City May Tap General Fund to Accommodate Minor League Ball Team
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The City Council will consider Monday whether to pay cash to build a temporary home at Saddleback College for the Long Beach Riptide minor league baseball team.
City staff is asking for the appropriation of $1.1 million, with about $871,000 going toward renovating the baseball field currently being used by the college and installing temporary bleachers and lights.
The city also would pay $250,000 to the baseball team in relocation fees and a deposit on season ticket guarantees called for by a contract approved by the council in September.
Mission Viejo officials say the $1.1 million would eventually be returned to the general fund through redevelopment agency funds.
The agency currently doesn’t have enough money in its accounts to pay for the renovations. With the minor league baseball season starting in May, city officials say there isn’t enough time to set up a bond issue for the project.
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