ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg city employees who played a part in the massive Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal will have to give back the hefty bonuses they were given last week.
Mayor Ken Welch confirmed on Monday that the city was rescinding the payments, citing the negative response it received when the news was made public. The Tampa Bay Times first reported the bonuses on Aug. 16.
According to the Times, the bonuses ranged from $10,000 to $25,000 per person and were given to 17 high-ranking employees.
“I have always focused on recognizing exceptional employee accomplishments, and it was our intention to recognize the extraordinary work and dedication of employees central to the successful Historic Gas Plant District development agreement process. In retrospect, however, I am concerned about the alignment of this process with our governing principles, and the unintended response the payments have garnered," Mayor Welch said in a statement. "I have, therefore, decided to rescind the bonuses. Those employees were notified Monday."
The mayor's statement went on to say that some employees had already reached out to the city to return their bonuses "so as not to detract from the Historic Gas Plant project."
"We will learn from this experience, improve our processes, and continue with the important work ahead," Welch added.
St. Petersburg City Council gave its final approval for the Rays stadium deal last month, guaranteeing that the team will stay in St. Pete for the next 30 years.
The council voted 5-3 in favor of the overall $6.5 billion redevelopment project. Councilmembers Brandi Gabbard, Copley Gerde, Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Ed Montanari and Gina Driscoll voted for the project while John Muhammad, Lisset Hanewicz and Richie Floyd voted against it.
The project, which includes upgrading infrastructure, building parking garages, hotels, business space, an African American museum, affordable housing units and a state-of-the-art home for the Rays across 86 acres, will require nearly $743 million in public funding between the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.