Published by former Mayor George Gardner April 15 2015
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Review of 450th contracts
'unjustified' attack on 450th
"This got derailed, in my opinion, on the 450th. It became a tool as an attack on the 450th which, after reviewing and doing other internal control systems, is unjustified, because the 450th as a staff has been implementing the will of the commission."
City Manager John Regan Monday defended to the commission his staff's procedures after a review of three 450th commemoration contracts, prompted by Mayor Nancy Shaver with support of some 20 residents speaking before the board recently.
"For the 20-some people who (called for 450th contracts review), there were three basic questions: How much have we spent? What did we get for it? Who did we spend it on?" Regan said. "I want to thank Mayor Shaver for pushing transparency on those areas where people want transparency. And Commissioner (Todd) Neville for saying 'put the checkbook on the internet.'
"There's nothing that we discovered that's going to stop the train or trying to get the job done with a small amount of money."
Shaver added, "It's not about the 450th, it's about contract compliance, and it will be ongoing."
The three questioned contracts include Mummy Cat Productions' video of Journey exhibit, Casa Monica Hotel's takeover of the Noche de Gala, and visitor center hyperscreens.
Regan said each was within acceptable purchasing procedures, but improvements and greater public communication are being planned.
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Good works
Get awards
The city has gained recognition on three fronts, announced at Monday's City Commission meeting.
Constitution monument - Addison Mizner Medal from the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art
Seawall - Project of the Year for Historic Preservation in the $5 to $25 million project category from the American Public Works Association
America Revised, a four-part series by the University of Florida, has received positive feedback from WNET Public Broadcasting in New York City, which can lead to it and other public television stations nationally to air the documentary on St. Augustine before Jamestown and Plymouth.
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City attorney sorts
out preliminary plats
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"There is no preliminary plat process in St Johns County," City Attorney Isabelle Lopez told commissioners Monday. "Statutorily there is no such thing as a preliminary plat. All the technical requirements are reviewed ahead of time by technical professionals."
Before the commission was a legal quandary - an appeal request on the Planning and Zoning Board's denial of a preliminary plat for the Davis tract subdivision into six lots.
Commissioners favored plan board review of plats before going to the commission, but left it to Lopez and Planning and Building Director David Birchim to present ideas on re-writing platting procedures."
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Mapping out Abbott
Tract parking plan
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Public Works Director Martha Graham apologized to city commissioners Monday for not communicating with residents in the Abbott Tract after yellow curbing several streets, explaining her department has been "measuring driveways, measuring intersections, where are the hydrants, to make sure we have clearances at all these locations.
"If we could make adjustments we could add parking," she said. "We have not talked to the neighborhood yet, because we have just finished."
Graham said revisiting several streets that had earlier restrictions and making minor adjustments, "We were able to add some 60 parking spaces. Most of the inventory is on streets that we had not looked at before."
She said wasn't asking commission approval of the revised plan "until we've been able to discuss it with the neighborhood."
Traffic traffic - Study study
"We need funding and we need staff resources" to attack traffic and parking challenges, Public Works Director Martha Graham responded to a question from city commissioners Monday.
Graham said a mobility coordinator position salary has been raised from $43,000 to $52,000 in a continuing effort to find the expertise to tackle the city's parking and traffic concerns, including congestion management, parking management and event management.
Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline suggested reconstituting the citizen Parking and Traffic Committee "to take the information from the community. That system works." But her fellow commissioners favored the data gathering and sifting approach, with Commissioner Todd Neville adding, "as great as the studies are, we also need not be afraid of trying little pilot programs" such as the current peak period information system.
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Ordinance for special events venues
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A draft ordinance recommended to the City Commission by the Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) defines "Special event venue is a business where the primary use is to host events such as weddings, wedding receptions ..." and numerous other gatherings, requiring approval as a use by exception in residential neighborhoods.
Covered in the legislation is scale with the surrounding area, no change in the outside appearance of the building or premises, no traffic generation greater than normal, noise and occupancy limits, parking requirements, and "If an open area or historic site is used for a special event venue the event cannot overwhelm the location, impact surrounding properties or areas based on local codes or impede the ability of others to experience the area or site.
The plan board recommended moving the special event venue to a use by exception in historic preservation districts instead of permitted outright, and only allowing the special event venue as an ancillary use to other uses in any residential areas," Planner Amy Skinner explains. "(It means) not allowing it as either a permitted use outright or by exception - only ancillary to a bed and breakfast, for example, in residential areas.
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Tighter PUD procedures
expected in new ordinance
The Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) has called for a draft ordinance revising the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process, including more project detail and time for community review.
Among concerns drawn from a March 12 PZB Town Hall meeting:
- Change the code to establish a requirement for a 2-step application process, so that PUD rezonings are reviewed by the PZB at least twice.
- Better more complete applications should be filed, or at least be required of applicants before the proposal is reviewed by the PZB.
- Introduce more time into the process so that every level (including the neighborhoods) has more time to review the applications.
- Clarify the intent and use of PUDs so that the tool is not abused as an excuse for spot zoning, misuse of the intent for PUDs, and whether PUDs are the right thing for infill development.
- The code should be fixed in other ways, such as allowing variances to lot coverage in the HP districts instead of artificially forcing the use of PUDs or updating the variance process for all districts.
- Need more facts related to the PUD applications for PZB, for the public and so that the standards are specific and not arbitrary.
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Florida Ordinances earliest martial law
147 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
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One year after the founding of St. Augustine in 1565, Pedro Menendez faced a dilemma: he had been charged by Phillip II to lead a naval expedition to seek corsairs and build the defenses of the island Indies.
But mutinies had developed in the Florida garrisons he established - St. Augustine, San Mateo, and Ays in the Canaveral area - for want of supplies and reinforcements. Menendez had to leave the garrisons in strong condition to withstand external attack and avoid further mutinies.
 The Adelantado gathered all his Captains and issued a declaration. He first noted that many past attempts to conquer Florida had come to grief because of insubordination and poor discipline. Once lack of respect for authority had begun, he said, then plots among the soldiers could multiply.
Therefore, he had agreed with his Captains upon certain ordinances to govern the soldiery and the community's life. These were published and made the law of the land.
The Florida ordinances reflected the closely interwoven nature of Royal government, religion and current military tradition. A scold or complainer would be punished by sitting eight days with his head in the stocks and then eight more with his feet in them; he would also forfeit his wine ration.
Any man blaspheming against the saints would lose a day's wine. A soldier was obliged to recite the catechism twice daily; if he did not know it after a year, he would forfeit three months' pay. The fine would go to the hospital and for Masses for the Catholics who died or would die in Florida.
To discourage the well-known hot temper of the soldiers, it was forbidden to put hand to sword or dagger against another, on pain of six months at hard labor on the Royal fortifications. Assault was also forbidden; the penalty, perpetual galley service.
Libel was punishable by three lashes. Desertion by going from a soldier's assigned post to another fort without permission could result in the death penalty.
Finally, it confirmed a system of local government and justice, quite similar to that of the Metropole (civic center), except that military Captains would serve ex-officio on the Council.
From Eugene Lyon's The Florida Mutineers, 1566-67
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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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