Fernandina Beach commissioners unanimously approved an agreement advancing a $4 million Seaside Park overhaul and a $309,000 police pay restructuring at their Wednesday, Aug. 19, meeting.

The commission also began discussing how to help residents of Peppertree Village, a 55-unit low-income housing community whose USDA loan is scheduled to mature Jan. 25, 2027. Residents could face rent increases and displacement if affordability protections are not maintained.

Seaside Park rebuild

The commission approved an interlocal agreement with Nassau County for the Amelia Island Beach Harmonization Project. The work will rebuild boardwalks, stairs, shade structures and stormwater infrastructure at Seaside Park on Sadler Road and S. Fletcher Avenue.

Nassau County will cover 70% of eligible costs using tourist development tax revenue, commonly called bed-tax money. The city's 30% share will come from capital funds. The Fernandina Observer placed the total project budget at $4 million, with the county's share at $2.8 million and the city's at $1.2 million. Nassau NewsLine reported the city's share at $1.7 million, a figure that does not reconcile with the $4 million total and stated 70-30 split.

"One of the concerns we've heard over and over again is that the city is not getting their fair share of tourist development taxes ... This project brings that transfer of funds to fruition," City Manager Sarah Campbell said at the Wednesday, Aug. 19, meeting, as reported by the Fernandina Observer.

Fernandina Beach hotels, resorts and vacation rentals generate about $5 million annually in bed taxes that Nassau County collects and controls. The Seaside Park project represents one of the largest direct returns of those dollars to a city-owned property.

The city expects to advertise the project for bids in September. Construction could begin in late November or December, with a target completion of April 1, 2027, before peak tourism season. The agreement still requires Nassau County Commission approval.

Police pay raises

Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a new collective bargaining agreement with the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA). The contract raises the department's starting salary and restructures officer pay by years of service at an estimated fiscal impact of $309,000 beginning Oct. 1.

The new starting salary was not disclosed.

Peppertree Village

Commissioners discussed Peppertree Village, a roughly 55-unit low-income housing community outside city limits whose USDA loan is scheduled to mature Jan. 25, 2027. If affordability protections are not maintained after that date, residents could face rent increases and displacement.

The Nassau County Council on Aging has proposed a roughly $250,000 assistance program, including a dedicated case manager. The program has requested $50,000 each from the city and Nassau County. Baptist Health and a county commissioner had contributed a combined $55,000 as of mid-August.

Some commissioners questioned whether city tax dollars should help residents who may leave the county entirely. Others voiced support, including possibly conditioning any contribution on the program reaching fundraising milestones. Commissioners directed staff to return with funding options rather than taking formal action.

Other business

The Northeast Florida Regional Council presented results of the city's required Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR), based on survey responses from about 150 residents. Respondents ranked tree-canopy preservation above beach access as the top environmental concern and named overdevelopment as the biggest threat to community character. The city must submit plan updates to the state within the next year.

City Comptroller Susan Carless reported general fund revenues exceed expenditures by $4.2 million year to date, with the fund balance running $2.5 million ahead of last year. Sales tax revenue is trending lower than expected due to the city's declining share of the county's population.