Citizen Awards

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA MODIFYING AND UPDATING RESOLUTION 2025-06; ESTABLISHING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE CREATION OF THE RED CEDAR AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BY THE CITY COMMISSION.

WHEREAS, the St. Augustine City Commission, from time to time, recognizes individuals and institutions for their service to the community with the presentation of awards, and

WHEAREAS, the Commission currently presents four awards: Order of la Florida, de Aviles Award, Adelaide Sanchez Award, and Citizenship Award; and

WHEREAS, the original four awards were created over a period of many years by separate acts of the Commission, and

WHEREAS, the desire to create a new award recognizing individuals and organizations for significant contributions to the positive impacts of conserving, maintaining, and enhancing the environmental wellness/well-being and natural resources of our community, including ecosystem services and environmental advocacy; and

WHEREAS, the name of this new award shall be the Red Cedar Award for Environmental Impact, named after our City Tree, with consideration to the City’s tradition of dignified civic honors, ensuring alignment with the cultural and historical values of our city;

WHEREAS, each award carries distinct criteria for its recipients and the presentation of each award is unique, and

WHEREAS, each award has a slightly different process for nomination and selection of recipients that would benefit by having a simplified and scheduled process; and

WHEREAS, bringing the criteria and process of the Commission's four awards together by resolution will serve to increase an understanding of the significance of each award and each and every recipient;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, THAT THE FOLLOWING BE ADOPTED, CONFIRMED, AND RATIFIED:

Section 1. Nominations for Order of la Florida, de Aviles Award, Adelaide Sanchez Award, Red Cedar Award for Environmental Impact, and Citizenship Award shall be as follows:

A. Nominations for Order of La Florida, de Aviles Award, Adelaide Sanchez, and the Red Cedar Award for Environmental Impact, will be:

1. Made by a member of the City Commission, filed with the City Manager in writing and include nominee's name, address, age and biographical background showing qualifications;
2. Placed by the City Manager on the next City Commission meeting agenda,
3. Determined by majority vote approval of the City Commission.

Award recipients will be notified by the City Manager concerning the award and the presentation will be scheduled for a future regular City Commission meeting.

In the event the City Manager receives more than one nomination; the same procedure shall be followed for each one. The City Manager shall note the order in which the nominations were received.

B. Nominations for Citizenship Awards will be:

1. Chosen based on the Character Counts program of participating St. Johns County schools, if applicable, or a high-school-graduating aged student who has demonstrated interest and volunteerism in programs, events, or nonprofit   organizations   in   the   City   of   St.   Augustine.
2. Each school or nominating entity will notify the City of St. Augustine Communications Department the name of one student, their address, and include a letter of endorsement.
3. Nominations will be submitted by a calendar date deadline, to be established and announced annually by the City of St. Augustine.
4. The City Manager shall place the nominations on the Consent Agenda in a Memorandum for approval by the City Commission prior to the scheduled award presentation.
5. Awards are determined by majority vote approval of the City Commission.

Award recipients will be notified by the Communications Department concerning the award and the presentation will be scheduled for a future regular City Commission meeting.

Section 2. Order of la Florida, de Aviles Award, Adelaide Sanchez Award, and Citizenship Award each have specific criteria for recipients and award presentations as follows:

1. Order of La Florida
   1. Recipient: Person(s) who have, over a long period of time, unselfishly devoted their time and talent to the welfare and betterment of our citizens and heritage and who have exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and have contributed extraordinary services to the community.
   2. Couples nominated will be treated as one recipient.
   3. Qualifications: Must be at least 55 years of age. Membership limited to 10 living persons at any one time.
   4. Award: Distinctive, traditional framed certificate presented by the

Commission in a ceremony at one of its regular meetings.

2. de Aviles Award
   1. Recipient: Those identified in the field of public service (elected, appointed, or employed) or those (resident or non-resident) well- known and respected by the citizenry who have dedicated and honorable service to the community of St. Augustine and St. Johns County. The award may be presented posthumously.
   2. Qualifications: The number of awards is limited to one per year.
   3. Award: Distinctive, traditional framed certificate presented by the Commission in a ceremony at one of its regular meetings.
3. Adelaide Sanchez Award for Historic Preservation, Restoration, Education, and Interpretation
   1. Recipient: Persons who are recognized by the City Commission for significant achievement in the restoration, preservation, education and interpretation of historic resources in the City of St. Augustine.
   2. Qualifications: Two awards are presented annually, one recognizing achievement in restoration and/or preservation of historic resources, and the other for education and interpretation of historic resources.
   3. Award: Limited edition statuette of a lion from the Bridge of Lions, with customized, engraved name plate presented by the Commission in a ceremony at one of its regular meetings.
4. Red Cedar Award for Environmental Impact
   1. Recipient: Person(s) or organization who have made significant contributions to the positive impacts of preserving, maintaining, and enhancing the environmental wellness/well-being and natural resources of our community, including ecosystem services, environmental advocacy, and/or reducing negative environmental effects and/or impacts.
   2. Qualifications: Must be a resident of the City of St. Augustine or St. Johns County for a minimum of five years; or have contributed directly to a project, or multiple projects, in the City of St. Augustine for a minimum of five years; and demonstrated positive environmental impact through measurable or tangible means.
       
       This award is limited to one nomination per year and may be presented for past significant work.
   3. Award: Distinctive, traditional framed photograph or commissioned painting of an animal, natural habitat, or natural resource, representative of the local, native environment
5. Citizenship Awards
   1. Recipient: A graduating high school senior already being recognized through the Character Counts program, if applicable, or a high-school­ graduating aged student who has demonstrated interest and volunteerism in programs, events, or non-profit organizations in the City of St. Augustine.
   2. Qualifications: They must be a resident of the City of St. Augustine or have been active in supporting its history, culture, or people.
   3. Award: A city lapel pin, and $500 scholarship award will be presented by the Commission in a ceremony at one of its regular meetings prior to high school graduation.

Section 3. The nomination, selection and presentation of the Order of la Florida, de Aviles Award, Adelaide Sanchez Award, Red Cedar Award for Environmental Impact, and Citizenship Award are presented on the following schedule, as appropriate:

1. de Aviles Award
   1. Nominations: November
   2. Selection: December
   3. Presentation: February, second meeting, near February 15, the birth anniversary of Pedro Menendez de Aviles.
2. Citizenship Awards
   1. Nominations: Will be submitted to the City by the participating school, a nominating entity, or an individual by a calendar date deadline, to be established and announced annually by the City of St. Augustine
   2. Selection: Nominations will be reviewed, approved, and submitted for the Consent Agenda prior to being scheduled for presentation.
   3. Presentation: Awards will be scheduled for presentation at a City Commission meeting in April to coincide with end-of-year awards.

3. Adelaide Sanchez Award
   1. Nominations: February
   2. Selections: March
   3. Presentation: May, first meeting to coincide with Historic Preservation Month.
4. Order of la Florida
   1. Nominations: June, if a vacancy exists.
   2. Selection: July
   3. Presentation: September, first meeting, near September 8, the anniversary of the city's founding.
5. Environmental Impact Award
   1. Nomination: January
   2. Selection: February
   3. Presentation: April, first meeting, to coincide with Earth Month and to allow for presentation of Citizenship Awards

Section 4. The City Commission may vary the schedule for the nomination, selection, or presentation of any award as determined by a majority of the City Commission.

Section 5. Rules and procedures for the Order of la Florida, de Aviles Award, Adelaide Sanchez Award, and Citizenship Award previously adopted as resolutions by the City Commission are superseded by this resolution, including 1975-14, 1977-02, 2000-25, 2013-03, 2013-40, 2017-08, and 2022-11.

Section 6. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the City Commission.