The Break Room

October 13, 2026   |  Communications Specialist Rachel Murphy joins Melissa Wissel on The Break Room to preview Florida Cities Week, including discussions with department directors, a Fish Island walking tour, and a police vehicle show-and-tell. She also shares how residents can stay informed through the City’s social media and News and Note s newsletter.

St. Augustine Fire Marshal Abby Pedigo joins Melissa Wissel for Fire Prevention Month to discuss lithium-ion battery safety, safe charging practices, and warning signs of battery damage. She also shares reminders about smoke alarms, home escape plans, and holiday cooking safety.

In this episode of The Break Room , host Melissa Wissel talks with St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes about preparing for the upcoming General Election. They cover voter registration deadlines, vote-by-mail, early voting, Election Day polling locations, sample ballots, and how voters can check or update their information at VoteSJC.gov

September 22, 2026   |  In this episode of The Break Room , Events and Venue Coordinator Kristin Odom highlights the City of St. Augustine’s rentable public spaces, including Francis Field, the Plaza gazebo, Galimore Center, Eddie Vickers Park, Lightner Courtyard, and the Municipal Marina. She also explains updated event fees, photography and film permitting, and new online reservation and payment...

September 15 2026 | Community Services Director Jaime D. Perkins returns to The Break Room to celebrate Redevelopment Week and highlight the work happening across the City of St. Augustine’s three Community Redevelopment Areas: Lincolnville, Historic Downtown, and West City. Jaime explains how Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) work, how redevelopment areas are established, and how CRA fundin...

September 8, 2026 | Events and Venue Coordinator Kristin Odom discusses her first year with the City of St. Augustine and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into coordinating events such as Light-Up! Night and Fireworks Over the Matanzas. She also highlights the City’s newly updated Terms of Use for Public Property Events Manual, how it streamlines the event planning and application process, and...

September 1, 2026 | Community Services Director Jaime D. Perkins discusses the City of St. Augustine’s updated Terms of Use for Public Property Events Manual, which brings information about event venues, reservations, fees, and requirements together in one place. She highlights updates for Francis Field, the Plaza de la Constitución Gazebo, Eddie Vickers Park, and other public spaces, as well as p...

August 25, 2026   |  Code Enforcement Officer Morganne Lanni discusses how St. Augustine’s enforcement program has expanded, particularly around short-term rentals, with common issues including noise, trash, parking, rental density, permitting, and tree removal. She also explains the upcoming move to the Cityworks platform, which will introduce rolling 365-day short-term rental registrations and s...

August 18, 2026  |  In this episode of The Break Room , Chief Resilience Officer Jessica Beach and Grants and Projects Coordinator Caitlyn Sargent discuss how the City of St. Augustine is addressing flooding and strengthening resilience. They share how the Hohonu water-level sensor helps monitor tides, highlight recently completed drainage and shoreline projects, and explain how grant funding make...

This episode of The Break Room features Deputy Director of General Services Barb Moore discussing the City of St. Augustine’s plans to improve public restrooms, including a proposed major expansion at the Casa, renovations at City Hall, and future upgrades at other City facilities. The conversation also highlights improvements underway at Lighthouse Park, including new playground equipment, ADA-ac...

August 4, 2026   |  In this episode of The Break Room , Assistant City Manager Reuben Franklin discusses the City of St. Augustine’s newly adopted vehicle-for-hire and franchise ordinances, which reorganize regulations, establish operator caps, strengthen licensing, insurance, and safety requirements, and improve enforcement to better protect local businesses and the public. He also highlights upd...

July 28, 2026  |  In this episode of The Break Room, Building Official Buddy Schauland explains Florida’s new House Bill 803, which creates limited residential building permit exemptions for certain home improvement projects under $7,500. He clarifies which projects qualify, outlines the application process, highlights important exclusions such as structural, plumbing, electrical, and flood-zone w...

Marcus Pinson returns to The Break Room to discuss his transition from Utilities to the City of St. Augustine’s new Mobility Manager, sharing updates on the nearly completed Sevilla Street reconstruction, Fourth of July parking and shuttle operations, and plans to expand the STAR Circulator route to connect downtown with St. Augustine Beach. He also previews upcoming mobility initiatives, includin...

This episode of The Break Room features St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes, who explains key details about the upcoming August 18 primary election, including open primary races, important registration and vote-by-mail deadlines, early voting dates, and how voters can access personalized sample ballots through votesjc.gov. She also highlights the importance of researching candidat...

July, 7, 2026 |  In this episode of The Break Room , St. Augustine Police Department Marine Operations Officer Pat Harvey shares essential boating safety tips for the busy summer season, covering heat-related risks, boating laws, required safety equipment, no-wake zones, and the importance of courtesy on local waterways. He also discusses how Marine Operations partners with local, state, and feder...

June 30, 2026   |  In this episode of The Break Room , St. Augustine Fire Chief Carlos Aviles joins Communications Director Melissa Wissel to discuss fire safety, hurricane preparedness, and the ongoing King Street Bridge detour. Chief Aviles shares practical reminders about avoiding fire station access points, safely charging lithium-powered e-bikes, preparing homes and insurance documentation be...

June 23, 2026   |  In this episode of The Break Room , St. Augustine Police Chief Jon Marston discusses his transition into the chief’s role, reflects on his 17-year career with the department, and shares how regional law enforcement partnerships help keep the community safe during major events. He also outlines traffic and crowd-management plans for the city’s July 4th celebrations, including str...

June 16, 2026   |  In this episode of The Break Room , Communications Director Melissa Wissel talks with St. Augustine Harbormaster Eric Mauldin about the start of the busy summer boating season and ongoing improvements at the city marina. Mauldin shares updates on seawall repairs, marina resiliency projects, dock upgrades, and the marina’s renewed Clean and Resilient Marina certification, while a...

June 9, 2026   |  This episode of The Break Room features part two with Jen Lomberk of Matanzas Riverkeeper, discussing her environmental advocacy work, including land conservation, water quality protection, and community engagement efforts. She highlights the hidden challenges of nutrient pollution and the importance of preventative actions like Florida-friendly landscaping to protect waterways....

June 2, 2026   |  In this episode of The Break Room , Communications Director Melissa Wissel reflects on receiving the Tourism Government Employee of the Year Award and shares insights into the evolving role of city communications in St. Augustine. She discusses the challenges of coordinating messaging during Nights of Lights season, the importance of community engagement, and the rewarding experi...

May 19, 2026 |  This week on The Break Room , we’re joined by Dee Brown, Public Information Officer for the City of St. Augustine, as he prepares for retirement. Dee reflects on his time serving the city, sharing some of his favorite memories, memorable moments, and the experiences that shaped his career. He also opens up about what’s ahead in this next chapter of life. Tune in for a conversation...

May 12, 2026  |  In this episode of The Break Room, Assistant City Manager Reuben Franklin highlights the success of the City of St. Augustine’s second annual Citizens Academy, where 20 residents and business owners received a behind-the-scenes look at city operations, including public safety, mobility planning, budgeting, and volunteer opportunities on city boards. Franklin also provides an updat...

With local elections approaching, this episode breaks down what Saint Augustine voters need to know. St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes explains the upcoming city races, including open seats, key deadlines, and how candidates qualify for the ballot. From petition requirements to how primaries are determined, this conversation offers a clear overview of the election process and wh...

May 26, 2026   |  This episode of The Break Room features Jen Lomberk, Executive Director of Matanzas Riverkeeper, discussing her recognition as the inaugural Red Cedar Award recipient for environmental impact. She highlights the community-driven effort to save Fish Island from development, emphasizing its ecological and historical significance and the power of grassroots activism. The conversatio...

April 28, 2026 |  This episode of The Break Room features historian Dr. Roger Smith discussing St. Augustine’s role during the Revolutionary War, particularly the unique treatment of over 2,000 prisoners of war held in the city, including signers of the Declaration of Independence. The conversation highlights how many prisoners lived relatively freely under parole agreements and shares intriguing...