FBCC discusses utility poles and waterfront barges

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
June 6, 2019 1:22 p.m.

Once again on June 4, 2019, the Discussion portion of the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) Regular Meeting proved interesting for the ideas floated — in one case literally.   Although Commissioner Mike Lednovich had placed two of the three items on the discussion table, Commissioner Ross’ ideas and proposals constituted the basis for discussion: undergrounding utility lines along the waterfront and permitting certain barge-based businesses along the city owned property on the riverfront.

Placing utility lines underground on Front Street

Commissioner Chip Ross

Ross reported that in his discussions with representatives of Florida Public Utilities (FPU) over a year’s time he had gotten the utility company to agree to remove utility poles on the river side of Front Street from Centre Street to Broome Street and place the utilities underground.  He provided the following cost figures:  $220,000 if paid at the time the agreement is signed; or $250,000 if paid at the time construction is complete; or $65,000 per year over 5 years.

The quoted price includes labor, material and boring.  The estimated time from signing the agreement to finishing is four to six months. 

Ross had pursued this item on his own without direction from the City Commission.

Ross reminded commissioners that Stormwater Director Andre Desilet had stated that such work would be one of the first steps needed in the stormwater resiliency plan for the downtown area.  He asked the FBCC to direct the City Manager to enter into negotiations with FPU to perform this work.

Commissioner Mike Lednovich asked how the city would pay for such work.  City Comptroller Pauline Testagrosse referred to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), citing several projects that had been planned but not acted upon this year.  She suggested that money might be reprogrammed to pay for Ross’ proposal.

Vice Mayor Len Kreger

Vice Mayor Len Kreger said that first he wanted assurance that such an action was consistent with the resiliency plan that had been presented in a workshop immediately prior to the current meeting.  He said he was not opposed to the idea but that he wanted to see it included in the CIP, with a priority, just as other projects are listed.  He expressed a desire that capital improvement funds be spent based on the priorities of the entire city.  Budget talks for the upcoming fiscal year are under consideration now.

“I don’t want to push something in front [of projects already in line],” Kreger said, stressing that there is a process and vetting that all capital improvement projects are subject to before being added to the list.

Commissioner Phil Chapman

Commissioner Phil Chapman questioned where this particular piece fits in with all the work that needs to be done along the waterfront.  “Why is this so important that we have to do it now?” he asked.  “Is this going to be something that will have to be ripped up so we can do some other project?  This is one piece of many, and we need to know where this piece fits in the puzzle.”

Ross continued to argue for this project, citing his conversations with Andre Desilet, Stormwater Department Director, FPU, and the FBCC’s stated priority to develop the waterfront.  He said that he has spent hours on this project researching and vetting it.  “If you don’t want to fix the waterfront, if you want to put it in your 5 Year Capital Improvement Plan, so be it.  But we committed to fix the waterfront.”

View of Front Street today looking south provided by Commissioner Ross

Kreger harked back to the process issue, governed by state law.  “Let’s put it into the Capital Improvement Plan, where it should be.  And we will make decisions as we consider the budget.  I have not seen the current CIP, and I don’t know where we are going to get the $850,000 to maintain our roads.  Didn’t we have a committee that put the CIP together?  Just put this in the system.  I’m saying we should not try to beat that system and not do end runs.  Let’s put it in the system and put a priority on it.  We deferred beach walkovers for years and took them out of the CIP.  Let’s put everything in there and do it right.  I’m not saying it’s a bad idea and we shouldn’t do it.  I’m just saying we shouldn’t do end runs around everything else.”

Lednovich said that he supported the idea, but wanted to know how the city should do it.

Kreger continued, explaining that a new CIP priority system has been implemented, and that projects that had originally been proposed for the current year had to be deferred for lack of funds.  He said he just wanted to see priority for all these projects considered against available funding.  “That’s what state law says,” Kreger said.  “Let’s do it properly.”

Chapman cited changing priorities and agreed with Kreger that the utility issue should be considered under capital improvements.

Miller agreed that the matter needed to be considered under the CIP and ended the discussion.

Allowing barge based restaurants and businesses along the waterfront

City Commissioner Chip Ross sought reactions from the other commissioners on the possibility of amending the City Code of Ordinances Section 90-78, which prohibits a water dependent, water related or water enhanced business from being on boat or barge permanently moored in City waterways.  This prohibition means that Fernandina Beach currently excludes the potential development of the Amelia River front with “floating businesses.”  In Fernandina Beach the only moored or docked businesses allowed are charter fishing boats and sightseeing boats licensed by the city.  Boats advertised for sale may also be displayed.

Ross presented a series of slides showing how other cities have added floating restaurants and hotels as waterfront businesses.  These businesses have proven to be popular draws in attracting visitors to the waterfront.  If Fernandina Beach were to permit such activities to operate along the riverfront, the city and/or marina enterprise fund could realize substantial income from leases.  He asked whether staff should be directed to amend Code of Ordinances Section 90-78 to remove the prohibition for a water dependent, water related or water enhanced business thereby allowing it to operate on a boat or barge permanently moored in City owned submerged lands. 

Ross said that such barge based businesses “take care of a lot of the problems with height of buildings, flooding problems” and construction costs are much lower than for pier based buildings.

“Wouldn’t this essentially be a floating food truck?” Mayor Miller asked of an example Ross provided.

City Attorney Tammi Bach said, “We can make any of it happen, if that’s the direction the commission wants to go in.  We will take care of making any code changes required.  You would want to do some supplemental standards.  If you give us direction, that’s what we’ll do.”

Mayor Miller raised concerns that brick-and-mortar businesses might have with such operations.

Ross provided this example of a barge hotel in Norway.
Commissioner Mike Lednovich

“I applaud your creativity,” Commissioner Mike Lednovich remarked to Ross.  “But again, I want to go back to the vision of the waterfront.”  He questioned what could be done with a parcel when the city does not have the entire vision.  He cited the beauty of being able to look down Alachua Street to a clear view of the river.  “Is your vision site lines, so you can see the river?  Or do you want business?  You are opening up Pandora’s box.  Somebody could put an arcade on a barge.”

Ross replied that he was limiting the type of business to water dependent, water related or water enhanced businesses.

Vice Mayor Len Kreger called it an interesting concept.  “My concern is that I would like the city to complete the Future Land Use zoning changes and work on the EAR.  I don’t want each FBCC meeting to produce more direction that sets our people back on these actions.  This idea can go in the queue, but I don’t think we should put it ahead of those priorities.”

Ross said that he was not suggesting that the change needed to be a priority.  He said that he learned from his reading on walkable cities,“You need interesting places to walk to.  Just having a vast waterfront is not interesting.  People will migrate, people will congregate.  I’m looking for ideas and this is just one tool in the box.  It’s not the only idea.  I’m just looking for interesting things to do down there.”

Both Kreger and Lednovich agreed that it was an interesting idea.  There was no direction given to city staff to move forward at this time.

Suanne Thamm 4Editor’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.

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Tammi Kosack
Tammi Kosack (@guest_55158)
4 years ago

While Commissioner Ross brings a unique (to Fernandina) idea to the table in a barge business, the ramifications and even the entire concept is at odds with the current tenuous link between conservation and development on our island as a whole.

First a barge restaurant then what…a floating casino or night club? And then there is the parking issue if this is to be a destination spot.

I agree that people need “an interesting place to walk to.” And disagree with “Just having a vast waterfront is not interesting.” The very charm of a nature-made, unprogrammed waterfront is the diminishing accessibility and existence of such country-wide. Fernandina is not in need of a modernized, urban waterfront constructed and programmed for the insatiable appetite of those in search of immediate gratification and the constant need to “have something to do”. How about we celebrate, embrace and put forth a pastoral contemplative waterfront that showcases the natural beauty that brought and continues to bring people here?

Because even if we DON’T build it, they will come.

Dave Lott
Dave Lott(@dave-l)
4 years ago
Reply to  Tammi Kosack

Tammi, the reality is that the lots north of the marina are privately owned and there has been no development activity there for decades with the exception of the fuel depot. Their limited uplands prevents them from being used as a land-based business. Unless the city is going to pay $5 – $6 million to buy them all out, they will generally remain the eyesore that they currently are.
Gambling operations are not permitted waterside (the marina at one time berthed a gambling boat that has since moved to Brunswick). A nightclub – what is the difference between one on the water and one across the street. The city owned property south of the marina has plenty of space (and existing plans) to provide a park with active and quieter areas.
I have long advocated floating homes or barge-based business operations here as a way to revitalize the northern waterfront. Kudos to Comm. Ross for his out of the box thinking.

Tammi Kosack
Tammi Kosack (@guest_55166)
4 years ago
Reply to  Dave Lott

Dave,
I do appreciate Chip’s progressive exploration but remain steadfast that it is the perfect mooring at the wrong dock. While there has not been any development on the privately held properties North of the marina, the proposed change to the LDC may very well incent property owners to sell and/or develop these lots with new floating enterprises. And if the first BARge (good name, eh?) goes in at the waters of the old Vuturo building, we create a battle of the bands with the Salty Pelican.

Floating architecture can be a useful tool, usually employed in congested and tightly constrained cities. I suppose the bigger question is, what do we want Fernandina to be? If we want house boat row or floating bars/restaurants/ shops, with a Riverfront view of the floating structures (sun setting behind them) then this would be the first step. If we want to create a more natural and resilient riverfront with reintroduction of native grasses, shore stability and wildlife, then steps in that direction should be undertaken.

Seems our broad definition of “place” is tantamount to specific code changes that may create some scrambling to close the gate long after the horses were let out.

Robert S. Warner, Jr.
Robert S. Warner, Jr. (@guest_55159)
4 years ago

It’s time. Just do it.