FBCC approves legislative priorities for 2022 Session

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

November 5, 2021

City Attorney Tammi Bach

Added to the agenda of the November 2, 2021 Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) meeting on an emergency basis, was approval of the City’s priorities for consideration by the Florida Legislature during its 2022 session.  The emergency action to add this to the agenda was necessitated when the Nassau Legislative Delegation, consisting of Senator Aaron Bean and Representative Cord Byrd, moved up its local meeting from December to Wednesday, November 10, 2021 .

She asked Commissioners to approve the priority list on an emergency basis so that it could be presented to the local Legislative Delegation by the City’s lobbyist on November 10.  That meeting will take place at 4:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL.Nassau County has also provided its list of priorities for consideration at that meeting, which is open to the public.

The priorities approved unanimously by the FBCC:

1. A local bill to change the charter of the Ocean Highway and Port Authority (OHPA) to prohibit port expansion into the Historic District of the City of Fernandina Beach
2. Seek $1M to support resiliency work along the Amelia Riverfront
3. Seek $1M grant application with a $250K match from the City to complete repairs at the Peck Center
4. Seek $500K for beach walkovers
5. Seek $2M for design, construction, and reconstruction of City administrative and legislative meeting space.

Bach emphasized for the public that the Resolution incorporating these priorities will return in writing to the FBCC for a second vote on November 16, 2021.

Not supported during talks with members of the Nassau Legislative Delegation were two items;  striking OHPA’s power of eminent domain and a request to allow the City to donate land to non-profit agencies.