Marlins Stadium Vote Delayed to Jan. 22

I'll have MUCH more to say about the subject of a Marlins stadium in the next few days.
Until then, please also see The Miami News Today's excellent editorial, Don't sign blank check now for incomplete stadium at
http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/080104/story-viewpoint.shtml

The proposed agenda and particulars are available in the County's pdf files below the articles.
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www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-flb3bdigest01090sbjan09,0,5289072.story

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Miami-Dade commission to delay vote on new Marlins ballpark
January 9, 2008

Miami-Dade County commissioners will again delay a vote on a financing plan for a Florida Marlins ballpark Thursday, as county, city of Miami, team and Major League Baseball officials continue to hammer out the agreement.
Commissioners delayed a vote last month to give the sides more time to negotiate a plan for a $525 million ballpark at the site of the Orange Bowl. County Manager George Burgess plans to update commissioners on negotiations Thursday.
Commission Chairman Bruno Barreiro said he will recommend the item be deferred until the commission's Jan. 22 meeting "so everyone can have enough time to review and analyze the whole package because even if it gets ready by Thursday, there definitely won't be enough time to review it," Barreiro said.

Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/371598.html
Miami Herald
Vote on stadium financing to be deferred
By Charles Rabin
January 8, 2008

A vote set for Thursday to approve a financing plan for a new Florida Marlins baseball stadium will be deferred, as the team, city and county labor to reach consensus on the fine print of the proposed $525 million Little Havana ballpark.
County Manager George Burgess told commission aides Tuesday that the three entities need more time to iron out several differences in the plan made public only last month. Burgess declined comment.
Betty Gutierrez, legislative aide to County Commission Chairman Bruno Barreiro, said Burgess conveyed that the administration was not yet ready to move forward.
''My understanding is it's not so much the numbers -- they're all just trying to work out technicalities,'' Barreiro said.
He said his commission colleagues deserve time to review any agreement, so he will move the item to Jan. 22.
County Mayoral Spokeswoman Vicki Mallette confirmed the administration wished to delay a vote by two weeks, saying "negotiations are continuing.''
This will be the second time a vote on the financing has been deferred.
Under the proposal, the Marlins would pay $155 million up front, and the county and city would contribute $249 million and $121 million, respectively.
The funding plan is one part of a multibillion dollar agreement between the city and county that would also finance a port tunnel and a park for the proposed museums at Bicentennial Park. The agreement would also cover construction costs of almost one-half billion dollars for the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts.
Car mogul Norman Braman began airing radio announcements in both English and Spanish this week, urging residents to push commissioners to vote against the plan for the ballpark and the downtown redevelopment.
The ads focus on money gained from extending and expanding Miami's Community Redevelopment Agency -- the linchpin to creating the money needed for the development deal -- as investments that should be directed to the poor.

Reader comments on this article are at:
http://pod01.prospero.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?msg=27691&nav=messages&webtag=kr-miamitm
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http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/commagenda.asp?cmbmeetdate=2441&file=true&changes=false

Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Agenda
PRELIMINARY Version
Thursday, January 10, 2008
As Advertised
Commission Chambers

11A26

073648
Resolution
Bruno A. Barreiro

RESOLUTION REQUESTING MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE AND FINALIZE BASEBALL STADIUM AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG COUNTY, CITY OF MIAMI AND FLORIDA MARLINS, LP, RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BALLPARK FOR FLORIDA MARLINS, SUBJECT TO SUBSEQUENT BOARD APPROVAL; AND REAFFIRMING COMMITMENT TO PLEDGE PORTION OF PROJECTED AVAILABLE CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT TAX AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISE FACILITIES TAX RECEIPTS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH BALLPARK

PDF

12/18/2007
Carried over by BCC

12/20/2007
Deferred by BCC Passed 13 - 0

11A26 SUPPLEMENT

073661
Supplement

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION RE: FLORIDA MARLINS BALLPARK PROJECT

PDF

12/18/2007
Carried over by BCC


12/20/2007
Deferred by BCC Passed 13 - 0