Mayor Donna Deegan's second community huddle on the proposed $1.4 billion stadium renovation deal with the Jaguars saw residents repeatedly call for the city to help struggling neighborhoods so their needs won't be squeezed out by the big price Jacksonville would pay for remaining an NFL city.
Northside resident Anna Matthews said the city should do "whatever we need to do to help our communities" and "bring everybody — or as many — as we can."
"Many of us go to the Jaguars games, but then when we leave the game, we go back to a house or a home that is less than desirable," she said. "So bring us along."
Deegan said building better roads, drainage, parks and other infrastructure in neighborhoods remains the No. 1 priority for her administration.
"We should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time," she said. "We should be able to do infrastructure work and something like this (the stadium) at the same time. This is not an either/or proposition."
The community huddle Thursday evening at the Legends Center was the second of five that Deegan will do with Jaguars President Mark Lamping and the city's lead stadium negotiator Mike Weinstein. The first huddle Wednesday at Mandarin High School saw the bulk of the questions involve how the stadium renovations would affect fans and whether it might lead to an entertainment district at the sports complex.
The meeting at the Legends Center, which drew about 150 people, had more questions from the audience about what the stadium deal would mean for neighborhoods, a long-running demand for a part of Jacksonville that has not shared in the city's overall growth when it comes to jobs, development and household income.
"I think the takeaway is community comes first," City Council member Reggie Gaffney Jr. said after the meeting. "A lot of people have been saying, 'Jaguars, Jaguars, Jaguars.' But you have people in the community saying, 'What about us? What about my potholes? What about my sidewalk? What about my drainage? Please don't forget about us.'"
The proposed agreement calls for $1.4 billion in work on the city-owned stadium. The city would pay for $775 million of it, or 55% of the cost.
In addition, Deegan and Jaguars negotiated a $300 million community benefits agreement for affordable housing, workforce development, reducing homelessness and parks. The city would put up $150 million over about five years and the Jaguars would commit to $150 million paid out over 30 years. Some funding would be for countywide programs while other spending would be focused on the Eastside neighborhood and developing downtown riverfront parks.
Lamping the city and Jaguars will miss "a huge opportunity" if the only result of the agreement is a "shiny new stadium."
"So if this is going to happen, not only does it need to meet the needs of the city and the Jaguars and the taxpayers, but the benefits should be felt throughout the entire community," he said.
Brentwood resident Maria Garcia, representing the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, said her organization supports the proposed stadium improvements, such as a shade-providing roof, or else "we will lose the team or just have a stadium where everyone gets sunburned every year."
"But we do want to really emphasize the fact that we see the commitment to invest in our community," she said. "We want to really encourage that and make sure that's emphasized and you all stay true to your word on that."
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Deegan said she is "committed to doing everything I can to get this community benefit agreement across the line" when City Council votes on the proposed stadium deal.
In response to comments from two residents who said they don't go to Jaguars games and don't care about the team, Deegan said her proposal will not raise taxes. She added that taxpayer support for having an NFL team is similar to the city subsidizing other activities such as the symphony that aren't attended by everyone but add to the city's overall quality of life.
City Council member Ju'Coby Pittman said after the meeting she is leaning strongly in favor of voting for the deal.
"The taxpayers before didn't want to pay any money and I understood that," she said. "I think now we have a plan that is a win-win. I think you have a commitment long term from the city and you also have a commitment from the Jaguars, and that is not going to just impact the areas around the stadium."
The next community huddles will be at Fletcher High School, 700 Seagate Ave. in Neptune Beach, on Monday followed by Sandalwood High School, 2750 John Promenade Blvd., on May 29 and Westside High School, 5530 Firestone Road, on May 30. All the meetings are scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
