JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An amendment is expected to be filed that would carve out $94 million from the community benefits agreement in the Jaguars stadium deal.
The amendment would keep $56 million that would be used to finish downtown parks, but the other $94 million pegged for Eastside development, workforce housing and homelessness initiatives would be built into separate legislation and discussed in July. The total $150 million was set to be matched by the Jaguars.
City Council Vice President Randy White said he worked with the mayor's office to create the amendment carving out $94 million of the CBA, saying it may have caused a conflict of interest for some council members.
“[The conflict of interest] involves their jobs, and who they work for, City Council President Ron Salem said. "And I rather not go into individual conflicts."
The $94 million includes money that would address homelessness initiatives, workforce housing, and development on Jacksonville’s Eastside.
Community members from the Eastside, wearing orange shirts, came to speak at Monday's public hearing to voice their support for the CBA in its entirety.
“All of us in our orange we came to represent," Eastside business owner Dana Miller said.
“We’ve never had an upgrade in 60 years," another neighbor said.
White and the mayor's office worked together on the amendment.
The $94 million would be cut out into separate legislation that will be discussed after the city council break in July.
The $56 million would be voted on next Tuesday as part of the final stadium deal vote.
Eastside neighbors have some questions.
“We want to kind of understand that some transparency and a fair allocation of the funding," one neighbor said.
Darion Roberts said the funding is long overdue. He said he teaches kids on the Eastside life skills through fishing and said more opportunities need to be afforded.
“We need a lot more guidance, you know, we need a lot more guidance," Roberts said.
White's amendment will be introduced and voted on at a special committee meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. If it passes, it will be included in the final stadium vote.