Tampa City Council approves $21 million Rays community benefits agreement

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(The Center Square) –The Tampa City Council approved a $21 million community benefits agreement with the owners of the Rays’ stadium in a 4-3 vote Thursday.

The approval came despite community members and some council members raising concerns during the meeting ranging from the agreement’s content to whether proper procedures were being followed.

The agreement commits the Rays to providing a total of $60 million worth of benefits for the local community with $21 million of it going to the city of Tampa and the rest going to Hillsborough County. Tampa would receive $4.2 million within the first five years of the agreement.

The CBA would distribute the $4.2 million across several different areas highlighted as priorities by the community. The largest chunk, $2.5 million, would go toward housing and neighborhood stability around the ballpark, $550,000 would go to jobs, workforce and local business, another $550,000 would be for youth, education and literacy, $250,000 for mobility and regional access, $200,000 for public safety and first responders, and $75,000 for community, culture and inclusion, according to the agreement laid out by Tampa Bay Rays consultant Nicole Travis.

During public comment, Stephanie Poynor said the council members were hypocrites for not following policy and that there have not been public meetings held to specifically discuss the CBA, among other issues.

“The problem is if you’d followed this policy we wouldn’t be doing this half-assed and the only reason why we’re here today is because one of you is leaving next week and you guys want to curve the vote. It’s BS and you’re hypocrites if you pass this crap today,” said Poynor.

Council member Lynn Hurtak, who cast one of the three dissenting votes, said not enough money was being directed to District 6, where the new ballpark will be located.

“Had actually anyone from the Rays had reached out to me personally, which no one did. Apparently they talked to the other council members, but they didn’t speak to me. And, you know, even though I don’t support this deal, the CBA is really important. That’s why I’m not with my mother today for her MRIs. I’m here. But no one reached out to me. And if you’d reached out to me I would have said that $2 million is not in this district. And that’s just unconscionable. When I actually add it up, it’s actually only $1.5 million specific to District 6. Out of $4.2 million? That’s unacceptable,” said Hurtak.

Councilman Bill Carlson, who voted in favor of the agreement, said one of the major criticisms they got from the community was not having enough time to review it and asked the Rays to present documents at least nine or 10 days in advance, not at the last minute.

“It’s not a perfect document. If we had more time there are more things I would edit,” said Carlson.