Baseball Rally to Precede Public Hearing

• Bruce Quinn, majority owner of the Suns
• Jeff Nelson, former MLB pitcher and a Suns owner
• Andrés Galarraga, former MLB first baseman
  

The rally has been promoted by Baseball in the Burg -- which has a Facebook page and a website.  Chris Limbrick Studios, LLC was hired to design both and Rappahannock Baseball Initiative (RBI) managing member Tom Byrnes said he is responsible for content.

"Baseball in the Burg was created by the Suns and is being run by RBI to rally supporters," Tom Byrnes said.  Byrnes said as an original member of RBI, he decided to continue the group after it was dissolved in March following a disagreement among members.  "RBI is still in existence," Byrnes said.

Bob Hagan, former RBI president and former president of the Fredericksburg Area Chamber of Commerce, has since joined with others in the region to form Play Ball VA!  Hagan believes the Suns' current proposal puts too much financial burden on the city.  “I think this could be disastrous for the city,” Hagan told the Free Lance-Star.

Tuesday's rally precedes a series of five public hearings scheduled by City Council -- including the hearing on whether the city should build a multi-purpose Minor League Baseball stadium at an estimated public cost of $30M.

During Quinn's first meeting with City Council last week, he suggested the public hearing be postponed one month.   "It doesn't seem to me that we are ready for a public hearing, since we don't have a financing plan," he told City Council. 

But Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw disagreed.  "I am hearing a lot of concern about the price tag for the city and the special tax district," Greenlaw said.  "I think it's time to air [the idea]," she said. "If it's not a palatable deal [to the residents] it's off the table," she said. 

"I think at this point the speakers will have suggestions," she added.

First Step in the Process

"This is the first step in the process and the first opportunity for public comment," City Manager Bev Cameron said. "The critical question at this stage is whether the public supports the overall project structure as proposed, including the public investment in the stadium and the special service district," he said.

"If there is public support for the project, then council will enter into a detailed negotiations phase," Cameron said.  "At the conclusion of detailed negotiations, City Council would return for a second round of public hearings as a condition to final project approval."

Special Service District

The stadium is proposed to be financed through a special tax district which would tax property within Central Park and Celebrate Virginia South at an estimated rate of $0.32/$100 of assessed value.

• Map of Proposed Special Tax District 

• List of Affected Parcels
  

For more on this story, see:

• Hagerstown Suns to Fredericksburg: Do You Want Baseball Here?
  
• City Council, Hagerstown Sun Reps Meet Monday
  
• City Seeking Baseball Stadium Lease Consultant
  
• City Council to Discuss Baseball in Wednesday Closed Session
• City Council Approves $50K for Stadium Study
• Fredericksburg Baseball Negotiations with 'Specific Organization' According to City Manager
• City Conducting Study for $25M Stadium
• Group Wants Support For Pro Baseball Team in Fredericksburg Region
  

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