COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR UKASE ENDS WEDNESDAY FARMER'S MARKET: IN HAEC VERBA

Apparently,  St. Johns County Sheriff's Department Process Server and St. Augustine Beach Civic Association (SABCA) President WILLIAM JONES dropped the ball.  Did he tell anyone that the Farmer's Market on Wednesdays at the Pier is ending on July 31, 2017?  SABCA Board? Members?

It appears from his tortured syntax that County Administrator MICHAEL WANCHICK reckons himself Louche Lugubrious Lord of All He Surveys, a Tinpot Napoleon.  I have asked him for copies of the "complaints."

What do you reckon?

December 1, 2016
William Jones
St. Augustine Beach Civic Association 2200 A1A South
St Augustine, FL 32080
Dear Mr. Jones:
I am writing in response to your request to renew the 2007 Agreement between St. Johns County and the St. Augustine Beach Civic Association, which provides for use of a portion of the St. Johns County Ocean Beach & Fishing Pier (Pier Park) parking lot to operate what has become known as the “Wednesday Farmers Market at the Pier.” The effective term of the Agreement expires on July 31, 2017, and subject to County Commission approval, could be extended for a period of five years.
As you are aware, the landscape of St. Johns County has changed dramatically since the inception of the Farmers Market at this location. Today, the County is confronted with a significant increase in the number of residents and visitors who desire to park at Pier Park throughout the day and evening hours. Allowing special events to utilize this limited beach front parking has resulted in complaints questioning why the County is permitting special activities in this location at the expense of beach parking which is acknowledged to be in short supply.
In addition, as with any other popular attraction, the demand for increased public investment such as infrastructure improvements, more frequent maintenance, and cleanup, naturally follows. The County’s increasing cost of providing such services has been obvious during its past few budget hearings. In fact, in recent years, the County’s General Fund has subsidized its Beach Services Fund in excess of several million dollars. Those capital outlays can no longer be supported by the General Fund and in this past year’s budget hearings, the County Commission provided direction to staff to begin implementing a charge for off-beach parking at Pier Park and similar parking locations. This initiative, when implemented, will further reduce the County’s ability to accommodate special events at Pier Park.
We (sic) recognize and appreciate the many contributions the Civic Association makes for the quality of life of local residents and the enjoyment of tourists. It is further recognized that revenues generated by the Civic Association during the Wednesday Market at the Pier fund numerous events that positively impact both the City of St. Augustine Beach and the County. Unfortunately, the current request to renew the agreement is inconsistent with the operational and financial direction of the County. Therefore, after careful consideration, we (sic) are unable to recommend that the County Commission approve a five-year extension of the existing agreement.
We (we) are open to a discussion of other available options that might allow the Civic Association to lease an alternative County-owned site through County’s leasing process. If you have further questions in this regard or would like to discuss an alternative location for the farmers market, please do not hesitate to contact me or Joy Andrews, Assistant County Administrator for Community Services, at 904-209-0562.

Sincerely,
Michael D. Wanchick 
County Administrator
cc: St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners 
Patrick McCormack, County Attorney 


Historic City News later reported:

Wanchick says “no” to Civic Association “free rent” deal

January 6, 2017 Government

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MICHAEL D WANCHICK

In a thirteen-page agreement reviewed by Historic City News, the St Johns County Board of Commissioners gave away free use of the County’s Pier Park each Wednesday for ten years.

That agreement, made with the St Augustine Beach Civic Association, was signed by commission chairman Ben Rich on July 24, 2007 and runs from August 1, 2007 until July 31, 2017.

But in recent weeks, there has been talk of exercising a 5-year renewal option provided in the contract; raising taxpayer concerns considering the County Commission’s latest direction to staff to begin implementing a charge for off-beach parking at Pier Park and similar parking locations.

County resident Merrill Paul Roland contacted Parks and Recreation Director Wil Smith earlier this week, copying county administrator, Michael Wanchick. Roland pointed out the expiring 2007 contract that allows the Civic Association to operate the “Wednesday Farmers Market at the Pier”, and to collect rent from vendors who operate booths in the parking lot.

Although required to pay utilities under the contract, Roland says the Civic Association has never reimbursed the county for the recurring expense, as well as required infrastructure improvements, more frequent maintenance, and cleanup costs. Recently Roland pointed out that a private electrical contractor was paid by the county to install a new high-voltage (220 v) outlet — requested for a Civic Association vendor yet connected to the county’s FPL meter.

Roland, in an e-mail shared with Historic City News, likened the subsidy and “fee of zero dollars ($0.00) per vendor or booth space rented,” to “corporate welfare”.

An overarching concern for residents clamoring for more parking, is the private use of publicly owned lots in the city, at the beach, and on other county-owned property.

”Today, the County is confronted with a significant increase in the number of residents and visitors who desire to park at Pier Park throughout the day and evening hours,” Michael Wanchick wrote in response to sheriff’s office employee and Civic Association President, Bill Jones, asking for five more years.

Although the current contract doesn’t expire until July 31, 2017, the automatic five-year extension is in place if the Civic Association requests it by December 31, 2016 — based on the December 1, 2016 date of the Wanchick response, it appears that the request was timely made.

“Allowing special events to utilize this limited beach front parking has resulted in complaints questioning why the County is permitting special activities in this location at the expense of beach parking which is acknowledged to be in short supply,” Wanchick wrote.

But all is not lost for St Johns County taxpayers. The contract provides for termination, without cause, upon 180-day notice by either party. The July expiration date can be honored by the county as well as the six-month termination provision.

“We are open to a discussion of other available options that might allow the Civic Association to lease an alternative County-owned site through the County’s leasing process,” Wanchick said while delivering the bad news.