Published by former Mayor George Gardner October 29 2014
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Commission wades
through two appeals
Just on
legal sufficiency to bring them
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Rawls and Slavin
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West and Whitehouse
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City commissioners Monday sorted out the legal sufficiency of two appeals, ultimately approving each for actual appeal hearings at a later date.
Those dates include December 8, when a newly seated City Commission will hear Ed Slavin's appeal of demolition approval for a portion of Lincolnville's historic Echo House, and January 15 at 9 am for a neighborhood appeal of granting a permit for construction of a 7-Eleven store and 12 gas pumps at congested San Marco Avenue and May Street.
Echo House appeal
Rev. Ron Rawls, pastor of St. Paul AME Church which owns the Echo House property, argued that Slavin "has not qualified for legal standing," while Slavin defended his right in challenging the partial demolition for inconsistency with the city's comprehensive plan, specifically that "The City shall continue to enforce the provisions of Chapter 28 of the City Code pertaining to demolitions."
The commission unanimously approved moving the appeal to formal hearing December 8.
7-Eleven appeal
Questions of timing, legal standing and sufficiency took nearly an hour to sort out, finally resulting in a 3-2 vote to advance what 7-Eleven attorney James Whitehouse called a "Clamor of the Crowd Appeal" of a permit to formal hearing January 15.
Both attorneys Whitehouse and Jane West for the appellants had agreed to move to an appeal hearing before the commission, but Mayor Joe Boles and Commissioner Don Crichlow both favored sending the matter back to the city Historical Architectural Review and Planning and Zoning boards for review. They were on the short end of the 3-2 vote.
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Fun in
Fullerwood
Kids provided the chorus for musicians at last Sunday afternoon's Annual Fullerwood block party.
The festivities at a lightly traveled four street intersection park included a grill, tables of potluck food, a kids' Halloween costume parade and musical entertainment by neighborhood volunteers.
A prominent sign announced, "No Politics, No Economics, No grippin.'"
No city candidates attended.
Photo courtesy of Fred Whitley
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Vote wisely
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The politician had a choice after visiting heaven, with angelic figures playing harps, and hell, with all his fellow politicians playing golf and having banquets.
He chose hell. On his arrival he found his colleagues in rags, scratching to survive.
The devil explained, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted."
Contributed by Fred Whitley
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Shipyard project
hits bumpy roads
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The vacating of two city streets was rejected while Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning was approved by city commissioners Monday for a proposed shipyard project off US 1 on the west waterfront of the San Sebastian River after 1˝ hours of debate among nearly a dozen residents, attorneys, engineers and commissioners.
Only Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline opposed the PUD request, arguing a lack of phasing of the project. "It's just not a clear plan," she said.
Commissioner Leanna Freeman too had some reservations, fearing "two 60-foot structures (for boat storage) can be built, then if something goes wrong, we're left with just those buildings." The plan includes public waterfront retail space and a promenade.
The vacating of streets, particularly the west end of Iroquois Street at US 1, were more heavily debated, and the Florida Department of Transportation was the goat. Project attorney Susan Bloodworth noted access plans have to be fluid because, "we don't know if we're going to get a traffic light" on US 1.
Commissioners voted 3-2 against vacating a section of Cherokee Street and 5-0 against vacating the west section of Iroquois Street, while approving 4-1 vacating the east leg of Iroquois.
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Fullerwood garden
continues to grow
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Gina Burrell continues to labor for the vineyard - in this case a Greater Fullerwood Community Garden.
It will be located at Fullerwood Park off Hildreth Street.
"Since the city leases the Fullerwood Park property from the school board," Gina says, "and the Garden is within the park, the garden board was mandated by the school board to put in a water meter.
"The city public works will install the water meter soon. Participants will have to pay for water used in the Garden. Our board is working on a fee system.
"There will be 18 beds available for rental in the garden. Until we get our Facebook page up, neighbors interested in helping or renting a raised bed can contact Gina Burrell, president of the Garden at ginaburrell1@comcast.net or 825-6746."
Dirty movies?
The St. Augustine Archaeological Association welcomes Michael Arbuthnot Tuesday at 7 pm in Flagler College's Flagler Room to present Dirty Movies: Adventures in Archaeological Filmmaking.
Arbuthnot joined James Cameron's RMS Titanic expedition in 2005 for Last Mysteries of the Titanic on the Discovery Channel, hosted his own television series, Secret Worlds with Michael Arbuthnot on the Travel Channel, History Channel, and PBS America, and has made guest host appearances on America Unearthed on History 2 Channel.
The association's monthly meeting is free and open to the public, and supported by Flagler College and the Florida Public Archaeology Network.
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Multi-designed obelisks being prepared by the St. Augustine Initiative for Compassion, part of a presentation to commissioners Monday, represent freedom, democracy, human rights and compassion. Obelisk Art 450 will place thirty 8 1/2-foot Constitution Monument replicas with original artist designs throughout St. Augustine from September to December 2015.
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Triad task force
Four representatives each from residents, Flagler College and city government make up a Town & Gown Task Force, launched to develop a greater understanding and working relationship between the college and the community.
Representing the community: Becky Greenberg, Model Land Neighborhood Association; Judith Seraphin, Lincolnville Neighborhood Association; Dr. David Rice, Ancient City Baptist Church; and Michael Davis, Historic St. Augustine Area Council.
Representing Flagler College: Dan Stewart, Vice President of Student Affairs; Laura Stevenson Dumas, Director of College Relations; Donn Garby, Student Government Association Treasurer; and Leslee Keys, Assistant Professor of History.
Representing city government: Tim Burchfield, Assistant City Manager; Loran Lueders, Police Chief; Martha Graham, Public Works Director; and David Birchim, Planning & Building Director.
The task force holds its initial meeting Wednesday, November 5 at 3 pm in The Alcazar Room at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.
Food for task force thought
On game days in Gainesville, when the population of the town swells to nearly double, the university pays for 40 extra on-duty police officers who patrol the neighborhoods near the stadium.
Ohio State University student organizations "adopt" streets in the off-campus neighborhoods, cooperating to maintain their streets and improve the neighborhood quality of life.
Under a Syracuse, New York, "Nuisance Party Ordinance," with fines up to $500, and/or imprisonment of up to 15 days, police don't need a complaint from a citizen to issue a citation.
Some cities in Colorado impose even stiffer fines-up to $1,000 for a first violation of a noise or public nuisance ordinance. Students are expected to know the laws, and warnings are not issued to first-time offenders.
Thoughts from a "Best Practices in Building University/City Relations" forum in 2006 in Colorado.
Becky Greenberg of the Flagler Model Land Company Neighborhood Association sent the link "to read an entertaining article on some familiar topics to us regarding living in a college town - and some creative solutions."
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History's Highlight
The Constitution Monument symbol
315 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
A Masonic Monument in Spanish Florida? Thirty second degree Mason Oscar Patterson III, Ph.D., explored events around this unlikely scenario.
The Plaza de la Constitución is named for its monument erected in 1813 to commemorate Spain's liberal constitution, establishing universal suffrage, national sovereignty, freedom of the press, and land reform.
At its adoption orders were given that monuments be erected in all Spanish provinces. When Ferdinand VII assumed the throne in 1814, he ordered that all such monuments be destroyed.
The monument that stands in the plaza is considered to be the only remaining structure dedicated to the 1812 constitution. It was constructed under the direction of Don Fernando de la Maza Arredondo, a merchant, prominent citizen, and military leader in St. Augustine.
Interestingly Arredondo was also considered responsible for allowing Moses Levy, a Jew, to own land in St. Augustine at a time when such ownership was forbidden under Spanish law.
Clearly visible beneath the original inscription are the Masonic square and compasses. According to Rafel Altamira in his A History of Spain, MacMillan Company, New York 1922, "Freemasonry has existed in Spain since about 1750 ... It is highly probable that there were Freemasons in St. Augustine, and that considerable liberal sentiment existed there, So that the use of the emblems on the tablet may have received Official sanction."
In 1813, after the monument was completed, a young French-Canadian girl visiting St. Augustine sketched things she saw in the plaza. One was the monument complete with the original Spanish inscription with the square and compasses. This seems to establish that the square and compasses were on the monument from its earliest days.
Historic sources suggest that Freemasonry had come to St. Augustine by the 1750s and there is evidence that the Castillo de San Marcos as well as Fort Matanzas and the Cathedral were inscribed with Masonic inscriptions and emblems.
From scottishrite.org
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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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