PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Portland Mayor Sam Adams will ask the City Council Wednesday to let Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson start work on the renovation of PGE Park.
The resolution is needed so the stadium can be ready for the start of the 2011 Major League Soccer season.
Paulson already has crews doing pre-construction work here at PGE Park, preparing the facility for the soccer renovations.
Plans include new covered seats on the east side of the field. One of MLS's requirements is that the playing field be surrounded by fans on all four sides.
Commissoner Randy Leonard said he was comfotrable with the deal after the council vote 3-2 to approve a 6-week period to start work while the sides work out other issues.
"I have a concern frankly about the timing and the time that it has taken to conclude this and I resepectfully believe that we are giving up leverage if we go ahead with this," opposing Commissioner Nick Fish said.
Leonard says Paulson is required to return the stadium to it's previous condition should the deal eventually collapse, so it's Paulson's pocketbook that's at risk instead of taxpayers.
(KGW Reporter Randy Neves contributed to this report)
