Published by: THE MIAMI HERALD
Published: 3-25-09
Written by: CHARLES RABIN

A rare procedural move pushed Monday’s Marlins stadium vote along and helped end a 15-year stadium quest.

One thing was clear as Miami-Dade commissioners were on their way to securing the Florida Marlins’ $634 million stadium plan Monday night: Dennis Moss and Bruno Barreiro were in sync.

Just before the heated commission debate unfolded, Barreiro, who represents the Little Havana district where the stadium will rise, made a motion to approve.

Then Chairman Moss, another supporter, granted Barreiro sole authority to kill any proposed contract changes offered by any of the other commissioners before a final vote was taken.

In a flash, the pair had set a framework for discussion that essentially blocked major contract amendments from moving ahead.

The political power play is one reason the stadium secured approval near 10:30 Monday night and not in the wee hours of Tuesday. Though the 9 ½-hour session was long and at times long-winded, it could have stretched many more hours.

Colleagues are not accusing the pair of skirting Sunshine Law violations, as the tactic played out for all to see and the two had secured approval from the county attorney. And to be sure, the stadium likely would have passed without the provision, as nine of the 13 members voted yes.

But the one-two punch took several commissioners by surprise — and, some believe, usurped the negotiating process.

Commissioner Katy Sorenson, a stadium critic who unfurled a laundry list of concerns over the public financing of a private venture, was so annoyed she suggested a name for the new ballpark. “First, I’d like to offer a friendly amendment,” Sorenson said just before the vote, “to name the stadium Bruno Barreiro Stadium.”

Other critics on the commission, including Carlos Gimenez and Sally Heyman, saw proposals to extract more team concessions unheeded.

Moss said he alone came up with the dais strategy that helped end a 15-year battle for a ballpark that, if it had failed again, threatened to end baseball in South Florida despite two World Series titles by the 16-year-old franchise.

“It was my idea,” he said.

Moss said he didn’t want commissioners spending hours debating proposals that would likely be turned down anyway. “This has been going on long enough,” Moss said in an interview Tuesday. “There's got to be an end. We’ve got to start digging some dirt and playing some ball.”

And, the chair said he was simply following “tradition,” which in Miami-Dade means only offering friendly amendments to the maker of the motion — not substantial ones.

In a deal as complicated — and controversial — as the Marlins stadium plan, it was almost certain the divided commission would come up with a host of suggested changes.

The Marlins stadium plan includes a large share of public money — $480 million, most coming from tourist tax dollars. Skeptics say the money could be spent better elsewhere. Proponents argue the stadium will create much-needed jobs and reinvigorate Little Havana. The team is committing $120 million toward construction and will repay a $35 million county loan for a 37,000-seat retractable roof stadium to open in 2012.

Once a contract amendment is proffered, it’s up to the motion maker to accept the changes or call for a vote.

“Substantive” is a legal term that actually means a change greater than 5 percent. If such a change were accepted, Moss and other stadium supporters noted, it would have required yet another vote in Miami to accept the new terms.

That would have further stalled the already tenuous 15-month negotiations involving the Marlins, Miami and Miami-Dade. The city approved the stadium last week, but in a closer 3-2 vote.

As Commissioner Rebeca Sosa noted, if each of the 13 commissioners had five changes, it would have meant 65 different discussions— and a marathon session with no end in sight.

“We’re going to be here for a week,” said Sosa, a yes vote.

In an interview Tuesday, Gimenez said: “If it takes a week to get it right, it takes a week to get it right.”

Over six-plus hours of commission discussion that followed a three-hour public hearing Monday, Barreiro shot down dozens of amendments offered by commissioners.

Still, some changes were accepted, though minor.

Gimenez asked that the commission be permitted to appoint a member to a board overseeing stadium construction. Commissioner Dorrin Rolle received acceptance from Barreiro for monthly updates on the three-year construction plan.

Barreiro rejected a request by Gimenez to extend the number of years the county would receive any profit should Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, or anyone else, sell the ball club.

Barreiro also spiked a Heyman amendment that could have strengthened the Marlins’ promise to keep $20 million in an account for cost overruns.

Several times Barreiro asked Marlins President David Samson if the terms offered in an amendment were acceptable. Each time Samson said no, Barreiro agreed.

Just before the historic 9-4 vote, Barreiro literally had the last word, arguing that the stadium would revive Little Havana and benefit the larger community.

“It will create jobs immediately,” said Barreiro, who added: “Let's play ball.”

Miami Herald staff writer Matthew Haggman contributed to this report.



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