TDC headlines FBCC Regular Meeting October 21, 2014

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
October 27, 2014 1:00 a.m.

 

North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, Troop 701 chartered by United Memorial Methodist Church-Fernandina Beach and the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Troop 269 led the Pledge of Allegiance to begin the meeting.
North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, Troop 701 chartered by United Memorial Methodist Church-Fernandina Beach and the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Troop 269 led the Pledge of Allegiance to begin the meeting.

The October 21, 2014 Regular Meeting of the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) lasted barely more than an hour.  The major item of business was the consideration of a plan to resolve the property dispute between the city and Marina Restaurant owner Patricia Toundas (see previous article), which passed unanimously.

Amelia Island Tourism Development Council (TDC) presentation

Gil Langley
Gil Langley

At the request of the FBCC, Gil Langley, President and CEO of the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, updated the city on the record-breaking year for tourism on Amelia Island.  He also introduced the new campaign for 2015.  Langley reminded commissioners that with only 5 staff members whom he acknowledged by name, his organization had worked to bring in $550K in overnight visits to the island.  He said that his operation is totally supported by user fees, no local taxes or membership fees.  He reported, “2014 has been a tremendous year.  I’m not sure how we repeat it in 2015, but I’m sure my Board will expect us to do so.”  He added that island visitors have reported a 98% satisfaction rate in visiting Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach.  Langley and his team were honored for their efforts with 6 Flagler Awards during the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in September.

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Public Input

Commission meeting regular Lynn Williams rose to express his dissatisfaction with the proposed charter amendment to extend city commissioner terms to 4 years and hold elections every 2 years.

Local Attorney Clinch Kavanaugh rose to object to city plans to develop a part of the Amelia Riverfront Master Plan (“Parking Lot B”) without written approval from CSX Railroad.  Kavanaugh claimed that the city has no ownership interest in South Front Street, which the railroad has leased to the city to use as a road.  Kavanaugh’s query came in response to the city plan to realign Front Street to accommodate straight-in parking spaces between Front Street and the existing rail tracks.  City Manager Joe Gerrity said he would take a look at the matter to m make sure there would be no problem with the railroad in moving forward.

Board Appointment

Commissioners unanimously approved the reappointment of Don “Beano” Roberts as a member of the Board of Trustees of the General Employees’ Pension Plan.  Commissioner Johnny Miller brought forward community concerns on the effects of seismic air guns.  According to the Oceana website, “Seismic air guns are used to find oil and gas deep underneath the ocean floor. Air guns are so loud that they disturb, injure or kill marine life, harm commercial fisheries, and disrupt coastal economies. These blasts are repeated every ten seconds, 24 hours a day, for days and weeks at a time. Seismic air gun testing currently being proposed in the Atlantic will injure 138,000 whales and dolphins and disturb millions more, according to government estimates.”

Commissioners agreed to invite Oceana to the next FBCC meeting to brief the commission on efforts underway to ban such activity off Florida beaches.

Charter Officer and Commissioner Reports

  • With reference to what he termed “inner turmoil” in the Fire Department, City Manager Gerrity said, “I want to give a vote of confidence to the Fire Department.  They are committed to providing excellent service, and I thank them.”
  • Commissioner Johnny Miller commended the City Manager on the reduction of Workers’ Comp Claims.
  • City Attorney Tammi Bach called for a Special Meeting/Attorney Client Session at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28, to discuss the impact fee case.
  • Mayor Boner reminded commissioners to complete their evaluations of charter officers.   He also asked the City Manager to investigate the city’s ability to obtain a prescriptive easement for a former mosquito control ditch at the north end of the island that is property of Fort Clinch.  Gerrity said that the city has tried to work with Fort Clinch on this matter to no avail in the past.