Fernandina Beach city commissioners agreed to put $50,000 in the city conservation fund after learning that three parcels are potentially available to be purchased by the city.
The decision to fund conservation efforts was made at the City Commission's 2024-2025 budget workshop last Thursday.
The effort to renew conservation efforts by the city was advocated by Commissioner Chip Ross.
"We made a big deal the other night about seven acres of conservation land and we're now almost out of money," Ross said. "We talk the talk, but if you're going to walk the talk you've got to put money in it (the conservation fund.)
Ross asked if $50,000 from the Ocean Highway and Port Authority PILOT payment settlement of $187,000 for 2024 be put in the fund.
Mayor Bradley Bean maintained that the entire OHPA settlement be placed in the city's contingency fund, citing there were no conservation proposals currently available to the city.
That argument was put to rest when City Planning and Conservation Director Kelly Gibson said there were three parcels under consideration and that two of the properties were considered "very likely" opportunities for purchase. Gibson said she had requested $120,000 to be funded for 2024-2025, but no funds had been committed.
"Two of those are in concert with the North Florida Land Trust and Nassau County," Gibson. "Both properties are along First Avenue-ish and adjacent to the (Ron Sapp Egans Creek) greenway."
She placed the value of each property at $100,000 each.
Commissioner James Antun suggested funding half of Gibson's request for the projects.
After a brief discussion, there was commission consensus to place $50,000 in the conservation fund in the proposed budget.
"That's a beginning," Ross said.
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