Published by former Mayor George Gardner May 13 2016
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Sewage spills draw state order
April showers bring May flowers, but 23 inches of rain through August and September is a bit much for this city's gravity system and pumps to handle.
The result, 18 sewage spills and a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDOT) intervention.
"FDEP recognized that the city is proactive," in acting on the problem, Public Works Deputy Director Todd Grant explained to city commissioners Monday.
City crews worked throughout the period against the forces of nature which infiltrated the gravity system and caused excessive pump runtime power failures.
"They could have assessed a fine for each spill but instead wrapped them together as one spill," he said. "The city will prepare a capacity management and operations maintenance assessment report to satisfy the state agency on the incident.
Consultant costs and other fees could cost the city more than $30,000, officials say. The city had already budgeted more than $990,000 for the current fiscal year for sewer infrastructure upgrades.
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Romanza Festivale
- the beat goes on
From The Bartram Trails Honor Chorus to Jazz Vespers at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, the 10-day Romanza Festivale continues through Sunday with multiple events, many free.
Like the Bartram Trails Honor Chorus in the Romanza Chamber Music Series Friday, noon - 1 pm at Ancient City Baptist Church on Sevilla Street, through Jazz Vespers at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church wrapping up Romanza Festivale 2016 Sunday 6:30 - 7:30 pm at the Lovett Street church, with five free events in between.
Find that list of free events, with a link to the complete event schedule, here.
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Forum to prepare
preservation plan
A Forum for the St. Augustine Historic Preservation Master Plan is scheduled for Thursday, May 19, from 5:30-7:30 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
City Historic Preservation and Special Projects Planner Jenny Wolfe says Preservation Design Partnership, LLC (PDP), has been contracted to prepare the historic preservation master plan.
PDP "is a nationally recognized firm specializing in heritage planning and design with direct experience in many cities including New Orleans, Ft. Lauderdale, Newton, MA and Portsmouth, NH," says Jenny.
PDP will host the forum to get residents' ideas, comments, and questions "to provide our consultant an opportunity to hear from you about what is important for St. Augustine's historic preservation plan."
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Santa Elena challenges
St. Augustine as 1st city
 "It really was where America began. But in school, kids learn about Columbus coming in 1492 and the Jamestown settlement in 1607. What's missing is the first hundred years of ourselves. And it was not a dull period. "In fact, historians say Santa Elena may be the first significant European settlement in what would become the United States."
Observations of Daryl Ferguson of Beaufort, one of five founders of the new Santa Elena Foundation, a dedicated group of volunteers who, with $1.1 million in donations and grants from the county, state and private donors, and space in a vacated federal district courthouse building, dedicated a Santa Elena History Center in 2015.
Just in time for the 450th anniversary of Santa Elena in 2016. St. Augustine founder Pedro Menendez, under royal orders to establish Spanish settlements along the east coast, founded Santa Elena in 1566, a year after founding St. Augustine, and in 1571 it became the capital of Spanish La Florida and the home of Menéndez and his family.
Read a Beaufort Gazette article about the development of the Santa Elena Foundation here.
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 Change of Flags Ceremonies
Many flags that have flown over St. Augustine for more than 450 years, and one of the most documented - and memorable - was the change of flags July 21 1763.
A somber time for Spanish residents, joyous time for British newcomers as Spanish and British troops massed in the Castillo de San Marcos to bring down the Burgundy Cross and raise the Union Jack.
Townspeople gathered to witness this historic change of occupation from two centuries of Spanish rule to its enemy, Britain, a result of the Treaty of Paris. In exchange for this North American territory the Spanish regained control of Havana, seized earlier by the British.
The Castillo de San Marcos will reenactment that occasion Saturday at 11 am and 2 pm, with park rangers and volunteers.
Entrance fees are $10 adults; kids under 15 are free. 904-829-6506 www.nps.gov/casa
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Satellite parking plan advances
Commissioners Monday approved lease agreements for satellite parking for July Fourth, what city officials call a pilot plan to deal with peak congestion periods throughout the year.
Three identified lots will provide some 600 parking spaces, two at the north end of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and San Marco Avenue and the St. Johns County administration lot on Sebastian View.
Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield is also negotiating with the Broudy family for space at US 1 and West King Street.
Vested event venues approved
A group of businesses won vested rights as special event venues Monday as commissioners continued to wade through details on its recently enacted Special Event Venue Ordinance.
Those businesses, mostly bed and breakfasts, showed they were operating special events before the city approved the ordinance.
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History's Highlight
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Cannon were the most powerful weapon for both ships and fortresses in colonial times. Aboard ships where there was little room to spare, iron or bronze cannon barrels were mounted on short, heavy wooden carriages with small solid wheels.
 When a cannon fired, it jumped backwards violently. To control this recoil in a ship, cannon had to be secured with stout ropes attached to the ship's sides. Block and tackles helped the sailors heave the heavy guns back up to their firing position along the ships' sides after they were cleaned, swabbed, and reloaded. The ropes also held the cannons in place during rough weather, so that tons of oak and iron would not break loose to roll about the decks, damaging the vessel or injuring seamen.
In a sea battle, warships would fire their cannon quickly, broadside after broadside at close range. With two ships rolling in the waves, firing at more than 400 yards away was a waste of ammunition.
Some battles were conducted "at a biscuit toss," that is so close that the ships almost touched. These cannon shot solid iron balls that were named for their weight: 6 pounders, 12 pounders, 18 pounders, 24 pounders, and so on.
A 6 pound cannon ball was as big as a large orange. An 18 pounder shot a ball larger than a cantaloupe. None of these cannonballs could explode.
In colonial fortresses like Castillo de San Marcos, all the artillery came from ships. The simple, sturdy naval style carriage that served well aboard ship was easy for local blacksmiths and carpenters to make here in the colonies. This kind of cannon carriage could endure the pounding shock of repeated cannon firings and the semitropical climate of Florida.
Unlike cannon in a ship, fortress guns were not tied down with ropes, since the gun deck of the fort is never going to tip or tilt like a ship. Without the rope restrains, fortress guns could load the heaviest powder charges the barrels could take, up to half the weight of the ball. A 6 pounder could throw a ball out to a mile. An 18 pounder could cast a shot out to 3 miles away.
Information courtesy of Castillo de San Marcos
Image: Cannon firing demonstration at Castillo de San Marcos
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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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