Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Portland city council voted 3-to-2 Wednesday to pursue a Major League Soccer team. They approved a $128 million public-private plan.

Commissioner Dan Saltzman cast the deciding vote, but only after he got soccer supporters, Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioner Randy Leonard to agree to a concession.

He wanted to remove from the deal a commitment of $15 million from a new urban renewal area.

Portland Public Schools and Multnomah County objected to a new taxing district.   County chair Ted Wheeler said the city was threatening to take more money away from the county, at a time when it faces a $45 million budget hole.

Ted Wheeler: “I’ve heard lawyers, I’ve heard consultants, I’ve heard planners, all stand up and say ‘there’s no risk to Multnomah County.’ With all due respect, I’m new to the job, but I wasn’t born yesterday.”

After Adams and Leonard agreed to Saltzman’s amendment, passage was assured.

Soccer fans at City Hall sent up a loud ovation.

The Portland Trail Blazers had a number of concerns, including the plan to move the Beavers’ baseball team into a new park that would be right next to the Rose Garden.

Mayor Adams and Commisisoner Leonard said they’d work to tweak plans so the Blazers can live with them.