Commanders and DC mayor to make case for council to approve RFK Stadium deal

After Tuesday s community hearing that stretched for over five hours the D C Council is back in session Wednesday to hear from the Washington Commanders and the mayor s office about a deal to bring the organization to a new stadium at the old RFK Stadium site It s the second populace hearing on the billion proposal that would develop the site with a new stadium housing retail and recreation space The council passed the budget on Monday which includes funding for a new stadium As part of the agreement D C would fund billion of the redevelopment project During Wednesday s session the council will first hear from Mark Clouse president of the Washington Commanders Clouse has played a key role in negotiating the deal since taking the job earlier this year The Commanders role is the first sports stop for Clouse who came to the band after serving as CEO for Campbell s Company Related stories What residents are saying about the DC stadium deal Hall of Famer and DC ambassador hoping for Commanders return to DC Stadium deal opponents are not moved by latest plans to redevelop RFK Also set to testify is the gang s director of real estate Andy VanHorn and its director of inhabitants affairs Kirtan Mehta Mayor Muriel Bowser s testimony will follow that of gang leaders City Administrator Kevin Donahue and Director of the Office of Budget and Performance Management Jenny Reed will also speak before the council Wednesday s hearing also serves as an opportunity for D C Council members to publicly question Commanders authorities and the mayor about the proposal Under the current arrangement the squad won t pay property taxes but Council Chair Phil Mendelson revealed the Commanders would pay taxes on the sales of merchandise food and beverages The city will pay to build the parking garages for the RFK campus but the unit has agreed to pay taxes on parking and will allow the city to collect parking revenue on days when there is not an event at the stadium It s not clear if any of the financial terms of the deal will change following the hearings Last week Mendelson disclosed the reworked deal has the backing of the council it requirements to pass Eight of the council members need to approve it but chosen members noted their vote is not guaranteed among them is At-Large Council member Robert White I don t make decisions based on pressure or timelines I make decisions based on what s right for D C residents especially those who are too often promised everything and delivered too little White disclosed during the first approval hearing The stadium deal has been an accelerated one as the council meets for the approval hearings during a time when it is normally on recess The deal presented by the mayor came with a deadline of July That deadline was not met in order to give the council time to renegotiate with the band but the first vote is expected Friday and a second vote is slated for Sept Source