Jacksonville’s City Council axed $94 million in public funding from the community benefits portion of the Jaguars’ stadium renovation agreement struck with Mayor Donna Deegan’s office in May, per David Bauerlein of the Florida Times-Union.
The amendment split Jacksonville’s proposed two-year, $150 million contribution to the community benefits agreement by over half. City Council deferred the $94 million into separate legislation that will be reviewed this summer.
$56 million in city contributions will remain intact for park development at Riverfront Plaza, Shipyard West Park and Metropolitan Park, and to renovate the city-owned Flex Field attached to Daily’s Place Amphitheater and EverBank Stadium.
The removed funding was intended to invest in ongoing, targeted community initiatives, including OUTEAST neighborhood community development, countywide workforce development, park development and conversion, and affordable housing/homelessness, among other projects.
The Jaguars had agreed to match the city’s original $150 million community benefits commitment, paid out over 30 years. Per Bauerlein, the team continues to pledge at least $100 million and would contribute further at a rate of one dollar from the Jaguars for every three dollars from the city.
Four City Council members — Kevin Carrico, Ju’Coby Pittman, Reggie Gaffney Jr. and Terrance Freeman — reported conflicts of interest in voting on the proposed legislation due to their ties to non-profits or employers that would be eligible for the funding or involved in the stadium renovation project.
City Council members Nick Howland and Raul Arias suggested a need for more detailed breakdowns of how the $94 million would be allocated to various programs.
“This is not us denying funding to the Eastside,” Howland said.
The city council is expected to hold its final vote on the Jaguars’ projected $1.4 billion stadium deal Tuesday. It will be presented for NFL owners’ approval in October if it passes Tuesday’s vote.
