Published by former Mayor George Gardner June 25 2016
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Noise and communication
at City Commission workshop
City commissioners called for more details in a two-hour noise workshop Thursday, but sharing the spotlight was communication - who do you call with complaints or comments?
 "Where can concerns be directed," Commissioner Leanna Freeman asked. "And there should be a separate contact for general comments." Police Chief Loran Lueders said the non-emergency police line, 825-1070, should be called "anytime, day or night. That's the way it's set up."
And City Manager John Regan said a new city website, expected to be launched within a few weeks, "has a module for this."
There were almost as many points of view as noise sources in the public session, from Richard Bozung, co-organizer of SALSA (St Augustine Livability and Sustainability Alliance) saying, "We need to work together to make thing a little quieter" to former Mayor Mark Alexander cautioning, "If you make the law too restrictive, the city will be breaking the law."
Fountain of Youth's Kit Keating, commenting on regulated sound levels, noted, "We've been running 69 and 74 decibels at this workshop."
On the city code's reliance on sound meters to measure noise, SALSA urged a "plainly audible" standard, and Assistant City Attorney Denise May said, "Several cities use a combination of decibel reading and plainly audible methods."
But the concluding comments from commissioners were for more data and continuing community dialog.
"I'd like to see the city as a conduit for mediation rather than forced regulation," said Commissioner Todd Neville.
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The city's pilot Park 'n Ride Shuttle program goes into effect Saturday, Sunday, Monday, July 2, 3, 4 from 10 am - 1 am in hopes it will ease congestion during peak periods downtown.
Lots will be marked at the St. Johns County Administration Building and Health Department on San Sebastian Way off US 1 north and at San Marco Avenue and Court Edna, with shuttles running approximately every 20 minutes to the St. Augustine Visitor Information Center.
An Anastasia Island shuttle will operate Monday, July 4, from 6 pm to 1 am to the east end of the Bridge of Lions.
And an additional 400 spaces will be available Saturday-Monday, July 2-4, at a parking area just west of U.S. 1 on King Street.
Links to all the parking locations and a printable information flyer, as well as complete information about Fireworks over the Matanzas July 4, is available here.
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Eight in city races
as qualifying ends
Eight residents have qualified in this year's City Commission elections for two four-year commission seats and the two-year mayor's seat.
With qualifying ended Friday, only one seat will go to an August primary. Incumbent first term Commissioner Roxanne Horvath is challenged by three opponents: Rhey Palmer, president of the St. Augustine Neighborhood Council and Uptown Neighborhood Association, New Mount Moriah Christian Ministry Pastor Ron Stafford, and Abbott Tract resident Sandra Flowers.
Two-term incumbent Leanna Freeman is challenged by North Davis Shores Neighborhood Association President Susan Rathbone, and incumbent Mayor Nancy Shaver by WFOY Radio Station Owner Kris Phillips.
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Umbrella ordinance
for vehicles for hire
Taxicabs, horse-drawn vehicles, trailer trains or other vehicles used for sightseeing and now pedicabs and low speed vehicles are covered in a revised Vehicle for Hire Ordinance going to the City Commission Monday for first reading - consideration to move to public hearing and final action (second reading) at a later meeting.
The commission meeting begins at 5 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall and will be live-streamed at www.CoSATV.com.
Assistant City Attorney Denise May, after several meetings of discussion with commissioner, has included the thorny limits of ten years old and 250,000 miles for taxicabs, giving older and higher mileage taxis more time to comply.
Taxis 15 years old will have until October 2017 with steps to 11 years old until 2021 and taxis with more than 250,000 miles will have until October 2017 to comply.
Only privately hired Uber-like vehicles escaped listing, May saying a vehicle carrying passengers in or out of the city is not subject but cannot offer rides within the city.
Regulations for all vehicles for hire and their drivers are included. For pedicabs, head and tail lights, a posted schedule of fare rates and signal bell or other warning device except siren are listed.
For low speed vehicles (with speeds between 20 and 25 miles an hour), head, tail, stop and turn signal lights, reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields and seat belts.
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City financial strength
reflected in bond bids
The strength of the city's finances is reflected in the number of bids to refinance $4,710,000 in Series 2005 Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, the city's financial advisor says.
The advisor, Public Financial Management, received 13 refinance bids which "reflects favorably on the City's overall credit strength as well as that of the utility system."
Based on other recent bid requests the firm has completed for clients, the average number of responses ranges from 4 to 6 proposals.
The current refinance would create a savings of $330,000 or 7 percent in debt service, City Finance Director Mark Litzinger will tell commissioners Monday.
A Bond Resolution will be brought to the commission at its July 11 meeting.
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Tuesday morning, 10 -10:30 am at Francis Field, the St. Augustine Fire Department and State Fire Marshal's Office will present a Fireworks Safety Demonstration.
The demonstration will focus on what can happen when fireworks are mishandled as well as the dangers of illegal fireworks that may be used in our community.
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City moves closer to May Street fix
A resolution before the City Commission Monday moves redesign of the congested May Street/ San Marco Avenue intersection a step closer.
Commissioners will be asked to authorize City Manager John Regan "to execute various agreements required during the phasing and construction of this project and to deliver them to the FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation)."
While May Street and San Marco Avenue are state roads, portions of the project, including Davenport Park, are city-owned.
The project, scheduled to begin next summer, will create a large pseudo roundabout to lengthen distance between traffic signals, widen West San Carlos to add an additional left turn lane onto US 1, replace the current main library entrance with two US 1 accesses and an exit onto San Marco, and lengthen a left turn lane from San Marco to May Street.
Rezoning for townhouses
Thirteen townhouses would be developed under two ordinances going before commissioners Monday.
Cherokee Street Partners, LLC is seeking rezoning of 1.9 acres at 85-95 Cherokee Street on the San Sebastian River, part of the former Luhrs yacht-building property, along with removal of 17 preserved trees ranging to 42 inches in trunk diameter.
The city's Planning and Zoning Board made recommendation for approval last month.
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Saturday in St. Augustine
Greek Landing Day - June 26, 1768, eight ships began arriving in St. Augustine with 1,403 immigrants bound for an indigo plantation in New Smyrna.
Today, June 25, 2016, the St. Photios Foundation continues a two-day celebration of Greek Landing Day with 9 am ceremonies at the St. Photios Shrine on St. George Street, with Ecclesiastical services and Mayor Nancy Shaver reading the City of St. Augustine Proclamation.
Continuing until 4 pm will be the folk dancers of St. Demetrios parish and sweet and savory Greek pastries will be sold at St. Photios Shrine. For information, call 829-8205.
Uptown Saturday Night - From 5-9 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month, experience live music, refreshments, new exhibits, book signings and much more at the galleries, antique stores and unique shops on St. Augustine's San Marco Avenue, between Ripley's Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios. The Mission Nombre de Dios provides free parking.
Changing of the Guard - At 6 p.m., see history come to life when 18th century Spanish soldiers march down St. Augustine's St. George Street to Government House where they perform authentic military drills before firing an exciting volley of musketry. The event features the St. Augustine Garrison.
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History's Highlight
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Operation Pastorius, June 1942
In early 1942, Hitler authorized Operation Pastorius to sabotage the American war effort as well as make terrorist attacks on civilian targets to demoralize the American civilian population.
 The mission was headed by Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, who recalled that in 1916 during World War I, he organized the sabotage of French installations in Morocco, and entered the United States with other German agents to plant bombs in New York arms factories, including the destruction of munitions supplies at Black Tom Island. In June 1942, U-boats landed agents at Ponte Vedra, Florida, and on New York's Long Island, to sabotage several aluminum plants and other targets.
Eight men who had lived in America and spoke fluent English were recruited for the mission. After training near Berlin, the saboteurs crossed the Atlantic in U-boats.
On June 13, 1942, four of them landed on Long Island, soon after encountering a Coast Guardsman, whom they tried to bribe.
The American reported the incident, and an armed patrol soon uncovered a large cache of explosives and other equipment the saboteurs had buried. The Germans themselves had already boarded trains for New York City.
Meanwhile, the Florida group landed on Ponte Vedra Beach before dawn on June 17. This party consisted of team leader Edward Kerling, as well as Herbert Haupt, Werner Thiel and Herman Neubauer.
They buried their explosives and equipment, then boarded a bus for Jacksonville, where they spent the night before leaving for New York and Chicago.
Realizing the mission was doomed after the encounter with the Coast Guard, Dasch called Ernst Burger, the most guarded and disciplined member of the team, into the upper-story Amagansett NY hotel room the two men shared.
He revealed he had no intention of going through with the mission. He hated the Nazis and wanted Burger on his side when he turned the entire plot over to the FBI.
Burger smiled. Having spent seventeen months in a Nazi concentration camp, his own feelings for the party were less than warm. He too had been planning to betray the mission.
Using his information the FBI soon rounded up the remaining men.
A military court sentenced all to death, but Dasch's sentence was commuted to 30 years and Burger's to life imprisonment. The others were executed on August 8, 1942.
The failure of Operation Pastorius led Hitler to rebuke Admiral Canaris and no sabotage attempt was ever made again in the United States.
Image: State historic marker located in front of the Ponte Vedra Inn and Country Club on Ponte Vedra Blvd
Sources: Florida Heritage Series World War II and Wikipedia
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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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