Community asked to be alert with the start of school

Monday 20 is first day for St. Johns County 2012-2013 school year

St. Augustine Police Chief Loran Lueders is asking the community to be aware of the start of the new school year on Monday, August 20.

“Specifically in all those areas where there may be children such as bus stops and school crossings, we want both those who live in the city and those who daily pass through the city to be a bit more aware as they travel. We also remind the community to strictly observe school zone speed limits, and perhaps adjust personal schedules to allow for increased traffic near schools. This is an important time in the lives of so many people, parents, children, teachers and so many others, we want to do all we can to make it a safe time.”

For more on the start of school, visit the St. Johns County School District web site, which contains lots of helpful information including the 2012-2013 school calendar.

Concerts in the Plaza 2012 drawing to a close

Series concludes with Labor Day afternoon concert

When the last musical notes drift out of the Plaza on Labor Day afternoon, Concerts in the Plaza 2012 will conclude and will do so counting a very successful 22nd season. The series has been called “the best way to spend a Thursday night in St. Augustine,” and it’s easy to understand why when sitting under the majestic oaks of the Plaza de la Constitución enjoying quality musical entertainment surrounded by friends and family.

The two-hour concerts are on Thursdays starting at 7:00pm except for the concluding concert on Labor Day which is set for the afternoon from 1:00pm until 5:00pm. A cancellation necessitated a scheduling change for the Labor Day concert with Jazz Piersonified & Friends stepping in to fill the vacancy. The remaining 2012 schedule features:

— August 23: The Mike Hart Band – blues, jazz & rock

— August 30: Lonesome Bert & The Skinny Lizards – original Americana folk

—  September 3: Jazz Piersonified & Friends – jazz standards.

Concerts are free and attendees should bring lounge chairs for seating. Picnic dinners are popular, but alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Plaza. Complete schedule and maps to the Plaza and The VIC are available at www.plazaconcerts.com.

Concerts in the Plaza is produced by the City of St. Augustine with support from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council — a great partnership providing great entertainment in a great place.

City Commission holds budget workshop

The St. Augustine City Commission held its workshop to discuss the 2012-2013 budget on Thursday, August 16. The workshop was held in The Alcazar Room in City Hall, 75 King  Street.

The workshop is an opportunity for the commissioners to review the proposed budget in an informal format. No votes are taken during a workshop and public comment is not scheduled, but public hearings on the budget are scheduled for September 6 and September 20, each starting at 5:05pm. Those public hearings will also be held in The Alcazar Room. The 2012-2013 budget goes into effect with the start of the fiscal year on October 1.

In preparation for the workshop, staff prepared a workbook for commissioners with a budget summary of each of the funds on which the city relies for operations. To view the workbook, click here.

Additional budget information was made available to the Commission with a staff developed presentation. To see the presentation, click here.

News from the PD on The Break Room this week 

Mark Samsom, Public Information for the St. Augustine Police Departments, stops by The Break Room this week and shares information on a number of initiatives in the department and an update on programs and activities.
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.

 

Applications being accepted for PZB
The City Commission is currently accepting applications to fill two, three-year terms on the Planning and Zoning Board. Applicants must be city residents. Those wishing to apply much be city residents and submit a completed application by Friday, September 14. For more information on the Planning and Zoning Board, click here.

 

Agendas

The Ciy Commission meets on August 27. When available the agenda will be availale here.

The Planning and Zoning Board meets on September 4.The agenda is available here.

Budget public hearings

First Budget Public Hearing — Thursday, September 6 at 5:05pm. When available, the agenda will be here.

Second Budget Public Hearing — Thursday, September 20 at 5:05pm. When available, the agenda will be 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