Published by the Department of Public Affairs, City of St. Augustine. Florida July 23 2010
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| $250,000 grant for garage light conversion | | Our city has been awarded a $250,000 grant to convert lighting in our Visitor Center parking facility from sodium to Light Emitting Diode (LED) panels, a conversion that City Manager John Regan estimates can save $103,102 on the facility's annual light bill.
Approval of the grant is on Monday's agenda, which also includes a public hearing on an ordinance to extend a requirement for use by exception permits on automobile rental or sales, and a discussion of special events in residential neighborhoods.
The regular meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the Alcazar Room at City Hall, after a 3:30 p.m. workshop on a proposed carriage ordinance. |
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Paving for the future
Brick pavers are a popular fundraiser currently for two civic organizations - the Players Championship Boys & Girls Club at Chase Field and the 100th anniversary of the Orange Street School, now our school district offices.
Proceeds from the Boys and Girls Club project will be used to support "a safe and positive place for kids to go after-school in St. Augustine" at the new West Augustine club, while the school's paver program will help support educational activities centering on its anniversary.
Contact the Boys and Girls Club 904.396.4435 and the school district 904.547.7517. |
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Grant for lighting efficiency | |
 The grant for LED lighting in the 24/7 parking facility comes through the Florida Energy and Climate Commission as a federal stimulus Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.
City Manager John Regan says the city would contribute $50,000 toward the estimated $300,000 project, but notes that, in addition to annual electric bill savings, technology with the LED system will also allow lighting to be turned off in unused zones.
LED systems can be seen in our city's traffic signals - panels of smaller lights within each color, a conversion in our traffic light system several years ago.
Controlling car lots
You see them everywhere, new and used car lots as well as cars lined up at service stations with sale tags. An ordinance recommended by our Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) goes before our City Commission Monday to extend a use by exception permit requirement in commercial zones not currently covered.
Planning and Building Director Mark Knight says areas affected include US 1 and the north end of San Marco Avenue. Other areas, like the south end of San Marco and Anastasia Boulevard, already require a use by exception permit.
The ordinance, which will face a second public hearing if approved Monday, will require rental and sales in those areas to go before the PZB, with public hearings, for approval.
Commission to review
revised carriage ordinance
City commissioners will review a revised carriage ordinance Monday at 3:30 p.m. before their regular meeting at 5.
Assistant City Attorney Carlos Mendoza, whose initial effort several weeks ago met with opposition, held a public workshop earlier this week for input from carriage businesses, drivers, animal rights advocates, and residents to craft a new proposal. |
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| Non-profit foundation to run 450th | | A community-based non-profit foundation will run the 450th Commemoration, based on a consensus by city commission at a workshop Wednesday. The plan will be brought before it for formal action at its August 9 regular meeting.
A meeting of the commemoration steering committee is expected within a week to present the foundation plan, offer board seats to committee members, and vote to disband the steering committee. The City Commission would then consider dissolving that committee August 9.
"The city government will certainly remain involved," City Manager John Regan assured commissioners. "We have the infrastructure the commemoration will depend upon."
"This is a good change, from city to community," Commissioner Leanna Freeman said. "We're passing the baton," Commissioner Don Crichlow added.
Attorney Don Wallis, a former St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce chairman, and Colin Bingham, a Jacksonville businessman and city resident, developed the foundation plan and will present it to the steering committee.
Also announced at Wednesday's workshop, a 450th website soon to go on line, formation of a team to assess spaces for exhibits, and a contract with Ross Richardson, director of Marketing Communications for Jamestown 2007, to pursue a federal coin and stamps, state license plate, and commemoration licensing and merchandising procedures.
Commemoration Director Dana Ste. Claire also announced a second First America series this fall to include St. Augustine's cultural diversity and military, maritime, women, and culinary histories.
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| Sessions planned on public works projects |
King Street drainage and West Castillo Drive sidewalk project plans will be presented at a public information meeting hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) July 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
Among discussion items, closing east bound lanes on King Street and possibly other road closures between September and December for the project designed to cure frequent flooding in the Malaga/King streets area.
Our city's Public Works Department has projects planned as well, to be described in an open house for Davis Shores residents August 5 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Alcazar Room. Utility work both completed and projected for completion will be the topic. |
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Archaeology for the next generation |
 There's more to archaeology than digging holes, as 3rd-5th grade teachers will find out next week in a two-day Project Archaeology Teacher Workshop designed to work archaeology into classroom activities.
The workshop, July 29-30, will provide resources and activities to help kids "learn by discovery," Amber Weiss of the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) says. Contact Amber at 904-819-6498.
Lincolnville Through the Eyes of Children
A Day in the Life of Lincolnville Through the Eyes of Children will go on exhibit in the St. Johns County Administration Building Rotunda Gallery August 3, with opening ceremonies at 8 a.m. before the County Commission meeting.
Twenty photographs and seven paintings of the Lincolnville neighborhood as seen by the area's children will be featured. It's a project of the Cyprian Center of Expressive Arts, with guidance from local photographer Justin Itnyre and artist Corrie Borglund.
St. Cyprian Vicar Ted Voorhees won a bouquet in this week's Folio Weekly for helping develop the Day in the Life program. The exhibit, the first all-student art exhibit to hang in the Rotunda, will continue through October.
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History's Highlights Super Jumbo Banana Split 39 cents
One in a series of historic features as we prepare for our commemorations, drawn from research by George Gardner.
5 years, 1 month, and 13 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
More than 450 years of history includes more recent decades as well, like a trip to Woolworth's lunch counter in the 1950s or a St. Augustine Visitors Weekly Guide in the 1940s.
Both were forwarded by readers, and illustrate what a difference half a century can make.
 Woolworth's was offering a ham sandwich for 30 cents, milk shake for 25, and slice of pie for 15 cents.
Visitors to "Your Nation's Oldest City" were offered a 6 by 9 inch slick-covered 20-page booklet "FREE, Take One" which included an address section on the back to MAIL BACK HOME. You'd have to "Place 3-cent stamp here" on it.
Advertising included The Exchange Bank - The Friendly Bank, the Cafeteria Marion Hotel on Bay Street South of Bridge, the Spaghetti Palace on Marine Street, and W.E. Wolcott's Ocean View Hotel on Bay Street.
You could phone various advertisers as well, at such numbers a 1534, 9148, or 1538-J.
April 4, 1948, had to be close to primary election time, with ads for Fuller Warren, "All-Florida's Candidate for Governor, An Able Man for a Big Job," and "Let's Go with L.O., L.O. Davis, Jr. for Sheriff, Capable, Fearless and Sincere."
"If You Must Leave," the inside back cover listed The State Ferry Between St. Augustine and Vilano Beach, bus service in-town and to the beach, Eastern Airlines in Jacksonville and Florida Airways at the Municipal Airport on North Dixie Highway, and Florida East Coast Railway.
Publisher O.A. Leavitt boasted 6,000 circulation for this Vol. 1, No. 43, which undoubtedly helped Advertising Manager Wm. L. LaMoyne in his sales work.
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The St. Augustine Report is published by the Department of Public Affairs of the City of St. Augustine each Tuesday and on Fridays previewing City Commission meetings. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, former St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a longtime newspaper reporter and editor. Contact The Report at gardner@aug.com |
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