Marina Welcome Center Deck revisited

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

January 23, 2015 1:10 p.m.

Following significant public concern over the $47,000 cost for a 650 square foot deck to be added to the Marina Welcome Center, Commissioner Robin Lentz brought back the item to the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) for further discussion at the January 20, 2015 FBCC Regular Meeting.

Lentz said that she had visited the site with Marina Manager Joe Springer and waterfront advocate Lynn Williams to better understand the purpose of the deck. She said that while some have presented the need for the deck as a performance venue, her conversations with Springer and Williams helped her understand that the purpose of the deck is to provide boaters with a place to socialize. The goal, as she understood it, is to “repurpose the welcome center, to make it a more viable space for events.” Lentz said that she could envision it as a meeting place, or a space the city could rent out. Commissioner Tim Poynter reminded Lentz that there are no bathrooms in the facility. Lentz said she had spoken with the city manager about rebidding the deck project.

City Manager Joe Gerrity said that he had spoken with the David May of Brance Diversified, the successful bidder on the project, who has no problems if the city wants to change directions with the proposed deck. Gerrity said that one of the things he would like to do is to bring it back, have it engineered locally, have it reviewed and approved by the Historic District Council (HDC), and then rebid the project. “I don’t think we need to put the removable railings in,” he said. “We’ll put in standard wood railings. It will be a little bit different, but we’ll make sure it’s done to everybody’s satisfaction. Or we can ask David May (the successful bidder currently) about making changes.”

Lentz said she understood that the soil conditions made the project more expensive than “putting a deck on your house.” But Poynter said, “It would be good to have a plan to look at.” Lentz said that she felt the current plan was vague in areas such as deck coverage. Poynter said, “I hear two different things. I hear that the deck is for the boaters, and then I hear that it is for entertainment and needs to be covered, that the railings need to be removed but they do not need to be removed. What is this going to be?”

Gerrity said, “I consider this an enhancement to the marina, but just as everything else, if someone wants to hold a wedding down there with the sunset in the background, we can rent it to them.” Mayor Ed Boner said that his understanding was that with removable railings it could be used for performance and would fit in with the rest of the park plan.

Lentz said that she has spoken with people who see the deck in lieu of the performance space set aside in the waterfront master plan, and she does not see it as such. She sees it as an interim step on the way to building a more permanent structure. Vice Mayor Johnny Miller and Commissioner Pat Gass supported using the deck as a performance venue for the interim. Miller said he supported the vision presented previously by Springer, who explained how the deck would be used by boaters.

Lentz said she welcomed the discussion and was hoping to find a way to lower the cost somewhat, while realizing that the city would split the cost via grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND).

“In retrospect,” Gerrity said, “I wish we had designed it and walked it through the HDC the first time. But it sort of got lost in the shuffle or pushed along faster than maybe it should have been.”

Lentz recognized that the previous commission had approved it and did not want to talk it to death, but felt she had to do her “due diligence.” Gerrity said, “I think we have asked the good folks at FIND to help us pay for, and we have to follow through with our commitment, but we can try to make it a bit simpler.”

Mayor Ed Boner and City Manager Joe Gerrity

Boner said that he would like to have more than one bid. Poynter said that with a plan, it would be easier for potential bidders to understand the job.

Lynn Williams urges commissioners to proceed with project.

Lynn Williams, the local FIND Commissioner, spoke to the commissioners and provided background on how the project came about following 2 years of discussion with Joe Springer about improving the marina experience for boaters. He said that the item had come before the previous commission four times before the decision was made to proceed. Williams disputed that it was a $50,000 deck. He said that the RFP had called for a bid bond and a performance bond, neither of which is required on projects costing less than $100K. If the city were to subtract that cost, along with an estimated $10K for awnings, and understand that the city’s cost share is 50 percent, the actual cost of the deck for the city would be around $12,000. That cost includes steel reinforced concrete pilings and other steel throughout the structure for a structure built in the coastal high hazard zone. That cost includes engineering and moving the project through the city’s permitting process. Williams said that he did not believe that rebidding the project would cost any less after factoring in staff time required to create and evaluate a new bid package. “I don’t think we’ll save anything on that $12,000, so I hope we’ll go ahead right now.”

Commissioner Gass said that Williams’ plan made good sense to her. “If we can remove the parts that aren’t required, and if is going to walk it through the permitting process, I make a motion to go ahead with what we’ve got.” Miller said that he seconded the motion, fearing that the discussion would revert into another situation of “kicking the can down the road.” Lentz clarified that the plan would be “slimmed down.” Boner requested clarification on the purpose of the deck. Gerrity said, “In my vision, it does not have a dual purpose; it is an enhancement to the marina and the welcome center. If you want to put a band up there, and somebody wants to play, then they can play. This is something the boaters are going to use, the public can use.”

After some added discussion reaffirming removal of bonding requirements and the removable railings, commissioners voted 4-1 to approve moving forward with the modifications. Poynter voted against the motion.

Editor's Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne's many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.