JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — "The executive branch and the Jaguars have reached an agreement on the stadium renovation," said City Council President Ron Salem before a scheduled meeting between the Council and the Duval County School Board on Wednesday morning.
While the mayor and the Jaguars reached an agreement on the framework of stadium negotiations, no member of City Council has seen the deal and won't see it until next Tuesday, May 14th, at their next Council meeting.
However, the councilmembers that spoke with First Coast News said they want a deal that is fair for taxpayers.
The future is becoming a closer reality for "The Stadium of the Future" after City Council President Salem said the mayor will present council with the deal next week.
"The Mayor and I completely agree with this is that at the end of the review the agreement we will have a plan for payment, how we're going to pay for it," said Salem.
But councilmember Nick Howland said he doesn't plan on writing a blank check with taxpayer money for the stadium.
"The Jaguars are an important part of our community and we don't want to lose them," said Howland, "yet we want to do a dela that's going to be fiscally prudent and fiscally responsible for the taxpayers."
In April Mayor Donna Deegan's counsel and lead negotiator Mike Weinstein told First Coast News that he expects multiple agreements related to things like parking, security and maintenance to be brought to council as part of a 30 year stadium lease.
"The stadium belongs to the people of Jacksonville," said councilmember Rahman Johnson, "and if we don't do the updates then we're slumlords and we can't do that on our watch."
Johnson wants the Jaguars to stay in downtown Jacksonville, but only up to a point.
"I want to see the numbers, I'm really curious what they're going to look like and let me tell you, if it's about raising taxes, I'm a no," said Johnson, "and if it's not something that's sustainable for the long term I'm a no as well."
Howland is open to more than just Jacksonville taxpayers bearing the burden of the stadium.
"We'll look at all sorts of ways to financing and some of it may involve additional money going towards the city's obligation for stadium renovations that come outside of Duval County," said Howland.
Salem is not so sure.
"I'm not aware of any way you can get outside counties to participate in this, I think it's a Jacksonville issue and we're going to have to pay for it," said Salem.
Back in April Weinstein said that the negotiations have only been about the stadium specifically and have not included the proposed surrounding entertainment district.
Even if City Council approves the agreement between the Mayor and the Jaguars, the stadium agreement still needs to be voted on by NFL owners and 75% of them need to approve the deal for stadium renovations to get the green light.
When asked about the reported agreement between Mayor Deegan and the Jaguars the Jacksonville Jaguars released the following statement to First Coast News:
"The Jaguars are pleased with the process and progress on a stadium agreement with the City of Jacksonville. While we are optimistic that we will soon finalize a deal that equally serves the team, community and all who will use the stadium, there is still work to do. The Jaguars and Mayor Donna Deegan have the same goal – a stadium agreement that will earn the approval of the City Council, the National Football League office and, ultimately, NFL owners. In that spirit, we continue to meet and look forward to joining Mayor Deegan and lead negotiator Mike Weinstein on Tuesday to jointly present to the Jacksonville City Council the structure of the stadium agreement between the Jaguars and City of Jacksonville."