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Published by former Mayor George Gardner February 23 2013
The Report is an independent publication serving our community.
Contributions are greatly appreciated. Click or mail to
George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084
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Resolutions: 4-month reserves
St. Augustine's City Commission Monday will consider two resolutions to increase its general fund emergency reserve level from three to four months "to ensure the financial security and solvency of the City."
City Comptroller Mark Litzinger will tell commissioners this action "will put the City in compliance with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board's" recommendations.
Recently resigned Commissioner Bill Leary is credited in the resolutions for his "leadership and advocacy" in drawing attention to the city's reserve funds, noting at one commission session that the city was drawing from reserves "at an alarming and unsustainable rate."
A Report article August 25 last year, Assessing city's reserve funds, listed the city's reserve balances, showing the general fund reserve $3.8 million shy of a six-month reserve standard. In these resolutions for 4-month reserve, the reserve balance would be $225,428 shy.
Of the city funds listed in that article, all but the general fund are enterprise funds, self-sustaining funds supported by fees.
Moody's Rating Services, in a Report article February 6, praised the city's "sound financial performance with healthy reserve levels, and a manageable debt burden with no future borrowing plans over the next several years."
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Flagler College's SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) will outline before the City Commission Monday its
Make History Initiative, to replace plastic bags with reusable bags for downtown shoppers.
Commissioners will consider a resolution of support "as evidence of the City of St. Augustine's commitment to the sustainability of our planet and to providing an environmental model for other cities across the state ..."
The SIFE plan is "to include the City's (450) branding logo ... Depending upon 'home' for the tourists, the City's branding logo could conceivably travel around the world in a short time" the resolution notes.
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'It's about transparency'
City Comptroller Mark Litzinger says the reserve resolutions are about "stating to the community and our raters that we are strong and conservative in our financial management."
The general fund reserve would be specified for weather-related emergencies. "If the commission thought it necessary to fund a lawsuit, or buy a property, it could do that, but must bring it up in a resolution change; or if the commission makes this reserve change into an ordinance, an even higher level of public notice would be required.
"It's about transparency," says Litzinger.
Tapping reserves
for improvement
 Speaking of reserves, commissioners Monday will consider drawing $17,000 - a modest amount for what they consider a major improvement, a redesign of the Orange Street, Castillo Drive intersection.
The funds would be used to complete a required Cultural Resource Assessment Survey to move forward with a plan funded by the federal Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Grant Program.
The Orange Street redesign includes closing the eastbound traffic lane except for sightseeing conveyances, adding a crossing and traffic signal, and completing the Cubo Line from the City Gate to Cordova Street.
Bid for property?
Also on the agenda, consideration of bidding on a tax deed sale of property at 127 Oneida Street.
City Attorney Ron Brown will explain that the city has $14,500 in a code enforcement lien against the property, while $13,000 is due the county tax collector, which would take first monies paid from any sale.
To protect its expense, Brown suggests the city would have to be prepared to bid $27,500, and will ask commissioners to decide.
The current assessed value of the property is $56,080. The tax deed sale is scheduled for March 13, 2013.
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Commissioners Monday will get updates on corral fencing that might be interfering with traffic visibility at Riberia Street and La Quinta Place, and preliminary design for relocation of stables at Riberia Pointe, considered "vastly undersized for the number of horses that are presently stabled there."
City Planning and Building Director Mark Knight will present photos of the La Quinta Place fencing following concerns voiced at the commission's last meeting. And Jeremy Marquis of Marquis Halback, Inc. will present designs to relocate and expand the existing stables at Riberia Pointe.
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Seafood Festival next weekend
 | | Seafood Festival turnout in 2012 |
The 32nd St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival presented by Winn Dixie rolls out next weekend (March 1-3) at Francis Field, drawing caterers and chefs from around the Southeast, arts and crafts vendors, and Americana-style music.
Festival hours: Friday, March 1, 3-9 pm, Saturday 10 am-9 pm, and Sunday 11 am-5 pm.
Admission $2, kids 12 and under free. The Arts & Crafts village featuring 100 exhibitors will close at sundown each day.
"It is a huge event with over 20,000 people in attendance every year," Festival Chairman Dominic Mercurio says. "This could never happen without the support of dozens of volunteers."
Find all the details at http://www.lionsfestival.com/
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Explore American Brilliant Period Cut Glass
  Join Lightner Museum Curator Barry Myers Wednesday, March 6, for his monthly tour of special treasures of the Lightner Museum.
The interactive tour - first Wednesday monthly at 10 am - gives local residents and visitors an opportunity to learn the history of the building and to explore more deeply the museum's collections.
This month's tour will feature the museum's extensive collection of American Brilliant Period Cut Glass.
Says Myers, "This glass was very popular at the turn of the century. It was the wedding gift of the 1890s."
Tours are included with museum admission and begin on the 2nd floor of the Museum at 10 am.
Donations are appreciated. The Lightner Museum is a non-profit cultural institution sustained by the generous support of individuals, businesses and sponsors.
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History's Highlight
2 years, 6 months, 17 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
This is the second of two highlights on St. Augustine's historic black sites, drawn from
Florida Black Heritage Trail, a Florida Heritage Publication of the Florida Division of Historical Resources.
Butler Beach - On Anastasia Island east of St. Augustine on Highway Al A just south of the Mary Street ramp. In 1927, Lincolnville businessman Frank B. Butler bought land between the Atlantic Ocean and Matanzas River which he developed into Butler Beach. For many years this was the only beach that African Americans were allowed to use between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach.
Cary A. White Sr. Complex, Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. This classroom and dormitory area is dedicated to the memory of the first African American deaf graduate of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. Cary A. White, Sr., worked at the school for 46 years and was an assistant in the dorm where Ray Charles lived while he was a student at the school. 
Excelsior High School, 102 Martin Luther King Avenue. Built in 1924 as a public high school for St. Augustine's African Americans, for 50 years this building also served as a state social service center. Currently home to the Excelsior Museum and Cultural Center of Lincolnville, the exhibit includes seven historical themes. The building also includes a reading resource center and a small library.
Lincolnville Historic District, bounded by DeSoto Place, Cedar, Riberia, Cerro, and Washington Streets. In 1866 former black slaves began settling a three-block area in St. Augustine at first known as Africa but later renamed Lincolnville. By 1885, Lincolnville was a growing black business and residential community. Lincolnville has the greatest concentration of late 19th century architecture in the city.
St. Mary's Missionary Baptist Church, 69 Washington Street. Here, on June 9, 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., told 500 supporters that he would participate in a sit-in at a motel restaurant the next day, anticipating correctly that he would be jailed. Segregation practices in St. Augustine drew national coverage when police arrested and jailed one of the demonstrators, the 72-year-old mother of the Governor of Massachusetts. Protesters in St. Augustine referred to the community as "America's Oldest Segregated City," and helped propel Congress to passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This Italian Gothic style church was constructed in 1920.
St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 85 Martin Luther King Avenue. This 1910 Gothic Revival style church served as an assembly point for blacks demonstrating against segregated beaches, lunch counters and other facilities in 1964. The kitchen fed hundreds of volunteers who came from other states. Baseball great Jackie Robinson addressed a crowd of 600 here, urging them on to a determined, peaceful struggle.
Willie Galimore Community Center, 399 South Riberia Street. This recreational facility is named in honor of St. Augustine native Willie Galimore. The former Florida A&M three-time All American played seven years with the Chicago Bears in the National Football League.
Photo: augustine.com. Excelsior School, now a museum and cultural center.
St. Augustine Bedtime Stories - Dramatic accounts of famous people and events in St. Augustine's history - in booklets designed for quick reads before bed. Information here
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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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