City Commission Candidate Len Kreger on the key issues

Editor's Note: As Fernandina Beach voters prepare to cast their ballots in the Aug. 18 municipal election, the Fernandina Observer is publishing a series of candidate profiles to help readers better understand those seeking public office. The questionnaires asked each candidate the same set of questions covering the issues, priorities and leadership challenges facing the city. The profiles are being published before mail ballots begin arriving in Fernandina Beach on July 9, giving voters an opportunity to compare the candidates' positions before casting their ballots. The Observer will publish the profiles again in August.

Candidate

Len Kreger

Email: lenkreger@yahoo.com

Phone: 224-558-5735

Campaign Website: https://lenkreger.com

Q: Why are you seeking election to the Fernandina Beach City Commission, and what qualifications, experience or perspective would you bring to the position?

I believe I can provide the sound leadership necessary to provide the establishment of appropriative policies to ensure the city is properly managed consistently with the City Charter, the Comprehensive Plan and appropriate regulations and ordinances.

My extensive experience includes 7 years as a City Commissioner, 6 years on the Planning Advisory Board and 5 years on the Northeast Florida Regional Council. I also served on the County Code Enforcement Board and the County Affordable Housing Advisory Board. I was Executive Director Keep Nassau Beautiful and served on the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative.

I am presently serving on the City’s Board of Adjustment.

Q: What are the three most important issues facing Fernandina Beach over the next four years, and why?


Ensure that the city meets or exceeds its adopted service levels for police, fire, sewer, water, waste collection, roadways, parks and recreation. Achieving this requires reliable funding for operations, maintenance and capital improvements.

What may be the biggest issue is the potential for the Homestead Property Tax Referendum to pass in November 2026.  Passage will result in significant loss of revenue to the city.  Planning should be in progress now.

Q: Paid parking is on the August ballot. Do you support retaining, modifying or eliminating the paid parking program? Please explain your position.

I want to see what the referendum results are.  The preference of the citizens will drive my decision and position.

Q: If voters eliminate paid parking and the city loses approximately $1 million or more in projected annual revenue, what specific spending cuts, revenue increases or budget adjustments would you support to replace that funding?

Those projects funded by paid parking must compete with all the other projects in the Five-Year Capital Plan and its priorities.  

State law requires both funded and unfunded capital projects be included in the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan.  These projects must be prioritized as outlined in the City’s Comprehensive Plan.  All proposed projects must be reevaluated, along with looking at all the potential revenue sources, i.e. possible grants, property taxes, assessment districts and fees.  As the 5 year Capital Improvement Plan, by law, includes both funded and unfunded projects, some projects may have to be eliminated or pushed back.

Q: The city remains involved in litigation regarding the proposed RYAM bioethanol plant. What is your position on the project, and how should the city proceed?

The RYAM bioethanol plan is NOT consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.  This position is supported by legal opinions.  The city rejected the plan and RYAM filed suit in both State and Federal Court.  RYAM also made a Bert Harris claim which was also rejected by the city.  An end run was attempted by RYAM through the state legislature that would have allowed the project to be built. That attempt was defeated through the city’s efforts and efforts of citizens calling state legislators. The city also has rejected the court required mediation and the issue will now be settled in the courts.

I will point out that the city is to be commended for its strong support of the Comprehensive Plan and I will continue those efforts.

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Q: Fernandina Beach faces significant future capital needs. If funding is limited, what are your top three priorities and why?

My top priorities will be, as noted above, to review the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan priorities and to provide funding for the top priorities which should be those related to life and safety first.  An example is the underfunded streets.

Q: Approximately $14 million may still be needed to complete the flood protection project. How should the city fund that work?

All capital projects must be reevaluated based on accurate data.  When the costs to protect the entire city are established, they will be significant. Financing options may include grant monies, fees, a bond, along with taxes.

Q: Historic downtown requires substantial infrastructure investment. What should be the priorities and how should they be funded?

Downtown projects will be evaluated the same as all other city projects, as prescribed by the Comprehensive Plan criteria.  A vibrant downtown is the goal, as is the quality of life in the entire city.

Q: What is your position on proposals to relax development regulations, including Section 1.03.05 of the Land Development Code?

The wording of 1.03.05 in the Land Development Code is confusing and needs to be rewritten. The intent is understood, but the language should be clarified. This became apparent in the Tringali property issue.

Q: How should the city balance private property rights with neighborhood preservation, historic character and growth management?

Property Rights are a major issue.  If you own property, you have the right to develop and build in accordance with the Future Land Use Map and zoning regulations. Projects must meet both state and local building codes plus the City’s Land Development Code.  I would in general not rezone or issue variances to the above criteria. I want to see the city’s character preserved.

Q: What types of waterfront development would you support or oppose?

Basically, I would support waterfront development which is allowed by the Future Land Use Plan and zoning which is consistent with the Land Development Code and building codes.

Projects in the Historic District would be reviewed by the HDC to ensure all projects meet appropriate Historic criteria.

Q: Looking ahead 10 years, what would you like Fernandina Beach to look like?

Pretty much as it is now,  with more housing, mostly single-family homes and duplexes, with the potential for some large complexes along Ameila Island Parkway.   These may be built using State mandated zoning preemptions of the Live Local initiative in commercial, Industrial and mixed use zoning areas.

Q: What should the city do about the Ybor Alvarez soccer field issue, and how should the solution be funded?

Purchase of airport property is cost prohibitive.  The opportunity exists to move some of the soccer fields off island to the new county facility, where a significant number of kids live.  

For years the city has complained about the county not paying their fair share.  The opportunity exists here to see that change.

Q: If Ybor Alvarez is no longer available, which alternative would you support first and why?

Move off island as noted above.

Q: What should Fernandina Beach's long-term parks and recreation strategy be?

Impossible to know.  Who knew years ago about “Pickle Ball.”  The city’s level of service for parks is 7.5 acres of parkland per 1000 residents and a park within ½ mile of their home.   We need to ensure we meet these standards.  Recreation programs will be based on needs of the citizens as funding can support.

I appreciate that approximately 42 percent of the land in the city is in recreation and conservation.

Q: What actions should the city take regarding the airport master plan, and airport noise from flight school operations?

The airport’s current masterplan is excellent.  

Revisions are in progress and will continue to make aviation functions the priority.   
The airport is and has been financed by both Federal and State Funding, which has significant guidelines for use.  

Limiting Flight school operations is worth attempting but will be difficult. Attempting to limit aviation operations at the airport has the potential of risks to future funding and the possible “claw back” of past grants by the Federal and State Governments, these possibilities must be considered.

Q: Do you believe the current bed tax distribution controlled by the county is fair? If not, what changes would you advocate?

The county revised the TDC funding Ordinance in 2026.  They modified the funding ratios which should benefit the city.  The city should request funding for beach accesses and the city waterfront as authorized by County Ordinance.  

Daily beach cleaning has been funded using TDC funding for years.  The recent change in the state ordinance currently provides funding for the city’s Ocean Rescue program.

Q: Do you believe city government is appropriately sized for the community it serves? Why or why not?

The city needs to objectively review staffing and productivity.  The potential Homestead property tax changes on the November Referendum require serious review.  They could require significant cuts to all areas of the city’s budget and capital plan.

Q: Are there departments, programs or expenditures that should be expanded, reduced, audited or reviewed?

All departments should be audited and reviewed.

Q: Should the City Commission seek to lower the property tax rate when property values rise, or use additional revenues to expand services and projects?

Based on the current shortfalls in funding the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), lowering property rates may not be smart.  But again, the CIP must be reviewed in every detail.

Q: How should the city balance new projects with long-term maintenance costs?

Deferred maintenance is a major problem, as evidenced by the current situation downtown.

Long-term maintenance costs must be budgeted and included in the initial evaluation of all capital projects when preparing the net cash flow and present value of each project.  

The city needs to ensure that the Computer Maintenance Management System is both up to date and fully implemented to keep up with the city’s maintenance needs.

Q: Do you support construction of a new City Hall facility? If so, how should it be funded?

At some point, the building will exceed its life cycle and may need to be relocated or replaced. There are many options that should be considered. Once the project is identified and a cost identified, it will be included in either the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan or a 10-year plan which looks ahead.

Q: Describe a situation where you changed your position after reviewing new information.

I form a final opinion or decision based on information available. New, accurate information will always affect the opinion. The key is to try to assess potential changes to the projections when considering a new project.

Q: What is one decision made by the current City Commission that you agree with and one decision you disagree with?

I would not have approved paid parking in the way it was done.

I agree with many of the Commission’s decisions.  One excellent decision was the decision some years back to add ½ mill for one year to property taxes to purchase Conservation Land.

I also strongly support the Commission position on the supporting the integrity of the Comprehensive Plan in the RYAM project.

Q: How should commissioners engage with residents who strongly disagree with them?

Residents’ voices are important. I encourage citizens to engage with Commissioners by providing their opinion and/or information.  Sometimes though in the end, Commissioners may just be able to acknowledge their opinion.

Q: What is the city's biggest financial challenge?

Funding

Q: What is the city's biggest opportunity?

Balancing the budget to include both operations and required Capital Projects.,  

2026 State statute HB 1229 requires the city to identify ways to cut the budget by 10% without reducing essential services.

Q: What is one thing city government does well?

The city runs and they do a lot of things well. Police, fire, disaster clean up, and recreation programs are excellent.  The city is doing well with starting to upgrade the stormwater infrastructure.

Q: What is one thing city government needs to improve?

All the above comments discuss funding issues.  This is the MAJOR issue the city faces in the near and long term.

Creditability is a major issue now which needs to improve, including the credibility of our financial plans and projections and how they are communicated to citizens.

Appropriate staffing and productivity.