Fernandina Beach workshops FY 2018/19 Budget

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
August 14, 2018 – 2:10 p.m.

The Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) met for almost three hours in workshop session on August 13, 2018 to discuss the city budget proposed for FY2018-19.  During the discussions commissioners proposed changes to allocations of funding within the budget, but did not propose reducing the budget or lowering the proposed millage rate.

Although the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), which was meeting at the same time in Yulee, had not yet passed the 5-cent gas tax increase, the FBCC considered the increase a given and discussed how to spend the city’s share of the anticipated revenue.

[Author’s note:  The BOCC did enact the 5-cent gas tax on a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner George Spicer, who is running for reelection, in opposition.  The tax will take effect January 1, 2019.  The city anticipates additional revenue from this tax at approximately $128,600, according to county calculations.]

The FBCC also awarded funding to local non-profit agencies, generally following staff recommendations based upon amounts awarded last year.  Two additional grants, not among the applications reviewed, were also awarded: Boys and Girls Club, $1,000; structural repair of a historic African American Church (Trinity AME), $1,500.

Having concluded their discussions, the FBCC cancelled the second budget workshop scheduled for August 14, 2018.  The two required public hearings on the budget are scheduled for September 4 and September 18, 2018.

Four issues arose during public input: Boys and Girls Club funding; funding to purchase land for conservation; start-up funding for a water taxi to connect Fernandina Beach and St. Mary’s GA as part of the Timucuan-Cumberland trail; the city contribution toward the Nassau County Economic Development Board (NCEDB).

No member of the public spoke to oppose the proposed millage rate or the total cost of the proposed budget.

Conservation land purchase

Margaret Kirkland

Margaret Kirkland, representing the Amelia Tree Conservancy, asked the FBCC to reprogram half of the Parks and Recreation Impact funds to purchase land for conservation.  She cited frustration and impatience with city inaction on this matter in light of the uptick in development activity.  She claimed that the city has changed interpretation of laws and appeared to be dragging its feet in moving forward on a matter that has been identified as a high priority of the citizens.

Vice Mayor Len Kreger informed Kirkland that legally impact funds may not be used to purchase lands for conservation per se.  They may be used to build new parks.  In response to Kirkland’s claim that the city is not doing enough to preserve existing undeveloped land, Kreger reminded her that the city currently has 17 percent of its land in conservation and 24 percent of its property classified as recreation.  Also, 19 percent of its land is zoned industrial, leaving large amounts of marsh and green space on mill properties as undeveloped.  He said that the city has done an excellent job exceeding the 35 percent benchmark set for green space in Florida cities.

Vice Mayor Len Kreger (l) and Commissioner Roy Smith

Commissioner Roy Smith also weighed in, reminding Kirkland that in response to concerns raised by her organization and others, the city had set aside funding to hire an urban forester/arborist.   He suggested that the city could halt that effort and reprogram the money into the conservation land fund, if that was her desire.  Kirkland took exception to this suggestion, claiming a need for both as demonstrated in the recent citizens survey.

Smith took issue with the survey results and informed Kirkland that he has been approached by many people who have said that they do not want their tax dollars put into a conservation fund.

There is currently $115,000 in the conservation land trust fund.  Procedures have not yet been determined for purchasing land with money from this fund.

Kirkland said that the city “must establish credibility” and move with a sense of urgency to purchase land with conservation funds.  She allowed that the Amelia Tree Conservancy would ramp up its efforts to raise funds and seek grants as well.

Water taxi

Kevin McCarthy (l) and Phil Scanlan

Phil Scanlan, CEO of Amelia Island Trails, renewed his request for city backing of a water taxi service between Fernandina Beach and St. Marys GA.  Such a service would add a missing link to the East Coast Greenway, greatly reducing the time and mileage for cyclists riding through the area.  It would also increase the organization’s eligibility for grants.  Scanlan asked that $10,000 of the money already budgeted for trails be reprogrammed for this purpose.

Mayor John Miller invited Kevin McCarthy, who operated the water taxi in the previous attempt to establish such a service, to brief the FBCC on why the previous attempt was not successful and why chances for success now appeared to have improved.

McCarthy indicated that the last attempt in the 2008-10 time frame had not been strongly endorsed by tourism officials.  That situation has changed, with both Fernandina and St Marys backing the idea today. The previous water taxi operated daily, whereas the new proposal is for service three days per week.  McCarthy allowed that only a few bikers used the service, with most of the traffic consisting of sightseeing pedestrians.

Although the activity would have to be publicly bid, McCarthy suggested that combining the water taxi service with a St. Marys scenic tour would also help draw traffic. He also advocated that both cities provide free, dedicated docking service for 2 years.

McCarthy opined that it takes 4 years for a new service to become profitable, assuming the economy remains strong.  He said that he lost $150K on the previous attempt at a water taxi.

Commissioners agreed to reprogram the $10,000 for a second try at making a water taxi successful between Fernandina and St. Marys.

Nassau Economic Development Board (NCEDB)

NCEDB Executive Director Laura DiBella and her team asked the FBCC to continue to fund them at the previous year’s level:  $25,000. DiBella delivered a slide presentation explaining the NCEDB’s activities in support of its goals to retain, recruit and support businesses in Nassau County and Fernandina Beach.

Commissioner Roy Smith took issue with two of NCEDB’s listed successes, expressing his belief that the Baptist Nassau Medical expansion and the arrival of LignoTech Florida would have happened without NCEDB support.  DiBella appeared to concede the medical expansion, but not LignoTech.

Commissioner Roy Smith

Smith cited development that is planned or ongoing on the county mainland, suggesting that since most of the development will occur there, the county should be the major funding source.  He also noted that despite efforts to develop the Crawford Industrial Diamond on the west side of the county, the cities of Callahan and Hilliard provide minimal economic support to NCEDB.  He expressed his belief that the amount of money Fernandina Beach was being asked to contribute was out of proportion to anticipated benefits.

DiBella attempted to address Smith’s concerns, pointing out that even if development occurs off the island, the city reaps benefits in terms of increased patronage of existing businesses and restaurants.

Initially, the FBCC tabled discussing the amount it would contribute to the NCEDB.  However, by the end of the meeting commissioners appeared to be in agreement with holding firm on the $5,000 commitment in the preliminary budget.

5-cent gas tax windfall

City Manager Dale Martin sought input from commissioners on their preferences for dealing with the anticipated additional revenue from the county’s gas tax increase that would become effective January 1, 2018.

Patti Clifford

Comptroller Patti Clifford indicated that the money would become available in the city’s General Fund. Commissioners turned their attention to items that had been cut from the preliminary capital improvement plan due to lack of funding as well as to restoring the Ocean Rescue Supervisor position which had been cut from the city’s payroll during the economic recession.

Commissioner Roy Smith was the sole voice appearing to favor reducing the millage rate because of the extra revenue.  He raised this during a back-and-forth with Vice Mayor Len Kreger over Kreger’s concerns raised at a prior meeting about the impact of millage fees on renters.  But he backed off this position when he realized he had no support.

Commissioners variously expressed support for programming some of the money into land conservation, downtown landscape beautification, streets, ballpark fencing, and streets.

After discussion and input from Fire Department Chief Ty Silcox, the consensus of the commission was to restore the Ocean Rescue Supervisor position. Commissioners agreed to dedicate $65,000 of the gas tax revenue for this purpose and to place the remaining funds in reserves.

Money held in reserve for the Alachua Crossing

Commissioner Phil Chapman

Commissioner Phil Chapman, citing the city’s capital needs for fire and rescue, asked that the borrowed money held in reserve to pay for opening the Alachua rail crossing, be reprogrammed and spent in the new fiscal year to replace a fire truck scheduled for replacement in FY2019-20, since City Manager Martin had indicated that the Alachua project was 2 years out.  While Martin agreed with Chapman’s point about reprogramming the money, he suggested that the fire truck was part of a vehicle replacement rotation process already. Other commissioners agreed.

Martin elaborated on Alachua Street, saying that a million dollar grant stormwater project would involve placing an underground water storage tank under the street.  He said that it would not make a lot of sense to make road improvements needed to open the street, only to need to rip up the street to install the stormwater system.  He said that the money in question could be used for capital improvements, but not in the marina, golf course or airport, which are funded by Enterprise Funds.

Commissioners agreed to reprogram the funds.  Kreger suggested that commissioners consider funding the priority capital projects that had been postponed for the upcoming year due to lack of funds.

Commissioner Smith took issue with funding phase 2 of the Main Beach Boardwalk ($350,000).  He said that most people walk on the grass and that few people actually use the existing boardwalk.  He said that the wood does not stand up to weather conditions and requires extensive maintenance.  He was not swayed by statements from both Mayor Miller and Parks and Recreation Director Nan Voit that the boardwalk had been vetted by earlier citizen groups and included in the Main Beach Master Plan.  Smith admitted that he had not seen the Master Plan, but that ”Master Plans get revised all the time.”  Commissioner Chapman took issue with Smith’s claim that the existing boardwalk is not used, citing that it is the only way for people in wheelchairs to navigate along the beach front.

Smith continued to express his opinion that the boardwalk was a waste of money.  He suggested that material other than wood could be used to allow access.

After some further discussion, commissioners decided that by excluding the main beach boardwalk for now and re-lamping Buccaneer Field the unfunded capital projects totaled $573K.

Commissioners agreed to use this money for athletic field improvements, Peck Center repairs, restoring bridges in the Greenway, and Atlantic and MLK Center improvements and repairs.

Non-profit grant allocations 

The city had initially established a discretionary reserve of $29,500 for grants to non-profit organizations that had submitted applications by an established deadline. Commissioners individually reviewed the list of applicants and submitted their funding suggestions to Comptroller Clifford prior to the meeting.

During discussion, the FBCC authorized the following grants:

  • Episcopal Child Services – $2,500
  • Starting Point – $10,000
  • Micah’s Place – $3,000
  • Barnabas Center – $6,500
  • Family Support Services – $1,500
  • America’s Youth – $2,500
  • Salvation Army – $5,000

Not included among the formal applications, but also approved:

  • Trinity AME Church to repair hurricane damage – $1,500
  • Boys and Girls Club, Lime Street – $1,000

ARK Nassau, which requested and received funding last year, did not submit a request this grant cycle.

Clifford said that the city would fund the $4,000 increase over the amount initially budgeted from additional state revenues recently received.

With no other outstanding budget items to discuss, the FBCC cancelled a second budget workshop scheduled for August 14, 2018.

 

 

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Lyn Pannone
Lyn Pannone(@lyn-pannone)
5 years ago

If we don’t conserve land and trees now, pretty soon there will be nothing left to preserve. Fernandina Beach will lose it’s special appeal and be just like any other overdeveloped oceanfront part of Florida. I do not believe that the citizens of this island want that to happen.