City budget recovering from downturn
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Published by former Mayor George Gardner August 21 2013
The Report is an independent publication serving our community.
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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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City budget
Climbing back from sour economy
St. Augustine's 2013-2014 budget proposal, going to a City Commission workshop Thursday, August 22, is $50,102,752 - up $1,351,895 from last year's $48,750, 857.
Total property value in the city has increased from $1,073,016,956 to $1,115,587,841, still a long way from $1,637,193,939 in 2007 before the economic downturn.
The complete budget proposal is on the city website.
The budget includes the General Fund for city administration, including police, fire, and streets and grounds, funded through property taxes and a variety of other sources, and enterprise funds, designed to pay for themselves through fees or income-producing operations. These include Utility, Stormwater, Solid Waste, Municipal Marina, Visitor Information Center, and 450th Commemoration enterprise funds.
One straight out expense is the $338,000 annual stipend to the 450th commemoration, authorized by the City Commission two years ago. Two-thirds of it is salaries for a director, communications manager and marketing specialist.
There was $23,300 in donations this year in the 450 fund, while the fund was overspent by $97,176.
The budget workshop begins at 9:45 Thursday, August 22, in the Alcazar room at City hall.
The workshop will be broadcast live on Comcast Channel 3.
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General Fund
The proposed General Fund budget is $24,172,434.
Where from
Largest sources
Ad Valorem Taxes $8,157,736
Franchise Fees $1,355,000
Utility Service Taxes $1,050,000
Communication Service Taxes $1,079,773
State Revenue Sharing $1,605,513
Parking Fees $1,873,932
Rental Income $1,248,002
Where to
Largest expenses
Police $5,890,836
Fire $3,305,743
Streets $1,832,040
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© Mick Stevens
"This (Mumford) event gives us the opportunity to put together something that's been talked about for years, a plan to support sustainable tourism." City Comptroller Mark Litzinger
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Monterey fairgrounds didn't work
It will be a tight squeeze, 25,000 concert goers at Francis Field, estimated at 7½ square feet per person -2 by 3½ feet.
But AC Entertainment, the Nashville promoter for the Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road tour, immediately ruled out the county fairgrounds as a venue.
"They did that in Monterey (CA)," Amphitheatre General Manager Ryan Murphy told some two dozen Uptown merchants during a briefing last week. "The concert goers found everything they needed at the fairgrounds so very few went into town, and a major goal of this tour is economic impact."
Murphy joined City Comptroller Mark Litzinger and Police Chief Loran Lueders at the session, getting the expected barrage of questions on how concert goers can be directed to Uptown businesses.
Highlights of the session:
The wristband will cost $22.50 per person, increasing to $30 September 5, rather than the original $15, for parking at the regional airport and using shuttle buses to and from downtown during the September 13-14 weekend.
The "core" area downtown will be closed to incoming traffic 8 pm to 3 am Friday and Saturday, an area stretching from Orange Street to Cathedral Place, Cordova to the Bayfront, and up San Marco to Old Mission Avenue.
Streets in two neighborhoods will be limited to neighborhood residents from noon to 3 am Friday and Saturday - St. Augustine Uptown and Flagler Model Land Company neighborhoods. Police will permit only neighborhood residents in those periods.
Headliners Mumford and Sons will perform early Saturday evening to encourage concert goers to then visit area shops, attractions and restaurants.
The city website includes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for residents, merchants, concert goers and shuttle riders.
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City home port for El Galeón
The city and Fundación Nao Victoria have completed an agreement for El Galeón and other foundation replica ships to call St. Augustine "North American homeport of the vessel(s) for the purpose of emphasizing the cultural connection between the Fundación Nao Victoria and the City's 450th Commemoration."
The agreement, effective October 1, continues through January 10, 2016, with renewal option.
Under the terms, the foundation will pay the city monthly the greater of 10% of ticket revenue or Marina slip rental fee of $3,782.50.
The City will get 15% of private event fees, agreed to at $5,000, and can conduct events aboard ship, taking 60% of the event fee. The city will also get 50% of net revenues on sales of Fundación Nao Victoria merchandise.
The 170 foot replica Spanish galleon ended a successful two month visit here July 23. No information on its next visit.
Seminole Wars ceremony Saturday
Honor to the Dead, reenactment ceremonies honoring more than 1,000 military fallen in the Seminole Indian Wars, open Saturday at 9 am with an 1842 encampment on the parade ground at St. Francis Barracks on Marine Street, followed by wreath placement and military honors at the adjacent St. Augustine National Cemetery.
Florida National Guard Command Historian Greg Moore will be introducing his new book, Sacred Ground, The National Cemetery at St. Augustine, describing the history of the St. Augustine National Cemetery and many of the soldiers buried there.
Beneath three coquina pyramids lie the remains of more than 1,000 American officers and soldiers gathered from battlefields in 1842 for reinterrment here.
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Down to the sea 16th century
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 As the Espiritu replica 16th century caravel went into the water last Wednesday at St. Augustine Marine Center on Riberia Street after 16 months of refitting a former shrimp boat, volunteers with the St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation across town at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park continued laying palm frond roofing on a shipwright's shed.
Among the volunteers, Alyn Pope was on the roof and Foundation President Marty Keiser steadying the ladder for the project. The shed is companion to a boathouse completed earlier and housing work in progress on a 16th century chalupa, ancestor to today's whaleboat.
The foundation has developed a 16th century Astillero (Boat Yard) at the park as part of its mission to promote understanding of the nation's oldest city's maritime heritage. On tap October 25-27 is The St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Festival, a fundraiser for the foundation. Visit the website.
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History's highlight
Asiento for Menendez' epic voyage
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2 years, 19 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Six years after Tristan de Luna's failed expedition to establish a permanent settlement in Florida, King Phillip II called on the greatest seaman of the age, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, to continue the settlement effort. It began with an asiento.
King Phillip's decision to contract with Pedro Menendez to establish a settlement in the new territory of La Florida was twofold. As with Tristan de Luna, need continued to convert the Indians to Christianity and give refuge to Spaniards shipwrecked on the coast.
  But now, with word the French had founded a settlement along the northeast coast, the king instructed, "You will explore and colonize Florida; and if there be settlers or corsairs of other nations not subject to us, drive them out."
The asiento was a legal contract. Governments in the 16th century had no standing armies but rather contracted for necessary services.
Menendez' asiento with King Phillip II specified, "Take, with a year's supplies, 500 men, of which 100 farmers, 100 sailors, rest skilled men-of-war; must, within 3 years, place a total of 500 settlers, including skilled tradesmen, 10-12 religious, and 4 addl. Jesuits, 100 horses, mares, 200 calves, 400 hogs, 400 sheep; take galleass San Pelayo."
In exchange, the king gave this trusted, albeit headstrong seaman extraordinary concessions, among them, governmental and military powers in this new world "for two lives," land grants of "25 leagues squared," and "1/15th of profits, perpetual," largesse well beyond that granted to four previous, failed expeditions.
It was for Menendez to assemble all the necessary elements, while adding his own. For in addition to being one of Spain's ablest seamen, he was also a businessman, and the asiento gave him tremendous trade advantages in the active Indies market
In modern terms, Menendez' investment in this voyage in the summer of 1565 was $5,920,625, while the Spanish Crown invested $4,622,625.
From the signing of the asiento on March 20, 1565 to the final departure June 29, Menendez pulled the pieces together. His title of adelantado, representing the king, his reputation as a keen businessman, and his proven ability as a commander at sea, gave him extraordinary capability to assemble an extraordinary fleet.
Flagler College's Eugene Lyon's The Enterprise of Florida describes the command hierarchy of family and friends and commercial and shipping barters - the complexities of the asiento that made Menendez' historic voyage possible.
Abundant record-keeping gives historians a vivid picture of 16th century events. Menendez, outfitting his ships with munitions and soldiers to fight a war, and tools and settlers to establish a colony, also made room for an Escribano Público - a Notary Public - and 12,000 sheets of paper, to record the expedition's formal actions.
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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