7/8/20 @ 10:45 a.m.

Impact Fees are a one-time fee collected when building permits are issued to fund future construction and improvements needed to accommodate growth.
 
There are currently five types of impact fees collected by the County: educational impact fees, recreation impact fees, administrative impact fees, fire impact fees, and law enforcement impact fees. The County also collects mobility fees to fund road improvements. While not an impact fee, it is still a fee charged during the permitting process to ensure that the builder bears the costs for improvements necessary to accommodate extra vehicles or “trips” to a home or business.
 
In August 2018, the Board hired a consultant to review recreation impact fees to ensure that adequate funds are being collected for construction of parks and recreational facilities to meet the demands created by residential development. The study is still underway and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2020.  
 
In February 2019, the Board directed staff to move forward with ordering a study to review Fire Rescue Impact Fees, Sheriff Impact Fees and Administrative Impact Fees. This is being done to ensure amounts being collected are sufficient in comparison to counties of similar size and to ensure that any needed improvements are paid for by the individual pulling the permit rather than burdening taxpayers by using ad valorem revenues.
 
Sheriff Impact Fees are Fire Impact Fees are based on the knowledge that public safety needs are directly proportional to the presence of people. With growth comes the need for new fire stations, larger jails, and equipment for public safety personnel. Administrative Impact Fees are used for building, renovating, and/or expanding public buildings such as courthouses, maintenance facilities, and administrative offices. Sometimes a project will require use of multiple impact fee funds for a project. For example, the Sheriff’s Administrative Building was partially paid for with a combination of Law Enforcement and Administrative Impact Fees.
 
The County secured Tischler Bise, a fiscal and planning consulting firm, to perform an update/calibration of the County’s Fiscal Impact Model used to assess the fiscal impact of proposed development projects and rezonings in the County. The preliminary results were presented to the Board of County Commissioners at their meeting held on December 9, 2019.
 
Below is a chart reflecting the total impact fees currently being collected by Nassau County, as well as the maximum supportable fee for each development type.

The study also included projections for future facility and equipment needs such as fire stations, 911 call centers, sheriff vehicles, rescue vehicles, fire trucks, etc., based on a 10- year projected growth trend. Pursuant to these projections, it is anticipated that the County will need an additional 117,798 square feet in facilities at a cost of $28,308,912, and 64 new emergency apparatus (vehicles) at a combined cost of $5,762,521 to meet future needs. If the maximum supportable impact fees are adopted as recommended by Tischler Bise, it is anticipated that there will be enough impact fee revenues to cover approximately 67% of these growth-related costs.  
 
Below is a chart showing the current and proposed fees to be considered by the Board:

The Board will hold a public hearing to consider these changes on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. The meeting is open to the public. The County has implemented additional procedures to allow proper social distancing to protect individuals wishing to attend in person. The meeting can also be streamed live at www.nassaucountyfl.com/watch-meetings. Anyone wishing to participate remotely can submit comments to comments@nassaucountyfl.com. You can also call (904) 530-6009 and submit a verbal comment for the record. Individuals wishing to be called during the meeting can email or call as directed above and request to be called. Please provide your name, address and the topic you wish to speak about and you will be called when that item comes up for discussion.
 
-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

7/7/20 @ 1:45 p.m. - The Planning & Zoning Board has a meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. tonight. A copy of the agenda can be located here.

Accommodations have been made to allow individuals to appear in person while maintaining social distancing. This includes additional seating, monitors, and speakers outside of the Board Room, distribution of masks and hand sanitizer, and a podium outside where speakers can address the Board without entering the room.

For individuals not wishing to attend in person but wanting to participate remotely, you can do so by utilizing the ZOOM link below. Once you have logged into the ZOOM meeting and the item you wish to speak on is being heard, use the "Raise Hand" feature to notify the Chairman that you would like to speak. You will be called on when it's your turn to speak. Please do not use the ZOOM meeting if you don't want to speak. Instead, just follow along by viewing the meeting live on the Clerk's website.

ZOOM Meeting:
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83734465872?pwd=RWt1dUNzekZveEJQUmxQVXkrQmlrUT09
Password: 987321
 
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +12532158782,,83734465872#,,,,0#,,987321#  or +13017158592,,83734465872#,,,,0#,,987321#

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 253 215 8782  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 646 558 8656  or +1 669 900 9128
    
Webinar ID: 837 3446 5872
Password: 987321

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

7/7/20 @ 9:50 a.m. - COVID-19 testing sites have been established on Wednesday, July 8th in Yulee and Wednesday, July 9th in Fernandina. Please see flyers below for additional information.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

7/7/20 @ 9:25 a.m. - At the Board of County Commissioner’s meeting held on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, Senior Stormwater Engineer, Katie Peay, provided an update to the Board regarding Thomas Creek.
 
Thomas Creek is located south of Callahan along the Nassau/Duval border. The Creek has been problematic for a number of years as it continues to get clogged with trees and other vegetation, causing flooding to the surrounding areas. Despite spending approximately $3.3 million in County and Federal funding to de-snag approximately 6 miles of the creek, property owners continue to experience flooding to their properties and homes.
 
Previous County efforts are shown on the graph below.

During previous de-snagging projects, the Army Corps of Engineers would not allow trees along the bank to be cut down, regardless of whether they appeared to be in danger of falling, nor would they let the County do any work that would affect the bottom or sides of the bank. Because of this, the County knew that de-snagging would be a temporary solution and that they would need the Army Corp’s help in obtaining a permanent solution.
 
In November 2017, Commissioner Justin Taylor and members of the County Engineering staff meet with representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers, Senator Aaron Bean’s Office, and State Representative Cord Byrd to discuss other possible solutions. It was discovered at that time that there are programs available under the Army Corps of Engineers’ Continuing Authority Program (CAP). Subsequently, the Board sent a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers requesting an investigation of the problems under the authority of Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948. The letter was signed at the December 11, 2017 meeting.
 
In April 2018, the County was notified that the project would exceed the limitations of the CAP Program and was recommended to seek a Planning Assistance to States (PAS) Study to help the County identify solutions to resolve the flooding issues. The study began in 2019 and right now, the Army Corps is currently in the data collection and model phase of the study. It is anticipated that the report will be presented to the County in the Spring of 2021. It’s important to note that the study will provide a recommendation on addressing the flooding issues, but it will not include a detailed design for work to be done.
 
In the meantime, Ms. Peay continues to hold bi-weekly with the Army Corps regarding their progress and Engineering staff will continue to search for funding to assist with any future projects to address flooding.
 
Anyone with questions or concerns is encouraged to reach out to the Engineering Department to learn more about the County’s efforts. Their phone number is (904) 530-6225 or you can email engineering@nassaucountyfl.com
 
You can also view Ms. Peay’s June 17th presentation to the Board by clicking the link below. The presentation began at approximately 35 minutes into the meeting.
 
June 17, 2020 Meeting Link: https://nassaufl.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=972

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

7/6/20 @ 1:15 p.m. - The County previously sent out Notice of Public Hearings for three applications related to property at 5456 First Coast Highway. The property is located within the Summer Beach Planned Unit Development/Development of Regional Impact (DRI). The property's current zoning allows for 16 residential units and 25,000 square feet of neighborhood commercial. The owner is proposing to amend the development order to remove the commercial component and reallocate 13 previously approved residential units from the DRI property to have a total of 28 residential units on this property.

The Planning & Zoning Board was scheduled to hear this matter on Tuesday, July 7th at 6:00 p.m., followed by a hearing before the Board of County Commissioners on Monday, July 13th at 6:00 p.m.

Please be advised that the applicant has requested a continuance for all three hearings to Tuesday, July 21st at 6pm. Should the Planning Board approve their request for a continuance to July 21st, the hearings will be heard by the Board of County Commissioners on Monday, July 27th at 6:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Department at (904) 530-6300.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

Now that the Governor has implemented Phase 2 of the Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step Plan for Florida's Recovery, government entities are allowed to resume in-person meetings with the understanding that social distancing guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) should be followed.  

The Board of County Commissioners had previously been holding virtual meetings while under Phase One and all Public Hearings were temporarily postponed. Now that the Board has returned to Commission Chambers for meetings, County staff has been busy establishing methods for individuals to attend meetings while maintaining social distancing.
 
Chairs in the Commission Chambers have been reduced to achieve proper spacing, however additional seats and monitors are being added to the hallways to allow individuals to watch the meeting from outside the Chambers. A number system will be implemented so that individuals wishing to speak can be called into the Chambers individually.

A large tent has also been set up in front of the building to allow for additional seating outside, should someone choose to use it. This area will be equipped with monitors and speakers to broadcast the meeting taking place inside, as well as fans to make users more comfortable.  Should it be raining, residents will be able to utilize the hallways and monitors inside the building.
 
These are just a few of the changes being made to increase safety for residents wishing to attend Commission meetings. Other changes include distribution of masks, installation of sanitizer dispensers, and designated points to enter and exit the facility.

For those not wishing to attend in person, please note that meetings will continue to be streamed online as they always have. We also have also established an email address and phone number for residents to be able to submit public comments for Board meetings.  You can email comments@nassaucountyfl.com or call (904) 530-6009 and leave a message. Your comments will be read aloud at the meeting. You can also request to speak by sending an email or calling the number above and leaving a message with your name, phone number and a brief description of what you would like to speak about. We will call you during the meeting.
 
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If you have any questions, please contact the County Manager’s Office at (904) 530-6010 or email contact@nassaucountyfl.com.
 
 
 

7/2/20 @ 10:00 p.m.

At tonight’s meeting, the Board approved Executive Order No 16, mandating face coverings at all indoor public spaces where social distancing is not possible.

”Every operator, employee, customer or patron, over the age of six (6), of a business establishment must wear a face mask or covering at all times while indoors at that business establishment unless he or she is able to engage in social distancing or unless wearing a face mask or covering significantly interferes with the provision or receipt of goods or services offered or received at that establishment (i.e. patrons at a restaurant, clients at a barber shop or hair salon, patients at a dentist’s office).”

The Order does provide exemptions for public safety and law enforcement personnel because their personal protective gear is governed by their agencies.

To view the entire Executive Order, please see the photos attached.

The Order goes into effect at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2020 and will remain in effect for 30 days.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ County Manager’s Office

7/2/20 @ 4:45 p.m. - Please be advised that the Board has called a Special Meeting for 7:30 p.m. tonight to consider the attached Executive Order mandating face masks indoors at business establishments.

Meetings can be viewed lived on the Clerk's website. Once the meeting has begun, an "view event" button will appear. Please note you may have to refresh your browser until the button pops up.

Meetings are open to the public with limited seating. Residents can participate remotely in several ways:

• You can submit comments via email at comments@nassaucountyfl.com or by calling (904) 530-6009 and leaving a voicemail. Your comments will be read at the meeting and included in the record.
• You can also request to be called during the meeting by emailing comments@nassaucountyfl.com or calling (904) 530-6009 and leaving a voicemail. Provide your name, address, phone number, and topic you wish to speak about and we will call you during the meeting.

Please submit comments before the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m., if possible.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office