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>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M CALLING THIS WORKSHOP OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER.
AS ALWAYS WE'LL START WITH THE ROLL.
ALLEGIANCE LED BY COMMISSIONER ANTUN.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION
[5.1 WATERFRONT RESILIENCY DESIGN PROJECT CONCEPT]
UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FORALL. >> FOLKS, THERE'S ONLY ONE THING ON TODAY'S WORKSHOP AGENDA. IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR AND IT'S OUR NEW WATERFRONT RESILIENCY RIVER FRONT PLANS. AS THIS COMMISSION HIGHWAYS ALREADY DISCUSSED THROUGHOUT, WE SPOKE THAT THIS WAS THE GOAL OF THE CITY COMMISSION FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR DOWNTOWN, PROTECT OUR CITY FROM ANY KIND OF STORMS OR TIDES. AND FURTHERMORE GETTING PUBLIC ACCESS IS A VERY WORTHY GOAL I THINK WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND.
THAT'S SOMETHING I'M EXCITED TODAY TO GET THIS PLAN ROLLED OUT. OUR CITY ENGINEER PLEASE TAKE US AWAY. BEFORE WE GET STARTED THIS IS SOME GREAT PLANS THAT WERE PAID FOR BY STATE OF FLORIDA GRANT MONEY. I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK ONCE AGAIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR PAYING FOR A GRANT FOR THE
ENGINEERING DESIGN PLAN. >> CHARLIE GEORGE, THE ENGINEER.
TONIGHT REPRESENTING THE CONCEPT Y'ALL DESIGN FOR THE WATERFRONT RESILIENCY DESIGN ON AMELIA RIVER.
IT STARTS AT THE SOUTHERN END WHERE THE RAINIER PROPERTY IS.
IT GOES NORTH TOWARDS THE PORT ENDS JUST NORTH.
KIMLEY HORN IS A WELL KNOWN CONSULTING FIRM WHO WILL PRESENT THE DESIGN. BUT BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THE ENGINEER, I WANT TO REITERATE THIS IS THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN.
THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERNS THAT IT DOES NOT ADDRESS AREAS THAT THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE APPROVAL TO WORK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT THIS TIME. THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN WORK SCOPE CONSISTS OF THE GEOTECH INFORMATION, EXISTING SITE INFORMATION, AND TRYING TO DEVELOP WHAT THE PARAMETERS OF THE PROJECT WERE. YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN, CONCEPTUAL DESIGN WORK.
IT'S BEEN THE PLAN ALL ALONG THAT THESE AREAS WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE PRELIMINARY PHASE OF ALL OF THE PROPERTIES SO THAT WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS WALL SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS THE DOWNTOWN. STAFF AND THE CONSULTANT ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS CRITICAL PART OF THE PROJECT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY GAPS. THERE'S BEEN SOME ALLEGED COMMENTS. WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. KIRK DROST HE'S GOING TO PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSION. I'M KIRK DROST WITH KIMLEY HORN & ASSOCIATES, I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR YOUR WATER FRONT RESILIENCY SYSTEM, IT'S AN EXTENSION OR ADDITION TO YOUR EXISTING RESILIENCY SYSTEM SHOWN IN THIS SLIDE IN THE BLUE THAT'S YOUR EXISTING ALONG LOT C AND D.
THERE ARE FIVE NEW SEGMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DESIGN AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. SEGMENT ONE IS ALONG SOUTH FRONT STREET. IT'S THE RED LINE.
THEN THE EXISTING BEGIN IS THE BLUE.
THE PURPLE IS SEGMENT TWO. IT'S NEAR YOUR EXISTING BOAT RAMP AND INCLUDES YOUR EXISTING BOAT RAMP.
SEGMENT THREE, YOU HAVE AN EXISTING BOARDWALK AND IT COMES TO BRETT'S CAFE. AND SEGMENT FOUR IS ON THE NORTH SIDE. AGAIN YOU HAVE AN EXISTING BOARDWALK AND BULKHEAD. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT PART OF THE RESILIENCY SYSTEM. AND THEN THERE'S SEGMENT FIVE AT THE NORTH END AS CHARLIE MENTIONED UP ALONG ALACHUA STREET. SO YOUR EXISTING RESILIENT SYSTEM GOES UP TO SEGMENT NINE. THAT'S NGVD.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE AN IDEA BECAUSE YOUR TOPOGRAPHY CHANGES THAT IT MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
IN SEGMENT TWO, THE WALL IS SUCH THAT YOU CAN SIT ON IT.
BUT BECAUSE THE TOPOGRAPHY CHANGES, YOU HAVE CHANGING WALL
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HEIGHTS. BUT THAT IS AGAIN BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT ELEVATION NINE AND PROVIDE CONSISTENT PROTECTION IN THE STORMS. SEGMENT ONE, AGAIN AT THE VERY SOUTH END ON SOUTH FRONT STREET, THIS IS A LESS TRAFFICKED AREA.SO THIS IS THE EXISTING JUST ASPHALT ROAD DOWN TO A BIT OF A DIRT ROCK AND GRAVEL ROAD. THE CONCEPT IS TO BE MORE OF A BLENDING IN WITH THE APPEARANCE DOWN THERE.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BERM WILL BE A SHEET PILE WALL, THAT WILL BE THE STRUCTURE TO HOLD BACK THE WATER.
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE IT LESS OBVIOUS WHAT WE'RE BUILDING DOWN THERE. SO WE'RE GOING TO BUILD IT SO THE VEGETATION CAN TAKE FOOTHOLD IN THERE.
AS WE EXPLORE THAT AREA, WHAT LOOKS LIKE A DITCH, THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT IS ALONG THE ROAD HAS DEVELOPED SOME WETLANDS.
SO WE NEEDED TO COME UP WITH TWO OPTIONS SO THAT IN THE NEXT PHASE WHEN WE TALK TO WATER MANAGEMENT, IF THEY HAVE A CONCERN OR THERE'S TOO MUCH OF A COST TO IMPACT THOSE WETLANDS, WE COULD GO TO OPTION TWO WHICH WOULD JUST BE A PLAIN WALL.
THEIR SET BACK FROM THE ROAD JUST A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE RULES YOU NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR RECOVERY ZONE ALONG YOUR ROADWAY. SEGMENT TWO WHICH WAS THE PURPLE ALONG YOUR BOARDWALK, IT WILL ACTUALLY HAVE TWO CROSS SECTIONS BECAUSE THERE'S TWO PIECES IN SEGMENT TWO.
SEGMENT TWO STARTS AT THE NORTH END OF YOUR EXISTING LOT D RESILIENCY SYSTEM. AND WE'RE GOING TO CARRY ON THIS SAME CROSS SECTION THAT YOU SEE HERE.
THANK YOU. AND THIS IS A RENDERING THAT WE DID WHERE WE'RE GOING TO EXTEND THAT WALL ON THE RIGHT AND THE SIDEWALK DOWN TO THE BOAT RAMP. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND IN DRAWING, THIS IS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE, THERE WILL BE A BULKHEAD AND A SIDEWALK YOU CAN WALK ON AND IN THE BACKGROUND WILL BE THE BOAT RAMP. NEXT SLIDE.
SO YOUR EXISTING BOAT RAMP, IT HAS DETERIORATED.
SO WE'VE INCLUDED THAT IN THIS PROJECT TO REDO THE BOAT RAMP AND THE ASPHALT ADJACENT TO IT. AGAIN THIS IS THE RENDERING BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE A PERMANENT WALL, WE'RE GOING TO USE REMOVABLE PLANK SYSTEMS. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT KNOW A PRODUCT CALLED HYDROPLANK. AND THERE WILL BE POSTS AND A PLACE TO PUT POSTS SO THAT THAT REMOVABLE SYSTEM COULD BE INSTALLED WHEN ADVERSE WEATHER COMES WITHIN TOO CLOSE OF PROXIMITY. AGAIN THIS IS WHAT THE DRAWING CROSS SECTION WOULD LIKE LIKE. THE MAIN BULKHEAD RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE WITH A POST WHERE WE CAN INSTALL THE REMOVAL SYSTEM.
YOUR EXISTING BOAT RAMP IS ON PILES AND PILE CAPS, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THAT SAME SYSTEM FOR COST PURPOSES.
CONTINUING NORTH, SEGMENT THREE, THIS IS YOUR EXISTING BOARDWALK.
BEHIND THE BULKHEAD IS SOMEWHAT UNKNOWN SO WHAT WE'VE DECIDED -- NEXT SLIDE -- IS TO PUT THE NEW BULKHEAD WALL ON THE WATER SIDE WHICH IS WHERE THE CURRENT BOARDWALK IS.
SO SOME OF THE BOARDWALK AREA WILL BE THE TOP OF OUR NEW -- AND THE WALL WILL SERVE AS THE RESILIENCY PROTECTION.
SIMILAR TO LOT C AND D, YOU CAN SEE TOWARD THE TOP OF THIS SLIDE, THERE WILL BE OPENINGS. WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED THE EXACT LOCATION OR NUMBER, BUT WE'LL WORK THROUGH THAT IN THE NEXT PHASE OF DESIGN. AND THOSE WILL BE MADE SO THAT AGAIN THOSE REMOVAL PLANKS CAN BE INSTALLED WHEN THE WEATHER COMES CLOSE. AND THIS IS JUST A DRAWING OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN CROSS SECTION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REMOVE SO MUCH OF THE BE BOARDWALK TO BUILD THE NEW BULKHEAD, WE'RE GOING TO RECONSTRUCT IT, BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE SAME FOOTPRINT SO THAT WE DON'T GET TANGLED UP IN EXCESSIVE PERMITTING. NEXT SLIDE.
I SHOULD SAY SEGMENT THREE GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE EXISTING CAFE. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAFE RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE AN EXISTING BOARDWALK AND AGAIN IN A BULKHEAD UNDERNEATH THOSE BENCHES.
ON THIS ONE, YES, THAT'S FINE TO GO TO THE CONCEPT.
ON THIS ONE, UNDERNEATH THE BOARDWALK ARE WHAT IS KNOWN AS BATTERED PILES, THEY'RE EXISTING PILES THAT HOLD THE BULKHEAD.
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RATHER THAN GET INTWINED IN THOSE WITH THE NEW SYSTEM, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE NEW BULKHEAD BEHIND THE WALL.SO YOU'LL END UP WITH A WIDER CONCRETE SIDEWALK AGAIN WITH THE WALL THAT SERVES AS THE RESILIENCY.
AND SIMILAR TO SEGMENT THREE AND LOT C AND D, IT WILL HAVE OPENINGS WHERE YOU CAN COME FROM PARKING AND THEY'LL BE SET UP SO YOU CAN PUT THOSE REMOVABLE PLANK SYSTEMS IN THERE.
AND SO THE DRAWING OF THIS, AGAIN THE EXISTING ELEVATIONS IN THIS AREA ARE HIGHER, SO THAT LOOKS LIKE A SHORTER WALL.
BUT IT IS GOING TO BE AT THAT SAME ELEVATION NINE.
SEGMENT FIVE IS THE LAST SECTION OF THE RESILIENCY SYSTEM ON THIS PROJECT. AND IT'S UP ON THAT NORTHERN SET OF PROPERTIES WHICH RIGHT NOW DOESN'T LOOK VERY WIDE.
BUT THAT'S BECAUSE OVER TIME THERE'S BEEN EROSION OF THE SHORELINE. THANKS TO SOMETHING CALLED THE BUTLER ACT, IT ALLOWS US TO ACTUALLY MOVE OUT AND BUILD THE WALL IN THE WATER. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO WHAT WE INTEND TO DO HERE IS WE HAVE TO GET CONCURRENTS FROM PERMITTING, BUT IF YOU BUILD NO FURTHER THAN THAT BUTLER LINE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BUILD OUR WALL AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO FILL THAT UP TO ELEVATION NINE. IT MAY BE A COUPLE INCHES LOWER SO THE WATER DOESN'T GO OVER DIRECTLY INTO THE RIVER.
BUT FOR PROTECTION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLANTS FOR THE PROPERTY, WE NEED TO PUT UP A FENCE.
AND THE CONCEPT THAT IS HERE ON THE SCREEN MATCHES WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALONG THE RAILROAD TO TIE THE LOOK TOGETHER.
AND THEN BEHIND THIS WILL BE JUST CLEAN COMPACTED SAND BACKFILL. AND HERE THE CONCEPT DRAWING AGAIN IS THE BULKHEAD WALL. THAT FENCE IS NOT SHOWN IN THIS PARTICULAR DRAWING. AND AGAIN THAT BACKFILL WILL BE AT ELEVATION NINE. SO THAT TO ME IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. THAT'S A RUN THROUGH OF YOUR PROJECT. I DO WANT TO OPEN UP IF THERE'S
ANY QUESTIONS. >> I HAVE A FEW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. SEGMENT FIVE, SO I KNOW WE PUT A PLACE HOLDER AS THE BLACK FENCE. THAT COULD BE CHANGED LATER ON TO MATCH THE FENCE, YES I'M HEARING THAT WE CAN?
>> YES. >> LET ME ADD ONE THING TO THAT.
>> MR. GEORGE, YES. >> ONCE WE GET MORE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THAT SEGMENT FIVE, THERE WILL ALSO BE A BOARDWALK OUT IN FRONT OF IT. RIGHT NOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THAT SPOT. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE WALKING FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH. THAT'S JUST NOT SHOWN BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THAT PROPERTY.
>> THAT WAS MY FINAL QUESTION. >> RIGHT NOW THIS IS THE RESILIENCY PART AND SINCE WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE BEHIND THAT, WE JUST DIDN'T SHOW IT ON THIS.
>> SO THE INTENT IS TO HAVE AN EASEMENT UP AND DOWN WHERE CITIZENS CAN WALK, EXCELLENT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE
COMMISSIONERS? >> SECTION ONE, THE VERY FIRST ONE YOU TALK ABOUT THAT YOU SAID IS GOING TO BE IN THE LOWER AREA; BASED ON THE HEIGHTS, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA, YOU SAID YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HIGH IT COULD STICK UP WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING SOMETHING TO COVER IT COSMETICALLY SO IT WOULD LOOK MORE APPEALING. HOW HIGH ARE YOU THINKING?
PRELIMINARY. >> BASED ON THE EXISTING GRADES, THAT'S THE LOWEST PORTION NATURALLY.
SO I ESTIMATE ABOUT 4 TO 4.2 FEET FROM THE ROAD UP.
>> SO THE PILES WILL BE STICKING UP ABOUT FOUR FEET.
>> FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. >> HOWEVER WE WANT TO DECIDE WE WANT TO COSMETICALLY MAKE THEM LOOK OR NOT OR SOMETHING MORE
ENVIRONMENTAL AT A POINT. >> THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICE WILL BE WHEN I TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE IMPACT TO THE WETLAND.
RIGHT NOW THE CONCEPT I SHOWED IN THE RENDERING THAT LOOKS LIKE A BERM THAT'S WIDEST AT THE BASE.
AND THAT WILL COME WITH A MITIGATION REQUIREMENT.
DEPENDING ON HOW EXPENSIVE THAT IS, WE MAY DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO JUST GO WITH MORE OF A SHEET PILE WALL.
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AND YES WE CAN STILL MAKE THAT LOOK LIKE A SHEET PILE WALL.>> THANK YOU. >> FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? BECAUSE I DO HAVE ANOTHER ONE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE -- ALL RIGHT.
SO SEGMENT 2B WHICH IS THE BOAT RAMP SEGMENT.
I'M LOOKING AT THE PICTURE. SO THAT GOES THROUGH THE CURRENT ATLANTIC SEAFOOD BUILDING; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> THIS PLAN ASSUMES WE'RE DOING
SOMETHING WITH ATLANTIC SEAFOOD. >> 2A IS THE NORTHERN END OF WHAT WE'VE GOT OUT THERE NOW TO THE BOAT RAMP.
THAT'S THE PART WHERE ATLANTIC SEAFOOD IS.
>> THAT'S 2A. >> AND 2B IS TWO SECTIONS OF
SEGMENT TWO. >> 2A IS THE ONE THAT HAS THE
IMPACT TO ATLANTIC SEAFOOD. >> AS CURRENTLY SUGGESTED THIS GOES THROUGH THE CURRENT FOOTPRINT FOR THE ATLANTIC
>> UNDERSTOOD. FURTHER QUESTIONS OF THE COMMISSION? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THIS IS GREAT WORK.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU IN THE CITY FOR INVOLVING MYSELF AND KIMLEY-HORN, WE'RE REALLY
ENJOYING THIS PROJECT. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> AND JUST TO REITERATE WHAT WE NEED FROM THE COMMISSION IS THE APPROVAL TO START THE NEXT PHASE.
>> UNDERSTOOD. COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> I WOULD ASK FOR CONSENSUS TO PROCEED TO THE NEXT PHASE OF
THIS PROJECT. >> I'LL SECOND THAT IF WE NEED A
SECOND IF THAT'S A MOTION. >> WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE.
>> THIS IS A WORKSHOP. THERE WILL BE NO VOTING TO BE
HAD HERE TODAY. >> I ASK FOR CONSENSUS.
>> EXCELLENT WORK. COMMISSIONER ROSS SAYS CONSENSUS. COMMISSIONER ANTUN AGREES.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT? ALL RIGHT SEEING NONE, YOU HAVE THE CONSENSUS, SIR. AND WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE NEXT STEPS. SPEAKING OF NEXT STEPS, WE'VE GOT TO DETERMINE WE'LL SEE THIS COME BACK TO US.
OTHER INVOLVEMENTS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
I KNOW WE SPOKE IN THE PAST ABOUT THIS COULD BE SOMETHING WE GO TO BOND FOR. AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT IDEA TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THAT AND WE HAVE STAFF LOOKING INTO THAT MOVING FORWARD. ANY OTHER COMMISSION DISCUSSION
ABOUT THIS OR ANYTHING? >> NO, I THINK I WANT TO ECHO YOUR COMMENTS, MAYOR. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR COMMISSIONER ROSS LIKES TO CALL OUT THE
NUMBER OF DAYS OR YEARS THAT -- >> CENTURIES.
>> THERE WE GO. I'M JUST VERY PROUD THAT THIS COMMISSION IS MOVING THIS FORWARD.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WHOLE PROJECT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE ENTIRE WATERFRONT UNFOLD.
AS YOU'VE MENTIONED AND WE'VE DISCUSSED AGAIN ISSUES IN THE PAST OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT SEEING HOW THAT PROGRESSES AS WELL.
SO JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION AND JUST PROUD OF THE WORK THAT STAFF HAS DONE TO GET THIS PROJECT I'D SAY FINALLY MOVING FORWARD, BUT MOVING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS, IT'S ALL GOOD -- I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS, JUST TO PLAY OFF THAT; BEFORE THE FERNANDINA OBSERVER WAS AN ONLINE PUBLICATION WAY BACK IN THE DAY IT WAS A REAL, PHYSICAL NEWSPAPER.
IF YOU GO TO THE MUSEUM, YOU CAN SEE EARLY EDITIONS FROM THE FERNANDINA OBSERVER AND I FORGET WHICH YEAR THIS HEADLINE WAS --
>> WAS IT THE YEAR YOU WERE BORN?
>> IT WAS BEFORE YOU WERE BORN, COMMISSIONER ROSS.
IT WAS OVER 100 YEARS AGO, I CAN'T QUOTE THE YEAR.
BUT THE HEADLINE WAS FERNANDINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION TO DISCUSS WHAT'S TO HAPPEN WITH THE WATERFRONT.
SO THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. >> LIKE I SAID, CENTURIES.
>> THERE WE GO. LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING EVERYBODY STICK AROUND BECAUSE AT 6:00 WE HAVE A REGULARLY
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.