How would you spend $ 22.5 million?

At the next regular meeting of the City of St. Augustine Commission, scheduled for December 13th, Historic City News local reporters expect to see final approval given to the issuance of “capital improvement bonds” announced to the public and commission on Monday night.

Of the $ 22.5 million total, nearly half or $9.41 million, will be used for the rehabilitation of Riberia Street and improvements for entry corridors along King Street, San Marco Avenue and Anastasia Boulevard that will include water, sewer, stormwater, road and sidewalk upgrades. Because of the variety of work being performed, these funds will be repaid from the city’s Utility, Stormwater and General Funds.

Improved water service to areas west of the San Sebastian with specific upgrades in the area of Volusia and Pearl Streets and improvements to the King Street drainage basin will cost $4.8 million to be repaid from the Stormwater Fund.

Stormwater projects totaling $2.625 million include improvements to the Cordova/Treasury Street drainage basin and funds sufficient to meet matching funds requirement that will allow the rehabilitation of the seawall south of the Bridge of Lions. These funds will be repaid from the City’s Utility Fund.

Public safety is the priority and included are funds in the amount of $3.165 million that will be used to replace aging fire department equipment including its aerial truck, a pumper truck, and the 53 year old island fire station. There are also funds included here to complete work on the former Riberia Street landfill reclamation project, and to introduce a way-finding sign system to encourage pedestrian traffic in the downtown area. Repayment of these funds will be from the General Fund.

Construction of a breakwater on the north side of the municipal marina has long been needed to protect the docks from even small storms that can do damage to exposed areas. That improvement and necessary dredging will cost $2.5 million that will be repaid from the Marina Fund.

Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield provided Historic City News with figures on the following selected projects to be financed through the $22.5 million bond issue:

Utility Fund Projects
San Sebastian River Force Main – $625,000
Volusia St/Pearl St. Upgrades – $510,000
King St. Drainage – $340,000
Various Utility Projects – $3,325,000

General, Utility and Stormwater Funds Projects
Riberia Street Phase I – $2,900,000
Riberia Street Phase II – $3,810,000
Entry Corridor Improvements – $2,700,000

Stormwater Fund Projects
Seawall Replacement (matching funds) – $1,500,000
Cordova St./Treasury St. Flooding – $1,125,000

General Fund Projects
Riberia St. Peninsula Bank Stabilization – $800,000
Aerial Apparatus Truck – $525,000
E-One Pumper Engine – $240,000
Wayfinding Signage for Downtown – $250,000
Street Resurfacing/Sidewalk Repairs – $500,000
New Island Fire Station – $850,000

Marina Fund Projects
Breakwater and Dredging – $2,500,000

Projects Considered (but not included in the bond issue)
• Alcazar Hotel Rehabilitation
• North Water Works Building Restoration
• Exhibit Hall(s) Construction
• Spanish St./Charlotte St. Rehabilitation
• King St./US1 Corner Rehabilitation
• Francis Field Upgrade
• Establishment of Spanish Village
• Bayfront Band Shell
• Dow Museum
• Riberia Street Park (Galimore Center)
• Priority B & C Utility Projects