Published by former Mayor George Gardner October 7 2015
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May Street redesign:
Will it be the solution?
 Sorting through months of research and reams of maps, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) suggests it may have at least one congestion problem solved at May Street and San Marco Avenue, but will it cause others? Neighborhood and general meetings are planned over the next three weeks to get community - and commuter - input on a plan to make West San Carlos one way eastbound and Dismukes one way westbound.
Traffic expert Dr. Mark Edwards told city commissioners last week that 2/3rds of traffic crossing the Vilano Bridge is actually headed to US 1 south.
Congestion occurs with traffic turning left on San Marco, then Right on West San Carlos to reach US 1, he said.
FDOT proposes moving that left turning traffic into right turning onto San Marco and left onto Dismukes to US 1. Traffic signals would be added at both ends of Dismukes.
Edwards says this can reduce the maximum queue lane at a 5:30 pm rush hour from 6,494 feet - about the center of Vilano Bridge - to 1,717 feet, and cut the current average delay of six minutes to 45 seconds.
The Nelmar Terrace Neighborhood Association will host a presentation and discussion Thursday, October 15 from 5 - 7 pm at Christ Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church on Milton Street, and a community town hall is scheduled for October 20 from 5 - 7 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
The City Commission is scheduled to make a decision at its October 26 meeting. Find project details here.
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Following
city meetings
You can follow city meetings or review past meetings online at www.cosatv.com.
The City Commission and three major city boards are live streamed in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
- City Commission - second and fourth Mondays, 5 pm
- Code Enforcement, Adjustments and Appeals - second Tuesday, 3 pm
- Historic Architectural Review Board - third Thursday, 2 pm
- Planning and Zoning Board - first Tuesday, 2 pm
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City trash, recycling
changes in November
 Trash collections once a week and large recycle carts unfold in November, the city's answer to increased landfill fees. Tipping fees at the county landfill increased from $44.18 a ton in 2010 to $52 a ton in 2015, Public Works Director Martha Graham says. Reduction of trash collection to one day a week and recycling pickup handled by city workers rather than outside contractors offset that fee hike, says Graham.
Weekly trash pickup will be the first scheduled day for each area, while yard debris and recycling pickup days remain the same.
City residents currently have 95-gallon trash carts. The 5,500 65-gallon blue recycle carts will be distributed during October.
Graham says "the additional tipping fee is approximately $89,000 a year and we paid Advanced Disposal about $125,000 for recycling pickup. So the difference is approximately $36,000 per year.
Two goals in the changes: helping avoid solid waste rate hikes and encouraging increased recycling rates.
A University of Oregon paper describes
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City research projects contribute to milestone
Florida's Master Site File has reached the 200,000 mark, thanks in no small measure to significant St, Augustine sites.
Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, announcing the milestone of historic and cultural recorded resources, noted St. Augustine research projects funded by grants from the Florida Division of Historical Resources.
One project on Anastasia Island yielded 775 previously undocumented resources, 632 determined to be historically significant and potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
The second grant project collated all available archaeological investigations undertaken in St. Augustine's colonial downtown district over the past 75 years.
"Information from over 250 distinct locations was examined and has now been referenced for easy retrieval in the Site File's Geographic Information System," said City Archaeologist Carl D. Halbirt. "The grant awarded to the City of St. Augustine by the State of Florida is a fitting contribution to the 450th anniversary of the community's founding."
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October opens busy fall season
Frozen Lightner
 Sculpted masterpieces spread throughout Lightner Museum's three floors and courtyards are the focus of Curator Barry Myers' Curator's Tour this morning at 10 am. He'll present and discuss variances in theme, artistry and materials, with an in-depth background and history of the sculptures. Included in the price of admission and begin in the front lobby of the Museum.
Climate change lecture
Florida's biodiversity, climate variability, and sea level rise through the eyes of an expert anthropologist is offered tonight as part of Flagler College's Ideas & Images program.
Dr. Lee Ann Newsom, an expert anthropologist in the area of fossilized plant and wood remains, is part of the program's "Heritage at Risk: Climate Change, Coastal Communities and Cultural Resources."
Ideas & Images lectures are free and open to the public at Lewis Auditorium, beginning at 7 pm. Visit the website.
Annual Greek Festival
 Three days of Greek heritage, including adult and child dance troupes, traditional and con temporary live music and food, all set in a virtual Greek village on Francis Field, Friday 4-10 pm, Saturday 11 am-10 pm and Sunday, 11 am-5 pm. Admission $3 adults and free for children and active-duty military and their immediate family.
Fall Fiber Festival
The Textile Arts Guild of St. Augustine's Fall Fiber Festival will be presented Saturday at the Visitor Information Center, 10 am-3 pm.
Spinners, weavers, knitters and lace makers bring history alive and discuss the fine art and practically of fibers and textiles during this free event.
For more information, 904.315.2311.
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History's Highlight
The Republic of Florida -briefly
President James Madison would later deny any knowledge of a secret session of Congress, and legislation empowering him to receive and hold East Florida if the local authorities were willing to give it up, or if a foreign power attempted to occupy it.
But until Madison's denial and reprimanding leaders of the incursion, Georgia "patriots" proceeded with their plan to force the surrender of Spain's Florida to the United States and establish the Republic of Florida.
 March 13, 1812, some 200 patriots gathered near the St. Mary's River and began to organize a government under a white banner with a blue soldier charging with a bayonet. It carried the motto : Salus populi lex suprema, "The safety of the people, the supreme law." March 17, with ten soldiers facing more than 100, Spanish Commander Don Jose Lopez at Fernandina surrendered. Five days later, a patriot army of 100 marched on St Augustine. Their numbers grew to 300 as they encamped at the old Fort Mose north of the town. Later they were joined by 100 regulars of the U.S. Army.
St. Augustine's Spanish population retreated behind the walls of the Castillo. While the patriot army attacked by land and American privateers blocked the harbor, Seminole Indians smuggled provisions into the fortress.
It was a footnote on the world stage during the War of 1812, as new world powers - France, England, and the United States - sought Florida as the key to the Gulf of Mexico. Spain in fact was a player. Colonel Vicente Folch, governor of Spanish Florida, had sent a letter to Madison saying if help did not come before 1811, he would have to surrender Florida to the United States.
Madison, anticipating war with England, decided overt seizure of Florida in the face of overwhelming British forces in the south would be futile, but if the people of East Florida could be encouraged to revolt, the area could be declared independent and could apply for annexation to the United States.
But the patriot march on St. Augustine failed to gain support, as did a second attempt in June, 1812. Now, with Spain and England fuming over the patriot movement, and Madison worried it might force them into an alliance against the United States, the president declared it an independent movement, Congress voted against annexing Florida, and on May 6, 1813, the American colors at Fernandina were lowered.
The Patriot War was over.
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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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