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