Published by former Mayor George Gardner March 11 2015
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Journey video production
Sixteen million viewers
outweigh city royalties
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City commissioners Monday approved a license agreement for Mummy Cat Productions to market a Journey: 450 Years of the African-American Experience video the city paid $10,000 to produce.
 Mayor Nancy Shaver voted against the approval, arguing, "We're talking about a business arrangement, and agreements made for distribution of intellectual property. I'm struggling with taking a work of hire and leveraging our intellectual property without permission to do so - taking the opportunity for royalties away from the city." But City Manager John Regan noted, "Approximately 16 million people have seen the documentary, Mummy Cat will produce a final documentary for the 450th, and will provide it to some 200 schools in the northeast Florida region." And City Attorney Isabelle Lopez added, "It is public property. Anyone can make a public records request for that video and use it commercially. The original contract is only between Mummy Cat Productions and us." At issue was an original contract between the city and Mummy Cat, reserving intellectual property rights to the city. Mummy Cat later found TV outlets for the documentary. Commissioner Todd Neville said, "Once Mummy Cat found out they were going down this road they reached out to the city," and Lopez said, "Someone dropped the ball" on email exchange of a draft agreement in August as former City Attorney Ron Brown was preparing to retire. Commissioner Leanna Freeman said of Mummy Cat's later distribution, "We put very little skin in the game and we got a lot for it. Planning for the 450th, we pledged one thing, to get our story out there. (16 million viewers) takes me back to where we wanted to be."
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Bum wrap?
Wrap is good for sandwiches, not so much for food trucks serving them.
A food truck, Big Island Bowl, operating on Anastasia Boulevard was cited for exterior colors and required to wrap the business in vinyl.
The owner pled his case to city commissioners Monday and got assurances a number of adjustments are being discussed for the city's entry corridor guidelines - beginning with a Planning and Zoning Board town hall meeting March 26 in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
Remarked Commissioner Leanna Freedman, "Two years ago we didn't have food truck issues. This is new to us. We probably need an entire review of implementing a food truck ordinance."
Image: Big Island Bowl before and after vinyl wrap.
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DeSantis weighs in
on VA clinic relocation
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US Rep. Ron DeSantis has weighed in on concerns about future relocation of a Veterans Administration outpatient clinic here, asking the Comptroller General of the US Government Accountability Office to ensure that veteran population data the VA is using is accurate.
DeSantis noted a county Geographic Information System study sent to the VA, "However, senior VA staff have voiced to members of my staff that 'they have better information than the (county) study.' The county administrators and commissioners have voiced that 'it is inconceivable that a veteran population study showing only a single veteran in the third fastest growing community in the United States (Nocatee) would be their document of choice.'"
The center according to VA studies is north of the city limits and south of Nocatee. Nocatee shows only one veteran.
"My decision to request oversight by your organization is intended to prevent an erroneous decision from being made," wrote DeSantis. "Ensuring that the more than 5,000 veterans that rely upon the St. Augustine facility receive timely and convenient care is one of my top priorities.
"It is critical that this project be completed within a reasonable time frame and use the most accurate information on the veteran population that this facility serves."
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Commission approves
Lighthouse rezoning
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Two hearings and on Monday night nearly two dozen speakers in two hours of discussion later, Mayor Nancy Shaver said, "I think in many ways the most valuable part of this has been the very deep and rigorous discussion."
Commissioners unanimously approved rezoning the St. Augustine Lighthouse Museum to Marine Use as a maritime museum following strong endorsements of the museum's development over the years and equally strong neighborhood concerns over future growth.
One area of development will be reconstruction of former Coast Guard buildings now used by the Lighthouse Maritime Archaeology Program (LAMP), described in application documents to be "limited, modest 1940s-scale structures replacing ugly sheds."
Any new construction will undergo State Historic Preservation review under the National Historic Preservation Act.
Lions get commission nod
Plans for two Medici-style lions patterned after the Bridge of Lions icons will "move forward with the offer in compliance with our ordinances," as Commissioner Todd Neville worded it Monday, following discussion of details needed to be finalized, including a release of rights by the artists who sculpted the lions in granite.
Miki and Wolfgang Schau of Davis Shores are giving the lions "to our beloved city for its 450th anniversary."
The lions will be placed in D. P. Davis Park, facing the Bridge of Lions, until a State Historic Preservation review to determine if they can be relocated to the east end of the bridge.
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Pilot parking (not traffic) plan
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"'A society sufficiently sophisticated to produce the internal combustion engine has not had the sophistication to develop cheap and efficient public transport?'
'Yes, boss... it's true. There's hardly any buses, the trains are hopelessly underfunded, and hence the entire population is stuck in traffic'"
Ben Elton, Gridlock
A pilot program is under way to get parking information to visitors and residents during the city's busiest weekends - information you can get on your smart phone as you wait in lines of traffic, some say.
Plugged in are the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) 511 traffic information system with time sensitive and specific information on traffic conditions in the city's downtown area and entrance corridors, and www.ParkStAug.com -with an easy to open and print map of all parking areas in the downtown area with map-links to nearly a dozen parking lots on private property.
The FDOT 511 number can also be dialed for information.
Public Works Director Martha Graham says, "There is no agreement between private lot owners and city; we've just encouraged owners to allow parking - and not chain it off or tow vehicles."
And it's a chance for community groups, like the boy scouts manning the Mission parking area on San Marco, to earn some income with parking fees.
Graham says this spring break period, as one of the city's busiest, was chosen for the pilot program.
Saturday afternoon traffic was backed up along US 1 from the West Castillo Drive/parking garage north to SR 16, a major entry to the city from Jacksonville and north. So parking might have been available, if motorists could reach it.
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PZB plans town halls to gather input
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Want to comment on Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning, wedding event venues, code definitions for "dormitory" and "boarding house," or the city's Design Standards for the Entry Corridors?
The Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) has scheduled two town hall meetings for your input on issues in the city's zoning code.
Both sessions begin at 5 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall. Tomorrow the focus is on Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning and wedding event venues. March 26 will be possibile new definitions including the terms "dormitory" and "boarding house," and discussion on the city's Design Standards for the Entry Corridors.
A PUD for the Dow property?
Contractor and former Plan Board member John Valdes takes a look at the Planned Unit Development requested for the former Dow property. Read his commentary here.
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Hand-built chalupa debuts March 22
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 A true 16th century project for the 450th will be celebrated March 22 at The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park with the christening of a 37-foot chalupa, hand-built by volunteers using timber from local woodlots and often handmade tools as early Spanish settlers would have used.
The three-year project was both a challenge and educational element of the St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation, established eight years ago to "support and promote the maritime heritage and enhancement of the Nation's Oldest Port of St. Augustine."
The chalupa, fitted for a sail and ten rowing stations, was the early settlers' workboat, transporting passengers and goods from ship to shore and exploring inland waterways.
The festivities are free and begin at 3 pm at the Fountain of Youth. Father Tom Willis of the Cathedral Basilica promises a blessing in 16th century style. The christening name has been selected but is a closely guarded secret.
The Maritime Foundation is a nonprofit 501.c.3 and welcomes financial and volunteer support.
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Hankerson in Gainesville talk
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African Americans in the Civil War will be presented in Gainesville Sunday by Derek Boyd Hankerson, founder of Freedom Road Productions in St. Augustine.
The 3 pm session will be held at D. R. Williams Fellowship Hall 418 NW 6th Street, Gainesville. The program is hosted by the Pleasant Street Historic Society in its Claronelle Smith Griffin Distinguished Speaker Series.
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History's highlight
Sparks toward Seminole War
182 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
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Excerpt from Origin, Progress, and Conclusion of the Florida War, John T. Sprague, 1847.
 In the summer of 1835 Osceola promised to abide by the removal treaty and be in readiness for emigration at the appointed time.
It had the effect to restore confidence, and the citizens were elated when it was known that Osceola had voluntarily ceased his opposition and consented to emigrate. It was generally believed that his adherence to the treaty would be the means of relieving the country of Indians, without the long apprehended rupture.
The first of January, 1836, was looked forward to with intense interest. Crowds of emigrants and explorers stood ready to rush in as soon as the Indians should abandon their grounds.
As had heretofore been the case, something occurred to interrupt the harmony and defeat the main object at a critical moment.
Six Indians were proceeding to Deadman's Pond, or Hickory Hole, Alachua, near the Suwanna River, and on their way had slaughtered a cow. The ensuing day, when in camp cooking their beef, a party of white men came up and assaulted them in a most brutal manner, took possession of their rifles, examined their packs, and commenced whipping them severely.
While thus engaged, four Indians in search of their friends came upon them, when they at once commenced firing upon the whites.
They returned it with effect, killing one Indian and wounding another. A mutual withdrawal from the field followed, the white men carrying off the baggage and rifles.
To punish this act, which was called an encroachment of the Indians, a company of militia was soon in the field to chastise these marauders, and to protect the citizens.
Such acts, it was generally believed, would hasten the Indians in their movements. They did, but not as anticipated. It kept alive the thirst for revenge, which was to be satiated only by shedding the blood of innocent women and children.
Image: Depiction of story that Osceola drove a knife into Moultrie Creek Treaty.
St. Augustine Bedtime Stories - Your primer for the 450th. Dramatic accounts of famous people and events in St. Augustine's history - in booklets designed for quick reads before bed. Information here.
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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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