Published by former Mayor George Gardner August 23 2014
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Parking fee increase for
450th - and job security?
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St. Augustine 450 Director Dana Ste. Claire can assure both funding for the city's anniversary year in 2015 and perhaps continuation of his $89,000 a year salary after 2015 if the City Commission Monday approves a $938,000 450th budget.
An all-day parking fee increase at the Visitor Center parking facility from $10 to $12 would provide funds for both the 450th next year and historic preservation funding thereafter, with Ste. Claire likeliest to become historic preservation director, with city Historic Preservation and Special Projects Planner Jenny Wolfe developing a preservation plan..
Ste. Claire's fund request at the commission's regular meeting, beginning at 5 pm in the Alcazar room at City Hall and live streamed on CoSATV1 may not pass without questions. Commissioner Leanna Freeman said at Thursday's city budget workshop "the nearly $1 million 450th budget is much higher than I ever wanted it to be."
A total of $3,218,031 will have been spent the 450th if the funding request is approved.
The additional $429,500 expected from the garage fee hike will go to events.
First City through the Eyes of Masters Exhibit $29,500
Tapestry Exhibit & Ancient City Mosaic $227,500
El Galeón & San Pelayo $7,500
Celebrate 450! & Fireworks/Light Show - $130,000
US Spain Council $15,000
Pole Banner Production - Event-Specific $18,000
Discover First America $2,000
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Forever King
Folio Weekly's cover features incumbent Mayor Joe Boles' head atop Founder Pedro Menendez' statue with the title The Forever King.
Folio Reporter Susan Eastman's article notes, "If Joseph L. Boles is reelected to a fifth term, he'll become the longest serving mayor in St. Augustine's long history. Not everyone is on board."
Boles faces challenges from business consultant Nancy Shaver and former County Commissioner Ken Bryan in Tuesday's Primary Election.
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400th/450th compared
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Janis Versaggi Williams, director of the 1992 St. Augustine Columbus Commission while her family was major contributor to the 1950s historic restoration effort, countered current Mayor Joe Boles' comment that he was"ashamed" of the "abysmal" job that St. Augustine put forward in the 1960s for the 400th anniversary of the City's founding.
Below is a comparison of the 400th and 450th efforts. 400th 450th
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- Managed by community foundation.
- Private sector donations $6 million.
- Tremendous citizen input in the late 1950s restored/reconstructed buildings through state, federal and foreign governments, local not-for-profit organizations, individuals, churches, private enterprises and foundations.
- Cabinet level dignitaries and ambassadors from Washington and Spain were honored guests for dedications, openings, conferences and book signings of scholarly publications.
- Great Cross installed.
- Amphitheater built and outdoor drama commissioned and performed for decades.
- Local festivals enlarged and new ones added.
- More than 28 buildings restored or reconstructed.
- Programs to showcase the Spanish contribution to American history, a counterpart to the stories of English colonies which were far better known to our nation.
Sources: Historian Michael Gannon and Janis Williams.
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- Managed by city government.
- Private sector donations $150,000.
- City government budget $3,218,031
- Discover First America series.
- Renovation of Visitor Information Center as an exhibition hall.
- Two museum exhibits in the Visitor Center, two more planned.
- Mumford concert in Francis Field.
- Annual wine festival to make St. Augustine "the Spanish Wine Capital of America."
- Planned 2015 two exhibits, gala, fireworks
Sources: 450 Director Dana Ste. Claire and city budget data.
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Primary hopes for good turnout Tuesday
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I consider biennial elections as a security that the sober second thought of the people shall be law.
Mathew Henry. 1662-1714
It's hoped Tuesday's Primary
 Election will draw a larger turnout than last year's 25 percent of the city's 9,690 registered voters.There's more stimulation this year in city races, with three candidates each for mayor and a commission seat in the non-partisan election. Incumbent Mayor Joe Boles promises retirement after one more term - it would be his fifth - to play host for the city's 450th anniversary years in 2015. Nancy Shaver offers "a choice for change" focused on getting the facts and finding solutions, based on her business consulting experience. And Ken Bryan notes his experience on the county commission and in federal government assignments. In the race for the commission seat vacated by Bill Leary, John Valdes wants to turn the city's attention and efforts to updating its 38-year-old zoning code, using his 22 years of experience on city boards, currently the Planning and Zoning Board. Certified Public Accountant Todd Neville puts core municipal services at the top of his to-do list. Ron Berben has fiscal responsibility, public safety and transportation on his wish list. For information on the primary, visit the elections page.
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Parking, kids beat Echo house;
HARB OKs partial demolition
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We asked for a couple months to have time to look at this ... Nobody came back with a solution, but we tried.
Historic Architectural Review Board Chair Len Weeks
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Echo House plan would replace existing section (yellow) with parking, preserve corner structure (green).
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The city's Historic Architectural Review Board Thursday approved partial demolition of Lincolnville's historic Echo House to provide parking and play area for St. Paul AME Church and its School of Excellence.
It was church's fourth trip to HARB, which each previous time called for further efforts to save the building and find alternate parking for the church.
Weeks noted that City Manager John Regan's efforts draw the church and neighboring St. Benedict's Church and Excelsior Museum together for additional parking space had failed, and that an economic hardship does exist for the church after its efforts to stabilize the building and a contractor's report on its structural weaknesses.
Board Member Jeremy Marquis said, "it's better to save a portion of it than lose all of it," reviewing the church's plan to preserve a corner building.
A request to demolish the garage section of the historic Rice Building on Markland Place was continued to Septembers' meeting so the applicant, Marion Rice, can speak on the request.
The board approved recommendations to the City Commission to allow a variance process for free standing signs in entry corridors, a two-year limit on demolition approvals, and the National Register nomination proposal for the St. Augustine Mini Golf course on the bayfront.
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Inland Harbor sale finalized
Next: community outreach and PUD update
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Early plan for Sebastian Inland Harbor
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 Summit Hospitality Group of Daytona Beach has completed purchase of the long stalled Sebastian Inland Harbor project at US 1 and King Street for $4.75 million.
The price reflects improvements made to the property, principally the marina, after its initial sale by the city for $3.6 million in 2004 and before the economic downturn suspended development.
Summit Business Development Director Donald McCormick said first steps will be community outreach to find the right fit and the approval process for an amendment to the existing Planned Unit Development plan for the mixed use project of hotel, condominiums and retail space.
An $80 million build out is anticipated, which would bring in some $1 million a year in taxes. Under the Historic Area Transportation and Parking Community Redevelopment Agency put in place by the city for the Visitor Center parking facility in 2004, those taxes will go toward the garage debt service and future parking and traffic regulation in the core area of the city.
Summit is currently renovating the former Ramada Inn on San Marco Avenue, to become a DoubleTree by Hilton. The Sebastian Inland Harbor property will include a Westin Hotel.
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382 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
"On Monday, August 27, while we were near the entrance to the Bahama Channel, God showed to us a miracle from heaven."
The event was recorded in the memoir of Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, principal priest accompanying Menendez. 
"About nine o'clock in the evening a comet appeared, which showed itself directly above us, a little eastward, giving so much light that it might have been taken for the sun.
"It went towards the west, that is, towards Florida, and its brightness lasted long enough to repeat two Credos.
According to the sailors, this was a good omen."
Menendez' fleet had been at sea for two months, weathering stormy seas, dodging French ships and privateers, replenishing at Caribbean ports.
"On Tuesday, the 28th, we had a calm more dead than anything we had yet experienced while at sea. Our vessel was about one and a half leagues from the first galley and the other vessels. We were all tired, and especially I, from the praying to God to give us weather which should put an end to all trials and disappointments.
"About two o'clock he had pity on us, and sent so good a wind that we came under full sail to rejoin the galley.
"One thing happened which I regard as miraculous. While we were becalmed, and after we had joined the other vessels, none of the pilots knew where we were, some pretending we were as much as a hundred leagues from Florida. However, thanks to God and the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, we soon had the pleasure of seeing land.
"We steered in that direction, anchored near a point of land, and found ourselves actually in Florida, and not very far distant from the enemy, which was for us an occasion of great joy."
It was on August 28, the Feast Day of Saint Augustine, that Pedro Menendez determined the name for the settlement he would found.
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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 or gardnerstaug@yahoo.com
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