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Politics

City-county feud hits the roof

Commissioners attach conditions to $6-million for Convention Center repairs, saying the city isn't doing enough.

By KEVIN GRAHAM and JANET ZINK
Published September 21, 2006

TAMPA - The topic was fixing a leaky roof at the Tampa Convention Center. But Hillsborough County commissioners on Wednesday used the occasion to blast the city of Tampa in the latest example of simmering city-county tensions.

Before approving $6-million for the roof, commissioners took city officials to task for letting the roof problem fester and said they aren't doing their part to maintain the county's three largest sports venues.

"It's high time that they step up and do what they should," Commissioner Ken Hagan said.

The commission voted in July to pay the money from tourist taxes to repair the Convention Center's roof and air-conditioning system. Members first raised concerns then that the city isn't doing enough for upkeep at the sports arenas. Commissioners reaffirmed Wednesday that they want the city to do more.

"We'll help you on your buildings, you help us on our buildings," Commissioner Ronda Storms said.

The county owns the St. Pete Times Forum, Raymond James Stadium and Legends Field.

Darrell Smith, the city's chief of staff, said the Convention Center is the responsibility of both the city and the county because it provides an economic benefit to both.

Smith said about 80 percent of the local tourist development tax revenue is generated within the city of Tampa, "and the Tampa Convention Center is a key generator" of that money.

Commissioners tried to use their vote on the roof money to entice Mayor Pam Iorio to meet with Tampa Bay Lightning officials about financial contributions from the city to help keep the team in town.

Lightning officials have said they aren't bringing in enough money to commit to stay in Tampa. Commissioners voted in July to give $35-million in tourist tax money to Times Forum renovations between now and 2028. That was part of a larger package that gives millions to the county's three main pro sports venues. The Lightning's attempts to get financial help from the city have been unsuccessful, said Mike Merrill, the county's debt management director.

Commissioners voted not to give the city the $6-million for the Convention Center until the Lightning begins renovations at the Times Forum, a move they said would indicate the team has made some agreement with the city.

If that doesn't happen, the city would not get the roof money until Aug. 1, 2007.

Commissioner Tom Scott said he just wanted to fix the roof, without imposing any conditions. He said it would be an embarrassment to have a leaking roof, especially with the city vying to host the 2008 GOP National Convention.

"It will also be a major embarrassment if the Lightning leave town," Hagan said.

Scott, Kathy Castor and Mark Sharpe were on the losing end, voting to pay for the roof without the stipulations.

"We're talking about hosting a major convention," Sharpe said. "Meanwhile, we have a leaky roof, and we're standing here pointing fingers."

The Tampa City Council is scheduled to vote on the agreement today.

City Finance director Bonnie Wise said she was surprised the County Commission attached new conditions to the money.

"There should be no linkage between the financial condition of the Lightning and the physical condition of the Convention Center roof," she said.

City and county staff have been working since July on the agreement, which says the county will give the money to the city within 60 days of getting the funds from a lender or Aug. 1, 2007, whichever comes first.

Wise said she was told that based on those terms, the city could get the $6-million by the end of this month.

"There's no mention of the St. Pete Times Forum or the Lightning," she said. "It's completely contradictory to the discussions we have had with the two staffs over the past two months."

Lightning president Ron Campbell has said he needs the help of local and state governments to make improvements to the Times Forum to keep the team in Tampa.

In the last legislative session, the team unsuccessfully lobbied for a bill that would have given it a $2-million tax break.

And the team has repeatedly asked the city to change an 11-year-old parking agreement so it would give the franchise a share of parking revenue.

Iorio relented in April and agreed to take a look at the arrangement. Possible changes include adding a surcharge for the Lightning to the city parking fee, or raising rates and giving the team a share of proceeds.

Campbell said he hasn't discussed the issue with city officials recently, but he expected a meeting in the middle of October, after the Lightning's first home game.

Campbell said the mayor has been "very positive" about talking.

"It just never moves as fast as you want it to," he said. "Everyone's plate has been full."

As for other sports venues, the county and city share responsibility for any annual budget shortfall at the Tampa Sports Authority, the agency that runs Raymond James Stadium.

The county recently passed a measure to use tourist taxes to pick up its two-third share of the shortfall. But the tax doesn't count toward the city's obligation for the remaining third.

Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com.

[Last modified September 21, 2006, 06:43:36]