NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 4 OCTOBER 2005

Dr. William Proctor, who represents southern St. Johns County and parts of Clay and Flagler counties in the Florida House of Representatives, presents a State grant check of $112,500 to Mayor Charles for the construction of a family fountain on County pier property. Shown left to right: Mayor Frank Charles, Robin Burchfield (President, St. Augustine/St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce), Jill Atwood (Vice President of the South Beaches Area Council of the Chamber of Commerce), Representative Proctor, and Jennifer Sauvage (President, South Beaches Area Council of the Chamber of Commerce). The main Chamber of Commerce and the South Beaches Area Council have been involved with raising money from private sources for this project.

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2005 BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS

Beautification awardees for 2005. Left to right: Mrs. Rich O'Brien, La Fiesta Inn, large business; Joe and MaryFrances Laurenzano, residential; Edmond and Susan McDonnell, Xeriscape; Michael Stauffer, Anastasia Dunes and Makarios, streetscape; Steve Cupolo and Frank O'Rourke, Premier Properties, small business. Each year, the City's Beautification Advisory Committee recommends to the City Commission that owners of certain properties in the City are deserving of recognition of the efforts they have made to beautify and landscape their properties. At its August 1st meeting, the Commission presented the awards to the persons shown in the photo above and for the categories listed. The purpose of the awards is to encourage property owners to beautify their homes or businesses and thus enhance the City's appearance.

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BEACH RESTORATION

In June, the County's second major beach restoration project was started. This project will put 2.4 million cubic yards of sand on the beach from the middle of the State park southwards to the northern boundary of the Sea Colony subdivision. The new sand replaces what was eroded during the 2004 hurricane season at a cost of $16.1 million. The County's share of $1 million will be paid from bed tax dollars paid by tourists. Pictured in the photo above, from left to right: State Representative Bill Proctor, County Commissioners Cyndi Stevenson and Karen Stern, U.S. House Representative John Mica, former St. Augustine Beach Mayor Emmett Pacetti, current St. Augustine Beach Mayor Frank Charles, and Major Eric Stor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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UPDATE ON CULTURAL COUNCIL

Editor's Note: The information below was provided by Ms. Pat Greenfield of the St. Johns Cultural Council.

The St. Johns Cultural Council took over the renovation of the former city hall in 2002 and has been working diligently on this project ever since. We have accomplished much, but there is still a great deal to be done.

To this end, the Cultural Council has initiated a two-pronged campaign to make the community aware of the project and to solicit their aid in helping to complete the renovation of this wonderful old building. It will be the only National Historic building on the seacoast of Florida. More about that later.

The St. Johns Cultural Council's two-pronged campaign includes a membership drive to have citizens join the Cultural Council and thus bring the building to life all the sooner. There are four levels of membership available: individual, group, corporate/business or charter members. Members will be eligible for discounts with the Artists Alliance of North Florida. They will be able to serve on committees and participate in the annual meeting. The first Council meeting is planned for November 8 for members and prospective members and the location will be announced very soon. There are application forms available at the St. Augustine Beach city hall, or you can call Carol Gladstone (501-0652) or Anne Wiegand (824-6995) for information or an application.

The second aspect of the fund raising is the brick paver program, the "Walkway to the Arts" campaign. This has been ongoing for a few months now, and the first pavers can be inspected in front of the building. The second group of brick pavers are due to arrive anytime and will be included in this display area. As more bricks are purchased, the display area will be enlarged. When the building is opened, all the bricks will be moved to the front of the building on the north side and come around to the west side of the building and then extend to the walkway to the performance hall (the old City Commission meeting room). Applications for bricks are also available at city hall at 2200 A1A South.

There are also naming opportunities beginning with $1,000 to name a window and ending with a $300,000 opportunity to name the center. This would mean the name would not be the St. Augustine Beach Cultural Arts Center but "Jones Family" Cultural Arts Center at St. Augustine Beach. Just insert the name you wish to name the center and send your check to P.O. Box 840145, St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080

For more information on membership, please call Carol (501-0652) or Anne (824-6995). For brochures or information on how you can help by purchasing a brick, or to find out about naming opportunities, please call Pat Greenfield at 471-3734.

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CHANGES TO CITY'S GARBAGE/TRASH COLLECTION

SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF HOLIDAYS

During October, November and December, the City will observe the following holidays: Friday, November 11th, Veterans Day; Thursday, November 24th, Thanksgiving Day; Monday, December 26th, which City employees will have off because Christmas Day is on Sunday, December 25th. These holidays will cause the following changes to the City's garbage/trash collection schedule:

Monday, November 7: Regular pickup of household wastes.

Tuesday, November 8: Regular pickup of household wastes.

Wednesday, November 9: Residents scheduled for pickup on Thursday will have pickup on

WEDNESDAY.

Thursday, November 10: Residents scheduled for pickup on Friday will have pickup on

THURSDAY. Also, yard trash/special wastes will be picked up.

Friday, November 11: HOLIDAY. CITY OFFICES CLOSED. NO PICKUP OF

HOUSEHOLD WASTES.

There'll be no change to the recycling pickup schedule.

Monday, November 21: Regular pickup of household wastes.

Tuesday, November 22: Regular pickup of household wastes.

Wednesday, November 23: Residents scheduled for pickup on Thursday will have pickup on

WEDNESDAY.

Thursday, November 24: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. CITY OFFICES CLOSED. NO

PICKUP OF HOUSEHOLD WASTES AND YARD TRASH/SPECIAL

WASTES.

Friday, November 25: Regular pickup of household wastes.

There'll be no change to the recycling pickup schedule.

Monday, December 26: CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. CITY OFFICES

CLOSED. NO PICKUP OF HOUSEHOLD WASTES.

Tuesday, December 27: Residents scheduled for pickup on Monday will have pickup on

TUESDAY.

Wednesday, December 28: Residents scheduled for pickup on Tuesday will have pickup on

WEDNESDAY.

Thursday, December 29: Regular pickup of household wastes and yard trash/special wastes.

Friday, December 30: Regular pickup of household wastes.

There'll be no change to the recycling pickup schedule.

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POLICE MATTERS

Mayor Charles swears in the City's new Assistant Chief of Police, Joseph Sisti. Assistant Chief Sisti was born in New Jersey in 1959 and moved to Florida in 1985. He has over 21 years of law enforcement experience, with 19 of those years with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, where he worked his way up through the ranks. He has created and organized a Courthouse Security Unit, Anti-Crime Unit, Community Policing Program, Bicycle Unit, and Field Training and Evaluation Program. He has received several awards for his performance, including Deputy of the Week several times, Deputy of the Year twice, and a Life Saving Award. He has satisfactorily completed numerous law enforcement and supervisory courses. Currently, he's enrolled at Mountain State University for a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, where he has maintained a 4.0 grade point average and has received the President's Award. He and his wife live in Palm Coast.

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UPDATE OF PROJECTS

1. Sewer System Improvements. The County Utility Department provides water and sewer service to the City's residents. Under this improvements project, the Utility Department will put sewer mains in those City neighborhoods where the residents now rely on individual septic systems for sewage collection and treatment. The total cost of this project is an estimated $13 million. Basic planning is now being done by the County's wastewater engineering consultant. The construction phase will begin sometime in 2006 and will last for three years. It's likely that the contractor will begin putting in the mains in the western part of the Woodland subdivision. Homeowners now using septic systems will have to pay a fee to connect to the sewer main and to deactivate the septic system. The County Commission may reduce the amount of the fee if the homeowner connects to the sewer main within a year after it has been installed.

2. Beach Restoration. For this project, 2.4 million cubic yards of sand will be put on the beach from the middle of the State park to the northern boundary of the Sea Colony subdivision. This will restore the sand that was lost because of the hurricanes last summer and the northeast storms last winter. The estimated cost for the restoration is $16.1 million. Of this amount, $2.06 million will be paid by the State and the County. The money for the County's share comes from tourist bed tax. This project should be completed by the middle of October of this year.

3. Traffic Signal at A Street and the Boulevard. The County Commission has awarded the bid for this project. Construction should begin in October and be completed by the end of December 2005. The estimated cost of the signal is $127,824. The City paid $24,856 to a traffic engineering consultant to design the signal.

4. Drainage Improvements. The St. Johns River Water Management District has approved the CityÆs new water management permit. The City's civil engineering consultant has completed the plans and specifications for a number of projects. One of the first projects will be a stormwater pumping system for the Linda Mar subdivision. An underground pipe will be put along the two major streets in the subdivision, and a pumping station will be constructed on public right-of-way at the east end of Versaggi Drive. The pumps will force the stormwater from the streets in the underground drainage system along the State highway. The request for bids will be advertised in October.

5. Family Fountain. It is to be built on the County pier property between the pier and the former city hall. It's called "interactiveö because it will consist of a circular slab with recessed nozzles for the water. Persons can walk or play among the jets of water. Thanks to the County, the City received a State grant of $112,500 for the fountain. The first step in implementing this project will be to prepare plans and specifications and obtain the required permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The City then will advertise for bids and have the fountain constructed and landscaped.

6. Restrooms for Beach Visitors. The first set of restrooms will be located on the plaza on the east side of the Boulevard at A Street. The second set of restrooms will be put on one of the three lots that the City purchased on the north side of 10th Street.

7. Beach Access Walkway Along Southern Border of London Tract. The London Tract is an 18-acre parcel on the east side of the Boulevard between the Sea Colony and Bermuda Run subdivisions. As part of the approval of the planed unit development on the Tract of 72 clustered residential units, the developers agreed to give to the City the following: the 1.5 acres of commercial property along the Boulevard, less the land that will be needed for a driveway to the subdivision. (the City will keep this land as open space); and a strip of land ten or more feet in width from the Boulevard to the beach on which the City will construct a beach access walkway for the public. The length of the walkway will be about 1600 feet. To pay the estimated $250,000 to construct the walkway, the City Commission may use part of the money from the sale of two City-owned oceanfront lots at the east end of 15th Street.

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DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY

There are three major residential developments and one commercial project planned in the City. First the residential developments.

1. London Tract Planned Unit Development (PUD). It will be located on the east side of the Boulevard between the Bermuda Run and the Sea Colony subdivisions and will consist of 72 clustered, residential units in several three-story buildings. As part of the PUD, the developers have deeded to the City 1.5 acres of vacant, commercial property along the Boulevard and a 10-foot wide, 1600-foot strip for a public beach access walkway to the beach from the Boulevard. The City Commission approved the ordinance adopting the PUD narrative at its July 11th meeting. The Comprehensive Planning and Zoning Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed final development plan at its October 18th meeting.

2. Planned Unit Development for 23 Acres South of 11th Street and East of Mickler Boulevard. This tract has been purchased by Mr. Jay McGarvey and his associates. They propose to build 76 single-family homes on the tract. The planned unit development designation will give them the flexibility to vary the setbacks in order to save many of the tall, mature trees and other natural features that make the property unique. The Planning Board may review this project at its October 18th or November 15th meeting. As an ordinance will have to be passed to change the zoning from residential to planned unit development, the City Commission will also hold a public hearing on the project on a date that will be advertised.

3. Palm Row Planned Unit Development. The original project, as presented to the Planning and Zoning Board, was for 48 condo and townhouse units on vacant land along the west side of the Boulevard between 4th and 7th Streets and for 10 single-family residences along the south side of 7th Street. As part of the project, the developer proposed doing the following: opening 4th and 8th Streets between the Boulevard and 2nd Avenue if the City would vacate and allow to be closed 5th Street, and to vacate 6th Street and two alleys. In addition, the developer would pipe the 2nd Avenue ditch between 4th and 7th Streets; provide walkovers to the beach at 5th, 6th and 7th Streets; provide on-street parking for the public; and provide decorative intersections on the Boulevard. The Planning Board reviewed the proposed development at its August 16th meeting and approved the 48 condo and townhouse units but not the 10 single-family residences. The City Commission at its October 10th meeting will be asked to vacate the alleys and the streets and to pass on first reading an ordinance to rezone the property to planned unit development.

4. Major Commercial Development. It is a proposed condominium hotel that will be built on the west side of the Boulevard on the north and south sides of 12th Street. On the south side is currently a 14-unit, single-story motel called the Sea Way. On the north side is a single-story duplex and a vacant lot. Both the small motel and the duplex will be torn down and replaced by a 40-44 unit three-story condo hotel. At its September 12th meeting, the City Commission approved a conditional use permit to allow this project in the commercial land use district adjacent to A1A Beach Boulevard. The owner of the property now must present a final development plan to the Planning Board in either October or November. If approved, this will be the second condo-hotel in the City. The first is the Ramada Inn at 894 A1A Beach Boulevard. Condominium hotels are an increasingly popular form of hotel ownership. Instead of one person or company owing all the rooms in a hotel, each room or group of rooms is owned by a person. The City has regulations to prevent the rooms in a condo-hotel from being used for long-term occupancy similar to the way a residential condominium unit is used.

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LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD CITIZENS

The City's Code Enforcement Board needs new members from time to time. The Board meets every three or four months, either to discuss code enforcement matters and problems or to consider a case. The most recent case involved upholding the Building Official's decision to condemn a dilapidated commercial property on A1A Beach Boulevard. This was a very significant case because of the property's value and its location. The Board required the owner to demolish the building within 120 days. By such actions, the Code Enforcement Board helps improve the City's quality of life. If you are interested in serving on it, please pick up an application form at the City Manager's office, or one can be mailed or faxed to you. You can call 471-2122 for the form.

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Mayor Charles swears in the City's newest Patrol Officer,

Mr. David Thomas. Officer Thomas is 30 years old and a

Florida native. He was hired by the St. Augustine Beach

Police Department after graduating from the Daytona Beach

Community College Law Enforcement Program and passing

the Florida Police Officer Certification Test. He previously

worked as a security guard and lives in St. Augustine with

his wife, Michelle.

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NOTICE

In respect for the City's Jewish residents, the City Commission has scheduled its October meeting to be held on the second Monday in October, which is the 10th, because of the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashannah, on Monday and Tuesday, October 3rd and 4th.

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WHERE WE'VE BEEN...

During the past three months, the City Commission made the following decisions, among many:

1. Approved the following ordinances:

- to vacate the alley in the block of the Coquina Gables subdivision that's between B and C Streets.

- to adopt regulations for condominium hotels.

- to allow for the setting of fees for the City's administrative services.

2. Approved the following resolutions:

- to adopt the St. Johns County Local Mitigation Strategy Plan.

- to amend the Personnel Manual to authorize the Police Chief and the City Manager to negotiate additional accrued leave and moving expenses for management employees.

- to authorize the City to assume ownership of the streets in the Overby-Gargan unrecorded subdivision, which is a small subdivision north of Versaggi Drive.

- to support the placement of a veterans nursing home in St. Johns County.

- to consent to the assignment of the cable-TV franchise from Time Warner Cable to Comcast.

- to amend the Fiscal Year 2005 budget for various appropriations.

3. Did the following miscellaneous actions:

- approved an emergency purchase of an air handler for the Police station.

- appointed Mayor Charles as the City's official voting delegate at the Florida League of CitiesÆ annual conference in August.

- approved the purchase of sod and a fountain for the Lakeside Park south of the police station.

- approved the Building Official's request to purchase a pickup truck under State contract for $12,420.

- approved renewing the policies for liability, property and workers' compensation insurance with the Florida League of Cities. The City had advertised for bids. The only response received by the deadline was the League.

- approved a title search being done of the former Riptides Restaurant property, 321 A1A Beach Boulevard, as part of a code enforcement action by the Building Official.

- approved replacing the carpet in certain areas of the city hall meeting areas and offices with tile.

- upheld the Planning Board's decision to deny a variance to reduce the rear yard setback from 25 feet to 15 feet for an addition to an existing single-family residence at 3 9th Street.

- determined that the front of the house at 3 9th Street is that side which faces the ocean.

- approved the Villa Santa Monica Restaurant, 105 D Street, having a business sign on the adjacent City-owned plaza on the Boulevard.

- terminated the agreement with the St. Augustine Humane Society for animal control services in the City and approved an interlocal agreement for the County to provide the services. The City for Fiscal Year 2006 will pay to the County the $21,000 that it would have paid to the Humane Society. For Fiscal Year 2007, the CityÆs payment for animal control services will stop. The services will be funded by the County taxes that all City property owners pay.

- approved an interlocal agreement with the County under which the County will provide back to the City a certain percentage of the impact fees collected for roads, parks, law enforcement and public buildings. Previously, the City had collected the impact fees for the County and had transferred the entire amount to the County. Now, only 100% of the impact fees collected for schools and for emergency medical and fire services will be sent to the County.

- approved the placement of speed humps on Atlantic Oaks Circle and at the intersection of F Street and 5th Avenue to slow traffic.

- postponed a decision on whether to amend the City's occupational license regulations to create the category of e-business and to permit this in residential areas of the City.

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WHERE WE'RE GOING...

During the next three months, the City Commission will consider the following topics, among many:

1. Amendments to the City Charter. At this time, there are two proposed amendments. The first will be to set the height of buildings at 35 feet. At this time, the City's Land Development Regulations limit the height of buildings to 35 feet. However, as these Regulations can be changed simply by an ordinance approved by three of the five Commissioners, it's been proposed to make it much more difficult for future City Commissions to change the height limit by putting the limit in the City Charter. As a Charter provision, the 35-foot limit could then be changed only by a vote of the people in a referendum. At its September 12th meeting, the City Commission discussed an ordinance to amend the Charter and decided to postpone to its October 10th meeting a final decision on whether to put the wording on the ballot for the September 5, 2006 primary election.

The second proposed Charter amendment is to allow the City Commission to decide whether it should receive a monthly stipend for the services the Commissioners perform on behalf of the City. Since the City was founded in 1959, the Mayor and Commissioners have served the City without compensation other than expenses (hotel rooms, registration, meals, etc.) that the City has paid with the Commissioners have attended conferences. At its September 12th meeting, the Commission approved a resolution with the wording that will be on the ballot for the September 5th primary election.

2. Visioning Plan for A1A Beach Boulevard. As the Boulevard is the City's "main Street," the City Commission has decided that it's time for the City to plan what types of development and redevelopment it wants to encourage along the Boulevard. Also, there's a need t pull together and consolidate a number of plans for the Boulevard, such as traffic calming. Scenic Highway and Avenue of Palms plans so that a coherent "vision" of the Boulevard's future is developed. To help the City create the vision, the City Commission at its August 15th special meeting hired the firm of Wallace, Roberts and Todd of Coral Gables. The firm will develop a three-phase plan. Phase one will be project mobilization; phase two, the community assessment and vision; phase three, plan development.. There is an optional fourth phase, which will be plan implementation. The cost of the first phase will be $10,000, with phases two and three costing an additional $65,000. The Commission does have the option of terminating the contract at any time. The first step of Phase One is the appointing of a steering committee composed of persons from the Commission as well as other City boards and committees, plus City residents and the owners of properties along the Boulevard. The Commission at its September 12th meeting told the City Manger to select from the 23 applicants 20 persons to serve on the committee. The committee's first meeting will be held on a date in October which has yet to be determined. All steering committee meetings will be open to the public, and public comment during the meetings will be welcomed.

3. Upcoming Cultural Council's Lease with City for Use of Former City Hall. The Council has a 25-year lease that was approved in September 2001. The lease had certain dates for the Council to meet for its renovation and use of the former city hall. As the dates hadn't been met, Commissioner Terrill asked the Commission to consider the Council in default of the lease. The Commission asked the Council's representatives to provide a revised lease for consideration at the Commission's October 10th meeting.

4. Sale of City Property. The property is two lots on the south side of 15th Street at its east end by the beach. The lots were given to the City in 1996 by the owner of the Hampton Inn property when the City vacated the unbuilt section of 15th Street east of the Boulevard so that the Inn could be built across what was the 15th Street right-of-way. The City Commission for several years has debated what to do with these lots: whether to make them a parking lot for beach visitors, a park, or a combination park and parking lot. At its September 125h meeting, the Commission approved advertising the lots for sale by sealed bid. Persons interested in submitting a bid for the two lots can obtain information from the City Manager's office (471-2122; e-mail address: sabadmin@bellsouth.net). Money from the sale of the lots will be used for such beach-related purposes as the construction of a beach access walkway from the boulevard along the southern boundary of the London Tract development north of the Sea Colony subdivision.

5. Animal Control Services. Since September 1990, the City has had an agreement with the St. Augustine Humane Society for the Society to enforce the City's regulations concerning dogs. For a yearly fee, the Society provided 20 hours of patrol in the City by its enforcement officers, as well as caring at the shelter for any stray dogs picked up by the officers or brought to the shelter by City residents. The city of St. Augustine had a similar arrangement with the Humane Society. Recently, St Augustine proposed to our City that we joint with it to have the County provide animal control services to both cities. For the first year, the two cities would pay to the County the same yearly fee they gave to the Humane Society After that first year, the County would provide the service with the costs to be paid from the County taxes that the property owners of each city pay each year. At its September 12th meeting, the City Commission approved terminating the agreement with the Humane Society. A new interlocal agreement with the County will have to be approved, and the Commission will consider at its October 10th meeting adopting the County's animal control regulations.

6. Drainage Improvements, Whispering Oaks Subdivision. The improvements are tied to a conditional use permit that will allow local developers to build an 18-unit condominium on a parcel adjacent to the Whispering Oaks subdivision. Crucial for approval of the permit is the developers obtaining from the St. Johns River Water Management District approval of a drainage plan that corrects certain drainage problems in Whispering Oaks. The Commission discussed the status of the drainage plan when the developers asked at the September 12th meeting for an extension of the permit for another six months. The Commission continued consideration of this request t its October 10th meeting, when City staff is to provide information as to whether the developers' proposed plan to correct the drainage problems is to include Phase III of the Whispering Oaks subdivision.