Waterslide for Main Beach this summer?

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

May 21, 2015 1:24 p.m.

During the public input portion of the May 19, 2015 Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) Regular Meeting, Kevin J. Lilly approached the city about support and permission to run an inflatable waterslide at Main Beach starting as soon as possible and running through the Labor Day weekend and possibly beyond.

The item had not been placed on the agenda because Lilly did not bring it to the City Manager’s attention until this past Friday. It generally takes two weeks for an item to reach an FBCC agenda.

Kevin Lilly seeks permission to erect inflatable waterslide at Main Beach

Lilly delivered a brief presentation during which he said that the slide would be the same type as the one that operated last summer at Main Beach. It would be 36 feet high at the highest point. His pricing structure for Nassau County family passes, which Commissioner Pat Gass questioned, provided the lowest rates for westernmost areas of the county and the most costly rates for Fernandina Beach. Lilly said that was based on the expectation that local passes would have more value because they would be used more intensively than those at a greater distance from Main Beach.

Lilly emphasized that his slide would be locally owned and operated and that there would be no associated commercial operation, such as rentals of beach chairs or equipment. He said that based upon last year’s experience, he believed the slide would be popular among families and as summer camp activities. He said that Nan Voit and Jay Robertson of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department have supported his proposal.

Commissioners balked at taking action on Lilly’s request, since the item had not appeared on the meeting agenda and previous discussion concerning a waterslide at the beach had generated much controversy among the public.

2 options to locate proposed waterslide

Mayor Ed Boner advised Lilly that typically a request such as his is first vetted by the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee, and that the FBCC considers their recommendation before making a decision. Commissioner Tim Poynter said that his discomfort with the matter had to do with the short notice being provided to the FBCC. “I don’t know when you hatched the plan,” he said, “but you called me last Friday night. I said to you, ‘I hear everything that you are saying, but my problem is that it hasn’t been noticed [as a topic for tonight’s meeting].” He said that because of the controversy among members of the public when the last consideration of a waterslide proposal came up, “It would almost seem to the community that the FBCC was pulling a fast one by deciding to move on this tonight. So I am not going to give you a level of confidence to proceed with purchasing this slide tonight because it has not been vetted by the community. … There are some people who have heartburn over this thing.” Poynter added, “I understand your rush to get this done, but we denied the last proposal quite a while ago. You had time to bring it before this commission then, 4 months ago.”

“The idea was hatched the beginning of May,” Lilly said. “My daughter and I talked about it.”  This remark generated some laughter from the audience and commissioners.

Poynter replied, “Yes, but you didn’t bring it before this commission then.” Lilly agreed, adding that he has spoken to many people in the city about the idea.

Both Vice Mayor Johnny Miller and Commissioner Robin Lentz expressed general support for the idea. But Mayor Boner remained skeptical on the value of such a slide in light of other on-going marketing efforts to attract high-end tourist activities.

Lilly stressed that he needed to move quickly to set up for the coming season.   Commissioners agreed to place the item on the June 2 Regular Meeting agenda, but City Manager Joe Gerrity cautioned Lilly that placing the item on the agenda did not imply approval, so he should not move ahead with purchasing the slide at this time without considerable risk.