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r � BOOK Ai PAGE CS training for the resultant economic benefits and community pride. They had realized the necessity of bringing in their county and community development tax to make it happen. Unfortunately, Lake County was not interested in using tax dollars in that manner and the effort died. In contrast, he described the close 50 -year relationship he found with the Dodgers' organization and the V B/I R C community. He was surprised at the fact that the Dodgers owned their own facility and had learned from then -Councilman Pease that as long as Peter O'Malley owned the L.A. Dodgers, they would remain in Vero Beach. Unfortunately, the O'Malley family's ownership has ended. A year and a half ago, Mr. O'Malley called a meeting to advise that his family had decided to put the L.A. Dodgers' organization, property, and holdings up for sale. This "signal" to look at their options initiated meetings with Craig Callan, General Manger of Dodgertown, in order to investigate various options which would be legally and practically doable. Manager Taylor stated that the guiding direction of the proposal brought to the meeting today is to be put on a "level playing field" with other cities which also want to attract the Dodgers' spring training to their community. This would be the first step to that proposal. The report before them was released about a week ago to allow review and reaction in preparation for today's meeting. He specified that the "level playing field" concept translates into some type of purchasing of the Dodgertown training facilities and entering into a long-term lease to the Dodgers. Administrator Chandler then presented the financial portion of the plan before them which was set out in a spiral bound booklet. (CLERK'S NOTE: Booklet has been filed with the backup of this meeting.) He was certain everyone recognized that the economics of the matter under consideration were critical, whether that be the $30 million the Dodgers bring to the local economy or our ability to pursue a concept that is economically feasible for the Dodgers, the community, and the taxpayers. He cautioned that the figures presented in the report and being presented today are "benchmarks" or guides. They are the result of a number of weeks and months of generating various economic figures and facts, analyzing them to see if we have an ability to present a proposal that we can support as economically feasible and advisable for our community and taxpayers. Administrator Chandler continued that he and Mr. Taylor had received comments and feedback which prompted him to add some figures not included in the report. The concept of the proposal is to acquire approximately 70.4 acres of the total 468 acres holding. The value on the tax roll for the 468 acres is about $14.8 million. 70 acres would amount to November 6, 1998 2 9 It