Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 12-22-15 Edition

Features
Commissioners, City Council Approve Deal To Upgrade Raymond James Stadium
One Black Chosen By City Council To Serve On Police Review Board
FRANK REDDICK City Council Chair
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
On Wednesday, County Commissioners reached an agreement for the $100 mil- lion upgrade of Raymond James Stadium.
Commissioners gave their approval to spend close to $90 million for facility improve- ments for the stadium. Com- missioners voted 6-1 to approve the deal, with Com- missioner Stacy White vot- ing no.
On Thursday, the City Coun- cil voted on the project, and with the same 6-1 vote, gave the go ahead for the project. The dissenting vote on the Council came from Council- man Charlie Miranda.
The project will be broken down into phases, with phase one involving $29 million being used for the stadium’s Jumbotron and luxury sky boxes. A new sound system and additional concession stands will also be part of the first round of improvements.
The addition of four new video boards are expected to be in place by kickoff for the 2016 season.
Council Chair Frank Reddick said it’s favorable that no general revenue funds will be used for the project.
“The city has an obligation, and our bonds could be jeop- ardized by not signing off on the project. Our interest was in protecting the city.
“The Bucs will cover more than 50% of the project. They have already committed $57
LES MILLER County Commission Chair
million, and that is expected to reach $70 million. If there are any additional costs on the project, the Glazers will cover that.”
Council Chair Reddick
said taxpayers will save in ex- cess of $255,000, and he feels this is a great economic boost for the city.
“The upgrade project will generate jobs and Thomas Huggins will be the consult- ant to make sure there is mi- nority participation.”
The funds will come from part of the 5-cent tourism tax that is specifically earmarked for tourism promotion and sports facility improvements.
Commission Chair Les Miller said he thinks it’s im- portant people understand that these are not general funds being used for this proj- ect.
“This is a tourism tax funded project. The funds going to them will come from that tax.
“When the contract was signed in 1996, we were obli- gated to make these upgrades. If it had come from the general fund, I wouldn’t have voted for it.”
Comm. Miller said he wanted to make sure minority businesses would be involved on the project, and he’s happy about the jobs that will come from this project.
“I think this will help us at- tract the Super Bowl in the fu- ture, and there are some major events coming to the stadium. All of that activity will benefit the community, and that’s al- ways a good thing.”
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Thursday, members of City Council selected its four members of the City’s Police Review Board. They will join the five members and two al- ternatives selected by Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
The four new board mem- bers are:
District 4: Irene Guy, a former executive with Verizon District 5: Rasheed Ali Aquil, General Manager of
Majied Fashion
District 6: Donna Stark,
Hillsborough County business analyst
District 7: Mary Dahmer, employee with the Florida De- partment of Children & Fam- ilies
Aquil, son of the late Hakim Aquil, was the only Black and the only man cho- sen by Council members. More than 150 residents ap- plied with City Council to serve on the Board.
RASHEED AQUIL
The five members and two alternates chosen by Mayor Buckhorn are:
Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Banks, Senior Pastor of St. John Progressive Missionary Baptist Church;
Dr. Carolyn Hepburn- Collins, former President and current Executive Com- mittee member of the Hills- borough County NAACP;
Judge E. J. Salcines, Ap-
pellate Court Judge serving the Florida Second District Court of Appeals;
Lincoln Tamayo, Head of School at Academy Prepara- tory Center of Tampa; and
Robert Shimberg, a prac- ticing attorney with the law firm of Hill Ward Henderson and Chairman of the Board of Metropolitan Ministries.
The two alternate members are: Lee Lowry, former Jun- ior League of Tampa Presi- dent; and Bemetra Simmons, Hillsborough County Mart President at BB&T Bank.
Council Chairman Frank Reddick said, “I’m im- pressed with this group of people. They seem sincere and community-oriented and want what is best for this community.
“They also realize that there is the potential for conflict, but they are keeping an open mind to see that due process is done,” Chairman Red- dick said.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3