City Commission meeting – Neon lights, gravestones, trolleys, and more . . .

Submitted by

Suanne Z. Thamm, Reporter – News Analyst

In a meeting that lasted little more than an hour, the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) moved quickly through an unusually thin agenda during its pre-Thanksgiving meeting on November 20, 2012.  About a dozen members of the public and city staff attended, along with newly elected commissioners Ed Boner and Pat Gass.

Council on Aging of Nassau County (COA)

At the request of the city, COA president Fran Shea updated the commission on organizational matters and the status of plans for a new facility on North 14th Street.

She introduced Janice Ancrum, COA’s new Executive Director.  Ms. Ancrum, a Fernandina Beach native, has 30 years of combined government and non- profit experience.  A graduate of Fernandina Beach High School and the University of Florida, Ms. Ancrum was most recently the Chief of Operations at Community Connections of Jacksonville , where she created and managed programs and budgets for the past 16 years.

Ms. Shea reported that on September 10, 2012, the COA had approached the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners seeking a transfer of the lease for the 14th Street property to a deed.  County Attorney David Hallman is researching the issue and has not yet rendered an opinion.  All site preparation work has been completed.  Unless the COA can demonstrate ownership of the property, it cannot obtain a construction loan. Construction was slated to begin on the 14th Street facility in October, but nothing can be done until COA can obtain ownership of the property. The COA has cited precedent for the county’s converting a lease to a deed.  In 1997, the county deeded the former Nassau County Jail to the Amelia Island Museum of History.

Mayor Arlene Filkoff asked a series of questions to elicit additional information regarding COA fundraising, operations and facilities.  Shea responded that the COA is still trying to raise $2.5M toward the new facility.  They have begun accepting advertising for the COA buses as a revenue source.  All programs are operating at full force, but general client transportation has been limited to Monday, Wednesday and Friday because of fuel costs.  Donations, which are vital to obtaining matching grants, have fallen off 50%.

Mayor Filkoff pressed Shea on the COA’s current facility.  Shea said that the building they occupy is 34 years old and in need of significant renovations.  Baptist Hospital, COA’s landlord, is allowing COA to continue to occupy existing space. When Filkoff reminded Shea that the city had asked the COA to look into using the city’s currently underutilized teen center as an adult day care venue, Shea responded that it might be a good location for their Healthy Life Store, a resale shop for donated medical equipment like wheelchairs and scooters.

There were no questions from other commissioners.  City Manager Joe Gerrity indicated that the remaining $66K pledged by the city to assist in building the new COA facility is normally paid at the end of the year, and he would see that the check was cut in December.  There were no objections from the commission.

City Budget Update

Commissioner Sarah Pelican asked several questions relating to line items of the budget dealing with principal and interest (P+I) payments for the $1.8M loan to cover Forward Fernandina projects, including questioning a sum of $119,330 for VRL Architects on library expansion plans and the remaining funds from the loan.  City Comptroller Patti Clifford clarified that the P+I figure included expenditures for several loans.  While the funds for VRL have been encumbered, they have not been paid out.

Commissioner Charlie Corbett expressed concerns over unpaid rents for slips in the City Marina.  Marina manager Joe Springer reassured Corbett that collection efforts were underway.

Commissioners passed unanimously and without discussion Resolution 2012-187, approving budget transfers enabling the city to close out FY 2011-12 and ensuring that city expenditures on a line-by-line basis did not exceed budgeted amounts.

Trolley Ownership Transfer

The city unanimously approved the sale and transfer of assets of the Amelia Island Trolleys and Transportation, LLC  to Amelia Island Transportation and Trolleys, LLC.  Commission approval following public hearing was mandated by the existing franchise agreement.  Mr. David Edwards, the franchise seller, addressed the commission following their unanimous approval of the sale, commending city staff and the commission for the positive working relationship developed over his past 2.5 years operating the sightseeing trolleys.  With regard to working with both city and the public, he said, “It’s been a real pleasure.”  Mr. Ernie Saltmarsh, owner of the Florida House Inn, is the new owner of the trolley service.

Storm Water Fund

Both Commissioners Pelican and Corbett questioned various expenses relating to this new fund.  Pelican questioned travel and training expenses, while Corbett questioned expenditures for start up and office supplies.  Comptroller Clifford responded that John Mandrick, who will oversee the fund and the project, requested training and travel funds to be better prepared to oversee and manage this function.  Clifford informed Corbett that while start up costs would be one-time expenses, the need for office supplies would be ongoing.  Manager Gerrity informed the FBCC that at the next meeting, he would bring forward the first storm water fund project:  relining of a leaky water pipe on Franklin Street.  Clifford also indicated that the new storm water plan will necessitate a change in the 5-year capital improvement plan, which will also come back to the commission.

Proposed new Land Development Code chapter on Historic Preservation

The FBCC considered on second reading Ordinance 2012-27, which amended the Land Development Code by creating a new Historic Preservation Chapter (Chapter 8), thereby consolidating all relevant historic preservation and riverfront community redevelopment area (CRA) sections of the code in one place.  This ordinance had passed unanimously and without discussion on first reading.  During the public hearing, Centre Street business owner Melba Whitaker rose to speak against that portion of the proposed ordinance, which would permit neon or neon-like signs that do not exceed 2 square feet.  She cited concerns that such a change would conflict with the historic context of Centre Street and open the door to a return to Centre Street of the 1970’s, which she characterized as less attractive and welcoming than today’s Centre Street.  Jody Thompson of Fast Signs also spoke on this issue, explaining that the size of such a sign is roughly that of three 8.5×11” sheets of paper placed side-by-side.  The proposed change would allow businesses to place lit OPEN signs in their windows.

Commissioner Corbett opined that the portion of the ordinance dealing with signage would give more choices to business owners, while Commissioner Pelican expressed reservations about adversely impacting the historic nature of Centre Street with neon signs.  Community Development Department (CDD) Director Marshall McCrary explained the city’s outreach efforts to the business community during the revision process.  In general, the reaction from those who attended public meetings and workshops was positive.  Vice Mayor Jeffrey Bunch said that he had received 10-12 emails from people opposing the neon, but that the senders did not appear to have read the ordinance or understood exactly what was being proposed.  Mayor Filkoff talked about the need to follow process in acting on legislation.  In this particular instance, she said that both the city’s Historic District Council and Planning Advisory Board had held advertised public meetings and workshops on the proposed changes.  She attended one of the workshops herself along with several business owners.  It was her sense that the public was receptive to the change.  She said that last minute opposition expressed to the FBCC had to be weighed against all the other citizen input gathered over a lengthy period of time.  She concluded that she would have to come down on the side of process and support the proposed ordinance.  When the vote was finally taken, the ordinance passed unanimously.

Cemetery Concerns

City Manager Gerrity spoke to concerns raised in the community over erection of a wall surrounding a family plot in the old portion of Bosque Bello Cemetery.  He indicated that the cemetery has been in existence since 1798 and that the oldest portion is poorly marked and recorded.  He disputed assertions that two military gravesites had been desecrated in constructing the wall, saying that while two gravestones had been moved to protect them during construction, they had been replaced.  The individuals desiring to construct the wall had approached the city with plans and obtained proper authorization.  There is no Historic District Council review of such projects.  Gerhardt Thamm, speaking as a member of the public, said that interfering with American military graves of any vintage is a 3rd class felony, as people in Ocala recently discovered.  He also claimed that the current position of the headstones in proximity to the new wall would lead people to believe that the soldiers were only 2-3 feet tall.  Mayor Filkoff asked that commissioners be shown the site.  CDD Director McCrary also informed the FBCC that work is underway to develop an element required for the city’s comprehensive plan dealing with the cemetery.  Planner Adrienne Dessy has convened a group of citizens to assist with this task, which should come before the commission next year.

Other City Manager reports

Mr. Gerrity reported that a rumor currently making the rounds that Brett’s Waterway Café will cease operations after the holidays is not true.  He announced that the city has finalized a lease with Air Methods Corporation  to provide life flight helicopter service at the municipal airport.  He also suggested to commissioners that they reschedule their first January meeting to Wednesday, January 2, since the first Tuesday meeting would otherwise fall on New Year’s Day.  There was no objection to the change.

City Attorney Report

City Attorney Tammi Bach reported that the city is being sued for approximately $19K by a company in Oregon over failure to pay for playground equipment that was ordered and received by the Parks and Recreation Department.  The city paid the company’s sales representative by check; but the check was not forwarded to the company.  The city will hire an Oregon attorney to contest the charge.  Commissioner Tim Poynter suggested that the city institute a policy mandating 2-party checks to avoid future problems.

The meeting ended with the commissioners wishing everyone a good Thanksgiving holiday.

November 21, 2012 4:45 p.m.