Council Votes to Put Stadium Plan on Ballot

The City Council voted 4 to 3 Monday night to move forward on the ballpark deal and put a final proposal on the ballot this spring. The vote came despite last-minute haggling over whether the public vote would be binding or merely advisory.

Earlier, dozens of residents took the council to task for considering the plan to build a $10.5-million minor league baseball stadium, as council members debated late into the evening about whether to abandon the plan or move toward placing a final deal before Ventura voters.

Once again, dozens of speakers turned out to vent passionate but differing views about whether Ventura should build a Class A baseball stadium on the celery fields behind the Ventura Auto Mall.

Some argued that the stadium would divert city funds from schools, libraries and road improvements, while others claimed a stadium would give Ventura a much needed community gathering place. Of 26 speakers, only four spoke in favor of the city paying to build a 4,500-seat stadium.

“Any price for the stadium is too high. Be it one [million], three [million], $10 million,” said resident Diane Perren. “Given the pressing needs of this city, how can we contemplate this kind of investment.”

Stadium supporter Chip Frasier told the council that he thought a minor league baseball stadium would be good for Ventura. “Think of the kids. Think of things to do,” said the Ventura resident. “Think of the 21st century upon us. I believe it is so important for people to have a place to go to congregate.”

Whether they think minor league baseball should come to Ventura, a majority of council members praised the new proposal as being a vast improvement over an $18.7-million plan offered by developer John Hofer in September.

“That’s the kind of deal I anticipated we would get when we have a professional negotiator who got down to specific points of the deal,” Councilman Ray Di Guilio said before the meeting Monday. “This addresses many of the concerns, gives guarantees to the city, and gives us a far more realistic figure.”

The newest proposal, released Thursday after nearly a month of intense closed-door negotiations between Hofer and City Manager Donna Landeros, reduced the amount the city would pay to build the stadium by $8.2 million, and would require public approval via a voter referendum.

The addition of a referendum to the plan earned kudos from both council members and the public.

“This plan is much better,” Councilman Jim Friedman said. “But at this point, it almost doesn’t matter to me so much what the deal is, as long as we get the deal in the hands of the public to vote on.”

In response to earlier complaints, the proposal would also require Hofer to pay for a special election next spring--at an estimated cost of $70,000 to $100,000--on whether to build a ballpark.

No other city with a California League team has taken the stadium issue to its citizens, said league President Joe Gagliardi.

Under the proposal, the city would pay $10.5 million in direct stadium construction costs--down from $18.7 million in the earlier version. About $2.7 million included in the earlier project--to pay for new lighting, curbs and road improvements in the neighborhood--will now be considered separately.

The city would pull some of the $10.5 million from funds set aside for the Ventura County Fairgrounds and other city reserves.

As before, Hofer would donate 20 acres of his own land, valued at between $2 million and $5 million, for the stadium and parking. Hofer would also pay for any stadium construction costs exceeding $10.5 million.

To limit the risk to the city, Hofer would also pay an annual stadium rent to the city that would cover the amount of interest lost by taking the money out of its reserves. The city is considering payments at least equal to a 5 1/2% annual rate of return--or about $588,500 yearly, which is comparable to what Ventura currently receives on its investment portfolio. Over a 25-year period, the amount would gradually increase to about 8%, or $856,000.