Sarah S. Arnold
District 2
Board of County Commissioners, Vice Chair
P: 904-209-0302
C: 904-325-4182
Hello
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.
St. Johns County Seeks Community Input on World Golf Village

I am please to share that the public has an exciting opportunity to provide their input on the properties being vacated by the World Golf Foundation (WGF), which include the World Golf Hall of Fame, IMAX Theater, PGA Tour Productions facility, as well as various parking lots and other property amenities. The public can visit www.sjcfl.us/wgv to learn more and to provide input on potential future uses of the properties. There will also be community engagement meetings in the fall.

World Golf Village Town Hall No. 1

  • When: Wednesday, Sept. 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Where: St. Johns County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine

World Golf Village Town Hall No. 2

  • When: Thursday, Sept. 28, 9-11 a.m.
  • Where: St. Johns County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine
Grand Oaks Community Meeting

On Aug. 2, I was pleased to help host a community engagement meeting with the residents of the Grand Oaks area. It was a great opportunity to listen and learn more about their issues. I want to thank Sheriff Robert Hardwick and the County staff from our Attorney’s Office and Growth Management who joined me to answer questions and address their concerns. If you have a neighborhood meeting, please feel free to reach out to me with an invite by emailing me at bcc2sarnold@sjcfl.us or calling me at 904-209-0302.
St. Johns County Reaffirms Commitment to Hastings, Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Wastewater Treatment Plant After $6.76 Million Upgrades

I was happy to see St. Johns County hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly upgraded Hastings Wastewater Treatment Plant on June 7, as it's in District 2 and will be a great asset to our community. The facility recently received $6.76 million in improvements funded by Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funds allocated to St. Johns County by the State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity as a result of damages from Hurricane Matthew. The improvements replaced and upgraded assets at the plant to provide additional capacity to handle peak flows due to storm events, raised critical equipment above the flood elevation, and improved reliability and redundancy for maintenance and emergency response activities. Click here to read the story. Click here to watch the video recap.
St. Johns County Launches Summer Camp Program for West Augustine Children

I am ecstatic to share that St Johns County Parks and Recreation and the West Augustine Steering Committee worked together this summer to offer a pilot summer camp program for 100 children from the West Augustine CRA District.

I am grateful the Board of County Commissioners unanimously supported my proposal to offer a discounted rate of $50 per camper to participate in a seven-week summer camp program held at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center. The West Augustine CRA worked diligently to assist contacting and assisting area residents in registering for the program; they also worked with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League to secure transportation for the participating youth. Local residents and businesses donated to the CRA to assist with registration fees and to sponsor snacks for the participants. Thank you so much to everyone who helped this program come together!
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
Community Service
I am always excited to see my friends at Zeta Phi Beta, who tirelessly pour their hearts and souls into serving our community. They stopped by the office this summer to discuss community involvement opportunities and it was great to grab this photo with them after our meeting. You can learn more about the history of this incredible organization here.
Betty Griffin Center's "Fashion for Action"

It was a privilege to attend the 3rd Annual Betty Griffin Center "Fashion for Action" fundraising event on June 8 with my daughter! All proceeds benefitted the Betty Griffin Center and its shelter and services for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in St. Johns County. The noble mission of the Betty Griffin Center is to offer protection and quality services for the victims of domestic violence and their minor children as well as victims of sexual assault and their families in St. Johns County, Florida, through the operation of a shelter, offering assistance, counseling, providing transitional support, and advocating for survivors. Click here to learn more.
Hastings Community Focus Event

I was thrilled to see hundreds of residents join us at the Hastings Community Focus event on July 22. We had dozens of informational tables on services and programs, gave out free school backpacks, and set up a variety of engaging games and touch-a-truck displays with vehicles and equipment. A tremendous thank you to all the non-profit organizations, County staff, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and many others who collaborated on this outstanding community event. This event, the efforts to build a new library, the launch of enhanced WiFi connectivity by Comcast, and the celebration of the wastewater treatment plant improvements by our Public Works staff are all signs that we are committed to the Hastings community. I am grateful for all the efforts being dedicated to this important part of St. Johns County.
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.
Sing Out Loud Festival Welcomes Big Names and Local Favorites in Music to Florida’s Historic Coast

The secret is out. Florida’s Historic Coast is the place to see live music this fall as the Sing Out Loud Festival welcomes headliners The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons, Lord Huron, Maggie Rogers, Yola, War Hippies, Elle King, Amos Lee, S.G. Goodman, Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, Keller & Keels, and many other great performances. The multi-weekend festival features various artists at locales throughout St. Augustine and St. Johns County, Florida. Click here to learn 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 on GTV

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. Click here for more.
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. Sign up here.
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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