Published by the Department of Public Affairs, City of St. Augustine. Florida September 24 2010
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Utility transfer, Galimore Center, VIC expansion on city agenda |
Potential transfer of our city's West Augustine utility system to the county, revitalization of the Galimore Center and pool, and expansion of our Visitor Information Center to create an exhibit hall, go before our City Commission Monday.
City Manager John Regan will brief commissioners on each of the initiatives during the regular session beginning at 5 p.m. in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
Also on the agenda, a $750,000 grant for the Riberia Street project, redesign of the King and Cordova streets intersection, an ordinance to ban all forms of panhandling after dark, and three appointments to Planning and Zoning Board and two to the Police Officers Retirement Board. |
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Cats & carousing Saturday night It's just a short walk from North St. George Street, where the artistic legacy of Dr. Seuss of Cat in the Hat fame will be on exhibit, to San Marco Avenue, where artists, book signings, live music, refreshments et.al. will provide the party Saturday night.
Loves' City Gate Gallery, 1 St. George Street, will be open 'til 9 tonight and Saturday with a collection of paintings and sculptures created throughout nearly 70 years of Theodor Seuss Geisel's creativity.
A few blocks north, the fun of Uptown Saturday Night from 5 to 9 p.m. will include galleries, antique stores, unique shops, and late hours for Ripley's Museum in this regular event, sponsored by the San Marco Avenue Merchants Association. |
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County would purchase West Augustine utilities | | In what he calls "a great example of our city and county working together to benefit the West Augustine community," City Manager Regan said the two governments will work out an acquisition agreement to determine the value of the city-owned system, including installed utility lines, revenue, and future growth of the area.
"The county has a greater capacity to handle the expense of the planned West Augustine infrastructure improvements and possibly lower utility rates for that community," Regan said. County Administrator Mike Wanchick made the acquisition proposal.
Expanded VIC for exhibits
Expansion of our Visitor Information Center, by enclosing the rear porches and adding wings to complete a 20,000 square foot climate-controlled, secure venue demanded by international exhibits, will be presented to commissioners Monday by City Manager John Regan.
"Among our legacy projects for the commemorations," Regan says, "one critical element is suitable exhibit space for demanding exhibit specifications. We can do this as an infill project to our existing center and parking facility, and we can get it done within 18 months while we seek exhibits."
Cost is estimated at $2 million. Regan said the timing is good.
"We are in a period of total financial review of our city's capital improvement plan. We'll be looking at our indebtedness, current interest rates, and adjustments we can make to achieve our goals in a difficult economy."
Galimore revitalization
"Our City Commission's directive is to provide a quality of life for our citizens rooted as a core value of our community," City Manager Regan says. "There is no greater commitment we can make at this time than to revitalize the Galimore Center and pool as key elements in bringing Lincolnville to its historic place in our community."
Almost coincidentally, the new Solomon Calhoun community center and pool opened in April, 2009, in West Augustine and the Willie Galimore Center pool in Lincolnville - for years the county's only public pool - was closed for repairs.
"I've taught my kids and grandkids to swim in that pool," Lincolnville resident Lynette Pemberton says. "It's an important part of Lincolnville, and needs to be reopened."
Regan said our city, county, YMCA, school district and others will collaborate to make that happen, beginning with a meeting of stakeholders October 5.
Through interlocal agreement, the city maintains passive parks in the city, like the plaza, while the county maintains active parks, like Pomar Park and Eddies Vickers Recreational Facility and the Galimore pool. |
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| $750,000 grant for Riberia project |
A $750,000 Community Development Block Grant has been awarded to our city for the Riberia Street project. Commissioners Monday will consider a resolution accepting the grant for Phase Two of the two-phase project.
Bids have been received for Phase One, a $3.1 million project from King to Bridge Street. Public Works Director Martha Graham expects that work to begin at year's end. Phase Two is expected to cost $5 million, and will be considered as our city carries out a total financial review of our city's capital improvement plan.
Florida Power and Light has been working on designs during the summer to underground power wires crossing the street - one of the improvement features in the project which will extend from King Street to the Willie Galimore Center.
A special city website has details on the Riberia Street project.
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Unsnarling King/Cordova traffic |
Commissioners Monday will consider a new look, and hopefully better traffic flow, in a plan to add Quick Curb channeling devices and delineators at the intersection of King and Cordova streets.
A Memorandum of Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) calls for installation of the devices by the FDOT and maintenance by our city.
Public Works Director Martha Graham says the changes have won the endorsement of our Parking and Traffic Committee, as well as the Casa Monica Hotel and Flagler College which border the intersection. She said signal timing will be changed as well.
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History's Highlight
St. Augustine a city of song(s)
One in a series of historic features as we prepare for our 450th, researched by George Gardner
4 years, 11 months, 16 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
"Everyone sing: 'Mission of St. Augustine' now city's own" the headline announced in the August 10, 1988, edition of the Florida Times-Union.
Then City Commissioner John Giannotta proposed it, and the commission adopted it, even though, the newspaper suggested, "You can't dance to it. You can't really sing along with it."
 "In the Mission of St. Augustine, we said farewell; and we made a vow to meet again as teardrops fell . . ."
That song, kept alive today at occasions through the voice of Michelle Reyna, has contenders both distant and recent. Our St. Augustine Historical Society's music collection includes sheet music and recordings of at least sixteen St. Augustine songs, Senior Research Librarian Charles Tingley says. They date back to at least 1844's St. Augustine Waltz.
Two more recent efforts have been crafted as we near the 450th anniversary of our city.
Eli Grimes, a musical master storyteller living in the St. Johns River area, sings, "Pretty Little Old St. Augustine" ("On the East Coast of Florida, there's a quaint little town. Almost 500 years of history can be found."), while New York songsmith Benny Kay, son of St. Augustine resident Alan Kay, offers "The Ballad of St. Augustine" ("Welcome the restless - we welcome you all; Sign on the roster - and now hear the call.").
But St. Augustine in music has long attracted writers, with everything from marches to serenades. One entry, "Attack on St. Augustine; Sir Francis Drake," would not be a hit at a fiesta.
Mission of St. Augustine is credited to Jack Chiarelli. Other tunes and tunesmiths: Old St. Augustine (Clara Gazzam and Oreste Vessella); St. Augustine Serenade (Emanuel Sodano); Ponce de Leon March and Where December's Turned by R.L. Parks, and Take Me Back to Old St. Augustine, by Felkel/Cola-Santo.
Plenty of fodder for folks to craft "Official St. Augustine 450th Anniversary Music."
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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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