The Tampa City Council on Thursday approved the Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed community commitments to the city — but not before a volley of questions.
The community benefits agreement, which commits the Rays to spending $60 million in Tampa and Hillsborough, is a key piece of the team’s Tampa stadium pitch. The board approved the agreement in a 4-3 vote, with council members Charlie Miranda, Guido Maniscalco and Lynn Hurtak voting no.
Several council members previously conditioned their support for the $2.3 billion ballpark on the promise of money for community initiatives, from housing to jobs to public safety.
The council scheduled Thursday’s special meeting at the request of Luis Viera, who will leave office ahead of Election Day as he runs for a seat in the state Legislature. With Viera gone as a consistent vote in favor of the stadium, the council will likely be locked in a 3-3 tie on Rays-related votes.
Council members have not yet selected Viera’s replacement, and that person’s stance on the stadium is not guaranteed. State and county leadership will soon change, too, clouding elected officials’ future support of the project.
Under the approved agreement, the Rays will spend $21...