Weekly comments from Dale Martin

Dale Martin

Fernandina Beach

January 6, 2017 1:00 a.m.

Dale Martin, City Manager

Prior to the end of 2016, the City Commissioners gathered for their annual visioning workshop. The meeting was somewhat earlier than in previous years (in relation to the election of City Commissioners) because, with no December run-off election necessary, the Commissioners could move more directly to the task at hand of establishing policy direction. The workshop was conducted as a day-long session at the City Golf Course, with some senior staff, members of the local media, and several members of the public in attendance.

The intended sequence of events is to have the City Commissioners provide direction so that, as budget preparation for the following year begins, funding can be properly prioritized to reflect the direction established by the Commissioners. It may, however, be possible to address the goals within the framework and constraints of the current budget year. Otherwise, especially for larger scale projects, efforts to achieve a desired goal may have to travel through the entire budget process.

To summarize the efforts of the 2016-2017 goals (formally adopted by the City Commission in Resolution 2016-51, I expect that nearly all of the objectives will be completed: a review of beach safety, improvements to storm water management, installation of soccer lights, amendments to downtown density, and efforts to enhance accessibility. The only goal likely not to be achieved by the target date is the re-opening of the Alachua Street railroad crossing (September 30, 2017).

Alachua Street, and the waterfront area in general, was the primary focus of the initial several hours of discussion. The waterfront area has several components that offer an opportunity for a broader perspective for consideration. These components include the marina (including repairs, realignment, and expansion), the City’s recently acquired property on N. Front Street (marina expansion and redevelopment potential), N. Front Street (traffic circulation, parking, environmental issues, and railroad safety), Alachua Street (re-opening and railroad safety), Centre Street (traffic circulation, parking, and railroad safety), and several parcels currently utilized for waterfront parking. The Commissioners indicated that they would like to make use of a waterfront development consultant to integrate all of these components into a larger scale plan rather consider each as an individual disjointed project.

Several consultants were invited to submit letters of interest, including examples of previous waterfront development projects. A tentative schedule associated with the consultant selection and effort was presented to the City Commissioners earlier this week. Letters of interest from consultants are expected to be received no later than January 27. After City Commission review, up to three consultants may be selected to prepare a preliminary concept. After further review, the Commission will select one consultant with which to work (tentatively scheduled to be selected by the end of March).

Making use of dedicated focus groups (marina interests, Main Street constituents, business owners, residents, visitors, City Commissioners, City staff, and others, as needed), the consultant will further develop and refine the concept before presenting the concept to the City Commission by the end of June. The Commission and the community will be able to review and comment on the concept prior to formal consideration by the City Commission in August. The related costs can then be incorporated into the subsequent budget.

This process will likely unfold over the next six months, providing sufficient opportunity for the City Commission to gather extensive information related to waterfront redevelopment. Additional discussions have commenced with other specialized consultants, to provide, if necessary, further insight and recommendations related to parking (the City’s last formal parking review was conducted in 2002) and traffic circulation. Discussions with other agencies, such as the Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and the Florida Departments of Transportation and Environmental Quality will have to occur. It will be an exhaustive process and public outreach and communication will be vital to aiding the City Commission in making key decisions.

I look forward to providing the necessary support as required and desired by the City Commission and working with other members of the community throughout this process.