St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Special Meeting –  June 2, 2020: The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners will hold a special meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, in the Auditorium located in the County Administration Building. It will be followed by a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. The meeting agendas can be found at https://stjohnsclerk.com/records/board-records/agendas/. Under the St. Johns County Emergency Proclamation 2020-03, St. Johns County Boards and Committees that meet during the COVID-19 health emergency may do so remotely and without a physical quorum of the members present. Members of the community who would like to participate in public comment during the meetings may do so by calling 904.209.1265. The meeting can be viewed on GTV, Comcast cable channel 3, or online at www.sjcfl.us/GTV. While all meetings remain open to the public to attend in person, St. Johns County facilities are under limited public access restrictions. Written or physical documentation for a meeting may be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners at 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, FL 32084, or by email at sjcpublichearing@sjcfl.us. For more information, please call 904.209.0300.

View St. Johns County Boards and Committees Public Comment Call-in Participation & St. Johns County Telephonic Public Meeting Information

Ponte Vedra Zoning and Adjustment Board Meeting: Monday, June 1, at 3:00 p.m. in the County Auditorium.

Board of County Commission Regular Meetings: Held monthly on the first and third Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. in the County Auditorium. Agendas | Minutes | Calendar

Cancelled Meetings

• June 1 Cultural Resources Review Board Meeting is cancelled.
• June 11 Recreation Advisory Board Meeting is cancelled.

Meeting Notices /  Event  /  Advisory Calendars

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St. Johns County Plan for Opening Short-Term Vacation Rentals Approved – St. Johns County's Plan for Opening Short-Term Vacation Rentals was approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations on May 20, 2020. The plan outlines details regarding a variety of factors including reservations, staffing, cleanings, and inspections. SJC Plan for Opening Short-Term Vacation Rentals Approved Details

Local State of Emergency in St. Johns County – Due to the COVID-19 health emergency, St. Johns County has been under a Local State of Emergency since March 17, 2020. A Local State of Emergency declaration allows St. Johns County to access resources and assistance to prepare for and respond to local disasters. Local State of Emergency in St. Johns County Details

St. Johns County Public Libraries Begin Phased Reopening for Essential Services – Library branches have reopened for expanded essential services from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Services provided in this phase will include returns, grab-and-go service, and computer usage up to one hour. Staff will assist with material searches and holds. Seating areas, meeting rooms, and play areas will not be accessible. Details of St. Johns County Public Libraries Phased Reopening

St. Johns County 2020 Summer Camp Program Cancelled – After much consideration and in adherence to CDC recommendations and the State of Florida’s safety guidelines, the St. Johns County 2020 Summer Camp Program has been cancelled. The difficult decision was based on the health, safety, and welfare of students and staff, remaining one of St. Johns County’s top priorities. St. Johns County leaders continue to closely follow the Governor’s Executive Orders and phased reopening guidelines in an effort to safely return to standard operations and provide services our residents enjoy. Staff is currently reviewing alternative program options that may be offered at a later time in the summer. St. Johns County apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and greatly appreciates the community’s patience and understanding during this time.For more information on facility opening updates and future programming options, please visit www.sjcfl.us/recreation or call 904.209.0333.

St. Johns County Reopening Strategy – Phase One – In consideration of Governor DeSantis' Executive Order 20-112 outlining Florida's plan for recovery, St. Johns County is launching a phased reopening approach in collaboration with the City of St. Augustine, the City of St. Augustine Beach, and local health care and law enforcement agencies.

"When this pandemic began, no one knew how our community would be impacted. We understood the importance of being measured in every decision we made, ranging from closures to opening strategies. As a coastal community, the status of our beaches has been a significant topic of discussion, and just like the approach Governor DeSantis outlined yesterday, we want to be measured in our phasing," said Hunter S. Conrad, St. Johns County Administrator. "Our community has done a phenomenal job in voluntary compliance of the Governor's Orders, and as a result, this allows us to lift additional restrictions on the beach. We want to encourage residents to enjoy their beaches and continue using that same personal responsibility that has allowed us to flatten the curve locally."

The health, safety, and welfare of St. Johns County residents remain the top priorities in the development and implementation of the reopening strategy. Phase One of St. Johns County's reopening includes:

• Beaches – May 4, all restrictions previously in place on St. Johns County beaches were rescinded. CDC guidelines and social distancing restrictions remain in place.
• Recreational Facilities – All recreational facilities, including recreation centers, pools, pavilions, etc., remain closed and unavailable for reservations or rentals.
• Recreational Programing – All recreational programing, including open play, camps, and league activities, remain suspended.
• Pet Center – While St. Johns County Animal Control Services continues to remain active and is responding to calls from the community, the St. Johns County Pet Center remains closed to the public.
• St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall – All activities and events at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, including farmers markets, remain suspended.
• Distancing and Industry Guidelines – It is recommended that the public continue to adhere to the CDC social distancing guidelines of limiting gatherings to no more than 10 persons and maintaining a minimum distance of six feet between parties. Guidelines regarding restaurant, retail, and other business operations can be found at www.sjcfl.us/coronavirus. 
• The St. Johns County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) – The EOC remains open at a Level Two partial activation. Beginning Monday, May 4, the EOC Hotline will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Local State of Emergency remains in effect.

For more information regarding Phase One of the reopening procedures, call the EOC Citizen Information Hotline at 904.824.5550.

FYIs

St. Johns County Public Library Online 2020 Summer Reading Program – The Summer Reading Program will be hosted online from June 1 through August 1. Challenging St. Johns County residents of all ages to log one million reading minutes, the library's new READsquared website and free app will allow independent and family readers to log minutes to keep track of their summer reading goals. Launching June 1, readers can sign up on t he READsquared website at www.sjcplsreads.readsquared.com and begin logging reading minutes, unlock games, participate in online library challenges, collect virtual prizes, and earn tickets for in-library gift bundle raffles. Participants are also encouraged to attend virtual programming through the Library's Facebook, YouTube, or Zoom classes to stay engaged throughout the summer. The READsquared online program is sponsored by the Library's multiple Friends of the Library groups and the free app is available for both Apple and Android devices. For more information about the Library's 2020 Summer Reading Program and virtual programming, please visit www.sjcpls.org or call your local branch library.

County Boards and Committees Volunteer Opportunities – The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners provides residents who have an interest in serving their community and participating in local government with a variety of board and committee opportunities. Please visit www.sjcfl.us/Boards to view current vacancies,  requirements and duties of each board and committee, download an application, or contact the Board of County Commissioners office at 904.209.0300 or mlundquist@sjcfl.us for more information. Current Volunteer Boards and Committees Opportunities

Fire Rescue Station 19 Opens in Northwest St. Johns County – St. Johns County Fire Rescue officially opened Fire Station 19 on May 13. The new station serves the northwest portion of St. Johns County and fills a response gap in service to the areas near Racetrack Road and Veterans Parkway. The opening of Station 19 represents the cooperation and planning between the Board of County Commissioners, County Administration, Fire Rescue Administration, and community partners supporting the mission of public safety in St. Johns County. A formal grand opening and community celebration will be held in the future.

Florida Sales Tax Holiday Hurricane Preparedness – St. Johns County residents are encouraged to begin hurricane preparedness activities as hurricane season begins June 1. To assist residents in purchasing supplies for their hurricane preparedness kit and other preparedness items, the State of Florida has scheduled the 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday for May 29 through June 4. During this time, qualifying items such as flashlights, batteries, portable generators, and bottled water can be purchased tax-free from any provider or store in Florida. The sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any qualifying item. For more information and a complete list of qualifying items, please visit www.floridarevenue.com/disasterprep or call St. Johns County Emergency Management at 904.824.5550.

The Fire Watch Program and Mobile App – According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately twenty veterans commit suicide each day in the United States. In an effort to respond to this national epidemic, St. Johns County has joined surrounding communities and local organizations in Fire Watch, a program that provides a support system for veterans in crisis. The Fire Watch launched a mobile app that enables veterans and volunteers to foster positive relationships and ensure veterans get the help they need. Available on both the Apple App Store and Android Google Play, the app will allow veterans in crisis to quickly receive emergency assistance and connect them with a variety of local resources and allies that will help them build relations and provide one-on-one counseling and support. For more information on the Fire Watch program, please visit www.thefirewatch.org.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season – SJC beaches are home to several species of endangered or threatened sea turtles. Sea turtle nesting season begins May 1, and St. Johns County officials are asking residents, visitors, and businesses to help protect natural habitat by observing all nesting season laws and regulations. 2020 Sea Turtle Season

St. Johns County Sidewalk Study – The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization is working with St. Johns County to develop a Sidewalk Asset Strategy to identify sidewalk gaps along the County's major and minor roadways. Those who live, work, or attend school in St. Johns County are invited to take a quick survey to provide feedback regarding sidewalk needs at www.publicinput.com/N062. The survey will be used to determine community preferences for the walking environment and where to focus pedestrian infrastructure improvements.

Restore St. Johns Disaster Recovery Program Intake Center Registration Deadline – The Restore St. Johns Disaster Recovery Program Intake Center, a County-based housing recovery program, is scheduled to close to new registrations at 4 p.m. on May 29. St. Johns County residents have up until that time to register for federal funding for low to moderate income housing assistance related to Hurricane Matthew recovery. Registration information is available online at www.sjcfl.us/restore, or by calling 904.209.0152.

New Emergency Notification System for St. Johns County Residents – St. Johns County launched a new emergency notification system to provide residents with critical information during emergency situations. The Alert St. Johns system replaces the Code Red notification system, so it is imperative that residents sign up for these critical notifications. Sign up at Alert St. Johns.  Learn more @ SJC Emergency Management

Current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps – Flood Zone Viewer

Events & Activities

Hastings Branch Library Hosts CareerSource Northeast Florida – CareerSource Northeast Florida will be available to assist job seekers with career and employment-related services including help with applying for Reemployment Assistance benefits, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Hastings Branch Library. Assistance is available by appointment only and temperature checks and face coverings are required. For more information or to make an appointment, please visit www.careersourcenefl.com or call 904.356.5627.

County Commissioner Invitations – From time to time the County Commissioners receive invitations to attend various events. On occasion, more than one County Commissioner may attend and participate at the event.  For more information regarding the Notices for the events, visit the Board of County Commissioner’s Invitations webpage

Projects, Advisories, Status Updates

Alternate CR 210 Temporary Closure – Alternate 210 will be closed to all traffic from the CR 210 to Twin Creeks Dr for utility and drainage improvements through July. The CR 210 and Alternate CR 210 intersection will only be open for east-west travel. Detour routes will be posted and motorists are advised to monitor project message boards for updates. For more information, please call 904.209.0684.

Ponte Vedra Boulevard Pavement Management Project – Ponte Vedra Boulevard will be milled and resurfaced from Corona Rd S to SR A1A on May 11. Completion is expected within 30 days, weather permitting. For additional information, please call 904.669.4485 or email tmashburn@sjcfl.us. Ponte Vedra Blvd Project Map

Race Track Road at Veterans Parkway Turn Lane Construction – Construction is anticipated to be complete in July. Periodic lane closures are anticipated. For more information, please call 904.209.0122.

See more Project, Advisories, and Status Updates

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Public Records Requests

Government records may be seen and copied from a records custodian at the County Administration building, via specific County Departments responsible for their own records, from records custodians at Elected Officials Offices and at other levels of government such as state agencies, local, county and state authorities. Public records requests to the County may be made by completing the Public Records Request Form or by contacting the County’s Public Records Custodian at:

Office of the County Attorney, Attn: Public Records Custodian
500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, Florida 32084-8686
E: publicrecords@sjcfl.us   |  P: (904) 209-0805  |  F: (904) 209-0806

For more information, please view the Public Records Request Brochure or visit the Public Records / Open Government page.

 

Special Districts Information can be found at www.sjcfl.us/SpecialDistricts