Chairman Bill Foster organizes the session after complaints from council members.
By CARRIE JOHNSON
Published October 27, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - City Council members will discuss the proposal to preserve the Mahaffey Theater this week after all.
Council chairman Bill Foster said he asked the administration to schedule a meeting to discuss the controversial plan at 1:30 p.m. Thursday after hearing colleagues were frustrated about a lack of details.
"It's ultimately the council's decision," Foster said. "So the city staff better get our input before they get too far down this road."
A workshop had been planned for Monday, but was canceled by Development Administrator Rick Mussett, who said he did not want to proceed until an agreement with the proposed manager, businessman Bill Edwards, was prepared.
Several council members and community leaders were annoyed by the decision. They have asked to hear more about the proposed deal that would give Edwards control of the Mahaffey Theater and a new outdoor concert venue in exchange for a large donation and a loan to the city.
Since the city's legal staff is still working on a draft of the management agreement with Edwards, the session will be an exchange of information, Foster said.
Council member James Bennett said he was pleased to discuss the proposal with colleagues. Florida's law prohibits council members from discussing city business except in a public session. "We really need to sit down and talk about this thing, the sooner the better," he said. "If there are issues we can't overcome, we need to know about it now."
Under the current proposal, Edwards would assume control of the Mahaffey and the outdoor venue for five years in exchange for an $8-million contribution toward renovating the Mahaffey and a $2.35-million loan. The loan would be forgiven if the city extends Edwards' contract for five more years.
The deal has raised questions among many residents and city leaders who are protective of the downtown waterfront.
Representatives from the Dali Museum, which may be moving next to the Mahaffey, are especially cautious about the deal, as are advocates for nearby Albert Whitted Airport. The outdoor venue, which city officials say could attract as many as 12,000 concertgoers to the waterfront, is a particular source of concern, said Jack Tunstill, a leading activist for improving the airport.
"There are certain things we want to be sure are included in the management agreement," he said. "No. 1 is there can't be any noise complaints from Mr. Edwards about the airport."
Thursday's meeting, he said, was a step in the right direction. "I think they need to make information available to everyone," Tunstill said. "The more public input, the better."
