D.C. Council to Vote on Baseball Financing

D.C. Council Chair Linda Cropp on WTOP.

D.C. Council Member Jim Graham on WTOP.

WTOP political analyst Mark Plotkin talks about the council's discussion on the baseball plan.

By BRETT ZONGKER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Lawmakers were expected to vote Tuesday on a plan to build a new stadium for the Washington Nationals.

The District of Columbia Council took up the bill three weeks after Chairwoman Linda W. Cropp abruptly pulled it from the Nov. 9 agenda, hoping to bide time for an alternate plan requiring more private financing.

That issue came up again Tuesday when Cropp offered an amendment that would require the city to invite and consider private financing proposals.

"I cannot say I saw any evidence of us looking at private financing," Cropp said. "This will establish a process by which we can receive them."

Cropp said officials were already talking to potential buyers of the team who may be willing to kick in stadium funds.

Those pitching ideas would have to pay a fee. The city's chief financial officer issued a report Tuesday saying those fees would offset the costs of analyzing each proposal.

That amendment passed, as did another one Cropp offered that would have the financial officer do another cost estimate in six months. If it is more than $100 million above his current $530 million estimate, it would require changing the stadium location to a less costly site.

"My intent here is not to stop baseball," Cropp said, adding she wanted "to enable baseball to come with some parameters."

Outspoken stadium opponent Councilman Adrian Fenty, D-Ward-4, offered an amendment that would have required team owners to cover any cost overruns for a new stadium.

"It's not enforceable, and secondly, it violates the baseball agreement," argued Councilman Jack Evans, D-Ward-2, a baseball booster. The deal signed in September by D.C. officials and Major League Baseball obligates the city to cover overruns beyond Mayor Anthony A. Williams' $440 million estimate.

That led Fenty to question whether any of the amendments were of any use.

"It appears the only ones that will not violate the terms of the deal are ones that don't do anything," Fenty said.

"We have already passed a bill which said we're capping this at $631 million and if we did so something would happen. Well, obviously the key there is it wouldn't happen because Major League Baseball has to agree to it," said Fenty. "This is not a good deal."

The 41,000-seat ballpark would rise along the banks of the Anacostia River and is supposed to be ready in 2008. Under terms of the deal, team owners get to keep all concession, advertising and parking money generated by baseball games played there.

Williams contends the bulk of the costs will be covered by an additional gross receipts tax on businesses that gross more than $4 million annually. In addition, the legislation calls for a 10 percent tax on tickets sold to baseball games at the new ballpark as well as at RFK Stadium, where the team is to play starting in April. There would also be a 10 percent tax on sales at the stadium, and a 12 percent tax on parking at there and at RFK games.

The agreement between the district and MLB requires the council to act by Dec. 31. That deadline has a secondary importance because three council members who support baseball are will be replaced in January by three who aren't sold on the idea. They include former Mayor Marion Barry.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Copyright 2004 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)