Made with Xara Web Designer Copyright July, 2011 - Amelia Island Association Amelia Island Association (AIA) Inc Status Report - 7/1/11 AIA GOAL The goal of the Amelia Island Association (AIA) is to help improve the Quality of Life on Amelia Island. AIA MEMBERSHIP Individuals are encouraged to join the Amelia Island Association (AIA), to help support the Quality of Life improvement goal of AIA.  AIA can volunteer to help analyze issues and develop AIA Positions.  Each AIA position is communicated back to the AIA Board of Directors for approval, and communicated to appropriate government organizations and or the media as the position of AIA.  The objective is to provide a taxpayer voice on Amelia Island Quality of Life issues. The Board of Directors meets regularly and stays in contact with AIA members via an email network on Quality of Life issues.  The Directors are responsible for leading or participating on community teams that analyze issues and develop improvement proposals or plans.  The AIA Quality of Life focus is non- partisan.  Membership is free; to apply for membership in AIA email or call an AIA Director and supply name, home address, email address, phone, --and Home Owner Association name if you live in one.  AIA Directors:       Phillip Scanlan            Peter Johnson                                     Email:  phillipscanlan@comcast.net Email:   pbj456@gmail.com       Phone:  491-8852 Phone:  583-8384       Ron Sapp Dave Britt       harvesthome67@comcast.net dave@britt-cushman.com       904-261-4534           904-491-3485       Bill Brainard       daedalo@hotmail.com       904-415-7513 The decision of what area of Quality of Life AIA will address is based on identified problem areas and opportunities for improvement in the community - and the interest and willingness of AIA members to volunteer and work on specific areas of interest to them.  The Quality of Life areas that have been, or are being addressed, by AIA include:  A. Conservation, B. Recreation, C. Good Government, D. Health, E. Youth, and F. Social Well Being.   The following is an AIA June 2011 Status Report.   AIA STATUS REPORT - June 2011   A. CONSERVATION 1. CANOPY TREE PROTECTED ROADS:  In response to an AIA Position, the county traffic map has been changed from having a plan to convert Amelia Island Pky. to a 4-lane highway, maintaining a section as a 2-lane residential parkway.  In addition, this parkway section, Scott Rd. and several other roads in the county have been designated "Canopy Tree Protected Roads", under a County Canopy Tree Protected Road ordinance proposed by AIA. 2. AMELIA ISLAND TREE ORDINANCE:  A tree ordinance has been developed by a citizen committee, which included an AIA member, for the south-end of the island based on the Fernandina Beach City tree ordinance.  The county implemented a tree ordinance, which applies only to the south- end of Amelia Island, it protects some Oak and Magnolia trees during major new developments and prevents clear-cutting, except for small developments.   3. BEACH DRIVING:  An AIA Position requested implementation of existing laws, which prevent beach driving in front of new developments such as Summer Beach developments.  Signage has been implemented and beach driving reduced. 4. AQUIFER USAGE.  An AIA Position requested the mills on the island (who use about 90% of the aquifer water withdrawn on the island) be encouraged to do more recycling and try to reduce their aquifer withdrawals.  This request by AIA was due to concerns about salinization of the aquifer caused by high withdrawals during a multi-year draught period.  The Saint Johns River Water Management District requested one mill to reduce their authorized withdrawal rate by implementing three water recycling projects. B. RECREATION 1. TRAIL DEVELOPMENT a. SIDEWALKS The AIA led Amelia Island Trail (AIT) Committee applied for a Safe Routes to School grant for a Lime St. sidewalk near the elementary school and the planned Boys and girls Club.  We have been informed by FDOT that our grant application would be funded.  How much funding and when construction would occur will be decided sometime in July 2011. The AIA led AIT applied for, and was awarded a Safe Routes to School grant for construction of a sidewalk from 14th St. to the Emma Love Elementary school.  Construction to be done in 2012. b. BIKE LANES At the request of the AIA led AIT, FDOT agreed to add bike lanes to A1A along the ocean, when they did the resurfacing in 2010-2011. FDOT has also agreed to include bike lanes on AIA from the Shave Bridge to Rt. 95 and bike lanes will be added to both sides when resurfaced in 2011. FDOT has also agreed to add bike lanes to Rt. 301 when they resurface that 17 mile stretch south of Callahan later in 2011 and into 2012. c. OFF-ROAD MULTI-USE PAVED PATH The AIA led Amelia Island Trail (AIT) Project Team prepared a proposed Amelia Island Multi-Use (Bike, running and walking) path grant request that was sent to the Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for a possible federal grant. Of the many requests for path grants received by the MPO in 2005, the MPO staff recommended that the Amelia Island request be one of the 6 to be funded.   The Grant will be used by FDOT to plan and build a 6 mile 12 ft. wide multi-use path from the south- end bridge over the Nassau River to Peters Point, along the ocean side of A1A. FDOT request for bids on this job will go out in June 2012 and construction is expected to begin in the Fall of 2012.  This Amelia Island off-road paved path will connect over the south bridge to a planned 20 miles of off- road paths in the Timucuan Preserve.  The initial Timucuan connection paths are also planned for FY 2011-2012 construction. d. BIKE FRIENDLY ASSESSMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN AIA and the City of Fernandina Beach applied for a Bike Friendly assessment of Amelia Island Trail by the American Bicycle Association, in order to receive feedback to guide further improvement plans.  Feedback has been received and will be reviewed at an upcoming AIT meeting.  Recommendations for what improvement areas to improve upon will be discussed. Fernandina Beach received Honorable Mention as a Bicycle Friendly Community.  We know we have a lot to improve, from the feedback, and would not expect to apply for an assessment again until 2013. e. CITY GREENWAY TRIAL SIGNAGE AIA/AIT is leading a team to develop an application for a Kodak grant for Greenways, to be used to develop trial maps signs at the Greenway entrances. f. TRAIL COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY A Trail Viewpoint status report, written by AIA, was published in the News Leader on March 30, 2011.  In cooperation with AIA and the AIT, the Tourist Development Council (TDC) is preparing an Amelia Island Trail Brochure that is planned for the Summer of 2011. C. GOOD GOVERNMENT 1. UTILITY SERVICES:  AIA opposed the planned take-over of Amelia Island Water Services by an unregulated local government authority in the panhandle.  Nassau County purchased the Amelia Island Water Services to help maintain reasonable rates and good service.  2. CALL FOR SOUND FINANCIAL COUNTY MANAGEMENT.  Amelia Island Council (AIC) and AIA both issued a Call for Sound Financial Management of the county.  This 12-page report - with 7 key recommendations for improvement -- led to front-page newspaper coverage of the financial disaster the county was facing in 2004.  A review of new county financial policies was held with the County Commissioners and substantial improvements have been made.        3. NEW HOME IMPACT FEES:  AIA has supported the Position that new growth should pay for                itself and new home impact fees should be set to do just that.  AIA is currently participating on a       county formed taskforce to make recommendations.  Recommendations are expected by mid    summer 2011. D. HEALTH 1. HEART DISEASE  AIA worked with the Nassau County Dept. of Health and published a Viewpoint on heart             health with recommendations on how to improve, written by AIA, in Feb. 2011.   2. COUNTY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AIA is now participating on a Dept. of Health led team to develop recommendations, over the next several months, for improving health in Nassau County. E. YOUTH  1. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AIA is currently working with Nassau youth leaders to analyze the juvenile delinquency problems here.  An AIA written Viewpoint on Nassau County Delinquency was published on 5/11/11 in the News Leader. 2. ALCOHOL PROBLEMS An analysis alcohol problems is being undertaken and a Viewpoint has been written for July 2011 publication in the News Leader.  (With NACDAC help.) F. SOCIAL WELL BEING 1. ADULT BIKES FOR BARNABAS Adult Bikes for Barnabas is an AIA led program in cooperation with Barnabas, Amelia Island Trail (AIT) team, 8th St. Cycle & Fitness Center.  The program supports donations of used bikes and donations for the financial resources to refurbish them for Barnabas qualified adults in need. The program was announced and began in April of 2011.  For the first quarter (April, May and June 2011) of operation we have provided about 2 refurbished bikes per week to needy residents of Amelia Island, through Barnabas.  AIT/AIA solicits donations and used bikes, 8th St. Bike shop refurbishes the bikes, and Barnabas qualifies needy applicants.  We will need 100 used bike donations per year and 100 sponsors/year to support refurbishment of 2 bikes per week, with a sponsor providing the $60 needed to refurbish a used bicycle.