What’s up next?
The February 7 Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Meeting looks to have a light agenda and that means possibly a much shorter meeting!
With only 4 items on the Regular Agenda, the morning should go quickly. It will be interesting to see how the new process for General Public Comment at a time certain goes. For Tuesday’s meeting it is at 11:30 Time Certain or at the meeting end, whichever occurs first.
Thus far, the “time certain” approach appears to be disruptive and has resulted in more than a few disgruntled residents as they didn’t make it to the podium before the 30 minutes ended and that meant they still had to wait until the end of the meeting. Will we start seeing a race to the line at 11:30?
Consent Agenda
There are 37 items on the consent agenda Tuesday. The Consent Agenda is approved as one item and public comment is allowed on the Consent Agenda. Most items on the Consent Agenda are routine in nature. They include approval of final plats, easements, or bill of sales.
Tuesday’s Consent Agenda does include authorization for a notice about a March 7 Hearing for the Vacation of a Right of Way on Bishop Estates Road and a purchase of 3 new ambulances for the St Johns County Fire Rescue Department.
Another item of interest on the Consent Agenda is the Establishment of Civil Penalties for the violation of the Land Development Code governing Short Term Vacation Rentals.
And certainly, of interest to all St. Johns County residents are the Consent Agenda items intended to address Coastal Storm Risk Management.
Regular Agenda Items
First on the agenda is a request from the Sheriff’s Office to add a Fleet Maintenance Building on the site of the current SJSO Training Facility near SR 16 and I-95.
Second on the Agenda is the 2nd reading of an amendment to the Land Development Code, updating the Office and Professional Services Use code to include Veterinary Offices and Animal Hospitals.
Following this item, the Board of County Commissioners will adjourn the meeting and reconvene as the St Johns County Community Redevelopment Agency. This is a technical requirement so they can shift focus to the next item on the agenda. This item is a request from the Flagler Estates CRA Steering Committee to use funds from the Flagler Estates Trust Fund to purchase 2 parcels of land to increase the size of the Flagler Estates Park.
After hearing and voting on this item, the Board will adjourn the meeting of the St Johns County Community Redevelopment Agency and reconvene as the Board of County Commissioners.
The last item on the agenda is the consideration of the appointment of a BCC member to the Value Adjustment Board. Just what is the Value Adjustment Board?
From the Florida Department of Revenue:
“The purpose of the value adjustment board (VAB) is to hear appeals regarding property value assessments, denied exemptions or classifications, ad valorem tax deferrals, portability decisions, and change of ownership or control. Taxpayers or their representatives file petitions with the VAB clerk in the county where the property is located. See the taxpayer guide on Petitions to the Value Adjustment Board for more information.”
The Board of County Commissioners Meeting takes place in the County Auditorium at 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, FL. It can also be watched live, on-line at this link GTV Live
Or on Comcast Cable in Southern St. Johns – Channel 3, Northern St. Johns – Channel 29 or 26, in Jacksonville on Channel 26
Beth Tate 