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Published by former Mayor George Gardner                     June 10 2015
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Reggae Sunday to resume

   Restrictions will limit, control crowds

   Reggae Sunday will resume this week, but with half to a third the number of attendees estimated at the Memorial Day melee May 24, and with professional security services, additional city police, and better parking management.

   "I think this is the beginning point, that this is going to be a longer conversation," City Manager John Regan told commissioners Monday after meeting with Conch House officials. "But these are very significant changes."

   The event was suspended for two weeks after the incident as both city and Conch House officials investigated problems and solutions.

   Regan cited key issues as overcrowding, crowd control, overflow parking, bad behavior, and level of noise. He said the city is focused on three areas - life safety, law enforcement as the event affects the neighborhood quality of life, and the Conch House history of compliance with city codes and regulations.

   Conch House Owner David Ponce Jr. hired CSC, which handles security and crowd management at Alltel Stadium and the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. He also promises equipment for capacity counting and a driver license entry scanning system.

   Conch House will fund three additional police officers to patrol the neighborhood - a car and two bicycle patrolmen, in addition to a regular patrol officer.

   Regan said if these elements are not in place by Sunday, the city will not permit the event.

   Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline, who lives in the neighborhood, said the two-week hiatus has been a blessing. "Twenty years ago it was mellow, laid back, and it's turned into a brawl," she said.
Menorcan Park concept

Menorcan

Pocket park

   St. Augustine's Sister Cities organization will create a Menorcan Pocket Park at Hypolita and Spanish streets with a plaque recognizing Menorcan contributions to the city's history and culture.

   Sister Cities President Len Weeks won commission approval Monday to landscape the park, which the city will maintain.

   He said $10,000 has been raised so far for the estimated $22,000 project.

   The organization is also seeking funding to publish a 200-page coffee table book recognizing the 90th anniversary of the relationship of St. Augustine and Aviles, Spain.

   Image: artist's concept of park

Valdes Dow property
Tour St Aug
Trolley adv
Bedtime adv

Appeal battle lost,

the war maybe not

   Activist Ed Slavin lost his battle to make an appeal of the Carpenter's House demolition, but made his point in an hour of commission consideration Monday.

   Commissioners faced the question of whether Slavin's consistent championing of historic preservation in a personal blog and emails to officials and boards is sufficient for his standing in an appeal when he did not directly contribute to the demolition discussion.

   The house, part of the former Dow Museum of Houses, was demolished within days of the decision by the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB), despite a 30-day grace period for appeals.

   Resident Melinda Rakoncay, among several speakers who supported Slavin's appeal effort, said, "Although an appeal cannot save this 105 year old structure, at least it will send a message that in St Augustine forgiveness is not easier than permission, especially when it comes to preserving our history.'

   Commissioner Leanna Freeman suggested with Slavin's personal blogging "I think that he has an interest that exceeds that of the general public," but on the final vote only Mayor Nancy Shaver voted against denying Slavin's standing to appeal, saying, "I tend to a broader interpretation" of community interest.

New trolley center

HARB to review

preservation plan

   The Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) meets in special session tomorrow at 2 pm to review details of the city's Historic Preservation Master Plan. The session is in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.

   Among discussion points:

  • Intentions and expectations for the Historic Preservation Master Plan
  • Proposed methodology/methodologies to create the plan
  • Proposed structure of the plan
  • List of concerns to be included and the on-line survey process
    •   Visit the website.        

    Visioning progress work in progress

    After a one hour session with city commissioners Monday, the Visioning 2014 & Beyond steering committee was disbanded with a "well done" and plans to follow up at the June 22 City Commission meeting.

    For the 15-member committee, disbanding will allow them to exchange ideas without a formal meeting required by the Sunshine Law.

    The no brainer of Monday afternoon's session was traffic and parking, closely followed by authenticity.

         Facilitator Herb Marlowe: Traffic is the critical challenge to be met."

         Member Wolfgang Schau: "Parking and traffic is always overwhelming our visioning."

         Resident Melinda Rakoncay: "Authenticity includes reenactments and historic preservation."

       In brief comments at the regular commission meeting later Monday, Commissioner Todd Neville praised the effort but said grammatical errors in the final report were below par, while Mayor Nancy Shaver said the focus now will be on clarity of objectives. 

     

    City Commission to get training

       Between budget sessions, infrastructure scheduling and vision planning, city commissioners will be getting some training in municipal government functions and team building.

       Following a suggestion by Commissioner Todd Neville, Dr. Bob Lee, associate professor graduate school of public affairs, Florida Gulf Coast University, will conduct a four-hour session with commissioners at the end of August.

     

    Bon Voyage El Galeón 

       The galleon Andalucía departs St. Augustine Friday for its East Coast tour, with a promise to return in late August for St. Augustine's 450th anniversary festivities.

       The city is the Spanish replica 17th century galleon's North American homeport, and it's continued to draw visitors during lengthy stays here.

       Find details on the website.

     

    Castillo increases entrance fees

       Castillo de San Marcos entrance fees have been increased to help fund maintenance and improvement projects within the park.

       The entrance fee goes from $7 to $10 per adult. Children 15 and under are admitted free of charge. The Castillo Annual Pass has increased from $30 to $40. Fort Matanzas will continue to be free of charge.

       "This modest increase in fees will allow us to continue to protect, preserve and share the Castillo de San Marcos with current visitors and future generations," said Superintendent Gordie Wilson.        "After carefully considering public input and the impact of a fee increase on visitors and community members, we came to the conclusion that this is the right course of action to improve facilities and services important to visitors." 

     

    Fountain of Youth hosts Buffalo Soldiers

       Buffalo Soldiers of Florida visit the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park Saturday 9 am - 4 pm to share the true story of the black men who were the first to serve in the Regular U.S. Army, starting in mid-1800s.

       The reenactment group, founded in 1992, describes their history in full period uniforms, demonstrating Cavalry tactics on horseback and saber and revolver use.

       Adding to the occasion, Dr. Roger Smith will be signing copies of his new book, "Hope of Freedom: Southern Blacks and the American Revolution" in the events pavilion. It tells the stories of enslaved blacks in the British American colonies and traces their exodus south to the Territory of East Florida. 

     

    History's highlight

    The Buffalo Soldiers 

     
     91 days to St. Augustine's 
    450th anniversary  

      In September 1867, Private John Randall of Troop G of the 10th Cavalry Regiment was assigned to escort two civilians on a hunting trip.

      Buffalo Soldiers  The hunters suddenly became the hunted when a band of 70 Cheyenne warriors swept down on them. The two civilians quickly fell in the initial attack and Randall's horse was shot out from beneath him.

       Randall managed to scramble to safety behind a washout under the railroad tracks, where he fended off the attack with only his pistol and 17 rounds of ammunition until help from the nearby camp arrived.

       The Cheyenne beat a hasty retreat, leaving behind 13 fallen warriors. Private Randall suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder and 11 lance wounds, but recovered.

       The Cheyenne quickly spread word of this new type of soldier, "who had fought like a cornered buffalo; who like a buffalo had suffered wound after wound, yet had not died; and who like a buffalo had a thick and shaggy mane of hair."

       Originally part of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment, the Buffalo Soldiers became a separate group on September 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

       The United States Congress declared the Buffalo Soldiers peacetime regiments consisting of African Americans only and being part of the regular U.S. Army. Six regiments were authorized to be manned by black soldiers but by 1869, there was a downsizing of all troops and the black regiments were cut down to two Infantry regiments and two cavalry regiments.

       Buffalo Soldiers were instrumental in the American Civil War, mostly stationed at posts within the Great Plains as well as the Southwestern regions of the nation. These soldiers fought bravely against the Indians and a total of nineteen Medals of Honor were earned by them. A unit also served with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders.

       Part of the duties of Buffalo soldiers was protecting the civilized Indian tribes on the reservations. They also were keepers of law and order in general and they were active in building roads and military structures.

       The oldest Buffalo Soldier, Mark Matthews, died on September 6, 2005. He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery. He was 111 years old.

       Image: www.rough-riders-buffalo-soldiers.com

          
       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