Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
The Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) adjourned its November 5, 2014 Regular Meeting after only an hour and four minutes, handling a non-controversial agenda that included a 2-item consent agenda, 6 resolutions and first reading of an ordinance to provide for voluntary annexation of 1.30 acres located at 1505 South 14th Street (Steve Johnson Automotive). The commission made three board appointments and listened to concerns of neighbors with respect to parking spaces, screening and landscaping various mechanical features of the expanded library building.
Proclamations
While three proclamations had been placed on the agenda, only one recipient was in attendance. Cara Curtin, Chairwoman of the American Indians Committee of the local DAR Chapter, accepted the proclamation recognizing the month of November 2014 as Native American Heritage Month and November 28 2014 as Native American Heritage Day. Mayor Ed Boner also proclaimed November 2014 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and National Chiropractic Health Month.
Public comment on items not on the agenda
Andy Curtin expressed appreciation to the commission with a gift of calendars on behalf of the Experimental Aviation Association, expressing his sincere regret at Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican’s election defeat and wishing Commissioner Charlie good luck in the run-off election next month.
Michael Harrison reported on his November 3 meeting with Rock Tenn regarding attempts to remove the gate crossing Estrada Street in Old Town. Harrison reported progress, indicating that with the receipt of one added signature, Rock Tenn may remove the gate as early as Thanksgiving, but in no event later than the end of the year.
Resolutions
Commissioners Corbett and Pat Gass made all 6 motions to approve agendaed resolutions. Two resolutions generated commission discussion and questions.
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Resolution 2014-15 awarded a bid in the amount of $96,352 to Greenovative Design & Engineering, LLC for the purchase of 400 monocrystalline solar panels to be installed at the wastewater treatment plant. Utilities Director John Mandrick explained that this purchase would allow the city to save $16,000 annually in electricity cost. The product is “100% American made” and has a lifespan of 25-30 years. Mandrick said that there are no carbon emissions from the panel, thereby potentially saving the city additional money should a carbon tax be added to electric rates sometime in the future. He reported that the cost of solar has decreased by half since 2010 and that the installation of these solar panels means that 123 tons of carbon dioxide will not be released into the atmosphere.
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Jeremiah Glisson, the city’s fleet manager, addressed the mayor’s question regarding city vehicle purchasing strategies. Glisson responded that the city pursues aggressive pricing discounts, sometimes achieving a 40% discount on new purchases. He indicated that the city scours the used marked first before purchasing new vehicles. He also reported that the city pursues an aggressive maintenance program to prolong the useful life of city vehicles. The FBCC unanimously approved the purchase of 5 vehicles through the Florida Sheriff’s Association Vehicle Bid Award #14-22-0904 (Resolution 2014-152).
Board appointments
The FBCC supported City Attorney Tammi Bach’s request to add an architect to the Code Enforcement and Appeals Board. She explained that she had recruited Benjamin Morrison to apply for the position because the city has a need for architectural expertise in reviewing various cases that could lead to demolition orders for abandoned buildings.
On a 3-2 vote (Commissioner Johnny Miller and Mayor Ed Boner dissenting) the commission appointed Shelly Rawls to the Historic District Council. Miller and Boner supported appointment of the second applicant Robert Psulkowski, who had been strongly supported by the downtown merchants.
Commissioners unanimously supported the reappointment of Pranab Das to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
Exterior Library Improvements
Patricia Davenport of Environmental Resources represented concerns of residential neighbors relating to the expansion of the city building at Alachua and N. 4th Streets housing the Nassau County Library Branch. She asked that all horizontal work on the building be halted until their concerns with respect to screening mechanical structures on the roof, utility placement, parking, and landscaping are addressed.
Commissioner Pat Gass said, “Personally, I’d like to see you get everything you want.” However, Gass questioned the costs for the changes and who would pay for them. She reminded commissioners that the city and the county had opposed paying for any change orders.
City Manager Joe Gerrity said that he was very comfortable with meeting the citizens’ requests for ground level landscaping that would involve no construction delay. As far as removing 4 parking spaces so that they might be replaced with landscaping, he deferred to the commission. Gass said that she was not in favor of eliminating parking spaces downtown.
Deputy City Manager Marshall McCrary, in response to statements that utility locations had changed following plan approvals, said that as far as he could determine, that had not happened.
Davenport said that the neighbors were also working with the Friends of the Library on their concerns. Julie Ballard, a neighbor, cited her 40-year residency in the neighborhood and asked the commission to soften the effects of adding the mechanical elements and utility boxes to the building. She said that she wants to preserve the integrity of the Historic District.
Rob Psulkowski spoke in support of the neighbors, claiming that the Historic District Council had only approved conceptual drawings, not the working drawings for the project. As a result, he said, “A gem of the Historic District suffers.”
Mayor Boner concluded the discussion saying, “Money’s the issue for us.”
Main Beach Storm Swale
In response to a question from Commissioner Johnny Miller, City Manager Gerrity reported that in an attempt to solve storm water problems at Main Beach, the city had recently excavated a “storm structure” that has been in place for 30 years, but which had been buried over time. He said that once construction is complete, the area will be grassed and will look attractive.
Election Recount
City Clerk Caroline Best reported that the Supervisor of Elections has scheduled a meeting of the Canvassing Board for Friday, November 7, to conduct a recount of votes on the referendum to change the city charter to provide 4-year terms for city commissioners. The recount was triggered automatically because of the 14-vote margin in defeating the measure.
Election Run Off
Mayor Boner congratulated Commissioner-Elect Robin Lentz, who was in the audience, and offered condolences to Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican on her loss. He reminded the public that the run-off election between incumbent commissioner Charlie Corbett and challenger Tim Poynter would take place on December 9. City Clerk Caroline Best confirmed that the date of the run-off and that the commission’s reorganizational meeting would be held on December 16, 2014.
Why did you amend the “Election Run Off” article??? That was funny as originally posted.
The editor has a cooler head than I do sometimes!