Published by former Mayor George Gardner April 11 2015
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Davis tract in review
Subdivision proposed near Dow property
 A preliminary plat for a 5-lot subdivision on the Howard Davis property bordered by Cordova, Bridge and St. George streets, rejected by the Planning and Zoning Board in March, is likely to have its appeal rejected as well.
The commission meeting begins at 5 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
City Attorney Isabelle Lopez explains in a memo to commissioners, "it appears that only a preliminary plat review and recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Board is required to move on to final plat, even if that PZB order is to deny the preliminary plat.
"The preliminary plat review process is simply a procedural step towards the final plat determination," she writes. "The next procedural step for any preliminary plat, whether approved or denied by PZB, is for a noticed public hearing to be held before the City Commission for approval or denial of the final plat."
The Davis subdivision plan came as neighbors in the historic district were already battling plans to turn the adjacent former Dow Museum of Houses property into a multi-suite hotel. The plan board found there were too many concerns with the Davis plan, which the current owner says is simply to organize his estate.
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St. Augustine Race Week 2015 wraps up this weekend with an opportunity to watch sailing competition in St. Augustine's bay.
The big boys spent Thursday and Friday in the big waters offshore; more than 35 youngsters will compete in Optimus Dinghies and 420 Boats along the bayfront starting at 1 pm today and 10 am Sunday.
Funds generated by St. Augustine Race Week sponsorships and entry fees support the Youth Sailing Scholarship Program, which sends 12-15 youngsters to summer sailing camps in the northeast Florida area.
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450th contracts
likely going to rest
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Nothing exciting is expected at Monday's City Commission meeting as City Manager John Regan puts to rest concerns with 450th commemoration contracts by suggesting improvements in future contract procedures.
The wrap-up follows Mayor Nancy Shaver's commission authorization to review several contracts with possible irregularities, a review with Regan and publication of 450th Commemoration financial information on the city's website.
That information is here.
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Political chairs
Stevenson, Renner, Hutson
fill Thrasher's office shuffle
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Former State Senator John Thrasher, never one to leave things to chance, ran for reelection last November while lobbying for the Florida State University presidency.
He won, then was appointed FSU president, and resigned his senate seat.
That set off a shuffle as two sitting state representatives left their seats to run for Thrasher's senate seat, creating three legislative races in special primary and general elections.
All three Republicans won the legislative seats with margins ranging from 67 to 77 percent.
- Former State Rep. Travis Hutson defeated former State Rep. 'Doc' Renuart in the primary and Democrat David Cox in the general election for Senate District 6, including Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties and part of Volusia County
- Former St. Johns Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson defeated two unaffiliated candidates for House District 17, St. Johns County from SR 214 (King Street) north including St. Augustine Beach
- Paul Renner defeated Adam Morley for House District 24, Flagler and Volusia counties and St. Johns County south of King Street
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Paving for King Street
and Avenida Menendez
Portions of King St. and Avenida Menendez are scheduled for resurfacing Sunday night through Wednesday morning. The overnight work will continue 7 pm to 6 am.
Being resurfaced are King Street from Cordova to Avenida Menendez and the northbound lane of Avenida Menendez from the Bridge of Lions to Cuna Street at the entrance to the Castillo de San Marcos parking area.
The work, conducted by Duval Asphalt, is a project of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as both streets are state highways.
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Posters tell 450 years of tales
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 Jamestown's community foundation developed tee-shirts for its 400th anniversary in 2007 with a thank you to an historic figure on the front and explanation of the figure's significance on the back.
There's no creative community foundation for St. Augustine's 450th Anniversary, but there is a creative community - like recently arrived Warren Clark. He's drawn 45 distinct stories into posters which he's distributing and offering free to the community for public display.
"One is about a Timucuan boy and his dog," says Warren. "Their love crossed 1,000 years when archaeologists discovered the carefully buried pet at the Fountain of Youth. In another, Pedro Menendez used his experience with hurricanes to launch a bold attack that secured Florida for Spain for hundreds of years.
"Several are about St. Augustine's children who were key to civil rights efforts. In 'Shrimp Boats Are Coming,' the bottom line is, if you placed all the shrimp boats built in St. Augustine end-to-end they would stretch from the Bridge of Lions to the Main Street Bridge in Jacksonville!"
Compassionate St. Augustine volunteers are distributing the posters. If you want to place posters in public view, contact Warren at rwc904@gmail.com.
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Laundry
list
for
emergency management
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 The City Commission background material for Monday's regular meeting is consumed with 183 pages of the updated 2015 Local Mitigation Strategy for commission adoption. "The Local Mitigation Strategy is the plan to reduce or eliminate risks to people and property from natural and man-made hazards," Planning and Building Director David Birchim writes in a memo to commissioners. "The document also describes the process for application, selection and distribution of funds under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program." Covered in the updated version: hurricanes and tropical storms with high winds and storm surge, severe thunderstorm/lightning, tornadoes, freshwater flooding, wildfires, human caused hazards, hazardous materials, terrorism, drought/heat wave and winter storm/freeze. |
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Overlay zoning to check Flagler growth?
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 Flagler College and neighborhood representatives will put together their versions of overlay zoning to see if the Town and Gown committee can find common ground in relations between the two.
Overlay zoning leaves existing zoning in place but overlays restrictions, such as the city's historic preservation districts, which must follow historic architectural guidelines, and entry corridor guidelines, overseeing development and remodeling to assure historic compatibility.
One use for a Town and Gown overlay: defining where and where not the college can expand.
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A summer of dance intensives
 For dancers to sharpen their skills, and dancers to be, and dancers maybe, summer weeks at Abella's School of Dance offer the opportunity.
"The intensives are structured to improve and advance technical, artistic, and performance skills and we have an exciting roster of excellent teachers," says owner /instructor Luis Abella.
Offered is instruction in ballet, pointe, contemporary, Latin jazz, tap, choreography, and conditioning.
Registration is first come, first served. Call 904-810-5670 or visit www.abellaschoolofdance.com.
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St. Augustine in the beginning
151 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
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Second of two highlights from Walking St. Augustine, Elsbeth 'Buff' Gordon, a walking guide to St. Augustine
 In the dark early hours of September 10, 1565, Menéndez sends his partially unloaded flagship San Pelayo away to prevent its capture by the French. He writes the king on September 11 that he will inspect the site that seems the most suitable to fortify, because "where we are is not suitable." He plans to do this before the enemy finds them. He writes that he can make the move and build defenses in eight days.
The place where Menéndez disembarks, unloads, and encamps has long been inhabited by Timucua. In 1565, they are subject to a local chief (cacique) called Seloy. The paramount chief of the larger Timucua region, that stretches northward and includes the St. Johns River inlet, is Saturiwa.
It will not be long before Saturiwa wants to be rid of the Spanish.
Jean Ribault and his French fleet arrive at the ocean inlet to St. Augustine, but they do not attack. They sail around looking for the San Pelayo. A strong northeaster starts to blow, and the winds carry the French ships southward to their destruction. For eight days the nor'easter blows, and Menéndez decides to march north in the storm to surprise Fort Caroline, commanded by Laudonnière.
He takes the fort, killing the French defenders hut sparing women and children. Laudonnière and the artist Jacques le Moyne escape. Menéndez renames the French fortification Fort San Mateo, assigns Spanish soldiers to defend it, and returns to St. Augustine.
News arrives that French survivors of the storm-destroyed fleet are gathered at an inlet south of St. Augustine. Menéndez marches south and orders the killing of all but a few who are Catholic. When a second group of stragglers arrives at the inlet they, too, are put to death in the sand dunes, including Jean Ribault. The inlet and the river thereafter are called Matanzas (massacre).
Three years later the French have their revenge. A Frenchman, Dominique de Gourges, sails from France and, allied with Saturiwa, destroys Fort San Mateo and hangs the dead Spanish defenders in the trees. Spain, however, has won Florida. Archaeologists are still looking for the remains of Fort San Mateo and Fort Caroline.
Image: Florida archives, de Bry, 1591, The French sail to the River of May
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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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