Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
May 24, 2019 9:30 a.m.
At almost every Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) meeting, commissioners receive at least one complaint that the public did not know that a certain issue or topic was coming up for discussion or action at a city advisory board or FBCC meeting. Mayor John Miller asked City Attorney Tammi Bach to address this concern during the May 21, 2019 Regular Meeting of the FBCC.
Bach explained how legal notices are advertised in the local newspaper, and that when proposed actions involve land use matters, the properties are also posted with meeting notice. One citizen claimed that this was insufficient because she could not afford to subscribe to the newspaper and even if she did, the legal notice print is too small and the ad provides insufficient information.
City Manager Dale Martin reminded the public that they can sign up to receive notices and meeting agendas by signing up on the city’s website.
Since people have also complained that the website is not user friendly, here are some simple instructions for signing up:
- Navigate to the city’s website at www.fbfl.us
- Click on the column heading labeled: How Do I?
- Click on the lowest link on the second column labeled: Receive E-mail Notifications
- A screen will come up with instructions asking for your email address. Once you have registered you may sign up for email alerts on everything ranging from emergency alerts to job and bid postings.
- Continue scrolling down the screen to the Agenda Center, which lists all the boards and committees. You may sign up to receive agendas for upcoming meetings for any/all.
Complete agenda packets, including back up material on cases and proposed actions, are generally available the end of the week preceding the scheduled meeting by clicking on the particular agenda item.
Agendas are publicly posted at all city buildings. Free computer access to consult these items is available at City Hall or the Fernandina Beach Public Library.
Local newspapers are also available for review at branches of the Nassau County Library System.
Or, as City Manager Dale Martin kindly pointed out, you can take the streamlined approach and just click on the “Notify Me” button on the left side of the city’s home page. Thank you, Dale!