Ballpark offers city shot at 'home run'

By Lori Holt Pfeiler

A city-owned ballpark will stimulate private sector investment in Escondido, which in turn, will create jobs, generate new revenues for city services and inject new vitality into our community. A minor league ballpark in Escondido is the catalyst we need to jump-start the revitalization of the city's most valuable redevelopment acreage.

More important, though, the city-owned ballpark will stimulate private sector investment in Escondido, which in turn, will create jobs, generate new revenues for city services and inject new vitality into our community. A minor league ballpark in Escondido is the catalyst we need to jump-start the revitalization of the city's most valuable redevelopment acreage.

The proposed site offers easy access from Highway 78 and Interstate 15. In addition, the Escondido Transit Center and Sprinter commuter rail line, both of which are an easy walk from the site, offer public transportation.

We can easily envision new condos, restaurants and businesses being attracted to the area surrounding the ballpark. This isn't just pie-in-the-sky optimism, but sound projections based on the experiences of other similar ballparks.

The Padres, a savvy business organization, believes Escondido provides the best opportunity for redevelopment, much like what happened at Petco Park.

The City will pay for the construction of the ballpark by selling bonds that will be repaid with revenue the redevelopment agency will generate during the next two decades. The main reason for having a redevelopment agency is to finance projects that will spur the revitalization of our community.

State law prohibits redevelopment funds from being used for anything other than redevelopment projects. They cannot be used to hire police officers or firefighters, operate libraries or any other general fund expense.

Also, redevelopment revenue bonds do not increase residents' property taxes, unlike the general obligation bonds we used to build the new fire stations and police and fire headquarters. In other words, building the ballpark will not increase taxpayers' property taxes.

Negotiations are still underway and all parties are committed to working together to make the ballpark a reality. Escondido has retained outside experts with experience in similar agreements to guide us.

Be assured we are looking out for the best interests of the community. By building and owning a minor league ballpark, Escondido is investing in its future.

People always ask: "Why can't government act more like a business?" In this case, we certainly are. Escondido is taking a business-like, entrepreneurial approach to its future. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to jump-start redevelopment in Escondido, the likes of which we haven't seen since the North County Fair shopping mall was built two decades ago.

The time is now for Escondido to step up to the plate and hit a home run that will transform our city's future for decades to come.