Fernandina Beach City Commission meets; gives thumbs up to funding Shrimp Fest

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter – News Analyst

The Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) began its regular meeting on February 18, 2014 in an unorthodox manner.  Instead of asking the audience to stand and join the FBCC in a Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, Mayor Ed Boner introduced former Fernandina Beach Mayor and Commissioner Don “Beano” Roberts to present a video montage relating to the Pledge of Allegiance for a new program at the Fernandina Beach Middle School (FBMS). 

Roberts, a Navy veteran who has been a conscientious school volunteer for 23 years, became concerned when he realized that many students today do not get the full effect of reciting the Pledge without doing so in front of a flying flag.  To reinforce the importance of military service in safeguarding American freedoms, Roberts worked with faculty member Kathy Barilla, also a veteran, and FBMS students to create a short video filmed at the Veterans Park on Atlantic Avenue at the site of the old log cabin.  That video shows Roberts in Navy uniform raising the American flag as students recite the Pledge.  The video also includes shots of the bricks in the park that have been engraved with names and branches of local servicemen and women.

Members of the audience and city commissioners recited the Pledge as the video played.  Mayor Boner thanked Roberts, who left the podium to a round of applause.

Greenway marker for Smiley Lee

Jessica Lee addressed the FBCC with a special request.  Granddaughter of the late Joseph “Smiley” Lee, she sometimes emotionally extolled her grandfather’s service to individuals and community on the first anniversary of his death.  She explained that Smiley, as he was commonly called, had served three terms on the city commission and had donated lands to the city’s greenway.  She asked that a marker be placed in the greenway recognizing her grandfather and his contribution.  She first asked for permission to erect a homemade marker at the family’s expense.  But Commissioner Charlie Corbett said, “I think we [the city] can do that.”  City Manager Joe Gerrity asked Ms. Lee to contact his office to work out details.  The audience applauded Ms. Lee.

City agrees to fund Shrimp Fund clean up this year

Mark Deaton, president of the Shrimp Festival Committee, appeared before the FBCC to request funding to cover this year’s festival cleanup activities.  While the FBCC had earmarked $35,000 for this item in the FY 2014 Budget, they had expressed a reluctance to authorize its release until or unless the Shrimp Festival Committee had explored other options.  With the festival fast approaching, City Manager Gerrity had advised Deaton to provide the FBCC with an update.

Deaton reported with the resignation of long time festival director Sandy Price this past fall, the committee has been going through a year of transition as members have tried to both understand and pick up the activities that Price had performed without hiring a replacement.

As acting director, Deaton said that he oversees 40 volunteers who work all year to make the festival a success.  Even more volunteers join in to work the event itself, which benefits 40 local non-profit agencies.  At the FBCC’s direction, he approached Advanced Disposal about donating the cost of festival trash removal.  He reported that he was able to lower the cost to $32,000, but that the company claimed it was already providing services at significantly reduced rates.  Deaton added, “We don’t have leverage with them; the city does.”

Deaton said, “Fernandina Beach is a wonderful partner in the Shrimp Festival.  You guys couldn’t make it easier for us.  You are awesome.  But we need your financial help as well.”  He expressed his dismay at a recent Fernandina Beach News Leader headline that declared “Shrimp Fest Costs City Thousands,” saying it should have read, “Shrimp Fest Brings City Millions.”  He cited a 2008 study that reported that Shrimp Fest had a $17M impact on the local economy, and a 2011 study that said out-of-town visitors who stay overnight have an $8.5M impact.

Commissioner Corbett asked how much the festival needed from the city to cover the cleanup activities.  Deaton said that they needed $32,000, but he reminded commissioners that the festival reimburses the city $25,000 to cover salaries of city workers who are required to work the festival.  Commissioner Pat Gass asked, “Where else [other than Advanced Disposal] did you look for assistance?”

Deaton reminded commissioners that this was a year of transition for the Shrimp Festival Committee.  He introduced Joe Palmer as the newly-appointed sponsorship chair.  Both Deaton and Palmer indicated their intent to ramp up sponsorship recruitment for the 2015 event, but said that there had not been enough time to get into grant cycles for corporate sponsors this year.  Deaton said that the event is moving toward a goal of self-sufficiency, and that all money in excess of expenditures is plowed back into the festival.  He said that expenses incurred before receipt of revenues were covered by volunteers who get reimbursed after the festival.

Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican asked about resurrecting the Pirate Ball, which was once an income producer for Shrimp Fest.  Deaton replied that there are opportunities to look at more events that can take place during the year.  Gass suggested that since only the local residents participate in the Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant, the Beard Contest and the Little Pirate Contest, that these events might be held outside normal Shrimp Fest activities to encourage more locals to attend for a small fee.

City Manager Gerrity asked the commission for direction on releasing the money reserved in the budget for Shrimp Fest clean up.  Without exception, the FBCC supported funding this effort.  Commissioner Johnny Miller remarked that the Shrimp Fest feels a bit like the commission’s teenaged child.  “We’ll support you,” he said, “but we would like you to do it yourself.”  Deaton thanked the Commission, adding that he hoped that new committees and various changes that were in progress would help them do just that.

Commission Action

Five items on the Consent Agenda, four resolutions and three ordinances (2 on second reading) were passed unanimously, with little or no discussion and with no citizen comment.  Highlights include:

• Resolution 2014-19 approved amendments to the budget for the fiscal year 2013-14 and the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan by replacing the $55K already budgeted for expansion of restrooms in the MLK Center with $125K from Parks and Recreation Reserve Funds.  The original scope of work has been expanded to build new restrooms.  The $55K originally budgeted has now been transferred to a different fund to replace windows in the Peck Center.
• Resolution 2014-21 approved a negotiated 3-year agreement with Organized Firefighters of Fernandina Beach, Local Union #2836 that will remain in effect until September 30, 2016.  There are no cost of living increases (COLA) included in the contract, which has been ratified by local union members.  Employees are eligible for up to 4% merit increases in the final two years of the contract only.  Gerrity thanked Chief Jason Higginbotham and the local union representative for their hard work in bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion.
• Ordinance 2015-05 (first reading) repealed Ordinance 671 and amended Resolution 2011-45 regarding the Airport Advisory Committee (AAC).  Changes recommended were discussed and supported during a joint FBCC/AAC meeting.
• Ordinances 2014-01 and 2014-02 (second reading) approved assigning the city’s Future Land Use Map designation of Medium Density Residential and a zoning category of R-2 for a .52-acre parcel located on West 4^th Street.

Other Commission Action

Commissioners reappointed Jennifer King Cascone to the Historic District Council and approved the appointments of Brenda Mikus and Randy Bowman to the Arts and Culture Nassau Committee.

Reports

City Manager Joe Gerrity reported that a Navy blimp will be tethered at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport for a week.  He also advised commissioners that the city is close to issuing permits for tree removal at the City Golf Course.  He will schedule a presentation on this topic at a workshop at 5:00 p.m. on March 4, 2014.

City Attorney Tammi Bach reported that in light of numerous complaints the city has received about the state of rail crossings on Ash and Centre Streets and the city’s discovery that the railroad has not budgeted money to fix these problems in 2014 as originally planned, with commission approval she will write a letter of concern to the railroad.  Gerrity reported that while there has been some effort made to repair tracks in the area, there has been no railroad action to repair pedestrian crossings.  The FBCC concurred in Bach’s request.

City Clerk Caroline Best requested and received clarification on the city’s representative to the Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council.  Mayor Boner will replace Commissioner Miller.  Best will notify the county of the change.

Vice Mayor Pelican reported on the last AAC meeting and passed along the AAC’s support for the Eight Flags Aviation’s plan for a second fixed base operation.  Gerrity reported that the city’s letter of interest has gone out to determine if any private party wants to explore partnering with the city in constructing the airport welcome center.

Mayor Boner reminded commissioners of the Main Beach Boardwalk ribbon cutting on Thursday, February 20 at 4:00 p.m., and the library groundbreaking on February 27 at 4:00 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.

Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.

February 19, 2014 4:34 p.m.