Recap of County Commission actions

Historic City News readers will want to remain abreast of the following actions taken in yesterday’s county commission meeting.

The first half of the meeting was called to order by Chairman Jay Morris with only four members present. Former Chairman and senior Commissioner, Cyndi Stevenson, had circulated an e-mail announcing that her father had passed away during the night and she was at his home in Daytona Beach.

Despite a prior vote to extend the County Attorney’s contract for six-months, allowing time for due diligence by commission members, Chairman Morris circumvented the previously approved process. He placed an item on yesterday’s agenda and called for a vote to approve a four-year renewal of Patrick McCormack’s contract in Commissioner Stevenson’s absence. Commissioner Ron Sanchez and freshman Commissioner Rachael Bennett agreed — Commissioner Stevenson, who returned to participate in the vote, and Commissioner Bill McClure voted against the premature vote.

Special Retirement presentations were made for:
• Library Services employee, William “Bill” Anderson
• Purchasing Director, Joe Burch
• Public Works Director, Joe Stephenson

Proclamations
• The Board proclaimed April 2013 as Child Abuse Prevention Month
• The Board proclaimed April 2013 as Motorcycle Safety Month
• The Board proclaimed April 2013 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Regular Agenda Item One-A
Northrop Grumman Economic Development Grant Application
The St. Johns County Economic Development Agency recently received an application from Project Green, also known as Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, for economic development incentives to construct three manufacturing and office buildings to serve as its new Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence. The project represents a proposed expansion of an existing operation, currently located at the Northeast Florida Regional Airport within St. Johns County. It was noted the company intends to maintain their estimated 1,100 employees and hire 400 new employees within the next four years at a minimum of 125% above the County’s average wage. The Board moved to instruct the County Attorney to prepare the grant agreement.

Regular Agenda Item One
Funding of Debt Service Reserve Subaccounts for the PV Utility System
Financial Security Assurance Inc. provided a Reserve Subaccount Insurance Policy in the amount of $2,019,100.00 for the Series 2006 Bonds and a Reserve Subaccount Insurance Policy in the amount of $2,130,643.76 for the Series 2007 Bonds, which amounts equal the maximum annual debt service on such Bonds. FSA was acquired by Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. (AGMC) in 2008. Recently, Moody’s Investor Service has downgraded AGMC from Aa3 to A2. As a result of the ratings downgrade of AGMC, Resolution No. 2006-21, as amended and restated by Resolution No. 2007-360, adopted by the County authorizing the issuance of the Series 2006 Bonds and the Series 2007 Bonds (the “Bond Resolution”), requires that the Ponte Vedra Utility System fund Debt Service Reserve Subaccounts for the Series 2006 Bonds and the Series 2007 Bonds, in the manner provided in the Bond Resolution, in amounts equal to the maximum annual debt service on such Bonds. The Board approved a resolution authorizing the cash funding of a Debt Service Reserve Subaccount for the Series 2006 Bonds and the cash funding of a Debt Service Reserve Subaccount for the Series 2007 Bonds, with such funding to come from existing legally available reserves of the Ponte Vedra Utility System.

Regular Agenda Item Two
Rezone 2012-10, Boardwalk
The Board was presented with a request to rezone 1.07 acres of land from planned unit development to commercial general. The subject property is located just north of the State Road 16 and I-95 interchange. The Planning and Zoning Agency issued a unanimous recommendation of approval to the Board at the February 21 meeting. The Board enacted an ordinance approving the rezoning of the property.

Regular Agenda Item Three
Planned Unit Development 2012-02, Mill Creek Plantation
The Board was presented with a request to rezone 37 acres of property on the north side of Greenbriar Road from open rural to planned unit development in order to develop a 41 lot subdivision. The Planning and Zoning Agency issued a unanimous recommendation of approval to the Board at the February 7 meeting. The Board enacted an ordinance approving the rezoning of the property.

Regular Agenda Item Four
Small Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2013-01, Irriscape
The Board was presented with a request for a small scale comprehensive plan amendment (CPA SS) to amend the future land use map from rural silviculture to intensive commercial. The subject property contains approximately 3.73 acres located at 11390 U.S. 1 North and was developed with the now closed Irriscape Landscape Maintenance Business. Staff noted the intensive commercial future land use designation would create consistency between the future land use designation and the zoning of the property. The Planning and Zoning Agency recommended approval to the Board at the March 7 meeting. The Board enacted an ordinance approving the CPA SS.

Regular Agenda Item Five
Amendment of Ordinance 2008-45, Summer Haven
Ordinance 2008-45 discontinued a temporary moratorium on certain building permits with a portion of the particular area of St. Johns County known as Summer Haven. The County recently approved a settlement arrangement making section 3 of ordinance 2008-45 inapplicable. In an effort to sunset ordinances or provisions that are superseded, ineffective, or no longer necessary, the Board approved an ordinance repealing section 3 of ordinance 2008-45.

Regular Agenda Item Six
Consideration of the County Attorney Contract
The County Attorney contract was scheduled to expire October 15, 2013. The Board authorized the Chairman to execute a new 4-year employment contract on behalf of the County with Patrick F. McCormack, as County Attorney of St. Johns County.

Regular Agenda Item Seven
Transfer of VCB Reserve Funds for Advertising
This item was previously designated as consent agenda item seven. The Visitor’s Convention Bureau (VCB) presented the Board with a request to transfer funds from category I – VCB reserve and category I – VCB contingency reserve to fund VCB advertising efforts for the 500th anniversary of St. Augustine. The Board approved the transfer of funds.

Regular Agenda Item Eight
Acceptance of U.S. Department of HUD Small Cities CDBG Grant Award This item was previously designated as consent agenda item nine. Staff presented the Board with a request to accept a U.S. Department of HUD grant award in the amount of $750,000 for development of infrastructure improvements for the Silver Creek Assisted Living Facility. It was noted Silver Creek would be located along the State Road 207 corridor, offering future patrons convenient and timely access to medical and social service facilities and other daily amenities.