Bruno Barrieiro put resolution File Number: 072692 on the Agenda of the County Airport and Tourism Committee meeting September 25th:File Name: NEGOTIATE BASEBALL STADIUM AGREEMENT FOR COUNTY FUNDING
Introduced: 9/11/2007
Agenda Date: 10/16/2007
Title: RESOLUTION DIRECTING MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO IDENTIFY SOURCES OF LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS TO FUND COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BALLPARK FOR FLORIDA MARLINS AT ORANGE BOWL LOCATION AND AUTHORIZING MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE BASEBALL STADIUM AGREEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELATED AGREEMENTS BY AND AMONG COUNTY, CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA MARLINS, LP, AND ANY OTHER NECESSARY PARTIES, SUBJECT TO FINAL BOARD APPROVAL:
WHEREAS, the University of Miami, the primary tenant of the Orange Bowl, has announced its intention to play all of its home football games at Dolphin Stadium commencing its 2008-2009 football season; and
WHEREAS, the State legislature failed to approve legislation to allow the Florida Marlins to receive a state sales tax rebate as provided to other professional sports franchises in the State; therefore, a funding gap exists in the financing plan for the new Ballpark; and
WHEREAS, this Board wishes to direct the Mayor or his designee to identify sources of legally available funds to fund the County's contribution towards the development of a new ballpark and to negotiate a Baseball Stadium Agreement and any other necessary agreements by and among the County, the City and Florida Marlins, LP to develop and operate a new ballpark at the Orange Bowl location, subject to subsequent Board approval,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are incorporated in this resolution and are approved.
Section 2. The Mayor or his designee is hereby directed to identify sources of legally available funds to fund the County's contribution towards the development and operation of a new ballpark at the Orange Bowl for the Florida Marlins, which sources may include, among others, Building Better Communities general obligation bond proceeds in an amount not to exceed $50 million, the Convention Development Tax and the Professional Sports Tax.
Section 3. The Mayor or his designee is hereby directed to negotiate a Baseball Stadium Agreement and any other agreements by and among the County, the City, the Florida Marlins, LP and any other necessary parties for the development and operation of a new ballpark at the Orange Bowl location, subject to subsequent Board approval.
5 comments:
Like they have a lot of extra tax dollars lying around...
shear insanity except for the guy getting paid to push this burden on the taxpayers.
Miami-Dade County is defunding lunches for children of parents on welfare and meals for elderly and dim witted Bruno wants to give away tax dollars to a private business owner for a $850 Mil stadium?
Although I am not a fan of public financing for professional sports franchises, let me clear up some misconceptions.
1. "County" Money used for a stadium would come from a.) Hotel Bed Taxes (paid by tourists) or b.) Community Developement Taxes (paid by tourists)
There would be no commitment of of General Fund Revenues derived from property taxes from the residents of Miami-Dade County.
One might ask: "if you have all that extra money from the BDT or CDT, why not use it to lower our taxes?"
Simple. According to State Statute, moneys collected from BDTs and CDTs can only be used for a limited number of purposes. One of which happens to be sports facilities.
2. The price is not $850 million. It was closer to $500 million (if the team had to by the land). But since the city would donate the land as their portion of the costs, the total "construction" cost would be less.
Additionally, the County and City would have a hard cap on any amount they would be willing to contribute. Any cost overuns would be on the Marlins.
The Marlins would be in charge of construction. Meaning the usual cost overuns associated with government projects would probably not be as severe as when contractors take advantage of government projects.
We are told by experts nationwide that the costs to build a stadium with a retracable domed roof would be at least $850 Mil. By the way, the Marlins demand a retracable roof because a dozen of their 200 fans complain. And this is Florida so everything has to meet Code and be hurricane proof.
And you have to value the land costs unless the Marlins are going to buy a site. They refuse to write any checks unless it is to pay their lobbyists so I guess they only want free land.
Let us let the Marlins buy their own site and pay for their own stadium. They only have a few hundred customers. The average Starbucks is 100 times more popular. Miami-Dade County isn't giving money to Starbucks are they?
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