Published by former Mayor George Gardner November 19 2011
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
When the information begins piling up, it's time for a Special Report to catch up on some of the many positive activities in our community. | |
| Neighborhood Council binds associations |
From Nelmar Terrace, progress in negotiating with the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
From Uptown, major streetscape beautification efforts.
From North Davis Shores, a 52-minute DVD oral history of Davis Shores: Growing up in the Venice that never was.
From Lighthouse Park, concerns with homeless sleeping in its park, and Lighthouse traffic.
From Flagler's Model Land, a theme: Saving our Neighborhood.
St. Augustine's Neighborhood Council, alive and well, met recently in a quarterly session to provide updates and compare notes.
The Neighborhood Association Program was created in 2003 to open better communication between residents and the city government that serves them. Today there are twelve associations, listed here.
Contact any of the associations for information on creating or joining a neighborhood association. |
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Model Land tackles traffic, rentals | |
Traffic has long been a concern in St. Augustine, student housing rentals a concern in more recent years.
One neighborhood keenly concerned with both is Flagler's Model Land Neighborhood Association, sandwiched between US 1 and Cordova Street and including the main campus of Flagler College.
Saragossa Street residents Jason Mauro and Corrinne White summarized at a recent association meeting:
ØTraffic along US 1 using neighborhood streets as "exit ramps" to downtown
ØFlagler student parties in rental properties Both concerns are increasing and Jason, passionate about his home neighborhood, fears "people will bail out on the neighborhood unless something is done."
Jason and Corrinne met with police and Flagler officials after "a Flagler student house party kept people up into the morning." Police said they don't have the manpower to chaperone parties, and the college said it's not on campus - it's a police problem.
Jason suggested the effort to demolish properties along Oviedo Street for part of a boutique hotel "was invasive," but made possible because all or most of that street is rental property.
The concerns will be pursued under the neighborhood association's theme for the coming year: "Saving our Neighborhood" in the face of anticipated visitor increase for the 450th. |
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Our readers ask
Does city have rental regulations? | | Does the city have any regulations on residential property rental?
Yes, says City Planner David Birchim.
"The city limits the number of unrelated persons who can live in a single family residence to 3. If there are more than 3 unrelated persons in a dwelling unit, it is then a boardinghouse/roominghouse.
"A boardinghouse is a commercial property which requires extensive fire code/building code compliance as well as commercial parking, water/sewer connection charges, etc. Boardinghouses are not permitted in RS-1 or RS-2 (residential) zoning districts.
"The city defines a "guesthouse" (or mother-in-law suite) as a structure with ... facilities for sleeping and sanitation, but no facilities for cooking. It is a no different than a bedroom, and is a part of the total property.
"Enforcement of these ordinances is done by the Planning and Building Department and typically begins with a citizen complaint. Code enforcement officers determine if a violation is occurring.
"If a violation is occurring, the code enforcement officers will contact the property owner and begin a process to bring the property into compliance with city code."
Do code enforcement officers have power to enter a guesthouse to determine if cooking facilities have been added.
City Attorney Ron Brown says, "The code enforcement officer may enter the premises with either the permission of the owner, the authorized representative of the owner, or the occupant, or may obtain a statutory inspection warrant to enter the premises issued by a judge or magistrate.
"Otherwise, the code enforcement officer may not go onto private property or enter a private structure.
Send your comments or questions. |
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450 community thoughts | Received in the mail the other day one of those "What are your ideas for the 450th" brochures distributed by the 450 Corps three years ago (!).
Some basic community-oriented thoughts:
ØOn the Bridge of Lions install flags from all over the world on behalf of all of our visitors.
ØInvite representatives from all nations to participate.
ØCreate a "Thanks for visiting St. Augustin" button.
ØHave a birthday parade with bands, musicians, dancers, etc.
ØDo a welcome party in our fields for all our visitors.
That brochure has been forwarded to the city 450 people, who may want the contributor to fill out a partnership application, or event sponsorship application, or ... something. |
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Community caring and rewards |
An emailer demonstrates the holiday spirit:
A few weeks ago, you mentioned in your Report that the Homeless Coalition could use personal toiletry items for gifts at a homeless dinner on Nov. 17th.
So I followed your suggestion and cleaned out my "miscellaneous cupboard" of small soaps, hotel shampoos, etc., and augmented my bag with some small items from Walgreens.
Today I dropped them by the 523 W. King St. office. Well, you would have thought I was Santa Claus. The workers were so grateful for my meager contribution.
Although I am certainly aware of the plight of the homeless in our midst, I have had difficulty finding ways that I can help out.
I am living paycheck to paycheck myself, so writing checks at big charity events is beyond my means. Thank you for highlighting this simple measure; it cheered me up, and perhaps it will do some good.
There's continuing need for these items, and the next homeless dinner occasion will be December 15 at 5:30 pm at First Methodist Church on King Street - a Memorial Service and Candlelight Vigil for Homeless who have died during the year 2011. |
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Archaeology's ranks increase |
Archaeology is St. Augustine's best kept secret, some say, but can a growing number of archaeologists keep a secret?
Carl Halbirt is St. Augustine's fulltime archaeologist. Joining him more recently are Dr. William Locascio, Flagler College's first fulltime archaeology professor, and Brenda Swann, St. Augustine Lighthouse's new education director.
Flagler's interest in archaeology is reflected in its becoming home to the Northeast Region of FPAN, the Florida Public Archaeology Network, serving Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, Clay, and Putnam counties.
The Lighthouse is focused on maritime archaeology through LAMP, its Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program.
Each of the programs depends on a corps of volunteers. Prominent for the city is the St. Augustine Archaeological Association, SAAA.
If you're not aware of all these archaeological efforts, it's probably because they're underground.
Stan Bond heads NPS archeology
Stanley C. Bond, Jr., for 14 years archaeologist for the former St. Augustine Historic Preservation Board, has moved on through the National Park Service to become its chief archeologist.
Bond's doctoral thesis examined the role of town planning and architecture in the First Spanish Period as seen in St. Augustine. He helped draft St. Augustine's archaeological ordinance and served as the first SAAA president.
Heading the NPS Archeology Program, he'll oversee identification, evaluation, documentation, conservation, protection, and interpretation of archeological resources in national parks and affiliated areas. |
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Galveztown in redesign |
A replica of the Galveztown, the 18th century brig commanded by Spain's Bernardo de Gálvez in the taking of Pensacola from the British during the American Revolution, is back on track after a redesign, with keel-laying ceremonies expected in January.
Dr. Sam Turner of the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program reported to the Maritime Heritage Foundation that further research prompted a redesign from 86 to 56 foot deck length and a restart of the project in Malaga, Spain, begun three years ago.
Officials hope the vessel will be under sail in 2013 to visit here and in Pensacola. St. Augustine oak timber was shipped to Malaga as part of the project.
Here's a description of the project and significance of the Galveztown from 2008, when the project began. |
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The St. Augustine Report is published weekly, with additional Reports previewing City Commission meetings as well as Special Reports. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com |
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