City staff says commission reached consensus to sunset Marina Advisory Board and create Waterfront Advisory Board

Jeremiah Glisson, Deputy City Manager for the City of Fernandina, told the Marina Advisory Board on March 18 that the City Commission reached consensus to sunset the Marina Advisory Board and the Crabbe board and to create a single Waterfront Advisory Board to advise the commission on waterfront projects.

Glisson said the consensus occurred during commissioner comments at the March 18 Commission meeting and that the matter will return to the Commission as a formal resolution and vote before the advisory board meets again. “It’ll go back to the Commission for formal resolution approval,” he told board members, and he encouraged the advisory board to use the interval to propose a mission statement and recommended membership.

The announcement prompted questions and concern from board members about notice and procedure. The board’s chair and other members said the Commission’s discussion was not on the public agenda and that some members only learned about the change after the fact. A committee member told Glisson the board expected more advance warning so members could attend and contribute to the transition.

Board members pressed for representation of marina stakeholders on the proposed Waterfront Advisory Board. Several members recommended at least two slip holders on the new board and suggested including an engineer or a marina administrator with operational experience. “At least 2 slip holders,” one committee member said, adding that technical expertise and non‑vested perspectives would be valuable.

Members and staff discussed the rationale for consolidation as an effort to streamline operations and reduce the number of advisory boards (the city currently has about 13), while keeping a sustained advisory presence on waterfront projects such as a seawall, the new waterfront park and downtown revitalization. Glisson said the city clerk’s office will prepare the documents to dissolve the current board by resolution and to create the new Waterfront Advisory Board.

The board did not take a formal vote on the matter; Glisson said the Commission will hold a formal vote at a subsequent meeting. Board members were advised to monitor Commission notices and consider submitting recommendations on membership and the board’s mission once the resolution is published.

Next steps: the City Commission is expected to consider a resolution to dissolve and re-create advisory boards at a future meeting; the Marina Advisory Board was told that formal action by the Commission will precede any changes to the advisory structure.