News
By Michael Hernandez, 9-20-24
FERNANDINA BEACH—Nassau County decided at its Sept. 18 meeting to work together in a partnership with Fernandina Beach by providing $1.7 million for the Ybor Alvarez Sports Complex. The partnership allows the city and county to secure playing fields at the sports complex from the city airport and to jointly offer recreation programs.
Usage fees will be consistent for city and non-city residents.
The City on Sept. 3 at its regular meeting had approved a joint agreement with the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners “for the land purchase at the City Airport and redevelopment of the Ybor Alvarez Sports Complex.” Work toward the joint partnership has taken over a year.
Newly Selected Fernandina Beach City Manager Signs Contract
Sarah Campbell, former town manager of the Town of Orange Park, a suburb of Jacksonville (with a population of 9,089), has signed a contract for the City Manager position with starting pay at $205,000—a raise of $55,000 over her current salary of $150,118.
The contract has to be approved by the Fernandina Beach City Commissioners at its Oct. 1 meeting and Campbell has a 45-day window to give notice to the Town of Orange Park which means her earliest start date in Fernandina beach would be Monday, November 18 (after the upcoming elections) but it is quite possible she would not start until early December (after the Thanksgiving holidays).
The job contract has provisions for $20,000 of raises over the first year of work with $10,000 pay increases after both six months and one year for good performance. Fernandina Beach had originally offered Campbell a $190,000 contract but she countered with a request for a $225,000 contract. Her contract includes a $5,000 relocation stipend, a $500 per month stipend for a take-home vehicle and a $50 per month cell phone allowance.
Campbell was selected by a divided city commission with a 3-2 vote. opposition was primarily because her husband is the district director for U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean, father of Mayor Bradley Bean who works for RYAM.
(Editor’s Note: To read Citizens Journal Florida Sept. 6 article on “Sarah Campbell As New City Manager go to https://www.citizensjournal.net/fernandina-beach-selects-sarah-campbell-as-new-city-manager/.)
Les DeMerle Amelia Island Jazz Festival Week Set Sept. 29-Oct. 6
The Les DeMerle 21st Anniversary Amelia Island Jazz Festival Week is set Sept. 29-Oct. 6 (Agenda 4.2). Headlining performs include prodigious award-winning Saxophonist/Vocalist Grace Kelly, legendary Texas Rhythm & Blues Vocalist Marcia Ball, a 12-piece Salsa Band, Tony Cruz & the Latin Jazz Legends, the 21-piece University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble 2 directed by Dennis Marks, the Spare Ribs Six Dixieland Band, and the Dynamic Les DeMerle Band featuring Bonnie Eisele.
Concert venues include the Courtyard Amelia Island/SpringHill Suites by Marriott, The Decantery, Mocama Beer Company and he Fernandina Beach Atlantic Rec Center.
The Amelia Island Jazz Festival presents a free community concert and many educational programs including Jazz In The Schools, Jazz For Kids, Jazz for Seniors as well as a scholarship program which supports continuing music education for high school musicians who desire to study jazz music in college.
Recipients Of Florida Main Street Awards Program Announced
The Annual Secretary of State Florida Main Street Awards Program recipients have been announced (Agenda 4-3) by Main Street Director Lisa Finklestein and the winners are:
- Volunteer of the Year: Paul Moermann
- Board Member of the Year: Michael Brooks
- Business Owner of the Year Jose Miranda
- Budget Hawk Award Island Hop Craft Beer Festival
The four Main Street Councils focus on Promotions, Economic Vitality, Organization, and Design.
City Commissioners Hear Environmental Health Presentation
Nassau County Health Officer Cara Gluck (Agenda 4.5) made a presentation of the Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health (PACE-EH). The stated goal: “Increase the overall health and quality of life of our residents.” The focus is on prevention, preparedness, and education service that “will prevent illness as well as injury, and promote wellbeing.”
Seven common factors that create human health risks include:
- sidewalks/crosswalks existence or condition
- park amenities
- dilapidated housing/uncared for property
- availability/condition of bike paths
- demographic disparities
- isolation
- littering
A walkability assessment team will conduct an assessment, report findings and recommendations and address findings in the Department of Health Strategic Plan and identify future collaborative efforts between the City, Main Street and the Department of Health.
Other Board Actions:
- Approval of 30 exemptions (Agenda 5.1) for payment of Sewer ($14,710), Refuse ($10,939), and Stormwater Services ($4,153) for a total of $29,802.
- Approval of outside legal counsel (Agenda 5.3) from six legal firms not to exceed $165,000 for 2024-2025.
- Approval of 40 qualified firms (Agenda 5.4) to enter into three-year continuing services agreements with the City for professional consulting.
- Approval of CityView Agreement (Agenda 5.5) amendment for Building Department permitting licensing software in the amount of $460,000 and an annual maintenance fee from $54,000 to $61,000.
- Approval of nine co-sponsored events (Agenda 5.7) which include: Sounds on Centre, Nassau Sports Association Fishing Rodeo, Petanque Amelia Island Open, Hometown Fourth of July, Shrimp Drop, Dickens on Centre, Island Hop Craft Beer Festival, 8 Flags Car Show and Black Friday Pajama Party.
- Approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant Agenda agreement to fund the construction phase of the Taxiway A Rehabilitation project in the amount of $2.23 million. The Florida Department of Transportation has budgeted $199,000 and the City is providing $50,000.
- Approval of a workorder (Agenda 5.9) from Passero Associates LLC not to exceed $184,000 for Taxiway A Rehabilitation.
- Approval of CGC (Agenda 5.10) for $2.5 million contract contingent upon receipt of FAA grant funding.
- Approval of downtown improvement contract (Agenda 5.11) in the amount of $10,000 for a total amount of $80,000 to Kimley-Horn and Associates for arboretum consultation and street lighting design.
- Approval of contract to Merrell Bros., Inc (Agenda 5.12) to provide bio-solids and sludge removal for three years in the amount of $132 per ton and permitted capacity of 45,000 dry tons volume.
- Approval of contract to Schwalls Consulting LLC (Agenda 5.13) as a Sole Source Vendor for the National Flood Insurance Program not to exceed $57,000.
- Voluntary Annexation Agreement of 2953 Bailey Road (Agenda 5.15) of .53 acres of land with property owner Charles Bonnet.
- Approval of 9-lot subdivision (Agenda 5.16) consisting of eight townhome units and one single-family dwelling unit on 1.29 acres of land located on South 13th Street (Sea La Vie subdivision).
- Appointment of Steven Virden (Agenda 8.1) to a three-year term to the seven-member Fernandina Beach Youth Advisor Committee.
Agenda (4,230 pages)
https://fernandinabeachfl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3266/files/agenda/8136
Watch (3 hours 8 minutes)
https://fernandinabeachfl.new.swagit.com/videos/315336
Michael Hernandez, from California is co-founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted at [email protected] and is editor of the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes,” “Nov. 5 Election Day Countdown” and “Revive America: Make America Great Again.”
