An interlocal agreement between the Governor's Office of Economic Development, Sandy City and the Sandy Redevelopment Agency will be ready for a public hearing and City Council vote May 8, Sandy Economic Development Director Randy Sant told the council.
Sandy will handle $35 million of Salt Lake County hotel taxes that the Legislature directed toward the project in February. The legislation passed shortly after county Mayor Peter Corroon rejected a similar deal, deeming the stadium deal an "unsound" investment of taxpayer dollars.
The bill also prompted a grassroots referendum drive to allow voters to repeal the public funding deal. Petitioners likely fell short of the 92,000 signatures needed by April 9, but a final count will be released April 30.
"I don't believe tax dollars should be spent for the benefit of a private, money-making enterprise," Sandy resident and petitioner, Lorraine Griffin, told the council Tuesday. "How long is this [soccer] league going to last? Sandy's going to be stuck with a stadium that they have no use for."
Two other Sandy residents also voiced opposition to the project and worried the stadium won't have adequate parking for 20,000 ticket holders.
Parking is part of both Sandy's interlocal agreement with the state and its development contract with RSL, which must be completed by July 1.
Councilman Scott Cowdell said he would not support the interlocal agreement because the state is requiring that only 1,000 parking stalls be built on-site. The team estimates 5,300 spots are needed but plans to arrange for off-site event parking.
The state also will require RSL to establish a soccer academy, spend $7.5 million for a youth sports complex in Salt Lake City, donate 500 tickets per game to charity, promote Utah tourism, convey all stadium land to public ownership and stay in Utah for at least 10 years.
But Sant said the team will have to stay for 25 years, or face financial penalties. Sandy's City Council can create its own conditions for RSL to receive $10 million in property-tax increment the city has pledged toward land, parking and infrastructure for the project.
Those requirements, Sant said, could include additional on-site parking, formal contracts for off-site parking, promoting Sandy, a private stadium suite and a commitment to develop commercial real estate around the stadium.
The council passed a resolution Tuesday authorizing Sant to begin drafting a Community Development Area, which will encompass the stadium property and collect increased property taxes to cover Sandy's $10 million commitment.
rwinters@sltrib.com
