Made with Xara Web Designer Copyright May, 2009 - Amelia Island Association Amelia Island Association Background Information November 26, 2008 The Amelia Island Association (AIA) was established in 2002 by representatives of various homeowner associations (HOA) on the island to provide a common voice for residents on matters of local government and the general issues of quality of life. In 2007, AIA restructured to extend membership to individuals, rather than homeowner associations, so that membership is open to all who are interested in the goals of Amelia Island Association. AIA's two major goals are to encourage effective and efficient government, and to protect and improve the quality of life for the Nassau County communities, both on and off the island. On its web site, www.ameliaislandassociation,com, AIA's current positions are detailed under "AIA Issue Positions". These various position statements have been shared with the County Commission, the City Commission, and other government entities as appropriate. Currently AIA is developing citizen supported AIA Positions that would encourage Nassau County Commissioners to make improvements in the following areas: 1. Develop an approach to address the need to clean-up partially completed foreclosed commercial developments. (e.g. Tuscany) 2. Work with the State Dept. of Transportation (DOT) to ensure they are complying with Concurrency laws – before they authorize new developments. 3. Work with the State Dept. of Community Affairs (DCA) to ensure they are complying with the State Comprehensive Plan laws - before they make changes that affect the Comprehensive Plan. 4. Modify the previously proposed County Tree Ordinance – and approve an acceptable Tree ordinance for Nassau County. Nassau County is the only county (of 67) in Florida without a county-wide tree ordinance. 5. Act on the recommendations, by several consultants, to have impact fees in Nassau County that would be more in line with that of other Florida Counties. Also remove the roadblocks to using the impact fee funds to make the necessary infrastructure improvements needed. It's significant that AIA is not a "political organization". Among our members, and our directors, are registered Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. We have members of the Sierra Club, and we have members who work for homebuilders and developers. A recent meeting illustrated this, where we had a City Commissioner, a candidate for Port Authority, several county employees, and a wide variety of interested residents. AIA is open to any individual who advocates "quality of life" and "effective, efficient government." Amelia Island Association is 'issue oriented', seeking to be cooperative and participative. For example, there's no doubt that development will continue in our area - our interest is that it be supported with appropriate infrastructure improvements so that we don't end up with schools and roads that can't handle what's here. While AIA does not engage in litigation or lawsuits, when it appears the city, county, or other government or agency is not complying with state laws, we recognize our responsibility as citizens to object to the appropriate state agency. The best shared future for Amelia Island and the nearby mainland communities rests on a three-legged structure in which there is participation by businesses, by government, and by the community of residents. Those who reside in our community have a broad and highly skilled knowledge base that can be brought to bear on issues about which our residents have first- hand personal and local experience. We hope to be a resource and voice for that community of residents, working with government and business.