San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has introduced a resolution aimed at postponing the approval of recently finalized terms for a new downtown arena. The proposal was posted on the city’s official website shortly before 9 p.m. n nAlthough the City Council finalized the project’s terms earlier in the day, Mayor Ortiz Jones is advocating for an independent economic analysis to better assess the financial implications of the proposed venue. Her push comes despite opposition from the majority of council members. n nThe resolution calls for the council to withhold consideration of the agreement with the Spurs until an independent economic study is completed by a firm unaffiliated with the team. The analysis should match the depth and scope of the study conducted for Philadelphia’s 76ers arena project last year. Additionally, each council member would be required to hold two in-person community meetings to gather public input after the study is released. n nAccording to a source familiar with the situation, the Spurs organization is reportedly displeased with the delay, as the terms for moving forward had already been agreed upon. The next major development will occur at a scheduled council meeting on Thursday, assuming no further actions intervene. n nSupporters of the project, including most council members and the Spurs, hope to place a Hotel and Car Rental Tax measure on the November ballot, with a complementary infrastructure tax proposal slated for a spring vote. As previously reported, both measures must be approved by voters for Project Marvel to proceed. n— news from KABB
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Mayor Ortiz Jones presses further for independent economic study of Marvel
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has put forth a proposed resolution for later this week to try and further delay the recent terms that were were already agreed upon by City Council for a new downtown arena. n nIt was posted on the city’s website– just before 9 tonight. n nTerms for the project to move forward were finalized this afternoon. n nBut Mayor Ortiz Jones is insisting on getting an independent study done to further understand the economic impact of the proposed arena. She’s is doing so, however, against the wishes of the majority of City Council. n nIn the resolution– it states– the council should not consider the proposed terms sheet with the Spurs until the City Council receives an independent economic study for the arena by a firm not affiliated with the Spurs, and one with a broad impact on economic analysis on par with Philadelphia’s study for the 76ers last year. n nAlso– each Council member must have two in-person meetings with their constituents to talk about the terms and get feedback once the new economic study is done. n nA source tells Max Sports the Spurs are, putting it mildly, less than pleased with this latest move because terms to proceed forward were already agreed upon. n nSo, the next step is the big meeting scheduled for Thursday to see where this all goes from here. That’s assuming, of course nothing happens between now and then. n nThe hope for the Spurs and the majority of City Council is to ultimately get a Hotel/Car Rental tax on the November ballot and also put an infrastructure tax measure up for a vote in the spring. n nAs we’ve reported since last November, both measures must pass in order for Project Marvel to reach its conclusion.