Jitters over master plan County fears they'll have little to show

Jitters over master plan

County fears they'll have little to show

By PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 05/06/09

The first phase of St. Johns County's Master Development Plan is past deadline, yet the consultant writing it has already received half of the study's $300,000 cost, County Commissioner Mark Miner said Tuesday.

"We've got problems," Miner said. "It's clear that the scope (of the study) hasn't been accomplished. We need to get our money back and fire the consultant."

Miner feared that by the study's completion in September, the county could have little to show for the money.

Vice Chair Ron Sanchez agreed.

"We gave them a big jolt," Sanchez said, referring to the highly negative response the consultant's preliminary report generated from the commission April 22.

Board members called the 54-page document "incomplete" and "wasted dollars and time." They criticized its failure to include important St. Johns County constituencies such as African Americans, St. Augustine Beach, and Spanish heritage and culture, among others.

"We might need to give them another (jolt)," Sanchez said.

The consultant, PGAV Destination Consulting, is based in St. Louis, Mo., though it subcontracts some duties to Magellan Strategy Group of Asheville, N.C.

According to Glenn Hastings, executive director of the Tourist Development Commission, the company "realizes it's running behind schedule. They plan on making up the time.

"They have the information they need and will step up to the plate."

Their Phase I report -- due in April, 16 weeks after they signed the contract -- is supposed to list all county tourism assets, get impressions of the county from out-of-county and out-of-state tourists, and compare comparable tourist destinations with St. Johns County.

The company was also expected to talk to any local hoteliers and attraction owners who wanted to contribute their input.

Commissioner Phil Mays at first said he had "grave concerns" about the report's lateness, but added, "This company came highly recommended with good credentials. Perhaps we need to build a better foundation of information for them. I don't think they are in default."

Commissioner Ken Bryan -- one of the most critical questioners April 22 -- was more conciliatory Tuesday.

"The last thing this county wants to have on its resume is that they defaulted. Picking another company will take a long time," he said.

Chairwoman Cyndi Stevenson said everyone's asking questions about the report.

"This is a lot of tourism dollars," she said. "It's a big investment, and we want to make sure it's done right."

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