There are no proclamations on the agenda found here: February 20 Agenda
Consent Agenda Items
A couple of items of interest:
Item 20 is a one-time funding agreement with the Florida State Park Foundation for reconstructing Fort Mose at Fort Mose Historic State Park for an amount not to exceed $200,000.
Item 21 is the appointment of 2 residents to the Mid-Anastasia Design Review Board. We usually see such appointments in the Regular Agenda, recently leading to much public comment.
Regular Agenda Items
Agenda Item 1 – Confirmation of Daniel Whitcraft as Facilities Management Director
Mr. Whitcraft was the finalist from over 100 applicants. He joins St. Johns County from Alachua County where he held a similar position.
Read the details here: Agenda Item 1
Agenda Item 2 – Presentation of the St. Johns County Surplus and OPEB Investment Portfolios
“The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Investment Policy, Section XVII Reporting, and OPEB Trust Investment Policy, Section XV, requires the Clerk, or designee, to prepare and submit a written report annually on all invested funds to the Board. Included in the report shall be a complete list of all invested funds, the name or type of security in which the funds are invested, the amount invested, the maturity date, earned income, the book value, the market value and the yield on each investment. PFM Asset Management, LLC, is the County’s investment advisor and has prepared the annual reports for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.”
The report can be found at this link: Agenda Item 2 – Investment Portfolios
Agenda Item 3 – Hastings Community Center & Library and New Southwest First Coast Technical College Campus
There is a lot of activity occurring in our Hastings community and this agenda item serves to arrange funding to facilitate several improvements in the area.
There will be 5 motions presented:
The first, authorizing the County Administrator to execute a funding assistance agreement by and between St. Johns County and the School Board of St. Johns County, FL for a capital distribution of a sub award of $7,614,108, from the American Rescue Plan Revenue Fund Budget.
The second, authorizing the Chair of the Board, on behalf of the County, to execute a County Deed conveying the old Hastings High School property to The School Board of St. Johns County, Florida.
The third, accepting the terms, provisions, conditions, and requirements of a Library Construction Grant Agreement between St. Johns County, Florida and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services; authorizing the County Administrator, or designee, to execute the Agreement on behalf of the County; and recognizing and appropriating the grant within the St. Johns County Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.
The fourth, authorizing and approving the HUD Contract for Loan Guarantee and Note in the principal amount of not to exceed $5,075,000 to finance the costs of the Hastings Community Center and Library Project; and recognizing and appropriating loan proceeds, debt service, and debt service reserve within the St. Johns County Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.
And last, to authorize the transfer of General Fund reserves, in an amount up to $50,000, for the transition and set-up of a temporary library branch in Hastings.
Details are at this link: Agenda Item 3
Agenda Item 4 – County-wide Vulnerability Assessment Presentation of Findings
This is a DRAFT presentation of the findings from this Vulnerability Assessment with the final report anticipated in March, 2024.
Presentation materials can be found here: Draft Vulnerability Assessment
Agenda Item 5 – North Ponte Vedra Beach nourishment update and Contract Award
“SJC Purchasing Division issued a formal Invitation for Bids (IFB #1677), in accordance with SJC Purchasing Policy, to complete the dredge beach restoration of North Ponte Vedra Beach, as specified. Bids were received on February 13, 2024, and the bid tabulation is provided as part of the presentation. Due to the size of the exhibits included in the Bid Documents, they are available upon request from SJC Purchasing. As part of the IFB, Bidders were able to provide bids on two Bid Options: Bid Option A, which provides for completion by or before 10/7/24; and Bid Option B, which provides for completion by or before 3/2/25, in order to provide maximum consideration for cost feasibility by completion time. Staff will issue a Notice of Intent, based upon Board’s approval/denial, which initiates the Protest Period. Provided no Protest is received, Staff will proceed based upon Board’s direction.”
Presentation materials are here: Agenda Item 5
Agenda Item 6 – 2353 State Road 13 North Venue & Events
This item is to appeal the Planning and Zoning Agency denial of a Special Use Permit to allow for indoor/outdoor wedding and special event venue.
The item had been on the agenda for Feb. 6 and was delayed to the 20th. Details on the appeal are at this link: SR 13 Special Use Permit
Agenda Item 7 – Alternate Bald Eagle Management Plan for the Shiprek Palm Valley Properties
“Bald Eagle Nest SJ-38 is located on Tract A of the Plantation at Ponte Vedra Unit 5 that directly abuts the eastern portion of 4485B Palm Valley Road. This Bald Eagle nest has been confirmed active by St. Johns County since the 2007 nesting season. The properties proposed as part of this request are currently 4 lots of record as defined by Section 12 of the Land Development Code and therefore must adhere to Federal, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, regulations for the protection of the Bald Eagle. The federal regulations include a primary nest protection zone of 330′ and a secondary nest protection zone of 660′. The applicant desires to reconfigure the lots and add an additional lot which would render them no longer lots of record and therefore the full provisions of Section 4.01.10 of the St. Johns County Land Development Code would apply to development of these properties. This would include a 750′ primary nest protection zone and a 1500′ secondary nest protection zone. The request for a non-zoning variance is in accordance with Section 4.10.10.C.4 of the St. Johns County Land Development Code which states an alternative site specific Bald Eagle Management Plan may be development for a Bald Eagle nest when changes to the provisions of Section 4.01.10 are requested, subject to approval by the Board of County Commissioners. The applicant has obtained an approved Incidental Take Permit (ITP) MBPER0032532 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the construction no closer than 75 feet from the nest tree.”
Details about this request can be found here: Bald Eagle Management Plan
Agenda Item 8 – ML Conner Rezoning
Request to rezone .85 acres of land from Commercial Neighborhood to Residential Single Family. The property is located at 6297 and 6289 A1A S/6298 & 62288 Costanero Rd.
Agenda Item 9 – LAMP Riverdale CR 13/Atlantic Road property Phase II ESA report update and request for direction from the BOCC
This had been a much-debated LAMP purchase recommendation. A purchase was authorized in 2023. On November 21, 2023 the report to the Board included a concern that there may be environmental issues and an extension of the inspection period and closing date of the purchase was authorized along with authority to obtain a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment of the property.
Based on the results of the report, there are two options being presented Tuesday.
The first is to extend the inspection period and closing date. The second is to terminate the purchase agreement.
Details are here: LAMP Purchase Review
Agenda Item 10 – Appointments to the Housing Finance Authority
The Authority is made up of 7 members with “not less than a majority” knowledgeable in the following fields: commerce, labor, and finance.
There are 2 vacancies and 4 applications. Details are here: HFA Applicants
Agenda Item 11 – Appointments to the Health and Human Services Advisory Council
By statute, the Council is made up of 7 members including 5 professionals from the disciplines in the Health and Human Services and 2 at-large members including but not limited to areas such as business, banking and finance, education, law enforcement, community religious leaders, consumers and other interested parties in the general public.
There are 2 vacancies forHealth and Human Services Professionals and 12 applications. Details are here: HHSAC Applicants
Agenda Item 12 – Interim County Attorney Discussion
“At the February 6, 2024, BCC meeting, the Board of County Commissioners and the County Attorney agreed to separate effective February 9, 2024. The Deputy County Attorney is allowed to perform the duties of the County Attorney for no more than fourteen days without approval by the Board of County Commissioners per Ordinance 2003-64 Section 3. Additionally, the Board subsequently approved a motion authorizing the Chair and the County Administrator to enter into contract negotiations with Rich Komando of Bradley, Garrison & Komando, to serve as the Interim County Attorney. A draft contract will be presented for the Board’s review and consideration.”
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Beth Tate 