Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
December 21, 2016 12:06 p.m.
The Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) held its final meeting of calendar year 2016 on December 20. The meeting lasted barely an hour, with most of the items devoted to environmental issues.
Two proclamations honored the Wild Amelia Junior Naturalist Program and resident Peggy Lehosit for her work on the Heritage Tree Program. Two items on the consent agenda designated various city trees on public and private property as Heritage Trees.
The Ordinance proposed on First Reading for vacating a portion of Gum Street in city right-of-way between the Greenway and Citrona Drive was tabled again to the January 7, 2017 meeting, at the request of the Nassau County School District.
The FBCC unanimously passed on Second Reading Ordinance 2016-18 prohibiting and regulating personal property unattended on Atlantic Ocean Beaches within the city limits. This ordinance copies an ordinance enacted by the Nassau Board of County Commissioners. With the passage of both ordinances, the same regulations will be in effect for all city and county beaches on Amelia Island.
Commissioners also made four Advisory Board Appointments:
- Ron Heymann, Jr. was reappointed to a two-year term as the Fifth Trustee member of the Board of Trustees of the General Employees’ Pension Plan;
- Janet Griffin was reappointed to serve a two-year term as the City Commission Appointed/Resident Trustee;
- Donna Lewis and Jenny Shaffer were appointed to serve 4-year terms as non-voting alternate members to the Planning Advisory Board.
Wild Amelia Junior Naturalist Program
Mayor Robin Lentz invited Robyn Nemes and members of the Junior Naturalist Program to join her at the podium as she read the proclamation recognizing them for educating, developing lasting community benefits and creating lifelong curators of Florida’s coastlines, maritime forests and saltmarshes.
Nemes, a former educator and retired Shenandoah National Park Ranger, teaches a series of ten classes at the local Boys and Girls Club each winter and spring. On behalf of Wild Amelia she also offers programs within Nassau County Schools and for youth groups such as the Girl Scouts. These programs educate young people on the vast environmental diversity found on Amelia Island. She has authored three books to aid in her teachings, which cover the three primary ecosystems on Amelia Island: saltmarsh, maritime forest and seashore.
Junior Naturalists participate in meaningful educational experiences to reinforce Nemes’ learning objectives, such as tree plantings, beach clean-ups, water quality monitoring, guided nature walks, eco-tours and field trips.
Junior Naturalist Josh Barber thanked the FBCC and spent a few minutes elaborating on the work of the group members, as well as highlighting the teaching materials that Nemes has developed. Nemes also thanked the FBCC for their support. She praised the 30-40 students in the program as “just incredible” for all their efforts to raise awareness among their peers and around the island with respect to environmental issues.
Recognizing Peggy Lehosit for Heritage Tree Program support
Rebecca Raymond accepted a proclamation on behalf of the Amelia Tree Conservancy recognizing Peggy Lehosit’s work in reinvigorating the City’s Heritage Tree Program. Lehosit’s efforts supported the city’s planning staff by identifying publicly maintained trees worthy of designation. She also reached out to private property owners to advise them of the city program and educated them on the value of having a designated tree on their property. Her work has led to nominations, approved later in the meeting, that nearly quadruple the City’s existing number of designated trees from four to 15 trees.
In accepting the proclamation, Rebecca Raymond read a statement prepared by Peggy Lehosit, who was unable to attend the meeting. Lehosit wrote, “I’m happy to receive this proclamation, although the real work was begun by the Amelia Tree Conservancy. My small work is a follow up to theirs. I consider this a beginning.”
Raymond thanked the FBCC, as well as the efforts of both Peggy Lehosit and Robyn Nemes.
Via resolutions included on the Consent Agenda, the FBCC approved designating 5 trees located on public right-of-ways and 6 trees on private property as heritage trees. All these trees are located in the downtown area. Publicly locate trees are on Alachua Street and North 6th Street. Privately owned trees include those found at the following locations: former Fred’s parking lot; Memorial Methodist Church; Citizens State Bank; Florida House Inn; 426 S. 4th Street; Broome Street between N. 6th and N. 7th Streets.
Leave No Trace – Ordinance 2016-18
Representing a major step forward in intergovernmental coordination on matters affecting the entire island, the city of Fernandina Beach unanimously approved this ordinance modeled on a Nassau County Ordinance which declares unattended personal property left on beaches after 8:00 p.m. as a public nuisance which may be enforced by law enforcement and code enforcement. The City or its contractors can remove the unattended personal property any time after 8:00 p.m.
The Tourist Development Council (TDC) will assist in this effort as well. Commissioner John Miller reported that materials confiscated under this ordinance would be recycled to the greatest extent possible.
Signs advising beachgoers of the new ordinance will be posted at key beach accesses in the city and the county.
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.