Commission adopts updated water supply plan tied to 2023 North Florida regional plan

The City Commission unanimously approved an ordinance to adopt an updated Water Supply Facilities Work Plan and related amendments to the infrastructure element of the city's comprehensive plan, aligning the city's plan with the 2023 North Florida Regional Water Supply Plan.

Amy Skinner, director of planning and building, said the Planning and Zoning Board reviewed and recommended the update and that the city submitted the proposed changes to the eight state reviewing agencies; staff reported no reviewer comments. The ordinance adoption is a second reading and public hearing item; staff will resubmit the adopted amendment to state agencies for final incorporation into the comprehensive plan.

Commissioners asked staff to follow up on implementation items in the plan. The vice mayor noted references in the plan to phasing out septic tanks (INFRA objective 1.4) and to incentive programs for retrofitting existing buildings with water-saving fixtures. Commissioners requested updates on the status of saltwater-intrusion monitoring wells and on mapping and capping artesian wells; staff noted the regional water management district and public-works staff as relevant contacts.

The vice mayor drew the commission's attention to population-growth projections cited in the plan materials, which showed St. Johns County growing about 18% from 2020–2024 and the City of St. Augustine about 9% in the same period; commissioners said growth trends reinforce the need for conservation and infrastructure planning.

Action: Commissioner (moved) and a second carried the ordinance on a unanimous roll-call vote. The mayor ordered the ordinance read by title and the clerk recorded the vote; commissioners recorded "yes" votes in the roll call.