Joined by members of his family, Jon DePreter swears in as the newest member of the St. Augustine City Commission in December. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
Published on January 30, 2025 at 10:38 pm
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A self-described outdoors-enthusiast, former small business owner and artist, St. Augustine’s newest City Commissioner Jon DePreter says he wants to maintain St. Augustine’s charm while making the city safer for everyone.
DePreter beat Billy Triay last November for the seat on the five-member board that was previously occupied by Roxanne Horvath. During his time campaigning, DePreter says several key concerns repeatedly came up.
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The No. 1 concern he heard from residents? The riverfront city’s vulnerability to flooding.
“If one area is affected, it really affects everybody else in terms of property insurance and the economic vitality of the town, particularly when you start talking about flooding events Downtown or in business corridors or residences,” DePreter tells Jacksonville Today. “I think it’s going to be the issue for the next decade, really, and I think the city is moving ahead really well.”
St. Augustine has multiple projects in the works to shore up its historic Downtown from storm-related flooding, as well as from rising sea levels. The city also recently purchased several parcels of land along the Matanzas River in an effort to ensure that sensitive, flood prone areas can be conserved.
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Another concern DePreter heard the most from residents? Working on the ease and safety of transportation in St. Augustine.
The city has several plans to make the streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists as well to make driving through the city easier. DePreter is excited for the next steps.
“Now I think it’s actually implementing this on the ground through different infrastructure projects and getting grants,” he says. “This idea of shared streets — “complete streets” — making the town more pedestrian-, bicycle-friendly, is a big thing for me.”
DePreter pointed to some of the goals on the horizon for St. Augustine, like the plan to open a new parking garage near the intersection of U.S. 1 and King Street as well as plans to make King Street more pedestrian-friendly.
DePreter, who will serve a four-year term, says he has always enjoyed serving his community.
St. Augustine was a second home for him and his wife for years until the two permanently settled on Anastasia Island in 2012. Since then, DePreter served as the head of his neighborhood association and spent six years on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.
DePreter says his drive to maintain the city’s historic and artistic charm are what led him to run for office. On top of that, camaraderie among the city commission (on which the mayor serves) — compared to the tension that often arises among the St. Johns County Commission — is something he has enjoyed so far.
“We’re all different, bringing different expertises and backgrounds to the commission,” DePreter says. “I think we all are getting along well. I mean — they already were getting along well, so I guess I’m the one question mark. I hope I’m doing okay.”
Interacting with municipal governments can be stressful — it might not happen until you’re trying to resolve a problem with your property or asking the city to make a decision on a project that could impact your way of life.
DePreter hopes that when people attend St. Augustine City Commission meetings, they’ll see his desire to keep the city’s arts community alive and protect its natural beauty.
“Trying to protect the residential quality of life in town has always been a big thing for me,” he says. “But as a former business person, I understand the importance of that economic vitality.”
The St. Augustine City Commission meets at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of every month. Meetings are held in the Alcazar Room of City Hall at 75 King St. All meetings are open to the public and livestreamed on the city’s website.
