Time for a park - An opinion

Submitted by Mark Silva

April 24, 2018 8:45 a.m.

The citizens of Fernandina Beach have an important choice before them. They can keep the current City Marina or convert the property to a huge waterfront park which everyone can enjoy.

The current marina is not only an eyesore, and a money pit, but a potential danger to the citizens of the City, especially our Firefighters and First Responders.

It offers no protection from flooding. There are neither educational nor recreational components in the current operation for children or families.

The issues, one by one.

Failure of design. One need not have expertise in littoral currents and tidal sedimentation to understand the futility of trying to fight nature. Millions have been spent foolishly in trying to dredge a mud flat which only fills in again and again. It is the La Brea tar pit of Florida. Costly proposals are put forth by those with no demonstrable expertise in fluid mechanics or littoral waters.

The failure of floating concrete docks to resist storms is evidenced by the destruction of docks in St Mary's, St Augustine and Fernandina. Magic mud pumps or realigning the docks is simply throwing more tax money into the pit.

City oversight failure. Cui bono...who currently benefits. We might ask under which construct of government a select few businesses accrue the financial benefits of a subsidized location ? Where is the evidence Mega yachts under foreign flags, paying no American taxes, contribute a fair share of the true costs of the marinas ? Who are the passengers of the local multi vessel tour boats ? Resort guests from outside the City ? Why would a private ferry to Cumberland use a public dock here and not buy or rent a facility in St Mary's which is so much closer ?

Why would the City buy a sewage pump out boat for visiting boats before a Police or Fire vessel ? Once we had a sailing program for children. No longer. Now we have California corporate management requesting an expansion of the mooring field which is almost empty most of the year. No financial proof, just trust us and spend more local tax dollars. Perhaps the plan is to improve the quality of island life by attracting cruise ships that require spending more for high amperage dock power. Will the taxes spent be offset by passengers buying more tee shirts ? Also improves the view! If you are onboard. We now provide subsidized space for" fun " boats. Let's frighten away the shore birds and the kayak fishermen and erode the marshes because for some, it's a blast. Let's run a truck stop for mega yachts on the backs of the manatees and the dolphins. Forget the Federal Marine Mammal Act restrictions. Drive right over those Marsh Hens...it's a high speed thrill ride ! High speed vessel generated noise, both above and below the water surface. This huge increase bio acoustic noise drives away local sports fish and hurts the livelihood of local small charter and private fishing boats alike. Large transient yachts erode the islands shoreline with wakes large enough to surf upon. They significantly increase fine silt in the littoral and reduce reproduction success in wild fish and birds. The marina destroys the very environment we love.

Lastly, and most importantly, the danger of vessel fueling and marina electric power.

Fueling boats is far more dangerous than cars. On the side of every gas pump for cars is a warning. No smoking, no cell phones, no sources of static electricity such as ungrounded plastic jugs. Where are the gasoline pumps at the marina? Right next to the convenience store / office. No control of people walking past smoking or on the phone. Boats fuel next to the only ramp on or off the long west dock. Picture just going for a walk on the long dock. Are you old or with children ? A boat between you and the only exit off a really long dock, is on fire. One way off. One of the World Trade Center lessons. Firemen going in the opposite direction of people running from flames. Power cords crisscrossing the dock surface. Gasoline in plastic jugs, propane cylinders, high pressure scuba tanks and even oxygen tanks onboard. Being accidentally pushed into cold water in full turnout gear, can be fatal. The sheer ferocity of a fiberglass yacht burning is frightening. Add hundreds or a thousand gallons of diesel or gasoline on each boat. Google BLEVE to see what firefighters face. Fueling boats is unnecessary, potentially catastrophically disastrous and simply an insult to the safety of Firemen and First Responders.

In every home, a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter where water and electricity might meet. The technology exists to protect our Firefighters from electrocution from auto start vessel generators, or faulty dock or boat wiring. It is available, but not in our City. Salt air continually corrodes the floating dock electric system. More taxes into the mud pit. Nothing of value returned to the taxpayer. The first and foremost responsibility of our elected and City staff officials is the safety of the public. In the past they have fallen far short of the mark. The plum tree is bare.

Is there a reasonable solution? Get out of the marina business.

Bulkhead out to the limits of the main dock columns using them to help hold the bulkhead in place. There are lots of columns to add to the reinforcement. Fill in the entire marina. It's going to fill in by itself but only with mud. Move the boat ramp to the south end of the city property. This was in one plan. Let the local 6 pack charter boats have the floats to secure against the bulkhead.

Stop pumping fuel period. It is already available at a proper fuel dock north of the marina. Filling in the marina will create a huge waterfront park everyone can enjoy. Copy what St Mary's did only add a bit more elevation so storm flooding protection could be positioned in emergencies. Forget electrical service. Forget fueling. Forget management contracts.

There are popular free, but limited duration, docks on the inland waterway. Boaters help boaters tie up. No paid dock hands. No electricity. Let the park department run things. Let's build sun shelters for family picnics exactly like the one at Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp. Rest rooms. A music shell. An open space. Grass and a sunset view of simply nature.

Let's take a serious look at a plan to enhance the safety and the quality of life for everyone on the island. Let's stop the waste and pandering to special interest groups.

Let's build a park.

Editor's Note:  Mark Silva earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. He did graduate work at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Silva and his wife began a research lab and pilot plant in New Bedford, MA where he did design processing work for several local plants. He eventually became a senior science acquisitions officer for a major international proteins company. He holds credentials from the merchant marines, is a qualified marine firefighter, and USCG vessel safety coordinator. At the invitation of Senator Pell, Silva served as an expert witness before the U.S. Senate as they discussed "The Future of Marine Bio Technology."