Published by former Mayor George Gardner October 8 2014
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Mayoral candidates Nancy Shaver and Joe Boles survey River House audience before Neighborhood Council Candidate Forum Tuesday night.
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Political forums
City candidates tested
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 City candidates are getting a workout this year with four forums, ranging from neighborhood associations to Flagler students.
The second of four scheduled forums was hosted by the Neighborhood Council Tuesday night, days after a Lincolnville forum, a week before a Flagler student forum and two weeks before a League of Women Voters forum.
Neighborhood Council
City candidates squared off again last night in a Neighborhood Council-hosted forum, this one at River House. they also met for the primary election at Galimore Center.
Incumbent Mayor Joe Boles said his two major assets are experience and relationships, noting State Senator John Thrasher called him to Tallahassee to end the threat of eminent domain legislation several years ago. (Actually Thrasher made Boles make an early morning trip to the capitol after residents earlier made two early morning trips to appear before House and Senate committees).
Challenger Nancy Shaver quickly listed her two assets, "Data and math. And I would add listening. If it doesn't work for one of us it doesn't work for any of us."
The mayoral candidates also clashed when moderator Rhey Palmer said there's a feeling Boles is reactive rather than proactive.
"That's the system," Boles said. "When we get calls with problems, we react."
Shaver reacted, "It's not about waiting for a call. It's about coffees, and meeting with neighborhood associations. That's what democracy is."
And Commission candidate John Valdes turned a barb into a boon after his opponent Todd Neville, listing qualifications his opponent doesn't have, said, "Energy."
Valdes quietly responded, "Todd, I promise not to hold your youth against you."
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Chapel on
the Commons
Dr. Dorothy Israel was honored Sunday with dedication of the Chapel on the Commons at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church.
Doing the dedication honors were the Rev. Ted Voorhees and Associate Rev. Deena Galantowicz after church services and before a chicken dinner for the congregation.
"She has been a transformational force in the life of St. Cyprian's," said Father Voorhees of Dr. Israel's service since joining the church in the early 1990s.
The chapel is located between the Church and mission house on ML King Jr. Avenue, a tiled, landscaped area being developed for church and community activities.
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A force of 300
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Ron Rawls, pastor at St. Paul AME Church, is looking for a force of 300 votes "to influence and create support for (minority) causes and become proactive from within government rather than sitting outside and complaining."
He organized a forum last week at Galimore Center with nearly 100 turning out to grill mayoral and commission candidates.
After the 90-minute session and dismissal of the candidates the gathering voted to endorse Nancy Shaver for mayor and John Valdes for a commission seat.
Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline missed a necessary 75% for endorsement but did capture 56% in the polling.
Much of the session was focused on lack of African Americans in higher skilled positions in city government - none in the police or fire departments and only one on a city board - recently appointed Deltra Long to the Planning and Zoning Board.
'Hands-on experience'
"The Student Government Association believed it would be beneficial for the school to host this event since the elected officials will directly affect the town that Flagler students, staff, faculty and administration live in," Flagler Student Government Association Treasurer Donn Garby said of plans for a city candidate forum October 14 from 6 to 8 pm in the Virginia Room of Ringhaver Student Center on Sevilla Street.
"We also believed that it would be beneficial for students to get a hands-on experience of local politics," Garby added.
League of Women Voters
City candidates will face another forum October 22 from 7-9 pm at the county auditorium, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, St. Augustine Media, and WQXT Channel 22.
The debate will be televised on the St. Johns County channel and available on the County Commission website for live streaming and viewing on October 23.
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Neighborhood appealing
city permit for 7-Eleven
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The Nelmar Terrace Neighborhood Association is appealing the city's issuance of a building permit for the 7-Eleven project at San Marco Avenue and May Street.
The decision was made after another rally last week at the congested intersection, site of the proposed convenience store and 12 gas pumps.
A land law attorney has been hired and funds are being collected for an estimated $5,000 in legal costs.
"Noncompliance with the Design Standards for the Entry Corridors would go before HARB (Historical Architectural Review Board) for review," says neighborhood leader Melinda Rakoncay. "Any appeal of the HARB decision would go before the City Commission.
"If we are able to win on a city level then Isabelle Lopez, as City attorney, would represent the city, should 7 Eleven want to take it to court. Our goal is to give the City a good defensible case," says Rakoncay.
To donate to the legal fund, may make checks payable to Nelmar Terrace Neighborhood Association "legal fund" and mail to Melinda Rakoncay, 86 Magnolia Avenue, St. Augustine FL 32084.
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aMAZEing salute to the 450th
Sykes and Cooper Farms, Elkton, salutes St. Augustine's 450th anniversary with outlines of "St. Augustine Est. 1565" and the landmark Castillo de San Marcos. The design is by MAIZE, a Utah cornfield maze design/consulting firm. The annual October maze, together with a full range of family activities, has helped Sykes and Cooper continue their farming business. Visit the website. Information courtesy of SA Entertainer.
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Hotel for former Bozard lot
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Kanti Patel plans to build a hotel on a portion of the former Bozard Ford Lot on US 1.
An application to the Planning and Zoning Board was tabled to the November meeting to work on a redesign of the originally planned 92-room hotel.
The site is bordered by Garnett, Matanzas and Cunningham avenues and is currently partially occupied by an Old Town Trolleys parking area.
Earlier this year Patel's plan for an 84-room hotel at San Marco Avenue and West Castillo Drive, patterned after the original Victorian San Marco Hotel, was approved, but the project is delayed by current lease agreements.
Town & Gown session today
City Hall and Flagler College host a second Town & Gown community meeting today at 5:30 pm in Flagler College's Markland House.
The first session was September 10, opening discussion of concerns about students in the downtown area, parking, and expansion of the college. Residents will be asked to rank the importance of the several issues.
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Slavin's indefatigability
beats city's temporization
Persistent demands from activist Ed Slavin produced perhaps more than city officials originally planned on accountability for the collapse and ultimate demolition of the 200 year old Fornells House at 62-A Spanish Street September 25.
 Slavin's demands for city paperwork began September 28. He received an accounting from Planning and Building Director David Birchim the following day. That accounting is here.
Now he turned to Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield and City Attorney Isabelle Lopez for "62 Spanish Street staff chronologies and investigative interviews, notes, emails, etc."
Burchfield replied, "I have just begun interviewing employees this morning and I do not presently have a 'file'. When I finish my interviews and have a 'file' I will give you what I have."
Slavin, "Please send now. Thank you."
Burchfield, "I am still finalizing my review and as advised by the City Attorney my records are not subject to public records at this time."
Slavin, "Please cite authority. I disagree. Thank you"
Lopez, "Shevin v. Byron, 379 So. 2d 633 (Fla. 1980) and Justice Coalition v. The First DCA JNC, 823 So. 2d 185 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002)"
Slavin, "Inapposite. Tim is not a consultant. This is not a judicial nominating commission."
He then cited the Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual: "All such materials, regardless of whether they are in final form, are open for public inspection unless the Legislature has exempted them from disclosure. ... There is no "unfinished business" exception to the public inspection and copying requirements of Ch. 119, F.S.
"If the purpose of a document prepared in connection with the official business of a public agency is to perpetuate, communicate, or formalize knowledge, then it is a public record regardless of whether it is in final form or the ultimate product of an agency."
The city's procedural review of the building collapse was released October 3. Find it here.
Slavin has now asked that the city's report be sent to OSHA, FBI, U.S. Attorney and Florida authorities.
Contractor/Businessman Weeks - currently chairman of St. Augustine's Historical Architectural Review Board and its Parking and Traffic Committee, and also the city's ambassador to Spain - lives in St. Augustine Beach.
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History's Highlight
200 years of the Fornells House
336 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
From drbronsontours.com
From the July 1963 issue of the St. Augustine Historical Society's Newsletter, El Escribano:
This property was purchased by the St. Augustine Historical Society in 1952 when the house was in danger of demolition. Inspection indicated it to be a fine example of design and construction used in Saint Augustine in the early 1800's.
 Prior to 1800 this area was part of the Dragoon Barracks land and was used as a kitchen garden for the Spanish troops. The lot extended to Cordova Street, and contained a grove of 196 orange trees.
It is a two story coquina block structure with a hip roof, almost square in design, a typical home of an ordinary family at the beginning of the 19th century.
On January 9, 1800, Pedro Fornells, a native of Ciudadela in the Island of Menorca, petitioned the Spanish Crown for a grant of the lot which was part of the kitchen garden of the Dragoon Barracks.
Sometime after this grant was confirmed, Fornells built a house on this site. Fornells died unexpectedly on August 1, 1807, without having made a will. However an inventory of his properties was made, and the house on Spanish Street appears and is described.
On February 4, 1820, Fornells' widow, Mariana Tudorina, made a will in which the following statement describing the house appears:
I declare as my present estate one house of masonry with its corresponding lot and trees, which is the house where I now live, located on the Calle de los Quarteles de Dragones (Dragon Barracks 55-Street, now known as Spanish Street) bounded on the South with said barracks, on the .north with the cross street which leads to the Marina (Hypolita Street), on the East with the said Street of the Barracks and on the West with the street that leads to the Cienaga (now Cordova Street).
Said house built by my deceased last husband Fornells, but at the time of his death said house was not of enough value to reintegrate my dowry, and pay the debts that he had contracted, and in the many years since his death I have increased its value with my industry and with the orange grove that is cultivated.
Fornells' wife died on August 3, 1820. She left her estate to her four children to be divided in equal shares. (Over time the title passed to nine owners). The St. Augustine Historical Society purchased it in 1952.
During 30 years of ownership by Mr. Burton Masters, this was the only place in town where one could buy real Minorcan food. Affectionately known as "Uncle Bertie," Mr. Masters was skilled in the fine art of preparing such delicacies as Shrimp Pilau, Gopher Stew and Clam Chowder. The business that he bought for $150 sold many years later for several thousand dollars.
In 1952, when the St. Augustine Historical Society purchased the property, the old coquina house was in danger of demolition. Inspection indicated it to be a fine example of design and construction used in St. Augustine in the early 1800's, althou [sic] additions made by recent owners had destroyed to a great extent the beauty and integrity of the old house.
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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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