Candidate Orlando J. Avila
Group 3
Phone: 904-955-3122
[email protected]
October 5, 2017
Editor’s Note: Every year, the Fernandina Observer presents questions to candidates vying for seats on the Fernandina Beach City Commission. Their answers to our questions appear below. We have removed the comment option from this post in order to focus attention on the candidate’s position on issues that impact our community.
Biographical Information
My family and I moved to our home in the North 14th Street area of Fernandina Beach from Yulee in October 2014.
Occupation: Owner, All American Ship Agents, LLC
Government Service: Conditional Use and Variance Board
Volunteer/Community Service: Nassau County Foster/Adoptive Parent Association, Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association, Amelia Lodge No. 47 Morocco Shriners, Fernandina Beach Shrine Club, Leadership Nassau, Class 8, Fernandina Maritime Exchange
Why seeking election?
I am running for City Commission because I believe in being a citizen servant. This is our home and we are committed to our community and I want our city to continue advancing while maintaining its unique culture.
What is your vision for the Amelia Riverfront and how would you pay for it?
The Amelia Riverfront has been a hot topic for several years, even before I moved into the city. I would like to see a Riverfront which includes a fully operational marina and a park area which can host events, have an area which can be used for educational purposes in conjunction with local universities, state colleges and our school system. There are currently plans in the works that the sitting commissioners are working on with city staff which may be viable as a starting point and expanded as time goes on and finances permit.
I am a proponent of public/private partnerships and would seek out local companies which have a vested interest in a vibrant waterfront form a cooperative agreement with the city, county, port authority, state and federal governments along with non-profits like the St. Mary’s Riverkeeper and FIND.
How would you address community concerns about beach and downtown parking?
The parking concerns have been addressed over and over. The resent survey and study completed by a committee headed by Chief Hurley was very well done. It had some options that can be explored over the course of time as needs warrant and budgets permit.
How would you address both environmental protection and private property rights in considering development projects?
I am a proponent of protecting individual private property rights, it is a cornerstone of our republic. Protecting our rivers, beaches, and wildlife are also important to me. There is a balance that can be struck. The reality is that a small municipality on a barrier island has a finite amount of developable land, Fernandina is no different. Burdensome and excessive regulation discourage investment in residential and commercial properties but smart regulation and simplified permitting processes encourage investment and redevelopment. Again, a balance can be struck. We have a plethora of already developed properties that are unoccupied and waiting for the right investor to come in and redevelop it. Making it so the permitting process is streamlined and simplified for redevelopment has a twofold benefit:
a) it revitalizes an area previously left vacant, thereby bringing a new business or expanding an existing business, with more jobs and positive economic impact
b) it encourages developers and investors to think proactively by utilizing existing developed commercial space rather than developing green space. It may not be a permanent solution, and will not please everyone but it is a viable compromise
Where do you see areas of potential savings for city operations?
Often, candidates for public office take one extreme or another when it comes to budges and spending. They either want more spending, or less spending, and some think it’s just right. Some want to raise taxes to increase revenues for pet projects, others want to slash and burn. Taking a more methodical and pragmatic approach is in my opinion a good strategy. Making cuts to projects and programs has repercussions, and unless you’re in the seat I don’t think one can fully grasp the effects of one’s decisions.
I believe elected officials and their appointees are the stewards of the people’s treasure and to squander it is unacceptable. When economic conditions result in lower revenues, we must do more with less and when the economy is up, revenues increase allowing for more spending, and ideally saving for lean times.
Taking the approach of doing more with less, even with increased revenues may seem counterintuitive to some, but I believe that maximizing efficiency in government operations is key to gaining and maintaining the people’s confidence in their elected leaders. Having a BA in Public Administration, I subscribe to the philosophy of applying business principles to governance.
As candidates whose goal is to eventually be elected members of the City Commission, we do not have the luxury of being involved with the day to day operation of the city from the inside. We must rely on city personnel, budget documents, workshops, and regular meetings to make complex and difficult decisions when it comes to cutting some program or personnel, or choosing one project over another. The reliance on those personnel that are involved in the day to day operation of the city where we can find ways to save the city money. Incentivizing efficiency and rewarding personnel who find ways to save the city sizable amounts of money is a proactive approach to maximizing the use of the people’s treasure. The is no good answer to this question that will please everyone, but it is a question that should be asked and discussed often.
To view candidate’s initial press release, click here.
Avila faces Medardo Monzon and Chip Ross in Group 3.