Fernandina Beach officials present $10.2M stormwater master plan, propose impervious-area rate

Andre Desilet, the city’s stormwater and utilities director, told the Fernandina Beach City Commission at a Feb. 3 workshop that an in-house update to the city’s stormwater master plan identifies about $10,200,000 in total needs and lays out staffing and funding changes to address years of deferred maintenance. "The master plan... it's designed to be continually updated, as we as we learn information and and refine our our knowledge," Desilet said as he described a new interactive GIS dashboard and basin-by-basin project tables.

Why it matters: The plan separates capital maintenance (rehabilitating existing pipes and structures) from capital improvements (new systems), scores projects by a cost–benefit metric tied to the number of properties benefited, and sets the stage for a rate study that could change how property owners are charged for stormwater services.

What staff presented: Desilet said staff analyzed 15 drainage basins across Amelia Island (13 with infrastructure), catalogued assets with a GIS dashboard, and used a 2018 USGS LiDAR-derived digital elevation model to delineate basins. He reported estimated costs of about $1,300,000 for new capital projects and about $8,800,000 for capital maintenance, for a combined total of roughly $10,200,000. For operations, staff estimated roughly 3,500 annual crew hours (about 10,500 individual man-hours on a three-person crew model) to meet desired maintenance levels.

Funding and staffing: The current stormwater fund supports an operating budget "just over $1,000,000" and a five-person stormwater crew, Desilet said. The department purchased a vacuum truck and street sweeper from the stormwater fund (combined cost about $970,000). Desilet recommended dedicating staff to maintenance and using contractors for large-scale capital projects. He said staff will pursue adding two more positions to meet maintenance needs.

Rate study and grant pursuit: Desilet told the commission the existing flat stormwater fee is $14.36 per property and that staff are working with a consultant on a cost-of-service study to design a more equitable impervious-area–based rate. "Customers' contribution should be proportional to their benefit from the system," he said. Staff aim to implement a new rate structure beginning the next fiscal year, pending the study and commission direction. Desilet also said the city will apply for a watershed master plan grant (deadline described as the end of February) that could provide up to $300,000 with a 25% local match to support higher-resolution basin modeling and scenario planning.

Questions from commissioners and staff responses: Commissioners praised the readability of the report and sought clarifications on the watershed grant (Desilet confirmed the grant referenced by a commissioner), staffing needs (Desilet said the department will ask for two additional positions), data currency (LiDAR from 2018 was used), and coordination with Nassau County. Desilet said county staff are also applying for the watershed grant and that the city meets regularly with county stormwater staff to coordinate problem areas. He noted legal and operational challenges where stormwater pipes run across private property without recorded easements and where historic mosquito-control ditches lack formal easements.

Local examples and policy implications: Commissioners raised a Basin 6 (Shell Cove) issue where mid-lot grading traps water even though the pond system functions; staff said responsibility can be split between city-owned streets and HOA-maintained private infrastructure. Desilet said downtown infill poses unique challenges and staff are exploring an off-site capacity approach that could include a direct connection charge to accommodate properties that cannot meet on-site retention requirements.

Public comment: Resident Lehi Trager told the commission that earlier city reports had estimated stormwater needs as high as $15,000,000 and said some legislative requests and large items were later removed from subsequent estimates. "Prior to this, this was a $250,000 report... Prior to this report, there was a city report that had us, was $15,000,000 for stormwater," Trager said.

Next steps: Staff will refine the draft based on commissioner feedback, complete the rate-study work and present results, pursue the watershed master plan grant application, implement an asset-management program, produce an annual progress report for the commission, and return to the commission for formal adoption of the master plan at a future regular meeting. The workshop adjourned to the 6 p.m. regular meeting.

Ending: The commission heard the in-house master-plan update and directed staff to continue technical work, pursue grant funding and return with a refined plan and the rate-study results before formal adoption.