NEWSLETTER

 

VOLUME 15     ISSUE 3                                                                                            JULY 2006

 

 

 

                                                             

                                    Vice Mayor Don Terrill (left) and Commissioner Barbara

                                    Ellis (right) receive certificates from the Florida Institute of

                                    Government for completing the Advanced Institute

                                    for Elected Municipal Officials. Last year they attended

                                    the Institute for Newly Elected Officials. The Advanced

                                    Institute provides training in such topics as financing

                                    and budgeting, growth management, labor and

                                    personnel, how to deal with the media, and how to

                                    build teams.

 

 

 

Ms. Robin Nadeau (right) receives plaque from     Mayor Charles for her service as the City’s            representative on the County-wide Land Acquisition  and Management Program’s Conservation Advisory Board. Ms. Nadeau served from 1999 to 2006. The Board advises the County Commission on the purchase of land for conservation and other public purposes and to  protect it from development                                                                                                                  

 

 

 

 

  Mr. William Rosenstock (right) receives plaque for his service to the City as a member of the Code Enforcement Board. Mr. Rosenstock served from 1999 to 2006 and was its Chairman for 2005 to 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                    Mr. Mick Orlando (right), Public Works Drainage

                                    Technician, receives plaque in recognition of his

                                    15 years of employment with the City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mr. Ted Bennett (right), Public Works Equipment

  Operator, receives a plaque marking his 20th year of employment with the City. Mr. Bennett’s father, Robert, also worked for many years for the City in  the 1970s and 80s as a Public Works employee.

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

                 CHANGES TO CITY’S GARBAGE/TRASH COLLECTION SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF HOLIDAYS

 

 

During July, August and September, the City will observe the following holidays, which will change the garbage, trash collection schedule: Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4th; and Labor Day, Monday, September 4th. The changes will be as follows:

 

            Monday, July 3:                      Regular pickup of household wastes

            Tuesday, July 4:                     HOLIDAY. CITY OFFICES CLOSED. NO PICKUP

                                                            OF HOUSEHOLD WASTES.

            Wednesday, July 5:               Residents scheduled for pickup on Tuesday will have pickup on WEDNESDAY. THERE’LL BE PICKUP OF

                                                            YARD TRASH ON WEDNESDAY BUT NOT ANY

                                                            OTHER SPECIAL WASTES.

            Thursday, July 6:                    Regular pickup of household wastes.

            Friday, July 7:                        Regular pickup of household wastes.

 

                       

 

            Monday, September 4:         HOLIDAY. CITY OFFICES CLOSED. NO PICKUP

                                                            OF HOUSEHOLD WASTES.

            Tuesday, September 5:        Residents scheduled for pickup on Monday will have pickup on TUESDAY.

            Wednesday, September 6:  Residents scheduled for pickup on Tuesday will have

                                                            pickup on WEDNESDAY. THERE’LL BE PICKUP OF

                                                            YARD TRASH ON WEDNESDAY BUT NO OTHER

                                                            SPECIAL WASTES.

            Thursday, September 7:       Regular pickup of household wastes.

            Friday, September 8:            Regular pickup of household wastes.

 

                        For both holidays, there will be no change to the pickup schedule

                        for recyclables.

 

                             

                                                

NEW REGULATIONS

 

There are three new regulations that apply to St. Augustine Beach. One is the new watering regulation adopted by the St. Johns River Water Management District. The second is the adoption by the City of the County’s animal control regulations. The third prohibits the possession, sale or use of fireworks in the City.

 

1.         Watering Regulations. The new regulation restricts lawn and landscape irrigation to two days a week. The regulation applies to persons using municipal water for irrigation, as well as to private well owners and to irrigation from any water source, including surface water from rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs and canals. However, lawn and landscape irrigation that uses the following water sources is allowed anytime: reclaimed water, recycled water from wet detention treatment ponds (provided the ponds aren’t augmented from any ground or off-site surface water or public water supply sources); and water discharged from a water-to-air air conditioning unit or other water-dependent cooling system. Residents can select the two days of the week when they want to irrigate, as the City Commission has decided not to adopt an ordinance which would have specified the days when irrigation can be done. There are exceptions to the two-day a week limit, such as for new lawns and landscaping. However, the rule prohibiting watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily remains in effect. Residents with questions about the new regulation can find information on the District’s website (www.sjrwmd.com), or they can call the District at 386-329-4500 or 1-800-451-7106.

 

2.         Animal Control Regulations. St. Johns County now provides animal control services to the City. Previously, the City had a contract with the St. Augustine Humane Society and paid the Society a yearly fee to enforce various regulations concerning dogs. With the County, the taxes paid by City property owners to the County pay for animal control services. The County’s regulations regulate cats as well as dogs, defines what is a “dangerous dog” and “dangerous cat,” has procedures for dealing with dogs and cats that injure people, and require dogs and cats when off the owners’ property to be leashed. This applies especially to the beach, where in the past, some dog owners have allowed their pets to romp unleashed in the water, which was outside the City’s jurisdiction. The County’s regulations apply to both the wet and dry areas of the beach, as well as to public and private streets and to private property where a dog or cat may trespass. Persons with questions about the County’s animal control regulations may call the Animal Control Department at 209-0746. A copy of the regulations can be obtained at the City Manager’s office, 2200 A1A South, during regular business hours.

 

3.         Fireworks Prohibited in City. At its June 5th meeting, the City Commission passed an ordinance that states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, store or offer for sale, sell at retail or use or explode any fireworks as defined by Chapter 791, Florida Statutes.” Fireworks are defined in the law as “any combustible or explosive composition or substance or combination of substances or... any article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible and audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation.” The term includes firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, Roman candles, “and any fireworks containing any explosives or flammable compound or any tablets or other device containing any explosive substance.” In short, the setting off of fireworks in the City is prohibited, as is the sale of fireworks. The only exception to this prohibition is for fireworks shows which are permitted by the City. This would be a show similar to St. Augustine’s July 4th fireworks show.

      

                                                            
                                                        VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

 

Are you retired and have time to spare? Do you want to do something that’s very beneficial to the St. Johns County community? If so, the Flagler Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary needs members to help the Hospital better serve our area.

 

Volunteers do equipment runs, deliver and pick up menus from patients, deliver and sort patient mail, assist in the accounting office, and act as liaison between the medical staff and families in outpatient surgery. Volunteers also transport patients from their rooms to the various medical offices on the hospital campus, and they serve at the Information Desk, among a number of other services that are very important to the efficient running of the Hospital. Membership forms can be sent by mail or are available at the Information Desk in the Hospital lobby. Interviews are held on the morning of the first Tuesday of each month, with orientation on the second Tuesday of the month. Persons interested in serving may call Ms. Clara Lugo, Volunteer Auxiliary Director, at 819-4411 for more information.

 

 

 

WHERE WE’VE BEEN.....

 

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

 

1.         Approved the following ordinances:

 

$          to adopt the County’s animal control regulations

 

$          to prohibit the possessing, sale and setting off of fireworks anywhere in the City, except for shows by licensed pyrotechnic companies under a permit approved by the Commission.

 

2          Approved the following resolutions:

 

$          to adopt the updated Personnel Manual.

 

$          to enter into an Urban and Community Grant Memorandum of Agreement with the State Division of Forestry for an urban forestry grant.

 

$          to amend the City’s Fiscal Year 2006 budget.

 

$          to authorize approval of an interlocal agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for the City to be reimbursed for maintenance of the right-of-way and medians along State Road A1A.

 

3.         Did the following miscellaneous actions:

 

$          approved the following proclamations: to declare April 2006 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month; to declare the City as Turtle Town USA on April 22nd for the annual beach cleanup in advance of the sea turtle nesting season; to declare May 2006 as Older Americans Month; to support the Stop Red Light Running Coalition.

 

$          approved a special event permit for the Relay for Life at the County pier and adjacent beach on April 23rd.

 

$          decided not to landscape the east side of the City’s Lakeside Park but leave it in its natural condition.

 

$          tabled a proposal from the City’s Beautification Advisory Committee that the City establish a Tree Protection Board.

 

$          approved a license agreement with a property owner to allow him to extend a fence 100 feet onto City property along State Road A1A.

 

$          approved requiring sign-in forms for persons who wish to speak at Commission meetings.

 

$          heard the following presentations: by Ms. Cathy Brown, Executive Director of the Sunshine Bus Company, on the new and improved bus service; by Ms. Wanda Forest from the First Coast Metropolitan Planning Organization on the MPO’s five-year traffic improvements plan for State highways in St. Johns County; by Mr. Les Thomas on the status of the renovation of the former city hall as a cultural center; by Mr. Dan Bosanko, County Attorney, Mr. Allen McDonald, County Finance Director, and Mr. Dave Williams, County Beach Operations Chief, on the uses of beach toll revenues; by Ms. Tina McGough of the Ponte Vedra Beach Coalition Subcommittee on Government Responsiveness on a proposal to have charter government for St. Johns County.

 

$          decided not to adopt an ordinance that would allow the City to enforce the County’s regulations in its two parks that are located in the City.

 

$          reviewed two reports: annual report on development in the City for 2005; and the long-range financial report.

 

$          approved two appointments to the Code Enforcement Board: Mr. Marshall Schneider as regular member and Mr. Alan Anthony as alternate.

 

$          approved a conditional use permit to allow the construction of a single-family residence in the 150-foot commercial strip east of the Boulevard at B Street.

 

$          overturned the denial of a variance by the Planning Board for the construction fo a second-story deck at a house being built in the Whispering Oaks subdivision.

 

$          approved a proposal for the additional civil engineering consulting services to help the City obtain a permit for its beach access walkway north of the Sea Colony subdivision.

 

 

 

NOTICES

 

1.    Referendum on Pay for City Commission. On the ballot for the September 5, 2006 primary election, the City’s voters will be asked the following question:

 

            Do you believe that the City Commission should be compensated for their time commensurate with the average remuneration comparable to surrounding communities similar in size and budget? This compensation will be tied to the consumer price index and will not increase your ad valorem taxes.

 

If a majority of those voting in the primary vote “yes” on the question above, then the City Commission will have approval to receive pay each month to compensate them for the time they spend on City business. The amount of the pay will be determined by a study of other Florida cities similar in size of population and budget to St. Augustine Beach. At this time, and ever since the City was founded in 1959, the City Commissioners have served without receiving pay. The only compensation provided to them is reimbursement for travel, lodging, food and other expenses when they attend conferences, classes or seminars on topics that are related to the work they do for the City.

 

2.    Emergency Notification System. At its April 3rd meeting, the City Commission approved an agreement with the Sheriff’s Office which allows the City to use an automated, high-speed telephone service to notify residents of an emergency, such as a hurricane evacuation. The emergency notification system is known as CodeRed. Residents who want to make certain the system has their telephone numbers may do this by one of two ways: by logging on to www.sjso.org (or using the link from the City’s website) or by going to the link called CodeRed Residential and Business Date Collection page. Residents then can register home and cell phone numbers and addresses. Or, residents can register their numbers by calling 810-6690 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

3.    Date for City Commission’s July Meeting.  Because of the July 4th holiday, the City Commission will hold its July regular meeting on Monday, July 10, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in city hall.

 

 

 

 

UPDATE ON PROJECTS

 

1.   Linda Mar Subdivision Stormwater Project. The Linda Mar subdivision is located on the west side of State Road A1A behind Papa Johns Pizza and the Texaco X-Press Lube businesses. The subdivision was platted before St. Augustine Beach was a city and before there were requirements to prevent flooding from storms. The City is retrofitting the subdivision with a pump and underground pipe system. The pipes will take the stormwater to an underground pump station, where a pump will then force the water westwards through other underground pipes to the drainage system that serves the State highway. The Commission awarded the bid for this project in March 2006 of Kent Brothers of Hastings for $384,950. This project is scheduled to be completed by October 2006.

 

2.    Other Drainage Projects. St. Augustine Beach was incorporated in 1959. Between that year and 1992, except for a few subdivisions, there were no drainage facilities and no drainage master plan. Since 1992, the City has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, as have the County and the Florida Department of Transportation on drainage projects in the City. The Linda Mar project described above is one. The City has about $1.4 million from a bond issue for other projects. These will include improvements to Atlantic Alley in the vicinity of 6th and 7th Streets east of the Boulevard; 11th Street between the Boulevard and the Raintree subdivision; 2nd and 3rd Streets east of the Boulevard; the existing Woodland subdivision drainage system; and D Street west of the Boulevard. The City’s civil engineering consultant is preparing plans and specifications for these projects. The City then will advertise for bids.

 

3.    Splash Fountain at Pier Park.  The fountain will be a flat surface with recessed spray heads and will be located east of the Visitor Information Center and next to the small playground. This is a joint South Beaches Area Council of the Chamber of Commerce and City project. A State grant of $112,500 has been awarded to the City. Additional money has been pledged by the City and has been raised by the South Beaches Area Council from private sources. The initial estimated total cost of the project was $150,000, but because the size of the proposed fountain has become larger, the cost may now be closer to $200,000. The South Beaches Are Council members are raising more money from private sources. The terms of the State grant require that the fountain be completely built by April 30, 2008.

 

4.    Sewer System Improvements. The improvements will consist of putting in underground sewer pipes and pumping stations in the older subdivisions in the City where the residents now rely on individual septic systems for sewage treatment. The new sewer mains will take sewage to the County’s treatment plant at the west end of 16th Street. The County Utility Department has obtained $13 million from a State grant for this project. At its June 5th meeting, the City Commission approved an interlocal agreement with the County that states the responsibilities of each party in implementing the project. The County Commission has approved in concept the lowering of the connection fee by two-thirds, from $2,000 to approximately $780 for each property that connects to the central sewer system within one year after service from it is available.

5.    Hammock Dunes Park. This is a 6.1 acre tract located on the west side of A1A Beach Boulevard between the Anastasia or Publix shopping plaza and the Whispering Oaks subdivision. Its old, high dunes make it a unique piece of property. The City has applied to the Florida Communities Trust for a $2.5 million grant. If the grant is awarded, the City will reimburse the County for the property’s purchase price and then will develop the tract as a park with a walkway through it so that the public can experience its unique natural features, a playground and picnic area, some limited recreational facilities, and an observation deck on the park’s highest dune (38 feet). There’ll be a small parking area with vehicular access to the park through the Mercantile Bank property on State Road A!A. The City should know by August or September if its grant application has received enough points to make it likely that the grant will be awarded.

 

6.    Beach Access Walkways. One, at the end of 9th Street, was constructed in early May. The cost, $8,000, was paid by Mr. Fred Ashdji, owner of the Castillo Real Hotel, as a condition of the City Commission approving the hotel in 2002 as a planned unit development. Another walkway will be constructed some 1600 feet from the Boulevard to the beach along the southern border of the Maratea development, which will be constructed north of the Sea Colony subdivision. The estimated cost of the walkway, 8 feet wide, is $250,000. The County will provide $145,000 from the State grant, and the City will pay the rest from its Beach/Recreation Projects Fund. In 2007, the City will apply for a Florida Recreation Assistance Program grant for the construction of additional beach access walkways.

 

7.    Sea Oats. The Commission has approved the planting of additional rows of sea oats between 3rd and 10th Street for an estimated cost of $8,000.. At its June 5th meeting, the Commission approved a contract with Aquatic Plants of Florida to plant the sea oats and approved a contract with Taylor Engineering to provide inspection and contract administration services. Ten rows of sea oats will be planted in August The goal is for the additional vegetation to trap sand and thus build up the small dune that was established by the sea oats planting project that was done in 2002 by the first major beach restoration project.

 

8.    Restrooms and Parking for Beach Visitors. At its June 5th meeting, the City Commission approved the City staff moving ahead with using the three City-owned lots on 10th Street east of the Boulevard as a parking area and for restrooms. The parking area will be made with paver bricks. The two restrooms will be put on the easternmost of the three lots. Both parking area and restrooms will be landscaped. Mr. Fred Ashdji, the owner of the Castillo Real Hotel between 9th and 10th Streets, has offered to provide $25,000 towards the cost of the parking area. In addition, the County will provide $114,500 for the project from tourist tax funds.  The total cost of the project, restrooms and parking area, is an estimated $228,000. The three lots were purchased by the City in 2004 as part of its Land Acquisition Program.

           


WHERE WE’RE GOING.....

 

During the next three months, here are some of the matters that will occupy the City Commission’s attention:

 

1.    Vision Plan for A1A Beach Boulevard. For several moths, a committee appointed by the City Commission has held monthly meetings with a consultant. The purpose is to develop a long-range “vision” or plan for that section of te Boulevard between Pope Road and F Street. The topics considered include types of land uses; putting parking behind the businesses; landscaping along the Boulevard and uses of the City-owned plazas;  improvements to various intersections for pedestrian safety and the creation of “gateways” to the City at Pope Road and F Street; and the creation of a “town center” at A Street between the Boulevard and the beach. Though there are many buildings along the Boulevard now, there will be in future years redevelopment as the older buildings are torn down. The goal of the Boulevard vision project is to give the City Commission a means to control the types of uses redevelopment will bring and thus to create a “look” for the Boulevard that will be attractive.

 

ON RELATED MATTERS: The first is the development of architectural styles for buildings along the Boulevard. At its April 18th meeting, the Planning Board asked the City Commission to direct the City staff to provide ideas for architectural styles. The Commission approved this directive at its May 1st meeting. The ideas and examples will be discussed by the Planning Board at its June meeting, while this Newsletter is being prepared for mailing. The likely outcome of the Board’s discussion whether at the June or July meeting will be to recommend to the City Commission the adoption of particular architectural styles for commercial buildings. The Commission then will decide whether to adopt ordinances that will mandate particular architectural styles and other features, such as business signs.

 

The second is building height. At its June 5th meeting, the City Commission decided not to ask the voters at the September 5th primary to put in the City Charter a specific building height. Instead, the Commission will deal with any refinements to the City’s existing height regulations in the Land Development Regulations. At this time, the maximum permitted height is 35 feet above grade, with only 27 feet allowed for residential buildings in the commercial strip on either side of A1A Beach Boulevard. Possible changes to the height regulations could allow some variance to the 35-foot limit for architectural features such as non-living areas (parapet walls, decorative towers, etc.)

 

2.    Proposed Developments Along the Boulevard. In the coming months, it’s very likely that the Commission will be asked to approve developments that concern two areas on the Boulevard: the old Sea Shore Motel property on the east side of the Boulevard between 11th and 12th Streets; and the mostly vacant property on the west side of the Boulevard between 4th and 7th Streets. At the time of the writing of this article, no definite proposal for either area has been received by the City. There has been discussion with the Building Department staff about the existing permitted land uses (commercial and residential) for the Sea Shore Motel property, and a mixed residential/commercial development for the property between 4th and 7th Streets. Once a definite proposal is received by the City for either property, it will be presented to the Planning Board for review.

 

3.   Amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. There are two ordinances which will amend sections of the Plan. The first is one that will change the level of service for peak hour traffic for all types of roads in the City, except A1A Beach Boulevard, from a D to a C. This change will match the level of service for traffic that the County has adopted for 16th, 11th and A Streets, which are owned and maintained by the County.

 

The second ordinance amends various elements of the Comp Plan: Intergovernmental Coordination, Recreation/Open Space, Conservation/Coastal Management, and Infrastructure. The purpose of the amendments is to put in the Comp Plan the Land Acquisition Program that the City Commission started in early 2003, and to strengthen existing policies and to add new ones, such as in the Intergovernmental Coordination Element that put in the Plan the coordination the City already does with other governmental agencies for the protection of environmentally sensitive lands and for the issuance of permits.

 

Both ordinances will be scheduled for a public hearing at the City Commission’s July 10th meeting. The ordinances then will be forwarded for review to the Florida Department of Community Affairs and other agencies. A final pubic hearing will be scheduled after the review.

 

4.   Review of Fiscal Year 2007 Budget. The FY 07 year will begin on October 1, 2006 and end on September 30, 2007. During June, the City staff has prepared the proposed budget. The target date for forwarding it to the City Commission is July 10th, with the suggestion that a special meeting be scheduled for Monday, July 24th for the Commission to discuss the budget in detail. Usually at this special meeting, the Commission makes decisions concerning employee pay raises and medical insurance, special projects and major expenditures, and the tentative property tax millage for FY 07. At this time, the millage is 2 mills ($2 for every $1,000 of assessed value of real property). One major project will be the acquisition of two lots on 11th Street east of the Boulevard. The City has an option to buy these two lots.

 

ON A RELATED MATTER: This is the use of the $1,251,510 that the City will receive from the sale of two oceanfront lots at the end of 15th Street. The City administration will suggest to the Commission that the money be used for beach-related projects, such as the beach access walkway north of the Sea Colony subdivision and to pave off-beach parking areas (A Street, 8th Street) with paver bricks.

 

5.    Annexation of Zaharias Restaurant Property. The restaurant is located on the west side of the State highway south of the Winn Dixie Supermarket. The owner of the property has requested that the City annex the property. Initial plans are for the restaurant to be town down and replaced by a two-story office condo building. At its June 5th meeting, the City Commission passed on first reading three ordinances: the first to annex the restaurant property into the City; the second to amend the City’s Comp Plan to include the annexed area in the Plan’s Future Land Use Element and to designate the land as commercial. The third ordinance is to change the zoning of the property from its County designation of Commercial General to its City designation of Commercial. The Commission will hold a public hearing on these three ordinances at its July 10th meeting.                        

 

6.    Nights of Lights Event 2006/2007. St Augustine has tens of thousands of lights decorating its public buildings and other public areas every winter holiday season between the middle of November and the end of January. The lighting for St. Augustine Beach is considerably less impressive. The City Commission will consider a proposed multi-year effort to upgrade the lighting in the City. The likely focal point will be the pier park area and the buildings adjacent to it, as well as certain plazas along the Boulevard, the city hall complex and police station, Lakeside Park, and the city’s north and south entrances. The pole decorations would continue to be put up. The City Commission at its July or August meeting will discuss hiring Angels in the Architecture to put up, maintain and take down the lights. Angels does the same work for the City of St. Augustine. Money for our City’s expanded Nights of Lights will come from bedtax money that is collected by the Tourist Development Council.

 

7.    Fireworks Show, December 31, 2006. To mark New Year’s Eve, the City Commission has approved the City presenting a fireworks show at about 9 p.m. It will be held on the beach in front of the pier parking lot. A fireworks company based in Flagler County will be hired to present a 15-minute show. The show’s estimated $25,000 cost will be paid from tourist tax funds. In the October newsletter, there will be updated information about the show.

 

8.    Consideration of Ordinances. At its July 10th meeting, the Commission will consider the following ordinances on first reading: to require 1.15 parking spaces per hotel/motel room instead of one space; to require notification of property owners within 300 feet of any City property requested for private use, and to require notification of owners of property adjacent to an area where the City plans to put a public improvement, such as a sidewalk. The third ordinance is to require the Building Department to notify homeowners’ associations of proposed development/redevelopment in their subdivisions.

9.    Renewal of Cable-TV Franchise. At its June 5th meeting, the Commission approved an agreement with Time Warner to renew the cable-TV franchise agreement for ten years. An ordinance to formally adopt the agreement will have a public hearing at the Commission’s July 10th meeting. Under the agreement’s terms, Time Warner is to provide equipment that will enable the City to televise live its meetings and possibly those of the Planning Board. This could occur within 90 days of the approval of the franchise ordinance.