Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Citizens try to save Orlando's Tinker Field - FOX 35 News Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) -
A group of citizens spoke up at the Orange County Commission on Tuesday, urging commissioners to stop the demolition of Orlando's historic baseball venue, Tinker Field, but they may not be in the right place with their concerns.
People like Katherine Buchannon used the county's allotted time for addressing public concerns to blast the City of Orlando for announcing they would tear down the old field as part of the reconstruction of the Florida Citrus Bowl.
"All I'm asking is, please don't erase our field of dreams, and don't erase our heart," she said.
Mick Dolan told commissioners that they should try to find other options.
"We can preserve it. There's ways we can do this," he said. "We need to talk about it, and gather ideas. The little league aspect is a great thing, a smaller field, just make it a museum if you have to. Save it."
Orange County is using tourist taxes to fund the reconstruction of the Citrus Bowl, but tearing down Tinker Field is not listed in any of their funding agreements with Orlando, so they do not feel like they are paying for the demolition of Tinker Field. Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell seemed to relay the consensus of the commission when she told the speakers the county could not force Orlando to act.
"That's a separate jurisdiction. That's like somebody telling us how to maintain the Convention Center."
Commissioner Pete Clarke wants Tinker Field saved, as do many of the other commissioners, but for now, all Mayor Teresa Jacobs can do is go meet with Orlando officials and ask nicely.
"We don't have any jurisdiction. I have told Mayor Dyer, and I have told the commissioners we stand ready to help in any way possible to preserve this property, and I suspect that means some contribution of funding."
On Monday, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced that the stands at Tinker Field would not come down just yet. They are trying to get more public input and a more comprehensive plan.
So far, the city has not taken any type of formal vote on the demolition of Tinker Field. It was simply presented to council during a workshop on Citrus Bowl construction. It is unclear whether or not they will even be required to vote on the matter.
Read more: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/24697434/citizens-try-to-save-orlandos-tinker-field#ixzz2tmPhuTNH
Monday, February 17, 2014
Pro baseball stadium talks strike out with Crotty
So Crotty, the Orange County mayor, is handing off negotiations to his successor, Teresa Jacobs.
After seeing the early project outlines, Crotty wrote Armando Gutierrez Jr., to say he had too many land, lease and cost concerns to work out before leaving office.
After seeing the early project outlines, Crotty wrote Armando Gutierrez Jr., to say he had too many land, lease and cost concerns to work out before leaving office.
"I regret your proposal bears no resemblance to our initial conversations," Crotty wrote to Gutierrez on Oct. 28. "Unfortunately, it is not even in the ballpark."
Gutierrez and other investors want to lure the New York Yankees' Class A affiliate from Tampa and build a $20 million, 6,500-seat stadium where the team can play. The plan also envisions a baseball museum and a retail venture, all built on county-owned land near International Drive and the BeachLine Expressway.
Gutierrez said the early talks with county officials were "going good," and he downplayed cost concerns raised by Crotty's staff, saying, "We are not going to take any public money from the county."
But both sides are still so far apart that each agrees negotiations will basically wait for Jacobs, who will be sworn in Jan. 4. Jacobs said she could not comment on the proposal until she had time to study it.
Four months after launching a bid last year for Congress against U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, Gutierrez, 29, suddenly dropped from the race in February to pursue a pro baseball franchise.
Skeptics were rampant. Florida's major-league teams — the Miami-based Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays — struggle to attract fans. The last minor-league team in Orlando left for Montgomery, Ala., in 2003.
In early September, Gutierrez said he was negotiating with Yankees officials to bring a team to play in Orlando. Last month, Gutierrez's group, Baseball Enterprise LLC, laid out more specifics, including a proposed license and lease deal, tax-revenue projections and site renderings.
Crotty balked and listed his concerns in a six-page memo.
Initial talks centered on 12 to 15 acres of county-owned land for the project, but the actual proposal seeks 25 acres with an option on seven more, which would include room for 60,000 square feet of commercial space. That much public land is thought to be worth about $25 million, county officials estimate, and it's not clear that a private company can use it for profit-making enterprises.
State law bars certain commercial uses on public land, and the deal proposed by Baseball Enterprises would amount to "a lease, if not a donation, of county land," that might be needed for other public projects and subject to bidding rules, Crotty's memo states.
In addition, Baseball Enterprises sought to avoid paying property taxes, impact fees
and requested a 99-year lease, with two renewal options of the same length, the memo said. The early plan turned over to Crotty also envisioned construction of a pedestrian bridge over the BeachLine, a chilled-water plant and possible extension of utilities at the site to be paid by the county.
Gutierrez and other investors want to lure the New York Yankees' Class A affiliate from Tampa and build a $20 million, 6,500-seat stadium where the team can play. The plan also envisions a baseball museum and a retail venture, all built on county-owned land near International Drive and the BeachLine Expressway.
Gutierrez said the early talks with county officials were "going good," and he downplayed cost concerns raised by Crotty's staff, saying, "We are not going to take any public money from the county."
But both sides are still so far apart that each agrees negotiations will basically wait for Jacobs, who will be sworn in Jan. 4. Jacobs said she could not comment on the proposal until she had time to study it.
Four months after launching a bid last year for Congress against U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, Gutierrez, 29, suddenly dropped from the race in February to pursue a pro baseball franchise.
Skeptics were rampant. Florida's major-league teams — the Miami-based Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays — struggle to attract fans. The last minor-league team in Orlando left for Montgomery, Ala., in 2003.
In early September, Gutierrez said he was negotiating with Yankees officials to bring a team to play in Orlando. Last month, Gutierrez's group, Baseball Enterprise LLC, laid out more specifics, including a proposed license and lease deal, tax-revenue projections and site renderings.
Crotty balked and listed his concerns in a six-page memo.
Initial talks centered on 12 to 15 acres of county-owned land for the project, but the actual proposal seeks 25 acres with an option on seven more, which would include room for 60,000 square feet of commercial space. That much public land is thought to be worth about $25 million, county officials estimate, and it's not clear that a private company can use it for profit-making enterprises.
State law bars certain commercial uses on public land, and the deal proposed by Baseball Enterprises would amount to "a lease, if not a donation, of county land," that might be needed for other public projects and subject to bidding rules, Crotty's memo states.
In addition, Baseball Enterprises sought to avoid paying property taxes, impact fees
and requested a 99-year lease, with two renewal options of the same length, the memo said. The early plan turned over to Crotty also envisioned construction of a pedestrian bridge over the BeachLine, a chilled-water plant and possible extension of utilities at the site to be paid by the county.
"This is an unacceptable burden on the public," Crotty wrote.
But Gutierrez said that as far as utility and road costs are concerned, "as a show of good faith, we'll pay those expenses." State transportation officials, not county taxpayers, would be approached for funding a pedestrian bridge, he said.
David Damron can be reached at ddamron@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5311
But Gutierrez said that as far as utility and road costs are concerned, "as a show of good faith, we'll pay those expenses." State transportation officials, not county taxpayers, would be approached for funding a pedestrian bridge, he said.
David Damron can be reached at ddamron@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5311
Leaders Balk At Baseball In Orlando
Orange County's Chairman And Orlando's Mayor Said They Won't Make Any Effort To Lure The Devil Rays.
Orange County Chairman Rich Crotty and Mayor Glenda Hood said emphatically Friday there will be no effort by government to lure the Tampa Bay Devil Rays major-league baseball team to Orlando.
"The answer is no," said Hood, who led an unsuccessful drive for Major League Baseball six years ago. "There's no way the city is going to be involved in anything."
"The answer is no," said Hood, who led an unsuccessful drive for Major League Baseball six years ago. "There's no way the city is going to be involved in anything."
Added Crotty: "Right now, we're trying to make sure our existing professional sports team stays in town. This is just a very difficult time to start a debate."
Crotty was referring to the sometimes-heated negotiations between the county, city and the Orlando Magic basketball team over the squad's push for a new arena built mostly with tax dollars.
Devil Rays officials, losing money and suffering from poor attendance, announced Friday they would entertain offers to sell the last-place team.
Hood and Crotty were almost irritated they had to talk about the Devil Rays, the expansion team that was awarded to Tampa Bay instead of Orlando in 1995.
Unless a prospective owner wants to build a new stadium in Orlando with private funds, Hood and Crotty said, they want nothing to do with luring a team to the area.
Their stand was seconded by County Commissioner Ted Edwards, a lawyer employed by International Drive hotelier Harris Rosen to fight the 1995 drive to build a baseball stadium with the so-called tourist tax.
"There just isn't enough money," Edwards said. "Sure, I'd love to have baseball. And if a team could pay for most of its own stadium, we'd welcome them. But right now, the money isn't there."
Without support -- and money -- from the city and county, Greater Orlando's chances for landing baseball essentially are nil.
That's because team owners invariably expect local governments to contribute most, if not all, of the money needed to build stadiums. And Crotty and Hood are too busy scrambling to find enough money to replace the 12-year-old TD Waterhouse Centre, the Magic's home court.
The Magic is seeking more than $200 million from Orlando and Orange County for a building expected to cost at least $250 million.
City and county officials have balked at that request, saying the Magic must come up with more team money, although no specific number has been named.
Crotty was referring to the sometimes-heated negotiations between the county, city and the Orlando Magic basketball team over the squad's push for a new arena built mostly with tax dollars.
Devil Rays officials, losing money and suffering from poor attendance, announced Friday they would entertain offers to sell the last-place team.
Hood and Crotty were almost irritated they had to talk about the Devil Rays, the expansion team that was awarded to Tampa Bay instead of Orlando in 1995.
Unless a prospective owner wants to build a new stadium in Orlando with private funds, Hood and Crotty said, they want nothing to do with luring a team to the area.
Their stand was seconded by County Commissioner Ted Edwards, a lawyer employed by International Drive hotelier Harris Rosen to fight the 1995 drive to build a baseball stadium with the so-called tourist tax.
"There just isn't enough money," Edwards said. "Sure, I'd love to have baseball. And if a team could pay for most of its own stadium, we'd welcome them. But right now, the money isn't there."
Without support -- and money -- from the city and county, Greater Orlando's chances for landing baseball essentially are nil.
That's because team owners invariably expect local governments to contribute most, if not all, of the money needed to build stadiums. And Crotty and Hood are too busy scrambling to find enough money to replace the 12-year-old TD Waterhouse Centre, the Magic's home court.
The Magic is seeking more than $200 million from Orlando and Orange County for a building expected to cost at least $250 million.
City and county officials have balked at that request, saying the Magic must come up with more team money, although no specific number has been named.
As far as the Magic is concerned, most of the public's contribution to a new arena would come from the county's 5 percent tax on hotel rooms -- a levy that generates $120 million a year. It has been used to retrofit the Florida Citrus Bowl and paid for almost half of the $110 million Waterhouse Centre.
County and city officials passed a fifth penny on the tourist tax six years ago to pay for a baseball field if Orlando won a team. When would-be owner Norton Herrick of Boca Raton was turned down by Major League Baseball, that penny went toward promoting tourism and expanding the Orange County Convention Center.
All five pennies now are committed largely to a $750 million expansion of the already massive convention center. And tourism executives have vowed to intensely fight any move that could take significant amounts of money away from the center or advertising their industry.
Herrick, a real-estate investor, has said he would be interested in pursuing baseball again if Orlando would be willing to build the stadium and turn over most of the revenue to him, as was promised before. He could not be reached Friday.
As far as Crotty is concerned, the choice between the Magic and the Devil Rays is simple: "Constituencies sometimes get upset if you deny them something, but they become irate if you take something away."
County and city officials passed a fifth penny on the tourist tax six years ago to pay for a baseball field if Orlando won a team. When would-be owner Norton Herrick of Boca Raton was turned down by Major League Baseball, that penny went toward promoting tourism and expanding the Orange County Convention Center.
All five pennies now are committed largely to a $750 million expansion of the already massive convention center. And tourism executives have vowed to intensely fight any move that could take significant amounts of money away from the center or advertising their industry.
Herrick, a real-estate investor, has said he would be interested in pursuing baseball again if Orlando would be willing to build the stadium and turn over most of the revenue to him, as was promised before. He could not be reached Friday.
As far as Crotty is concerned, the choice between the Magic and the Devil Rays is simple: "Constituencies sometimes get upset if you deny them something, but they become irate if you take something away."
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County Session Notes
WORKSESSION - TOURIST TAX
Staff Report County Attorney Tom Wilkes reviewed the uses of the fourth and fifth cents of the Tourist Development Tax. Mr. Wilkes explained the "fourth cent" is for debt on the convention center, sports debt, the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, convention center operations, and capital improvements. He continued that the "fifth cent" is restricted to existing sports debt for the Orlando Arena and the Citrus Bowl or other professional sports franchise facilities.
May 2, 1995 Page 259
May 2, 1995 Page 259
Mr. Wilkes further explained a "freed up" portion of the "fourth cent" would first be used to increase the subsidy to the convention center; the remainder would be used for the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau and, also, for the Florida Citrus Sports Association.
Mr. Wilkes continued that the surplus "fifth cent" will be deposited into the Tourist Development Trust Fund to be used for baseball. He added that March 9, 1997, is the deadline for acquiring a baseball team. Mr. Wilkes noted that if Orange County gets a baseball team, the accumulated surplus in the trust fund will be used for the design and construction of a stadium; however, if the County does not get a baseball team, the accumulated monies would be used to redeem all existing sports debt for the Orlando Arena and the Citrus Bowl. He pointed out that the sports debt cannot be paid in advance; the earliest it could begin to be paid is 1998.
Discussion The Board discussed the possibility of changing the terms of the two-year agreement with Norton Herrick, the likelihood of changing legislation on this issue, and use of the tourist tax for transportation improvements in the tourism district.
Motion Upon a motion by County Chairman Chapin, seconded by Commissioner Butler, and carried with County Chairman Chapin and all commissioners present and voting AYE by voice vote, the Board approved retaining the "fifth cent" Tourist Development Tax as presently provided for by Ordinance No. 94-25.
For the record, Commissioner Hoenstine stated that although he does not agree with continuing to collect the "5th cent," he will stand by it since this was part of the agreement with Norton Herrick.
In conclusion of the worksession, County Chairman Chapin read a portion of a poem entitled "Herrick at the Bat."
Staff Report County Attorney Tom Wilkes reviewed the uses of the fourth and fifth cents of the Tourist Development Tax. Mr. Wilkes explained the "fourth cent" is for debt on the convention center, sports debt, the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, convention center operations, and capital improvements. He continued that the "fifth cent" is restricted to existing sports debt for the Orlando Arena and the Citrus Bowl or other professional sports franchise facilities.
May 2, 1995 Page 259
May 2, 1995 Page 259
Mr. Wilkes further explained a "freed up" portion of the "fourth cent" would first be used to increase the subsidy to the convention center; the remainder would be used for the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau and, also, for the Florida Citrus Sports Association.
Mr. Wilkes continued that the surplus "fifth cent" will be deposited into the Tourist Development Trust Fund to be used for baseball. He added that March 9, 1997, is the deadline for acquiring a baseball team. Mr. Wilkes noted that if Orange County gets a baseball team, the accumulated surplus in the trust fund will be used for the design and construction of a stadium; however, if the County does not get a baseball team, the accumulated monies would be used to redeem all existing sports debt for the Orlando Arena and the Citrus Bowl. He pointed out that the sports debt cannot be paid in advance; the earliest it could begin to be paid is 1998.
Discussion The Board discussed the possibility of changing the terms of the two-year agreement with Norton Herrick, the likelihood of changing legislation on this issue, and use of the tourist tax for transportation improvements in the tourism district.
Motion Upon a motion by County Chairman Chapin, seconded by Commissioner Butler, and carried with County Chairman Chapin and all commissioners present and voting AYE by voice vote, the Board approved retaining the "fifth cent" Tourist Development Tax as presently provided for by Ordinance No. 94-25.
For the record, Commissioner Hoenstine stated that although he does not agree with continuing to collect the "5th cent," he will stand by it since this was part of the agreement with Norton Herrick.
In conclusion of the worksession, County Chairman Chapin read a portion of a poem entitled "Herrick at the Bat."
Chapin Puts Baseball Tax Before Tourist Council
The Chairman Wants A Recommendation On Whether To Repeal Or Keep Collecting The Tax.
Should Orange County continue to collect the tourist tax to build a Major League Baseball stadium if a team isn't on the immediate horizon?
That's the issue Orange County Chairman Linda Chapin wants the community and tourism officials to debate next month.
Last week, Chapin announced she wants to consider repealing the tourist tax increase from 4 to 5 cents on the dollar that went into effect Feb. 1.
That's the issue Orange County Chairman Linda Chapin wants the community and tourism officials to debate next month.
Last week, Chapin announced she wants to consider repealing the tourist tax increase from 4 to 5 cents on the dollar that went into effect Feb. 1.
The tax, collected on all hotel, motel, timeshare and campgrounds, will raise about $13 million this year, $8.1 million for a stadium if Orlando wins a team.
After baseball owners didn't award an expansion team to Orlando this month, Chapin started having second thoughts about continuing to collect the tax. On Wednesday, she asked the Tourist Development Council, which advises county commissioners, to give its recommendation.
The public will be invited to air its views at the tourist council meeting, tentatively slated for April 12 or 19.
''I think it is a very important public policy issue,'' Chapin said. ''There are plenty of options for how to spend the tax, and there are plenty of people who want to discuss this issue. This is the best forum to do it.''
Plenty of debate is expected.
Pro-baseball factions, led by would-be team owner Norton Herrick and Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, will argue not to tinker with the tax. Any wavering sends the wrong signals to baseball owners about the city's big-league aspirations, they say.
On March 9, baseball owners awarded expansion teams to Tampa Bay and Phoenix. They start play in 1998. Orlando is in the running for the next wave of expansion; two more teams could be awarded to start play in 2000 or 2001.
Herrick says the community has already shown its support of baseball and the resort tax increase. He points out that the increase was already ratified by local hoteliers, the tourist council, the Orlando City Council and the County Commission - all after Chapin survived a nasty re-election bid in which her opponent made baseball and the tax a key issue.
Under the current plan, if Herrick doesn't win a team, the money set aside for stadium construction would be used to retire debt on the Orlando Arena and Florida Citrus Bowl and then the fifth cent would sunset in 2000.
''I don't know anywhere in America where you go back and redo something that was so unanimously agreed to. For what? Why?,'' Herrick said. ''The absolute worst case for the city and county is we don't get baseball and they still have all of the money in place to pay down the (Citrus Bowl and Arena) debt.''
Another faction of tourism leaders will likely argue to keep the tax in place, but for different reasons than Herrick.
Besides the $8.1 million a year set aside for the stadium, the fifth cent also generates $4.8 million for expanding county convention center operations, new tourism ads and money to promote the annual Citrus Bowl football game.
After baseball owners didn't award an expansion team to Orlando this month, Chapin started having second thoughts about continuing to collect the tax. On Wednesday, she asked the Tourist Development Council, which advises county commissioners, to give its recommendation.
The public will be invited to air its views at the tourist council meeting, tentatively slated for April 12 or 19.
''I think it is a very important public policy issue,'' Chapin said. ''There are plenty of options for how to spend the tax, and there are plenty of people who want to discuss this issue. This is the best forum to do it.''
Plenty of debate is expected.
Pro-baseball factions, led by would-be team owner Norton Herrick and Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, will argue not to tinker with the tax. Any wavering sends the wrong signals to baseball owners about the city's big-league aspirations, they say.
On March 9, baseball owners awarded expansion teams to Tampa Bay and Phoenix. They start play in 1998. Orlando is in the running for the next wave of expansion; two more teams could be awarded to start play in 2000 or 2001.
Herrick says the community has already shown its support of baseball and the resort tax increase. He points out that the increase was already ratified by local hoteliers, the tourist council, the Orlando City Council and the County Commission - all after Chapin survived a nasty re-election bid in which her opponent made baseball and the tax a key issue.
Under the current plan, if Herrick doesn't win a team, the money set aside for stadium construction would be used to retire debt on the Orlando Arena and Florida Citrus Bowl and then the fifth cent would sunset in 2000.
''I don't know anywhere in America where you go back and redo something that was so unanimously agreed to. For what? Why?,'' Herrick said. ''The absolute worst case for the city and county is we don't get baseball and they still have all of the money in place to pay down the (Citrus Bowl and Arena) debt.''
Another faction of tourism leaders will likely argue to keep the tax in place, but for different reasons than Herrick.
Besides the $8.1 million a year set aside for the stadium, the fifth cent also generates $4.8 million for expanding county convention center operations, new tourism ads and money to promote the annual Citrus Bowl football game.
Theme park giants such as Walt Disney World are expected to argue to maintain the fifth cent for new tourism promotions.
''Our position is that the fifth cent is a really important source of advertising and promotion dollars which we really need,'' said Bill Warren of Walt Disney World.
Bill Davis, general manager of Sea World, said his organization supports collecting the portion of the fifth cent that will pay for the convention center, new promotions and the Citrus Bowl game.
Davis said leaders should consider suspending that part of the tax dedicated to baseball and reinstating the tax if Herrick wins an expansion club or buys a team.
Another key group is the Central Florida Hotel-Motel Association, which represents most of the properties generating the tax revenue. The group, which gave a mixed but positive endorsement for baseball last year, meets today to discuss Chapin's call to repeal the tax.
One tourist council member is awaiting the hotel group's decision.
''I feel that the hoteliers have a great deal of input,'' said Cathy Kerns, a 20-year local tourism advocate. ''If they were vehemently opposed to it (the fifth cent), I'd have to listen.''
Kerns supports keeping the fifth cent, but restructuring the payoff to reduce Citrus Bowl and Arena debt and spend more for the convention center and tourism advertising.
''Promotion in this community is devastatingly needed,'' Kerns said. ''We need to start fighting for our lives as an industry.''
''Our position is that the fifth cent is a really important source of advertising and promotion dollars which we really need,'' said Bill Warren of Walt Disney World.
Bill Davis, general manager of Sea World, said his organization supports collecting the portion of the fifth cent that will pay for the convention center, new promotions and the Citrus Bowl game.
Davis said leaders should consider suspending that part of the tax dedicated to baseball and reinstating the tax if Herrick wins an expansion club or buys a team.
Another key group is the Central Florida Hotel-Motel Association, which represents most of the properties generating the tax revenue. The group, which gave a mixed but positive endorsement for baseball last year, meets today to discuss Chapin's call to repeal the tax.
One tourist council member is awaiting the hotel group's decision.
''I feel that the hoteliers have a great deal of input,'' said Cathy Kerns, a 20-year local tourism advocate. ''If they were vehemently opposed to it (the fifth cent), I'd have to listen.''
Kerns supports keeping the fifth cent, but restructuring the payoff to reduce Citrus Bowl and Arena debt and spend more for the convention center and tourism advertising.
''Promotion in this community is devastatingly needed,'' Kerns said. ''We need to start fighting for our lives as an industry.''
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