Poll: Pensacola voters do not support conference center at Maritime Park

Last month, the Pensacola City Council voted 4-3 for a publicly funded conference center and parking garage, indoor entertainment complex and 80 housing units to be built on Lots 4 and 5 at the Community Maritime Park. The council rejected the recommendation made by its consultant, Mayor Grover Robinson and city staff for a proposal that had more residential and retail, including a grocery store.

Inweekly hired Political Matrix to find out what city voters thought of the council’s decision. There wasn’t a lot of support for the proposal – only 31% – and even fewer of the 518 likely city voters polled want to borrow $40 million to build the project – 23%. Hardly anyone wants to raise taxes to pay for it – 10%.

If the city council wants to proceed on this course, they will need to convince more citizens that the project is worthwhile. Right now, it appears some members are out of step with their constituents.

Do you think this is the best project for the Maritime Park?

Responses
Yes 159 30.7%
No 222 42.9%
More info 137 26.4%
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
Brahier Myers Jones Moore Boughton Hill Wiggins.
Yes 33.9% 34.8% 32.0% 24.6% 23.2% 29.0% 37.7%
No 42.4% 42.0% 32.0% 53.6% 40.6% 47.0% 41.6%
More info 23.7% 23.2% 36.0% 21.7% 36.2% 24.0% 20.8%

Do you support the city borrowing $40 million to fund the conference center and garage?

Responses
Yes 121 23.4%
No 311 60.0%
More info 86 16.6%
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
Brahier Myers Jones Moore Boughton Hill Wiggins.
Yes 28.8% 23.2% 20.0% 14.5% 24.6% 27.0% 24.7%
No 55.9% 60.9% 65.3% 71.0% 55.1% 54.0% 59.7%
More info 15.3% 15.9% 14.7% 14.5% 20.3% 19.0% 15.6%

Do you support the city raising taxes to fund the conference center and garage?

Responses
Yes 51 9.8%
No 424 81.9%
More info 43 8.3%
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
Brahier Myers Jones Moore Boughton Hill Wiggins.
Yes 18.6% 4.3% 10.7% 2.9% 7.2% 12.0% 13.0%
No 79.7% 88.4% 82.7% 89.9% 78.3% 79.0% 76.6%
More info 1.7% 7.2% 6.7% 6.7% 14.5% 9.0% 10.4%

Should any public funds be used for the conference center and garage?

Responses
Yes 99 19.1%
No 335 64.7%
More info 84 16.2%
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
Brahier Myers Jones Moore Boughton Hill Wiggins.
Yes 18.6% 15.9% 21.3% 11.6% 17.4% 24.0% 22.1%
No 69.5% 65.2% 66.7% 73.9% 60.9% 58.0% 62.3%
More info 11.9% 18.8% 12.0% 14.5% 21.7% 18.0% 15.6%

Besides covering the debt, how do you feel about subsidizing the conference center operations?

Responses
Yes 81 15.6%
No 267 51.5%
More info 170 32.8%
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
Brahier Myers Jones Moore Boughton Hill Wiggins.
Yes 18.6% 11.6% 20.0% 11.6% 8.7% 18.0% 19.5%
No 52.5% 46.4% 56.0% 65.2% 47.8% 46.0% 49.4%
More info 28.8% 42.0% 24.0% 23.2% 43.5% 36.0% 31.2%

Would you support tax incentives for a parking garage, if substantial private investment is made for residents, retail, hotels, and commercial spaces on the other parcels?

Responses
Yes 121 23.4%
No 293 56.6%
More info 104 20.1%
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
Brahier Myers Jones Moore Boughton Hill Wiggins.
Yes 20.3% 27.5% 24.0% 18.8% 15.9% 24.0% 31.2%
No 64.4% 56.5% 53.3% 65.2% 52.2% 54.0% 53.2%
More info 15.3% 15.9% 22.7% 15.9% 31.9% 22.0% 15.6%

METHODOLOGY

The persons sampled were likely City of Pensacola voters. The voters called were those only with landlines via IVR. The interviews were conducted between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29. The Margin of Error for this study is +/- 3.5% with a confidence level of 95%.

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