A Main Beach Waterslide and trolley advertising under consideration

Submitted by Eric Bartelt
June 4, 2015 3:00 p.m.

At the June 2nd City Commission meeting, there were two tourism related items on the agenda that have generated considerable public interest. The first dealt with a temporary waterslide that Mr. Kevin Lilly had proposed for Main Beach, and the emergence of a second individual who would also like to proved a waterslide. The second item pertained to the new public trolley service started by Mr. Ernie Saltmarsh, and whether or not advertising would be permitted on the sides of his trolleys.

Waterslide

City Attorney Tammi Bach recapped Mr. Lilly’s proposal that he presented at the previous City Commission meeting two weeks ago. Mr. Lilly had proposed a three year contract, with the waterslide being in place between March 15th and September 30th. The slide would be deflated each night and then re-inflated the next day. The City would receive 20% of revenue from the slide and the City would pay for water and electricity.

Last year’s waterslide operator, Mr. Brent Palmer, had proposed expanding his business to include renting beach chairs and umbrellas. The Commission rejected that on the grounds he would be unfairly competing with other local businesses that have expenses associated with permanent physical locations. Mr. Lilly’s proposal did not include beach chair and umbrella rentals.

After Attorney Bach finished outlining Mr. Lilly’s proposal, City Manager Gerrity stated that he had been contacted in January by Ms. Kim Sage, who also wanted to install a waterslide at Main Beach. Mr. Gerrity told Ms. Sage at that time there was no interest on the part of the City to have a waterslide at Main Beach this summer. Mr. Gerrity explained that because the Commission had rejected Brent Palmer’s application for this year, he assumed the Commission did not want a slide at Main Beach this year. Gerrity then recommended the City issue a Request for Proposal, since there was more than one applicant, that would allow anyone to submit a proposal.

Mr. Lilly provided Commissioners with a handout, detailing the specifications of his slide (30′ – 40′ tall, 50′ wide, 200′ long – the same as last year’s slide), its proposed location (between the Putt-Putt golf course and the new boardwalk) and the rates (daily, vacation, and family pass and possibly a group rate). He asked the Commissioners to “vote yes for a locally owned operator, for summer jobs for some local youths, for additional beach and park attractions, for fun and exercise for the kids, for summer camp activity, and for revenue for the City.” In response to a question from Mayor Boner, Mr. Lilly indicated he had not yet purchased the slide or acquired insurance, but that he would do so as soon as the Commission approved his proposal.

Members of the public then addressed the Commission. Mr. Philip Chapman, a former school teacher, asked that if last years slide operator could not be profitable enough without expanding into beach chair and umbrella rentals, how would Mr. Lilly’s plan be different? He also asked what the cost to the City was for the utilities and, since Mr. Lilly is asking for a 3 year commitment from the City, would Mr. Lilly also be responsible for a 3 year commitment on his end? He pointed out that we already have “the best waterslide you can have – it’s called the ocean!” He concluded by asking if the waterslide is something we really need.

Roy G. Smith questioned what the utility costs were to the City. City Manager Gerrity responded by saying the cost, which was estimated since water and electric meters were not used, was about $328, with the City netting $5,050. Commissioner Miller, perhaps the only Commissioner to use the slide last year, clarified that the water use is not constant; it is used only briefly when someone goes down the slide. Mr. Gerrity conceded that it’s difficult to determine the exact cost, to which Mr. Smith questioned why the City pays for the utilities instead of the operator. Commissioner Lentz pointed out other instances where City property is leased (Bretts) but the City doesn’t pay the utility costs – the tenant pays those costs.

Coleman Langshaw spoke in favor of the waterslide, citing the value of some of the past recreational attractions, such as the permanent waterslide, that have closed over the years.

Kim Sage, from Yulee, next addressed the Commission. She was the applicant who had contacted City Manager Gerrity in January about providing a waterslide. She explained she had been told by Mr Gerrity in January that there would be no waterslide at Main Beach this summer. In light of Mr. Lilly’s proposal, she felt she should have the opportunity to also present a proposal.

She went on to outline her qualifications – a Nassau County business owner, a provider of entertainment services for over 13 years, and provider to Fernandina Beach for Kid Zone entertainment at special events for the past three years (some provided free). She said she already has the necessary insurance, the employees to operate the slide, and the connections with the dealers that sell the slides.

She said her slide is different from Mr. Lilly’s in that it is 6′ lower and shorter at 90′, is dual lane so there is a shorter wait (since two can go down at once), and it has a shaded bounce area underneath for kids who, if they get tired of sliding, can go jumping. She suggested the smaller size was a better fit for Main Beach and that it would allow for an additional small toddler slide / play area to be included.

Mr. Gerrity asked Ms. Sage about the potential profitability for her proposal. She said she hoped it would be profitable and then explained that since she already carries insurance, the added insurance cost for the slide would be minimal, implying that that would be a key to profitability. She indicated that since it is already late in the season, she would want to have at least a two year commitment from the City.

Commissioners then discussed the benefits to having the slide, one of which, cited by Mayor Boner, was as an alternative for kids during the occasional periods of rough, and dangerous, ocean surf.

After the best way to proceed and terms of an agreement were discussed, and whether the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) would need to review the proposals, Parks and Recreation Department Director Nan Voit spoke, saying that PRAC had reviewed last year’s slide proposal, so she didn’t think the committee would need to see this year’s proposals. When it was pointed out that Mr. Lilly and Ms. Sage were proposing different types of slides, Ms. Voit then suggested that PRAC should see the proposals, in order to review the different types of slides.

Commissioner Miller then made a motion to approve having a waterslide at Main Beach. Commissioner Gass seconded the motion and the Commission voted 4-1 in favor. Commissioner Poynter opposed. Commissioner Poynter has indicated in the past that he didn’t think a waterslide was appropriate for Fernandina and Amelia Island. The Commission also approved issuing a Request for Proposal so anyone wishing to submit a waterslide proposal could do so.

Trolley Advertising

A pilot plan for a public trolley was approved at a previous City Commission meeting, and at that time Mr. Ernie Saltmarsh, owner of the trolley service, requested that advertising on the sides of the trolley be allowed in order to defray costs.

City Attorney Bach opened the discussion by informing the Commissioners that advertising on the trolley was prohibited by the the City’s vehicle advertising ordinance. The ordinance allows advertising on a vehicle for the business that owns the vehicle, but not for other businesses. In Mr. Saltmarsh’s case, he would be advertising other businesses on his trolley.

City Manager Gerrity asked if the franchise agreement with Mr. Saltmarsh could be amended to allow advertising, to which Ms. Bach responded that she would need to research the law in order to determine whether that would be unfair to other businesses. She didn’t think it would be right to change the ordinance to allow all businesses to advertise other businesses on their vehicles, so she would have to do the research to see if amending only the franchise agreement with Mr. Saltmarsh could be done without being unfair to other businesses.

Commissioner Gass expressed support for changing the franchise agreement to allow advertising, as did Commissioner Poynter, who pointed out that the City has a public/private arrangement with the trolley service and that that wouldn’t violate other business’ rights or ability to do business.

Commissioner Miller also supported changing the franchise agreement, and also asked if there should be any restriction on the size of the advertising that would be allowed. While the Commissioners didn’t want to see an entire trolley wrapped in advertising, they agreed that it was unlikely Mr. Saltmarsh would do that or any other excessive or tacky advertsing. Commissioner Lentz agreed and added that she wouldn’t want to see the advertising lighted. In the end, the Commissioners agreed not to put any restrictions on the advertising, and directed Attorney Bach to bring a revised franchise agreement to the next meeting.

Editor’s Note: Eric Bartelt retired as a corporate design consultant and moved to Fernandina Beach in 2004. His previously lived in Wisconsin. Since Eric’s arrival in Fernandina Beach, he spends his time volunteering, and playing soccer. We thank Eric for his contributions to the Fernandina Observer.