Fernandina Beach HDC Goes Digital for Board Resources

Fernandina Beach's Historic District Council (HDC) has moved its board member resources to a digital format to conserve resources and provide members with current information.

The HDC now uses a central online hub, dubbed the "virtual board member binder," to house essential documents previously distributed in physical binders. This digital format improves accessibility and simplifies updates.

The HDC, the city's primary historic preservation agency, requires board members to frequently reference various documents for research and decision-making. The digital collection includes administrative information such as HDC Administrative Procedures, Land Development Code Chapter 9: Boards & Commissions, the Florida Commission on Ethics Guide to the Sunshine Amendment and Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees, and Form 8B Memorandum of Voting Conflict.

Key regulatory and guideline documents now available digitally include the Downtown Historic District Design Guidelines, Old Town Fernandina Preservation and Development Guidelines, Waterfront Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Guidelines, Land Development Code Chapter 8 (Historic Districts & Waterfront Community Redevelopment Area), Goal 11 of the City of Fernandina Beach Comprehensive Plan (Historic Preservation Element), and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.

The digital binder also links to external resources, including the Amelia Island Museum of History Digital Archive, Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, National Alliance for Preservation Commissions, National Park Service Technical Preservation Briefs, National Register of Historic Places, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the University of Florida Digital Archives: Fernandina Beach Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. An interactive map from the Nassau County Property Appraiser, displaying Historic Districts and CRA layers, is also linked.

This digital transition aims to streamline board members' service and enhance their efficiency in preserving Fernandina Beach's architectural and cultural heritage. Previously included documents like the 2021 HDC Meeting Schedule and the HDC Policy Memo Regarding Meeting Times and Agendas are now part of the digital collection.