Sikes-Kline

Regan

The answer was no, and at least one city commissioner shared the surprise.

Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline was the lone vote against authorizations to draw "up to $417,000" from city reserves to cover all estimated city expenses to host the Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road concert September 13-14, and for City Manager John Regan to execute a formal contract with event promoter AC Entertainment and an interlocal agreement to pay the county $50,000 for "expertise" in coordinating parking, shuttles, and event activities.

Regan told commissioners he expects the draw to be returned from event revenue to the city.

"I support the concert, but coming into it I had no idea we would find ourselves in this awkward position," said Sikes-Kline. "I didn't know we'd have to hire the county. And $400,000? People are saying 'What?'"

But City Manager Regan insisted, "This is the future. If we do this well, we protect our revenue stream, and if we can do it in a class way, state of the art, high quality, we will know how to do it in the future."

Nelmar Terrace Neighborhood Association's Skip Hutton summed up concerns with 7-Eleven's plans for a store and 12 gas pumps at busy May Street and San Marco Avenue before city commissioners Monday as he showed photos of an 18-wheeler trying to negotiate a turn.

"These roads have a rating of 'F.' This brings the rating below 'F,' probably to 'T' for terrifying."

Hutton was among several neighbors and commuters making pleas once again for city action on the plan.

Among possibilities, realignment of the intersection, a roundabout, and eminent domain proceedings by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Said Mayor Joe Boles, "It has not come to us to vote on, we cannot bring it up to us, we can't do anything 'til it gets to us. I'm sure you're poised and ready with your activist neighborhood for an appeal."

The plan is going through review by Planning and Building Director Mark Knight for a permit, and his decision can be appealed to the Historic Architectural Review Board, the City Commission and Circuit Court.

"It was time," Gene Adelsperger said, trying to hold back emotion, as the St. George Players began their final performance of 16th century playlets Saturday at the venerable Spanish Bakery on St. George Street.

"Wednesday was the 38th anniversary of our opening," he said. "I called Mom (Marge) and said it was time to move on."

Gene and Marge at her retirement gathering

Marge, whose late husband, Dewey, established the bakery in 1975 after Dewey retired as director of exhibition buildings for the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board, retired in 2011 to move to her daughter's home in Georgia.

Of her years with the bakery she said, "We had a great time and I have no regrets. Dewey and I had a long, happy time and I hope we gave some history lessons to the children that came and had lunch with us."

Several reenactors were in period clothes for the last evening at this site of "jollifications" over the years following historic reenactments. The closing for them is doubly sad. 

"It's one of the few remaining gathering places," said one, reflecting on others like the deMesa yard  and Taberna in the Colonial Quarter, now under private lease, and the Tolomato lot, now a city parking lot.

The federally-owned Cubo Line field along Orange Street is still available. This year the Colonial Grand Muster encampment was washed out as that area flooded.

The University of Florida now manages 34 state-owned historic properties including the Spanish Bakery site. Said one reenactor, "What could you expect when they're being managed not by historians but by the university's business office?"

Linda Dixon, Associate Director for UF's Facilities Planning & Construction office, says the future of the bakery site is "to be determined, but we do not expect it to be vacant very long." 

   When Grandpa had to "go out back" and make his morning call, we'd bundle up the dear old man with a muffler and a shawl. I knew the hole on which he sat - 'twas padded all around, and once I tried to sit there - 'twas all too wide I found. My loins were all too little, and I jack-knifed there to stay, they had to come and get me out, or I'd have passed away.

   The City Commission's vote Monday to advance $417,858 from reserve funds in anticipation of revenue return from September's Mumford concert brought an immediate flurry of comments in the Record article and to the Report - some positive.

   In this economy how foolish. ... The City Commissioners have finally lost their minds.

   Numbers don't add up, like usual when our city tries addition.

   These are the same people who claimed the Picasso exhibit would make the city rich.

   The ticketed, full-capacity concert for Snoop Dogg at Francis Field was 8,000-10,000 for one night. HOW on Earth, more specifically St. Augustine, will that space accommodate 25,000 ticketed concert goers?

   What if the concert is a success? What then? What would it look like to have more economic growth here? What if the city spending money to make money is the right decision?

   I'm stoked for the concert, and it sounds like a big risk with a lot of money, but based on what little I know and just what I'm reading this could be something good. 

2 years, 1 month, 16 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary