days of the movie Cocoon. That will happen as more people like you move out of St. Pete.

[Matthew]

The fact that the Council obviously had been having secret meetings with Rays management should be justification for a lawsuit under the Florida Sunshine Law. When that all comes out, as it will, all the Council members who were on board at that time may as well kiss their careers goodbye.
This headlong rush to give the Rays what they want is astonishing. Hopefully the informed voters will vote against this. Keep your eye out for a petition regarding this.

[TR]

Hey Matthew: I hear that homes are cheap in Fargo, ND. Maybe you should consider moving.

[Ryan]

As mentioned above, the real issue of this whole plan is the violation of the Florida Sunshine Law. Saint Pete residents should have unfettered acccess to all information regarding this plan. This may very well be a good idea, but the lack of full disclosure makes one raise an eybrow. Remember, the power comes from the people. It doesn't matter how much money is behind this. Anyone with information on organizing a petition please post it.

[Tom]

Baseball should be played outside......Let's get bids on taking the top off the Trop!

[Jessica]

Who cares if a new stadium happens in St Pete or in Tampa...business is about location so let them go for location - all of us in St Pete will still travel for games. The main issues are in relation to environmental impact - they still have no parking plan, no fertilizer plan, not traffic plan, no not dredging and filling int he bay plan, no paying back our penny for Pinellas and bed tax plan for pay for the existing site...shall I continue on...this is the cart before the horse - I do not understand how we all can not be united on this front. This is politics at its best and they are using the American public to deem us as idiots that we do not understand the process they MUST go through - our opinion counts! Let us vote, let us voice our opinion, let us all elect them all out of office!

Make the Trop a ladies club. I would much rather have a lap dance from a beautiful woman than a rectal jam from Baker and his crime family.

Tropicana Field should become a holding tank for the sewer department. That way Baker and the city council won't have too keep dumping crap into Tampa Bay.

[Paul]

I'm speechless. Which is not like me. The tax paying citizens of St Pete have 2 baseball facilities. I've been to one game, ever. I own multiple properties in St Pete, so needless to say, I pay a bit in taxes. Beyond the fact that we have a dome, its not paid off, and the 'economic growth' around the dome has never transpired... who in their right mind can get behind a project like this?! 'Baseball should be played outdoors', ok, fine, I'm not a ball fan, but hey, guess what? There IS an outdoor ballfield on the waterfront RIGHT NOW. Play there. Don't jam a 1/2 Billion dollar project down our throats and build shopping and housing. Anyone take a look around and see all the vacant condo's? Anyone notice all the condo projects getting cancelled? I'll sum it up to say this is so outrageous that 'The Rays Suck Balls'.