Published by former Mayor George Gardner October 14 2015
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 Resignation, quorum issues
Resignation, quorum issues
shuffle board meeting date
A resignation and quorum shortage have caused rescheduling of Thursday's Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) meeting to October 29, City Manager John Regan told commissioners Monday.
Among the items on that agenda were requests to demolish the Santa Maria Restaurant and an opinion of appropriateness for a replacement design by new owner David White. That's been moved to HARB's November meeting.
Joe Cronk is architect for the Santa Maria plan, and would have had to recuse himself from board action, but has resigned three months after his appointment.
"When citizens came forward and objected to my selection and the selection process," he wrote in his letter to the board, "I acted quickly to take my name off the board so that the real priority - the preservation and enhancement of the historic architecture of St. Augustine - would not be lost in the distractions of a political fight."
The rescheduling action prompted Mayor Nancy Shaver to call for discussion of city board quorums on the commission's October 26 agenda. "We're really struggling with quorums," said the mayor.
"You mean my request in March to discuss HARB qualifications and composition?" Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline commented.
The discussion at the time was brief, commissioners deciding not to make changes such as Sikes-Kline suggested - a larger board and allowing residents outside the board's required professional qualifications to be appointed.
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20th Ancient
City Kids Day
A day for the kids is planned Saturday, October 24, at Francis Field - the 20th Annual Ancient City Kids Day.
The free event, 11 am-3 pm, will feature more than 40 youth service agencies with games and activities, arts and crafts, contests, and live entertainment.
The event is coordinated by EPIC Behavioral Healthcare. Contact Teresa Andrews at 829-2273 for information and sponsorship opportunities
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Meeting decorum
review continues
Two years ago the City Commission approved tighter security for the Alcazar Room at City Hall where it and city boards meet. It resulted in police body wanding and a bulletproof commission table skirt.
Monday commissioners took up "Rules of Decorum for Meetings and Hearings of the City Commission and Its Appointed Boards and Committees."
The focus in a half hour discussion was on disruptive behavior, which Commissioner Todd Neville - who recently skirmished with the media on a report he considered slanderous - said "is not covered, other than a very broad 'don't use disruptive behavior'."
City attorney Isabelle Lopez will work over a section of her report on "disruptive behavior, such as, shouting, noisemaking, issuing threats, harassing or intimidating members of the public, interfering with the duties of elected or appointed officials and City staff during a public meeting" and bring it back to commissioners as a resolution for further discussion.
Also getting further review: "Whenever reasonably possible, (commission or board) members should avoid spontaneously adding unplanned action items to a meeting, in order to allow staff and fellow members a fair opportunity to prepare for, and address, the issues."
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Conservation areas favored
It's not always about highest and best use, when you live in a neighborhood or a community, it's about the quality of life you share with your neighbors and your family.
City Commissioner Leanna Freeman
Commissioners Monday were enthusiastic in supporting creation of three city owned properties in Lighthouse Park as "Undeveloped Conservation Park Lands."
A presentation to the commission came after neighbors designed the proposal and spent three weeks seeking neighborhood approval. A petition drive drew 192 signatures.
The areas are north of the R B Hunt athletic fields, south of Red Cox Park, and between Altadena and Santa Monica avenues.
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Town & Gown files final report
 Hoping to avoid a Battle of the Togate (Oxford England 1825, Robert Cruikshank), a Town & Gown task force representing neighborhoods and Flagler College outlined to the City Commission Monday steps toward better relations between the two.
In focus are parking/traffic/mobility, transparency in Flagler growth plans, more stringent building codes/enforcement, and disruptive student behavior.
City Manager John Regan noted, "24 items in the report relate to mobility issues, which we'll fold into our mobility program."
On student behavior in the community, everything from Student Handbook information on expected student behavior while in the community to an annual block party with students, faculty, staff, neighboring residents and business owners is listed.
Included in mobility, the report suggests quarterly bike rides with students and the community, considering restricting heavily rented Oviedo Street for Residential Permit parking only, and a list of traffic signals and crosswalks in the King, Cordova and Valencia streets area.
On rentals and student behavior the task force suggests establishing criteria for multifamily rental units and providing for annual inspections and a Tenant's Rights and Responsibilities manual.
On college growth, enrollment objectives for a rolling 5 year period and building intentions for improvement or growth, and for the city and college "to actively pursue relocation of the post office to enable Flagler College acquisition of the post office property and potential for a mixed use development of commercial and college use.
Find the Town and Gown final report here.
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Spooks and spooky tours
October brings out the spooky times, and Ripley's Museum and the Castillo are in the flow.
Find the skeletons
 Throughout October, Ripley's challenges you to find 11 skeletons throughout the city of St. Augustine. Find and share all 11 and you'll be entered to win a $200 gift card and a family 4 pack of tickets to Ripley's St. Augustine attractions, with two runner up prizes of $100 each. Upload all 11 photos to Ripley's St. Augustine Facebook page. Bonus points for "fun factor" when taking the photos. Winners will be announced at 5 pm at Ripley's Believe It or Not October 31st. Winners will not have to be present to win.
Castillo by Candlelight
Commemorate 450 years of St. Augustine history in an evening special look at soldier life in the Castillo during the First Spanish period (1565-1763).
Join a park ranger for a 45 minute guided, candlelight tour of the Castillo, departing from the ticket booth at 6:15, 7:15, and 8:15 p.m.
Tour tickets on a first-come, first-served basis and may be purchased in advance at the ticket booth or by calling 904-829-6506, ext. 232. Tickets $10 for 16 and up, $5 ages 5-15; and free under age 5.
Donation of history
 Librarian Amy Ackerman accepted 20 copies of Dr. J. Michael Francis' book St. Augustine, A Story of Unbroken History and Enduring Spirit recently at the main library from Bob Alvarez, representing the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, which donated copies to the seven branches of the St. Johns County Public Library System. This donation "helps to spread the knowledge of our Nation's Oldest City and the unique role the Fountain of Youth plays in that story," park Managing Director John Fraser says.
Gala obelisks auction
Nine obelisks in the Compassionate St. Augustine program will be auctioned at this year's Junior Service League black tie gala, Masquerade, at Lightner Museum Saturday beginning at 6:30.
Profits generated from the auction will be donated to TAG! Children's Museum of St. Augustine for citizenship and compassion programs that target disadvantaged and vulnerable children and families, and the Kids Bridge Family Supervised Visitation Center.
For tickets to the gala, visit the Gala website. Attendance at the gala is not necessary to bid. Absentee bids will be taken prior to the auction. Bidders are asked to arrange their bids prior to the event by emailing Lynn Straughan with contact information.
For more #OA450 auction information and pictures of the obelisks visit the website.
Dedication of Shrine 
Fifty years ago it was a great cross on the Mission of Nombre de Dios grounds. Sunday it was dedication of the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche.
In February, work began to renovate the Prince of Peace Votive Church, which originally was built and blessed by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley on April 17, 1966 to commemorate the 400th anniversary. It served as a place dedicated to prayers that God would spare the world from atomic warfare.
Sunday Bishop Felipe Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine dedicated an additional 2,500 square feet added to the church, which now serves as the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche.
A chapel has been added to the shrine dedicated to Prince of Peace and the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima.
"This shrine has monumental importance because of its historical and theological significance," says Bishop Estévez. "It dates back to 1565 - where evangelization was firmly planted in the United States and it is the oldest devotion to Mary as the Nursing Mother in the United States."
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History's Highlight
Ships in Menendez' fleet
Pedro Menendez had amassed a large fleet of ships for his 1565 voyage to secure the American continent, but only eight were in the initial fleet as others continued preparations.
St. Augustine historian Albert Manucy documented several types of 16th century ships that were under Menendez' command.
Narrow hulls
 Bergantín
A small galley. La Esperanza,with Menéndez in 1565, had 11 benches and 6 crewmen. Bergantines, used for exploration of the Florida Keys and St. Johns River, carried from 30 to 50 soldiers. It appears that the sweeps of the American galleys were manned as needed, not by slaves, but by military personnel.
 Fragata
Smallest of the galleys. A new fragata, seemingly built at Havana to Menéndez' specifications, crossed the ocean to Spain in 1567 with 5 crewmen and 33 others
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Galeón
 Galleon, or large armed vessel used in the transocean trade. The galleon evolved in response to Spain's need for an ocean-crossing cargo ship capable of beating off corsairs.
Pedro Menéndez, along with Alvaro deBazán (the hero of Lepanto), is credited with developing the prototypes which had the long hull - and sometimes the oars - of the galley married to the poop and prow of the Nao or merchantman.
Galeones were classed as 1-, 2-, and 3-deckers, and stepped two or more masts rigged with square sails and topsails (except for a lateen sail on the mizzenmast).
Capacity ranged up to 900 tuns or more (a large cask - a measure of liquid capacity equivalent to 252 gallons). Menéndez' San Pelayo of 1565 was a 900-tun galleon, which has also been called a nao and galeaza.
She carried 77 crewmen and 18 gunners, and transported 317 soldiers and 26 families, as well as provisions and cargo. Her armament was iron.
Broad-beamed ships
 Caravela
Caravel, a broad-bowed, high-pooped, 3- or 4-masted merchantman capable of loading 100 tuns or more. Of Mediterranean origin, the caravel was usually lateen rigged, but in the Indies trade she was often converted to a square-rigger.
The San Antonio on the 1565 voyage to Florida had a 150-tun capacity, and transported 114 soldiers in addition to her crew and a cargo of provisions.
Chalupa
Shallop, or swift-sailing, single-decked cargo vessel of 60 to 100 tuns capacity. The
San Miguel with Menéndez in 1565 carried 9 crewmen, 51 soldiers, and provisions, arms and munitions. She was rated at 60 tuns.
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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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