Richard Clark's Idea to fund Everbank Scoreboard and other expenses.

[Cheshire Cat]

Oh now this is smooth, really smooth.  I like how Richard was able to slide in scoreboard improvements along with many much more serious issues.  I get that we like our football team and that it is good for Jacksonville and appreciate the fact that Mr. Khan has invested in the city via the team.  But really, scoreboard improvements with real needs? How about a team who can win a few games for starters?  lol

By the way didn't we just close some libraries cause we can't afford them?  Are we not talking about cuts to the JSO? Isn't the council looking into how much funding is given to Shand's via UF for those working poor without insurance? I think our priorities are amiss here.  No offense to Jags fans and by the way I do know about the financial agreements with the jags regarding the stadium and some of the potential income in them.  I just had to smile at the way ole Richard is going at getting what Khan wants. 


http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=540363

Clark
Scoreboards could be part of projects plan
Wednesday, August 28, 10:36 AM EDT
by David Chapman, Staff Writer

Park maintenance, road resurfacing projects and potentially EverBank Field scoreboards will be among the projects added to the Capital Improvement Plan budget that's set to be reviewed Friday.
City Council member Richard Clark said after the Council Finance Committee panel meeting the program's budget is traditionally in the $140 million range, but he expected fiscal 2013-14 to be less than $100 million.

The stadium improvements came up after Council member Robin Lumb discussed several road projects that leveraged private investment, such as an extension of New World Avenue that could mean construction of a middle school, high school and workforce housing.

"Eventually, we're going to have the discussion on the stadium," Clark said.

Clark mentioned Jaguars owner Shad Khan's investment in locker rooms and other stadium improvements at EverBank Field, which as previously reported, totaled more than $7 million.

Afterward he said the City has to find a way to pay for its share of the EverBank improvements. The City has committed to paying about $43 million, with the Jaguars paying the remaining $20 million.

As reported, the scoreboards were estimated to cost $26.5 million, with the Jaguars to pay $20 million and the City the remaining $6.5 million.

Mayor Alvin Brown did not include funding for any of the EverBank improvements in his budget.

The one-hour session mainly focused on roads and parks projects, with Clark offering a slew of park infrastructure projects — new fences, grass, lights and other aspects — he said are critical.

"We simply need to put infrastructure into these parks so kids can use them," Clark said.

He said putting projects on the list will make Council "re-engaged" in the process and, for example, will help the parks system by indicating when maintenance is needed instead of costly replacement projects later.

The subcommittee will again meet Thursday to add more amendments to the plan before the full Finance Committee is scheduled to review the budget Friday.

dchapman@baileypub.com

(904) 356-2466

[FSBA]

This tidbit made me chuckle

Mayor Alvin Brown did not include funding for any of the EverBank improvements in his budget.

[Cheshire Cat]

This tidbit made me chuckle

Mayor Alvin Brown did not include funding for any of the EverBank improvements in his budget.

and this even after the Jag's flew him to Miami on their private jet. 

[tufsu1]

Could someone please exlain why capital improvements to a City owned facility shouldn't be paid for through the Capital Improvements Plan.

[Cheshire Cat]

Could someone please exlain why capital improvements to a City owned facility shouldn't be paid for through the Capital Improvements Plan.

I don't think anyone is saying that they shouldn't.  I didn't say that.  What is under discussion is what should take priority when it comes to the expenditures under the Capital Improvements Plan.  Is a scoreboard a top priority?

[Charles Hunter]

Why not from the sports complex fund - paid for by fees on sports complex parking and so on?
Why should it compete for very scarce dollar for legitimate capital improvements around the city? 
Why didn't the Mayor include the scoreboard and other stadium upgrades in his budget, since he as already given the Jags a commitment the City will pay for these things?

[Cheshire Cat]

Why not from the sports complex fund - paid for by fees on sports complex parking and so on?
Why should it compete for very scarce dollar for legitimate capital improvements around the city? 
Why didn't the Mayor include the scoreboard and other stadium upgrades in his budget, since he as already given the Jags a commitment the City will pay for these things?

Wasn't this the source of funding initially discussed as a way to pay for the improvements?  Correct me if I am mistaken.  As you stated with the scarcity of funding is a scoreboard or upgrades to the stadium a priority?  As far as the Mayor and his commitment's being followed by a well financed plan, well....you know how that has been going.  lol

[theduvalprogressive]

Brown must have backed out on the loan that was mentioned earlier this summer that was supposed to be repaid with the bed tax.

[duvaldude08]

I wish everyone would stop referring to the scoreboards when they talk about the project and like Khan is pimping the city. The team is actually footing almost all of the bill for the scoreboards. The city is required to contribute 6.5 million to the scoreboards. The remainder of the other 43 million is for the party deck etc etc. The city knew what they signed up for when getting an NFL. Khan has done more of his fair share since purchasing the team. I think we can at least meet him half way.

And while we are on the subject of what should be priority in regard to capital improvement projects, does anyone have any insight? Probably not because we are not part of the city council.

[I-10east]

I wish everyone would stop referring to the scoreboards when they talk about the project and like Khan is pimping the city.

+1000

It seems like mostly non-football fans are against this Everbank Field scoreboard thing. Oh lets see, hypothetically if the subject switched from scoreboards to the beginning phase of a streetcar line (which may or may not be successful) suddenly there would not so be much negativity overall right?

I'm looking forward to those upgrades at the stadium. Everbank is definitely in need for some new scoreboards. When fans realize that there's a downgrade in scoreboards from places like Florida Field, to Everbank Field (like in the FL/GA game) we definitely have an issue here in Jax.  This project would make the stadium more fan friendly, and practical (eliminating a big area of tarped-off seating). 

[vicupstate]

Only money generated FROM the stadium should be used ON the stadium.

Luxury items at a sports venue should not take priority over public parks and libraries.   

[ChriswUfGator]

Could someone please exlain why capital improvements to a City owned facility shouldn't be paid for through the Capital Improvements Plan.

Yes. It's absolutely not a real priority compared to other needed capital improvements around the city.

[mtraininjax]

The city knew what they signed up for when getting an NFL.

Someone was obviously absent from the 1990s in Jacksonville. Examine the issues at the front then, No Pension issues, No Libraries closing, No JSO or JFRD decreases, it was a time of great growth in Jax. Back in 1995, Georgia Dome in Atlanta was considered a state of the art facility, now the Falcons are calling for entirely new stadiums, because theirs is out-dated.

To say that the city leaders knew that they would have pensions eating up 15% of the budget in 2013-2014 is irresponsible. No one could forsee these issues or problems, to say otherwise is ignorance. They must fix the pension issue for any furture programs/projects to have a chance to survive.

Or sell the stadium to Khan as an option. Let him deal with the GA/FL, Monster Trucks, hot tubs, scoreboards, he has the money for it, let him decide when it is time to upgrade and improve items.

[tufsu1]

Could someone please exlain why capital improvements to a City owned facility shouldn't be paid for through the Capital Improvements Plan.

Yes. It's absolutely not a real priority compared to other needed capital improvements around the city.

that doesn't really answer the question....I asked why an expenditure like this shouldn't be funded as a CIP project.

and yes, I agree that we have more pressing needs...but this is kind of the trend in sports today...and just about every team/owner holds its City hostage.

[JayBird]

In my opinion the scoreboards are only being put out there to distract attention from the rest of the budget. I am sure that one could find several "questionable pet projects" in the budget if they looked instead of just taking in the media fodder. Are there better uses? Of course there are. When you quote the libraries being cut, keep in mind was 6 or more, now it is 2. The Brentwood and Maxville. Idk about Maxville, but Brentwood has been losing traffic for past two years. Now ppl just automatically go downtown because the Brentwood library is only opened 3/4 days a week (its on rotating schedule since April), is known to close early if no patrons are visiting, and has sent most of its collection to other libraries. Stop by the library, they are open today. It is on Pearl north of 27th and the head librarian is Maggie. Yesterday they had 7 visitors, but don't go if its raining, the roof has a bad leak. As for JFRD, JSO those threats will be made regardless, that's politics 101. We could have a $1B surplus and some council person would still say "well we may have to cut some law enforcement efforts because we need $1.2B for roads". And why shouldn't it come out of capital improvement? Isn't that a fund developed for major infrastructure maintenance/improvements for city owned facilities?