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Group Pushing For Contract Rewrite

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By KATHY STEELE

ksteele@tampatrib.com

Published: February 25, 2009

EAST TAMPA - A community group pressed its case last week for the Tampa Sports Authority to complete negotiations with area residents and the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, which has a city contract to operate a youth golf program at Rogers Park Golf Course.

There is some urgency because the First Tee program is slated for a March 14 opening, said James Ransom, head of Citizens Who Support Keeping Rogers Park Public. It would be good to have all parties, including Mayor Pam Iorio, in agreement by the ceremony, Ransom said.

"That is our desire," he said. But "there has been a lack of follow-through."

Several months ago the citizens group raised objections, saying the 2-year-old contract appeared to open the door to the YMCA taking over management of the city's golf course. The authority manages the historical golf course, which during segregation was the only one open to blacks.

City and YMCA officials have said the only goal is to offer golf and life lessons to area children, and provide scholarships to those unable to pay program fees. There are no plans to put the YMCA in charge at Rogers Park, they said.

The citizens group wants the contract reworded in part to make it clear the public will continue to have access to the course.

The authority in November agreed to work with residents and the YMCA on recommendations to amend the contract and send a letter to Iorio. The mayor must agree to any changes and so far she has said no.

The YMCA almost is finished remodeling an old clubhouse as First Tee headquarters at an estimated cost of $250,000. The project is among the conditions of the 10-year, rent-free contract for use of the clubhouse and golf course facilities for First Tee.

At its Feb. 16 meeting the authority had no drafted letter ready for review. Earlier, Ransom's group had sent a disapproving e-mail critical of the slow process. The complaint prompted Frank DeBose, chair of the authority's golf committee, to step aside so another committee member, Tony Muniz, could complete negotiations.

"We hope to wrap it up in a week or so," Muniz said.

To speed things up, the authority gave Muniz permission to reach an agreement with the YMCA and Ransom's group and forward recommendations to Iorio without a calling a special meeting to approve the letter. Board members will receive copies of the letter via e-mail.

Board member Bob Buckhorn said the outcome still is uncertain. "The mayor could sit on the letter for six months," he said. "It has no bearing on anything she is or isn't going to do."

Council Chairman Tom Scott said the authority will at least have done its part. "I just believe in trying to do what's right and what's fair. There are times you go with a hard line and times you try to compromise."

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

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