Fernandina Beach is the only incorporated municipality on Amelia Island which is located northeast of Jacksonville right on the Georgia border. With a population of about 12,000 year-round residents, swelling to double or triple that amount during tourist season, the city is the economic hub of activity on the north end of the Island. At the south end, several resorts entertain guests year-round, including Amelia Island Plantation (http://www.aipfl.com/), Summer Beach Resort, (http://www.summerbeach.com/), and a Ritz-Carlton Resort (http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/AmeliaIsland/Default.htm).
The Island has a rich and diverse heritage. Native American bands associated with the Timucuan mound-building culture settled on the island, which they called Napoyca, circa 1000. They would remain on Napoyca until the early 18th century.
Over the years, the island frequently changed possession and has been under eight (8) different flags - the only United States location to have done so–including the French, Spanish, English, Patriot, Scottish Green Cross, Mexican Rebel, Confederate, and United States flags.
Unique to city governments around the country, the city runs a Marina which sees boats, yachts, and sailing vessels hail from around the world. The picture below shows some of the boats that make their home in the Marina.
Fernandina Beach is also the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry and shrimp boats ply the waters offshore at night. During the day, as shown below, several can be seen docked at the port.
Downtown Fernandina Beach is a national historic district, with many old buildings dating to the 19th century, including the Palace Saloon seen in the background of the picture below.
While we’re here, our apartment accomodations afford us a view of the ocean. The guys live at Ocean Park (seen first below) and the girls live at Coral Sands (shown second) which is actually right on the beach.
A view of the beach from the girls’ apartment.
2008 LGMIP Interns: Back Row (L-R) Troy Meyers ‘08 Wittenberg, John Wickham ‘09 Wittenberg, Jim Thinnes ‘09 Wittenberg, Greg Sponseller ‘10 Wittenberg, Andrew Tomko ‘09 Wittenberg. Front Row (L-R) Emily Beaugh ‘10 Trinity University, Cristina Lopez ‘08 Trinity University, Lindsey Warner ‘08 Wittenberg
The 2008 ICMA–Wittenberg University Local Government Management Internship Program officially got underway on May 27th with an orientation session in the City Commission Chambers at the Fernandina Beach, Florida City Hall. Eight interns, six from Wittenberg University and two from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, are participating in this year’s 8-week program which combines a full-time internship coupled with a class in local government administration. The interns were greeted by Mayor-Commissioner Bruce Malcolm who welcomed them with an overview of Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island. He was followed by the City Manager Michael Czymbor and each of the Department Heads who discussed their duties and responsibilities. Then it was off to the golf course for lunch and a presentation by the Golf Course Manager before a 2.5-hour van tour of the island and city facilities narrated by Mayor Malcolm. The day concluded with the first class session and a discussion of the projects the interns have been assigned to work on during the summer. These include:
Community Development Department:
1. Neighborhood Data Collection and GIS Entry and Mapping
2. Downtown Parking Inventory/Survey
3. Tree Census and Inventory
4. Existing Land Use Survey
Police Department
1. Data Collection and Collation
2. Research on Funding and Implementation of Video Security Cameras at Main Beach
3. Rewriting and Updaing Department Policy Manual
Marina Department
1. Welcome/Interpretive Center for Incoming Boaters/Mariners
2. Research on Gaining Ferry Access from Fernandina Beach to Cumberland Island National Seashore
City Manager
1. Follow-up on Compliance with Department Goals and Objectives
Human Resources
1. Revising and Updating City’s Position Descriptions and Position Classification System
2. Revising and Updating Employee Handbook
City Attorney
1. Research and Assistance with Ordinance Revisions and Writing
2. Research on Gaining Ferry Access from Fernandina Beach to Cumberland Island National Seashore
3. Noise Abatement Ordinance Review
Airport Department
1. Economic Impact Analysis and Marketing Plan
2. Assistance With Reorganization of Filing System
3. Comparative Analysis of Airport Websites
Information Technology Department
1. Develop Informational Programming for City’s Cable Access Channel
2. Updating and Revising Web Page Information
Enterprise Funds/Departments Promotion
1. Develop Cooperative Marketing Program for Airport, Golf Course, and Marina
City Manager Michael Czymbor welcomes the 2008 LGMIP Interns to Fernandina Beach.