September 29, 2014 8:01 p.m
Editor’s Note: Richard Bruce, Nassau County Ocean and Highway Port Authority Commissioner was notified by Port Attorney Clyde Davis of the following: “Per Kelly Gibson [Senior Planner for City of Fernandina Beach] it appears that the city manager told the City PAB not to show.”
Update: City Manager Joe Gerrity when questioned by the Fernandina Observer indicated, “It [The decision not to join with Port Authority] was strictly a CM [city manager] decision based on the perception of lack of transparency and limited access for the citizens of Fernandina Beach.
Although the Port Authority will continue with their workshop on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Honorable John M. Drew, the meeting will no longer be a joint meeting with the City’s Planning and Advisory Board. The public is welcomed to attend.
AGENDA
NASSAU COUNTY OCEAN HIGHWAY & PORT AUTHORITY WORKSHOP
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014
1:00 P.M.
Meeting Room at the office of the Honorable John M. Drew
86130 License Rd., Fernandina Beach, FL
1. ROLL CALL/DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM
1.1. Invocation
1.2. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Presentation of applicable Florida Statute requirements for Deepwater Port Master Plan (OHPA Attorney or Consultant)
2.1. CALL TO ORDER
3. Identification of any areas of inconsistency along with supporting policies within City’s Comp Plan and Port Master Plan Update
4. Discuss technical document changes as previously identified (See 9/8/14 Public Comment Summary)
5. Discuss questions raised and requests for areas of further analysis (See 9/8/14 Public Comment Summary)
6. Determine next steps and schedule
7. Public Input
8. ADJOURNMENT
I think that the meeting should be held when ALL of the stake-holders are there!! Why would the City Manager tell the City Planning and Advisory Board not to attend?? Call me crazy, but this is not adding up to good governance!!
Strategy, tactics, laziness, lack of preparation, hidden agenda(s)…..?
Interesting in the PAB is a quasi-judicial committee appointed by and reporting to the City Commisson, not the City Manager, and serves as the City’s Local Planning Agency as required by state statute. While I don’t believe that Joe has the legal authority to prevent the PAB from attending or participating in the OHPA meeting, I don’t think it is a wise move for the PAB as a formal committee to attend the meeting, but instead let a member of the PAB go to the meeting and take notes as to the discussions that were had. Multiple members of the PAB can attend as along as they do not privately discuss any matters that would come before the PAB as such would be a violation of the FL Sunshine law. The OHPA and the City Commission can have a joint meeting upon mutual agreement where matters can be openly discussed. For some reason the City Commission seems to be wanting to put off any important discussions and decisions until after the election. Now I wonder why that is?
As Chairman of the PAB I opposed a joint meeting. With a PAB meeting, three PAB sub committee meetings and OH&PA meeting the OH&PH has sufficient information and public input to revise and submit “their” master plan.
Good position Len, That being said I think it would be wise for a PAB member to attend to hear what is being said so that any statements made by OHPA members relative to the PAB’s position or actions are accurate. The Master Plan seems to be a bit of a boiling cauldron with all kinds of things thrown in there, many of which appear to be pure hocus-pocus.
Good comments from Len Kreger and Dave Lott.
Yogi Berra once said ” you can learn a lot by listening “. As Dave pointed out, any member of a City Committee could attend and go as private citizen. I would hope that our City Commissioners would also attend as private citizens and hear what is said. For some reason I would think that all those running for office will be there. Listening never hurts—just ask Yogi
City Attorney Tammi Bach and Senior Planner Kelly Gibson plan to attend. There was concern that the location and time were not accessible for City residents. We did try to have the location changed. We are still engaged and staying involved.
I agree that OHPA can have their own meetings wherever they choose. The City can decide to attend or not, that is their choice, too. There is a political price paid or earned for these choices.
However, the voters should attend if possible, the workshops as invited by OHPA, to make their positions known.
Let’s not get caught up in any disputes about where and how. Let’s just participate.
Good call, Joe.
The OHPA ‘plan’ has been roundly and properly criticized by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and by the citizenry of Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island. OHPA themselves have said they are going to rewrite it and involve the public as they do so. Why waste the City’s time and resources discussing something that isn’t even the plan OHPA wants to go forward with.
I hear that FDOT strongly suggested that OHPA come up with a 3 year action plan to encompass their intended plans. Once this has been done, the City can see how/if it can accommodate the Port’s needs. And if not, it can ask the Port to change its plan.
I’m all in favor of good communications, but I don’t think they’d be served by having a joint meeting – at least not until OHPA has decided what it wants to do.
Thanks for your leadership, Joe.
I agree with Joe.This is an OHPA matter and anyone who wants to attend can.It appears the city will have observers who can keep staff apprised of what transspired.