Published by former Mayor George Gardner February 4 2015
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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 Responding to a public records request by the St. Augustine Record, City Clerk Ali Ratkovic has produced 230 pages of "memos, notes, reports related to any investigations, contract review or allegations about Charlie Seraphin since Oct. 1, 2014."
Also, details on 450th budgeting, travel records, and "incoming and outgoing public emails (including those stored on personal email accounts) since Sept. 1, 2014" of Regan, former Mayor Joe Boles, 450 Director Dana Ste. Claire and former 450 marketing strategist Charlie Seraphin.
Record City Hall Reporter Sheldon Gardner made the request Fridayin an email to City Manager John Regan and Mayor Nancy Shaver.
Seraphin's contract with the city was terminated in October after he questioned then mayoral candidate Shaver's credentials. He has since promised to sue the city for unlawful termination, arguing he was exercising his First Amendment rights.
Gardner also specified in her request:
Travel and expense reports for Dana Ste. Claire, Joseph Boles, John Regan, Nikole Alvarez and Mark Litzinger since November 2009.
All draft and final budget reports involving the expenditure of any public money for the 450th celebration and projects since Jan. 1, 2009.
Boles' and Regan's emails "that include the terms 450th, Seraphin, Focus 450, Shaver, termination, budget, since Sept. 1, 2014."
She also sought "a system that allows for us to review all incoming and outgoing emails for Nancy Shaver, John Regan and Dana Ste. Claire ... We are happy to discuss the best way to do this, but until a system is in place, we're requesting electronic copies every Monday."
The Record will pay $33 for the 230 printed pages - the first 10 pages at no cost.
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Sitting pretty
at the Lightner
Take a seat - or rather view - 19th century chairs at this month's tour with Lightner Museum Curator Barry Myers at 10 am today.
"In the 19th century, chairs are among the most numerous items listed on inventories of household possessions," says Barry. "Given the purse of the owner, they could vary greatly in style, quality and number."
Tours are included with admission and begin in the front lobby of the Museum at 10 am the first Wednesday of each month. Admission free for St. Johns County residents with valid identification.
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The Report is now online at
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Dow Museum plan
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 Investor David Corneal's plans to convert the Dow Museum of Homes into hotel suites has run into concerns from the Old City South Neighborhood Association.
At a meeting last week with Michael Conroy of Old Islands Hotel, Inc., representing Corneal, the association laid out a dozen specific concerns. The focus: "Change from HP-1 zoning to PUD for any specific property forever changes the residential nature of the neighborhood."
Residents noted "most restrictive historic preservation zoning" in Historic Preservation Districts, and said a PUD (Planned Unit Development) would circumvent that zoning.
"Property owners rely upon the existence of zoning ordinances to know what to expect and how their property will be protected," residents argued.
City commissioners, denying PUDs for two hotels recently, toyed briefly with the idea of a moratorium on PUDs but decided on further study first.
Planned Unit Development zoning does away with existing zoning restrictions, allowing a developer "to be creative" while giving city government control over every aspect of the design.
Conway brings the Dow project to the Historic Architectural Review Board February 19 for a certificate of appropriateness on renovations and permission to demolish the Carpenter's House.
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Adjutant General appointed
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 Brigadier General Michael A. Calhoun will become the Adjutant General of Florida on March 29 with the retirement of Major General Emmett Titshaw.
Making the appointment, Governor Rick Scott said, "As a Navy veteran, I am incredibly thankful for the sacrifices of our military, and I am grateful to Major General Emmett Titshaw for his years of service to our state and our country.
"Brigadier General Calhoun has selflessly served our country for more than 30 years and has proven his commitment to his fellow military men, women and families here in Florida.
"I am confident he will continue to serve our National Guard well and be an effective leader during any emergency event that may affect our state as the next Adjutant General of Florida."
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We have identified some issues to explore impacting the visitor experience. Two of the most pressing are related - traffic and parking in the St. Augustine Historic District. Using our database of past visitors, we can get their input and test solution concepts.
Glenn Hastings, Director, St. Johns County Tourist Development Council
Tourist Development Council (TDC) Director Glenn Hastings presented a Visitor Mobility Update at Monday's TDC meeting.
Among visitor survey responses:
THE PARKING!!! It was extremely hard to find a space to park and I feel that charging ten dollars every time we have to park was ridiculous.
We didn't realize how difficult parking was in the historic downtown area. I wish someone had told us to just find a parking garage and walk everywhere from there.
Perhaps consider no driving zones within the shop area. Provide shuttle service from parking areas outside of town area. Utilize bus shuttles as other states do, i.e. Arizona, to and from town and around close sites in the old town.
Our suggestions for your upcoming celebration of the founding of St Augustine is to make sure you have plenty of parking, toilets and benches for people to sit on while waiting for tour buses.
Among the findings:
The economic impact of tourism in St. Johns County in 2014 approached the $2 Billion level with direct visitor-related economic activity exceeding $1 Billion.
Data collected in 2013 showed that 80% of our visitors, staying in parts of St. Johns County outside of the historic area, made their way into the historic area sometime during their stay. That trend continued through 2014 as "History and Culture" continued to be the most important factor is choosing our destination for a visit.
Measured on a Net Promoter Scale, slightly more than one-third of our visitors are complacent about their visit to St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra, meaning that they could easily be swayed to forego future visits and go elsewhere.
Traffic has also become an issue with resident populations. Right or wrong, most blame the situation on the "tourist." Our visitor profile survey results suggest that residents and visitors dislike many of the same things.
Read the complete update here.
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Commentary
Noche de Gala - Grande Kick-Off
There was a very distinctive social class system during the Middle Ages. Most Medieval people were peasants, over 90%, but the divide between peasants and nobility was very clear-cut.
thefinertimes.com
"The Menéndez birthday gala on February 28 will have a special flair this year as the St. Augustine community comes together to celebrate its 450 years of continuous settlement as the Nation's Oldest City," the city's 450 office writes.
"This year, the special event is co-produced by the City of St. Augustine, the Casa Monica Hotel, the 450th Federal Commission, the Tourist Development Council, and a host of community partners.
 "'This is a great opportunity for the city to gather together and toast our legacy as the oldest city in the continental U.S.,' said John Regan, city manager. 'It's something to be really proud of.'
"The evening at the Lightner Museum will be highlighted by a colorful cast of 16th century re-enactors, a festive atmosphere with period performers, live music, dancing and a special menu created by the Casa Monica," writes the city.
Tickets are $195 per person - black tie, 16th century costume optional.
Under the plan, the "colorful cast of 16th century re-enactors" (most of whom have spent far more time in historic research and expense on authentic period wear and accoutrements than attendees on their rented costumes and tickets) will form a procession down St. George Street and entertain arriving ticket-holders.
Unlike recent years when all but a few reenactors were allowed further, they'll be allowed to fill the Lightner pool area for the enjoyment of the ticket holders dining in the balcony - but with no mingling between pool area and balcony - and will then exit at 9:30 pm, leaving the ticket holders to dance to a modern band.
It is a step up from recent years, but unfortunate that the dedicated reenactment community - especially in this anniversary year - will be relegated to a "cast" for the brief amusement of gala ticket holders.
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Black history, compassion,
royal family, maritime history
February is the month of black history, compassion, a new St. Augustine Royal Family, and maritime history classes.
Black History month opens Saturday with an Ancestral Remembrance Ceremony at noon on the north lawn of the Castillo de San Marcos for the millions of Africans who perished in the Middle Passage of the transatlantic human trade and at 3 pm a marker unveiling at the Mission Nombre de Dios. Visit www.middlepassageproject.org.
Flagler College has produced an online Civil Rights Library of St. Augustine preserving historical material on St. Augustine's local race relations during the 1960s.
Visit http://civilrightslibrary.com/
Compassionate St. Augustine fills the month with an exhibit, The F Word: Images of Forgiveness, opening Friday at the Ringhaver Student Center and extension at Corazon Cinema and Café throughout the month, a Compassionate Women's Group luncheon at noon Saturday at the Corazon, a Forgiveness Workshop at the St. Cyprian's Mission House, February 21, 1- 4 pm, and a film, The Power of Forgiveness, February 22 at 2 pm at the Corazon Cinema and Café.
St. Augustine's royal family for 2015 begins its reign in Royal Transfer ceremonies Sunday at 2 pm in the Isabella Garden at St. George and Hypolita streets. The colorful 17th century ceremony opens St. Augustine's Easter Festival, a half century tradition including a Knighting Ceremony March 15, Blessing of the Fleet March 29, Easter Promenade and Parade April 5, and Fromajardis April 12. Details at www.staugeasterfestival.com.
St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation begins a six-week course February 4 for 7-13 year olds, including Menendez' landing and history of how St. Augustine came to be, boat building, navigation, communications, and life of a sailor. Cost is $175 and class is limited to 12 students. Contact Foundation Education Director Wendy at 904-687-4625, wendyt55@aol.com to reserve a spot.
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History's Highlight
St. Augustine's opportunities
217 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
1. Develop a major cultural history museum/attraction as the primary storyteller of the destination and with state of-the-art production quality.
2. Leverage the anniversary events as a world's fair-scale celebration and a critical opportunity the build awareness and reshape the brand.
3. Develop the area around Matanzas Bay to make it pedestrian friendly and transform the waterfront into an attraction.
4. Enhance Fort Mose as an attraction with expanded exhibits, event pavilions, small amphitheatre, and interpretive staffing.
5. Promote African American history as an important part of the overall history of the destination.
6. Develop a self-guided history interpretive product - printed, podcast, and/or iPhone - with a selection of programs including African American history, civil rights, Underground Railroad, and Spanish Colonial, British Colonial, and Native American history as examples.
7. Promote the anniversaries and destination as a Spanish heritage pilgrimage.
8. Promote the importance of St. Johns County as the birthplace of the Roman Catholic church in the new world and develop interpretive programs and guides.
9. Guard the authentic history brand by educating all stakeholders about its importance.
10. Invest in more live interpretation in the historic district, but require high standards of authenticity and quality.
Image: St. Augustine Coat of Arms
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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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