King County, Mariners Discuss Ballpark Deal

Three King County officials interrupted their Sunday afternoons to meet with Seattle Mariners leaders and discuss a plan for a new multimillion dollar ballpark.

“It was a progressive weekend,” county councilmember Peter von Reichbauer told KOMO News.

He said county leaders met with team officials, including Mariners’ Chief Executive Officer John Ellis and co-owner Paul Isaki, for about two hours, KOMO reported.

County council member Ron Sims and another unidentified council member were also present, KOMO said.

“We’re making progress,” von Reichbauer said. But “those who want to see this done overnight will be disappointed.”

The county vote on a state-approved financing plan for a $320 million stadium is scheduled for today.

The Legislature approved the measure last weekend. Greg Nickels and Christopher Vance introduced an ordinance based on that bill, which several council members have criticized.

Meanwhile, a group called Citizens for Leaders with Ethics and Accountability Now plans to file a lawsuit in Thurston County Superior Court today to bar the state plan from taking effect.

Shawn Newman, a lawyer and chairman of the group, said the plan violates constitutional bans on the lending of the state’s credit to private parties and on special legislation that benefits private interests or one part of the state over others.

Council members have complained that the state plan lacked adequate provision for depreciation or maintenance and places an unfair financial burden on the county. Other objections involve the risk involved in issuing bonds to pay for the ballpark and a seven-member public facility district that would be formed to manage the project.

Mariners owners have set Oct. 30 as the deadline for agreement on a plan to build a new ballpark for the AL club. Otherwise, they say they’ll offer the franchise for sale, probably to out-of-state interests.