The St. Petersburg City Council has scheduled a vote Thursday on “whether to approve bonds to finance the city’s contribution” toward a new $1.3B Rays ballpark and Historic Gas Plant District "even as the team has said the project as proposed is no longer viable." Council members received notice Wednesday that the "item has been added to their agenda for the following day." Thursday marks the council’s "first meeting since it voted to delay the bond issue" Nov. 21, deciding instead to "revisit the matter no later than Jan. 9." Thursday is one of "two planned meetings for the City Council in December before new members are sworn in who have expressed more skepticism toward the project.” Approval by the council would “tee up the Pinellas County Commission, which could decide if the project moves forward." The commission also voted to delay taking out bonds for its $312.5M contribution in November after Hurricane Milton tore the roof off of Tropicana Field, “raising questions about where the team will play in the next few years.” The County Commission is scheduled to meet again Dec. 17 to "decide on the bond issue." The Rays have “not officially pulled out of the deal.” However, the team's front office has said that the project is “ all but dead” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/4).
St. Pete to decide on Rays ballpark bonds
