TAMPA — Tampa City Council is meeting on what was supposed to be a week off to vote on what the Rays owe the city in exchange for their new ballpark.
The special session is at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, and has just one item on the agenda: the community benefits agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays, according to the city clerk's agenda. The agreement is one of the last big pieces of the roughly $2.3 billion stadium planned for Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus.
What the deal promises
The Rays have committed $60 million in community benefits across Tampa and Hillsborough County: $21 million for the city and $39 million for the county, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Thursday's vote covers only the city's share. The county will vote on its part separately.
- First five years: $4.2 million to Tampa. The remaining $16.8 million would be worked out in future agreements, Florida Politics reported.
- What counts: Cash, in-kind help, or programs run by the team or its partners. The benefits have to fall into eight categories: mobility and regional access; jobs, workforce and local business; housing and neighborhood stability; youth, education and literacy; public safety and first responders; community, culture and inclusion; family and fan access; and governance, transparency and accountability.
- Reporting: The Rays would update the city on their progress once a year.
- If they fall behind: The team wouldn't be in default as long as it keeps working in good faith to make up a shortfall within two years. The city could go to court to force compliance, but it couldn't hold back stadium money over a benefits dispute.
The blank page
The part of the agreement meant to list the team's first projects, what they'd cost and when they'd happen, is blank in the version given to council members. Rays representatives are expected to present that list and a timeline at Thursday's meeting, according to a memo from City Attorney Scott Steady, the Times reported.
The agreement would also exempt the stadium from Tampa's own Community Benefits Ordinance. For the biggest city-backed projects, that ordinance calls for a community impact report, workforce training programs, LEED Silver environmental certification, public meetings and review by a citizen advisory council. The city can grant an exemption if a developer offers benefits of similar value. The agreement says the Rays' commitments meet that bar, but the memo sent with it doesn't explain how the city reached that conclusion, according to Florida Politics.
Why the rush
Council member Luis Viera asked for the special meeting. Viera is running for the state House, and Florida's resign-to-run law means he leaves the council at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. He's been a reliable vote for the stadium, and without him the council could split 3-3 on ballpark votes until his replacement is picked. TBO has explained how that appointment works.
“Getting my part of the community benefits agreement is something that is very, very important to me,” Viera said at a meeting this month, according to the Times. “The seat's going to be open for a few weeks. You never know what's going to happen, right?”
Viera said he pushed for police and fire spending in the ballpark district, construction apprenticeships, and money for a police substation in New Tampa.
Council member Naya Young, who voted for the ballpark, said in May that she wants firm commitments on affordable housing, youth programs and work for women- and minority-owned businesses. “Promises to upgrade parks, housing and community investment must be backed by enforceable commitments and timelines,” Young said. “Just saying we'll take care of it is not good enough.”
The stadium votes have been close. The council approved the city's stadium agreement 4-3, Florida Politics has reported. And on Oct. 15 an $80 million bond resolution tied 3-3 before passing 4-3 when Council member Bill Carlson called in from home to break the tie, The Tampa Monitor reported.
How to watch or speak
- Where: City Council chambers, Tampa City Hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd., third floor. Thursday, Oct. 29, at 9 a.m.
- Public comment: Comes after the presentations and council questions, is limited to the Rays agreement, and runs three minutes per speaker.
- Speaking remotely: Fill out the city's public comment form and choose to speak live. Remote speakers have to register at least 24 hours ahead, so by 9 a.m. Wednesday.
- Watching: Spectrum channel 640, Frontier channel 15, or the city's livestream.