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Escondido to begin ballpark process this week

Portland BeaversThe process for Escondido (Cal.) to finance and build a ballpark for the relocated Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) should begin this week when the City Council decides whether to spend money on engineering and environmental studies.

The agenda item on Wednesday’s meeting calls for the City Council to “consider and approve a budget adjustment necessary to evaluate design and construction of a minor league ballpark on the west side of Quince Avenue, immediately north of Spruce Street, and authorize execution of consulting agreements necessary to [perform a] environmental study.”

Approval is expected to be a formality.

Untimately, the City Council must decide whether to finance a $45 million ballpark (where the borrowing costs could ultimately double the cost of the project) for the Beavers, opening in 2012. San Diego Padres owner Jeff Moorad is pushing the plan and will buy the Beavers from Merritt Paulson if the City Council approves the project. The Beavers would then play in Lake Elsinore in 2011.

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