Submitted by
Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News analyst
About 50 people attended the August 7, 2012 regular meeting of the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC). Early arrivals got to see their commissioners at work – literally – as they moved furniture and equipment to restore City Hall chambers to a meeting place from an early voting station.
Library RFQ approved 3-2
The action item that generated the most discussion was Resolution 2012-124, to approve an agreement with VRL Architects, Inc. for the renovation and rehabilitation of the existing downtown library building. This item was added to the agenda following the agenda’s initial publication. On July 10, Commissioners had selected VRL as the topped ranked respondent to RFQ 12-104 to provide architectural and engineering design services for the library renovation project. Resolution 2012-124 contained a contract negotiated by the City Manager and VRL for an amount not to exceed $131,000, or 9.16% of the estimated construction value ($1,430,000).
Commissioner Sarah Pelican expressed concerns that the document did not contain options. She said that she was expecting to see 3 options: one to just to make necessary repairs; one to renovate the existing building; and one to involve renovation and expansion. Vice Mayor Bunch responded, “We’re past that.” He said that the previous commission and the library committee, which consisted of city, county and library representatives had already considered the first two alternatives and opted for the third. He explained that the FBCC was now at the point that it was looking at what it would support with the $600K the city has committed to the project. “All we’re paying for is the brick walls,” he said. “What goes inside is up to them.” Bunch went on to say that the current problems with the building are a result of delayed maintenance, adding that he hoped that once a new facility was built it could be maintained so that it would last 50 years or more.
Pelican went on to question what appeared to be $90,000 in the contingency fund for a new library roof, asking if that money was in addition to the $600,000 commitment. Gerrity seemed to think that money was no longer in the budget, but Pelican was confident that it was. Gerrity agreed to investigate and remove it, if it was indeed still there.
Mayor Arlene Filkoff requested that if the FBCC should move to approve this resolution, a Memorandum of Understanding be drawn up spelling out the terms of commitment for the city, county and Friends of the Library. It was clear to Filkoff, Bunch and Poynter that the city would commit a total of $600,000 to the entire project, to include the $131,000 in the VRL contract. Bunch added that Nassau County would not release its commitment of $600,000 until designs have been presented. Any upgrades or interior decoration will need to be paid for by the Friends of the Library, according to Bunch.
Commissioner Tim Poynter asked that two items be added to the resolution:
- A clause indicating that if the project comes in under the current estimate, money not spent would be returned to the appropriate party; and
- The City’s total commitment of $600,000 be stated in the resolution.
Commissioner Charlie Corbett asked about the composition of the “library committee” that would be working with VRL on the engineering and design work. City Manager Gerrity said that he and City Planner Adrienne Burke would represent the city, and that there would be county representatives and representatives of the Friends of the Library (FOL).
When the vote was finally taken following a half-hour of discussion, the resolution was approved as amended on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Pelican and Corbett in opposition.
Outside sales
Without comment or explanation, three commissioners who don’t usually vote together voted down a proposed amendment to the city’s Land Development Code (Ordinance 2012-17) that would have allowed sales of “prepared, processed, or baked goods and drinks including but not limited to olive oil, breads, jams, jellies, coffee drinks, cakes, cookies, kettle corn and alike” in the C-1 Zoning District. The request had been initiated by Amelia Island Market Place, a new business located off South 14th and Lime Streets, striving to become a daily farmer’s market. While Commissioner Corbett and Mayor Filkoff approved the ordinance on first reading, Commissioners Pelican, Poynter and Bunch opposed it.
CRA Advisory Board
While the FBCC approved (5-0) Resolution 2012-118 establishing a Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Advisory Board consisting of seven (7) members, appointment to that board was delayed to the August 14 meeting to allow commissioners time to consider late applications.
City Manager Report
- City Manager Gerrity asked the FBCC to consider changing its first November meeting because the meeting date coincides with Election Day. No decision was made.
- Gerrity asked if the FBCC still wanted to move forward with constructing a kayak launch. The cost has been reduced to $25,000. Mayor Filkoff asked if that price reflected the volunteer work that had been committed. Gerrity did not have that information. She asked that this project proceed as a joint city/volunteer project. It was the consensus of the commission to proceed with the project.
- In his attempt to keep commissioners informed, Gerrity reported that Island Aviation has not paid its 2011 taxes ($6,000), but has promised to pay by the end of August. The FBCC supported evicting Island Aviation from the airport if the taxes are not paid as promised.
- And finally, after several years and many discussions, Gerrity announced that the dumpster pad at Main Beach has been completed, except for the gate.
Commissioner Reports
- In response to a question from Vice Mayor Bunch, city staffer Jeremiah Glisson reported that the new recycle carts would be delivered to city residences by the end of October.
- Mayor Filkoff reported that she recently met with the Airport Advisory Committee and a committee of Peck neighborhood residents, with whom she will now regularly meet. She expressed her willingness to meet with any group.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
August 8, 2012 4:25 p.m.