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| Jeb S. Smith District 2 Board of County Commissioners P: 904.209.0302 C: 904.325.4182 bcc2jsmith@sjcfl.us ____________________ |
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Upcoming
Meetings
FEBRUARY
2/19 - Board of County Commissioners
2/21 - Planning and Zoning Agency
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MARCH
3/4 - Ponte Vedra Zoning and Adjustment Board
3/5 - Board of County Commissioners
3/7 - Planning and Zoning Agency
3/18 - Tourist Development Council
3/19 - Board of County Commissioners
3/21 - Planning and Zoning Agency
All meeting dates are subject to change. Please visit
www.sjcfl.us
for current meeting information.
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Upcoming
Shows
For upcoming St. Augustine Amphitheatre or Ponte Vedra Concert Hall events please call 904.209.0367 or visit the events
website.
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| Invite a friend or neighbor to register for the St. Johns County E-Newsletters. 
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Thank you for registering for the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners District 2 newsletter. Inside you will find an update regarding projects and events in District 2 and timely information about St. Johns County programs, services, and initiatives.
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St. Johns County District 2 Update
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Hastings Civic Building
The Hastings Civic Building was deemed unsafe and condemned in 2018. As a result, demolition and removal of the building began Wednesday and will be completed next week. The remainder of the demolition project includes site cleanup, adding fill dirt, and spreading grass seed, and will be completed by April.
UF/IFAS Office Consolidation in Hastings
The University of Florida recently evaluated the efficiencies of the two UF/IFAS offices in the Hastings area, including the downtown office and the Cowpen Branch location. The evaluation determined that UF/IFAS would achieve operational efficiencies and cost savings by merging the two offices into the Cowpen Branch location. If approved by the University and the Department of Environmental Protection, this effort is anticipated to occur by the end of 2019. For more information, please call 904.692.4944.
2019 Florida State Fair
The 2019 Florida State Fair will continue through Monday, February 18 in Tampa. 4-H Youth have participated in contests and events throughout the duration of the Fair. For more information, please visit
www.floridastatefair.com.
Putnam County Fair
The Putnam County Fair will be held from March 22 through 30 and will include plenty of programs, events, and fun for the whole family. The Putnam County Fair incorporates St. Johns County 4-H youth in their contests and activities, and invites St. Johns County residents to participate as vendors and patrons. For more information, please visit
www.putnamfairandexpo.com.
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St. Johns County 4-H Updates and Events
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Potato Field Day
St. Johns County 4-H youth and their families joined other 4-H participants from the tri-county area for a potato field day at the Hastings Agricultural Center last month. Youth observed planting machinery in action, planted potatoes by hand, and participated in other projects including seed identification and soil analysis.
Horse Judging Contest Honors
St. Johns County 4-H youth participated in a 4-H Horse Judging competition at the Florida State Fair on February 9. Competing against 10 other teams from across the state, the St. Johns County 4-H Senior Team came in first place, with Taylor Garns placing first in individual. The St. Johns County 4-H Intermediate Team earned fifth place. Congratulations to all competitors on your hard work and dedication!
4-H Demonstration Night - March 26
The St. Johns County 4-H Program's annual 4-H Demonstration Night and Illustrated Talk Contest will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26 at the St. Johns County Extension office, 3125 Agricultural Center Drive. 4-H members from 5 to 18 years old will give presentations regarding various projects, which encourages participants to demonstrate or explain how to make or do an activity using visuals and detailed speaking. Parents, relatives, and friends are invited to encourage their 4-H participant as they present their demonstrations. For more information, please call 904.209.0430.
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St. Johns County Horse Council
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 The St. Johns County Horse Council is a local nonprofit that strives to promote, defend, and propagate equestrian interests in St. Johns County. Since being established in 1999, the Council has become involved in promoting all types of equine activities and raising awareness regarding the economic impact the equestrian community has in St. Johns County. In addition to quarterly public meetings, the Council hosts numerous events at the St. Johns County Equestrian Center for handlers of all ages and experience levels. For more information on the St. Johns County Horse Council, events, and how to become a member, please visit their website.
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Restore St. Johns Hurricane Housing Recovery Program
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 If you own a home damaged by Hurricane Matthew and still need help recovering from the home damage, you can now register for assistance through Restore St. Johns: St. Johns County Hurricane Housing Recovery Program.
To register, use the online registration form available at
www.sjcfl.us/restore/ or visit the Restore St. Johns Office located on the second floor of the St. Johns County Health and Human Services Center (200 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, FL 32084). The Restore
St. Johns Office will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (except for County holidays). If you have questions while registering, you can call the Restore St. Johns hotline at 904.209.1280 or email your question to cdbgdr@sjcfl.us.
Restore St. Johns is funded through a U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant and administered by the County. Millions of dollars are available in assistance for eligible St. Johns County homeowners. For more information on the types of assistance available and to register, visit the Restore St. Johns website at
www.sjcfl.us/restore/. Helping low- to moderate-income homeowners is a program priority.
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Volunteer Opportunities with SJC Boards and Committees
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 The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners provides residents who have an interest in participating in their local government with a variety of board and commission opportunities. Depending on the board or commission, the volunteer positions consider and make recommendations regarding a myriad of topics including planning and zoning issues, development projects, the library, parks and recreation facilities and programs, and arts, culture, and tourism matters. Please visit the Boards and Commission Webpage to view an updated list of board and commission vacancies and download an application, or contact the Board of County Commissioners office at
904.209.0300 or mlundquist@sjcfl.us for more information.
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Employment Opportunities with St. Johns County
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With more than 40 departments and divisions serving the residents of St. Johns County, the Board of County Commissioners offers a variety of employment opportunities that encompass all forms of public service. Jobs are posted weekly with detailed descriptions and salary information. To view current employment opportunities with St. Johns County, please visit www.sjcfl.us/Personnel/Jobs.aspx.
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St. Johns County Updated FEMA Floodplain Maps
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 As of December 7, 2018, St. Johns County has adopted new FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (Flood Maps) with updated Base Flood Elevations and flood zone boundaries. Residents are encouraged to visit the County's
Flood Zone Viewer to verify their zones as they may have changed. Changes in flood zone could impact flood insurance rates and/or requirements. For more information on the updated FEMA floodplain maps, please call 904.209.0667.
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St. Johns County Employee of the Year
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 The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners would like to congratulate 2018 St. Johns County Employee of the Year David Raulerson and thank him for his dedicated service to the community. Mr. Raulerson was recognized at the annual St. Johns County Employee Service Awards Ceremony earlier this month celebrating more than 200 staff members who have up to 35 years of service with the County.
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Sing Out Loud Festival Honored with Quality of Life Award
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St. Johns County's Sing Out Loud Festival was recently recognized with the "Quality of Life" award by the Northeast Florida Regional Council. The Festival was honored for its positive impact to the community and a $98,000 donation it presented to the Betty Griffin Center. The 2018 Sing Out Loud Festival featured more than 270 performances at 18 venues and welcomed more than 25,000 visitors to St. Augustine in September.
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St. Johns County Beach Season Begins March 1
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 The warmer weather is finally approaching just in time for the beginning of St. Johns County Beach Season. Beach Driving Passes are on sale and are required for on-beach vehicular access beginning March 1. St. Johns County resident passes are $50, non-resident passes are $100, and handicap passes are $40. Passes will be available at all beach access toll booths at the following locations during normal business hours throughout the summer:
* Tax Collector's Main Office - 4030 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine
* Tax Collector's DuPont Center - 6658 US1 South, St. Augustine
* Tax Collector's Julington Creek Off
ice - 725 Flora Branch Blvd., St. Johns
* Tax Collector's Ponte Vedra Office - 5430 Palm Valley Rd., Ponte Vedra Beach
* St. Johns County Beach Services Office - 901 Pope Rd., St. Augustine
* St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier Gift Shop - 350 A1A Blvd., St. Augustine
Please note that lifeguards will be on duty from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Beach goers are encouraged to exercise caution while visiting the beach and swimming in the ocean.
For more information about annual beach driving passes, please call the St. Johns County Beach Services Office at 904.209.0341. Visit the Reach the Beach Mobile App or
http://www.sjcfl.us/beaches for current beach access updates and beach driving conditions.
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Fort Matanzas Beach Access Ramp Replacement
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The Fort Matanzas Beach Access Ramp, owned and operated by the National Park Service, sustained substantial damage during Hurricane Matthew. St. Johns County is working with the National Park Service to replace the damaged ramp in order to restore beach driving at that location. The new access ramp is scheduled to open in May and will allow two-way access between Fort Matanzas and Crescent Beach when conditions allow. For more information, please call 904.209.0333.
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Vilano Landing Floating Docks Repair Project
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The floating docks at the Vilano Landing Boat Ramp are currently undergoing repairs and improvements and are scheduled to be open in March. The boat ramps and one floating dock will remain open throughout the duration of the project. The project will address damages caused by Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma, and will provide a more safe and enjoyable boating experience for residents and visitors who utilize the Vilano Landing Boat Ramp. For more information, please call 904.209.0333.
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St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Events and Programs
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 From beaches to nature trails, historic landmarks and fishing docks, Parks and Recreation offers something for everyone. The St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department hosts programs each month to encourage residents and visitors to be active, enjoy the beauty of the County's parks, and have fun. To receive updates and information on programs and services, please click
here to sign up for the Parks and Recreation e-newsletter. For more information on the programs below, visit
www.sjcfl.us.
Spring Break Camp: March 18 through 22
Join St. Johns County Parks and Recreation for a week of fun at Spring Break Camp from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 18 through 22 at Ketterlinus Gym, 60 Orange St. Kids ages 5 to 12 will spend the week playing games, participating in hands-on activities, visiting the playground, and going on a field trip to downtown. Food and snacks will not be provided and the cost is $30 per participant. For more information and to register, please email
sntaylor@sjcfl.us or call 904.669.6612.
Native Landscaping Lecture Series
St. Johns County has partnered with the UF/IFAS Extension St. Johns County office to host a lecture on Florida-Friendly Landscaping from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, March 8 at THE PLAYERS Community Center, 175 Landrum Lane. This workshop focuses on low-maintenance plants and environmentally-sustainable practices. You will also learn how to select Florida-friendly plants for your landscape. This program is free and registration is required. Please call 904.209.0335 for more information and to register.
Kayak Fishing - McCullough Creek
Join the County's Park Naturalist for a morning of freshwater fishing along the McCullough Creek from 7 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13. The group will launch from the McCullough Creek Soft Launch, 2310 CR 13 South. For more information on registration and kayak rental fees, please call 904.209.0348.
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St. Johns County Public Library Events and Programs
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 The St. Johns Public Library System consists of six library branches, two bookmobiles, and an array of online resources available to all library card holders. To view a full program and event calendar, and more information on the programs below, please visit
www.sjcpls.org.
St. Johns Reads 2019
Lisa Wingate's novel Before We Were Yours was announced as the featured book for the 2019 St. Johns Reads community-wide reading project. A variety of programs focusing on the book will be staged at all six St. Johns County library locations and two bookmobiles throughout the month of February, including food and art events, book discussions, and lectures.
Anastasia Branch Library
- Baby and Toddler Time
- Lotus Yoga
Bartram Trail Branch Library
- Family Story Time
- Sign Language
Hastings Branch Library
- Art and Science Lab for Kids
- AARP Tax Aide
Main Branch Library
- AARP Tax Aide
- Florida Writers Association
Ponte Vedra Branch Library
- Wednesday Book Club
- Make and Take Class
Southeast Branch Library
- Family Fitness and Running Club
- Infant Foundations
Bookmobiles
St. Johns County is proud to offer two bookmobiles that service various areas of the County. To find more information on the bookmobiles including schedules, please visit
www.sjcpls.org/bookmobile.
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St. Johns County Holiday Hours
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Presidents Day - February 18
All departments of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, St. Johns County Administrative offices, St. Johns County libraries, and the Pet Center will be closed Monday, February 18 in observance of Presidents Day. All offices will resume standard business hours on Tuesday, February 19.
Garbage, recycling, and yard debris will be collected on your normal scheduled day. The Tillman Ridge and Stratton Road solid waste scale houses will remain open during standard business hours.
Good Friday - April 19
All departments of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, St. Johns County Administrative offices, library branches, and the Pet Center will be closed Friday, April 19 in observance of Good Friday. All library branches and the Pet Center will reopen on Saturday, April 20. All other offices will resume standard business hours on Monday, April 22.
Garbage, recycling, and yard debris will be collected on your normal scheduled day. The Tillman Ridge and Stratton Road solid waste scale houses will remain open during standard business hours.
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