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Published by former Mayor George Gardner April 20 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
Click to order St. Augustine Bedtime Stories
two sets of twelve, $15 each set
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M&M Market offer
Patel promises 'a new beginning'
 An offer to buy the former M&M Market with a mission "to install a new beginning to this community" goes before the City Commission Monday. The session begins at 5 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
Kaushik Patel is offering $345,100 for the property, closed in 2010 when its owners, Bhanubhai and Raj Patel and Daxaben Bhanubhai, were charged with criminal activity. No information whether Kaushik Patel is related.
The city bought the property at 102 Bridge Street in Lincolnville a month after its closing and a year later, with $305,000 invested, listed it with Realtor Irene Arriola of Saltwater Property Group. Under the contract terms, Arriola will waive her commission, with a 3.5 percent commission to buyer's agent Kathleen Barnard.
The deal is contingent on an environmental study and cleanup at city expense. On Monday's consent agenda is a request for "an amount not to exceed $40,000" for removal of an underground tank where a gas pump was once located.
Patel says, "We envision a small super market which offers fresh produce, bread, dairy products, large variety of frozen foods, canned goods, household supplies, candy, snacks, juices, ice cream, soft drinks, beer (6 packs, 12 packs, 24 packs, no singles), wine, cigarettes (packs only, no singles), cigars (no singles sales, packs only), lottery services, money order sales, coffee bar, pastries, ready to eat sandwiches, and great service for this community."
It's believed much of the problem with the previous ownership was single unit sales of cigarettes and beer.
Arriola will make the presentation to commissioners.
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Herbie Wiles, founder of Herbie Wiles Insurance and long active in the community, will receive the La Florida Award Monday at the beginning of the City Commission meeting.
Wiles, a St. Augustine native, served 12 years on the County Commission in the 1960s-'70s, including three terms as chairman, his terms marked by establishment of the St Johns County Building Department and the county's first zoning ordinance including a county-wide 35-foot building height limit.
His community service spans Masonry, Shrine, Elks, Navy League, and Kiwanis, and through those organizations he played a significant role in implementing St. Augustine's 400th Anniversary in 1965.
The Order of la Florida, the city's highest award, honors persons who have distinguished themselves over a long period of time contributing extraordinary services to our community.
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City Commission
debates continue
Mini golf
The City Commission will meet in workshop session at 4 pm Monday, before its regular meeting at 5, to take up again the future of the city-owned mini golf site on the bayfront.
Historic Tours of America submitted an offer of $25,000 a year to lease ticket booth space next to current tenant Ripley's red train booth. City staff promised to contact both sightseeing tour companies and gather figures for commission discussion.
Ripley won a bidding procedure last year, but Mayor Joe Boles got support in a 3-2 vote to dismiss the bidding process and begin a study of highest and best use for the facility.
Planned Unit Development
Assistant City Attorney Isabelle Lopez will return to the commission with revisions to a proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning ordinance. The latest tweaking at the last commission meeting adds that new construction PUDs in all Historic Preservation districts cannot change the property's existing use, while PUDs for modification of existing structures can change to other allowed uses.
The revisions, including previous modifications for greater detail in project plans, early notice to neighbors, and streetscape renderings for visible projects to show relationship to neighboring properties, are once again on first reading. A public hearing and final action would come at a later meeting.
Vendors
City Attorney Ron Brown will seek commission direction on a proposed transient vendor ordinance which could relocate vendors from the Visitor Center promenade to the north side of the VIC parking facility.
Included in the draft ordinance: annual $75 permits with a limit of 25 permits, proof of state tax registration and insurance coverage, and 10 am - 6 pm operating hours.
Commissioners seek to remove vendors from the promenade area of the Visitor Center, recently converted into an exhibit hall, and to consider a citywide ban on merchandise unprotected by the First Amendment.
Horse paddocks 
Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield will propose a $90,000 development for carriage horses adjacent to the Lincolnville Farmers Market on South Riberia Street.
Burchfield says he has agreement from potential lessees to a payback period of the capital outlay.
Plans for a coral cultivating business at the south end of Riberia Street prompted discussion of corralling some 25 carriage horses into one area with five individual paddocks.
No word on whether plans for that business, Applied Coral Technologies, are continuing.
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Putting found money to work
In January, City Comptroller Mark Litzinger noted a $22 million refinance of decade-old bonds would save the city $1.3 million in debt service through lowered interest and provide $2 million in additional monies for capital projects.
"A total of $500,000 of this refinance will be used for scheduled capital maintenance of the parking facility," Litzinger said, "and the balance could be used for other projects ..."
City staff has assessed the parking facility needs and found another project. The proposals are included in the commission's consent agenda, usually passed without discussion.
Maintaining parking facility
An assessment by Walker Restoration Consultants last year recommended $461,640 in structural repairs, waterproofing, lighting repairs and painting.
Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield memoed commissioners, "The (parking facility) is a vital element to the parking infrastructure of the City and its importance to the economic success of the downtown is immeasurable. It is imperative the structure be maintained to ensure the facility reaches its designed service life and will be ready to accept our visitors for years to come."
Dressing historic streets
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Treasury Street's current condition
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Also recommended from those monies are improvements to streets around St. George.
City staff will recommend $40,000 in bond money for design/build bids for Treasury Street between St. George and Charlotte Street, Hypolita Street between Charlotte and Cordova Street, and Spanish Street between Treasury and Cuna Street.
Improvements would include repairing/replacing underground water and sewer utilities, drainage system improvements, improved lighting, sidewalk replacements, new street surface, and landscaping improvements.
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Re: National treasure vs tourist town?
Don't forget that the first Franciscan mission in the United States, begun in 1587 and continuing, albeit in a different location by the mid-1600s, to the present day, was also at what is now the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. Mission Nombre de Diós was established on the high ground where now the First Encounters building stands, and the grounds around it are laden with the consecrated remains of the Christianized Timucua Indians who lived and worshipped there. It is to me nothing short of a miracle that this, along with the first Menéndez settlement of San Agustín (September 1565-May 1566), have not been destroyed by modern development and construction.
Re: 'Reluctant activist' got Picasso figures
More cities, counties and states could use a Nancy Shaver.
... After hearing comments from two people in the art world regarding the quality of the (Picasso) works, I decided to use my money on Lotto tickets.
... You are right about where the 450th money is being spent. StA should play to its strengths-- and not try to pretend it's a modern art center- or another Woodstock :)
... Also would ask you to consider and article asking people to voice their opinions about their vision for St Augustine. What do they see for the future of our little downtown area. Do they value the ambiance of old houses (from the Flagler era and older), and the history? How would they put into words, their idea of goals for St Augustine's future???? I think we need to hear from residents and business owners.
Re: Romanza is St. Augustine's Spoleto
Romanza received nearly $100k grant through the TDC of "tax payer" money this year... you shouldn't imply it's entirely "community based." Pls get your facts straight!
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History's Highlight
Harriet Beecher Stowe in St. Augustine
2 years, 4 months, 20 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Harriet Beecher Stowe is best known for Uncle Tom's Cabin, but among her writings is Palmetto-Leaves 1872, on her life and travels in Florida. Excerpts from moultriecreek.us.
The aspect of St. Augustine is quaint and strange, in harmony with its romantic history. It has no pretensions to architectural richness or beauty; and yet it is impressive from its unlikeness to anything else in America. 
It is as if some little, old, dead-and-alive Spanish town, with its fort and gateway and Moorish bell towers, had broken loose, floated over here, and got stranded on a sand-bank.
Here you see the shovel-hats and black gowns of priests; the convent, with gliding figures of nuns; and in the narrow, crooked streets meet dark-browed people with great Spanish eyes and coal-black hair.
The current of life here has the indolent, dreamy stillness that characterizes life in Old Spain. In Spain, when you ask a man to do anything, instead of answering as we do, "In a minute," the invariable reply is, "In an hour;" and the growth and progress of St. Augustine have been according.
As the only seaport city of any size in Florida, St. Augustine has many attractions. Those who must choose a Southern home, and who are so situated that they must remain through the whole summer in the home of their choice, could not do better than to choose St. Augustine.
It is comparatively free from malarial fevers; and the sea-air tempers the oppressive heats of summer, so that they are quite endurable. Sea-bathing can be practised in suitable bathing-houses; but the sharks make open sea-bathing dangerous.
... the town lies so flat and low, that, in stormy weather, the waves used to be driven up into it, so as to threaten its destruction. A sea-wall of solid granite masonry was deemed necessary to secure its safety, and has been erected by the United-States Government.
This wall affords a favorite promenade to the inhabitants, who there enjoy good footing and sea-breezes.
The society in St. Augustine, though not extensive, is very delightful. We met and were introduced to some very cultivated, agreeable people. There is a fair prospect that the city will soon be united by railroad to Jacksonville, which will greatly add to the facility and convenience of living there.
We recrossed the railroad at Tekoi, on our way home, in company with a party of gentlemen who are investigating that road with a view of putting capital into it, and so getting it into active running order. ...
By all these means this beautiful country is being laid open, and made accessible and inhabitable as a home and refuge for those who need it.
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.
Click to order St. Augustine Bedtime Stories through Paypal.
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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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