Published by former Mayor George Gardner April 11 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
Best city - the downside
Recent rating of St. Augustine by Forbes magazine as one of the ten prettiest towns in America is added to accolades from National Geographic (one of the ten best places in the world to see holiday lights) and TripAdvisor (one of the 15 vacation "hot spots" for 2012).
And readers and viewers respond, coming in ever increasing numbers - by car - to enjoy it.
Easter weekend traffic, choosing San Marco Avenue into the city from the north, found itself in a 22-block crawl from the extension of SR 16 to the Visitor Center parking facility at West Castillo Drive. And it wasn't alone.
Some officials speak of the goal of bringing in more tourists for the 450th commemoration. Others might suggest the adage, "When you are up to your neck in alligators, it's hard to remember the original objective was to drain the swamp."
The Report has put the question to the city officials who have to deal with finding the drain or managing the alligators. Look for responses in future Reports. And email your own thoughts to gardner@aug.com.
Meanwhile, some reflections and conceptions: | |
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Veterans Farm
needs your vote
A unique local pepper and unique producer have reached the final ten in competition to be marketed by the world's largest retailer, Walmart.
Surviving among more than 4,000 entries in Walmart's Get on the Shelf competition is Veterans Farm Datil Pepper Salt, produced by the farm created to assist disabled veterans, the product entry submitted by Flagler College's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).
It can win with enough votes through April 24. And on this you can vote early and often.Visit www.getontheshelf.com and select "Veterans Farm Datil Pepper Salt "daily. |
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Signage
The Heritage Signage Program of several years ago focused on signage to get motorists to the Visitor Center parking facility. Less attention was given to motorist options approaching the city along major routes I-95 and US 1.
It's along these routes that traffic from the north going to St. Augustine Beach could be encouraged to continue to SR 312, and from the south going to Vilano and north beaches continue to San Carlos and May Street, rather than going through the city.
Satellite parking
The 2005 Super Bowl in Jacksonville alerted city officials to anticipate a crowded period, and a list of potential satellite parking areas was compiled.
Those areas could come in handy during crowded event periods like the Easter weekend, with overflows at the Visitor Center parking facility.
Event signage
Anticipating a busy weekend, temporary signage along major highways can alert motorists to satellite areas.
Shuttle
A shuttle system like those at major theme parks could encourage use of those satellite areas. We hate to be grouped with theme parks, but like them we are a small area of attraction with ever increasing popularity.
Financing
Of course someone has to pay for all this. Parking fees for satellite parking and shuttles could make the numbers work.
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Sunday fees at Castillo parking lot |
It's not so much the money as turning over parking spaces that's prompted the National Park Service to begin charging for parking in the Castillo parking lot on Sundays.
"There has been a growing trend for cars to park in the lot and leave them all day on Sunday, taking up all of the parking for the fort's customers," City Comptroller and Parking Director Mark Litzinger says. A large number of cars may be employees of the downtown area.
"The fort will issue warnings for a month and then begin issuing tickets on Sunday only," Litzinger says. "Any revenue from citations will go to the Federal Government."
The city enforces parking throughout the city, including the Castillo, Monday through Saturday, 8am-5pm. Castillo personnel will enforce its lot Sundays from 8am-5pm. |
Governor signs eminent domain bill |
With no apparent ceremony, Gov. Rick Scott Friday signed the bill giving the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind the power of eminent domain.
The stroke of his pen finalized a battle between State Rep. Bill Proctor, R - St. Augustine, and residents of two National Register Historic Districts, who feared a continuation of the 72-acre school's expansion into their neighborhoods.
Proctor maintained the school was the only public education entity in the state to not have the power. But he also wrote to a constituent, "Unfortunately and regrettably, the only way to end the harassment of the school is through eminent domain."
His original legislation also included relief from requirements to obey city codes. The final legislation deleted all but the eminent domain, and a separate agreement between the city and school exempts those historic neighborhoods permanently, and the remainder of the city for ten years, from eminent domain. |
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VIC not yet 'Expo Center' |
 R eferring to a Report item on the conversion of the St. Augustine/St. Johns County Visitor Center into the St. Augustine Community Expo Center for the 450th Commemoration, Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield notes, "This is not the official name of the building at this time.
"The City Commission has not officially considered a name change as of yet and it is still considered the Visitor Information Center. At some point in the future, when we get near completion of phase two of the project, we will be talking to the Commission and at that time we will be asking for input from the TDC (Tourist Development Council) and VCB Visitors and Convention Bureau) about a possible name change."
The facility is supported in part through the TDC's bed tax monies, while the VCB handles advertising and promotion. Information services have been moved to a side room in the center's redesign. |
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Weekend Velo Fest honors bicyclist |
Velo, among other definitions, means bicycle, or bike. And this weekend we'll have plenty of opportunities to view velo here in the second annual Velo Fest.
Friday offers a parade of bicycles at 5:30pm, from the Visitor Center parking facility through the historic district to Flagler College.
Saturday at 7am, professional cyclists will race through the historic district in the Old City Criterium (Race on a closed course), and in the afternoon a memorial ride honors Bryan Wrigley, whose death last year in a hit and run accident on CR 214 inspired formation of the Velo Fest Community Initiative. Visit www.velofest.org |
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History's Highlight |
City's gaiety survives war
3 years, 4 months, 29 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
There were probably less than 5,000 Indians in Florida at the final stage of the Seminole Indian War, 1836-1842, yet the war involved the enlistment of 20,000 men, an estimated cost of thirty million dollars and 1,500 United States casualties. 
St. Augustine saw somewhat reluctantly the war come to an end in 1842. The presence of officers and troops had enlivened its social life and poured government funds into the city.
Officer after officer was sent to Florida to take command of operations against the Indians, including General Winfield Scott, to become famous during the Mexican War, and General Zachary Taylor, later to become President of the United States. But roving bands of Seminoles continued to strike and vanish into the dense swamps and little known woodlands.
"It is useless to complain - stated a news item of the day - the fact remains that we have pent up in this little city for the last four years and a half by a few worthless outlaws. Our friends and neighbors, one after another, have been hastened to the mansions of the dead and he who is foolhardy enough to venture beyond the gates may be the next victim."
But St. Augustine, as usual, managed to be gay. A young Lieutenant, William Tecumseh Sherman - later a Civil War hero - was stationed at Picolata and frequently rode into St. Augustine for diversion. In one of his letters home, dated February 15th 1842, he wrote:
"The inhabitants of St. Augustine still preserve the old ceremonies and festivities of old Spain. Balls, masquerades, etc. are celebrated during the gay Carnival season (just over) and the most religious observances of Lent in public, while in private they cannot refrain from dancing and merry making. Indeed I never saw anything like it - dancing, dancing, and nothing but dancing. But still not as much as you see in the North. Such ease and grace as I never before beheld."
Dr. Motte, a young military surgeon, made a similar observation in his journal: "The St. Augustine Ladies certainly danced more gracefully and kept better time than any of my fair country women I ever saw in northern cities. It was really delightful to see the beautiful Minorcan girls moving through their intricate waltz to the music of violins and tambourines."
Account from St. Augustine Record 400th anniversary insert.
Image: William Tecumseh Sherman |
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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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