The Candidate Forum: Water, water, everywhere, growth management and Main Street too

Submitted by Adam Kaufman
October 16, 2015, 12:20 p.m.

If there was a consensus reached on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at the Fernandina Observer’s 4th City Commission Candidate Forum it was that there is a shared interest in sustaining the capacity of the City of Fernandina Beach to maintain its quality of life while intelligently managing its growth and its economy while protecting the environment. There was virtual concurrence on the need to address drainage and storm water management and practices, the management of wetlands, submerged lands, shoreline stabilization, dredging and the marina.

Pat K. Gass, Jim B. Higginbotham, Jennifer Schiver and Roy G. Smith candidates in Group 4 for City Commission and Clinch Kavanaugh and Leonard A. Kreger Group 5 candidates participated in the Forum held at Fernandina Beach City Hall. Some 50 individuals attended the debate that could also be viewed via live streaming from the City website or watching Comcast Community Channel 264. Larry Meyers, former City Manager and County Administrator moderated.

Candidates addressed six questions ranging from the biographical: who are you and how have you prepared yourself to serve as a City Commissioner; to the more detailed: what is the appropriate size of City government, the most important capital improvement project and how do you balance new development while protecting the environment; to the specific: how do you view the newly established Main Street Program.

Pat Gass underscored the fact that she was a long-time resident, a mother and a grandmother, who is running as a fiscal conservative, who understands that “money is always hard to come by.” She has learned as a current City Commissioner that such service is sometimes “like peeling an onion…slow and it can make you cry.”

For Jim B. Higginbotham, also a long-time resident now living in Amelia Park, running for City Commission is the continuation of his commitment to the City and public service including his tenure as Public Works Director of the City, Nassau County Commissioner and construction experience re-building Centre Street.

Jennifer Schriver, who has a Masters Degree in Parks and Recreation Management and has relocated to raise her two little girls, is committed to the “island and its people” and sees herself as a problem solver who will listen to all sides of an issue.

Roy Smith, running for second time after an unsuccessful candidacy, called attention to his experience in infrastructure construction which he suggests would fill a void on the City Commission. He suggested that this is particularly true with regard to the “need area” of moving the Marina north and redeveloping Front Street. He would, given his status as a retiree, serve as a “full-time City Commissioner.”

Attorney Clinch Kavanaugh noted his family’s long time connection to the City and is running because of his concern that the City is government is “dysfunctional” leading to lawsuits that are “generated in City Hall.” Kavanaugh emphasized his experience in the practice of local government, land use and administrative law and his concern and knowledge of the submerged lands abutting North Front Street property.

Len Kreger, a retired Marine who has served on City Boards and Committees, is running because of his commitment to seeing that the City fulfills its responsibility to provide services and ensure public safety for its residents. He believes that, at times, the City Commission has been “dysfunctional” and while he will hold the new City Manager “accountable,” he understands that it is not his role as a Commissioner under the Charter to be that manager.

Five of the six candidates expressed the opinion that the size of the city government and its workforce was appropriate or as Roy Smith put it possibly “undersized” in light of the City’s projected growth in population. Kavanaugh and Kreger would rethink levels of service delivery. Kreger raised the issue of whether an increase in public safety employees may ultimately be required. Schriver, while believing in “small government,” also would look at issues of safety and service delivery particularly with regard to maintenance of recreational facilities. Gass complemented City staff for the work they do and if it were possible would bring back staffing levels “to where we were before the great recession.”

Higginbotham expressed the opinion that “people need to learn to work harder” and that staff did not seem overburdened. We have “people standing and looking at each other” he said.

Each candidate expressed a level of support for the City’s Main Street, USA initiative. Schriver while supporting the effort expressed the hope that properties ‘adjacent to downtown” would not be isolated. Gass, who voted against the program and who is opposed to the Community Redevelopment Agency special district encompassing the area north of Centre Street at the waterfront which is included in the Main Street effort, “will not fight against it.” She stated that she would have preferred that the project incorporate other areas of the City given its three year $120,000 cost. Smith, Kavanaugh, Kreger and Higginbotham all expressed support for the initiative and in varying degrees voiced the hope that it would reinvigorate the CRA effort. Higginbotham raised the issue of tax incentives and grants to cause property owners on 8th Street to improve their properties.

Answers to the questions with regard to the City’s “most important capital project,” and the balancing of growth and the environment resulted in seeming unanimity.

For Clinch Kavanaugh protection of “our coastal community” requires stewardship of the island’s wetlands, submerged lands and shoreline and the acknowledged need to address our storm water and sewer issues, in part, with appropriate and “legal” impact fees. Kavanaugh stressed maintaining limits on density. Kreger underscored that the 2012 City imposed storm water fee would not address the current existing requirements for 70 years. He called for the aggressive pursuit of “millions of dollars” in grants to rectify the problem.

Kreger stressed the need to administer and adhere to the City Comprehensive Plan and questioned recent efforts to increase density on our wetlands. Kreger suggested that “we are all destroying the environment,” but cautioned that there is a need to balance private property rights and environmental concerns.

Pat Gass agreed that storm water drainage and treatment was a major issue, but noting that the City currently has $39 million dollars in capital debt questioned how to pay for solutions. She suggested an attempt at “pay as you go” possibly doubling the current $4.00 storm water fee and then borrowing if necessary. Gass questioned “how many people can [the City and the Island] hold” recognizing the need to protect wetlands. She submitted it may be “time to stop” development.

Higginbotham agreed that storm water drainage must be addressed but noted that doubling the current fee “is not going to make a difference.” The cost, he suggested is “staggering.” Higginbotham agreed upon the need to appropriately administer the Comprehensive Plan and stressed the necessity for a new growth management plan. He stated that, in effect, there was “no new land to build upon” and that “we have not found the balance” between growth and protecting the environment.

Schriver also recognized storm water infrastructure as a priority and noted her experience in obtaining grants which she too suggested could be part of the funding solution. She raised concerns about increasing density and questioned how many people can be accommodated “in a defined space.”

Smith argued that funding storm water capital improvements is going to require bonding and observed that the City’s current obligations would be substantially paid off in fifteen years. Smith called for “smart growth” and suggested his work experience and back-round could support that effort.

During closing remarks the question of the appropriate placement and meaning of campaign lawn signs was raised by Gass. Those who have her signs support her she said and suggested that other campaigns may be “trespassing” when signs are placed on property. The issue was then addressed by the other candidates, first in a confrontational tone, but later in a light hearted exchange. It seems every candidate is against lawn signs, no one likes them, no one intended any offense, most, with the possible exception of Kreger, will have as many as they can and Clinch Kavanaugh thought his was the best.

Whether the candidates’ debate performance will make a difference and whether it changes peoples’ perceptions will be determined on November 3, 2015.

Adam Kaufman is a semi-retired mediator and attorney. A graduate of Northwestern University School of Law, he was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. and attended NYC public schools, including Stuyvesant High School. He still serves on the American Arbitration Association Labor Panel. From 1994 – 2005, he was Regional Director for the New York State Public Employment Relations Board.