THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 16, 1996 TAG: 9602160491
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
The Virginia Beach and Norfolk city councils are trying to lure a 20,000-seat, indoor sports arena. The Virginia House of Delegates this week passed a bill aimed at financing one.
Now the ball's being punted to the citizens' team.
On Saturday, the Hampton Roads Coalition of Civic Organizations will host a community forum and review the bill, sponsored by Del. Jerrauld C. Jones, D-Norfolk. Republican Sen. Frederick M. Quayle of Chesapeake, a co-patron of the bill, will be keynote speaker. It starts at 10 a.m. at the South Norfolk Library, 1100 Poindexter St., Chesapeake.
The bill aims to create an authority to examine ways to finance an arena. The authority's nine members would be appointed by Gov. George F. Allen.
Momentum is building already.
In separate actions Tuesday, the Virginia Beach and Norfolk city councils agreed informally to hire a consultant to recommend how to pay for an indoor sports arena. Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim planned to meet with Suffolk, Chesapeake and Hampton leaders to discuss ways to get involved in the study.
Gene Waters, chairman of the Hampton Roads Coalition of Civic Organizations, said citizen input is vital, especially if public money funds the project.
He listed these citizen concerns:
A referendum before any plans are enacted.
Shared revenue from the arena for all Hampton Roads cities.
Civic member representation, on the authority, from the 10 cities and five counties of Hampton Roads.
``It needs to be more of a team effort,'' he said. ``People can get the impression it's a two-city effort; instead, it's a regional one.''
Although the bill does not include a referendum provision, Quayle said there will be ``ample time for the public to make their concerns known.'' The bill stipulates a public hearing 60 days prior to a site selection.
Morton V. Whitlow, chairman of the Sports Authority of Hampton Roads, said he hopes Jones will consider plans to expand the Sports Authority by eight positions. The authority's members are chosen by their respective cities, not by the governor, as proposed in Jones' bill.
Legislators have not proposed how the arena would be paid for, but Waters said there's opportunity to share revenues. Hotel, sales and utility taxes that could be used to support payments could be split among the cities, he said.
But there are risks. ``They've built Hampton Coliseum, the Scope, and they don't share,'' said Waters. ``But Nauticus lost money, so you have both sides to this.'' MEMO: THE EVENT
What: Hampton Roads Coalition of Civic Organizations forum
Where: South Norfolk Library, 1100 Poindexter St. Chesapeake
When: 10 a.m. to noon
What's next: On Monday at 8 p.m. on WHRO, Channel 15, airs a panel
discussion on a sports arena. Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf
and other civic and business leaders will speak. by CNB