Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
September 15, 2016 1:34 p.m.
After holding open meetings at various locations throughout Nassau County, the Charter Advisory Committee (CAC) formed by the Ocean Highway & Port Authority (OHPA) presented recommendations to OHPA board members at the regular meeting on Wednesday. Terry Powell, vice chair of the CAC, addressed the board and provided a summary of the CAC’s recommendations.
The majority of CAC members supported non-partisan elections, no change to OHPA’s eminent domain powers, expanding the OHPA’s current hazardous material reports, and supporting the Special Act that grants special powers in the OHPA.
The committee did suggest that the port authority honor local government building codes, and update its authority “for more modern projects and possibly the elimination of antiquated authority.” The CAC suggested no limits within the charter on truck, rail, and passenger ship traffic, but recommended “accurate projections and actual historical data” on future master plans. On mandating the hiring of an employee port director, the committee took no formal position.
OHPA board members received the report with appreciation, but offered no comments on the CAC’s recommendations.
For months, concerned citizens have raised objections to increased truck traffic, eminent domain powers, hazardous materials, port expansion, and support for non-partisan elections to allow all voters regardless of party afflication to be included in elections. The formation of the CAC as previously reported by Suanne Z. Thamm, reporter-news analyst, “was formed to create a county-wide committee to conduct a full review of the existing charter for the purpose of updating the document that was originally created in the 1940’s.”
The CAC whose members were approved by OHPA, included Chairman Jon Lasserre, Vice-chair Terry Powell, Jack Baily, Cari Cahill, Colin Campbell, Mike Cole, Hugh Graham, Dale Martin, Frank Santry, Karen Schexnayder, and Michael Stokes.
Powell praised the committee members for their professionalism, courtesy, and mutual respect.
In the event the OHPA approves charter changes, the recommendations are forwarded to the Nassau County Legislative Delegation for consideration during a future legislative session.
And the full committee report will be available when?
It is public record. Visit the Ocean Highway & Port Authority website and contact Joanne Cason for information.
What I found fascinating was that NO representatives from the tourism industry were placed on this Advisory Committee (the $125 million industry that pays the taxes of Nassau County). Was that a message?
Here is the Citizens’ Advisory Committee Report that was sent to me by Ms. Cason of the OHPA. Mr. Santry, the Citizen’s Advisory Board Secretary, forwarded this report to Mr. Lasserre in July.
Mr. Dan Fullwood, Chairman
Ocean Highway and Port Authority
86130 License Rd, Suite 9
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Jon C. Lasserre
2851 South Fletcher Avenue
Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034
[email protected]
September 8, 2016
RE: SUMMARY LETTER-OCEAN HIGHWAY AND PORT AUTHORITY
CHARTER REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Dear Chairman Fullwood:
The Ocean Highway and Port Authority Charter Revision Advisory Committee (the
“Committee”) concluded its assignment at its sixth and final monthly meeting on June, 27, 2016. Meetings were held in various locations around the county, including Hilliard, Callahan, Yulee, and Fernandina Beach. All meetings were open and publicly noticed. Copies of the final minutes of each Committee meeting are provided along with this summary letter. These minutes reflect the primary record of the Committee discussions and actions. The members of the Committee and I express our thanks to the Ocean Highway and Port Authority (“OHPA”) Commissioners for providing this opportunity to serve them. As the
minutes reflect, the hearings and deliberations were broad ranging, professional, and conducted with courtesy and mutual respect.
SUMMARY
The Committee has reviewed the matters contained within the Task Outline provided and make no suggested revisions based upon that analysis. In addition to reviewing the matters within the Task Outline, the Committee reviewed
other pertinent items that were brought forth for our consideration. The Committee has authorized me to present this summary letter which reviews those discussions and reports on the positions taken.
1. Change to non-partisan elections
The Committee recommends that the Special Act be amended to provide for non-partisan elections on the following vote on May 23, 2016:
Bailey Yes
Cahill No
Campbell Yes
LasseTI’e Yes
Powell Yes
San try Yes
Schexnayder Yes
Stokes No
2. No change to eminent domain
The Committee recommends that the Special Act not be amended in a way that would limit OHPA’s power of eminent domain on the following vote taken May 23, 2016:
Bailey Yes
Cahill Yes
Campbell Yes
LasseTI’e Yes
Powell Yes
Santry No
Schexnayder Yes
Stokes Yes
3. Hazardous Materials Reporting
The Committee recommends the implementation of a policy that OHPA expand its
hazardous material reporting and consider issuing a quarterly report within thirty days after the close of each quarter. The report would list all hazardous materials as defined under Title 49, C.F.R. which pass through the port or are located on port property. The Committee further recommends amending the Special Act to mandate that policy for the future on the following vote taken May 23, 2016:
Bailey Yes
Cahill No
Campbell No
Lasserre Yes
Powell Yes
Santry Yes
Schexnayder Yes
4. Limitations on Activities in the City of Fernandina Beach and the Master Plan
The Committee recommends that the Special Act not be amended to include limitations on truck, rail and passenger ship traffic. Rather, the Committee recommended that the current Master Plan and all future Master Plans be based on accurate projections and actual historical data. The scope of future projects should be limited to actual, reasonable, attainable utilization based on the existing Port facilities or attainable, reasonable enhancements of those facilities. Goals and references that are not reasonably achievable or which have not been formally adopted by the Board should not be included in current or future Master Plans.
These recommendations were made on the following vote taken on June 27, 2016:
Cari Cahill Yes
Colin Campbell Yes
Mike Cole Yes
Hugh Graham Yes
Jon Lasserre Yes
TetTy Powell Yes
Frank Santry Yes
Karen Schexnayder Yes
Michael Stokes Yes
5. Repeal of Section 12 of the Special Act
The Committee recommends that Section 12 of the Special Act not be repealed. However, the Committee calls the attention of the OHPA Board the Florida Attorney General Opinion 82-24 dated April 20, 1982 relating to Port Authorities and their requirement to honor local government building and zoning codes.
This recommendation was made on the following vote taken on June 27, 2016:
Cari Cahill Yes
Colin Campbell Yes
Mike Cole Yes
Hugh Graham Yes
Jon Lasseire Yes
Terry Powell Yes
Frank Santry Yes
Karen Schexnayder Yes
Michael Stokes Yes
6. Removal or supplementation of Special Act, Special Powers Provisions
The Committee decided not to make a recommendation about changes to the Special Act where various special powers are granted in the Charter. Rather, the Committee recommends that OHPA undertake its own review to consider the addition of authority for more modern projects and possibly the elimination of antiquated authority. As with recommendation #4 , the considerations should be based on reasonably achievable goals which have been formally adopted.
This recommendation was made on the following vote taken on June 27, 2016:
Cari Cahill Yes
Colin Campbell Yes
Mike Cole Yes
Hugh Graham Yes
Jon Lasseire Yes
Terry Powell Yes
Frank Santry Yes
Karen Schexnayder Yes
Michael Stokes Yes
7. Mandating the hiring of an employee Port Director
The Committee did not take a formal position on whether the Special Act should be
amended to mandate that OHPA employ an independent port director. The Committee asks the Board to review the minutes of this discussion to convey the Committee’s concerns which are viewed as important.
Conclusion
Once again, the Committee members wish to thank the OHPA Commissioners for the opportunity to serve them in this capacity.
Sincerely,
Jon Lasserre
Chair OHPA Citizen Advisory Committee
Please excuse the typos in the report. It was sent to me in an “image” format. My optical reader did not catch some of the characters correctly in copying the report.