St. Augustine Report

Published by former Mayor George Gardner January 26 2012

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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084

Special Report

FSDB poster

Call for 'city united'

Nelmar neighborhood's Melinda Rakoncay issued this broadside with urging that the Report reach out to its readers "to overwhelm the FSDB Board."

The Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) called an emergency meeting for Friday (tomorrow) at 9:30 am "to discuss security issues related to the Collins House property."

The meeting is at FSDB's Moore Hall, on San Marco Avenue in North City between Makaris Street and Fullerwood Drive.

The agenda opens with public comment, followed by "Determination of how to address security of the unnamed alley alongside the President's House located at 27 Milton Street and the Collins House located on Nelmar Street."

"The City needs as many people as possible to show up and express their opposition to the FSDB board members," Melinda wrote. "We need to show a city united against this."

Melinda has extensive information on a history of difficulties with FSDB. Contact her at mrakoncay@comcast.net

Neighborhoods

under siege

The Genoply/Alfred streets block of San Marco Avenue, shown in center of photo, was bought up by the Florida school several years ago. The yellow line is the border of the current school campus.

The four orange-roofed buildings are graduate student living quarters, allowed by city code in existing commercial zoning along San Marco.

The balance of the block is zoned single family residential.

It was proposed in mediation with the city to be eight single-family residences styled to fit the historic neighborhood.

Alfred Street residents facing the block (left) are among the actively concerned residents.

Two-edged sword

Eminent domain

In what's been called his "last hurrah," State Rep. Bill Proctor, leaving office this year under term limits, has created legislation to give FSDB power of eminent domain and relief from following city codes.

The City Commission Monday passed a resolution opposing the legislation and called for city staff "to fight it any way they can."

A request by the commission two weeks earlier was quickly met in a legislative subcommittee vote days later supporting the legislation.

"Dr. Proctor is highly regarded in the legislature," Bill Abare, successor to Proctor as Flagler College president, said today. Abare had dinner with Proctor while on business in Tallahassee this week and said he's taking the local furor in stride.

Proctor says there are no current plans to use eminent domain, but all other school districts have it.

The city and immediate neighborhoods argue there is no way to expand without further eroding the National Register Historic Districts bordering both sides of the school campus.

Mediation

The FSDB emergency board meeting tomorrow is "to address security of the unnamed alley" running between the Collins and President's houses off Magnolia.

City Manager John Regan, who's been involved in a mediation between the school and city, told commissioners Monday "that alleyway is our only leverage" in getting some cooperation from the school."

Nelmar district's Melinda Rakoncay told commissioners "the school moved eleven students into Collins House while this mediation is going on," suggesting it creates an argument to force the city's hand.

The commission Monday rejected a proposed settlement that would have provided partial relief and assurances that relief would stick regardless of passage of the Proctor bills.

Without any agreement by July 1, if the Proctor bills are passed, all campus properties would be vested, that is untouchable by city codes.

"The only ones who can stop (the legislation) is the school," Vice Mayor Leanna Freeman said. "That's the reality."

Rakoncay and her neighbors think a united city in opposition can also stop the legislation.

Reaching Tallahassee's legislators

Lists of legislative committees and newspapers to contact, prepared by city officials and neighborhoods, are attached here in the campaign to offset Proctor's hold on the legislature.

It seems the only way short of busloads rolling into the state capitol. The great majority of legislators know little of the history and development of this city of only 12 square miles, but a mission of assisting handicapped children resonates with them.

On top of this is Proctor's well-deserved respect as an educator proposing otherwise sound educational policies while in office.

Legislators from small and large corners throughout Florida rely on representatives from affected districts when weighing legislation. Proctor's representation of our city's concerns has been that of just "a few strident voices" opposing his legislation, and the overriding importance of the FSDB mission.

While Proctor will continue efforts to speed the legislation through the House and Senate, there are committees and the legislators themselves who can be reached.

Photo: The FSDB campus has grown from five acres - given by the city 125 years ago - to 72 acres, with no further expansion room unless cutting into flanking National Historic Districts. At top is San Marco Avenue, left: Nelmar Terrace, and right, Fullerwood Park. Lower section is filled in marsh area completed before strictly measures on wetland areas.

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