Administrator’s Report – August 6, 2010
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Lead Feature
- County Commission Recognized for Small Business Assistance Program – The Board of County Commissioners was honored in July for the County’s work in assisting small businesses during the past year. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of North Florida (UNF) presented the Regional Outstanding Resource Partner award to the County Commission in recognition of their outstanding contributions of advocacy, financial support, partnership building, and advising in the creation of a St. Johns County office of the SBDC.
In 2009, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved $40,000 to partner with the SBDC at UNF to establish a St. Johns County location, consistent with the County Commission’s number one goal of promoting economic development. This funding is matched dollar for dollar by federal and state partners. Prior to the fall of 2009, the SBDC at UNF provided counseling for St. Johns County clients via a circuit ride one day a month.
Since October 2009, the St. Johns County office has seen 196 clients, providing more than 500 counseling hours. A certified business analyst has assisted these clients in starting thirteen businesses and creating or retaining 67 employees. Additionally, these clients have been successful in obtaining more than $1 million in capital.
For more information about the Small Business Development Center or to make an appointment, call (800) 450-4624 or visit www.sbdc.unf.edu. Read more about the Commission’s award here.
Administration
- Tentative Millage Rate – The Board of County Commissioners adopted a tentative millage rate during their regular meeting on Tuesday, August 3rd. Administration recommended no millage increase for the 2011 budget, and the County Commission formally took the recommended action. Because property values have continued to decline, the same millage rate as last year means on average property owners will see about a 10 percent decrease, although some with significant protection under Save Our Homes may see a slight increase, which is a consequence of state law. Property owners will receive TRIM notices from the Property Appraiser in early September with more information. The Commission will then hold formal budget public hearings on Tuesday, September 21st at 5:30 pm and Wednesday, September 29th at 5:30 pm. Both public hearings will be in the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, and also broadcast live on GTV. The Fiscal Year 2011 budget begins October 2, 2010.
Agriculture
- Continuing Agriculture Projects – A continuing project for local farms involves analyzing data from a Impact Recording Device (IRD) to lessen bruising on potatoes during post-harvest handling. The data will be used to recommend best management practices on equipment to help reduce reject percentage on loads of potatoes, resulting in higher quality and profit for the grower. Also, Extension Services is working with beef cattle producers in the Tri-County area on a mobile processing unit for the sale of local beef at a local farmers market and to local restaurants and grocers.
- Corn Maize – The Agriculture Program is working with Sykes and Cooper Farms once a week during the months of July and August on an Agri-tourism project. A corn maize will be constructed on the farm to create educational, fun experiences for county schools and families, hoping to reach approximately 20,000 or more people.
- Horticulture Program – The Horticulture Program conducted a two-day camp called Flora and Fauna Camp at the Agriculture Center. All projects in the camp are hands-on with one day dedicated to animal related topics and the other to plants. Fifteen youth participated and created projects such as making bird houses and feeders from recycled materials, self-watering planters, soaps and candles, and leaf prints.
- 4-H Congress – Training classes were held with the St. Johns County 4-H Horticulture ID and Judging team in preparation to attend this year’s 4-H Congress. The team won 1st place at the 4-H Congress event which was held at the University of Florida during the week of July 26th and are now eligible to represent Florida at the National Junior Horticulture Association Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, in October 2010.
Code Enforcement
- Political Campaign Signs – The St. Johns County Land Development Code regulates political campaign signs, including placement, size, and removal. Political campaign signs shall not exceed 32 square feet of display area, except in residential zoning districts which shall not exceed six square feet. Political campaign signs may be erected prior to the election to which the signs pertain and shall be removed within seven days after the election. The winning candidate in a primary election may continue to maintain applicable political campaign signs until seven days after the general election. If such signs are not removed within the specified period, the County may remove them and may charge the candidate the actual cost for such removal. Additionally, the signs shall be placed on private property only with the consent of the property owners; signs placed within the public-right-of-way are prohibited and shall be removed without notice. Finally, political campaign signs shall be constructed and placed in a manner that will not harm any person that approaches or touches them.
Emergency Management
- Hurricane Exercise – St. Johns County Emergency Management conducted its annual Hurricane Exercise on July 14th, which simulated Category 5 Hurricane Julia coming ashore in St. Johns County. All Emergency Support Functions were tested along with the messaging system within the EOC used by private and public partners. The exercise was a resounding success with over a 155 participants. Emergency Management staff thanks all agencies that participated and congratulate them on a job well done.
Environmental Services
- Protect Our Water – St. Johns County has recently adopted standards for irrigation and fertilizer application. The irrigation rules are consistent with those adopted a few years ago by the St. Johns River Water Management District, which include watering lawns no more than twice per week during daylight savings time. Learn more about the irrigation and fertilizer rules on the County website at www.sjcfl.us/protectourwater.
- Sea Turtle Nesting – The beaches of St. Johns County are experiencing a banner year for both sea turtle and least tern nesting. Each morning at sunrise sea turtle volunteers patrol the beaches in search of nesting activity and then stake off the nest and report the information to County officials. A total of 677 nests have been reported so far this year, a 203 percent increase over the 233 nests this time last year. Other counties in Florida are experiencing similar increases as well.
- Least Tern Nests at Porpoise Point – The least tern nesting colony at Porpoise Point also experienced a very successful year and is being considered as the only successful nesting colony on the northeast coast of Florida. Other nesting colonies in St. Johns County (i.e. Fort Matanzas National Monument and Summer Haven) experienced washovers from high tide events and predation causing the least terns to relocate to other areas such as Porpoise Point. Volunteers, from Audubon, survey the area weekly counting and documenting the amount of eggs and chicks, and the highest count so far has been just over 50 nests with multiple chicks becoming flight-capable daily. The posted area will remain in effect until the last chick has become flight capable, estimated to be still a few weeks away.
- Surveyors on Beaches – The Army Corps of Engineers has contracted Lowe Engineers of Atlanta to conduct survey work on St. Johns County beaches until the end of October. The surveyors will be accessing all 41 miles of beach to complete the work on ATV’s and trucks. Per requirements of the County’s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), the workers have attended HCP training and obtained a permit from the Habitat Conservation Section of the Environmental Division. The survey crews will abide by the following rules: cannot enter the beaches prior to 8:00 am and must be off by 7:30 pm; no driving on vegetation or in sand dunes, however, they will be walking in dunes to obtain gps coordinates for reasons of survey project; driving on north beaches must be done on wet portions of sand, 15 feet away and seaward of sea turtle nests; driving on south beaches must be conducted in the driving lane; and driving in the Conservation Zone is prohibited.
- Nease Beachfront Park – Environmental Division staff has been working to develop educational programming on natural and cultural resources at the Nease Beachfront Park in Vilano Beach. Last month, students from the Student Conservation Association spent two days clearing invasive, non-native vegetation from the backyard of the house and replacing it with plant species indigenous to north Florida. Also, the walking paths winding beneath the scrub oak canopy are now lined with native plants, and a large butterfly garden showcases several other native flowering plants. Educational signs along the paths inform visitors of the natural communities located in this barrier island setting, and staff has been developing an educational center located at the historic house, opening for school visits this fall. Additionally, a new adult female gopher tortoise was recently donated from the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens to assist with environmental education programs.
Government TV
- Candidate Forums Kick off Election Coverage on GTV – GTV recently broadcasted two candidate forums hosted by the St. Johns County League of Women Voters. The first forum was held on July 29th for 7th Circuit Judicial candidates and the Florida Senate race. Eleven judges and one Florida Senate candidate answered round robin questions and gave comments. This forum will be rebroadcast on GTV on Friday, August 6th at 1pm, Sunday, August 8th at 5 pm, Wednesday, August 18th at 1pm, and Friday, August 20th at 1pm. The second candidate forum was for County Commission District 2 and 4 seats. A total of seven candidates spoke and answered questions at a forum on August 4th. The County Commission forum will be rebroadcast on GTV on Wednesday, August 11th at 1pm, Friday, August 13 at 6pm, Friday, August 20th at 9am, and Sunday, August 22nd at 5pm. GTV is on Comcast channel 3 and is also available via streaming from the County website www.sjcfl.us.
Growth Management
- A1A Scenic Highway Projects – St Johns County received three National Scenic Byway grants in 2007 for the design and the construction of a Northern Gateway Sign to be located in northern Ponte Vedra along A1A, a Pier Park Kiosk to be located at Pier Park in St. Augustine Beach, the Pope Road Scenic Outlook located at the end of Pope Road in St. Augustine Beach, and an interpretative sign display for the historic Windswept Motel located in South Anastasia along in A1A. The County has worked with the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway organization and the City of St. Augustine Beach in the development of the construction drawings for these projects. County staff is now in final stages of working with FDOT on various legal agreements and with FDEP on permitting these projects prior to soliciting contractors to bid on construction, anticipated to be advertised this fall.
- 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update – On August 17, 2010, the Board of County Commissioners will be asked to adopt the 2025 Comprehensive Plan. The 2025 Plan was prepared in-house and includes updates required by the Florida Growth Management Law. After the 2025 Plan is adopted, it will be transmitted to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for a compliance review. It is anticipated the 2025 Plan will be found in compliance with the Florida Growth Management Law and will become effective in November. For additional information on the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update and other comprehensive plan amendments under review, please contact Teresa Bishop, Long Range Planning Director, at (904) 209-0581 or tbishop@sjcfl.us.
Housing and Community Services
- Hardest Hit Fund – St. Johns County is due to receive direct access to $961,000 as part of the Florida Hardest-Hit Fund. The funding by the US Department of Treasury and administered by Florida Housing Finance Corporation is intended to provide meaningful financial support for families in the nation’s hardest-hit housing markets. Families or individuals who demonstrate job loss or reduction, or delay in receipt of income may be eligible to receive assistance. The assistance includes financial counseling and working with lenders to modify the client’s mortgage, and in some instances may also include mortgage payment assistance. The St. Johns County Foreclosure Prevention Program provides capacity for the non-profit St. Johns Housing Partnership to provide direct access to the Hardest Hit Fund. For assistance, contact the Foreclosure Intervention Program at 209-0844.
- West Augustine Improvements – Improvements for accessing the Solomon Calhoun Community Center along St. Johns Street and Duval Street will commence this fall. This project will also expand central sewer services for West Augustine residents commencing with the installation of a new sewer lift station. The project is funded, in part, with $210,000 State DEP funds and also provides a grand entrance to the new Solomon Calhoun Community Center.
- Success of USDA Rural Development Funding – St. Johns County has been very successful creating permanent housing for income-eligible families with USDA Rural Development funding. The Direct Loan Program has issued 46 loans with a total of more than $6.7 million since 2008. Additionally, in the same time period, the Guaranteed Rural Housing Program has issued 275 loans with a total of more than $43 million. For more information, contact Dana Moore at 827-6896.
- Housing Finance Authority – The Housing Finance Authority (HFA) of St. Johns County is administering the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) with approximately $2.5 million in funding from the Housing & Economic Recovery Act of 2008. The HFA has completed the acquisition of 17 bank-owned properties and has awarded bids to renovate the homes, which will then provide affordable rental and ownership opportunities to income-eligible individuals and families. Those who are interested in ownership should apply under the County’s Homeownership Program. Applications are available at the County’s website or at the Library. The rental units will be managed through the St. Johns Housing Partnership (824-0902), which will take applications later this month.
- County Receives Federal Funds – St. Johns County is due to receive an additional $109,000 funded under the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), in addition to the original allocation of $514,000. These funds are allocated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered through State Department of Children and Families. The Salvation Army has been designated to manage the funds to provide rental assistance, as well as homeless prevention and re-housing activities for resident individuals and families. For more information, contact the Salvation Army at 824-6880.
Land Management
- Award for GIS Division – The GIS Division won first place in the “Best Cartographic Design: Map Series or Atlas–In-House Copy” category at the 30th annual ESRI International User Conference for the St. Johns County 2025 Comprehensive Plan Map Series. Over 800 maps were submitted to the Map Gallery at this year’s conference, making it all the more distinguished for St. Johns County to receive top honors. Congratulations to the GIS Division on this great accomplishment.
Public Works
- Right of Way Permitting – The Right-of–Way Permitting Section of the Engineering Division continues at a record pace and continues to exceed 2009 levels by 20 percent. Here is a snapshot of some projects: Teco Peoples Gas currently has received approved permits for the installation of over 60,000 feet of gas mains for the northeast and northwest portions of the County, including a large part of Nocatee. A new gas main is also currently being installed along Ponte Vedra Boulevard and Corona Road and will provide service in part to the Ponte Vedra Inn and County Club/Spa and will be owned by Beaches Energy once completed. Also in Ponte Vedra, Beaches Energy is nearing 60 percent completion of the overhead to underground conversion within the Municipal Service District (MSD) which will remove all overhead utilities including electrical, phone, and cable. This project will be completed within two years. Additionally, the recently permitted JEA project along Racetrack Road, which included over 120,000 feet of both underground and overhead electrical lines, is nearing the 30 percent completion level. Within the City of St. Augustine Beach, the major sewer force main project and sewer tie-ins is nearing the 40 percent completion and will allow older subdivisions to eliminate older and failing septic tank systems. Discounts will be given to residents hooking up to the new system within one year after the system is accepted by the St. Johns County Utility Department.
Recreation and Parks
- “Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy” – “Eat, Drink and Be Healthy” is the theme for an event designed to raise awareness and help families with school supplies to be held at the Walter E. Harris Community Center, 400 East Harris Street, Hastings on Saturday, August 7th from 10am to 2pm. The St. Johns County Recreation and Parks Department, Community Resource Center, Health and Human Services, and Hastings Ministerial Alliance are teaming up for this event which is intended to bring sponsors and agencies together to help families with school supplies and to share information about the different agencies and sponsors available to the families.
- Ketterlinus Morning Care – Registration for Ketterlinus Morning Care and After-School program will be held 8:00 am, Thursday, August 19th at Ketterlinus Gym. Participation in the program is determined on a first-come first-served basis, and space is limited. The program will begin on Monday, August 23rd. For questions, please contact Jamie Baccari at 209-0377.
- Super Summer Spectacular – Super Summer Spectacular summer camp is winding down, and children this year have had a wonderful time with arts and crafts, fitness, environmental studies, and healthy activities. Highlights included field trips to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre to see and participate with Radio Disney, watch a movie at Epic Theatre, and keep cool in the water features at Daytona Lagoon.
- Dog Days of August – It is going to be a hot time at Treaty Park during the dog days of August. On Saturday, August 7th there will be a “Fun United Kickball Tournament” at the softball fields. Then we will be gearing up for the fall softball season with managers’ meetings for Men’s League and Coed League at the picnic pavilion Tuesday, August 10th. On Saturday, August 14th, softball players will descend upon the park to participate in an Independent Softball Association tournament. For information about any of these events, please call Joe Shakar at (904) 209-0385.
Utilities
- Ponte Vedra Utility Department Conversion – The Utility Department Customer Service Billing staff has spent the past six months working on conversion of the Ponte Vedra Utility Office’s billing software to the same state-of-the-art billing software used by the St. Augustine/Main Utility Office. During May and June, staff ran both software programs in parallel to ensure a smooth transition and, on July 1, 2010, the Ponte Vedra Utility Office successfully converted. Ponte Vedra customers may now pay with credit card in person or over the phone with a customer service representative, Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Also, they can now pay through the automated phone service (IVR) available 24/7. The IVR will also allow them to check their account balance and/or payment history. In addition, customers may sign-up for the automatic credit card program, a feature utilized by over 2,400 customers per month.
Veterans Services
- Condolences – St. Johns County sends our condolences to the family of Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr., who passed away last week following a bicycle accident. Admiral Collins was the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs and a friend to many here in St. Johns County. We join others throughout Florida in mourning his loss. Click here to read the Florida Vets newsletter that pays tribute to Admiral Collins.
Wellness Team
- “Fresh” Documentary – The Wellness Team held an employee Brown Bag Lunch in July featuring the film “Fresh,“ which celebrates the farmers, thinkers, and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. By purchasing local products you can support your local economy and small farmers, reduce your exposure to harmful pesticides, improve the taste and quality of your food, and protect the environment from fertilizer and pesticide run-offs. For more information on “Fresh” visit at www.Freshthemovie.com.
Closing Comments
- Thank you for taking the time to learn about what is happening in St. Johns County. The Commission and I always welcome your feedback.
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