City News In Brief

Fernandina Beach City Manager Dale Martin

Fernandina Beach City Manager Dale Martin has provided the following brief update to Commissioners, announced candidates for City Commission, and the media as part of his regular Friday communication:

Projects/Issues:

• 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)-

  • Tuesday’s City Commission meeting will again be conducted virtually, but will be available for usual viewing by the public via television or computer. Public comments are welcome to be submitted electronically to the City Manager and will be shared with the City Commissioners prior to Tuesday’s meeting.
  • Daily updates are provided on City web site (register for notification when posted) and City Facebook page. The daily updates are prepared by the Nassau County Department of Emergency Management’s Joint Information Service and combine the efforts of Nassau County, local municipalities, and the Nassau County School District into a unified message to County residents.
  • Additional information is available through State agency web sites and Facebook pages: Department of Health, Department of Economic Opportunity
  • City operations continue as close to normal as possible given the current circumstances with all City facilities closed to the general public. Department Directors have been informed to conduct daily health screenings of staff.
  • Mayor Johnny Miller presented the first of three checks to the Salvation Army ($10,000) on Wednesday.
  • Beach Working Group (organized by Nassau County officials and staff with City participation) has tentatively discussed meeting (teleconference) next week.
  • Recent community support includes thousands of boxes from Westrock to Nassau County Council on Aging to support meal distribution and over $50,000 of support from Rayonier Advanced Materials to the Council on Aging, Barnabas, the Salvation Army, Micah’s Place, and Starting Point. Thank you this, and all other community outreach and support efforts.

• Projects-

• • Railroad sidewalk- Construction completed. Fence and block procurement in process.
  • Waterfront-

    • Congressman Rutherford has requested project nomination for Waterfront Resources Development Act (WRDA; channel relocation and resiliency/flood mitigation recommended), with application due by May 1.
    • Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) grant for waterfront boardwalk improvements, submitted last month and approved by the City Commission earlier this month, has been deemed “technically sufficient” after the first review- a rare success due to the efforts of Grants Administrator Ms. Lorelei Jacobs.

  • Main Beach boardwalk- Construction continues (approximately 80% completed).

Boardwalk extension at Main Beach

• • Beach walkovers- 5(S) and 2(S) completed; 8N to be completed today; 9N likely completed on Monday

Beach accesses, clockwise from top left: 2S, 5S, 8N, 9N

• • Riverfront- Replacement decking installed.
  • City Hall Request for Qualifications- Evaluation Committee to be designated and begin review next week.
  • Fire Station 2A- Plans and future efforts to be presented at May 19 City Commission meeting.
  • Simmons Road Park- Bid documents under review, to be published next week.
  • Toptracer- Geo-technical analysis under review; Request for Proposals for “horizontal” component (North Course green re-construction, driving range rehabilitation) under development; driving range bay facilities in design.

• Marina-

  • FEMA- Additional documents provided to FEMA staff and efforts continue to schedule teleconference (likely next Thursday or Friday)
  • Northern Attenuator- Northern attenuator sections being delivered to Port of Fernandina, with installation anticipated in mid-May; dockhouse facility (for fuel, utility, and fire suppression services) in design.
  • Request for Proposals- Deadline for submissions for Marina operations has been extended to Apr 30.

• Community Events-

  • Farm Share- Sponsored by the Elm Street Sportsman Club, over 200 cars were provided approximately 1,250 bags of food. Thank you to the Elm Street Sportsman Club, Farm Share, and all of the volunteers.
  • Fernandina Market Place- The proprietors of the Fernandina Market Place (commonly referred to as the “Farmers Market”) will conduct a drive-through event on April 18 at 14^th and Lime Streets. The queuing plan is attached. Vendors and order forms are available through the Market Place Facebook page.

• Traffic Analysis- Florida Department of Transportation officials, following my inquiry, have shared documents related to the Atlantic Avenue/Fletcher Avenue intersection.
• Land Conservation- Offers on two parcels in the vicinity of Egans Creek have been accepted. The properties will be presented to the City Commission for formal consideration in May..