Guest Column: Beach commission meeting returns to air

Guest Column: Beach commission meeting returns to air

Undine C. Pawlowski, Commissioner
St Augustine Beach, FL

The TV Broadcast of the City Commission Meetings has been repaired and the meetings will air live again. Monday night is the August regular monthly Commission Meeting (7pm August 5th).

Here is a look at some items of interest on this month’s agenda:

– Congratulations to Officer Frankie Hammonds, who will receive the “Police Officer of the Year Award” from the Sons of the American Revolution;

– Budget Resolutions to account for several items including a generous donation from the Civic Association for a computer system and a Private Grant received by the Police Department from Firehouse Subs;

– Resolution to Surplus and Dispose of numerous items of City Property;

– Continued Discussion on the Regulating the Parking of Storage Trailers;

– Continued Discussion on Work Performance Evaluations for City Manager and Department Heads;

Request by Courtyard Marriott (not yet built) to:

1. Extend the Approved Planned Unit Development – the Marriott has not yet started construction and its PUD will soon expire. This request if granted will enable them to extend the PUD and allow them to build as planned at a later date than was originally approved;

2. Relieve the developer from the original requirement of paying the City $560,000.00. In approving the original PUD, one condition was that the City receives these funds to help offset the expense of piping in the 2nd avenue ditch. The City has just begun that project and its cost far exceeds the $560,000.00 expected from the Marriott project. Today the developer is suggesting giving the city certain lots of land in lieu of making the cash payment originally required.

– Consideration of Ordinances to Allow Golf Carts to be Driven in the City; to Regulate the Sale of Vehicles on Private Property and to Adopt Regulations Prohibiting the Defacing of Public Property.

BUDGET REVIEW AND TENTATIVE MILLAGE:

Last Monday, the Commission met to set a tentative millage and to review the draft budget. The draft proposed an increase in the millage from 2.3992 to 2.5433. There were only three Commissioners present at the meeting: Pawlowski, Snodgrass and Samuels. Although Snodgrass and Samuels voted to set the tentative millage at 2.5433, I did not. Still the draft budget will proceed at 2.5433 for further discussion at the next budget hearing.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT:

Tuesday, August 6th is National Night Out, held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the County Pier Park. There will be food, exhibits and activities for the kids. I hope to see you there.

Please contact me if you have any questions on the agenda or other items and most importantly, speak up on the issues that are important to you. My representation of your concerns requires your input.