Flagler College offer for

Marion Motel between Bayfront Motel (top) and Municipal Marina (bottom)

Flagler College has negotiated unsuccessfully for the 31-room Marion Motel on the bayfront, College President Bill Abare confirmed Tuesday.

   He said the college also considered the Southern Oaks - former Days Inn at US 1 and SR 16 but determined $600,000 to shuttle students would be too expensive.

   The college will continue looking for existing potential dormitory space "and an option to build a facility," he said.

   The effort is necessary "because of a shift in makeup" of the 2,500-plus student population, with a greater increase in freshman students who must live on campus, he explained. "The mix constantly changes. One parameter is food service. If the dining hall is outgrown, we will likely look to dining at the student center."

   Abare quoted a Board of Trustees report on student population of 2,554 in 2010, 2,633 in 2011, 2,588 in 2012 and 2,587 in 2013.

   "There's constant shifting with students dropping out, transferring and the like," he said. "Our target population is 2,550."

   And "Yes, we fully anticipate reaction on both sides" of efforts to create more dormitory space in the city.  

Commissioners Monday approved an additional $59,500 to fund professional facilitator Hugh Marlowe through the city's visioning process, but agreed, as Commissioner Don Crichlow put it, that "he should be the facilitator and not try to lead."

   "Input from the community is what it's all about," Commissioner Leanna Freeman said as commissioners reflected on 200 citizens involved in the 1995 voluntary visioning project.

Project chair, Commissioner Roxanne Horvath, said questionnaires will be distributed - one suggestion, inserted in city water bills.

King Felipe visit in 2015?

   There is a US-Spain Council and Former Governor Bob Graham, a member of the federal St. Augustine 450 Commission, has been at work trying to set its annual conference here in 2015, the city's anniversary year.

   A bonus, he figured, was it would assure Spanish royalty here as Crown Prince Felipe traditionally opens the conference.

   That bonus got bigger when King Carlos abdicated to Felipe. Officials are hopeful the new king will keep that opening tradition alive and open the international conference here in 2015.

The Neighborhood Council of St. Augustine will host a forum for City Commission candidates running in the August primary July 15 from 7 - 8:30 pm at the Galimore Center.  

   Neighborhood Council President Rhey Palmer will moderate, and Council Secretary Kathy Schirmacher wudang88@aol.com is inviting questions voters might want to ask.

   Of the three commission races only one will not go to primary - incumbent Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline and Grant Misterly.

In the August primary are:

And another neighborhood association?

   Former Mayor George Gardner succeeded in getting a neighborhood associations program establish in 2003, but was unsuccessful in getting his own Fullerwood neighborhood organized.

   The effectiveness of neighborhood associations in city affairs has inspired a renewed effort by residents to form a "Greater Fullerwood Park Neighborhood Association," to include Fullerwood Park, Lew Lot and Hildreth areas.

   Neighborhood Council President Rhey Palmer and Secretary Kathy Schirmacher will join the area's residents July 25 from 7 to 9 pm at DOS on the north end of San Marco Avenue to describe the process.

   Gina Burrell ginaburrell1@comcast.net and Mick Stevens ireallyshouldbedrawing@gmail.com are seeking RSVPs for the session.