Vancouver's new mayor talks baseball with Paulson

VANCOUVER, Wash. - First it was the Rose Quarter, then Lents Park and Beaverton.  And now there is talk about the Portland Beavers going across the river to Vancouver.

At a news conference on Wednesday, newly elected Mayor Tim Leavitt announced that he had met with the team's owner. 

He was speaking to a small crowd, formally accepting his new position, confirming his commitment to making the City Council more accessible and having no tax on a future Interstate 5 bridge.

But the one thing on everyone's mind was whether the Portland Beavers would land in Vancouver.

Leavitt said in his meeting with Merritt Paulson, they talked about the size and cost of the project.  He added that if the conversation goes further, the people of Vancouver and Clark County would be a part of it.

"We will have a community conversation if we move forward," Leavitt said. "I intend to have conversations with Merritt and his staff and if it looks like it is something that is even feasible to present to our community, then we will do that."

Months ago, city economic development officials told KATU that Vancouver simply does not have the money for a minor league team or stadium.  The new administration seems to have a different take on that.