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Published by former Mayor George Gardner August 25 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084
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Assessing city's reserve funds
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The city's $18.5 million in reserve funds is substantial to weather any storm, but about $2 million shy of the ideal standard.
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City's taxable property value in decline
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The city's General Fund reserve is nearly $4 million short of the ideal six months operating funds, but other fund reserves offset to make the deficit in the total city's reserves $1,795,485.
That's a bit more than the $1.4 million city commissioners authorized from General Fund reserves for conversion of the Visitor Center into an exhibit hall.
For the complete list of city funds and reserves, based on that 6-month reserve theory, click here.
Currently the total city budget is $40,665,869 and ideal reserve $20,332,935. The General Fund's ideal reserve is $10,798,380, but it's currently $6,973,492. That deficit is largely offset by a $3 million excess in the Stormwater Fund reserve - funds for future projects and future debt service.
Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield says a government's reserve "is normally six months operating budget," and while interfund transfers are made, "Each fund should be looked at individually. If a storm of some magnitude were to hit and cause enough damage that the City was not operable, priorities would be set and each fund would need to carry its own weight."
The city has six funds: the $21.6 million General Fund is supported by property taxes (42%) and a variety of other sources - the largest being parking fees ($1.7 million), state revenue sharing ($1.5 million), and franchise fees ($1.3 million).
The others are called enterprise or self-sustaining funds supported by fees. The funds and budgets: Utility $9.7 million, Stormwater $635,000, Solid Waste $2.8 million, Marina $3.3 million, and Visitor Center $2.5 million.
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Monument
on a stamp?
The St. Augustine Foot Soldiers Monument sculptor has submitted a proposal to the US Postal Service to create a stamp featuring the monument.
"The committee that makes this decision receives thousands of proposals each year," Sculptor Brian R. Owens says, "but the timing appears to be good, since the civil rights movement in St. Augustine occurred almost 50 years ago.
"One of their requirements is that proposals related to historic events be submitted on or near 50-year anniversaries of those events."
The monument was erected in the Plaza de la Constitución last year, and 2014 will be the 50th anni-versary of St. Augustine's civil rights movement and signing of the Civil Rights Act.
If accepted, design and production takes two to three years.
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450: Commission
debate Monday?
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Only "Consideration of date selection for 450th Workshop" is on Monday's City Commission agenda, but discussion could be more far ranging following a recent column in the St. Augustine Record (click here) by Commissioner Bill Leary, charging that "city government is unhealthily obsessed with the 450th commemorations."
 | Leary
Historiccity.com |
The regular commission meeting begins at 5 pm in the Alcazar room at City Hall.
Leary, who was out of town when the commission authorized $1.4 million from city reserve funds to convert the Visitor Center into an exhibit hall, commented, "We are obligating and spending our main savings account, the General Reserve Fund (GRF), at an alarming and unsustainable rate."
Commissioner Errol Jones said in a Record interview that he was reluctant to vote those funds, but voted "to go along with the other commissioners."
Leary was an early proponent of a community-based foundation to manage the 450th commemoration, and both candidates for the City Commission seat in this year's election are looking for change: Roxanne Horvath: "What's missing is the creation of a 501.c.3 nonprofit entity to raise money," and Bruce Maguire: "... bring in local businesses and organizations to create internal plans."
Wrote Leary of the 450th, "...tight centralized control from city hall (is) distracting us from core city responsibilities."
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Colonial Quarter plans opening in January
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The new/old look Colonial Quarter will open in January 2013, project developers estimate.
A contract between the University of Florida and Colonial Quarter LLC, owned by Pat Croce of St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, is expected to be executed September 1, with four months of work ahead on the four quadrant, three century project in the former Colonial Spanish Quarter.
The university manages the quarter among 34 state-owned historic properties here.
Touchiest points expected as the project makes its rounds through city boards are a proposed 35-foot watch tower and request for a full liquor license.
The Historic Architectural Review Board last week was receptive to the thoroughly researched and historically accurate tower. An application goes to the city Planning and Zoning Board September 4 "to allow a bar/tavern, to allow the expansion of an existing bar/tavern and to allow alcohol sales and consumption at designated areas for evening shows and special events."
The watch tower and a planned ship-building area representing the 16th century might be short-lived. They're located on National Park Service land, where a Castillo Orientation Center is planned.
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A home for Carrie moves closer
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A home for Carrie Johnson, the 77-year-old "Voice of Lincolnville," moves closer to reality Monday as Habitat for Humanity presents a bid to the City Commission for a vacant lot at 81 Weeden Street.
 | | Carrie Johnson |
"It's pretty amazing that Carrie's Habitat home might be built on Weeden because that's the same street her grandparents lived on over 60 years, and she lived with them a good portion of her childhood!" says Habitat Director of Community Relations Diane Quick.
"Prosperity Bank has committed to $35,000, Northrop Grumman will cover the cost of the land we're hoping to get for $15,000, and Wells Fargo is coming in between $10-15,000," she said.
An additional $4,000 has been raised from individual contributions to an account set up at Prosperity Bank.
Prosperity Bank President Eddie Creamer said, "Carrie's philosophy is to do things for folks, because they deserve it. Without a doubt, Carrie deserves her new home in Lincolnville. The good will which she has shared in St. Augustine will be coming back to her."
Quick said, "If things continue to progress as they have, my hope is that we'll have Miss Carrie in a new home for the holidays. This could be the greatest gift she could ever receive."
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History's Highlight
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City's gaiety subdued in final days
3 years, 15 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
St. Augustine in 1817 was 33 years into its Spanish reoccupation after the American Revolution, and four years from becoming a United States territory. Following are impressions of an English visitor in 1817:
Emerging from the solitudes and shades of the pine forests, we espied the distant, yet distinct, lights of the watchtowers of the fortress of St. Augustine, delightful beacons to my weary pilgrimage. 
The clock was striking ten as I reached the foot of the drawbridge; the sentinels were passing the alerto as I demanded an entrance; having answered the preliminary questions, the drawbridge was slowly lowered.
The officer of the guard, having received my name and wishes, sent a communication to the governor, who issued orders for my immediate admission. On opening the gate the guard was ready to receive me, and a file of men, with their officer, escorted me to his Excellency, who expressed his satisfaction at my revisit to Florida.
I soon retired to the luxury of repose, and the following morning was greeted as an old acquaintance by the members of this little community. I had arrived at a season of general relaxation, on the eve of the Carnival, which is celebrated with much gayety in all Catholic countries.
Masks, dominoes, harlequins, punchinellos, and a great variety of grotesque disguises, on horseback, in carts, gigs, and on foot, paraded the streets with guitars, violins, and other instruments; and in the evenings, the houses were open to receive masks, and balls were given in every direction.
I was told that in their better days, when their pay was regularly remitted from the Havana, these amusements were admirably conducted, and the rich dresses exhibited on these occasions were not eclipsed by their more fashionable friends in Cuba.
But poverty had lessened their spirit for enjoyment, as well as the means for procuring it; enough, however, remained to amuse an idle spectator, and I entered with alacrity into their diversions.
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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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