Upcoming Meetings

• Health & Human Services Advisory Council Meetings: Scheduled for October 28
• Ponte Vedra Architectural Review Board: October 28 Meeting is Cancelled
• Ponte Vedra Zoning & Adjustment Board: November 2 Meeting is Cancelled
• North Coastal Design Review Board: November 4 Meeting is Cancelled
• Mid-Anastasia Design Review Board: November 12 Meeting is Cancelled
• 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
• Meeting Notices /  Event  /  Advisory Calendars

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

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CARES Act

St. Johns County CARES Residents Assistance Program Deadline Approaching – The deadline to submit applications for the St. Johns County CARES Residents Assistance program is 5 p.m. on October 31. The program provides up to $5,000 in funding per household to assist residents who are recovering from the economic impact of COVID-19 with mortgage or rent, utilities, cellphone bills, and internet bills. Eligible St. Johns County residents are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible to ensure the application process is complete prior to the deadline. For grant criteria, applications, and more information related to the St. Johns County CARES Residents Assistance Program, please visit www.sjcfl.us/sjccares, call 904.209.6050, or email sjccares@sjcfl.us.

St. Johns County CARES Nonprofit Grant Program Phase II – St. Johns County will launch phase II of the St. Johns County CARES Nonprofit Grant Program on October 19, 2020, to help eligible nonprofit agencies respond to the community impact of COVID-19. St. Johns County 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations may be eligible for grant funds to use for COVID-related services provided to the community and expenses related to providing those services. 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 Small Business Recovery Program Phase II – St. Johns County is launching phase II of the St. Johns County CARES Small Business Recovery program at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 19. The St. Johns County CARES Small Business Recovery Program helps local businesses respond to and recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. To be eligible, a business must not have received a cumulative total of COVID-19 financial assistance from St. Johns County in 2020 that exceeds $5,000 for business with 0 to 9 employees, $10,000 for businesses with 10 to 30 employees, $15,000 for businesses with 31 to 50 employees or $20,000 for businesses with 51 to 100 employees. To apply for the grant or receive additional information, please visit www.sjcfl.us/sjccares, call 904.209.6050, or email sjccares@sjcfl.us.

COVID-19

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.

Free Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing Site at Flagler Hospital – The COVID-19 testing site at Flagler Hospital is 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 7 to 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 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. 

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

FYIs

Volunteer Opportunities with St. Johns County Boards and Committees – 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. The volunteer positions consider and make recommendations regarding a myriad of topics including planning and zoning issues, development projects, libraries, parks and recreation facilities and programs, and arts, culture, and tourism matters. The following boards and committees are currently accepting applications:

• Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (application deadline: November 10)
• Cultural Resource Review Board (application deadline: November 10)
• Value Adjustment Board (application deadline: until filled)
• Architectural Review Committee (application deadline: November 20)
• Housing Finance Authority (application deadline: November 20)
• Recreation Advisory Board (application deadline: November 20)
• Mid - Anastasia Design Review Board (application deadline: November 20)
• South Anastasia Design Review Board (application deadline: November 20)

Please visit the Boards and Committees Webpage at www.sjcfl.us/Boards to view the requirements and duties of each board and committee or to download an application. For more information, contact the Board of County Commissioners office at 904.209.0300 or mlundquist@sjcfl.us

St. Johns County's NFIP Rating Provides Insurance Discounts for Some St. Johns County Property Owners – St. Johns County has been designated as a CRS Class 5 community based on an assessment of numerous flood mitigation activities the County recently implemented to protect lives and reduce property damage. The rating provides a 25 percent discount to property owners who hold National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood policies in Special Flood Hazard Areas on or after October 1, 2020. Additionally, a 10 percent discount will be applied to all standard-rated NFIP flood insurance policies in X zones. The discount is automatically applied and property owners can locate the discount on their NFIP policy declaration. The designation places St. Johns County within the top 17 percent of all CRS-participating communities in the state of Florida for 2020. The National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System (CRS) is a program created by FEMA that recognizes local efforts to reduce flood risk within the community and rewards residents and businesses by saving them money on flood insurance premiums. For more information, please call 904.827.6800 (Option 5).

Sign Up for Alert St. Johns Emergency Notification System to Receive Updates during 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

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

Vilano Beach Beach Visitors Encouraged to Exercise Caution – Visitors are encouraged to exercise caution when near the sand restoration pipe. When crossing the pipe, it is recommended that beachgoers utilize sand ramps to access the ocean and avoid construction equipment and heavy machinery in the area. Signage will be present where the pipe is submerged during high tides. For more information, please call 904.209.0260. Follow the progress of the Vilano Beach renourishment project.

Vilano Beach Driving Access and Surfside Park Parking Lot Closed – Vehicular access to Vilano Beach will be restricted through early 2021 due to a beach renourishment project. Tthe Surfside Park parking lot and pedestrian beach access point are also closed, and on-beach driving, horseback riding, and commercial fishing are restricted from Vilano Beach to Serenata Ocean Villas. For more information, please call 904.209.0260. Follow the progress of the Vilano Beach renourishment project.

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. 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