JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Emotions were high at a Jacksonville City Council meeting Monday night where council members announced they would delay the vote to separate the $300 million for the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) out of the “Stadium of the Future” deal.
According to our news partner the Jacksonville Daily Record, incoming City Council President Randy White announced an amendment at the start of Monday’s meeting that would move parts of the benefits package that could pose conflicts of interest for some Council members out of the deal.
Currently, the $1.4 billion stadium renovation deal with the Jaguars also includes the $300 million CBA, split evenly between the team and the city. The city would pay $150 million over four years, while the Jags would give $5 million a year over 30 years.
But White crafted the amendment along with Mayor Donna Deegan’s office that would keep $56 million for parks development in the stadium bill but would uncouple the remaining $94 million so it could be considered later. That money is focused on workforce development, affordable housing and addressing homelessness.
Current City Council President Ron Salem said that funding would be moved into another bill that would be discussed after the council’s break in July.
“The mayor’s office and Councilmember White came to that compromise, and I’m very supportive of it. I was always supportive of the park part. It was the other portion of the bill that I thought should be discussed as part of the budget. And this will allow us to do that,” Salem said.
Part of the issue is that several council members work for organizations that could receive some of the $94 million in funding. Separating that funding allows the maximum number of council members to vote on the stadium deal.
But every community member who walked up to the podium to speak was in favor of the CBA remaining in the deal to support improvements in the Eastside community.
“I’m here on behalf of my community. My community desires everything that we’re asking for and we’re asking for it because we need it,” one community member said.
“I call Jacksonville ‘Renderville.’ Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen so many pictures. So many things that were supposed to happen. We really want that to happen on the Eastside,” another community member said.
“We’re doing great work in Jacksonville around homelessness. We need ongoing funding and that is exactly what our friends, the Jaguars, are trying to offer us,” a community member said.
Council will vote on White’s amendment on Wednesday. Whether it passes or fails, a final vote on the overall stadium deal is expected next Tuesday.