News highlights for St. Augustine October 26, 2012
City initiates standard storm preparedness ahead of Hurricane Sandy
As Hurricane Sandy continues to move north out of the Caribbean, the City of St. Augustine is proceeding with its standard storm preparedness.
Even though forecasts call for the storm to remain well east of the coastline, rain bands and wind gusts are expected into the weekend. In addition to monitoring a storm’s progress, city emergency personnel remain in close contact with the St. Johns County Department of Emergency Management.
According to Mike Arnold, the city’s fire chief and emergency preparedness official, an increase in wind speed is expected through Saturday with gusts possibly reaching 35 mph, as well as periodic rain bands coming on shore, some very heavy. Chief Arnold also notes that as Sandy is a very large storm the public should be alert to the times of high tide as that is where localized flooding is most likely. Friday’s evening high tide is at 6:16am and 6:38pm, and Saturday’s high tides are at 7:01am and 7:22pm.
At this level of preparedness, the city ensures its fleet of trucks, heavy equipment and emergency generators are fueled and that lines of communication between departments are updated.
For the most up-to-date local information, the public is advised to visit the web site of the St. Johns County Emergency Management at www.sjcemergencymanagement.com.
Avenida Menendez crosswalk installation continues next week
Traffic reduced to one lane Sun, Oct 28 – Wed, Oct 31
The continued installation of crosswalks on Avenida Menendez will necessitate the reduction of traffic to two lanes, one for northbound traffic and one for southbound starting on Sunday evening, October 28. Work next week will be at the crosswalk at Cuna Street since work on the one at Fort Alley was completed earlier this week.
To accommodate the work, Avenida Menendez will be reduced to two lane, two way traffic starting on Sunday, October 28 at 7:00pm and will continue through Wednesday evening October 31. At no time will Avenida Menendez be closed, but traffic will be slowed through the area during the work.
The project, replacing the stamped asphalt that simulates brick with historic, authentic brick, is the final element of an extensive project that began in early February of this year that included pedestrian improvements along South Castillo Drive with new street lights, widening of sidewalks, and improved signalization for both pedestrians and vehicles. Funding for the project was secured by Congressman John Mica who, during a visit to St. Augustine, noticed the challenges pedestrians had in the congested area lying between popular St. George Street and the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. He then set about seeking an appropriation to fund the changes needed to alleviate those challenges. To read a story on the city’s Web site regarding the project, click here.
For more information, contact the Planning and Building Department at 904.825.1065.
Commission sets alternative meeting date in November
December meeting schedule includes two workshops
The Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving Holidays have necessitated the rescheduling of November’s only Commission meeting from the usual second and fourth Mondays to November 14. This will be the body’s only regular meeting in November.
In December, the Commission will meet on Monday, December 3 for its reorganizational meeting which will include the administering of the oath of office to Joe Boles and Leanna Freeman who were reelected to their offices, and the winner of the general election on November 6. The reorganizational meeting starts at 7:30pm.
December’s busy holiday season will result in the Commission having only one regular meeting which is set for December 10, but the commission has also scheduled two workshops that month. The first workshop, set to start at 4:00pm on December 10, concerns the future of the carpet golf facility located near the City Marina. The second workshop, set for Wednesday, December 13 at 9:00am, the topic of discussion will be modifications to the city zoning code, starting with the use of Planned Unit Developments (PUD).
All of the meetings will be held in The Alcazar Room in City Hall, 75 King St. When available, agendas for the meetings will be posted on the city’s web site here.
22 days until Light-Up! Night
Nights of Lights’ 19th season begins on November 17
Have you seen your neighbors checking their holiday lights? Seem a little early? Not really when you consider that the 19th season of Nights of Lights is only a few weeks away.
Recognized as one of the Southeast’s major seasonal events, Nights of Lights has brought holiday excitement to the Nation’s Oldest City annually since 1994. The 10-week long event begins each year with a simple flip of a switch on the Saturday before Thanksgiving known as Light-Up! Night. To read about last year’s opening night, click here.
Don’t be “left in the dark” when the Nation’s Oldest City is transformed into an enchanted city of light. For guidelines to participate in the Nights of Lights by adding displays to property in the city’s historic districts, click here.
For visitor information including dining, shopping, lodging, attractions, and tours, during the ten weeks of Nights of Lights, contact St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra on Florida’s Historic Coast by calling 800.653.2489 or visiting www.nightsoflights.com.
PD’s Community Recourses Division is this week’s topic on The Break Room
St. Augustine Police Department Commander Steve Fricke stopped by The Break Room this week and took a few minutes to discuss the work of the Community Resources Division and their unique role in serving the public. Commander Fricke also shared with host Paul Williamson how the division interacts with other agencies during visits to the city by dignities such as recent stops by Governor Rommey and Vice President Biden.
Each week the friendly and informative style of The Break Room offers the community an opportunity to know a little more about how their city works by getting to know those who do the work every day. The Break Room airs Wednesdays at 5:30pm and Saturdays at 8:00am, and each program is archived at www.breakroom.info as podcasts available for download anytime. To listen to this week’s program immediately, click here.
Early voting begins tomorrow
If you are ready to vote, don’t wait until Election Day
Even though Election Day is not until November 6, there are two ways voters may cast their ballots before the big day: either by visiting one of the polling sites available for early voting or by using an absentee ballot.
Vote by mail
Since General Election ballots will be very long, some voters may find use of an absentee ballot preferable to going to the polls on Election Day. All voted ballots must be received in the Supervisor of Elections Office no later than 7:00pm on Election Day. To request an absentee ballot, contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at 904.823.2238. There are multiple locations where ballots may be dropped off instead of mailing them, including the city’s Financial Services Center. To see a complete list of locations, click here.
Vote in person
And if you want to “go vote,” but not on Election Day, then vote early at any one of the six different locations located throughout the county. Early voting starts on Saturday October 27 and continues each day 7:00am – 7:00pm through Saturday, November 3. For locations, click here.
Election Day
Of course, you may wait and visit your precinct’s polling location on November 6 to cast your ballot. For complete voting information, including seeing sample ballots and locating your polling place visit the Supervisor of Elections Office online at www.sjcvotes.us.
Stories you may have missed
Lighthouse Park area next on the list for new water mains
A long awaited water main replacement project will finally get underway in a portion of Lighthouse Park starting in early November. The project, set to be completed before March 1, will replace aging, cast iron pipes, often the source of “red water,” because of the corrosive nature of the pipes.
To read the story, click here.
Cleaner & Greener St. Augustine is goal of increased recycling
Chances are if you, as a resident of St. Augustine, recycle you are not recycling as much material as you could. Most everyone is certain they can place newspapers, glass and cans in their recycling bin, but those are just a few of the items welcomed. The city and its contractor, Advanced Disposal, launch the Make St. Augustine Cleaner & Greener campaign to encourage residents to recycle and thus increase the amount of recycled material collected. And with increased recycling comes the need for increased capacity, so a second bin was provided, free of charge, to every one of the city’s more than 4,600 customers.
To learn more, click here.
4 Ways 2 Stay in the City-Info-Loop
The city has four avenues through which it strives to keep its constituents informed by making information
readily available.
You can learn what they are by clicking here.
Fire Prevention Week is an opportunity to educate
For the last 90 years, the week in which October 9 falls has been designated as Fire Prevention Week, but for the St. Augustine Fire Department, what is nationally a week is locally a month. Taking advantage of the nation-wide emphasis on fire prevention in October each year, the St. Augustine Fire Department uses the themed month to educate the public on fire safety with a focus on this year’s national theme: Have 2 Ways Out.
To read the story, click here.
City plants 23 trees in just two days
If it is true that any day is made better by the planting of a tree then the City of St. Augustine gave the community some great days recently by planting over 20 new trees in just a two-day period.
To read the story, click here.
City receives recognition for innovative wastewater treatment process
St. Augustine is once again recognized for being first, but this time it is not for something historical. Rather, the city has garnered statewide and national recognition for the implementation of cutting edge technology in the treatment of wastewater. To learn more about the new process and to see a presention developed for the statewide and national conferences, click here.
Opportunity to serve: Code Enforcement, Adjustments & Appeals Board
The City Commission is accepting applications to fill vacancies on the Code Enforcement, Adjustments & Appeals Board. Interested individuals who reside within the city limits of the City of St. Augustine are invited to submit applications for this volunteer board. Applications are requested by Friday, November 30 with appointments tentatively scheduled for the City Commission meeting of Monday, December 10. For information concerning qualifications and applications please contact the City Clerk’s office at 825-1007. The application form is available on the city’s web site by clicking here.
Agendas
The Historic Architectural Review Board meets on October 30. The agenda is available here.
The Planning & Zoning Board meets on Tuesday, November 6. The agenda is available here.
As Hurricane Sandy continues to move north out of the Caribbean, the City of St. Augustine is proceeding with its standard storm preparedness.
Even though forecasts call for the storm to remain well east of the coastline, rain bands and wind gusts are expected into the weekend. In addition to monitoring a storm’s progress, city emergency personnel remain in close contact with the St. Johns County Department of Emergency Management.According to Mike Arnold, the city’s fire chief and emergency preparedness official, an increase in wind speed is expected through Saturday with gusts possibly reaching 35 mph, as well as periodic rain bands coming on shore, some very heavy. Chief Arnold also notes that as Sandy is a very large storm the public should be alert to the times of high tide as that is where localized flooding is most likely. Friday’s evening high tide is at 6:16am and 6:38pm, and Saturday’s high tides are at 7:01am and 7:22pm.
At this level of preparedness, the city ensures its fleet of trucks, heavy equipment and emergency generators are fueled and that lines of communication between departments are updated.
For the most up-to-date local information, the public is advised to visit the web site of the St. Johns County Emergency Management at www.sjcemergencymanagement.com.
Avenida Menendez crosswalk installation continues next week
Traffic reduced to one lane Sun, Oct 28 – Wed, Oct 31
The continued installation of crosswalks on Avenida Menendez will necessitate the reduction of traffic to two lanes, one for northbound traffic and one for southbound starting on Sunday evening, October 28. Work next week will be at the crosswalk at Cuna Street since work on the one at Fort Alley was completed earlier this week.
To accommodate the work, Avenida Menendez will be reduced to two lane, two way traffic starting on Sunday, October 28 at 7:00pm and will continue through Wednesday evening October 31. At no time will Avenida Menendez be closed, but traffic will be slowed through the area during the work.
The project, replacing the stamped asphalt that simulates brick with historic, authentic brick, is the final element of an extensive project that began in early February of this year that included pedestrian improvements along South Castillo Drive with new street lights, widening of sidewalks, and improved signalization for both pedestrians and vehicles. Funding for the project was secured by Congressman John Mica who, during a visit to St. Augustine, noticed the challenges pedestrians had in the congested area lying between popular St. George Street and the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. He then set about seeking an appropriation to fund the changes needed to alleviate those challenges. To read a story on the city’s Web site regarding the project, click here.
For more information, contact the Planning and Building Department at 904.825.1065.
Commission sets alternative meeting date in November
December meeting schedule includes two workshops
The Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving Holidays have necessitated the rescheduling of November’s only Commission meeting from the usual second and fourth Mondays to November 14. This will be the body’s only regular meeting in November.
In December, the Commission will meet on Monday, December 3 for its reorganizational meeting which will include the administering of the oath of office to Joe Boles and Leanna Freeman who were reelected to their offices, and the winner of the general election on November 6. The reorganizational meeting starts at 7:30pm.
December’s busy holiday season will result in the Commission having only one regular meeting which is set for December 10, but the commission has also scheduled two workshops that month. The first workshop, set to start at 4:00pm on December 10, concerns the future of the carpet golf facility located near the City Marina. The second workshop, set for Wednesday, December 13 at 9:00am, the topic of discussion will be modifications to the city zoning code, starting with the use of Planned Unit Developments (PUD).
All of the meetings will be held in The Alcazar Room in City Hall, 75 King St. When available, agendas for the meetings will be posted on the city’s web site here.
22 days until Light-Up! Night
Nights of Lights’ 19th season begins on November 17
Have you seen your neighbors checking their holiday lights? Seem a little early? Not really when you consider that the 19th season of Nights of Lights is only a few weeks away.
Recognized as one of the Southeast’s major seasonal events, Nights of Lights has brought holiday excitement to the Nation’s Oldest City annually since 1994. The 10-week long event begins each year with a simple flip of a switch on the Saturday before Thanksgiving known as Light-Up! Night. To read about last year’s opening night, click here.
Don’t be “left in the dark” when the Nation’s Oldest City is transformed into an enchanted city of light. For guidelines to participate in the Nights of Lights by adding displays to property in the city’s historic districts, click here.
For visitor information including dining, shopping, lodging, attractions, and tours, during the ten weeks of Nights of Lights, contact St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra on Florida’s Historic Coast by calling 800.653.2489 or visiting www.nightsoflights.com.
PD’s Community Recourses Division is this week’s topic on The Break Room
St. Augustine Police Department Commander Steve Fricke stopped by The Break Room this week and took a few minutes to discuss the work of the Community Resources Division and their unique role in serving the public. Commander Fricke also shared with host Paul Williamson how the division interacts with other agencies during visits to the city by dignities such as recent stops by Governor Rommey and Vice President Biden.
Each week the friendly and informative style of The Break Room offers the community an opportunity to know a little more about how their city works by getting to know those who do the work every day. The Break Room airs Wednesdays at 5:30pm and Saturdays at 8:00am, and each program is archived at www.breakroom.info as podcasts available for download anytime. To listen to this week’s program immediately, click here.
Early voting begins tomorrow
If you are ready to vote, don’t wait until Election Day
Even though Election Day is not until November 6, there are two ways voters may cast their ballots before the big day: either by visiting one of the polling sites available for early voting or by using an absentee ballot.
Vote by mail
Since General Election ballots will be very long, some voters may find use of an absentee ballot preferable to going to the polls on Election Day. All voted ballots must be received in the Supervisor of Elections Office no later than 7:00pm on Election Day. To request an absentee ballot, contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at 904.823.2238. There are multiple locations where ballots may be dropped off instead of mailing them, including the city’s Financial Services Center. To see a complete list of locations, click here.
Vote in person
And if you want to “go vote,” but not on Election Day, then vote early at any one of the six different locations located throughout the county. Early voting starts on Saturday October 27 and continues each day 7:00am – 7:00pm through Saturday, November 3. For locations, click here.
Election Day
Of course, you may wait and visit your precinct’s polling location on November 6 to cast your ballot. For complete voting information, including seeing sample ballots and locating your polling place visit the Supervisor of Elections Office online at www.sjcvotes.us.
Stories you may have missed
Lighthouse Park area next on the list for new water mains
A long awaited water main replacement project will finally get underway in a portion of Lighthouse Park starting in early November. The project, set to be completed before March 1, will replace aging, cast iron pipes, often the source of “red water,” because of the corrosive nature of the pipes.
To read the story, click here.
Cleaner & Greener St. Augustine is goal of increased recycling
Chances are if you, as a resident of St. Augustine, recycle you are not recycling as much material as you could. Most everyone is certain they can place newspapers, glass and cans in their recycling bin, but those are just a few of the items welcomed. The city and its contractor, Advanced Disposal, launch the Make St. Augustine Cleaner & Greener campaign to encourage residents to recycle and thus increase the amount of recycled material collected. And with increased recycling comes the need for increased capacity, so a second bin was provided, free of charge, to every one of the city’s more than 4,600 customers.
To learn more, click here.
4 Ways 2 Stay in the City-Info-Loop
The city has four avenues through which it strives to keep its constituents informed by making information
readily available.
You can learn what they are by clicking here.
Fire Prevention Week is an opportunity to educate
For the last 90 years, the week in which October 9 falls has been designated as Fire Prevention Week, but for the St. Augustine Fire Department, what is nationally a week is locally a month. Taking advantage of the nation-wide emphasis on fire prevention in October each year, the St. Augustine Fire Department uses the themed month to educate the public on fire safety with a focus on this year’s national theme: Have 2 Ways Out.
To read the story, click here.
City plants 23 trees in just two days
If it is true that any day is made better by the planting of a tree then the City of St. Augustine gave the community some great days recently by planting over 20 new trees in just a two-day period.
To read the story, click here.
City receives recognition for innovative wastewater treatment process
St. Augustine is once again recognized for being first, but this time it is not for something historical. Rather, the city has garnered statewide and national recognition for the implementation of cutting edge technology in the treatment of wastewater. To learn more about the new process and to see a presention developed for the statewide and national conferences, click here.
Opportunity to serve: Code Enforcement, Adjustments & Appeals Board
The City Commission is accepting applications to fill vacancies on the Code Enforcement, Adjustments & Appeals Board. Interested individuals who reside within the city limits of the City of St. Augustine are invited to submit applications for this volunteer board. Applications are requested by Friday, November 30 with appointments tentatively scheduled for the City Commission meeting of Monday, December 10. For information concerning qualifications and applications please contact the City Clerk’s office at 825-1007. The application form is available on the city’s web site by clicking here.
Agendas
The Historic Architectural Review Board meets on October 30. The agenda is available here.
The Planning & Zoning Board meets on Tuesday, November 6. The agenda is available here.
All agenda, minutes and GTV info
Agendas and minutes for all city meetings can be found at www.staugustinegovernment.com with a schedule of upcoming meetings listed under City Calendar. City Commission meetings are broadcast live via GTV (Comcast Channel 3 in St. Augustine) each second and fourth Monday at 5:00pm. Commission meetings are also recorded and rebroadcast as are Planning and Zoning Board and Historic Architectural Review Board meetings. For a current schedule of all programming on GTV, click here.
Source: City of St. Augustine
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.