St. Johns County's entryway on State Road A1A. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
Published on November 27, 2024 at 3:08 pm
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When the St. Johns County Commission meets Tuesday, it will be the first meeting after some changes to the board’s public comment policy.
Instead of having to wait until around noon, people who want to speak directly to the Board of County Commissioners will now have an opportunity to do so at 9 a.m. — right at the start of the board’s meetings.
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This is how the board used to offer the public an time to speak, but, four years ago, the board moved the public comment time to around 11:30 a.m.
The decision came from County Commissioner Krista Joseph who, following a vote by the newly formed board earlier this month, now serves as the board’s chair.
“It’s been four years since residents could give their public comments early and then get on with their day,” Joseph said in a news release. “I’m so pleased to reinstate the longstanding tradition of putting residents’ comments first before discussing agenda items. I advise residents to arrive by 9 a.m. to give their comments.”
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The public comment period that will now open County Commission meetings is specifically for items that are not on the board’s agenda for the day. People who want to comment on specific items that the board takes up will have to wait until that item is discussed.
Other changes that will go into effect Dec. 3 include the removal of public safety and legislative updates that county staff have typically delivered at the beginning of meetings.
Joseph says this move will help to streamline meetings and change the county’s focus to communicating directly with residents via press releases and social media.
Commissioners’ meetings “can last eight hours or longer, and the reason for eliminating these updates from the agenda is to get to business faster,” Joseph said. “Efficiency is key. More people will see those updates if our Office of Public Affairs handles them rather than having them presented at meetings. And then we have more time for the business at hand.”
Items on the County Commission’s agenda for Dec. 3 include planning how to spend $51 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and a discussion surrounding the county’s top priority transportation projects.
The Board of County Commissioners meets at 9 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of every month in the County Auditorium at 500 San Sebastian View. Meetings are also broadcast live online on the county’s website.
The full agenda for the Dec. 3 meeting also is available on the county’s website.
