Published by former Mayor George Gardner February 11 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
On City Commission stage
Vendor, artist, street performer regulations in review
Extension of no vending zones along St. George side streets, a comprehensive plan for vendors, street performers, and artists, and a map of potential sites for a vendor market will be prepared for the City Commission, after commissioners Wednesday began sorting out a history of "incremental" regulation.
It was the first of two and possibly three commission workshops prompted by concerns about a vendor on Hypolita Street and the increase in vendors on the Visitor Center grounds.
Commissioners quickly realized, thumbing through nearly 200 pages of ordinances, police reports, pictures, maps, court decisions, and news articles provided by City Attorney Ron Brown, that the issues should be tackled separately.
Satisfied that vendor activity was covered Wednesday, commissioners February 23 will hear public comment and then discuss street performers at 4 pm, and visual artists at 5 pm. The workshops are being held in the Alcazar Room at City Hall, and were originally scheduled for different times of day to allow maximum public input. | | Images presented to City Commission show variety of activity now banned |
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St. Augustine
a UF classroom
University of Florida students are earning credits in the classroom of St. Augustine, in historic preservation, Museum Studies, and a variety of disciplines including Journalism and Communications/ Multimedia Properties, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Oral History.
Dr. Jan Matthews, director for Academics and Research, and Herschel Shepard (both pictured above), and Dr. Roy Graham are among the guides.
Program details at http://www.staugustine.ufl.edu/ on the Academics page. |
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- A plan developed by city staff a decade ago for regulated vendor/street performer spaces on St. George Street will be dusted off as commissioners meet in workshop February 23. City Attorney Ron Brown said the plan proposed 27 spaces, with only nine in use at one time, filled by monthly lottery drawing.
- An idea to move vendors at the Visitor Center from the grounds to the loggia on the south side of the parking facility was dampened as Fire Chief Mike Arnold said that would require a sprinkler system throughout the 400,000 square foot facility.
- An idea to convert the "putt putt" miniature golf course at the Municipal Marina into a market area was tempered by a lease to Ripley's, which wants to continue its red sightseeing train stop there.
- Responding to a proposal that a facility could be built there for events as well, Commissioner Leanna Freeman said, "I'll never be in favor of new buildings when we have older structures needing repair."
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Interlocal agreements and grant requests are on Monday's City Commission agenda for dredging of the Salt Run and San Sebastian River channels.
The meeting begins at 5 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
The Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) will be asked for $210,000 for the $280,000 Salt Run project and $210,000 for the $480,000 San Sebastian channel.
The St. Augustine Port Authority will provide the additional funding. |
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FSDB 'rolling dice' on legislation? |
Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) Friday accepted minor modifications but left major points intact in a mediation settlement with the city, "apparently willing to roll the dice on what the legislature is going to do," City Attorney Ron Brown says.
"The trustees agreed to modifications discussed but not actually voted on by our commission regarding the Genoply block," Brown said, "including architectural styles and better defining points of review available to the city's Planning and Zoning Board.
"In all other respects, the trustees adopted the terms of the agreement as proposed and rejected any modifications."
Meanwhile, the cloud of legislation that would void cooperative efforts between the city and school looms in Tallahassee. Brown will update the commission at its regular meeting Monday, along with a request for funding to hire a lobbyist to track that legislation giving the school power of eminent domain and autonomy from cooperation with the city.
The House bill is ready for a full House vote, while the Senate version has been scheduled for the first of three committee reviews.
A cadre of St. Augustinians plans once again to journey to Tallahassee for the Education Pre-K-12 Committee meeting Tuesday, February 14, from 1:30-3:30 pm. Contact Gina Burrell ginaburrell1@comcast.net 825-6746, if you're interested in joining the caravan..
Senator Steve Wise is both Senate sponsor and chairman of the Senate bill. Contact information for Education Pre-K-12 Committee members is here. |
Emails with '30-second' chair |
An exchange of emails after House Economic Affairs Committee Chair Dorothy Hukill limited St. Augustine residents to 30 second comments on Bill Proctor's eminent domain legislation February 1.
February 3 2012
Representative Hukill:
I want to thank you for your support of the concerned citizens of St. Augustine through your 30-second embarrassment to your committee and to the legislature of the great State of Florida.
George Gardner, Mayor, St. Augustine 2002-2006
February 7 2012
Dear Mr. Gardner:
Thank you for your email. Perhaps you are not aware that our committee meetings are scheduled for specific beginning and end times except as extended by the Speaker, unlike meetings at the local level.
We received two extensions of the meeting in question from the Speaker and therefore the time limitation had to be imposed to complete the meeting on time.
Sincerely, Dorothy L. Hukill, State Representative, District 28
February 10 2012
Dear Representative Hukill:
It's unfortunate that procedure preempts people.
St. Augustine's City Commission places appeals and public comment first on its agenda, appreciating that its constituents come first.
The chair of any legislative committee, reviewing speaker cards, can adjust its agenda to the same end.
I'm sure you know that I and my fellow residents see your selection of agenda order as one more effort by Representative Proctor to advance his eminent domain legislation, which he says he ran for office to accomplish over the past four terms - much to the surprise of the voters of District 20.
George Gardner |
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History's Highlight | |
The Africans: Deep roots in America
3 years, 6 months, 29 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Juan Garrido, a veteran of the Spanish conquests of Hispanola, Puerto Rico and Cuba, was a member of the Spanish expedition led by Ponce de Leon that discovered Florida in 1513. Juan Garrido was a free black African .
Estevanico was one of the early explorers of the Southwestern United States. Estevanico was a Muslim slave from northern Africa.
American history recalls black Africans kidnapped from their home countries to work as slaves in New World colonies. But much earlier, African-born blacks, free and slave, helped shape the future Americas in Spanish explorations and colony building.
Estevancio, slave of a Spanish nobleman, was with Panfilo de Narvaez in 1528, then explored Florida, Arizona and Mexico. Esteban, a black gun bearer, scout, slave, and soldier, was also with Narvaez. Juan Valiente, a black slave, was a member of numerous expeditions and fought side by side with Spanish soldiers in Guatemala, Peru, and Chile. Other blacks were members of expeditions led by Lucas Vasquez de Allyon and Hernando de Soto.
And the Africans were with Pedro Menendez as he forged a presidio out of the wilderness at St. Augustine.
The first Underground Railroad in America led from north to south, as slaves in the late 1600s fled English-controlled South Carolina to freedom in Spanish Florida.
In 1738 a defense outpost was established north of the St. Augustine settlement. Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose became the first free black community in North America, home to more than 100 former black slaves.
The free black militiamen pledged to "spill their last drop of blood in defense of the Great Crown of Spain and the Holy Faith, and to be the most cruel enemies of the English." In 1740, that militia and Spanish soldados crushed a British assault on Fort Mose.
The Africans were laborers, masons, and metalworkers in the building of the Castillo de San Marcos, and seawalls, bridges, and other public buildings. They were artisans, craftsmen, and merchants in the settlement of St. Augustine and rancheros and farmers supplying its food in the vast area around it.
Africans would continue to be recognized, as both war leaders and interpreters for the Seminoles in the 1800s War of Removal with expanding America, creation of a thriving community in Lincolnville after the Civil War, and as foot soldiers in the St. Augustine civil rights movement that led to passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Excerpt from 'The Africans,' in St. Augustine Bedtime Stories. Click for further information on this fascinating historic series.
Image: Explorer Estevanico, NAACP Voices from Paris TX |
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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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