Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
August 1, 2019 – 9:00 a.m.
The Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) unanimously adopted Resolution 2019-119, setting a tentative millage rate and presenting a budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 at a Special Meeting on July 30, 2019:
For each new fiscal year which begins October 1, the FBCC is required by law to adopt a proposed millage rate and schedule public hearings prior to adoption of the final millage rate and budget. An early step in the annual budget adoption process is to set a millage rate, referred to as the tentative or proposed rate. Once set, this rate may not increase, but may be decreased during the budget process.
The FBCC held the first mandated meeting to set a tentative millage rate on July 30, 2019. Unlike previous first meetings on proposed millage rates and budgets, this meeting was well attended, with approximately 30 audience members. After barely an hour that included a budget presentation from City Manager Dale Martin, audience input and commission discussion, the FBCC unanimously approved the proposed millage rate and the draft budget as presented with the proviso that the Conservation Levy of 0.5 mills would be for the FY2019-20 year only. Whether it continues will depend on the results of a citizen referendum to be held in November 2020.
Despite commissioners’ repeated attempts to reassure the public that the proposed budget did not include approval of paid beach parking, two speakers expressed their strong opposition to paid beach parking.
Only one speaker opposed the inclusion of a Conservation Levy, while 8 speakers urged commissioners to support the measure. Following the vote, the audience applauded the FBCC’s action.
The draft budget includes a tentative millage rate which maintains and, in some instances, expands, public service levels. Last year’s operating millage rate was set at 5.8553 mills, and the debt service for the $6M General Obligation Bond was set at 0.1929 for a combined millage rate of 6.0482. Last year’s budgeted millage rate was expected to yield $12,753,306. The operating millage rate “roll-back” rate is 4.8048. The voter-approved debt service amount is approximately $423,500, which will require 0.1683 mills. This represents a combined “roll- back” rate of 4.9731 mills.
The City’s Fund Balance Policy (per Resolution 2012-128) establishes 20% as the minimum for the General Fund’s unrestricted, uncommitted, or unassigned balance. Another portion of the General Fund Reserve is restricted per Florida Statutes 553.8(7), and may only be used for expenditures related to the Building and Permitting functions. The anticipated unrestricted, uncommitted, or unassigned reserve for fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, is budgeted to be 20.0%. The total reserve, including the restricted portion, is anticipated to be 29.8%.
In presenting the budget, City Manager Dale Martin explained that some of the changes reflect his reorganization of various city operations. For example, staff currently assigned to the Maintenance Department will be reassigned to Parks. Several part time positions will be converted to full time positions. He is adding a Deputy City Manager to be responsible for engineering and project management. He is also creating a Beach Management Department to centralize responsibility for beach maintenance and operations that are currently spread throughout several city departments.
Should the FBCC vote to enact paid beach parking as a separate action at a future meeting, income and expenses for such operation will be included in this department’s budget.
Martin also explained that the city has given the Postal Service a deadline of August 30 to indicate their willingness to sell the historic Post Office Building on Centre Street to the city for use as future City Hall. The city has been working with the Postal Service for several years in an attempt to reach an agreement with no apparent resolution. Should the Postal Service decline to move forward, the city will need to address space needs in another way.
Other capital expansion projects anticipated for FY2019-20 include:
- Streets and sidewalks
- Utility pole removal
- Buccaneer Field fencing
- Peck and MLK Center improvements
- Information technology
- Replacing Fire Engine #3
- Police generator
- Land acquisition
- Dune walkovers
- Simmons Road Park
- Main Beach boardwalk
- Columbarium
- Central Park improvements
- Fire Station #2 design
- Ybor Alvarez concessions
Most commission discussion centered around the conservation levy and the Beach Management Department.
Conservation
City staff incorporated the conservation levy into the upcoming budget projections based upon the draft results of the 2019 National Citizen Survey in which 54 percent of respondents indicated that they strongly or somewhat supported a half-mill tax to support the Land Conservation Trust Fund. A half-mill generates approximately $1.2M. Expenditures would be restricted to the sole purpose of conservation land acquisition.
Although the FBCC had previously approved a ballot initiative seeking public approval to dedicate tax revenue to purchase land for conservation, there was concern that with the pace of development in the city, waiting for November 2020 might jeopardize acquisition of certain parcels. Marc Hutson of the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) addressed the FBCC and informed them that the NFLT would be launching a matching campaign to raise $4M over 4 years to purchase land for conservation in the city. The campaign’s goal was to raise one million dollars per year that would be matched by city contributions. He said that donors want to be assured that the city “has skin in the game,” before contributing.
Commissioner Chip Ross stressed that the money raised in the conservation levy could only be used to buy land. He said the only way to preserve land is to buy it, “lock box it.” Such city action will protect the Greenway from degradation as well as increasing land values elsewhere in the city. He called the budget vote “one of the most critical votes to be taken to conserve our environment.” Ross presented a map showing lands recommended for acquisition by the North Florida Land Trust:
Vice Mayor Len Kreger agreed with Ross and cited the benefits of working with the NFLT to fundraise and attract donors.
Commissioner Mike Lednovich said that many residents do not trust the city spend money raised via the conservation levy on land acquisition. Commissioner Phil Chapman said that “mistrust” would be dispelled by the land that the city purchases.
Beach Management
Based upon results from the 2019 National Citizen Survey draft results, 60 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat supported paid beach parking with the proviso that fees for city residents would be paid by the city. With full implementation of a paid beach parking plan, the city projects annual revenues at one million dollars. Revenues would be dedicated to the Beach Management Department and expenditures limited to beach-related costs.
In his presentation to the FBCC, City Manager Dale Martin presented the results of a survey undertaken by the Tourist Development Council (TDC) designed to determine who uses island beaches. He reported that in interviewing 566 beach goers at the Sadler Road and Main Beach parking lots, between July 19-21 this year, only 25 percent of the parking lot users resided within the 32034 ZIP Code. Since the ZIP Code covers a wider geographic range than the city of Fernandina Beach, Martin estimated that of that 25 percent, conceivable only 16 percent were actually city residents.
The remaining 75 percent of the beach goers divided almost evenly into daytrippers or overnight visitors.
Lednovich said that he would only support the proposed millage rate and budget if it did not include paid beach parking. City Manager Dale Martin and City Attorney Tammi Bach agreed that an ordinance would be needed to enact paid beach parking, separate and distinct from the resolution under consideration. Lednovich said he wants the issue of paid beach parking placed on the ballot for residents to decide. However, other commissioners declined to comment.
Should the FBCC fail to pass a paid beach parking ordinance, the city’s budget would need to be adjusted accordingly to cover beach costs by other means.
Future workshops and meetings on the FY2019-2020 Budget have been scheduled and are listed below:
As always, citizens need to take the time to study the components of the budget, especially with regards to the General Fund Revenue and Expense items. A 31% increase in the proposed millage rate over the rollback rate is a significant tax increase for property owners. Is the increase of almost $1.9 million in property tax revenue over the current year’s budget necessary and wise given some of the future economic uncertainty? Citizens have to make that decision for themselves.
I would suggest that specific guidelines be drawn up immediately as to how the land conservation acquisition program will work? How will the priority of parcel acquisition be determined? Who makes the final decison?, etc. Unfortunately, the only way to guarantee that funds will be actually spent on land conservation is through a GOB as ordinances can always be changed.
Not sure how Commissioner Lednovich can say he would support the proposed budget as long as paid beach parking was not included given that $1 million in revenue is included in the budget and associated millage rate. As Suanne noted, if beach parking revenue (and associated expenses) are pulled from the budget, there should be a reduction in the operating millage rate. Since the proposed rate will require a unanimous vote on the final budget, it will be interesting to see how the discussions progress.
Let’s not forget too, that depending on the parcels chosen for conservation this MAY result in a further tax increase, due the parcels no longer being privately owned and therefore now off the tax rolls. Ever see a government cut taxes to keep the budget balanced?
And.. There could be further costs to the city if they intend to be proper stewards of those properties – regular inspections, clearing brush, removal of dead branches, removal of diseased and dead trees. Benign neglect would be a sorry strategy indeed, especially should there be injury or loss of life caused by falling trees or branches.
Truly an idea that keeps on taking!
Bill, very valid point that the acquisition cost is just the first cost with operating costs to do the things you list requiring ongoing expense of not only proper maintenance of the property but also law enforcement coverage as well to ensure they don’t become sites for illegal activities.
It is simply and utterly not reasonable to add a conservation levy without a referendum……of course the meeting room was packed with the CAN crowd leaving no room for the wider public to have a say…..what’s the rush anyway……is there some specific piece of land that absolutely must be purchased now????? If so, tell us, please.
Dear Mr. Decker – there were some empty chairs in the room at the budget workshop. Mayor Miller asked repeatedly if anyone else wanted to speak throughout the public comment period. And, of course, you have always had the power of the pen (or keyboard or mobile phone) at your disposal before during or after a city commission meeting or workshop. You still do. If you have an objection to the conservation levy, you can write, email or call any or all of the commissioners, the city manager or whoever you like. To disparage those who took the time to show up for the budget workshop is not in the best spirit of our democracy. Yes, Mr. Decker, there absolutely is a rush to get this done. At a minimum, waiting to fund the mandate the commissioners set for themselves when the passed the ordinance for land conservancy means that some parcels of significance will be gone in the 16 long months it will take just to get this matter on the ballot. Additional time will be lost trying to get the funding mechanism in place beyond that as we will then be one month into the a budget cycle beginning in October 1, 2020 before the referendum vote can be held and counted. With less than 800 acres of undeveloped land left in the city limits, not all of it suitable for conservation, the time really is now. As announced on Tuesday night, the City of Fernandina Beach been given a very great “gift”. The NFLT has pledged to meet us half way with $4 million dollars over the next several years to acquire land for conservation. Generally, when you are given a gift you say thank you and accept it graciously. Feel free to express your displeasure with a conservation levy to those who represent you. In the meantime, the “CAN crowd” will keep doing what they feel they need to do because they know when it is gone, it is gone for good.