The upcoming meeting is another light agenda with no Proclamations to be accepted. The introductory part of the meeting should go quickly.
The full agenda can be found at this link: August 15 Board of Commissioners Agenda
There are several items for review that are more routine in nature. I am only highlighting those items that may be of more general interest.
Consent Agenda Items of Note:
Consent Agenda Item 10 is an important step forward in the widening of County Road 210 from Cimarrone Blvd to Greenbriar Road. This item is to accept temporary construction easements to accommodate the project.
Consent Agenda Item 21 has historical significance to St. Johns County. This item is for the relocation of the Canright House to County Park Property.
What is the Canright House? Here’s the description in the Consent Agenda Item.
“The historic Canright House at 5480 Atlantic View, on Anastasia Island, has significant links to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s visit to St. Augustine in May of 1964. This beach cottage attracted international attention in 1964, and a photograph taken there of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pointing to a bullet hole in the window has become one of the iconic images of the civil rights movement. It was the winter home of Dr. Cyril M. and Winifred Canright which they made available to Dr. King when he came to St. Augustine in May 1964 for the mass campaign that led to the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. Staffers stayed there, but Dr. King had not yet spent a night in the house when the local newspaper ran directions to it on the front page, and segregationists attacked it on numerous occasions, shooting up the house, attempting to burn it, and fire bombing it. These events were widely reported around the country, and increased public pressure to do away with racial segregation. On August 16, 2022, the Board of County Commissioners discussed the relocation of the Canright House and upon motion of the Board, gave direction to write a letter in support for two non-profits organizations in their effort to raise money for the relocation of the structure to Joel A. “Bubba” Williams Windswept Acres Park. The house is currently owned by St. Johns County resident David Manaute, who is offering to donate the structure to St. Johns County. The St. Johns County Parks Foundation received a state appropriation for the Foundation to relocate the structure. The Parks and Recreation Department is seeking the Board’s approval to accept and authorize the relocation of the structure, and authorize the County Administrator to negotiate and execute agreements with the Parks Foundation and the home owner for the relocation of the Canright House to Joel A. “Bubba” Williams Windswept Acres Park, 210 Mickler Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080.”
Regular Agenda Items
Regular Agenda Item 1 is the presentation of the St. Johns County Annual Financial Report, presented by Brandon Patty, Clerk of the Court.
Annual Financial Report Presentation
What is most interesting about this item is the timeframe being covered. This report is asking for acceptance of the FY2021 audit results. This was completed in June 2022. Why do we review Financial Reports a year in arrears?
The County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) requires acceptance from the Board of County Commissioners. The Report is prepared by the Clerk Comptroller’s Office. As a final step, the Board should accept the FY 2021 ACFR as audited by MSL, P.A., the County’s auditing firm. The ACFR and SAS 114 letter is available on the Clerk’s website, which can be accessed from the County’s webpage, at the following link:
St. Johns County Financial Report
Regular Agenda Item 2
Sallie O’Hara will be presenting on behalf of the Hastings Main Street Program. The Florida Main Street Program solicits applications for Florida Main Street Program designations each year. These are intended to improve economic development within the context of historic preservation. The focus of these programs are to
a) create jobs through revitalizing districts attracting new industry and strengthening services and retail job markets
b) save tax dollars through revitalization and strengthening of the area’s tax base, while also protecting existing investments
c) preserve the community’s historic resources for an economically healthy downtown and preservation of the community’s heritage
d) build community pride providing a public space for members from all areas of the community to come together, create new partnerships, and celebrate their downtown.
Hastings is submitting an application and these require the support of local Government through a resolution.
Hastings Main Street Presentation
Regular Agenda Item 4 is a request to modify the Cumberland Industrial Park PUD to add permitted and special uses to Parcels A and B. This is located at 1301 and 1405 County road 210 West. Cumberland Industrial Park PUD
Regular Agenda Item 12 is the First Reading of Proposed Amendments to the St. Johns County Ordinance which prohibits the presence of registered sexual offenders and sexual predators within 300 feet of specified locations designed for children. Agenda Item 12 – Ordinance Presentation
If you are finding value in these updates, please subscribe to my blog so you get notifications when I publish an update. Feel free to share with others who may find value in the content.
Beth Tate 