CITY AMENDS BASE FLOOD ELEVATION, CITING EMERGENCY

Also, city commission approves going to four-day workweek at City Hall beginning in April

By RIDDHI PATEL Correspondent

An emergency ordinance was adopted by the St Marks City Commission last week to amend two sections of a flood ordinance adopted in September 2022, immediately adjusting lowest floor elevation requirements from 2 feet above base flood elevation to 1 foot above base flood elevation.
The city commission took the action at their meeting on Thursday, March 9.
Ordinance sections titled “Non-elevated accessory structures” and “Amendments to the Florida Building Code, Residential” were amended.
The emergency ordinance noted that “Wakulla County and other surrounding communities enforce the standard 1 foot above the base flood elevation,” and that the ordinance should be adopted as “it is immediately necessary to ensure compliance and consistency in the application of the National Flood Insurance Program.”
The emergency ordinance worked to ensure compliance and consistency in enforcement standards as the city evaluates pending construction and property improvement applications that may be impacted by the flood ordinance.
City attorney Ron Mowrey advised the city commission that they must declare that an emergency exists, waive the advertising requirements and have a two-thirds majority vote in order to adopt the emergency ordinance. The city commission unanimously voted in favor of declaring that an emergency exists, waiving advertising requirements, and adopting the ordinance.
In other news, St. Marks Mayor Paul Sheddan proposed the idea of City Hall being closed on Mondays effective April 3 – creating a four-day workweek for city employees who work at city hall. He noted that City Hall employees have expressed that they are OK with the change.
Residents questioned how the proposed change would impact city hall hours of operation and pay scales for city employees. Sheddan noted that daily hours and employee pay scales would be adjusted accordingly. He said maintenance crew schedules would remain as is – the new schedule would only apply to those who work directly at city hall like city manager Zoe Mansfield and administrative assistant Ethel Jefferson.
After a discussion between commissioners and residents, the city commission unanimously voted to adopt a four-day workweek for city hall staff starting April 3.
Mowrey and Jefferson noted that the change will need to be advertised in advance of the effective date.