Submitted by
Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter-News Analyst
About 25 people joined Fernandina Beach City Commissioners for their July 3, 2012 regular meeting, which lasted little more than an hour. The FBCC breezed through a proclamation declaring the week of July 22-27 to be “Fernandina Beach Local #2836 Fire Fighter Appreciation Week” and a 4-item consent agenda.
Three people rose to speak during public input:
1. Judith Lane cited problems with trash along the side streets in the city’s central business district exacerbated by the lack of trash containers on those streets. She thanked City Manager Joe Gerrity for staff’s responsiveness in identifying money for 6 additional receptacles.
2. Regina Duncan and Tom Hughes, representing the Chamber of Commerce and the Historic Downtown Merchants Association, presented the city with a check in the amount of $13,830 to cover the cost of the July 4th fireworks. Commissioner Charlie Corbett added that enough additional funds had been collected to cover half the cost of next year’s fireworks. Everyone agreed that this fundraising activity demonstrated how the community can come together for the common good regardless of personal politics.
3. Tony Crawford urged the FBCC to ask questions regarding the report on paid beach parking. He expressed his concerns that charging for beach parking will drive visitors to county beaches and hurt city businesses in addition to inconveniencing residents who live near the beaches.
With little discussion, the FBCC disposed of two ordinances quickly. The FBCC unanimously adopted on first reading ordinance 2012-13, which allows the FBCC to set qualifying dates for city commission candidacy by resolution and repeals the section of the existing code on absentee ballots. These changes were necessitated by the city’s move to contract out elections to the Supervisor of Elections. On second and final reading, the FBCC adopted Ordinance 2012-12 approving a franchise agreement with Advanced Disposal Services Stateline, LLC for a period of 6 years.
The FBCC approved the only three names submitted to them to fill vacancies on the Arts ad Culture Nassau Committee. Discussion on Audit Committee membership took a bit longer. Commissioner Corbett volunteered to serve as the FBCC member on the committee, provided that the FBCC understood that he would be away for 3 weeks this summer during committee deliberations. Commissioner Tim Poynter indicated that he would serve in that capacity to alleviate Corbett’s concerns. The other commissioners each selected a candidate for the Audit Committee from the pool of candidates who had expressed interest in serving: Chris Bryan (Jeffrey Bunch’s choice), Paul Booten (Charlie Corbett), Jerry Greeson (Sarah Pelican) and Dave Lott (Arlene Filkoff).
City Manager Gerrity, Mayor Filkoff and Commissioner Pelican were the only people indicating their desire to attend the Florida League of Cities Annual Meeting. Gerrity stated that this was the most important meeting that he attended when he was a city commissioner and allowed that there was money budgeted to allow all commissioners to attend. Nevertheless, none of the other commissioners expressed any interest in attending.
During reports City Clerk Mary Mercer announced that as a result of state redistricting, the city will add another voting precinct: 201. This precinct will vote at the First Baptist Church on 8th Street. Registered voters from existing precincts 101 and 102 will receive notification shortly if their polling place has changed as a result of redistricting.
City Attorney Tammi Bach announced that as a result of a change in law, vendors are now allowed to make presentations to the city commission out of the sunshine. This change was made so that early presenters would not have their proposals looted by presenters scheduled later. Bach has contacted the three top firms qualifying for the Library RFQ to ask if they would be willing to waive this right to private presentation in their presentations to the FBCC on July 10. Two of the firms agreed, but one has not responded. If all firms agree, they will sign waivers to that effect and present to the city commission in a public meeting. If the third firm does not agree, the presentations will be made privately to the FBCC in the upstairs conference room, after which the commission will reconvene in public meeting in chambers to discuss the proposals and make their decision. The time scheduled for this meeting appears to be 4:00-5:30 pm on July 10.
City Manager Gerrity announced that the city was prepared to begin work on the sidewalk on Canterbury lane, absent any objection from the commission. The commission voiced none. Gerrity announced a budget workshop for July 10, following the meeting on the Library RFQ, to begin at 5:30 pm.
Vice Mayor Bunch reported that the recent floods have revealed many maintenance issues for city streets. He also asked when the city manager planned to discuss the paid beach parking report. After some discussion, Gerrity said that he would place it on the July 17th regular meeting agenda. He also indicated that before he can proceed with the FY 2012-13 budget formulation, he needs guidance from the commissioners. Commissioner Poynter said that he has provided input and is awaiting additional information that has been promised regarding fully loaded costs for recreational programs. Gerrity said that Dave Lott is working on that and that commissioners will have that information soon. [Note: Mr. Lott is no longer employed by the city, but has apparently agreed to do this without charge.] He also said that while he has gotten input from Poynter, he has not gotten input from other commissioners. Poynter indicated that the commissioners will need additional information on the proposed annexation, potential revenue from sale of city property, stormwater fees, CRA, etc., and that it is up to the manager to get that information to the commissioners so that they can make informed decisions.
Commissioner Pelican asked that impact fees be put on the agenda for the July 17th agenda. She said that she would like a taskforce or a committee to be formed to look at these rates, which have generated much negative feedback from the public. City Manager Gerrity said that he was on the commission that adopted those fees, which came out of a study undertaken by a Dr. Nicholls. He asked Clerk Mercer to see that commissioners be provided with copies of that study. He also said that any changes to the impact fee schedule would not affect the general fund, since impact fees go to capital improvements.
Mayor Filkoff expressed her appreciation to city staff for the manner in which they handled the recent storm emergencies. She sat in the emergency center and was pleased to report that staff worked together to ensure the safety of islanders, with no special interest or turf battles. She also asked the City Manager to invite Steve Rieck, the executive director of the county economic development board, to address the commission during budget formulation regarding tapping into development opportunities for the city.
The commission voted unanimously on all items except item 5.3 on the consent agenda. Vice Mayor Bunch voted against approving the purchase of investigative audio visual equipment for the Police Department out of Justice Assistance Grant monies.
July 5, 2012 9:22 a.m.