Published by former Mayor George Gardner October 15 2014
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Incumbent Boles distorts
opponent's forum comment
I am appalled that the political process in our town has deteriorated into this type of campaign.
Resident Pat Reilly
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Incumbent Mayor Joe Boles, in an apparent move to panic nonprofit organizations in St. Augustine, has sent a Dear Friends in the Non-Profit community letter to nonprofits accusing mayoral opponent Nancy Shaver of a "plan to increase revenue to the City by levying a 'fee' in lieu of taxes on the non-profits in the City."
He cites her answer to a question in a July 15 forum at Galimore Center about Flagler College's "building density and removal of property from the tax rolls," to which she responded, "In many cities where you have a footprint like that, what is done is that the university will do payment in lieu of taxes."
"As we all know," writes Boles, "she can't just impose a 'fee' on one non-profit without applying it to all churches, schools, the Homeless Coalition, the Boys and Girls Club, the Lighthouse, COA, the Welfare Federation, St. Francis House, and the list goes on."
Resident Pat Reilly fired back at Boles, "I expect a lot of things in political campaigns, but the use of this type of tactic of misleading those who have enough to worry about in their roles as leaders in the not for profit arena is just not right.
"Why in the world would the Mayor want to cause these folks any stress or concern over something that is not even a valid issue for them? He certainly should know what voluntary payments 'in lieu of taxes' are. And he certainly knows that the statement referred only to Flagler College because of their large footprint.
"Shame on you Mayor Boles, for using your position to write such a misleading letter addressed to all of the nonprofits in the City. And shame on you for distressing them in this fashion," Reilly wrote.
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Lions for east
end of bridge
Wolfgang and Miki Schau of Davis Shores Monday offered to donate two marble lions for the east end of the Bridge of lions, "as a gift to the City of St. Augustine for the 450th, to connect north Davis Shores with the historic City of St. Augustine."
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Schau
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Wolfgang told commissioners there are challenges to get the work done and in place for the 450th next year, "but we're in touch with sculptors and discussing proper marble and details." General Services Director Jim Piggott will work with the Schaus on the project.
Companion marble lions were donated by Dr. Andrew Anderson in the 1920s when the bridge was completed and placed on the west end.
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Transcript from Neighborhood
Council political forum July 15
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Question #3
Flagler College is having an impact on the entire city through increased enrollment and building density and removal of property from the tax rolls. How do you intend to balance this expansion in the interest of tax paying residents?
Nancy Shaver
Flagler College, and all the non-profits we have in our city, take up about 40% of our real estate. What that means is that 40% is not taxable.
We all love being in a college town. It's a good thing. It's a wonderful thing. The reality is that Flagler has 113 million dollars worth of property and it pays $170,000 in assessment fees and the two policemen that Joe referred to.
In many cities where you have a footprint like that, what is done is that a university will do payment in lieu of taxes. If Flagler were to do something like that, typically, it's about 50%. Right now if they were to pay taxes it's about a million dollars would be what they would pay to the City of St. Augustine.
They're paying $170,000 so clearly there's an opportunity to enter into the right kind of dialogue with Flagler that respects who they are and who we are, but we've just heard, a lot to pay for in terms of infrastructure that hasn't been touched in about a quarter of a century and we need to think about many ways in which we can get revenue and Flagler is a citizen too. Flagler is part of our community and paying their fair share is extremely important.
In terms of expansion they own 41 properties of which I think 7 or 8 are actually commercial at this point, in other words, they're paying full taxes.
That potentially allows for an expansion of the three things they want to do: parking garage, dormitories, science building. Those all require PUD's and I think we need to think very carefully about what makes sense for our city and what makes sense for Flagler and what makes sense for us as residents.
(View the video)
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City candidates debate
in Flagler College forum |
 Incumbent Mayor Joe Boles continued his assertion Tuesday night that, "you can't just impose a 'fee' on one non-profit without applying it to all," to which opponent Nancy Shaver responded, "the thing about lawyers, sometimes they don't read the law."
The venue for this stage of 2014 city candidate forums was Flagler College's Ringhaver Center with the mayor, an attorney, and Shaver squaring off, along with commission candidates John Valdes and Todd Neville for one seat and incumbent Nancy Sikes-Kline and Grant Misterly for the other.
WJXT4's Mary Baer moderated the session before a full audience of Flagler students and administration and city residents.
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Weeks resigns HARB
In wake of demolition
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Contractor/businessman Len Weeks has resigned from the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) in the wake of demolition of the 200 year old Fornells House on Hypolita Street.
"My continued involvement with HARB may be seen as a distraction for other members of our HARB Board, Applicants, the City Commission, Staff, Residents and Business Owners," Weeks wrote in a letter read to city commissioners by City Manager John Regan Monday night. "This is not something that I want to contribute to."
Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield told commissioners he found no weaknesses in his review of city departments' procedures as a failed foundation strengthening effort led to the emergency demolition of the historic house.
Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline and Commissioner Don Crichlow both called for a "higher level of monitoring and review of historic structures," and Regan suggested tailoring a state regulation for "threshold structures" to St. Augustine's historic structures.
The state regulation addresses buildings of three stories or 50 feet, Regan said, and calls for special inspection by a threshold engineer or architect.
Video of Fornells House demolition by Scott Manny, SA Entertainer
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Slavin demolition appeal delayed
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An appeal of The Historic Architectural Review Board decision to allow demolition of a portion of Lincolnville's historic Echo House will be continued to the next City Commission meeting while City Attorney Isabelle Lopez sorts out appellant Ed Slavin's standing to make the appeal.
"I don't know that we've ever done this before," Lopez explained as commissioners asked for procedures.
Slavin filed an amendment to his petition after learning that he had to either have legal standing - "typically a neighbor," Lopez said - or is challenging consistency with the city comprehensive plan, which Slavin's amendment contends.
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Food truck no problem here
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While a food truck operator struggles against local eatery opposition in St. Augustine Beach, no problems here.
The TropiCali food truck is open for business on San Marco Avenue next to Old City Tire - and it's even got indoor seating!!
No, not in the truck but in an adjacent building.
Of course it helps to locate it next to a building with necessary seating and power, but consultant Troy Blevins, former County Parks and Recreation director, says he's hoping entry corridor guideline modifications will allow street front signage for the recessed eatery.
Says TropiCali's takeout menu (they deliver too), "Our combined flavors of the tropics and California blend together for a vibrant food trip that's not too hot or spicy."
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$800,000 for intelligent
transportation system
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 Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline announced Monday that the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) has approved $800,000 for St. Augustine to install "fiber optics which will be the backbone of a future intelligent transportation system with changeable signage from the Bridge of Lions out to I-95 via SR 16."
She explained the new system is the first step to data boards which announce delays and times to destinations such as seen along I-95 in Jacksonville.
A more immediate plan is to install flashing light signage around the Bridge of Lions to warn motorists of delays.
Help for construction impacted businesses
City commissioners Monday authorized $10,000 to provide 1,000 ParkNow cards to downtown merchants impacted by the Downtown Improvement District work.
City comptroller Mark Litzinger explained the cards cost the city $5 and will be charged with $5 for parking meters and terminals. They'll be aimed at local residents to encourage coming to their businesses despite the construction confusion.
It was one of a series of short and long range ideas developed in meetings prompted by Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline with merchants and city staff.
City Manager John Regan said ideas include more police presence, firmer walking paths, a marketing flyer, monitored sightseeing vehicle narratives, and youth ambassadors serving as on-street hosts on weekends.
Tackling truck traffic
Our sister city Aviles, Spain, has for years had in place a mandate that there will be no commercial deliveries in its historic district after 11 am.
Something to consider at a Freight and Delivery Routing session October 28, 10 to noon in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
It's hosted by the City of St. Augustine and North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) with infrastructure experts HNTB.
"I am proud to have brought this study to the City in order to make traffic movement more efficient," says Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, also chair of the TPO which is funding the program.
"The study scope will include a review of the City's regulations and policies and provide recommendations for changes (including) restrictions on use of delivery zones, time of day, size of vehicle enforcement and other management approaches," Sikes-Kline says.
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History's Highlight
The Delaney murder mystery
329 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
A mystery for Halloween, drawn from research by Helen Hornbeck Tanner
The night of November 20, 1785, Lieutenant Guillermo Delaney, severely wounded, stumbled into the residence of Josef Gomila on Charlotte Street, stabbed and beaten by persons he could not identify.
 Later testimony would reveal he was having an affair with Catalina Morain, a seamstress who lived at the Gomilas.
It was just a year since Spain reoccupied East Florida by treaty after twenty years of British occupation. Many of the occupation troops were married, but it was the behavior of the unmarried personnel that drew the attention of incoming Spanish Governor Vicente Manuel de Zespedes during the investigation.
It appeared to be a crime of passion. Catalina Morain was also having an affair with Distinguished Sergeant Juan Sivelly, a well-known young reprobate in the town. He'd been imprisoned six months earlier because of his publicly scandalous behavior with another woman. Yet another admirer was Corporal Francisco Moraga.
Depositions revealed that Sivelly had ordered Moraga to stop visiting Catalina, but Moraga heatedly insisted he would never stop. Of the several suitors, apparently Francisco Moraga had the most violent temper.
While Delaney clung to life Catalina Morain, the central figure in the case, implicated two other soldiers of the garrison, who were immediately seized and imprisoned.
Shortly after the new-year, 1786, Lieutenant Delaney died. The assault became a far more serious murder case.
Governor Zespedes, unable to get legal assistance from Havana, was forced to reopen the investigation on his own. He had doubts about the imprisonment of the two suspects implicated by Catalina, and released them. Now the behavior of Catalina Morain and Francisco Moraga appeared increasingly suspicious.
Belying earlier testimony, Moraga admitted frequent visits to Catalina. Governor Zespedes decided he was at least guilty of perjury and that Catalina deserved punishment for incriminating two innocent men. He ordered them both imprisoned to await the judgment of superior authorities.
Governor Zespedes, facing other matters in the restored garrison, suspended his investigation in April, 1786, forwarding 176 pages of testimony from fifty-five witnesses to authorities in Mexico City.
In the spring of 1788, while a final decision in the Delaney case was pending in Spain's Supreme Council of War, a regular troop rotation relocated the Delaney prosecutor and witnesses over Zespedes' objections. Both Francisco Moraga and Catalina Morain remained in prison until the end of Zespedes' administration in July 1790.
The length of their sentences has not been discovered, and the trail of the Delaney murder case rests in unexplored archives.
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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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