August 20 – County Commission Meeting

The regular meeting of the St Johns County Board of Commissioners was held Tuesday August 20, 2013, in the County Auditorium in the St Johns County Administration Palace located at 500 San Sebastian View in St Augustine.

The following items of business came before the Board for action:

Proclamations – The Board proclaimed August 19 – 25, 2013, as St. Johns County Fire fighter Appreciation Week for their participation in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “Fill the Boot” campaign.

Regular Agenda Item One – St. Johns County Education Foundation
A representative from the St. Johns County Education Foundation Executive Director presented information on a new funding program to support public schools in St. Johns County. The Board requested more information.

Regular Agenda Item Two – Ponte Vedra Boulevard Sidewalk Project Request
The Board was presented with a request, on behalf of the Ponte Vedra Municipal Service District and its residents, for a jointly funded 2.5 – mile sidewalk along Ponte Vedra Boulevard from Corona Road to 960 Ponte Vedra Boulevard. The Board approved a motion to appropriate up to $152,000 in the FY 2014 Transportation Trust Fund Budget to the Countywide Sidewalks Project for the Ponte Vedra Boulevard Sidewalk.

Regular Agenda Item Three – Public Hearing: Vacation of Easement in The Lakes Subdivision

John P. Burnham, St. Johns County Development Review Division Chief Engineer, presented a request to vacate a portion of a drainage easement on Lot 12 of The Lakes subdivision. The motion to adopt was approved.

Regular Agenda Item Four – Public Hearing: Vacation of Right-of-way in Alcazar Gardens Subdivision

John P. Burnham, St. Johns County Development Review Division Chief Engineer, presented a request to vacate a portion of unopened right-of-way within the Alcazar Gardens subdivision. The motion to adopt was approved.

Regular Agenda Item Five – Public Hearing: Vacation of Oak Street in the North Beach Subdivision

John P. Burnham, St. Johns County Development Review Division Chief Engineer, presented a request to vacate a portion of Oak Street in the North Beach subdivision. The motion to adopt was approved.

Regular Agenda Item Six – Potential Qualification for Urban County Status CDBG Program (FY 2014)

Benjamin Coney, St. Johns County Housing and Community Development Manager, presented the Board with notification from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) indicating the County qualifies for potential Urban County status and can participate in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for FY 2014. The County qualifies for HUD formula funding, based on Census Bureau population estimates. The program provides funding for housing programs, community development projects, and neighborhood revitalization. The Board passed a motion to authorize staff to pursue HUD CDBG Urban County status, apply for FY 2014 HUD CDBG funding, and authorize the County Administrator to execute all required documents to complete a formal submission.

Regular Agenda Item Seven – Library Advisory Board Appointment

Melissa Lundquist, St. Johns County Assistant to the Board of County Commissioners, presented a motion to fill a vacancy in the Library Advisory Board. The Board passed the motion.

Regular Agenda Item Eight – North Florida TPO Citizens Advisory Committee Appointments

Melissa Lundquist, St. Johns County Assistant to the Board of County Commissioners, presented a motion to fill two vacancies in the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization Citizen Advisory Committee. The Board passed the motion.

Regular Agenda Item Nine – Public Hearing: St. Johns County Beach Code Driving Amendment

St. Johns County Attorney Patrick McCormack and Recreation and Parks Director Wil Smith proposed an amendment to the St. Johns County beach code, section 5.05, nighttime driving/parking (as provided by ordinance 2007-14, as amended); repealing paragraph 3 of ordinance no. 2007-50; providing severability; and providing for an effective date. The Board enacted the ordinance amendment.

Regular Agenda Item Ten – Board of County Commissioners Rules and Policies Revisions

The Board approved Rule 1.405 of the St. Johns County Rules and Policies pertaining to travel expenses with a 4–1 vote and agreed to continue discussion of the remaining County Rules and Policies at a future date that will be announced.

Regular Agenda Item Eleven – Public Hearing: Land Development Code Amendments

The Board agreed to continue the public hearing on Land Development Code amendments at the next Board of County Commissioners meeting scheduled for September 3.

County Attorney’s Report – Plantation Park Lighting Grant

The Board adopted a motion amending a prior resolution adopted on July 16, 2013, pertaining to the Plantation Park Energy Efficiency Grant.