Nassau County Insider
December 1, 2021
Editor’s Note: The City’s local bill to be presented at the Nassau County Delegation on December 13, was adopted by resolution by the Fernandina Beach City Commission on November 16. To view the City’s resolution, scroll down to the end of this article.
The purpose of this delegation meeting is to introduce a City of Fernandina Beach local bill and to take public input. Interested citizens wishing to be placed on the agenda for the Monday, December 13th meeting are asked to contact Representative Byrd’s Office by the close of business on Thursday, December 9th.
All materials or handouts for this meeting should be received by Representative Byrd’s Office no later than Thursday, December 9th. Information can be mailed to 421 Third Street North, Jacksonville, FL 32250 or emailed to Katherine Woodby at [email protected].
In accordance with the ADA and Chapter 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons in need of special accommodations to participate in the meeting, including agendas, interpreters or assisted listening devices, should contact Representative Byrd’s Office no later than December 9, 2021.
For additional information, contact Katherine Woodby, Legislative Aide for Representative Cord Byrd, at (904) 242-3495 or email [email protected].
All Nassau County Legislative Delegation meetings are open to the public.
RESOLUTION 2021-182
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, RESTATING AND AMENDING RESOLUTION 2021-181 SETTING FORTH LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR STATE OF FLORIDA FISCAL YEAR 2022/2023; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO PURSUE FUNDING FOR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the State of Florida Legislature annually considers appropriation measures which can provide discretionary funding for local projects and priorities; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission is desirous of pursuing State funding for the projects stated herein and pursuing changes in state special law; and
WHEREAS, Jacobs Scholz & Wyler, LLC’s services include proactively monitoring and lobbying on state budgeting and legislation which impacts the City; and
WHEREAS, Jacobs Scholz & Wyler, LLC was recently awarded a renewed contract to provide the City’s state and federal lobbying services; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager and staff have identified projects which require funding as described herein and other priorities to pursue changes in state special law in the form of a local bill; and
WHEREAS, the projects herein listed as legislative priorities in Section 2 have been discussed by the City Commission at publicly-noticed City Commission workshops, most-recently at September 21, 2021 and October 5, 2021 Workshops; and
WHEREAS, on November 2, 2021, the City Commission adopted Resolution 2021-181 setting forth legislative priorities for the State’s FY 2022/2023 State Legislative Session and any special sessions; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to restate and amend Resolution 2021-181 to include amendments to special law Chapter 2005-293 whereby amending the Ocean, Highway and Port Authority of Nassau County’s Charter to prohibit expansion of port facilities into the Downtown Fernandina Beach Historic District, to require compliance with the applicable City or County Comprehensive Plan for development of port facilities, and to require that the responsibility for paying for ad valorem taxes resulting from private use of Port Authority-owned property shall remain with the private entity and not with the Port Authority; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission agrees that it is in the best interest of the City to pursue the legislative priorities set forth herein for State’s FY 2022/2023 State Legislative Session and any special sessions, as applicable; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager seeks authority to pursue funding for the items and purposes set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, THAT:
SECTION 1. Recitals. The foregoing Recitals are true and correct and incorporated fully herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. Approval of Legislative Priorities. The legislative priorities set forth herein are hereby adopted by the City Commission for the State of Florida FY 2022/2023 at Florida’s Legislative Session:
- Local Bill: Amend Florida Special Law Chapter 2005-293 (See “Exhibit A”).
- Amend Chapter 2005-293, Section 12, to prohibit expansion of the Port of Fernandina and Port facilities into the adjacent Downtown Historic District;
- Amend Chapter 2005-293, Section 12, to require Port of Fernandina and Port facilities to develop their properties in compliance with state law and the applicable City or County Comprehensive Plan [See F.S. 163.3161(5-8)].
- Amend Chapter 2005-293, Section 10, to require that the responsibility for paying for ad valorem taxes resulting from private use of Port Authority-owned property shall remain with the private entity and not with the Port Authority.
- General Bills in the following order of priority:
First Priority: Seek $1,000,000 to design, permit and/or construct physical improvements that improve shoreline stabilization and flood protection in response to climate change along the Amelia Riverfront.
Second Priority: Support $1,000,000 grant application, to be submitted to the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Preservation, with a $250,000 match, to complete necessary repairs at the Peck Center (formerly Peck High School), a historic Rosenwald School.
Third Priority: Seek $500,000 for beach walkovers to support resiliency, dune growth for storm protection and meet increased tourism and residential demands.
Fourth Priority: Seek $2,000,000 for design, construction and/or reconstruction of City administration building(s) and legislative meeting space.
SECTION 3. The City Manager and/or his designee is authorized to pursue funding in order to accomplish the legislative priorities listed above.
SECTION 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage.
ADOPTED this 16th day of November, 2021.
CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH
_____________________________ Michael A. Lednovich
Commissioner – Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM & LEGALITY:
__________________________ _________________________________
Caroline Best Tammi E. Bach
City Clerk City Attorney