Local Government Management Internship Program 2008

As we approach the halfway point of the internship program, students are busy with their projects. Here is an update on their progress thus far.
Lots of work is getting done.

Public Programming Development for Local Cable Access Channel 29: Emily Beaugh

So far I’ve been working on my first project, to create a minimum of eight hours of programming for the City’s cable TV access channel. My project also involves creating a policy for the programming. I was initially working with a pre-appointed videographer that my supervisor, Mike, had chosen. However when the videographer’s work appeared to not be up to par, I recommended the city stop working with him and find someone else to continue the project. I recently found a low-cost, yet quality videographer to potentially hire. I hope to meet with her either this week or the next.

In the meantime I have been meeting with various department heads to discuss what material should go on the access channel. So far I have met with the marina, parks and recreation, and the golf course directors. After I create a draft of a “public finance 101” program, I will meet with the City’s finance director.

I’ve also visited the museum and plan to use some of their archived photos in the programming. Other possible material for the access channel is footage of the local schools and businesses. I’m looking into getting a satellite for the City which would come with good programs to supplement the City’s programming. City Commission meetings will also be broadcasted on the channel.

To create a policy for the programming, I’m working with the City’s attorney to review other cities’ policies. So far I have collected policies from Jacksonville and Tampa. By the end of this week I hope to have a draft of the programming schedule completed. Over the next four weeks I will collect actual footage and data to get a better idea of how all the different programs will come together. By the end of the internship I want to provide a complete and accurate schedule for eight hours of programming and have at least four hours of that programming complete. This goal may need to be adjusted in the future.

Community Development–GIS: Cristina Lopez and Troy Meyers

Troy and Cristina are working with Kelly, one of the City Planners, on a project to help update the historical district structures 2007 resurvey in GIS. The purpose of this project is to obtain pertinent data in digital format and to consider options for updating the existing historic district boundary. To date, they have finished entering all of the file data. Troy will now spend the next couple of weeks cleaning up the file and reconciling the 30 mismatched addressed by going out in the field and recording data. This will involve field work for Troy who is currently out in the historic district correcting the mismatched addresses.

City Attorney– Comparative Analysis of Tipping Policies: Cristina Lopez

After our first commission meeting I asked to tag along with Tammy Bach during the scheduled meeting with Mr. Chuck Hall of the Downtown Historic District to talk about drafting an ordinance to regulate street performers in Fernandina Beach. He has a special event permit fee that allows him to hold auditions for street performers in the downtown district. This led to inquiries about being able to tip street performers. Upon review of the city ordinance, it was discovered that the ordinance had no mention of street performers in the code. Long story short, Tammy Bach was asked to begin drafting an ordinance that addressed this issue. Last week I prepared a 40-page comparative analysis study using ordinances and phone survey’s from St. Augustine, Florida, San Antonio, Texas, Key West, Florida, Boulder Colorado, Orlando, Florida, and Sanford, Florida for the purpose of drafting an ordinance to regulate street performances on public rights of way in Fernandina, Beach Florida.

CDD–Green building comparative analysis and Fee Waiver Research: Cristina Lopez

I am working on a comparative analysis of green building policies that Kelly began but hasn’t gotten a chance to finish. I also have a request from Marshall, the CDD director to “look for information on Fee Waivers in other jurisdictions. This is to try to develop a policy the City can follow in accepting and processing requests to the Commission - maybe they must be a not-for-profit - maybe they limit eligibility for waivers to just local impact fees vs. permitting fees, etc” As you can see, this is also in response to the previous Commission meeting. Marshall needs a way to limit waiving permit fees so that his budget isn’t negatively impacted by waiving fees for countless non-profits that come knocking on CDD’s front door.

Cumberland Island Access: Andrew Tomko and Lindsey Warner

After working four weeks consistently and diligently on this project, we are excited to report that great strides have been made. First, the access project is set to have an initial tour/informational gathering on June 27, 2008. This will provide specific insight to the TDC, the city attorney, and mayor exactly outlining how the access will benefit St. Marys, Cumberland, and Fernandina economically and socially. A detailed itinerary was created to ensure that TDC will support and back the city of Fernandina, a vital council to ensuring success. Additionally, the city attorney is currently making initial contact with state lobbyists and other critical government officials on why this project deserves particular consideration. Essentially, this will allow for further communication to be conducted with individuals who possess the resources necessary to shift the project further. The National Park Service is scheduled to meet with us and the marina director within the next week to update individuals about the need for a triangular system of touring between the islands.

Animal Ordinance Development: Andrew Tomko

As far as the animal ordinance is concerned, I am currently reviewing the original ordinance No. 96-42 and comparing and contrasting it with suggestions and modifications requested by the city police department. My goal is to produce a highly detailed and compact document laying out the exact needs of the police department and areas of the original ordinance that will require modification. I am also researching and analyzing more recent ordinances which provide rules and regulations concerning pit bulls. Currently, the new ordinance is set to be presented at the next city commission meeting, provided all of the fine details are ironed out.

Enterprise Funds Collaborative Marketing Efforts: John Wickham

The first project I was assigned, which currently is my priority, is a marketing project for the golf course, marina, and airport. I am working on different ways to market these enterprise departments together so that they can bring in more revenue through package deals and other ideas. I have sat down with each department director individually and also as group. Last Thursday I met with them as an entire group and we were able to generate a lot of ideas including the possibility of creating a city-sponsored fishing/golf tournament sometime in the fall. Another idea that was discussed was about creating a coupon style book to sell to members of the golf course and people who visit and use the Marina and Airport. Also the City Manager wants me to look into creating a brochure for these enterprise groups and the city as another way to market the city of Fernandina Beach and what it has to offer. I am still in the process of determining exactly what kind of brochure would be most appropriate, and I hope to meet with the City Manager or the Assistant to the City Manager to discuss that in the near future.

Human Resources Job Descriptions Re-formatting: John Wickham

My second project is to go through and change the format of the job descriptions for the Human Resources Department. The manual that contains all the job descriptions is being revised and the formatting of each description needs to be changed so there is uniformity in the manual. I was just given this assignment today (Thursday June 19, 2008) so I plan to talk with the Human Resources director some more in the near future to clarify exactly how she would like me to proceed.

Marina Welcome Center: Lindsey Warner

My main project is to find different types of information, objects, and artifacts to put in the Marine Welcome Center that is going to be built at the Marina by September 2009. So far, I have visited the local Museum of History and have done a lot of research on Fort Clinch State Park, Egan’s Creek Greenway, the wildlife of the island, the history of Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach, and the marina. The Marine Welcome Center is not going to be extremely large, so what can go in it is very limited; however the museum does have a very old 12-foot canoe that they are willing to loan to the Marine Welcome Center. Next week the Marina Director and I have a meeting at Fort Clinch State Park to discuss the multiple types of interactive exhibits that they use and the possibility of getting grants from the state to help with funding the project either separately or jointly.

Research on Recycling Information: Emily Beaugh and Lindsey Warner

Based on the discussion at the recent City Commission meeting of June 17th, we have been assigned the task of gathering all the information about recycling that the Commissioners requested. Info such as what can be recycled, where stuff can be dropped off, who takes it; and whether there might be a video/DVD we could find via the library or some green organization that could be used on the access channel about
how/what/where to recycle, etc. We will be working with garage supt, Jeremiah Glisson on this.

Airport Economic Impact Study: Jim Thinnes

I am working with the City Airport Manager, Richard Johnson, and will be conducting an Economic Impact Study of the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport. I have researched similar studies and compiled a list of questions which will be given to Chamber of Commerce members as well as local businesses in a survey format. With the help of Mr. Johnson, an interview list has been compiled and I am currently in the process of interviewing the people included on the list. Once the interview process and surveys are completed the data will be collected, recorded, and analyzed. With the help of Dr. Ankrom the airport’s economic impact on the surrounding community will be calculated and assessed.

Police Department Projects: Greg Sponseller

In the police department I am currently updating and revising their general policy manual. Last updated in 2004, the policy manual needs to be reorganized and sections need to be revised. Currently, the policy manual is lengthy and somewhat confusing in certain sections. Many general regulations are included in inappropriate sections and I am working to rearrange some items and create a more general organization system so the manual can be more easily referenced and read. I plan to work with the department’s technology specialist to put the manual on the city’s website to make it available to the public and to allow officers to use a keyword search to find different policies.

In the past few weeks I have been going through the manual page by page and thinking of new ways to rearrange the sections. I was able to find several other police departments’ general policy manuals online and at different stations so I am using those as a basic reference. A digital copy of the manual was given to me and I have been reorganizing the sections more easily as word files on the computer. More organization can be done and more revising can be done in the next few days as I meet with Sergeant Bradley who is the department’s accreditation specialist. Fernandina Beach has one of the best departments in the area and has been awarded accreditation from the state. The policy manual must be in accordance with accreditation standards so the department can continue on its path of excellence.

Following this project, I have been asked to do research on surveillance systems to be installed at Main Beach access points. This will entail searching funding for the surveillance systems and looking at different surveillance equipment which will be used by the department to prevent crime and solve cases which arise at these access points. Officers have a difficult time patrolling this area and the cameras will allow the department to more quickly and efficiently do their job.

Projects Still to be Addressed During the Next Four Weeks

1. Downtown Parking Survey
2. Tree Survey
3. Noise Abatement Policy Review/Analysis
4. Airport Filing System
5. Review of Goals and Objectives