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St. Pete Proposes Stadium Referendum

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By CARLOS MONCADA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 30, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG -- The city administration is proposing that the City Council begin the process for scheduling a November referendum on the Tampa Bay Rays' proposed downtown ballpark.

In a four-page memo released today, city staff members suggest that the council on Thursday initiate the referendum process so it can retain the option of allowing voters to decide on the Rays' proposed 34,000-seat stadium at the site of Progress Energy Park, home of Al Lang Field.

Doing so will not obligate the council to hold a referendum unless it adopts a referendum ordinance Aug. 7, the memo said. A first reading on the ordinance would occur July 17.

At its June 19 meeting, the council would select a potential developer, either Archstone-Madison of Arlington, Va., or Houston-based Hines Interests, to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site.

Staff also recommended that a financing plan for the $450 million waterfront ballpark be agreed upon by the city, Pinellas County and the Rays by Aug. 1.

Reporter Carlos Moncada can be reached at (727) 451-2333 or cmoncada@tampatrib.com.

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