City Manager David Birchim recently announced the launch of St. Augustine's new Community Services Department, an amalgamation designed to streamline city services under one umbrella for enhanced efficacy, according to a city statement.
The department will unify various divisions, including Special Events, Homeless Day Center operations, and Mobility, which covers parking enforcement and the management of the Historic Downtown Parking Garage. Jaime D. Perkins, who is already familiar with the workings of the city through her role as Neighborhood Services and CRA Manager, has been appointed as the Director. In a move that intends to bring about greater coordination and resource management, Birchim stated, "Streamlining these critical community services into a singular department with the oversight of a director serves our residents more effectively," as per the City of St. Augustine.
This isn't Perkins' first climb up the city management ladder; she was appointed as Manager of the then-newly created Neighborhood Services and CRA Administration Division in 2023 when Birchim himself took up the City Manager's post. With a Master of Public Administration from the University of Phoenix and a successful track record that includes obtaining over $1 million in grant funding for various city projects, Perkins seems poised to make yet another impactful contribution to the city's development.
Among her notable achievements, Perkins revamped the Lincolnville Community Redevelopment Area (LCRA) residential home repair program, dubbed "Fix-it-Up," providing up to $100k in grants for health and safety home repairs. Furthermore, she played a pivotal role in the formation of the West City Community Redevelopment Area (WCCRA), ensuring that the necessary foundations, like the Finding of Necessity and the Community Redevelopment Plan, were solidly in place. "I am elated to take on the new and exciting role of Community Services Director," Perkins told the City of St. Augustine's news release. "These divisions and their functions are so important to our residents. I'm honored and humbled by our City Manager’s trust in me to take this on."
Residents can expect to witness a more cohesive approach to community services as Perkins leverages her experience and knowledge to enhance engagement and efficiency.
