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

St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Special Meeting – The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners will hold a special meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, in the Auditorium located in the County Administration Building. 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. 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.

Upcoming Board & Committee Meetings

• Planning and Zoning Agency Meeting: Scheduled for October 1
• North Coastal Design Review Board Meeting: Scheduled for October 14
• Ponte Vedra Zoning and Adjustment Board Meeting: October 5 Cancelled
• Meeting Notices /  Event  /  Advisory Calendars

Boards and Committees Public Comment Call-in Participation & Telephonic Public Meeting Information

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New State Executive Order Removes Most COVID-19 Occupancy Restrictions on Businesses and Restaurants –  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-244 on Friday, September 25, 2020, and transitioned the State to Phase 3 of the COVID-19 reopening process. Effective upon issuance, the new Executive Order:

• Removes state-level restrictions on businesses, such as restaurants.
• Provides that no COVID-19 emergency ordinance may prevent an individual from working or operating a business.
• Provides that restaurants may not be limited by a COVID-19 emergency order by any local government to less than 50% of their indoor capacity.
• States that, if a restaurant is limited to less than 100% of its indoor capacity, such COVID-19 emergency order must satisfy the following:
• Quantify the economic impact of each limitation or requirements on those restaurants
  • Explain why each limitation or requirement is necessary for public health.
  • Suspends all outstanding fines and penalties, and the collection of such moving forward, applied against individuals related to COVID-19.  

Executive Order 20-244 supersedes and eliminates all restrictions of Executive Orders 20-112, 20-123 and 20-139, 20-192, 20-214, and 20-223, except as modified per the State. Visit www.flgov.com/2020-executive-orders to review Executive Order 20-244. For additional information, please call the St. Johns County Emergency Operations Center Hotline between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 904.824.5550.

New Hours for Free Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing Site at Flagler Hospital – The COVID-19 testing site at Flagler Hospital is now available from 7 to 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Located in Parking Lot B at 400 Health Park Blvd., the testing site is open 11 a.m., or until the maximum number of daily tests are collected. Testing is available for all ages, and patients do not need to exhibit symptoms, possess a doctor's note, or make an appointment. A parent or guardian must be present for children under 18 to be tested. While insurance cards are not needed, a photo ID is required. The testing site is being funded through the CARES Act. Results will be provided via telephone within seven to ten days. To expedite the process, patients are encouraged to pre-register by downloading the Flagler Health+ Anywhere app, accepting the terms and conditions, clicking on "See a Provider", and selecting the laboratory icon. Patients can then virtually "get in line" for the drive-thru test site. For more information, please call the St. Johns County Citizen Information Hotline at 904.824.5550.

St. Johns County Extends SJC CARES Nonprofit Grant Recovery Program Deadline – St. Johns County has extended the SJC CARES Nonprofit Grant Recovery Program deadline to September 25, 2020, to allow eligible nonprofit agencies additional time to apply for COVID-19 assistance. St. Johns County 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations may be eligible for a grant of up to $20,000, and funds may be used for expenses related to mortgage or rent, utilities, payroll, PPE equipment, facility hardening, sanitizing/cleaning supplies, and other COVID-19-related costs. For eligibility information or to apply, please visit www.sjcfl.us/sjccares, call 904.209.6050, or email sjccares@sjcfl.us.

St. Johns County Featured in Business View Magazine – St. Johns County was featured in the August 2020 edition of Business View Magazine, which highlights the County's ability to balance sustainable economic development and a high quality of life even amidst the current health emergency.  With assistance from Joy Andrews, St. Johns County Deputy Administrator, the article details recent County economic development successes including the Durbin Park and Twin Creeks developments, Northrop Grumman's Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence, and the PGA Tour corporate headquarters expansion. Business View Magazine also emphasizes the various economic recovery efforts that St. Johns County has implemented in response to COVID-19. To read the article, please visit https://businessviewmagazine.com/st-johns-county-fl-balancing-sustainable-development-quality-life.

St. Johns County Launches SJC CARES Nonprofit Grant Recovery Program – St. Johns County launched the SJC CARES Nonprofit Grant Recovery Program on September 3, 2020, to help eligible nonprofit agencies respond to and recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. St. Johns County 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations may be eligible for a grant of up to $20,000, and funds may be used for expenses related to mortgage or rent, utilities, payroll, PPE equipment, facility hardening, sanitizing/cleaning supplies, and other COVID-19-related costs. For eligibility information or to apply, please visit www.sjcfl.us/sjccares, call 904.209.6050, or email sjccares@sjcfl.us.

St. Johns County CARES Program Launches August 20 – The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners is launching St. Johns County CARES, a program to help local businesses, residents, and nonprofit organizations respond to and recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. Applications for small businesses and residents will be available at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 20. Applications for nonprofit organizations will be available in the coming weeks. A financial assistance program utilizing more than $18 million in federal CARES Act funding, St. Johns County CARES provides grants to eligible applicants who suffered loss of revenue or income, or incurred unexpected expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses may qualify for up to $20,000 in grant funding and residential households may qualify for up to $5,000 in grant funding. Qualification criteria and level of assistance to nonprofit organizations are still under development and will be available by the end of August. For more information, please visit www.sjcfl.us/sjccares, call 904.209.6050, or email sjccares@sjcfl.us.

St. Johns County Extends Building and Permit Fee Reductions for Local Businesses and Residents – In order to provide relief for local businesses and residents who are recovering from the impact of COVID-19, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners extended a 30 percent reduction in all general building permit fees. Specific reduced fees include those related to development review, fire safety inspections, residential and commercial demolition, swimming pool fees, as well as electrical, gas, plumbing, mechanical, and irrigation permit fees. The fee reductions are in effect through November 3, 2020. For more information, please call St. Johns County Building Services at 904.827.6800, or view the updated fee schedule at www.sjcfl.us/media/FeeSchedule.pdf. 

St. Johns County CARES Act Funding Program for Residents, Businesses, and Nonprofits – The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners approved Phase I of a $46 million CARES Act funding program in response to COVID-19. The program focuses on assistance for small businesses, residents, nonprofit organizations, and other COVID-19 response-related projects. Grant criteria for each category are currently under development and will be posted on www.sjcfl.us with applications in the coming weeks. For more information related to the CARES Act and funding programs, please call 904.209.6050 or email sjccares@sjcfl.us.

Local State of Emergency in St. Johns County – Local State of Emergency in St. Johns County Details

FYIs

Late Risers Bar and Grille Clubhouse Restaurant Opens at St. Johns Golf Club – The St. Johns Golf Club is now home to Late Risers Bar & Grille, a chef-owned restaurant with a scratch-prepared menu featuring hot, cold, and grab-and-go items. Now open in the St. Johns Golf Club Clubhouse, 4900 Cypress Links Blvd., Late Risers offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options including French toast bites, fresh local seafood, and a variety of salads and sandwiches. In addition, the restaurant offers a full bar that includes beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. Late Risers is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Closing times will be flexible based upon the volume of business. In addition, beverage cart service will be available on the course from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The cart will offer assorted canned beers, seltzers, and spirits, as well as sodas, Gatorade, bottled water, and light refreshments. For more information, please visit the Late Risers website at www.laterisersfoodtruck.com, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/laterisersbarandgrille, or call 904.209.0360.

St. Johns County Public Libraries Introducing Evening Hours Beginning September 15 – The St. Johns County Public Library System is introducing evening hours at all facilities to accommodate the needs of working families and students beginning Tuesday, September 15. The Main Branch, Ponte Vedra Beach Branch, and Southeast Branch libraries will now be open from 2 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, and the Anastasia Island Branch, Bartram Trail Branch, and Hastings Branch libraries will now be open from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. All other library hours will remain the same, and libraries will remain closed on Sundays and Mondays. To further assist patrons, the library's online reference service, Ask a Librarian, is also extending service hours to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, please visit www.sjcpls.org or call your local branch library.

Sign Up for Alert St. Johns Emergency Notification System to Receive Updates during Hurricane Season – With June marking the beginning of the 2020 hurricane season, St. Johns County is encouraging all residents to sign up for Alert St. Johns, a new emergency notification system that provides critical information during emergency situations. Residents can sign up at www.sjcemergencymanagement.com.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season – SJC beaches are home to several species of endangered or threatened sea turtles. Sea turtle nesting season. 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

Boards and Committees Volunteer Opportunities – Current Board / Committee Vacancies

Current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps – Flood Zone Viewer

Events & Activities

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

Old Dixie Highway Sidewalk Installation Begins September 14 – St. Johns County will begin installing a new sidewalk on Old Dixie Highway between Walden Chase Lane and Nease High School on Monday, September 14. The 900-foot sidewalk project is scheduled to be finished in November, and will provide pedestrian access to Nease High School when complete. No traffic closures are anticipated for the duration of this project. For more information, please call 904.209.0266 or visit www.sjcfl.us.

Vilano Beach Driving Access and Surfside Park Parking Lot Closed Beginning September 8 – Due to a beach renourishment project that will restore critically-eroded shoreline and dunes, vehicular access to Vilano Beach will be restricted beginning September 8. In addition, the Surfside Park parking lot and pedestrian beach access point will be closed, and on-beach driving, horseback riding, and commercial fishing will be restricted from Vilano Beach to Serenata Ocean Villas. The project is scheduled to be complete in early 2021. To follow the progress of this beach renourishment project, please visit  www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Shore-Protection/St-Johns.  For more information, please call 904.209.0260.

Temporary Lane Closures on Race Track Road –  JEA is installing electric transmission poles and power lines along Race Track Road. Temporary lane closures will be required on portions of the eastbound lane during the project, which is scheduled to be complete in December. Pole installation sites and lane closures will move each day. For more information regarding this project, please visit www.jea.com/us1.

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