Mission
Under the direction of the Deputy City Manager, the goal of the Fernandina Beach Citizens’ Advisory Task Force on Walking and Biking (“Task Force”) is to gather proposals from residents and visitors on sidewalks, trails, paths and bike lanes to make our community more accessible and friendly for walkers, runners, cyclists and people with mobility issues.
Why
Every recent Fernandina Beach citizen survey reflects walkability and bikeability as the number one priority for residents. With a growing population and 1.6 million visitors to Amelia Island each year, it’s time to prioritize mobility alternatives for walking and biking.
Who
The deputy city manager has appointed a panel of six city residents representing diverse neighborhoods, interests and physical abilities, including a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
How and when
The Task Force will hold its initial organizational meeting today, March 22, at City Hall, 204 Ash St. In April and May, there will be three Community Walking and Biking Town Hall Meetings to invite citizen input. Additionally, the Task Force will work with city staff to develop an online tool to gather additional public input. In June, there will be two final Task Force consensus-building meetings to select short-, mid- and long-term recommendations and draft the Task Force Final Report.
On July 7, the Fernandina Beach Citizens’ Advisory Task Force on Walking and Biking will present its Report of Community Recommendations to Promote Safe and Accessible Walking and Biking Travel in Fernandina Beach to the Fernandina Beach City Commission. The presentation of the Task Force Report of Community Recommendations in early July will make the information available to the City Commission early in the city’s fiscal year 2023-24 budget planning processes.
Possible Task Force members: Tom Camera, Robin Lentz, Doug Roselle, Elaine Roberts, Mike Spino and Valerie Fienberg.
Staff: Lorelei Jacobs, grants administrator; Jeremiah Glisson, Public Works director; Kelly Gibson, Planning and Conservation director; Catherine Vorassi, Parks and Recreation director; Taylor Hartmann, planner; and Daphne Forehand, planner.
