Tuesday Briefing: Signing On To a $100 Million Beach Deal, Opioid Task Force, Flagler Beach Land Development

Raymond Chandler, master of the potboiler, is 131 years old today. (Wikimedia)

Today: Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the lower 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index: 148
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: whinge.
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

First Light
In Flagler and Palm Coast
Flagler Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours of Incident Reports
Flagler Beach A1A Construction Updates
US 1-Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Cultural Coda

“Should anything save us, it will be technology. But you need more than tautologies to save the planet, and, especially within the futurist fraternity of Silicon Valley, technologists have little more than fairy tales to offer. Over the last decade, consumer adoration has anointed those founders and venture capitalists something like shamans, Ouija-boarding their way toward blueprints for the world’s future. But conspicuously few of them seem meaningfully concerned about climate change.”

–From David Wallace-Wells’s “The Uninhabitable Earth” (2019).

Previously:

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.

The Sheriff’s daily incident reports and jail bookings are posted here.

Beach renourishment: Flagler County is hosting a ceremonial signing of its beach renourishment agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers at 2 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Government Services Building. Commission Chair Donald O’Brien and Jacksonville District Commander Colonel Andrew Kelly will make a few opening comments about the 2.6 mile 10-foot dune and beach profile extension in Flagler Beach. They, along with County Attorney Al Hadeed, will sign four copies of the final agreement. The 50-year, $100 million project is largely unfunded but will depend on Flagler County to secure half the money. The federal government would assume the other half. It applies to only 2.6 miles of beach in Flagler Beach. See: “Flagler About To Sign 50-Year, $100 Million Deal to Rebuild 2.6 Miles of Dunes in Flagler Beach. It Has Only a Fraction of the Money.”

Flagler Beach Land Development Code Update Planning and Architectural Review Board Workshop #1, 5 p.m. at Flagler Beach City Hall’s commission room. This public workshop is hosted by the team representing Kimley-Horn, the consultant firm retained by the City to oversee the much anticipated update of the Land Development Regulations. This closed meeting is solely for the benefit of the Board. Take advantage of this opportunity to voice your concerns, your ideas on matters you would like to see changed, addressed and/or incorporated into this document that regulates all aspects of development, including zoning, rezoning, permitted uses, signs, site development, land use and similar regulations. Mark W. Shelton, AICP Project Manager, will facilitate. For more information, contact Larry Torino at [email protected] or (386) 517-2000 Ext. 230.

The Flagler County Opioid Task Force meets at 6 p.m. at the Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway. The task force will meet the fourth Tuesday of every month at the library through November.

School website redesigns: The websites for FPCHS, MHS, BTMS, and ITMS have been redesigned. Log on and check them out! Cleaner looks and more user-friendly. Some things are in different places, so take some time to explore. Here they are:

Flagler Palm Coast High School >Matanzas High School
Buddy Taylor Middle School
Indian Trails Middle School

I-95 Resurfacing this week: Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. single outside lane closure on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to south of Pellicer Creek.

Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):

Wednesday: Palm Coast Data Building 3, 2 Commerce Boulevard, Palm Coast, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday: Palm Coast Data Building 1, 11 Commerce Boulevard, Palm Coast, 12:30 to 3 p.m.
Friday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday: Epic Theaters, 1185 Central Avenue, Palm Coast, 1 to 6 p.m.
Sunday: Bealls Outlet, 9 Old Kings Road, Palm Coast, 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell


Jail Bookings, June 19-22 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, June 21 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, June 21
Previous and archived reports

Sources: Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler Beach Police Department, Bunnell Police Department. This is Flagler County's only comprehensive, one-stop compilation of all local law enforcement's daily day and night shift commanders' reports.

Flagler Beach Is Open For Business: A1A Construction Update:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to year-long construction on and near State Road A1A in Flagler Beach as the Florida Department of Transportation rebuilds a 1.5-mile segment from South 9th Street to South 22nd Street, and builds a sea wall at the north end of town. These updates are provided through DOT or local officials. If you have any relevant information or images, you’re welcome to email them to the editor here.

IMPORTANT: Safety in the Work Zone: Drivers are reminded to obey all posted speed limits, and to be alert to vehicles turning onto northbound S.R. A1A from side streets or businesses. Pedestrians and bicyclists are asked to remain aware as construction activities continue and designated pathways are moved. Please use extra caution walking, bicycling or driving through the area. Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Last Updated: July 15

Protecting Turtles

Now that turtle nesting season has started in the Flagler Beach area, local Turtle Patrol volunteers are checking the beach within the project limits every day to locate any new nests. In Segment 3, north of North 18th Street, work cannot begin until the beach is checked. If a nest is discovered, the nest will be marked, and work will not be allowed within 10 feet of the nest, as specified in the environmental permits issued for this project.

The Turtle Patrol also is monitoring the beach in the project limits of Segment 1, from South 25th Street to South 22nd Street, where plans call for dune revetment involving additional sand and plants.

Segment 1 South 25th Street to South 22nd Street):

The contractor this week also finished all work on Segment 1 with installation of the final plants.

Segment 2 (South 22nd Street to South 9th Street):

Crews are removing the old water main between South 13^th Street and South 17^th Street. French drain construction continues between South 18^th and South 15^th streets.

Sidewalk installation is expected between South 16^th and South 17^th streets. Roadway construction is underway south of South 18^th Street.

Segment 3 (North 18th Street to Osprey Drive) Project Update:

The contractor reached a major milestone this week, finishing the installation of more than 1,800 concrete piles that will form the buried secant wall.

Crews are continuing to place the concrete cap on the piles, place sand on top of the cap and install plants. The contractor expects to finish the wall cap in about three weeks.

Excavation of the drainage swale between the roadway and dune also has begun.

See Also:

The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county's most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view. (DOT) — The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county’s most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view.
(DOT)

U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to the planned 15-month, $4.1 million construction of a roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway. The project started in late January and is scheduled for completion by spring 2020.

The Florida Department of Transportation will be closing Old Dixie Highway and C.R. 325 at U.S. 1 on Monday night, March 4, from about 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The closure is needed to allow the contractor to make improvements to the crossover at the temporary intersection. U.S. 1 will remain open in both directions.

More details here.

See Also:

I-95 Construction, Repaving: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., single lane closures on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County line. Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 7 a.m., double lane closures on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County line.

See this week’s full Interstate Construction Report for Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns here.

Announcements/Press Releases:

Flagler County Wetland Restoration Project Update: According to the St. Johns Water Management District, to date the contractor has completed about 35% of the planned work. A second excavator arrived on July 9 with the intention of enhancing progress. Initially, this excavator will work alongside the first one in Section B. Also, the turbidity barriers in Section L-1 were removed recently, thus opening the area for public access. You may be interested in seeing our new images of revegetation and wildlife in Section A. Please visit us online at www.sjrwmd.com/facts/flagler-wetland-restoration-project/ for more information on the project. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have questions.

Smart controllers offer another way to help conserve water: The St. Johns River Water Management District promotes water conservation year-round. In fact, one of the easiest ways to conserve water is by following the District’s outdoor watering restrictions, which limit irrigation to certain days and times for efficiency. In July, we are focusing additional attention on outdoor water conservation as we join others from around the country in observing Smart Irrigation Month. This observance, sponsored by the Irrigation Association, promotes technology that can help us all save water outdoors, while applying enough water to meet the needs of lawns and landscapes. Water conservation plays a key role in our core mission of water supply. Because irrigation can account for more than half of the water that most of us use daily at our homes, the District has adopted the year-round watering restrictions mentioned above and we also help promote the efficient use of water through various actions as well as smart technology. We’ve been committed to water conservation for many years through our Consumptive Use Permitting and educational programs, and we’ve helped to fund local government projects that promote water conservation through our cost-share program. “Smart irrigation” methods provide additional tools to achieve efficient water use. Smart sensors and controllers monitor weather and other conditions in the landscape and adjust the irrigation system to apply just the right amount of water when needed. Coupled with water-saving nozzles and pressure regulators to precisely apply water, these technologies can successfully reduce outdoor water use by as much as 20 to 40 percent annually, while maintaining a healthy landscape. Not only is conserving water important for water supply, it is also in the best interest of our Florida landscapes. Watering too much makes lawns less able to survive dry conditions, encourages shallow, weak root systems, leads to weeds, pests and diseases. Learn about smart controllers and devices on the District’s website at www.sjrwmd.com/water-conservation.

In Florida and in State Government:

Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.

NEW PLANE FOR GOVERNOR AIRED: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will hold a meeting in which a negotiation team will make a recommendation for acquiring an airplane for Gov. Ron DeSantis. Former Gov. Rick Scott, the wealthiest governor in state history, used his own plane to travel the state. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Department of Law Enforcement headquarters, 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee.)

VOTER SUPPRESSION TARGETED: The Florida Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a public hearing in Broward County on voter suppression and disenfranchisement in Florida. The committee is reviewing the implementation of a voter-approved constitutional amendment designed to restore the voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences. It also is looking at issues such as impediments to voting. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Broward County Main Library, 100 South Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)

—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:

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A Twitter List by PierreTristam

Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.

Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of July 19, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.

Cultural Coda

Baldassare Galuppi’s Sonata Nr. 5 in C major, Vadim Chaimovich