Published by former Mayor George Gardner September 10 2014
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Sensing a majority decision already made on the 450th budget, Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline and Commissioner Leanna Freeman, flanking Mayor Joe Boles, sit stone-faced awaiting a vote.
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3-2 commission vote OKs
$938,000 budget for 450th
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Ms. Reilly said it's 4.5% of our operating budget for the 450th. I like the ring of 4.5 for the 450th.
Mayor Joe Boles reacting to resident Pat Reilly's public comment
Rejecting a city staff effort to trim a 450th anniversary budget to $799,000, a City Commission majority Monday approved a $938,000 budget for 2015.
The trio, Mayor Joe Boles and commissioners Don Crichlow and Roxanne Horvath, had just returned from a visit to sister city Aviles, Spain. The delegation's 450 Director Dana Ste. Claire was still in Spain Monday and City Manager John Regan had missed an earlier flight home.
Overridden in the vote were numerous speakers during public comments and Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline and Commissioner Leanna Freeman, all questioning the high figure and accountability of the city hall managed commemoration.
Both commissioners noted an increase in the three member staff budget from $240,000 to more than $400,000 in the three years it's existed.
Said Freeman, "Do we want to spend this much? Do we want these events?"
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Historic tours
giving back
Historic Tours of America (HTA) St. Augustine is offering its attractions and trolley tours free to residents of the city and county during September.
General Manager Dave Chatterton says, "It's our way of thanking the community for its support."
Ever creative, HTA has remodeled the Potter's Wax Museum in the Old Drug Store, which it purchased in May, and is trying out a sign shop in its expanding Old Jail site on San Marco Avenue.
Among other attractions with the Old Jail are the Oldest Store Museum and St. Augustine History Museum on the Old Jail site.
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Commentary
2014 city commission
reflects 2002 election
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Monday's City Commission majority reflected the City Commission of 2002, which wouldn't listen to the community.
Back then a commission majority rolled forward with an ill-conceived garage location in the historic district, despite public outcry.
Monday a commission majority rejected a trimmed down 450th budget of $799,320 for 2015, boosting it back to an original $938,000, Commissioner Don Crichlow saying, "We don't want to do it on the cheap."
Crichlow was among that commission majority of three, with Mayor Joe Boles and Commissioner Roxanne Horvath, who were fresh off a week in Spain.
Back in 2002, the commission majority said "stay the course," while newcomers offered fresh ideas and a community voice. That commission majority was defeated on election day, and a new commission majority created a neighborhood associations program to more effectively involve its citizens.
In this year's majority, Crichlow is leaving the commission, Horvath has two years remaining in her term, and Boles is relying in his reelection bid on the likes of tourism gurus Glenn Hastings (Tourist Development Council), and Richard Goldman (Visitors and Convention Bureau), Cathedral Pastor Tom Willis, and colleague and business partner Len Weeks - each of whom spoke Monday in favor of having the 450th but without mentioning the budget.
And like 2002, incumbent Boles is content with things as they are, while newcomer Nancy Shaver, drawing on her business career, wants to get the facts and, with city staff and neighborhoods, find solutions to the numerous community challenges lingering beneath a checkered city hall managed 450th anniversary.
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Ceremony of Remembrance
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 St. Augustine will remember those who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 tomorrow, beginning at 8:30 am at the main fire station on Malaga Street.
Following a musical presentation by St. Augustine Fire Engineer Ed Purtill and official remarks, there will be a moment of silence at 8:45, the time the first plane hit the first tower of the World Trade Center.
The Fire Department's historic 1900 fire bell will then be rung 13 times, once for each year since 9/11.
The image, Two Minutes of Silence, an original oil by St. Augustine Artist Peter O'Neill, sold at auction for 20,000.00 on October 10 2001.
The proceeds went to the New York City Fireman and Emergency Service Relief Fund.
The buyer donated the original painting to the City of New York Firefighters Museum in Lower Manhattan, to hang in their collection so those men and women who gave their lives trying to save others will never be forgotten.
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7-Eleven permit has been issued
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"The (city) building permit for the 7-11 has just been issued," City Planning and Building Director David Birchim announced late yesterday afternoon. "There is a 30 day appeal period for the Entry Corridor aspects of the project," he added.
City Attorney Ron Brown had said at Monday's City Commission meeting, "the (city) permit has not been issued yet, staff is still evaluating that permit. ... Rest assured that when a permit is issued we will follow the protocols established by ordinance and notify the Neighborhood Council concerning the implementation of that permit."
Numerous speakers during public comment presented drawings showing fuel trucks crossing into oncoming traffic with narrower turn radii. Brown said the city will make sure its codes are followed, but "what happens on the (state) road is under the control of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
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Two dozen sign-waving protesters, many wearing custom green tee shirts emblazoned
Stop the 7-Eleven, filled the corner of San Marco Avenue and May Street Saturday afternoon, where 7-Eleven hopes to build a convenience store and 12-pump gas station.
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Community to FDOT - 'Just Say NO'
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 Organizers noted at Saturday's protest rally at the proposed 7-Eleven site that among their numbers were not only immediate neighbors, but residents from all parts of the city.
More rallies are planned as well as an email campaign to state and local officials and FDOT. That email list can be found here. "Tell the FDOT not to issue permits, especially for safety reasons," organizers say.
Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, who as both city vice mayor and chair of the Northeast Florida Transportation Organization has been dogging the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), placed a resolution on Monday's City Commission agenda urging FDOT to find funding for intersection improvements to be made simultaneously with its drainage project scheduled for 2016.
City Planning and Building Director David Birchim had said, "We cannot hold a local development permit in anticipation of a state agency permit being approved," and it's believed FDOT has not yet approved the major blockage of a project go-ahead - a smaller fuel truck turning radius than FDOT standards allow on state roads.
It's that finer point being stressed by emailers, along with overall concern for safety - particularly with neighboring Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, environmental impact, and evacuation of the barrier island through an already congested intersection.
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History's Highlight
French account of Fort Caroline attack
364 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
From the National humanities Center
Within days of founding St. Augustine, Spain's Pedro Menendez and France's Jean Ribault 40 miles to the north planned attacks. Ribault chose an attack by sea, and his fleet was destroyed by a hurricane. Menendez chose to march 500 troops up the coast in that storm to attack Fort Caroline.
An account by Jacques le Moyne de Morgues, Artist with the French Expedition.
When the day broke, nobody being seen about the fort, M. de la Vigne, who was the officer of the guard, pitying the drenched and exhausted condition of the men, who were worn out with long watching, permitted them to take a little rest. 
But they had scarcely had time to go to their quarters and lay aside their arms when the Spaniards, guided by a Frenchman named François Jean, attacked the fort at the double quick in three places at once, penetrated the works without resistance and, getting possession of the place of arms [armory], drew up their force there.
Then parties searched the soldiers' quarters, killing all whom they found, so that awful outcries and groans arose from those who were being slaughtered.
[O]n coming in from my watch, I laid down my arquebus [firearm], and, all wet through as I was, I threw myself into a hammock hoping to get a little sleep. But on hearing the outcries, the noise of weapons, and the sound of blows, I jumped up again, and was going out of the house to see what was the matter, when I met in the very doorway two Spaniards with their swords drawn, who passed on into the house without accosting me, although I brushed against them.
When, however, I saw that nothing was [to be seen] except slaughter and that the [armory] itself was held by the Spaniards, I turned back at once and made for one of the embrasures [narrow opening in the fort wall], where I knew I could get out.
Le Moyne and several other Frenchmen escape to the woods. After four depart for an Indian village, Le Moyne's remaining companion decides to surrender to the Spanish.
... In order to see what should happen to him, I got up to a height nearby and watched. As he came down from the high ground, the Spaniards saw him and sent out a party. As they came up to him, he fell on his knees to beg for his life. They, however, in a fury cut him to pieces, and carried off the dismembered fragments of his body on the points of their spears and pikes.
I hid myself in the woods where, having gone about a mile, I came upon a Frenchman and M. de Laudonnière's maid-servant, who was wounded in the breast. We made our way towards the open meadows along the seashore.
[W]e travelled in water more than waist deep for two days and two nights through swamps and reeds ... before we could get sight of the two vessels. On the third day, by the blessing of God, and with the help of the sailors, we got safe on board.
Le Moyne and his fellow survivors decide their best option is to return to France.
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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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