CLEARWATER — City Council members will vote Wednesday on an initial agreement with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to build a $160 million attraction on the current city hall site.
A proposed memorandum of understanding outlines a 60-year lease for the downtown site, with the aquarium eventually paying the city back for the costs of building a new $7.5 million city hall as well as an additional $150,000 each year in rent after it’s paid off.
Since Mayor George Cretekos and the City Council debated the agreement Monday, city staff and aquarium officials have been negotiating a revised deal that could allow the city to collect interest on the property.
Council members also asked for additional language in the agreement to assure voters that no tax dollars would be used to build the aquarium.
A referendum on the aquarium lease is scheduled for Nov. 5.
Source: TBO
