The CRA Advisory Board—CRAAB—consists of a group of Fernandina Beach residents who advise the City Commission in its dual role as Community Redevelopment Agency on issues including implementation of the CRA Plan by providing recommendations and assistance in identifying and prioritizing projects to be undertaken as consistent with the CRA Plan. The focus of this group is economic development of properties in the City’s established CRA and the adjoining Central Business District with specific consideration on attracting and retaining businesses.
While this city board meets regularly and reports monthly to the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC), its work over the years has encountered a variety of roadblocks, some political, some financial and some related to the unclear relationships of the major players: the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) itself, the City of Fernandina Beach, the railroad, private property owners and businesses and advocates for a waterfront park. The latest player to lace up for the game is the Florida Main Street Program’s local organization: Fernandina Beach Main Street.
Current CRAAB Chair Arlene Filkoff reported to the FBCC during its March 15, 2016 Regular Meeting that the committee has identified many projects that can be done in support of their objectives provided that money can be found. She suggested that the city should consider a project manager to ensure that these various tasks can be brought to completion:
- Coastal flooding survey
- Stormwater infrastructure condition study
- Parking study and traffic flow study
- Mooring balls need to be placed prior to the marina’s expansion northward
- Required fencing along the railroad tracks follow a consistent design throughout the CRA
- Assessing current property tax values within the CRA and projecting future increases