Talking trash on Centre Street

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

October 22, 2015 12:17 p.m.

Fernandina Beach City Commissioners unanimously approved an amended Ordinance 2015-25 on first reading at their October 20, 2015 meeting. While a quick read of the agenda item title—Code Amendment on Solid Waste—might suggest that it is merely a housekeeping ordinance, City Attorney Tammi Bach was quick to point out some of the changes that commissioners might want to consider more carefully. The most consequential changes affected the Central Business District, or what we just call Centre Street.

Jeremiah Glisson, Fleet Facilities Director

Bach explained that the ordinance adds a new paragraph requiring those in the Central Business District to bring in their empty trash bins from city streets and right-of-ways by 11:00 a.m. on trash removal days. Jeremiah Glisson, the city’s Fleet Facilities Director, admitted in response to a statement from Commissioner Tim Poynter, that sometimes trash pickups are delayed because of street blockages or truck breakdowns, but that the ordinance change is intended to target repeat offenders.

Poynter suggested a language change to require that the trash bins be returned to private property by 11:00 a.m. or no later than two hours following trash pickup. Commissioner Pat Gass said that Poynter’s suggestion was reasonable. She expressed her frustration at seeing empty trash bins not only in the street, but occupying parking spaces and loading zones. Gass asked about the penalty for violation of the new provision, and Bach responded that Code Enforcement would investigate.

After some snickering among commissioners, Gass continued. “Code enforcement?” she asked. “That could take two weeks.”

Mayor Ed Boner raised another problem with an area on North Second Street where vultures have taken up roost because business owners leave the trash bin lids open. He said, “There are vultures that sit on roofs waiting for these garbage cans. I’ve taken pictures of 10-15 vultures sitting on buildings, and 6-8 vultures diving into the dumpsters.”

Bach said that this problem is already covered under the public nuisance ordinance.

Boner said that this problem happens over and over again. Vice Mayor Johnny Miller added that this is a public health issue that should be reported to the Health Department. Boner said that he has called Code Enforcement while the vultures have been present, “jumping in and out of the cans.” “It’s not just one restaurant; it’s several,” he said.

City Manager Pro Tem Marshall McCrary said the city was working on this problem.

Gass said that her problem was the city’s ability to put teeth into the proposed ordinance change. Gass said that because of the procedural requirements in Code Enforcement’s processing a complaint, it could take several weeks to address the problem of trash bins left too long in the street. “Is there anything we can do a little bit faster, like with the police?”

Bach said that the city could handle the problem with citations. She said that she could add a $100 fine in the penalty portion of the ordinance. With the consensus of the FBCC, Bach said she would make the change and incorporate it in the ordinance for second reading.

Commissioner Gass also raised issue with merchants who stack empty cardboard boxes on the street.

Julie Ferreira

Julie Ferreira addressed the commissioners with her concerns about downtown recycling. She said that she knows that Advanced Disposal does not do this downtown. Commissioner Poynter contradicted her. He said that such service is available to restaurants, because his restaurants recycle. There is an associated fee, however. Poynter said that he has 6 recycle bins that are picked up twice a week. He said he thought the cost was an added $30 per month. “It’s your conscience,” he said.

Ferreira asked for measures that would encourage merchants to recycle. Commissioner Robin Lentz, citing Ferreira’s passion for recycling, suggested that she appear at a meeting of the Historic Downtown Merchants with Glisson to explain available options. She added that she would be willing to join them.

Lentz said, “It’s a lot of garbage they produce. Not just from the residents, but from all the people who visit here.”

Miller asked if language could be included to encourage businesses to recycle. Bach said that such language would not have any force. She said that in some parts of the country recycling is mandatory, but that she didn’t think that Fernandina Beach was ready for that. She said that if the FBCC wanted to require downtown recycling, she would rewrite the ordinance and bring it back because “that would be a big change.”

Poynter said that he did not want to do that. “If you go down that path,” he said, “why aren’t you making all the people who live here recycle? There are a lot of residents who do not recycle.” He supported soft measures to encourage recycling, but did not want to legislatively mandate recycling.

Gass asked that downtown recycling be addressed in the next contract for the city’s trash service.

Len Kreger

City Commission Candidate and Keep Nassau Beautiful director Len Kreger reminded commissioners that the city itself does not recycle in the Central Business District or on the beaches. He added that the schools do not recycle, either. He said that he is working with Glisson to try to change the city’s trash collection to provide a second container in public areas.

In response to a comment from Commissioner Lentz about public recycling receptacles, McCrary responded that the city had previously provided such receptacles, but that because the trash became so contaminated with other garbage, the contents did not meet recycle criteria. “The need for education is still at the forefront in this community,” he said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the ordinance with the citation addition on first reading.

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.