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Published by former Mayor George Gardner July 21 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084
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Budget woes continue |
Tentative millage rate, $352,413 loss, go to commission
The city's operating budget will take another hit, this one $352,413 less than the current year's budget, as city commissioners Monday consider a tentative mileage rate for 2012-2013.
The regular meeting begins at 5 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
City Comptroller Mark Litzinger will recommend holding the current 7.5 millage rate on property taxes, representing a 4.120% decrease from the higher rolled-back rate of 7.822 mills - the rate that would be necessary to maintain the current level of services.
The tentative rate is required to allow notification to taxpayers during the summer. Budget details will go to commission workshop August 16 and public hearings September 6 and 20.
The revenue loss is for the property tax portion of the operating budget, $8,136,880 of the city's current operating budget of $22,594,244, which had a decrease of $692,462 from the previous year and nearly $1.5 million from 2009-10.
City Manager John Regan told commissioners during last year's budget sessions that the budget was designed for no increase in the millage rate, minimized use of reserves for recurring operational costs, and minimized increase in user fees. |
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Vilano creating
place in sunset
Joining Concerts in the Plaza and by the Sea, First Friday Art Walks and Uptown Saturday Nights is the Vilano Town Center Sunset Celebration the first Saturday monthly.
The performer and vendor list is growing, Program Manager Sallie O'Hara says for the 3 pm to dusk event at Vilano's Town Center pier and docks.
She promises plenty of parking - for boats as well as cars, with a newly constructed dock. Find details at www.vilanobeachfl.com/
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Meet the Kinseys and their collection
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Bernard, Shirley and Khalil Kinsey, in town to discuss plans to exhibit their extensive African-American cultural and historical collection here in 2014, will present commissioners Monday with the illustrated book that accompanies the exhibition.
 Current plans are to place the exhibit in the Visitor Center from Martin Luther King Day, January 20, 2014, through July 2 - the actual anniversary of the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, and encompassing Black History Month in February and June 10 - the 50th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights marches in St. Augustine.
"We were fortunate to secure this nationally significant exhibition during a year when the Civil Rights Movement and Act will be recognized nationally and internationally," 450 Development Director Dana Ste. Claire says. "This was mainly because of the Kinseys' decision to bring the show to St. Augustine for 2014, a place where Shirley grew up and participated in and witnessed Civil Rights events."
A May 2010 Report item on the collection is here. The Kinsey website is currently under reconstruction.
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System upgrade, recycling
contract on consent agenda
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Tucked in the consent agenda for Monday's City Commission meeting are approval of a $95,252 contract for conversion and installation of a new Utility Billing and Cash Receipt system for the Customer Services Division, and negotiated terms and conditions for contract extension for residential curbside recycling services.
The Customer Services system upgrade would be funded from utility reserves. The recycling contract extension for recycling represents "a significant savings to the City in the amount of $18,371," officials say.
The consent agenda carries items City Manager John Regan has briefed commissioners on individually and is usually voted on without public discussion, although any commissioner can pull an item for discussion. |
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Taking Sunshine seriously
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Assistant City Attorney Isabelle Lopez will present city commissioners Monday with two PowerPoint presentations "designed to provide a broad review of the basic laws applicable to elected and appointed officials regarding Government in the Sunshine, Public Records, the Code of Ethics, and the quasi-judicial functions of local Government."
 It's part of a regular ethics minute adopted by the city attorney's office to keep the city's commission and boards mindful of the state's Government in the Sunshine law.
An ethics minute to be presented Monday cites the fining of all five council members in the Panhandle town of Crestview last March for email exchanges discussing public business. While finding no evidence of "ill will, malice or intent," Okaloosa County Judge Jim Ward ruled, "We govern with the consent of the governed. Without the citizens' willingness to follow our lead, we cannot lead. The citizens must be able to hold their elected officials above reproach. This is a serious matter."
The judge levied the maximum $500 fine on each for misdemeanor, but withheld adjudications of guilt, similar to a court ruling here against Commissioner Errol Jones for obstructing a police officer.
"I'm really happy to see the judge withhold," Attorney Mark Welton said. "This is the kind of thing that can really derail the political careers of a group that's really trying to help the city of Crestview."
Photo: Historic City News
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Arriving on two legs, leaving on six
K9s For Warriors assist combat vets |
 One Warrior said it best, "You know the feeling you get when you are almost in a car accident? Your heart races, the adrenaline flows ...? Soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress (PTSD) feel that way many times a day and common everyday occurrences can trigger those feelings over and over again ..."
For Shari Duval of Ponte Vedra Beach, one response is pairing rescued service dogs with PTSD vets "to assist our Warriors' efforts to return to civilian life with dignity and independence."
 Shari and her husband set up an "academy" on Palm Valley property they own as a training camp, for both the dogs and veterans, who go through three weeks living and training together.
"When Warriors arrive at our Academy, they arrive on two legs; they leave on six, with their new canine service partner," she says.
A strong part of her inspiration is her son, who returned from Iraq - where he was a bomb dog handler - with PTSD.
Shari was nominated for Florida Times-Union's 10 Who Make a Difference by Sandra Capra, program director for K9s For Warriors. Visit http://k9sforwarriors.org. |
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History's Highlight
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City budget woes redux
3 years, 1 month, 19 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
A century ago, federal funds were not available to local governments for the building of roads and bridges, and it was another source to which many municipalities had to turn. In the case of St. Augustine, Henry M. Flagler was the benefactor and he, like the federal government in modem times, was not always pleased with the way his plans were carried out.   In 1906, Mr. Flagler wrote to his third vice president, J. E. Ingraham, complaining that the city was not keeping the streets in good repair and asked for "a little measure of public spirit, at least enough to keep the only street we have to the railroad in good condition." Mr. Ingraham looked into the situation and wrote to Mr. Flagler, explaining to him that, at least in his opinion, the city was doing the best it could with what it had to work with. He pointed out that only the year before, the tax rate had been raised from 1.5 to 2 percent and that this managed to bring into the city's coffers a total of $53,085.42, more than double the revenues for the year 1892. Twenty years previously, Mr. Flagler had built the very streets about which he was complaining (.89 miles - 4,700 ft. of wooden block streets and 1.19 miles of asphalt). To this the city had added 1.55 miles of brick-paved thoroughfares, plus 6.53 miles covered with oyster shells, and they had done this without going into debt or increasing the taxes on property owned by the Florida East Coast Railway. The only really large outstanding obligation was for the water works which had lately been much improved. Mr. Ingraham hoped that the new city council, just elected, would be able to do a little better about keeping the city's streets repaired, but he pointed out that St. Augustine was not a wealthy community. In his report he said, "St. Augustine is too close to Jacksonville to make much business here, and there are not more than six men who are residents of the city or county who have an income of $5,000.00 per annum, so it could hardly be expected that anything of importance could be carried through without your help." Mr. Ingraham closes his report to his boss by reminding Mr. Flagler that in 1859, many years before Mr. Flagler came with his money and his interest in developing the city, the total money brought in by the city in taxes was just $588.07. Not much street repair, or anything else, could have been financed in those days.
James E. Ingraham served as St. Augustine mayor 1914-1920.
Images: Henry Flagler (left), J.E. Ingraham (right)
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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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