By Khalida Sarwari
The Santa Clara City Council on Tuesday discussed a timeline of events leading up to the potential placement of a measure on the 2010 ballot that would authorize the construction of a stadium for the San Francisco 49ers next to the Great America theme park.
On Dec. 8, council members will vote on whether to certify the final environmental impact report and will also consider a specific date to place on the ballot the proposed $937 million, 68,500-seat stadium.
The council must decide by Dec. 15 whether it will place the measure on a ballot in a special city election on April 13 at a cost of $652,000.
Placing the initiative on the June 8 primary election ballot is also an option. That would cost the city about $152,000.
In Feb. 2010, the planning commission will consider general plan amendments, which specify designating the stadium as part of the entertainment zone, assistant city manager Ron Garratt said.
“It’s a way of letting the community know that some land use change has been proposed and this is what it looks like,” Garratt said.
The planning commission will also consider amendments made to the redevelopment plan from 30 years ago, which did not anticipate a stadium, Garratt said.
The City Council and redevelopment agency will have their chance to consider the amendments in a joint public hearing in March.
If the measure is approved by voters, the City Council will begin considering a disposition and development agreement, containing details about every aspect of the stadium project, such as the financing and construction schedule, public safety agreement and exhibits describing what will happen to the site for the next 60 years, Garratt said.