viewpoint IN THE FERNANDInA BEACH NEWS LEADER FEBRUARY 12, 2020, RE S. NINTH STREET
“Yet some Fernandina history remains hidden. Such is the case with South 9th Street, once a corridor for thriving black-owned businesses. Up and down the entire street were entrepreneurs selling goods and services to nearby homeowners in what is today affectionately known as the “Box” - between Lime and Beach, and between 9th and 13th (14th Street was forest). Why did all these successful businesses all die? …Whatever the cause may be, I believe that the disappearance of a thriving business district should be a cautionary tale for all of us. Today the street is a quiet residential corridor. The only sounds heard on there today are noises from traffic on 8th Street as people rush to the Historic District. Little do they know that they are driving right by another, more hidden history—the history of an enterprising people we as a City can do much more to recognize and celebrate.”
viewpoint IN THE FERNANDInA BEACH NEWS LEADER APRIL 17, 2020, RE COVID-19 RESPONSE
“Every day, the numbers reach us: total COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths worldwide, in the U.S. and in Florida; trends of growth and decline; comparisons by location and age. With some 21,000 cases for our estimated population of 21.5 million, Florida is one of the nation’s top 10 hot spots—albeit with a relatively low death rate (at 499 deaths today). And so far, Nassau County seems to have been spared this plague’s full fury. As of this writing, we have only 34 confirmed cases and zero deaths out of a population of more than 88,600 (according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Census). The angel of death seems to be passing us over for now. Thankfully there are other numbers to report—numbers that show the generosity and resiliency of our state and county.” [Scroll down for full text.]
VIEWPOINT IN THE FERNANDINA OBSERVER APRIL 26, 2020, RE LIVING IN THIS PANDEMIC
“Emotionally, I know that there is grief way down in my soul – for the whole world and most especially for all the places and people I care about which are so gravely affected: the Vatican and all of Italy; New York City; young children deprived of playmates; adults who can’t visit their parents; the hurt all around when businesses large and small have to lay off employees; worries about national and local finances and the November 2020 elections—not only mine but for the nation. All this keeps me up at night. So I just say the Lord’s prayer over and over. It’s my go-to.”
SPEECH FOR THE PECK CENTER, AuGUST 8, 2020 (event Covid-cancelled)
“If your ancestors trace back to the Ray Delaney family or the Julius Traeye family…if you are still here in this neighborhood (“The Box”) or Old Town, then I know from history that you have suffered for Fernandina, you have built in Fernandina, you have led* Fernandina, and that you have prayed for Fernandina—today known as Fernandina Beach. It is thanks in large part to you that we have our current physical and cultural infrastructure. (You are royalty. )”
CONCERNED FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA CLOSING REMARKS (AS PREPARED FOR September 11, 2020, IN City Hall)
“My Friends, hyperdevelopment is upon us. Some friends have moved away. Some have lost their activist steam. What’s the point in trying? My friends, it is never too late!”
COMMENT TO THE FERNANDINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION (PREPARED FOR OCTOBER 6, 2020)
“Finally, we can restore our shrimping heritage. Right now shrimpers are located at Jaco’s to the north and David Cook’s to the south (wholesalers), and the Pogy Plant. These enterprising shrimpers and others can catch shrimp here too, and sell it off the docks. There are two grants to help us. If land purchase is an option, we can apply during this month for a Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Florida Forever grant. Also, as a Designated Florida Waterfront, we qualify for the Waterfronts Florida Initiative grant, which can help us expand our bulkhead, continue our dredging, and continue to maintain/improve our launch ramp, mooring field, docks, slips, attenuators, and gas lines. “
SPEECH TO FEDERATED REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF NASSAU
(prepared for October 9, 2020)
Our town. We Republicans have middle-class “small town values,” including special respect for our African-American heritage. We are the party of Lincoln! I want to save our Small Town Vibe and values. I champion a diverse economic base that includes the mills, a working marina, and thriving small businesses.
FULL TEXT of speeches and articles are below.
A cautionary note on city finances
By / Alexandra Reed Lajoux / Fernandina Beach
December 4, 2019
Publication: News Leader (Fernandina Beach, FL)
A primary goal of the city of Fernandina Beach must be to sustain our financial condition along with the natural and cultural heritage that makes our city so desirable. We must keep our quality of life while remaining fiscally sound.
Caution is required because the city has so many needs and a finite amount of money. We cannot pursue an ambitious agenda without a realistic plan to pay for it. And our goals must work in harmony – we can’t “rob Peter” (cut down the trees that grace our city) to “pay Paul” (build to increase our city tax base).
The city has committed to the development of a river front park. It has committed to conserving sensitive land. It faces the existential threat of sea level rise. It must manage the finances of its “big three” businesses: marina, golf course, and airport. It must maintain its parks and beach walkovers, and support cultural events and local charities. It has to face the challenge of increased population off-island. This list is just the tip of an enormous iceberg of the needs expressed by citizens at city meetings.
The city’s current finances are sound – an opinion based on discussions with city officials and the audited financials of the city published in March for the fiscal year ending September 2018 (the fiscal 2019 audited report will be available in the spring). The independent audit firm found the city in compliance with applicable standards for accounting and internal financial controls. Kudos to Dale Martin and his team for this “clean opinion.” The challenge will be to sustain and improve our financial position.
Financial statements speak volumes. A balance sheet tells us what we have. An income statement tells us how we are doing. And a cash flow statement tells us what we can spend.
So what do we have? Our most recent audited balance sheet tells us that we own $62.3 million more than we owe. This is our “net position,” similar to net worth. Our “capital assets” (the historical cost of what we have invested in land, buildings, and equipment for such areas as the airport, golf course, and marina) total $85 million. Together with cash and receivables, the assets of the city total $120.4 million, plus $5.7 million in “deferred outflows of resources.” Against that, we have debt of $62.9 million, plus deferred inflow of resources of nearly $900,000. All this gives us our net position of $62.3 million. But this is not money we can freely spend. The city uses these capital assets to provide services to the citizens, and some resources are considered restricted assets. For example, the city must keep 20% of its cash in reserves for an emergency, which is $4.3 million. Only about $5.6 million is available for spending and, as mentioned, we have debt to pay down.
And how are we doing? Our statement of revenues, expenses, and changes in net position in FY 2018 from governmental activities increased by $3.2 million, a nearly 14% increase above FY 2017, thanks to higher revenues from property taxes and city services, as well as from operating grants. As for our profits (excess of revenue over expenditures), we are in the black by $1.5 million. Could we be more “profitable” as a city? Yes, but not through more taxes. Citizens have expressed discontent at the current tax levels, so the city cannot count on the people’s willingness to pay more. If we can’t improve profits through taxes, there must be another way.
What can we afford to spend? We started FY 2019 with $22 million in cash in the bank. While this seems like a lot, the city, as mentioned, is obliged to reserve 20% of that for emergencies. Also, the city has ongoing expenses, including service of its debt. We have issued bonds to pay for improvements to the airport, golf course, and marina, and still owe interest payments on them. The city recently announced plans to pay down existing debt with city reserves.
Even so, more bonds may make sense for us for urgent projects like rebuilding the marina or saving green spaces – especially if Wall Street supports us with so-called green financing.
The city divides its activities into “governmental” (public safety, general government, and culture and recreation) versus “business” (airport, golf club, marina, sanitation, sewer and water, and storm water). The dividing line between “government” and “business” is that government is entirely funded through taxes whereas “business” activities have revenue from customers, with city support when they operate at a deficit. The businesses each have funds with separate accounting. The golf course and marina funds are operating at a deficit (i.e., they have operating losses and negative cash flow). The airport shows a positive performance due in part to the $2 million matching grant received to build the new airport building. I believe that improving the performance of the “big three” businesses holds the most promise for the city’s financial future.
There is a topline for each of these businesses, all of which have cultural and environmental value to our city. If the “big three” can become profitable, a significant drain on city resources will be eliminated.
The marina, which is hurting the most financially, could be profitable if it were redeveloped quickly (this is where low-cost debt comes in) and strongly marketed as a better option than facilities elsewhere. The airport, which has the healthiest financials of the three, has enormous potential for special events and education. At the golf course, management is looking into a Toptracer investment. Another idea might be establishing a low-maintenance botanical garden with a small entry fee – in lieu of one of the 9-hole courses. Another solution is to seek more grants from state, federal, environmental, and other agencies to support our key assets. The city can build on its past successes in this regard. With a blend of creativity and caution, we can achieve financial sustainability for the long term.
Alexandra Reed Lajoux is a candidate for Fernandina Beach City Commission, Group 2, in the November 2020 election.
The hidden history of South 9th Street
February 12, 2020
Publication: News Leader (Fernandina Beach, FL)
Page: A7
Fernandina Beach residents know many chapters in our rich history, thanks to our Amelia Island Museum of History, Fernandina Beach Branch Library, and Fort Clinch, as well as programs at our theatres and bookstores and historic markers throughout the city. When it comes to black history, nearby American Beach and the Kingsley Plantation come to top of mind, thanks in large part to the legacies of Abraham Lincoln Lewis, well told at the American Beach Museum, and of Anna Kingsley, featured in a recent sold-out play at the Amelia Musical Playhouse.
But there is much more to local African American history.
Within the city, many are familiar with William Henderson Peck, founder of Peck High School, now preserved as a community center. Thanks to early scholarship by Canter Brown and more recent reporting by Florida Times-Union’s Kevin S. Turner, some may know about our past political leaders. From the Civil War era to the turn of the 20th century, African Americans led Fernandina. Ray S. Delaney and Julius Traeye, whose descendants still live here, were early members of the City Commission, sharing political distinction with no less than 42 African American men who served as elected officials in Fernandina and Nassau County in the latter part of the 19th century. In modern times, the city has had two African American commissioners – Charles L. Albert, who served as
mayor in 1978, and Patricia A. Thompson, who served some 20 years later as vice mayor. Their respective legacies are recognized at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center with the ball field and auditorium named in their honor. Some today may Lajoux know that Commissioner Thompson spearheaded the renaming of the Elm Street Recreation Center and Elm Street after Dr. King.
Yet some Fernandina history remains hidden. Such is the case with South Ninth Street, once a corridor for thriving black-owned businesses. Up and down the entire street were entrepreneurs selling goods and services to nearby homeowners in what is today affectionately known as the “Box” – between Lime and Beech and between South Ninth and 13th streets (South 14th Street was forest). At one point, according to Patricia Thompson, there were 28 businesses in the neighborhood, most of them concentrated on South Ninth Street, where two historic churches stood to the north – the Macedonia A.M.E. Methodist Church at Beech Street and First Missionary Baptist at Ash Street
I gained an appreciation for these businesses thanks to a recent visit along the old South Ninth Street business corridor with Anderson Eugene “Gene” Hunt, an earlier Fernandina resident, as well as with Patricia Thompson and her sister, Janice Ford. In our journey moving north up South Ninth Street, Mr. Hunt reminisced about the community he knew in his childhood, from the mid-1940s through the 1950s. Many of the buildings along the street, he explained, were constructed by Patricia’s father, Tex McGowan, a well-known contractor from the neighborhood. The original South Ninth Street buildings were made of sturdy cinderblocks, some of which remain today despite additions and renovations.
• Near Indigo and South Ninth streets, said Mr. Hunt, there was Tyler’s Laundromat, then Frank Johnson’s “Mom and Pop” General Store. “During the day we could get cookies and candy there,” recalled Hunt, though he added that it was also a gathering place for adults at night.
• Near Hickory Street, there was the Island Barbershop on South Ninth Street.
• Near Gum Street, there was a seamstress who made clothes in her living room. “Many people ran businesses out of their homes,” he noted.
• At Fir Street, there was John Baker’s barbershop and a laundromat/dry cleaner owned by Ellen Pope. Nearby, there was a putt-putt golf course owned by Ralph Jackson.
• At Elm and South Ninth streets, business extended down both cross streets. There was a teen club, Maggie’s Dress Shop, and a beauty shop, as well as the Blue Moon Restaurant with a pool room. Also recalled: Mason’s Restaurant, Harden’s Barbershop, and Mr. G’s Night Club owned by John Gilbert. Laurence Sandlin had a gas station with a nearby cab station, and there was another pool hall there. The elder men used to congregate near Elm and South Ninth streets. “We called it the Old Men’s Club,” Mr. Hunt recalled.
• Date and South Ninth streets where the current Salvation Army sits, there was a barbecue joint. Across Date was Ms. Katie Davis’s Nightclub and General Store, which was “very popular,” according to Hunt.
Why did all these successful businesses all die? Did the younger generation decline to pick up the torch? Were banks partly to blame, due to high interest rates and aggressive foreclosure policies? Or did the death knell come from stifling regulations and high taxes imposed by the city itself? Whatever the cause may be, I believe that the disappearance of a thriving business district should be a cautionary tale for all of us.
Today South Ninth Street is a quiet residential corridor. The only sounds heard there today are noises from traffic on South Eighth Street as people rush to the Historic District. Little do they know that they are driving right by another, more hidden history – the history of an enterprising people who we as a city can do much more to recognize and celebrate.
Alexandra Reed Lajoux is a candidate for Fernandina Beach City Commission in Group 2.
Taking a census of good deeds
By Alexandra Reed Lajoux /
April 17, 2020
Publication: News Leader (Fernandina Beach, FL)
Page: 6
Every day, the numbers reach us: total COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths worldwide, in the U.S. and in Florida; trends of growth and decline; comparisons by location and age. With some 21,000 cases for our estimated population of 21.5 million, Florida is one of the nation’s top 10 hot spots – albeit with a relatively low death rate (at 633 deaths as of noon Thursday). And so far, Nassau County seems to have been spared this plague’s full fury. As of this writing, we have 34 confirmed cases and zero deaths out of a population of more than 88,600 (according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Census). The angel of death seems to be passing us over for now.
Thankfully, there are other numbers to report – numbers that show the generosity and resiliency of our state and county.
We start with our most vulnerable – our elders. Every day in Florida, an average of 190,000 meals are being delivered to seniors and disabled adults – up from 45,000 per day pre-COVID-19, based on data that Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs collected from all area agencies on aging.
Here in Nassau County, on March 18, the Board of County Commissioners approved a grant of $50,000 to the Council on Aging to advance its work in delivering meals and helping with grocery shopping. Every two weeks the COA receives 6,000 meals donated by local groups and national corporations including the Nassau County Board of Commissioners, First Coast Relief Fund, Bank of America, and Florida Blue. The meals are delivered to some 600 seniors, using social distancing at point of delivery, and thousands more seniors receive help with grocery shopping. American Legion Post 54 in Fernandina Beach has a new program to collect and deliver supplies to veterans and seniors; walk-in donations are welcome.
Other organized efforts focus on the front lines. Marlin & Barrel owner Roger Morenc joined with Amelia Island Soapery to make hand sanitizer with the alcohol he produces. The sanitizer is being distributed to at-risk workers at first, then to the public. WestRock has provided hundreds of N95 and other masks to our islands’ Baptist hospital and an off-island emergency medical care facility that was in extreme need for masks. The mill has also accelerated its donation schedule and level, giving to several local nonprofits serving local children and older citizens. Like its fellow Fernandina mill, WestRock is practicing social distancing while continuing to provide critical material that keep food and medical supply chains going. WestRock has an active program to encourage employees to “shop local.”
Our local small businesses need the support – and the state of Florida is coming through as best it can. Since the pandemic was recognized, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has awarded more than $49 million in interest-free loans more than 1,000 small businesses in the state. Here locally, business leaders like Regina Duncan of the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce and Arlene Filkoff of Main Street have been active in helping local small businesses connect with these and other sources of funding, such as the Small Business Administration loan programs.
Clearly the demand for economic help is greater than available funds, however, which means that many families are hurting financially. At a virtual meeting held April 7, the Fernandina Beach City Commission approved a motion by Commissioner Chip Ross to spend a total of $210,000 to support food banks at the COA, the Barnabas Center, and the Salvation Army Hope House. At the MLK Jr. Center here in the City, the Elm Street Sportsman Association joined with Trinity United Methodist Church to provide food to the 1,000 families that drove up for food donations on April 11.
Individual efforts also offer evidence of local goodness.
William Erickson, a longtime Fernandina Beach resident concerned about all the bartenders out of work after bars shut down, has launched a Facebook fundraiser that raised $630 its first day.
Octavio Martinez, owner of Hot Paws (pet grooming, hotel and spa) and winner of the 2019 Nassau Chamber of Commerce “Business Leader of the Year” award, has started the Essential Personnel Fundraiser to buy food from local restaurants for workers on the COVID-19 frontlines. On April 13, after barely a week of collections, Octavio and his employees were able to deliver their first meals to all the fire stations and to the doctors, nurses, and health workers at Nassau Baptist hospital.
Former Fernandina Beach vice mayor Patricia Thompson and other local community leaders have been part of a helping network for years, but COVID-19 has put a new focus on their efforts. Ms. Thompson has learned that the biggest need in her neighborhood was for disinfectant supplies, so she has been making and delivering goody bags with a variety of germ-busting products – some provided by other neighbors to pass along.
Fernandina Beach City Commission (Group 1) candidate Marian Phillips has been making face masks. She made 425 in her first two weeks, and is close to finishing an order of 200 for a hospital in Jacksonville, with a new order for 40 more in the wings.
Chuck Oliva, a founding member of Conserve Amelia Now linked CAN volunteers to COA to create a new program in which volunteers make regular outreach calls to shut-ins. The volunteers chat with these new friends and if they identified a given need (shopping, meal delivery, medication pick up, or the like) the volunteers can direct them to COA services.
And then there are the countless number of Nassau County residents who are rising to the challenges in their own homes – taking care of their children or grandchildren while schools are closed, or simply doing extra cleaning to keep the virus away, all the while checking on neighbors, friends, and relatives in social isolation. These are just a few examples of the more than 88,600 people doing good things here in Nassau County.
Alexandra Reed Lajoux is a candidate for the Group 2 seat on the Fernandina Beach City Commission in the election this fall.
For a happy tomorrow, we must pause development TODAY
By Alexandra Lajoux /
June 5, 2020
Publication: News Leader (Fernandina Beach, FL)
Page: 6
Once upon a time, the city of Fernandina Beach was a little paradise. Forests abounded. You could cross South Fletcher Avenue (accompanied by a turtle or rabbit) without a care – or so the long-timers tell me. Today, our trees are vanishing and our traffic is growing – a sad repeat of what I saw in my original hometown in McLean, Va., where over time farmlands and historic buildings gave way to shopping malls and suburban tracts.
Over the past 15 years, the Fernandina Beach City Commission, supported by the planning department, has approved major development projects that replaced woodlands and wildlife that brought beauty and charm to the area. Lime Street, the vast Marriott complex at Atlantic and Fletcher, Amelia Bluff, Lakeside, Crane Island, the new Hilton on Sadler, and others – all evolved in an anti-ecological way with approval by a majority of commissioners and help from city staff. The city now has only 505 undeveloped acres in private hands – down from a previous level of 856 reported in 2015.
To be sure, some of our current commissioners – including our mayor – have cast no votes on hyper-growth projects. And two – including one who is running for reelection – have been consistently green. But these green votes have never prevailed. This is because most of our otherwise competent, well-meaning public servants have fallen prey to the myth of “smart growth,” which says that, if a city brings in more business and residents, it will have a broader tax base and will have more money to spend on the public good without raising the tax rate. Yet, somehow our tax rate per person has increased. Why?
Our tax rates keep growing in part because growth is expensive and never worth pursuing for its own sake. Lajoux This is the conclusion of many scholars who have conducted independent cost/benefit studies on growth. Many such studies show that development brings a net financial loss. To cite just one example, a 2019 study by Earth Economics modeled two development scenarios for Pierce County, Wash. – one in the incorporated area, the other in the unincorporated area – and projected municipal losses over 30 years of $1.8 million and $8.8 million, respectively. Losses mean heavy debt, higher taxes, or both – outcomes no citizen wants.
The very existence of “impact fees” proves that growth has a cost. Impact fees are monies paid by developers, put into a trust, and then spent on services necessitated by the particular development. Often the level of impact fees charged lag behind the true cost of development. A 2017 study of Nassau County school impact fees by Fishkind Associates showed that the county was losing $2,163 per household. (Nassau County’s school impact fee in 2017 was $3,268 per single family dwelling, while the Fishkind study showed that the true average annual cost per household that year was $5,430.60.) Since then, the county has raised its school impact fee to an appropriate level but the numbers show that impact fees charged to developers often lag behind true cost.
Developers have lobbied hard to limit and restrict impact fees. This spring’s Florida legislative session passed yet another set of bills to curtail them. As a result, cities find it increasingly difficult to collect enough in impact fees to offset their costs. Our city collects impact fees from developers to pay for police, fire, public facilities (water and sewer), and parks and recreation. The revenue we receive does not always cover the cost of what we must spend to keep our city livable. For example, we do not charge impact fees for storm water, which other cities include in fee calculations. Furthermore, our revenue from the fees and increased tax base is not always worth the sacrifice in our quality of life or the costly environmental risks that development raises, such as flooding due to loss of root structure and imposition of impervious surfaces.
Given the financial cost of growth and its potentially negative effect on quality of life, we can and should put a brake on growth here. Increasing impact fees is one step in that direction, but more work lies ahead. We need to ask ourselves as a city what kind of development we want at what pace. We can preserve the little bit of undeveloped land left in the city by using conservation funds to purchase it, and by instituting a temporary moratorium on large-scale development until we have updated our city of Fernandina Beach Comprehensive Plan 2030 (last updated in 2011), as well as the 2006 Land Development Code (as amended) that accompanies it. We need these documents to reflect the values of our citizens as expressed in the April 2019 Evaluation and Review workshops as well as open commission meetings. There is no reason to turn these over to expensive consultants for years as planned; updates could take a few months using citizen volunteers.
Other jurisdictions, such as Miami, have paused previously approved construction due to coronavirus concerns; we can certainly consider doing the same when it comes to approving new permits for major development here – with exemptions for developments that have citizen support. My point is that this is our town and we need to accomplish what we the citizens need; not what developers want.
Some may say that a return to a natural, slow-paced Fernandina is an impossible dream. In fact, however, the story of a Fernandina paradise is based in historical truth that is still in the hearts, minds, and strengths of its people. The real fairy tale is “smart growth” and that story does not have a happy ending. Our story can, if we remain true to the Fernandina Beach that first captured our hearts, and resist the hyper-development now upon us.
Alexandra Lajoux is a candidate for the Fernandina Beach City Commission, Group 2.
PECK CENTER SPEECH FOR AUGUST 8, 2020 *
Good Afternoon my Sisters and Brothers.
I want to say with St. Peter on Mount Tabor, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” Yes, that is what Peter said up there on the mountain with the Lord, Moses, and Elijah. He was feeling good. So good he made three tents. And that is how I feel today.
My name is Alexandra Lajoux, candidate for City Commissioner, Group 2, and yes, I want to make some “tents” for you all here this day, just as Peter did that glorious day.
Why do I care? If your ancestors trace back to the Ray Delaney family or the Julius Traeye family…if you are still here in this neighborhood (“The Box”) or Old Town, then I know from history that you have suffered for Fernandina, you have built in Fernandina, you have led* Fernandina, and that you have prayed for Fernandina—today known as Fernandina Beach. It is thanks in large part to you that we have our current physical and cultural infrastructure. (You are royalty. )
Who am I and what are these tents that I want to make?
I am a wife, mother, and grandmother who moved to Florida to be near my youngest grandson. I moved after retiring from a DC nonprofit concerned with governance and social responsibility. And in just three years I have seen too much development--cutting down majestic trees and tearing down old buildings. There are some protections for Old Town but are they strong enough? And what about The Box?
Speaking with your community leaders I have developed some specific ideas for preserving what we have.
Here are three of many “tents” I would like to build, with your help:
· Protection. Keeping longtime residential families secure in their homes with low taxes and moratoriums on liens and evictions in historic areas.
· Preservation. Obtaining status for the Box as a Special District (not a Community Redevelopment Area or CRA- there is a big difference) – to get grants to preserve and protect buildings 50 years old or older including neighborhood churches not yet recognized as historic
· Recognition. Recognizing and supporting our African-American history and future, honoring groups like Elm Street Sportsman that do so much for our community
We can work together to achieve these goals.
Please vote for me, Alexandra Lajoux, November 3.
*Event cancelled due to Covid. Speech never delivered live.
WHY I AM RUNNING
Chamber of Commerce Speech September 2, 2020
- Group 2 Candidate Forum via Zoom
Thank you, Sean.
Good morning fellow candidates, fellow Chamber members, and fellow Fernandinans.
I am honored to join this forum. My slogan is Alex Lajoux Listens to You, and my platform is based on what I have heard from you.
I am running for three reasons – our town, our trees, and our taxes. I want to:
1 – Keep our small town vibe.
2 – Conserve our trees.
3 – Lower our taxes .
Keep our small town vibe. I grew up in McLean, VA. We had several independent farms and were not far from a rural intersection called Tyson’s Corners. Today McLean, VA, is dominated by a massive megacity called Tyson’s Corners. I was glad to move with my family to Fernandina Beach, with local traditions and family-oriented values. With your help, I want to preserve the Fernandina way of life. I feel that I belong here. I volunteer on my HOA board, and teach youth at my church. When I go out, I see people I know.
Conserve our trees. We have a beautiful canopy to protect, but let us also remember: Our trees protect our homes and businesses from hurricane winds. Their roots protect us from flooding. My own Florida roots go deep. My maternal grandfather Walter Tennyson Swingle, who crossbred the world’s first tangelo in Eustis Florida, is in the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Ever since I moved here I have been active in opposing projects that harm trees and wildlife. I am an active member of the Amelia Tree Conservancy and am endorsed by Conserve Amelia Now.
Keep our taxes low. Our taxes have been rising and they are too high. This hurts our businesses, our young families, and our retired. We need to respect a rollback rate when the city commissioners set millage. I have an MBA and have written 11 books on finance with a twelfth on the way; I spent 35 years at a nonprofit educational trade association, retiring as chief knowledge officer. We taught directors how to oversee management with fiscal and social responsibility. A commission does not manage the city, but we can make sure that our city is well managed. That means setting goals and funding them with a budget based on a rollback rate.
So, in conclusion, with your guidance and my decades of experience, we will work together to keep taxes low, protect the trees that protect us, and keep our small town vibe and values.
Vote for me, Alexandra Lajoux, on November 3. Thank you.
CONCERNED FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA OPENING REMARKS (AS PREPARED FOR September 11, 2020, City Hall)
Greetings to Concerned Friends of Fernandina…and to all.
My name is Alexandra Lajoux and I am running for City Commission Group 2.
It is an honor to be here.
This is a place where the Voice of the People is heard.
This is the very room where in May, June, and July 2019 scores of residents gathered to let our views be know. We spoke out one after the other against the Leggett car-centric project. The resistance was so strong that the project never even came to a vote.
But there have been times when the people have spoken but the Commission has not heard us. I have seen too many 3 to 2 votes in the wrong direction.
This shows me that one Commission vote makes a difference.
I want to be that vote.
I want to be that vote to save our unique small town character. We must protect our marina and our downtown, our mills and our historic neighborhoods. We must respect local traditions.
I want to be that vote to conserve our trees which protect our homes and businesses. (I spoke in favor of the half mill to buy conservation lands and have given multiple times to our conservation fund as well as Amelia Forever.)
I want to be that vote to keep taxes low by focusing only on what matters most – our marina, our shorelines, our safety. No gentrification needed!
CONCERNED FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA CLOSING REMARKS (AS PREPARED FOR September 11, 2020, IN City Hall)
My Friends, hyperdevelopment is upon us. Some friends have moved away. Some have lost their activist steam. What’s the point in trying?
My friends, it is never too late.
It is never too late to save our small town vibe. Our City has $127.7 million in assets – in land, docks, and buildings, including our airport, golf course, and marina. Our treasures! Some look only at the negative cash flow. They say, sell the marina. I say no. With proper investments, our public marina will be a money maker for the city.
It is never too late to save our trees and dunes. In 2015 the city had 856 undeveloped parcels in private hands. Now it is down to 505. We can continue to acquire some of those parcels. We can incentivize owners [through changes to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development code] to preserve parcels with historic buildings and legacy trees. We can do this while respecting property rights.
It is never too late to start hold the line against tax increases.
The city’s millage rate has been above the rollback rate for too many years. We can budget based on rollback. It takes a spirit of innovation and attention to detail.
We must be good fiduciaries. But we need citizen input. I pledge continue listening to you. Again, I humbly ask for your vote.
Answers to Fernandina Observer Questions in Advance of the 9/24/2020 Forum
Fernandina Observer
Written Questions to Candidates
1. What was the deciding factor in your decision to run for office?
The deciding factor in my decision to run for city commission was twofold: my concern about hyper-development, combined with my realization that a single commissioner vote can make a difference. There had been a series of 3-2 votes in favor of major developments opposed by citizens. I decided to run on a pledge to vote always to protect our environment.
2. What is the most important problem the next city commission must solve?
I believe that the next city commission will have an historic opportunity to return our marina to its former glory. The Fernandina Beach Marina represents our largest burden of debt, yet it may also be our single greatest asset. We need to manage our debt prudently, and we need to work with Oasis, the newly hired marina management company, to enhance our revenue. In addition, we need to aggressively pursue FEMA reimbursement. We should refrain from any projects in the waterfront area that do not support and enhance our working marina.
If we can solve the financial problem of the marina, we can devote more city funds to support other vital needs, such as environmental conservation, without raising taxes.
3. How have you prepared yourself to be an effective city commissioner?
In preparation to become an effective city commissioner I have done the following since filing as a candidate on November 5, 2020.
· Activist involvement. Participated in citizens groups involved with city finances (brief ad hoc committee responding to COVID) and with the environment (ATC Working Group on the Comprehensive Plan, Simmons Park post-contract re-envisioning with architect and environmentalists)
· Board and committee work. Volunteered to serve my HOA as VP (November 2019 to present). Volunteered to serve on the City’s Parks and Recreation Committee (January 2020 to present). Attended commission meetings regularly in person or (more recently) on Zoom.
· Boot Camp. Attended all sessions of the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce Boot Camp in January and February 2020.
· Candidate forums and questionnaires. Accepted invitations to candidate forums or interviews including North Florida Central Labor Council (6/4/20), NAACP/SCLC) (8/8/20 – cancelled), Nassau Chamber of Commerce (9/2/20), Concerned Friends of Fernandina (9/11/20), Fernandina Observer (9/24/20 - forthcoming), Nassau Builders (10/7/20-forthcoming), Federated Republican Woman of Nassau (10/9/20- forthcoming). Filled out questionnaires for these groups if requested, plus questionnaire from the League of Women Voters.
· City Commission involvement. Attended commission meetings in person or (more recently) on Zoom. Spoken at commission meetings and/or sent in comments on local issues. Met with a variety of past, current, and aspiring commissioners.
· Community participation. Attended various community events including 2019 Christmas Parade, 12/31/20190 Shrimp Drop, Black Business Expo, MLK Breakfast, MLK Parade, Juneteenth Celebration, Racial Equity Coalition March, Memorial Day celebration, Back the Blue march, and events in the county related to historic preservation of American Beach. Continued support for several charities located in the city and learned more about their missions.
· Person-to-person outreach. Met one-on-one with many voters from across the city representing a range of views. Reached out to small business owners and longtime residents in the historic neighborhoods at the heart of the city. Introduced myself to all political candidates in both the city and county races, fostering ongoing dialogue in many cases.
· Research on local and national municipal issues. Read and contributed to Fernandina Observer and the Fernandina Beach News Leader. Joined and began following several local Facebook groups. Subscribed to various online groups such as Strong Towns and Smart Cities. Began writing a book on municipal sustainability (De Gruyter 2021) re setting goals (environmental, economic, engineering); financing initiatives (land trusts, bonds, grants; general obligation bonds, revenue bonds); using tools (ordinances, zoning, density, impact fees); and dealing with conflict (litigation and mediation).
· Website communication. Posted my platform and several speeches and viewpoints on a dedicated campaign website (lajouxforcitycommission.com) so that citizens can see all my views. Issues covered include city finances, Black entrepreneurial history (S. 9th Street), local COVID response, and the problem of local hyper-development.
4. If you believe that there is too much development in the city, how would you propose to stop it legally without interfering with private property rights?
I have many ideas. Here are just some of them.
· Collaboration. Strengthen collaboration with the North Florida Land Trust’s Amelia Forever campaign. Avoid competition.
· Enforcement. Enforce our current ordinances more strongly. Stop giving variances re building height, setback, and other environmental values.
· Marketing. Promote the city’s environmental fund (as well as the NFLT’s Amelia Forever) to raise funds that enable more purchases of private land to put into conservation.
· Moratorium. Consider a temporary moratorium on the approval of major development projects until comprehensive plan and land development code are updated. Existing projects with valid contracts could be grandfathered.
· New financing. Take a fresh look at general obligation bonds and revenue bonds related to conservation causes. Consider holding a green bond referendum jointly with the county in November 2021.
· Outreach. Strive to attract developers who wish to preserve and enhance existing buildings instead of clearcutting to build new ones. Approach philanthropists—not just here but nationally and globally to help us resolve this emergency for one of the world’s last pristine “barrier island” cities.
· Planning. Collaborate closely with expert conservationists and qualified legal counsel to strengthen our comprehensive plan and land development code to make them as effective as they can be without violating property rights.
· Tax/economic Incentives. Provide tax and economic incentives for owners of environmentally sensitive lands so that owners will be motivated to either accept public easement status for the property in part or in whole, or agree to accept a sale price that would put the land into conservation. If current owners agree to either of these conditions, the city would make them whole.
City Commission Possible Candidate Questions
Prepared for the Fernandina Observer Forum
September 24, 2020
Prepared Opening Remarks
Thank you, Mr. Myers. Good evening everyone. My name is Alexandra Lajoux, and I am running for City Commission, Group 2. I am running for three reasons: to save our town, trees, and taxes. OUR TOWN. Our town means our working marina, our mills, our small businesses on and off Centre street, our traditions, our diversity of age and race. Let us not lose our culture by catering to developers and tourists. OUR TREES as well as our dunes and wetlands are under constant attack from development. Tonight, I make a solemn pledge before God and to the citizens of Fernandina Beach. I will never vote to approve a large project that will change the nature of our life here on the island. Everyone talks like a conservationist during election season, but the issue is who among us will vote like one when the important issues come before the commission? I will hold the line on zoning, density, building heights, setbacks—and I am working to strengthen those. OUR TAXES The City spends too much money on special projects and consultants that in turn reduce our small town identity and raise our taxes. We can keep taxes low. Three problems, three solutions. Save our Town, Save our Trees, Lower our taxes. That is my platform. I am Alexandra Lajoux, Group 2.
Prepared Closing Remarks
Citizens are unhappy. They see growth they don’t like. They say follow the money. I do. My most recent book is in fact about the history and future of money. I wrote 12 books about the topic—including one about mergers that has sold over 100,000 copies and is in university libraries around the world. But we don’t need to be led by tourist and developer dollars. We are Fernandina. I repeat my pledge before God and to the citizens of Fernandina Beach. I will never vote to approve a large project that will change the nature of our life here on the island. If you want a small town, pro-tree, low tax advocate, vote for me. The choice is clear. By voting for me you will keep Fernandina’s unique identity, and oppose expensive projects that change our town’s character, hurt our environment, and raise our taxes. Three problems, three solutions. And they are all connected to money. I am Alexandra Lajoux, Group 2. “Alex Lajoux listens to you.” “Save Our Small Town Vibe.” Thank you.
1. "How would you rate the performance of the City Commission over the last four years and what would you do differently?
Over the past four years, our Commissioners have been volatile and unpredictable. Performance is uneven, some work hard, some hardly at all. Some ran on platforms that they later abandoned. If the Commission were a bond the rating would be BB+. That is not terrible – a BB+ can have good returns – but it is not ideal. When I am a Commissioner, I will have a AAA rating by being steady, reliable performers.
2. Why are you better qualified for the position of city commissioner than your opponent(s)?
I have written 12 major books that corporation use to manage and finance millions in assets. and as opposed to managing a small business or a series of projects. I see the big picture, not only locally but nationally and globally Most important, my commitment to small town values, environmental conservation, and low taxes – not just one or two but all three – is unmatched among my opponents.
3. What is your solution to lowering the Marina and Golf Course debt?
It’s an investment. Marina is the gateway to Florida. It brings customers. The golf course is a natural habitat and provides affordable recreation. We took on debt to support them. About $15 million – a quarter of all city debt. Golf course debt is only $1.7 million and does not appear to pose a major problem. The city has assets of $127 million and debt of more than $60 million. Debt is a good tool to manage budgets and finances, especially at the very low rates we have today. But debt has to be managed creatively. Our bonds have an A1 rating. Some of the Marina debt can be reduced and move off of the ledger for the Enterprise fund. The internal debt can be forgiven. And does the Marina have to bear the brunt for acts of God or mother nature. We need to look ahead ahead to termination dates ($4 m is due next year---the rest is minor or not due until 2026) and negotiatefor extensions, at better terms; forgive any internal debt; use utility fund to pay off some debt that has the highest interest.
4. What role should the city and taxpayers play in keeping downtown healthy and vibrant?
As far as the city goes, making permitting easier. Treat new businesses with enthusiasm and a helpful attitude. Reward longtime businesses with recognition. I agree with the Chamber of Commerce suspend 2021 tax collection, allow outside dining, wave sign and banner permits, allocate sanitizing/protective funds, suspend slip fees through 2020, refrain from adding costly new regs, local purchasing 20 percent price preference, limit extra-county purchases by City employees to 25 percent on credit cards. As far as taxpayers go, buy local!
5. What are your suggestions for making Fernandina Beach a more business friendly community?
Streamline permitting. Make regs easy to understand and find. Hold regular worships and City Commission City Commission. I support the eight goals of the Nassau Chamber of Commerce, including buy local, signage, forgiveness, and fewer regulations.
6. How would you address complaints about inadequate beach parking?
Retain (do not diminish) traditional parking rights. Work with the county and internally to look at multi-model transportation, such as shuttles. We have plenty of professional drivers who would love the work. Stop allowing permits to build new hotels. We do not need any more new hotels. Work out an arrangement with hotels that are not at capacity to have them allow non-guest parking, for a reasonable fee. Purchase land near beach and use it for parking.
7. Why do you support or oppose the city’s purchase of private property for conservation purposes?
Trees, wetlands, undeveloped areas are vital for several reasons. Most importantly they provide protection from high winds and flooding. They also provide habitat for a diversity of wildlife. They also provide a natural beauty to our community. I strongly support the city’s purchase of private property for conservation purposes. I supported the half-mill tax increase and have given to the fund multiple. We are losing the undeveloped land – down from 856 acres in 2015 to 505 now.
8. What is your vision for the downtown waterfront?
First, do no harm. Make no changes that would harm the marina or the charter boat businesses that add so much charm and add to the local economy. Keep the petanque courts. I oppose the $7 million plan for a waterfront park. Consider adding a stage for music, but nothing that would block the sunset or cost too much. Retain or expand the parking. Boat trailers need a place to park. Allow small, marine-related vendors. Focus on the seawall. Front street gets flooded—consider last week.
9. Provide examples of how you have worked effectively as part of a decision- making team.
Throughout my career I have served on advisory boards. Also, I have worked with Study Groups, Working Groups, Advisory Boards, Committees, and more to develop policies on matters ranging from crisis management to racial diversity. Most recently, I have worked with a small group of members of the Amelia Tree Conservancy to update a key document, called the “ Comprehensive Plan” (which gives the basis for other policies.). I know that group decisions must be reasonable, fair, and balanced, bring all perspectives.
10. What is your guiding principle in making decisions on behalf of all the city residents?
My guiding principle is Conservation: I want to conserve our small town vibe, conserving our natural environment, and conserving our taxpayers’ hard-earned money. I see the City Commission as the guardian of our unique and quirky town.
11. How much help, if any, should the City provide to charitable organizations that serve city residents?
The city typically gives about $1 million per year to charities [according to comments from Commissioner Chip Ross n 9/24] and rotates them. That should continue. Nonprofits like Barnabas, Council on Aging, America’s Youth, Cat’s Angels and the like, are an important part of multiplier effect…they use that and provide far more than they receive. They contribute to the emotional physical educational health of our community.
12. How would you pay for upgrades and repairs to the city’s aging recreation facilities?
It makes me nervous to hear about “aging recreational facilities.” Not too long ago, people were talking about tearing down Peck and Atlantic and building some shiny new center. But both Peck and Atlantic have historic value. How do we pay to preserve them? We can study usage and consider charging more to County residents.
13. How would you assess the value and effectiveness of city advisory boards?
I believe that the advisory boards are extremely valuable as a way of having citizen input. They should be composed of stakeholders and subject matter experts, and should represent our diverse population. The City should listen to them.
14. If elected, what would be your first priority as a new commissioner?
My first priority will be to save us from any more loss of our heritage. I want our goals, policies, and ordinances to be tougher on environmental protections. In the city we can’t do anything unless it is in our plan The legal basis for the ordinance is our Comprehensive Plan, so we need to update that ASAP. I am working on that. I want our ordinances to be tougher on preservation. We can identify and preserve key environmental and cultural assets. We don’t want this city to look like anywhere USA. This is Fernandina Beach. As my friend Mac Morriss says, “It takes a village and we are that village.”
15. What are your ideas for improving the effectiveness of relationships between the city and the county?
We have a “The Joint Local Planning Agency for Amelia Island.” This is composed of the Board of County Commissioners and the Fernandina Beach City Commission “when meeting together for planning purposes[AL1] . It proves “the coordination needed between the City and County regarding land use, development, and the provision of services for unincorporated Amelia Island.” The problem is, it meets only once per year. Meetings should be quarterly. Also, city and county should send representatives to the various boards regarding housing, transportation, and economic development. When there is a “seat” for the City we should occupy it and work alongside the County on these issues. Joint citizen workshops are another idea.
16. How would you work to overcome past animosities between the City and the Port Authority?
Negotiate. I believe that we need to rise above our differences and look at what is best for both Port and the City. Meet as an entire body, with both boards in attendance. The current port chair has a vision of how to make improvements, and I agree with many of them, as long as they don’t tread on City grounds or ignore City authority. I believe that we can work things out. Respect and communication go a long way. I would be honored to serve as the Commission’s representative to the Port.
17. What is the best decision made by the current City Commission and why?
I was touched and impressed when the Commission unanimously and without question forgave the taxes of a homeowner (represented pro bono by Harrison Poole). The homeowner had been subject to exploitation (apparently elder abuse) by a third party and was in fact not responsible for the taxes. Not a single member of the Commission did any nitpicking on the case. They were all eager to right the wrong.
18. What do you consider to be the worst decision made by the current City Commission and why?
I was very disappointed when the Commission did not respect the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Advisor Committee to delay Simmons Park until environmental studies could be done. There was never any explanation for the rush. It led to loss of public trust.*
*But good news as of September 25, 2020. I just learned from the architect that due to his efforts and mine to engage environmental experts, we have saved 43 trees in the final design.
[AL1]https://fernandinaobserver.com/city-news/bocc-and-fbcc-meet-as-joint-local-planning-agency/
Comments to the Fernandina Beach City Commission (prepared for October 6, 2020)
Alexandra Lajoux, 646 Spanish Way East
October 6, 2020, Statement in Favor of a Working Marina
Alexandra Lajoux, 646 Spanish Way East
Esteemed Commissioners, please delay a vote on the proposed “Waterfront Park.” Yes, visionaries planned it for decades and many citizens want it, but the City should consider the views of those among us who value the authentic maritime Fernandina, with a diverse, working class economic base. Retaining such City character was important to many citizens who spoke during the Evaluation and Review process in 2019.
The park design is beautiful, thanks to commendable work by Passero, and by Marquis, Latimer & Halback. But it moves parking needed by some 100 marina workers and many marina customers, including seniors with impaired mobility. And the $7 million cost would strain City finances already burdened by marina debt, which we must manage (I have ideas).
Our priority should be on a sea wall, needed from the City’s property south of Parking Lot A, up along Front Street, all the way to the Port. This will protect against Front Street flooding. Two new FEMA grants for $660 million just opened up for this: the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant.
Beyond that, we should leave our working marina alone or enhance it.
First, for recreational boating, we need to attract the boaters who bring business downtown, and continue to serve any boaters who want to use the launch ramp at our marina.
Second, for charter boating and fishing, we need parking to support our fleet of some 30 vessels, which add adventure and charm to our waterfront and which can be an economic engine. We can lower their docking fees. Their business will take off if we can get rights to access Cumberland Island. Let’s not quit before the miracle!
Third, we can restore our shrimping heritage. Right now shrimpers are located at Jaco’s to the north and David Cook’s to the south (wholesalers), and the Pogy Plant. These enterprising shrimpers and others can catch shrimp here too, and sell it off the docks. There are two grants to help us. If land purchase is an option, we can apply during this month for a Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Florida Forever grant. Also, as a Designated Florida Waterfront, we qualify for the Waterfronts Florida Initiative grant, which can help us expand our bulkhead, continue our dredging, and continue to maintain/improve our launch ramp, mooring field, docks, slips, attenuators, and gas lines.
To summarize, please delay a vote on the Waterfront Park plan. Instead, focus on our sea wall and on strengthening our working waterfront.
Remarks Prepared for the Nassau Builders Council October 7, 2020
Who Am I and Why am I Running?
My name is Alexandra Lajoux and I am running for City Commission, Group 2. I want to be a watch dog for our town, our trees and our taxes—a reliable vote to preserve our small town way of life; to conserve our trees, dunes, and wetlands; and to lower our taxes. I have pledged never to vote for a project that will change the character of our City. I had a 35-year career in governance, mostly at a trade association focused on standards for boards of directors. I am working now with a volunteer group to suggest ecologically friendly revisions to our Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
I respect builders and the working trades; if I am elected, I am confident that we can work together. I won’t preach to the choir here. I know you abide by federal laws and county and city ordinances like the EPA’s green building standards and Nassau County’s green development practices, defined as “sustainable community and building design techniques and energy conservation strategies.” I know that you value trees, dunes, and wetlands as much as I do.
At the same time, however, you want to see “growth.” I am all for capital improvements and expansion and will say more about that later. But growth is a double-edged sword. It can cost cities (and ultimately taxpayers) too much and it can change the character of towns—such as our small town. Our City has a population of less than 13,000 on 12 square miles[i]. Given our small size, important history, and ecological values, there is a limit to how much we can or want to grow.
Many citizens do not want growth that will change the character of the town. We have ordinances for zoning, density, height, and setback that limit building here. And these are likely to get stricter in time. We do have some building needs that I can address later this morning, but in general, we will be looking to preservation and restoration—including upgrading to green standards—rather than demolition and new construction.
This might sound discouraging to you as builders, but in fact it is good news. Fernandina Beach is the municipal seat of Nassau County, which by contrast, has a great deal of room for growth. According to Nassau County’s 2020 Florida Growth Trends Report, the county has more than 85,000 people now[ii] and has a projected expansion of 36.5%, resulting in over 116,100 people by 2038. One of the drivers of growth in Nassau, says the Report, is the charm of Fernandina Beach. People move to the County in part to visit Fernandina Beach. The report notes that Fernandina Beach was ranked by TripAdvisor in 2019 as one of “12 Charming Small Towns in the South,” “ Beautiful Small Towns to Visit in the U.S.,” and “Exceptionally Charming Downtowns in the US.” If we continue to develop the Island and the City, this economic driver will dwindle in power. Fewer people will choose Nassau as their future home. Conversely, if the people of Fernandina succeed in protecting their environment and heritage, Nassau builders will benefit.
I would like to end with a quote. In the Florida growth report, County Manager Taco Pope (then deputy) says he wants “an agenda that values maintaining the unique character of Nassau so that generations to come will know the place we have all come to love. Ultimately, Nassau is what we make it.” [iv] I would say the same about Fernandina Beach, and that is why I am running.
PREPARED ANSWERS FOR NASSAU BUILDERS COUNCIL 10/7
“What is the future of growth in Fernandina Beach?”
The future of growth in Fernandina beach can be described in in one word: infrastructure. The 2021 budget has $3.1 million for capital improvement (with about $1 million coming from county and state) and $2.5 million for capital expansion—or a total of $5.6 million in expenditures. Out of a budget of $163 million real estate worth $2.3 trillion that seems low. We need to strengthen it. There may be future needs for underground electricity, for repair and expansion of sewer systems. We at some point might want to build another public parking lot, possibly a dry stack at the marina (though there are pros and cons to that), and possibly enter into a partnership with the County for affordable housing and a County-City transportation system (light rail) for connection.
Another key word is incremental growth. Regarding residential and hotel construction, we have reached our limit. So our only changes to homes and hotels will be small one-offs. We are only 12 square miles. There’s not that many people we can fit in a square mile without sinking! We are under 13,000 population here in 2020 to 14,010 predicted by 2030[i]), and many more in the County, but most Fernandina citizens do not want “growth” with a capital G (big new buildings, new residential complexes).
But much more importantly, I foresee thousands of small but steady opportunities from property owners who want to improve or change their homes or businesses. Historic preservation may involve relocation (per Liberty Billings house on 5th and Broome.) I see that your membership list has 165 categories of professionals, including architects, carpentry, home energy rating, home inspection services, landscape architectures, mold remediation, roofing, storage, and so forth. I can envision that many of them will be engaged in general economic growth as people buy and sell homes, engage in home improvement using green energy standards, as they deal with hurricane damage, and just generally change and innovate. For such work I pledge to make your lives as easy as possible – with no burdensome regulations.
“What is the effect of regulations on affordable housing?”
First, I want to say how important affordable housing is, and by affordable, I mean low income. The City Commission and Staff need to work with builders and the County to plan for future housing needs – for mill workers, hotel workers, restaurant workers, teachers, marina workers, and so forth. Vintage Apartments could have been a social success in that regard, but they are not affordable.
Florida state regulations support affordable housing. The following is quoted from an undated (recent) publication called Affordable Housing in Florida (from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and the Florida Housing Coalition). “Every unit of local government in the state of Florida has a legal obligation to provide for the housing needs of its entire community…”[iii] See 163.3177 (6)(f), Florida Statutes: This covers 1. a. … housing for all current and anticipated future residents of the jurisdiction. b. …elimination of substandard dwelling conditions [hopefully through rehab not demolition]. c. The structural and aesthetic improvement of existing housing. d….. adequate sites for future housing, including affordable workforce housing [iv]… with supporting infrastructure and public facilities.”
Note: City regulations may increase the cost of construction, making it more difficult for builders to make a profit on low income housing. If I am elected, I would make sure we have no unnecessary burdens. I will help builders look to get outside funding to meet “Green” standards in construction.
“How can we balance conservation with property rights?”
Philosophically, I support property rights. At the same time, the City does have the legal right to determine zoning, density, setbacks, height restrictions, and the like in conformity Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. These are being revised and the revisions are likely to be more restrictive as we strive to protect our environment. But as a Commissioner, I would ensure transparency, due notice, and grandfathering.
Also, the City can promote its conservation trust, and can contribute to it. We can consider a referendum for another 0.5 millage (or other millage) dedicated to purchase of conservation land. But that just means that part of the millage would be dedicated to this purpose; we can still do a rollback with lean budgeting. When the City does buy property, it should pay landowners what the land is worth. In any event, we should pay landowners what their land is worth. Conservation easements are another important tool for conservation.
[i] https://flauditor.gov/pages/mun_efile%20rpts/2019%20fernandia%20beach.pdf
[ii] Source: The Nassau County Florida Growth Trends Report,2020, https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/DocumentCenter/View/20245/2020-Growth-Trends-Report-July-Final_compressed
[iii] ”Pursuant to the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act of 1985 (Chapter 163, Part II, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the Growth Management Act). The Growth Management Act sets forth certain requirements for each plan element.
[iv] ‘as defined in 380.0651(3)(h), Florida Statutes, housing for low income, very low income, and moderate income families, mobile homes, and group home facilities.”
Speech to Federated Republican Women of Nassau
October 9, 2020
Greetings, Fellow Republicans. And thank you Sarah Pelican and the Federated Republican Women of Nassau for holding this forum. It is good to be with fellow candidates, including David Sturges in Group 2. You will have a difficult choice between us on the November ballot.
As you know, this is a nonpartisan election. Our local issues—from Beach Renourishment to Bosque Bello—are not always national issues. “Potholes have no Party,” as a member of our local executive committee often says. We all have valued supporters in both parties.
I will say that I have always voted Republican because of my values, which include the importance of individual responsibility. I spent more than 30 years working for a Washington, DC, trade association founded to encourage businesses to govern themselves; we opposed government overreach. I will bring these values with me as a Commissioner, if I am elected.
My themes are three Ts – our town, our trees, our taxes.
Our town. We Republicans have middle-class “small town values,” including special respect for our African-American heritage. We are the party of Lincoln! I want to save our Small Town Vibe and values. I champion a diverse economic base that includes the mills, a working marina, and thriving small businesses.
Our trees (dunes, and wetlands). We Republicans love the environment too. We are the party of Teddy Roosevelt and Richard Nixon. Look at all the green votes by Commissioner Ross. It is in our common interest to preserve trees here in the City. They protect our homes and businesses. Their natural beauty is an economic driver for the county.
Our taxes. Fiscal responsibility is a hallmark of Republican philosophy. We are the party of Ronald Reagan. I will do everything in my power to keep taxes flat. I know how to read budgets and financial statements and can find the fat!
So, there you have it – you are looking at a Republican who champions our town, our trees, and our future low taxes, who is rooted in Republican values. I look forward to your questions.
LETTER TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COUNCIL ABOUT A LAUREL OAK ON N. 3RD STREET
Saving the Majestic Laurel Oak Tree at 316 N. 3rd Street
Alexandra Lajoux 646 Spanish Way East, Fernandina Beach FL
Esteemed Members of the Historic District Council:
I rise to defend the life of the laurel oak at 316 North 3rd Street in the Historic District. Please do what you can to spare the life of one of the few canopy trees left on the block and the only one on the property. Its shade protects the property from rising temperatures, its branches host wildlife, and its roots control erosion.
Why is it doomed? The new owner’s planned back porch is just a few feet too far back to accommodate it. But let’s be creative! The porch can be built around the tree, like “Kate’s Oak” on Ash Street at 8th. In fact, the owner may have 12 extra feet to play with, thanks to an application to decrease setback from 25' to 13’ (12 extra feet)! The architect involved, Benjamin Clark Morrison of Cotner Associates, worked with Amelia Tree Conservancy and the City arborist to save a variety of trees at Simmons Park through creative redesign. He can do it again!
Although the HDC does not have jurisdiction over trees, I know that you do not want to violate our City tree ordinance, which requires the following:
o “No net loss of trees.” Fairly considered, loss means quality as well as quantity. The loss of a mature laurel oak is not mitigated by planting a palm sapling.
o “Placing structures and all impervious surfaces in such a way as to protect the survivability and substantial growth of the healthiest trees on a property.” This oak is healthy.
o “Maintaining the diversity of tree species native to Amelia Island.” Laurel oaks are native here; we even have a street named after them.
o “Protecting and maintaining the existing mature growth native trees important to the City’s tree canopy.” Note that the ordinance says merely “mature,” not “legacy.” This oak qualifies.
o “Preserving, enhancing and restoring the unique aesthetic character of the City.” The proposed house is next to an historic Reconstruction era property on the Amelia Island House Tour. Why deprive visitors of this beauty?
o Finally, “Preserving, enhancing and restoring the natural environment through the protection …of native trees and existing natural systems for the enjoyment of present and future populations.” This says it all. In addition, our Land Development Code states that “All development activities must be implemented in conjunction with precautionary measures, where necessary, to avert destruction or damage to native vegetation.” (Item 3.01.04 C)
Please, do all in your power to save the life of the laurel tree at 316 N. 3rd Street.
SPEECH TO THE CITY COMMISSION JULY 16, 2019, RE RACETRACK
“Please do not welcome a gigantic Trojan Horse that may seem like a gift tailor-made for us, but that will sacrifice trees and wildlife; compete with existing businesses; and bring traffic, noise, light, heat, pollution, and myriad other ills which could erode and efface the very identity of our city.”
SPEECH TO THE CITY COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 24, 2019, RE HALF-MILL TAX
“I am here tonight to express my strong support for a one-year, temporary, Land Conservation tax in the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year Budget in the amount of 0.5 millage (to total $1,258,163). A half mill is 50 cents per $1,000, $5 per $10,000, $50 per $100,000, and $500 per $1 million. For the typical home assessed at $300,000, this temporary one-year green tax is $150 per year, or 41 cents per day.”
SPEECH TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 12, 2019 RE SIMMONS PARK
“Can this park be different, and honor wildlife instead of chasing it off to install concrete and restroom buildings with few swings and slides. Do we want to become a poster child for the Joni Mitchell song …’to pave paradise, put up a parking lot’ and expend precious City cash to do so?”
viewpoint IN THE FERNANDInA BEACH NEWS LEADER DECEMBER 4, 2019, RE CITY FINANCES
“I believe that improving performance of the ‘big three’ businesses holds the most promise for the City’s financial future. There is a topline for each of these businesses, all of which have cultural and environmental value to our City. If the “big three” can become profitable a significant drain on City resources will be eliminated.”
SPEECH FOR THE NASSAU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE candidate forum, SEPTEMBER 2, 2020
“Keep our small town vibe. I grew up in McLean, VA. We had several independent farms and were not far from a rural intersection called Tyson’s Corners. Today McLean, VA, is dominated by a massive megacity called Tyson’s Corners. I was glad to move with my family to Fernandina Beach, with local traditions and family-oriented values. With your help, I want to preserve the Fernandina way of life. I feel that I belong here. I volunteer on my HOA board, and teach youth at my church. When I go out, I see people I know.”
FERNANDINA OBSERVER FORUM CLOSING REMARKS (AS PREPARED FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2020, IN CITY HALL)
“By voting for me you will keep Fernandina’s unique identity, and oppose expensive projects that change our town’s character, hurt our environment, and raise our taxes. Three problems, three solutions.”
REMARKS TO THE NASSAU BUILDERS COUNCIL (PREPARED FOR OCTOBER 7, 2020)
One of the drivers of growth in Nassau, says the Report, is the charm of Fernandina Beach. People move to the County in part to visit Fernandina Beach. The report notes that Fernandina Beach was ranked by TripAdvisor in 2019 as one of “12 Charming Small Towns in the South,” “ Beautiful Small Towns to Visit in the U.S.,” and “Exceptionally Charming Downtowns in the US.” If we continue to develop the Island and the City, this economic driver will dwindle in power. Fewer people will choose Nassau as their future home. Conversely, if the people of Fernandina succeed in protecting their environment and heritage, Nassau builders will benefit.”
LETTER TO HISTORIC DISTRICT COUNCIL OCTOBER 13, 2020
I rise to defend the life of the laurel oak at 316 North 3rd Street in the Historic District. Please do what you can to spare the life of one of the few canopy trees left on the block and the only one on the property. Its shade protects the property from rising temperatures, its branches host wildlife, and its roots control erosion.