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Published by former Mayor George Gardner May 14 2014
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Maritime City
Chalupas, Espiritu, San Pelayo on city agenda
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Work in progress on San Pelayo model
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Plans for a model of Pedro Menendez' flagship San Pelayo for a 450th exhibit and a 25-year dockage agreement for a full scale replica here, a chalupa recreation at the lighthouse companioning one being built at the Fountains of Youth Archaeological Park, and recognition of the conversion of a shrimp boat to a caravel Espiritu gave testament to St. Augustine's role in maritime history at Monday's City Commission meeting.
San Pelayo was Menendez' flagship on his founding expedition to St. Augustine in 1565; chalupas, similar to today's whalers, were prominent early workhorses moving passengers and cargo from ship to shore, and the caravel was an early exploratory ship for Columbus, Ponce de Leon and other expeditions.
A $30,000 model San Pelayo is being completed in Aviles, Spain. St. Augustine will respond with a $25,000 full scale replica of its Constitution Monument to be financed through private donations.
Commissioners will consider a lease agreement June 9 for a 25-year dockage lease with Spain's Nao Victoria Foundation for the San Pelayo replica - a ten year term plus three five year extensions. The city would be paid minimum dockage fee or ten percent of visitor ticket sales, whichever is greater.
The city and Lighthouse Museum are working on a lease of city property near the lighthouse boat ramp for construction of a chalupa. The nonprofit St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation has been building a chalupa at the Fountain of Youth for more than two years.
And Espiritu, converted from a shrimp boat through private donations and volunteer labor, was recognized with a 450 Alliance Proclamation.
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St. Augustine Fire Marshal Bob Growick is about saving lives. His current mission: smoke alarms for hearing impaired.
Growick reported to city commissioners Monday he's secured free standard smoke alarms from The Home Depot, but flashing alarms to alert the hearing impaired cost $82 each.
So he's gotten $2,000 from the Firefighters Charitable Foundation, another $1,000 from the St. Augustine Lions Club, and is working on further contributions to cover those needs.
He noted that the city's firefighters are ready to assist property owners with installing and maintaining smoke alarms as early warning devices to saves lives.
Image: Fire Marshal Growick holds standard and special smoke alarms.
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2 hours of public comment
on museum, Little Beach
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Pro and con comments on a proposal for a children's museum at Riberia Pointe were expected Monday, but Lighthouse Park neighborhood concerns shared the public comment time for a third of the City Commission's six and a half hour meeting.
It was 8:30 when, after voting on the consent agenda, Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes Kline noted, "We just made our first vote."
Forty two minutes into the comment period, commissioners noted the contentious children's museum issue "is not before us. There's no proposal on the table." Four more public comments on the museum followed.
Then came comments on the issue of the city owned Lot 4 and Little Beach off Magnolia Avenue in Lighthouse Park, banned to boat use last November after commissioners heard complaints of beach users and neighbors on each side of the issue.
This issue was "on the table" - a report later in the meeting by General Service Director Jim Piggott on staff work during that cooling off period.
Piggott said the public comments raised the possibility that the area might be open and closed on three month cycles. But commissioners finally agreed surveys of the area must be completed before any use of the beaches to determine what lands are public and private and how a management program can be designed.
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Commission wants vision
before funding vision 2014
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Commissioners Monday used the occasion of an update by the facilitator for the city's Visioning 2014 & Beyond to say they want to be updated by its steering committee on the effort.
Looking at a request for $85,000 for the facilitator to proceed to more phases of the program, Commissioner Leanna Freeman said, "What is the consensus of the steering committee (to progress so far)?" Mayor Joe Boles added, "Bring us up to speed before we move any further."
Commissioner Roxanne Horvath, who initiated the vision program and has chaired several preliminary meetings, said she fears a loss of momentum if funding isn't provided to proceed, and City Manager John Regan added, "If the commission backs away, that's a really big political statement that harms visioning."
But commissioners decided a delay until its next regular meeting June 9 meeting shouldn't impact the process. Comments from steering committee members are expected at that time.
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A Spanish Colonial Pig Roast
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 The Saint Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation presents its 2nd Annual Spanish Colonial Pig Roast tomorrow at 6 pm at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, rain or shine, complete with side dishes prepared by the First Coast Technical College Culinary students.
It's the traditional spit turning over hot coals, a day-long but old-style best method, promised to be ready to enjoy at 6 pm at the foundation's Astillero (boatyard) to benefit the Maritime Heritage Education Program.
The culinary students will add such sides as Spanish boneless chicken breast, yellow rice with pigeon peas, fried plantains and grilled squash with chorizo. there'll be fresh squeezed lemonade and water; beer and wine with suggested donation.
Tickets $25 in advance, $30 day of event, limited to 120. Email name, contact phone and requested number of tickets to staugtumbleweed@gmail.com.
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In search of 1565 shipwrecks
The Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) is planning a 450th Anniversary Shipwreck Survey in St. Augustine's anniversary year "to search for and study shipwrecks dating to 1565 and the early years of St. Augustine's history," says LAMP Director Chuck Meide.
Its success will depend in large measure on securing a $50,000 State Historical Resources grant to "send divers down to potential shipwreck sites we have found during survey work (planned for 25 days starting in July 2015)."
LAMP was successful in being authorized a $50,000 grant for a current study of French Captain Jean Ribault's sunken fleet, but actual funding still has to clear the governor's desk.
"We need your help in writing letters of support for our project (and) the application is due May 31," Meide says. Letters should be delivered to the lighthouse and addressed to Mr. Robert F. Bendus, Director, Division of Historical Resources c/o Historic Preservation Grants Program, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250.
Meide urges, "Get them in the mail no later than Friday, the 16th, or you can email to cmeide@staugustinelighthouse.com or hand deliver any time up to around the 28th or 29th.
"With these grant funds, we will be able to continue the search for the earliest shipwrecks associated with the founding of St. Augustine, whether they be French or Spanish."
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History's highlight
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The Lost Fleet of Jean Ribault
1 year, 4 months, 2 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
An backgrounder by Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) Director Chuck Meide on the Ribault fleet study.
Early in 1565, France's King Charles sent Jean Ribault to re-supply and assume command of Fort Caroline, which had been established the previous year on the banks of the River of May (St. John's River) in present-day Jacksonville.
 Ribault led a powerful fleet consisting of his 32-gun flagship, Trinité, the 29-gun royal galleon Emérillon, and four other war, supply, and dispatch ships. One thousand French colonists and troops came with him to bolster the fledgling French colony.
Unbeknownst to Ribault, a Spanish expedition lead by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés arrived in Florida at virtually the same time, with the express purpose of destroying the French enterprise.
In a preemptive strike aimed at thwarting Menéndez' plans to found St. Augustine, Ribault sailed his fleet southwards, only to be struck by a hurricane which scattered and wrecked his ships between Matanzas Inlet and Cape Canaveral.
With the loss of these ships, Fort Caroline was taken, Ribault and his men put to the sword, and Spain established a firm grip over the frontier lands of Florida.
If not for these wrecks, St. Augustine would not exist today, and Jacksonville would be celebrating over 400 years of French heritage.
When found, these ships will constitute the oldest French shipwrecks ever discovered in the New World, and possibly the only 16th century French galleons to have been investigated by archaeologists.
Historian Dr. John de Bry of the Center for Archaeological Research has pledged to conduct documentary research in French archives at no charge to LAMP, to help pinpoint the final resting places of these ships and identify each when found.
Archaeological traces of survivors' beach camps, including finds of French artifacts and coins, will also help narrow down the search area for these lost galleons.
Image courtesy of William Trotter.
Capture 449 years of St. Augustine history with St. Augustine Bedtime Stories - Dramatic accounts of famous people and events. Details 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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