http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14280008p-15088466c.html
Marty Mac's World: Time to make arena decision is drawing near
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, July 20, 2006
There's nothing like a deadline -- even if self-imposed -- to motivate the resolution of a negotiation.
The Maloof family and a city and county coalition are trying to reach an agreement on the financing for the construction of a downtown arena complex at the old Union Pacific railyard.
A major portion of the funding, if approved by voters, conceivably would be raised through a county-wide quarter- or eighth-cent sales tax increase. However, voter approval is where this deadline enters the equation.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors would need to approve the language of the bill by Aug. 9 for it to be placed on the November ballot, former Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg said Wednesday.
"But there are a couple of supervisors who will be out of town," said Steinberg, a representative of the Maloofs in the negotiations, "so we'd like to get it voted on Aug. 2. And in order to have a vote, there first has to be a public hearing, and I think that will be scheduled for July 25. And law says the agenda previously must be made available in a public entity 72 hours before the hearing."
So we're talking about an agreement for all to see in the next couple of days, hopefully, Joe Maloof said Wednesday.
"I'm optimistic that we're going to be able to get this thing on the ballot," Maloof said, "and that's what we've wanted for the last five years. Let the people vote on it. Once it's on the ballot, it will be our job to show exactly where the funds are coming from -- what the Maloofs are contributing and where we're coming from.
"We've reached agreements on a lot of issues, but there still are different issues we need to agree on. We're going to pay more than fair share, that's for sure. We have to be able to remain competitive (on the basketball court)."
Details on the proposed complex have yet to be revealed.
"Well, there is a third party involved here, and that's the developer who has the rights to the 240 acres at the UP Railyards," Steinberg said. "That's Stan Thomas, and I think he's waiting to see the results of the negotiations."
So ease back, folks. In that regard, we're all just like Thomas, waiting.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
Marty Mac's World: Time to make arena decision is drawing near
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, July 20, 2006
There's nothing like a deadline -- even if self-imposed -- to motivate the resolution of a negotiation.
The Maloof family and a city and county coalition are trying to reach an agreement on the financing for the construction of a downtown arena complex at the old Union Pacific railyard.
A major portion of the funding, if approved by voters, conceivably would be raised through a county-wide quarter- or eighth-cent sales tax increase. However, voter approval is where this deadline enters the equation.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors would need to approve the language of the bill by Aug. 9 for it to be placed on the November ballot, former Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg said Wednesday.
"But there are a couple of supervisors who will be out of town," said Steinberg, a representative of the Maloofs in the negotiations, "so we'd like to get it voted on Aug. 2. And in order to have a vote, there first has to be a public hearing, and I think that will be scheduled for July 25. And law says the agenda previously must be made available in a public entity 72 hours before the hearing."
So we're talking about an agreement for all to see in the next couple of days, hopefully, Joe Maloof said Wednesday.
"I'm optimistic that we're going to be able to get this thing on the ballot," Maloof said, "and that's what we've wanted for the last five years. Let the people vote on it. Once it's on the ballot, it will be our job to show exactly where the funds are coming from -- what the Maloofs are contributing and where we're coming from.
"We've reached agreements on a lot of issues, but there still are different issues we need to agree on. We're going to pay more than fair share, that's for sure. We have to be able to remain competitive (on the basketball court)."
Details on the proposed complex have yet to be revealed.
"Well, there is a third party involved here, and that's the developer who has the rights to the 240 acres at the UP Railyards," Steinberg said. "That's Stan Thomas, and I think he's waiting to see the results of the negotiations."
So ease back, folks. In that regard, we're all just like Thomas, waiting.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
