September 22, 2020
Editor’s Note: The Fernandina Observer presented four written questions to candidates seeking a seat on the Fernandina Beach City Commission. Today we present answers from Group 3. We have turned off commenting on this post so our readers will focus on the answers and not the comments.
On Thursday, September 24, the Fernandina Observer Candidate Forum can be viewed beginning at 7 p.m. via live streaming on the City of Fernandina Beach website In the future, we will provide more information on access to the forum.
Press Releases Announcing Candidacy:
What was the deciding factor in your decision to run for office?
The deciding factor in my decision to run for office was the realization that our city is in need of someone who would wholeheartedly do their best to put aside all biases and cross all boundaries of separation such as race, gender, age, and socioeconomic status to better serve the community at large.
What was the deciding factor in your decision to run for office?
I am a firm believer in becoming part of the community. Not long after moving to our home on North Third Street a neighbor knocked on my door to talk about efforts by the Ocean Highway and Port Authority to expand the Port into the historic residential district. Working on that Port issue, and ending the port’s pursuit of a coal transfer station, led to other issues such as the Amelia River waterfront clean up, controlling development, and conserving the natural environment. I spent a year trying to move those agendas forward as a private citizen, however I got little traction as a resident. So, I decided to run for City Commissioner to see if I could facilitate change from the inside.
My decision to run for re-election is based on my passion to continue supporting the preservation and conservation of open spaces, beaches, the dune systems, tree canopies and wetlands which define the character of our island and our quality of life. With the assistance of my future fellow commissioners, I want to continue to implement the Land Conservation ordinance which I initiated, and the program which allowed the City to purchase and preserve environmentally sensitive land and expand the Greenway.
It is also important to me that I support my community’s quest to preserve the island’s natural environment in supporting or opposing “key” land development issues. I opposed the approval of the Amelia Bluff subdivision on land that was designated as Conservation Land. I opposed turning the Open Space of Amelia Park into another housing development and opposed the zoning changes that allowed several downtown parcels to build more townhouses. I opposed the construction of the Simmons Road Park because the construction would degrade environmentally sensitive land. To protect the dunes from errant foot traffic, I opposed the building of new dune/beach walkovers that did not have ramps. A new dune plan is being addressed with the Planning Advisory Board. I fully supported the ordinance which enforces and now maintains the 35-foot building height limit on residential oceanfront properties. My conservation and preservation promises have been kept and verified by my voting record.
As a seated City Commissioner seeking re-election, with the assistance of my future fellow Commissioners, I also hope to continue to find ways to preserve and protect our quality of life while recovering from the economic collapse caused by the pandemic. With a limited budget, the City must find a viable plan to deliver the services and amenities which continue to make Fernandina Beach a great place to live. Building and sustaining our natural and financial future for all of the citizens and businesses in the City, compatible with the carrying capacity of Amelia Island, will remain a critical issue for me and all islanders in the future.
What is the most important problem the next city commission must solve?
The most important problem is one that faces every City Commission. Citizens complain that nothing gets done. Or worse, the wrong thing gets done! Whatever issue comes before the Commission, there must be at least three City Commissioners who share a compatible vision, preferably all five, which the majority of citizens agree with, or nothing gets accomplished. That majority of Commissioners, with a shared vision, must agree on the major details of implementation, commit to finding funding, and be willing to follow through to actually spend the money to meet the wishes of City residents. Unless that happens, nothing gets done. I was fortunate to have Commissioners who agreed on many issues. However, some issues were never able to be resolved due to a lack of shared vision.
What is the most important problem the next city commission must solve?
The most important problem the next city commission must solve are the issues concerning responsible growth and taxes.
How have you prepared yourself to be an effective city commissioner?
To be an effective city commissioner, I have prepared myself by analyzing and prioritizing the most burdensome issues for our community and made a sincere effort to connect with the citizens to develop ideas regarding the best solutions for our home. Over the years, I have served in several areas on the local and state level that have afforded me the opportunity to develop skills to thoroughly communicate and legislate matters within our local government.
How have you prepared yourself to be an effective city commissioner?
• Attended and participated in every City Commission meeting for the last 3 years
• Read the entire packet for every City Commission meeting for the last 3 years
• Attended and participated in every budget hearing for the last 3 years
• Attended greater than 90% of the Board of Adjustments, Historic District Council, Parks and Recreation Board, Marina Advisory Board, Golf Course Advisory Board meetings for the last three years
• Attended every monthly Ocean Highway and Port Authority meetings for the last 3 years
• Answered more than a 1,000 constituent emails and phone calls during the last 3 years
• Met with multiple constituents to help solve their concerns
• Written multiple opinion pieces for the News Leader and Observer concerning City issues
• Attended and participated in every meeting of the Tourist Development Council [TDC] for the last three years.
• Served and participated on the Nassau County Economic Development Board for the last 3 years
• Read multiple books and articles on issues related to City Government.
• Attended the League of City meetings and seminars related to City issues
• Met with the City Manager and Attorney weekly for the last 3 years
• Driven around the City with Advanced Trash manager to understand the challenges concerning yard waste
• Served on the Planning Advisory Board for
approximately 2 yeas
• Continue to work as an Emergency Room physician in the local Emergency Department, which gives me insights into the health needs of the community.
• I am involved and do my homework.
If you believe that there is too much development in the city, how would you propose to stop it legally without interfering with private property rights?
“We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children” is an ancient Native American proverb that comes to mind when approaching development in the City. In other words, what do you want the City or island to look like after you are gone? What do you want people to inherit when you leave?
There are approximately 900 buildable lots left in the City. I do not believe the City can stop development on all of those lots. The land owners and City must collaborate to preserve and protect the remaining undeveloped environmentally sensitive lands.
The City should continue working with the North Florida Land Trust to purchase environmentally sensitive land. With the assistance of my fellow commissioners, I initiated the Land Conservation ordinance and the program which allows the City to purchase and preserve environmentally sensitive land and expand the Greenway.
In the last three years, I initiated or supported several ordinances that slow or curb growth. A revised flood ordinance includes limiting construction to only 40% of the property with 60% left in permeable surface for stormwater management. Wetlands may no longer be filled, and an ordinance that prohibits granting a variance for the filling wetlands was passed. A new road ordinance was passed which prevents construction on unimproved City right-of-ways (streets) unless the developer funds the City road’s construction costs. Another was passed which enforces and maintains the 35-foot building height limit on residential oceanfront properties. A tree ordinance was passed that only allows 50% tree clearing on a lot rather than the previous 75% allowable tree clearing for development. In combining all of these ordinances, home sizes are reduced, more tree canopy is retained, and development becomes more environmentally friendly without further burdening taxpayers with the cost of growth. However, to limit growth, these ordinances must be strictly enforced in the future.
To further shield the island from uncontrolled growth, the City needs to encourage and facilitate the placement of conservation easements on privately owned, environmentally sensitive lands, so that these properties remain undeveloped. The easements create generous Federal tax incentives for landowners while allowing the land owner to retain the undeveloped property. The easements preserve the land for future generations.
In the future, we also need to intentionally continue to strive to discourage building on land that floods. With sea level rise, this issue will require more of the City’s attention in our future flood and stormwater planning.
If you believe that there is too much development in the city, how would you propose to stop it legally without interfering with private property rights?
To stop over development in the city legally without interfering with private property rights, I would further implement contingent guidelines and restrictions to reduce the impact in an area, e.g. height restrictions, setback limits, and making sure zoning changes are justifiable.