Published by former Mayor George Gardner
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Philosophies tangle
on strategic planning
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Let John do his job - Commissioner Todd Neville
Let us do our job - Mayor Nancy Shaver
 | | Neville (left) and Shaver (right) bounce concepts with Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline between them. |
Holding to their campaign promises, Commissioner Todd Neville looked for goals and Mayor Nancy Shaver for community input Monday night on whether staff recommendations or City Commission input come first in setting the city's strategic plan.
"I'd like to see two or three goals for each department that are measurable," said Neville.
"What I think is missing is the perspective that has been gathered over the past several months from the people who pay the bills," Shaver responded.
Shaver urged a workshop, and City Manager John Regan broke the deadlock: "It would be valuable to have the commission provide input, and I will bring something to that workshop," satisfying Neville's concern that there be a starting point.
City staff has been developing a strategic plan, and Vice Mayor Roxanne Horvath noted that her Visioning 2014 & Beyond committee will be pulling together its findings at a meeting December 15 to prepare a list of goals in January.
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Managing historic
district traffic
Six new commercial delivery zones, better signage along 14 narrow streets in the historic district, and a North Florida Transportation Planning Organization commercial delivery study were outlined to commissioners Monday by Public Works Director Martha Graham.
Included in future plans, digital signage like that pictured indicating parking space availability downtown.
"We want to remind folks about our historic structures and narrow streets," Graham said as she outlined stepped-up enforcement of delivery truck zones.
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Slavin: Reconsider
the demolition vote
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Activist Ed Slavin, after losing his appeal of partial demolition of Lincolnville's Echo House in an hour-long session before the City Commission Monday, called for reconsideration in an email Tuesday to commissioners.
Among eight points of argument, Slavin wrote that his PowerPoint presentation was not given to commissioners before the meeting and there was no discussion of the city's right of reverter to take back the property if not used for charitable purposes.
He called for "an outside, independent investigation of City staff's omissions of their duties of care and fidelity to law."
Commission newcomers, Mayor Nancy Shaver and Commissioner Todd Neville, showed they were well-prepared to step into an issue with an extensive history of four Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) hearings and previous commission discussions. Shaver queried Slavin's argument that HARB was required to apply Architectural Guidelines for Historic Preservation while the code stated the board could, and Neville referred to several elements of the HARB hearings.
Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline summarized in her motion to deny the appeal that HARB "tried through several meetings" to find a better solution and "they did come to a compromise."
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Neighborhood grant
program approved
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City commissioners Monday approved a renewal of a Neighborhood Grants Panel, established a decade ago along with the neighborhood associations program and offering grants up to $10,000 for neighborhood projects.
It was part of a laundry list of citizen board renewals and sunsets approved by commissioners, with appointment to several boards to come at a later date.
Among commission assignments, Mayor Nancy Shaver asked to take on both the Tourist Development Council and Visitors and Convention Bureau seats "because I want to get tourism aimed right."
Former Commissioner Don Crichlow, at his own request, will continue to represent the city on the North East Florida Regional Council, with Commissioner Leanna Freeman continuing with the Sister Cities Association, Nancy Sikes-Kline on the North Florida Transportation Organization she chairs and Todd Neville taking the Intergovernmental Council.
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CITY FLOATS A MESSAGE - City workers put together a prize-winning float for Saturday's Christmas Parade - a float made entirely of recycled materials. It's a loud statement for the city's efforts to increase community recycling.
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CHRISTMAS PARADE-Mayor Nancy Shaver had her first parade carriage ride last Saturday, while new Commissioner Todd Neville hoofed it with a stroller. St. Augustine's royal family was in a carriage, while high school bands, balloon people and Mosquito Control's Grinch livened up the traditional procession.
Photos: Raphael Cosme in Historic City News
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Tree choice awaits costs
Date or sabal palms? A decision will await cost estimates on maintenance, commissioners decided Monday at the urging of Commissioner Todd Neville, an accountant who campaigned on keeping a close eye on budgeting.
Florida Department of Transportation landscape architect Ken Cheek urged more expensive date palms to line SR 16 on both sides of the bridge off US 1 to "make more of a statement." The city Street Tree Advisory Committee favored sabal palms, and doesn't meet again until March to reconsider.
City Manager John Regan urged prompt action "because we've been pushing FDOT for more beautification along our medians."
By agreement, FDOT pays the city to maintain state highway medians within the city.
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 I think with all this planning for the 450th, and with all the money that's being spent, possibly a legacy thing could be a bathroom that is open.
Resident and downtown sales associate Sally Gardner,
urging more bathrooms open at night
How long do residents have to put up with this?
Commissioner Leanna Freeman on late night bar noise complaints
which city hall has under study
We need to reset our communications relationships with the neighborhoods.
City Manager John Regan on complaints of neighbors about yellow
curbing streets in the Abbott Tract
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A look at government salaries
From $209,840 for the chief medical examiner to $70,103 for a computer programmer analyst, salaries of county and city government officials and staff in 2014 have been compiled by Historic City News.
Top county wage earners include County Administrator Michael Wanchick $200,913, Assistant County Administrator Darrell Locklear $143,724, and County Attorney Patrick McCormack $162,977.
In St. Augustine, City Manager John Regan $143,147, Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield $128,832, and City Attorney Isabelle Lopez $127,866.
Click here for the salary list.
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History's Highlight
The siege of 1702
273 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
"The enemy is approaching by land and by sea and they are bringing the means to attack and besiege the royal fort."
November 6, 1702, Governor Joseph de Zuniga y Zerda issues his proclamation to the garrison and people of St. Augustine.
English forces under Carolina Governor James Moore have overrun a half dozen Spanish settlements north of St. Augustine in rapid succession. They are at the St. Johns River, 30 miles north - the last barrier to attack of the garrison. 
The governor orders all inside the fort, including "all priests, friars, women, children, Negro slaves, free Negroes and all Indians of whatever nation which have rendered obedience to his Catholic Majesty."
Urgent messages have been sent to the Spanish garrisons at Apalachee and Pensacola, to the French garrison at Mobile, and to Spanish headquarters at Havana, Cuba.
English Carolina Governor James Moore, with 1,000 troops out of Charleston, 500 on land under Colonel Robert Daniel and 500 under sail with Moore, must seize this Spanish base on the North American continent.
November 7. At 8 am, three English sails are sighted on the northern horizon; later in the day, 10 more appear.
Zuniga and his officers review the garrison strength. Of 412 men, only 18 infantry and 18 militia are experienced in battle. He hasn't the strength to counterattack. The only option is to gather inside the massive fortress, completed just seven years earlier, and wait out a long siege.
That siege continues through December.
December 26. At midday, four sails are sighted on the southern horizon. As they near, they are identified as men-of-war. Finally, the welcome report: They are Spanish, the relief fleet from Havana. Now the English ships come about in the inlet, preparing to set sail if necessary to avoid entrapment.
Somehow the Spanish fleet and fort fail to communicate. The fleet commander could turn the siege into a decisive Spanish victory on land and sea. But he is preparing to return to Havana, assuming the English have captured the fort. A launch from the fort reaches his ship in time to report the situation.
December 29. The sight of the Spanish fleet is enough to make the English retreat; delay by the Spanish fleet allows a safe retreat. The English decide a retreat by sea would be stopped by the Spanish fleet; they destroy their own ships and flee on foot.
Excerpts from Siege in St. Augustine Bedtime Stories. Click for further information on this fascinating historic series.
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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 a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com or gardnerstaug@yahoo.com
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