No more trashy beaches!

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

January 16, 2019 7:53 p.m.

Arguably Amelia Island’s 13 miles of beaches are its greatest treasure.  So why then do they often look so trashy?  Overflowing trash receptacles on the beach itself and in parking lots; confusing signage; restrooms that make you want to hold it until you get home.  The current situation, which has sadly become the norm, is on the threshhold of major change. If the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council (TDC) can sell its ambitious beach improvement plan to local governments and stakeholders, island beaches could begin to look much better beginning this summer.  And if the enthusiastic reaction of the audience in Fernandina Beach City Hall can be predictive of wider reaction, the plan should be embraced by county and Fernandina Beach city leaders — especially since the TDC will foot the bill, not local taxpayers.

Fernandina Beach Commissioner Chip Ross

On behalf of the TDC, Fernandina Beach City Commissioner Chip Ross presented what the TDC has termed “The Proposed Comprehensive Clean Beach Program” to the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) and the audience at the FBCC’s January 15, 2019 Regular Meeting.  TDC Executive Director Gil Langley introduced the presentation, which has the approval of the TDC Board.  Two members of the Fernandina Beach City Commission — Vice Mayor Len Kreger and Commissioner Chip Ross — serve on this Board along with representatives of County government and the hospitality industry.

Before presenting the solutions, Ross outlined the current problems facing the island beaches.  Responsibility is not centralized, but divided between county and city administration.  Existing trash receptacles interfere with dune management and are difficult to service.  Signage, which differs between city and county beaches, has proliferated at beach accesses and adds clutter, often obscuring important safety information.

The TDC plan to address beach problems covers 6 basic areas:  beach cleaning, trash removal, bathrooms, signage, promotions and supervision. 

CLEANING THE BEACHES

The proposed plan calls for repositioning existing trash cans that are on the beach and sometimes in the dunes to hard surfaced areas where they can be more easily emptied.  Other proposals include:

• Hiring a vendor to hand pick trash off the beaches from Fort Clinch to Amelia Island State Park once per day, every day;
• Night cleaning of the beaches between 8 pm and 6 am daily to remove articles left behind by beachgoers pursuant to the Leave No Trace ordinance.

TRASH REMOVAL

• Install solar powered trash compactors at city and county beach parks to increase the capacity of trash containers;
• Empty trash containers daily;

BATHROOM FACILITIES

Clean bathroom facilities daily at Main Beach, Seaside, Peters Point, Burney Park and Dee Dee Bartels.

SIGNAGE

There is general agreement that the existing signage needs improvement in order to remove clutter and confusion and to educate beach goers.  Simplifying signage will also help in enforcing beach ordinances.  The plan calls for removing all existing signage and replacing it with consistent signage along all the island’s beach accesses, whether in the city or the county.

Other sign changes have been proposed in the interest of public safety:

• Renumber all the beach accesses from north to south (city and county) in a simple numeric to help emergency responders;
• Improve flagpole and danger signs at lifeguard stations and in beach parks;
• Include latitude and longitude on signs to assist Coast Guard response to emergencies.

SUPERVISION

The plan calls for consideration of contract management to oversee all beach maintenance.  Other ideas call for adding a central number to report problems.

Implementation of the final plan will depend on city and county approval as well as funding available to cover materials and maintenance to meet measurable goals.  Langley stressed that the TDC wants to set realistic expectations following broad input from all stakeholders.

Gil Langley, Executive Director of the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau

Both Ross and Langley stressed that many of the ideas being presented were conceptual and designed to spark discussion and additional ideas.  To that end, the FBCC has scheduled an hour-long workshop for February 19, 2019 from 5-6 pm at Fernandina Beach City Hall during which the TDC presentation will be repeated and public input will be taken.  This workshop will precede the regular FBCC meeting.

City Commissioners will discuss the plan and consider all input during a subsequent FBCC meeting in March.

The FBCC directed city manager Dale Martin to set a joint meeting with the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners following their March meeting so that the parties can work together to finalize a plan to improve conditions on island beaches.  Assuming the parties can agree on a plan, the TDC will execute inter-local agreements with both the city and the county that will allow the agreed upon plan to be implemented.

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.