Henry Dean
District 5
Board of County Commissioners
P: 904-209-0305
C: 904-325-3924
Hello
Thank you for registering for the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners District 5 newsletter. Inside you will find an update regarding projects and events in District 5 and timely information about St. Johns County programs, services, and initiatives.
Butler Beach Reach FEMA Dune Enhancement Project Update

I am dedicated to beach restoration and doing everything I can to ensure taxpayers are not footing the bill for these projects. St. Johns County has received $25 million in State funding and $13 million in Federal funding to support the preservation and restoration of our beautiful coastline. I am proud of our Coastal Management team's efforts in moving this forward. As part of the ongoing Butler Beach Reach portion of the FEMA Dune Enhancement Project, St. Johns County continues to maintain public safety by closing vehicle beach access ramps where there is a presence of heavy equipment on the beach. Visit sjcfl.us/coastalprojects for more information.
Ongoing and Upcoming Renourishment Projects

There may be no greater natural resource in St. Johns County than our beaches, which is why I am working so hard to protect, preserve, and restore the ones most impacted by hurricanes and storms in recent years. Please take a moment to read the latest updates on the ongoing and upcoming renourishment projects our Coastal Management team is pushing forward.

Summer Haven River Feasibility Study: A draft report is currently under review. The information will be released to the public after it is finalized. A public notice for a town hall meeting will be issued simultaneously with the draft report's release.

St. Augustine Beach Shoreline Protection Project (SPP): Additional analysis and approval of the project were required due to the sand loss from Hurricane Ian and Nicole. USACE advertised a solicitation for construction bids on July 25, with bids due at the end of August. Work on the beach between Anastasia State Park and Ocean Hammock Dune Park is anticipated to begin in November 2023.

Porpoise Point Armoring: St. Johns County is requesting bids to construct a seawall to close the gap across the eastern end of Porpoise Point Drive. The construction is anticipated to begin in late summer or early fall 2023, depending on the resolution of the County's request to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to be allowed to start the work during the last months of sea turtle nesting season with proper environmental protections.

USACE South Ponte Vedra and Vilano Beach Coastal Storm Risk Management Project: The USACE-selected dredge contractor, Weeks Marine, will start construction in August. This project extends from Serenata Beach Club to approximately 250 feet north of Nease Beachfront Park.

South Ponte Vedra Park Repairs: A construction firm has been selected for this project. This project includes bringing beach-quality sand to support the park, as well as providing a long-term solution to the threatened recreational area.

Crescent Beach and South Ponte Vedra Beach Reach: The project will be open for bidding in the upcoming months.
Mochiatsu St. Augustine
Location Now Open
 
It was a pleasure to celebrate the grand opening of Mochiatsu in St. Augustine with franchise owner Linda Zhou. It is always a privilege to celebrate new businesses opening in District 5, especially ones with such hardworking owners like Linda. Mochiatsu is known for its variety of fluffy mochi donuts, Korean hotdogs, and boba tea. The new location is located at 1000-05 S. Ponce DeLeon Blvd., St. Augustine, and open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
NBCA Flood Mitigation and Prevention Listen and Learn Meeting

The North Beach Community Alliance (NBCA) will host a community meeting for residents to listen and learn about flood mitigation and prevention. I will be there and invite you to join me.

  • When: Wednesday, Aug. 16, 6-7 p.m.
  • Where: Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve Vistor Center, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach
County Improves Traffic Safety on County Road 210 and Cumberland Park Drive Location

I am happy to announce that measures are being taken to improve traffic safety at a key location within District 5. Due to heavy traffic volume during morning and evening hours at the Cumberland Park Drive location on County Road 210, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution at the regular meeting on Aug. 1 to authorize County staff to engage St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Public Assistance Deputies for traffic control at the intersection of CR 210 and Cumberland Park Drive. Click here to read more.
Proclamation Recognizing St. Johns Housing Partnership’s 25 Years of Service

The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners recognized St. Johns Housing Partnership’s 25 years of service to the community with a proclamation at the regular meeting on Aug. 1, 2023. Click here to read more.
Floating Structures Ordinance

At the regular meeting on Aug. 1, the Board of County Commissioners approved a floating structure ordinance. In short, these floating structures are not capable of propelling themselves. Some have been using these structures to anchor near our shorelines to conduct business operations and social event activities. These floating structures have become an issue of public safety and health concerns due to the leaking of hazardous materials and the inability to maneuver quickly during emergencies. With input from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Inland Navigation District, we have developed and adopted this ordinance. I am proud that we continue to do everything we can to protect the beauty and safety of our waterways. This ordinance will significantly benefit the areas near Matanzas Inlet and Mickler’s Landing.
Orangedale to Mickler Trail Corridor

I am eager to share that the Board wrote a letter to the Florida Greenways and Trails Council respectively requesting the inclusion of the Orangedale to Mickler Trail Corridor in the 2024-2028 Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan. This gorgeous proposed trail would begin at the new First Coast Expressway Bridge, proceed east over I-95 to US 1 before aligning with existing trails in Nocatee, and then continue farther east to State Road A1A. This corridor presents a unique opportunity to expand recreational options and multi-modal connectivity by linking the trail network in Clay County to the coastline of St. Johns County and other trail corridors, such as the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop. I look forward to sharing more with you soon on this exciting natural asset.
St. Johns County Moves Forward With Fiscal Year 2024 Budget and Millage Rates

The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved flat proposed millage rates for the upcoming fiscal year at the Aug. 1 regular meeting. It also established Sept. 5, 2023, at 5:01 p.m. at the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, as the date, time, and place for the first of two public hearings to adopt the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget. The public can view the Aug. 1 budget presentation to the BOCC at bit.ly/43UhBNU through the County's GTV web platform. Residents can participate in the recommended budget process by visiting www.sjcfl.us/omb and accessing the new interactive website link. Click here to read more.
St. Johns County Commissioners Appoint Joy Andrews Interim County Administrator

The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners appointed Deputy County Administrator Joy Andrews as the Interim County Administrator as it began a national search for a new County Administrator on July 18. "I am humbled by the trust the Board of County Commissioners has placed in me to steer the County services forward while it conducts its national search," Andrews said. "I fully accept the weight of this responsibility. We have dedicated and determined employees who embody the very mission of public service. Together, we will continue charting our course forward with excellent service delivery and an unwavering commitment to the community we love." Click here to read more.
Palm Valley Road Sidewalk Construction Begins

St. Johns County and the Palm Valley Community Association (PVCA) are proud to announce that Palm Valley Road Sidewalk construction has begun. This project will fill the sidewalk gaps along the west side of Palm Valley Road from Landrum Road to the State Road A1A intersection. Click here to read more.
St. Johns County Receives Record $59 Million in State of Florida Appropriations for Transportation and Coastal Protection

St. Johns County announced it received $59 million in appropriations from the State of Florida after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget into law. It is the largest amount of state appropriations the St. Johns County government has ever received and surpasses the $12.4 million appropriated last year. Click here to read more.
St. Johns County Reduces Water and Wastewater Customer Usage Rates by 3%

The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution on June 20, 2023, for a 3% reduction in customer usage rates for water and wastewater provided by the St. Johns County Utility Department. Click here to read more.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue Recognizes Gabriel Caez and Kyle Atwater for Life-Saving Efforts

On April 21, 2023, St. Johns County residents Gabriel Caez and Kyle Atwater helped save the lives of several people involved in a motor vehicle accident while driving on International Golf Parkway. Click here to read more.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue Unveils New Branding, Releases Annual Report

St. Johns County Fire Rescue (SJCFR) is celebrating its 25th anniversary serving the St. Johns County community in 2023. As SJCFR reflects on a quarter-century of unwavering dedication to public health and safety, it is eager to enter a new era focused on meeting the needs of St. Johns County. SJCFR is proud to unveil the new Fire Rescue logo. Click here to read more.
2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season
St. Johns County residents have experienced many storms throughout history. You can learn about past hurricanes that have impacted our community since 1964. The Hurricane Preparedness Guide is also a helpful resource for information on preparedness, evacuation, sheltering, and recovery.


Sea Turtle Nesting Season

It's sea turtle nesting season! From May 1 to Oct. 31, St. Johns County staff will close vehicular beach access gates at 7:30 p.m. and reopen them at 8 a.m. to allow nesting sea turtles to have a safe beach throughout the night. Click here to read more.
Watch Board of County Commissioners Meetings Any Time

You can watch Board of County Commissioners meetings, along with many other Boards and Committees, live or recorded! Keep up with all the latest happenings in St. Johns County and stay informed.
Stay Informed, Stay Safe

St. Johns County Emergency Management encourages all residents to sign up for Alert St. Johns, an emergency notification system that provides critical information during emergency situations.

Serve Your Community
St. Johns County is looking for volunteers to serve on its boards and committees! This is an excellent opportunity to give back to your community. These volunteer positions consider and make recommendations regarding various topics.

Please visit the Boards and Committees webpage at www.sjcfl.us/Boards to view the requirements and duties of each board and committee, download an application, or contact the Board of County Commissioners office at 904-209-0300 or boccoffice@sjcfl.us for more information.
Upcoming Holiday Office Closures
Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 - Labor Day
Friday, Nov. 10, 2023 - Veterans Day
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