Published by the Department of Public Affairs, City of St. Augustine. Florida November 9 2010
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West Augustine fills city chamber | |
West Augustine residents and businesspeople filled the Alcazar Room at City Hall Monday, to thank city officials for efforts so far and to urge continued cooperative efforts with the county on infrastructure needs, and to praise them for plans to develop additional parking on the first block of West King.
These were part of an agenda which included passage of a stiffer noise ordinance, tabling of a proposed horse carriage ordinance, appointment of a new city clerk, and preliminary approval of plans to seek $22.5 million in bonds "to address infrastructure, quality of life, and economic development." |
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Transparency
in government
The city has added a welcome feature to its website - full text of ordinances under consideration by the City Commission.
Open the website, click on Your Government in the left column, then Commission Meetings, and Agendas.
The agenda summary has links to the full text of ordinances. |
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'Stay at the table'
in West Augustine |
Pastor Ron Rawls of St. Paul AME Church asked a large contingent of West Augustine residents to stand as he urged the city to "stay at the table, make (improvements) happen, so these people can have a prosperous life."
Willie Cooper of the West Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency, and Dwala Willis of the Weed and Seed program urged that city/county effort to recognize long-standing needs yet to be addressed.
City Manager John Regan said dialog is continuing with County Administrator Mike Wanchick, and that both city and county commissions will be involved in tackling the challenges.
He said a proposed transfer of the city's West Augustine utility area to the county involves "a valuation process (that) takes time." Referring to an ordinance that provides an easier utility time-payment plan for businesses with more than 100 employees, Regan recommended reducing the employee number to assist smaller businesses.
Parking, signage for West King
Rob DiPiazza, president of the West King Merchants Association, represented a number of fellow merchants at the session in thanking the city for developing a property lease to provide some 20 parking spaces, and working on a signage program to identify the "West King District."
The area has been struggling since a repaving project removed on-street parking. |
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Carriage ordinance tabled again |
Despite additional tweaks to a proposed horse carriage ordinance, commissioners were not ready Monday to forward the legislation to public hearing and final action.
Assistant City Attorney Carlos Mendoza listed three modifications: suspension of carriage service from 4:30 to 6 p.m. excluding weekends and holidays, leaving the carriage route to pick up passengers, and a single route rather than day and night routes.
But commissioners had concerns: Commissioner Leanna Freeman about flexibility and length of proposed franchises, Commissioner Don Crichlow about one-day notice for charters, and Mayor Joe Boles about route restrictions.
The tabling was motivated in part by the upcoming change on the commission. Commissioner-elect Bill Leary, who helped work on the ordinance, will be replacing Crichlow, who chose not to run for a third term. He'll be sworn in December 6, and the commission's next regular and final meeting of the year will be December 13, other meetings cancelled by Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
"It makes sense to table this until Mr. Leary is seated," Mayor Boles said. |
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Stiffer noise ordinance finalized | |
City commissioners Monday approved a noise ordinance which will increase maximum fines from a current limit of $250 to $499 for repeat offenses. The new ordinance shifts enforcement from criminal to civil action, allowing the greater penalty increase under state law.
Former Mayor Mark Alexander urged commissioners to consider a mid-step penalty of $250. Alexander, who operates the White Lion, said in this economy even $100 sends a strong message to bars. But Commissioner Don Crichlow said, "This ordinance will not affect the average business, but those who choose to disobey the law."
The $499 fine would be imposed for repeated violation after a warning, then a $100 fine.
Commission names city clerk
St. Augustine has a new city clerk. Alison Ratkovic, a veteran of 22 years service with the city and currently administrative coordinator with the city manager's office, was named by the City Commission Monday to succeed Karen Rogers, who retired in July.
Vice Mayor Errol Jones made the recommendation after he and City Manager John Regan interviewed a number of applicants for the post. The city clerk is one of three city positions chosen by the commission, along with the city manager and city attorney.
City in strong position for bond issue
St. Augustine's bond underwriter told commissioners Monday the city's "remarkable" stability and low debt make it ideal to seek $22.5 million in bonds for infrastructure, quality of life, and economic development projects.
His comments came as commissioners approved preliminary bond marketing paperwork for final action at its December 13 meeting.
Mitch Owens, bond underwriter for the city for 25 years, said, "It's remarkable for a city your size to have such stability in these difficult times and, frankly, so little debt compared to other cities.
"You could issue $60 million and still be within bonding parameters," Owens said, but Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield noted a long needs list was pared down to absolute essentials "without raising taxes or fees." Repayment will come from existing revenue streams.
Burchfield promised the list of specific projects will be posted on the city's website.
The city currently carries a $52 million bond debt "which in ten years will be half gone," Burchfield noted, compared to other cities' lengthier debt periods.
Alley or not? 85 year oversight
A 1925 oversight almost got sent to the next generation before city commissioners agreed to move the matter to a public hearing before final action.
An alley originally platted between Lighthouse and Ponce de Leon avenues was omitted in a replat 85 years ago, apparently to widen Magnolia Avenue, City Attorney Ron Brown speculates. Today, adjoining property owners are asking the city to enforce codes along the alley existing in fact but not in records. The city doesn't legally own it.
Purpose of the proposed ordinance, Brown says, "is to provide a vehicle to place the owners on notice of the recorded replat and the legal status of the property."
Commissioners discussed tabling the matter - Mayor Joe Boles saying he'd prefer that to "vacating something we don't own," but the commission finally decided to forward the vacating ordinance to its next meeting for public hearing. |
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The UF Strategic Plan
Finding audience for heritage programs | |
One in a series of summaries from the University of Florida's St. Augustine Historic Area Strategic Plan for management of 34 state-owned properties here. The plan was developed in cooperation with federal, state, and local officials.
From 4th graders studying Florida's history to professionals honing skills in historic restoration, the University of Florida plan envisions heritage programs to appeal to "various audiences including the general public, students of higher education, K-12 students and professionals."
The plan draws on surveys and discussions in visioning sessions during the university's assessment of St. Augustine's heritage program. 
"In addition to out-of-town visitors, participants in the visioning discussions also noted the importance of targeting programs to residents of St. Augustine and St. Johns County, including both adults and children," the plan notes.
"Programs targeted for the general public were discussed largely in terms of partnerships with formats such as self-guided tours, audio-tours, living history museum, interpretive centers, museums and re-enactments.
"Examples of higher education programming included archaeological field schools and historic preservation studios, which may also be open to the public. Such programs draw on traditional fields of historic preservation expertise such as history, archeology, anthropology, architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, interior design, museum studies, librarianship and similar disciplines."
The study noted "opportunities to expand the audience for higher education programming and collaboration including fine arts, law, business, journalism, marketing, graphic/visual arts, tourism, etc.
"Higher education programs were also discussed in terms of partnership opportunities, particularly through the Historic St. Augustine Research Institute (a collaboration with Flagler College)."
A key element is support within the K-12 school system, ". . . vital to gaining support from area residents, and nurturing youth that will appreciate historical and cultural resources as adults." Goals include expansion of existing programs, grants and curriculum development.
At the professional level, the plan sees "development opportunities including ideas for conferences, trades and apprenticeships in historic restoration and tour guide training." |
History's Highlight
Governors aided New Smyrna colonists
One in a series of historic features for our 450th, researched by George Gardner
4 years, 10 months to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
An account drawn from the writings of former St. Augustine Mayor Kenneth H. Beeson, Jr.
The troubles at New Smyrna did not go unnoticed by the governors of East Florida with British occupation in 1763: James Grant (1764-1771), who was focused on business and experimentation designed to augment business, and Patrick Tonyn (1774-1783) facing an American Revolution.  Governor Grant launched an advertising program, placing notices in all the English colonies and provinces, painting a beautiful picture of East Florida and recounting liberal British land grant policies. Among the respondents, Dr. Andrew Turnbull gained a 20,000 acre tract he named New Smyrna and brought in 1,400 colonists from the Mediterranean to its unprepared wilderness. The colonists depended on hominy grits, fish, and oysters, and their provisions at the best of times were only a quart of corn a day and two ounces of salted pork a week. Instead of allowing each family to do with its meager fare, they were forced to join others in a common mess. At the beat of a drum, all would gather at a community kettle. By the end of 1768, three hundred men and women and 150 children had died from hunger and gangrenous scurvy at New Smyrna. While Governor Grant "cried for their poor hungry souls," he was afraid that if the plight of the colonists became known, it could jeopardize plans to induce more settlers to East Florida. By March 1769, seven miles of riverfront property had been cleared and crops planted. The governor, still uneasy, privately dispatched a schooner to Charleston, to load the vessel with corn and proceed directly to New Smyrna. He hid the purpose from his subordinates by an official statement that the vessel was being sent to Savannah for lumber and other supplies needed for the province. In 1775, revolutionary activities to the north caused new Governor Patrick Tonyn to consider using New Smyrna's Menorcans in defense of the province. That didn't appeal to either the Menorcans or Dr.Turnbull, who asked that his colonists be allowed to remain at the settlement and be protected in their activities. In March and April 1777, groups of New Smyrna settlers came to St. Augustine to complain to Governor Tonyn of the cruelty imposed on them. And their period of service had expired, and they were demanding justice. Tonyn persuaded them to return to New Smyrna, but promised they would receive provisions and be guaranteed justice under British law. By July 26, 1777, the settlement of New Smyrna had come to an end. Over 40,000 pounds sterling and 964 human lives had been expended on the settlement in its ten years of existence. |
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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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