Published by: The Miami Herald
Published: March 4, 2009
Written by: Charles Rabin

For the third time in the past several weeks the Miami City Commission has rescheduled a vote on the five remaining contracts for a new stadium for the Florida Marlins.

The vote that was to take place Friday is now set for March 19.

No reason was immediately given, though the move now allows the city to combine all the votes necessary to complete its end of the Marlins deal at one time. Prior to Wednesday's announcement, a crucial bid waiver vote for street and utility repairs had been postponed indefinitely.

The Marlins’ attempt to finalize a long-fought stadium deal seemed imminent just three weeks ago when city commissioners were ready to vote on contracts for construction, operation, mangement, nonrelocation and assurance.

They were also to vote on spending $94 million to build a parking facility near the proposed Little Havana stadium and to vote on a bid waiver for $12 million worth of street and utility repairs.

But those votes tailspinned when Commissioner Marc Sarnoff requested a series of amendments. With his requests not met, he and Commissioner Tomas Regalado voted against the stadium plan, effectively blocking it in a 2-2 tie. Commissioners Angel Gonzalez and Joe Sanchez voted in favor.

Michelle Spence-Jones, absent that day on maternity leave, would have been the swing vote. Sanchez at least temporarily saved the deal when he motioned for a continuance of the meeting in the hope the vote can be revived.

If Miami were to pass the vote for the $609 million stadium and parking sites, Miami-Dade County commissioners would need to pass a series of similar votes for the Marlins to finally get their ballpark. The county is waiting for the city to act before setting its vote.

Also, Thursday evening, Miami city commissioners will meet wearing a different hat: As Community Redevelopment Agency members, where they are expected to vote on expanding and extending the life time of the Overtown/Park West CRA.

Some city leaders believe that could mean as much as $500 million in property taxes would stay in Overtown to benefit its residents, a key demand from Spence-Jones, she said, to get her to vote for the stadium.

Wednesday’s announcement came two days after Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez blasted city leaders for ”political grandstanding.”



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