News
By Michael Hernandez, 7-2-24
FERNANDINA BEACH, FL— This year’s Fourth of July event in Downtown Fernandina (Front Street) will feature a DJ, food trucks, and commercial vendors starting at 6 p.m. with fireworks beginning approximately at 9 p.m. Seat 3 Commissioner Ross “Chip” Ross urges citizens to “leave the fireworks to the professionals” and to “stay safe” by watching fireworks.”
Fernandina Beach Approves Grant Application for Airport Rehabilitation
The Fernandina Beach City Commission approved a grant application (Agenda Item 5.5) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at its July 2 meeting funding a $2.2 million Taxiway A rehabilitation for pavement, lightning and drainage. The Florida Department of Transportation has pledged and budgeted $198,000 to the project which also requires a match of $50,000 from Fernandina Beach to move forward. (Note: The funding amounts were updated from the July 2nd agenda).
Taxiway A provides access from all runways to the transient aircraft parking apron, the airport fuel farm, and airport T-hanger area. Winning the contract was CGC, Incorporated with specifications for the project prepared by Passero Associates, LLC of St. Augustine, Florida providing construction material testing services.
Alachua Street Storm Drainage Improvement Project Update and Railroad Crossing Approved
Public Works Utilities Director Andre Desilet provided an update on the Alachua Street Storm Drainage Improvement Project (Agenda Item 4.3). The original project bid in April 2021 included construction cost of $1.89 million and a contract was awarded for $2.45 million with T&G which was cancelled in Nov., 2023 with new contract costs reaching $2.9 million to:
rehabilitate existing pipes under the railroad from Front Street; replace existing drainage structures on Alachua Street; install system to provide stormwater treatment; and
provide treatment capacity for limited adjacent development on onsite stormwater treatment.
Fernandina Beach began seeking alternatives from the original storm water pump station after receiving a bid of $7.37 million for completing the original project work.
Resolution (Agenda Item 5.4) was approved to open a railroad crossing on Alachua Street and North Front Street. First Coast Railroad, Inc. will provide the construction engineering phase and railroad contract work in the amount of $956,000.
Fernandina Beach To Purchase Two Golf Club Fairway Mowers
Fernandina Beach will purchase two John Deere 7700A fairway mowers (Agenda Item 5.7) in the amount of $182,000. The maintenance equipment for the Fernandina Beach Golf Club is critical to maintaining golf course conditions and will come through Deere & Company of Cary, North Carolina via Beard Equipment Companyof Mobile, Alabama.
Last year, Fernandina Beach spent $150,000 on golf carts purchased for the 27-hole public golf course.
Utilities Department Budget Transfer of $150,000 Approved
Approved a utilities department budget transfer (Agenda Item 5-3) in the amount of $150,000 due to unanticipated and emergent wastewater equipment repairs as well as necessary water materials costs increases in fiscal year 2023-24. The current budget has a million dollars in reserve.
Pumpout Boat Payment Approved
Approved payment (Agenda Item 5.11) of a 23-foot 420 gallon Pump-Kleen Pumpout boat of $110,000 with Edison 120ELB pump and 200 horse power Suzuki. The boat comes turn key ready, including VHF radio, antenna and mount from Marine Boatbuilders of Rhode Island for a total cost of $121,500. Fernandina Beach already has one boat which is in need of repairs.
Fernandina Beach Approves Proposal for 7th Street Sidewalk by Jax Utilities Management
Jax Utilities Management, Inc. has provided a proposal in the amount of $51,000 (Agenda Item 5.6) for sidewalk and curbing improvements to North 7th Street. The total amount to be spent will not exceed $56,000 but will provide an additional 25-30 parking spaces.
Fernandina Beach Approves Funding for Beach Walkover Repairs of 2023-24 and 2024-25
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance 2015-27 to create the Amelia Island Beach Renourishment Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) to fund beach renourishment, restoration, erosion control and storm protection on the island. The approved resolution (Agenda Item 5.8) approves the City’s application for funding of $50,000 to repair boardwalk decks/walkovers at beach access within City limits for both this year and next fiscal year. The money to be spent is a return of money from Nassau County to Fernandina Beach.
City Commission July 2 Meeting Attendance
- *Mayor Bradley Bean (Seat 1): (904) 415-5181
- *Ronald “Chip” Ross (Seat 3): (410) 394-0220
- James Antun (Seat 4): (516) 547-5309
- Darron Ayscue (Seat 5): (904) 780-4480
- *Vice Mayor David Sturges (Seat 2): (904) 624-4596 (Absent)
*Term Expires: 2024
Other Fernandina Beach Actions:
- Action on City Commission Rules of Procedure tabled until the July 16 meeting with intense discussion on citizens comments, special workshops, the differences between townhalls and workshops and how items appear on the city commission agenda. The vote taken split 2-2. The Fernandina Beach City Commission was not able to codify any new Rules of Procedure. Agenda Item 5-10 was an attempt to designate the first Tuesday of each month to be reserved for Commissioner workshop discussion items; the third Tuesday of each month be reserved for citizen comments and questions in a townhall style meeting; and for public comments on items not on the agenda to be heard at the beginning of the meeting following presentations and proclamations- previous article on this topic. Some residents have protested comments being moved to the end of meetings with time indeterminate.
- Public Comments on above Agenda item 5:10:
- 1) Richard Dean: “More than just comment, but a dialogue, an interaction with our commissioners in an attempt to advance solutions–not to have an argument.”
- 2) Jack Ember: “The commission engaging public and public engaging commission”
- 3) Mike W(ilford):? “My understanding is that the mayor has twice the power to get on an agenda according to the way rules are written—I don’t know if that is appropriate.”
- 4) Pete Stevenson: “A workshop should have a specific purpose or purposes for the whole team–commissioners to sit down and discuss subject—to get public input.”
- 5) Sheila Cocce “if something keeps coming back; it is a sign something needs to be done about it.”
- 6) Joyce T(uten): “This city is filled with an incredible amount of talented people wanting to help…making this a better place to live—a better place for our grandchildren.”
- 7) Sandy Kerry: “Who controls the agenda–controls the meeting.” Please see Ms. Kerry’s amplified thoughts in the reader comments section below this article.
- Approved payment of $30,000 (Agenda items 5-1) to pay for outside attorney fees. Originally, $65,000 had been budgeted for outside attorney fees.
- Approved going to court to get a home inspection warrant (Agenda Item 5-2) for unpermitted construction work at 522 Citrona Drive (making the property “unsafe” and “unhabitable.”
- Nassau Humane Society Executive Director Chantal Scherer presented “Rory” the “City Commission Dog of the Month” a boxer, who needs to be adopted. A sibling boxer named “Lorelai” also is seeking adoption (Agenda Item 4-1).
Other News
- Agreement reached between Fernandina Beach and the Port Authority in regards to lawsuit filed in 2019 with the city claiming the port had not paid $50,000 per year for the last five years and owed $250,000. A deal was reached between parties with Fernandina Beach agreeing to receive $137,000 to settle the dispute.
- The application deadline for City Manager is July 17.
- Next Fernandina Beach City Commission meeting: July 16 (6 p.m.) at City Hall Commission Chambers, 204 Ash Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.
Agenda Fernandina Beach City Commissioners Meeting (2 hours: 32 minutes)
file:///Users/michaelhernandez/Downloads/Agenda%20(6).pdf
(4-page agenda)
file:///Users/michaelhernandez/Downloads/Agenda%20Packet%20(6).pdf
(253-page agenda packet)
Watch Fernandina Beach City Commissioners Meeting
https://fernandinabeachfl.new.swagit.com/videos/309442
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 “Nov. 5 Election Day Countdown” and “Stories Speak Volumes.” He also writes a column called “Revive America.”
