Published by former Mayor George Gardner August 24 2016
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Revised financing policy to
encourage cottage industries
  City commissioners Monday endorsed a revision of the city's financing of commercial account water and sewer connections to respond to citizens' "highest ranked goals - a vibrant downtown commercial area, livability, and beautification." Deputy Finance Director Carl LaFleur told commissioners reduced interest rates and discounts to encourage rehabilitation of qualified historic properties and restorations and creating mixed use commercial/residential development follow highest concerns in a citizen survey.
The policy will increase deferred commercial account water and sewer connections from $25,000 to $125,000 maximum balance, increase required down payment from 10% to 25% and decrease the finance period from 10 to 5 years.
City Manager John Regan has the power to establish the policy, but, "Due to the magnitude of change and commitment of the policy to advance the 'Vision' of our City," he decided on a presentation and opportunity for the commission to review the policy.
LaF1eur noted, "With special incentives added to the policy, these enhancements will promote historic preservation, encourage a return of downtown residences and offer more employment opportunities."
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City Manager John Regan has named Carlos Aviles fire chief effective September 1, replace retiring Fire Chief JC Costeira.
Aviles, who joined the department in May 2005, is active in the US Army Reserve following a career in the US Army Military Police that included tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
He was promoted to fire lieutenant in 2010 and, while obtaining an Associate of Arts degree in Fire Service from Keiser University in 2013, was promoted to Fire Captain.
"It is my fundamental belief that our firefighters should be at their best when our community is at its worst," said Aviles. "As Fire Chief, I will set this example and motivate others to follow suit."
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B&B appeal fails
for off-site parking
The Bayfront Marin House bed and breakfast wanted the City Commission Monday to remand to the Planning and Zoning Board its request for off-site parking nearly a mile from the business, but commissioners decided to uphold the board's denial.
Attorney Sid Ansbacher, during an hour-long appeal hearing, said owners of the Avenida Menendez bed and breakfast wanted the remand, "to present renderings of the (proposed parking) site (on Riberia Street) and make assurance of compliance with landscaping and buffering.
But Commissioner Leanna Freeman said, "I'm trying to understand why we should repeat a process that was available and used. You're saying let us have a second shot."
Commissioner Todd Neville voted against the denial, saying, "There are no other available spaces within the 400 feet (required by code)."
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One-way streets
OK - with review
Commissioners Monday approved making Lincolnville's Moore and Pomar streets one-way, with both support and opposition in a half-hour discussion.
"Parking problems have been created by commercial businesses," said Lincolnville resident Toni Wallace, "I think one-way streets that will allow only parking on one side of the street will be the answer."
But BJ Kalaidi cited opposition along those streets, among them that the city has allowed development of houses without sufficient parking,
She urged delay on the measure "so city staff can make face to face contact with the 50-plus property owners that will be directly affected."
Commissioners decided to pass the ordinance with a condition to review its effect in one year.
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 Townhouses approved
Commissioners Monday passed ordinances to allow development of 13 residential townhouses on Cherokee Street on the west side of the San Sebastian River between the Shipyards development to the south and residential condominiums to the north.
The Planning and Zoning Board had recommended tree removal, a dock and bulkhead for the project.
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A third reading of proposed changes to the city's taxi ordinance was actually first reading to advance to later public hearing and final action as commissioners approved changes ordered in previous readings.
Major changes are removal of vehicle for hire age and mileage regulations. Major changes remaining include stiffer safety and cleanliness standards.
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 I've heard some rumors that St. Augustine's might be the nation's oldest national cemetery. Let me put those rumors to rest. The St. Augustine National Cemetery is the nation's oldest national cemetery.
Alphaeus Richburg, Director, Jacksonville National Cemetery, in remarks at last Saturday's 9th Annual Seminole War Commemoration
 The response of the public has been tremendous. To have the Garrison of people who actually have an educated background in the history, uniforms that are authentic and to be able to talk about the periods of history of this town is really an enriching experience to all of us.
Reenactor Melinda Rakoncay
asking the City Commission for continued support
of the saunterers program of reenactors on historic district streets.
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"With the new website, www.CityStAug.com, we have moved to a new domain name for CoSATV," says Public Information Coordinator Melissa Wissel.
" www.CityStAugTV.com will direct visitors to the streaming video page for City Commission and all other broadcast/archived board meetings.
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 Preservation rebuffs demolition
Preservation of historic buildings, and speakers for that preservation, won out over demolition of two historic properties at last Week's meeting of the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB).
 John Arbizzani was in his sixth month of trying to get approval to demolish 32 Granada Street opposite the Lightner Museum when it was once again tabled "to determine if this building can be designated as a local landmark," board members agreed. Numerous speakers during public comment supported preservation of the building, which Arbizzani wants to demolish to build a single family home on the site and his adjacent lot, currently used for parking by agreement with the city.
And Architect Jerry Dixon, speaking for new owners of 35 San Marco Avenue, was unable to convince the board to allow demolition for a new commercial/residential structure.
Board member Paul Weaver said one of the two buildings "is a museum quality building." Historic records date that building from 1865-85 while the second is 1899-1904. Both are hidden behind a long commercial storefront.
Numerous Uptown Neighborhood residents spoke against demolition, resident Pat Merritt saying, "We are losing far too much of our own culture," while board member Catherine Duncan said, "That's a part of the fabric of the neighborhood."
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History's Highlight
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Excerpt from101 Things about Seminole History You May Not Know, Charles Lee Wilson, 2015
Osceola asked as a favor that his bones should be permitted to remain in peace and that I should take them to Florida & place them where I knew they would not be disturbed.' Dr. Frederick Weedon Osceola was buried at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, with military honors by the garrison on January 31, 1838. Patricia R. Wickman Seminole War leader Osceola became a household name in 1837 after two years of struggle against government efforts to move the tribe to an Oklahoma reservation. Captured under a flag of truce, he was imprisoned at the Castillo, then transferred to Fort Moultrie in Charleston SC, while he died.  Osceola's dying request was to be buried in Florida, in a place where his bones would not be disturbed. Attempts to fulfill his request began with inquiries to the state of South Carolina from the Florida Historical Society in 1930. United States Senator George Smathers' appeal to the Governor of South Carolina, James F. Byrnes, in 1950, for the return of Osceola's bones to Florida was rejected because of a dispute over jurisdiction of the grave site. Reports began appearing in Florida newspapers in 1967 that a commissioner from the city of Miami, Otis W. Shriver, had taken it upon himself to honor Osceola's request by digging up his remains and returning them to Florida to be interred in a memorial outside Dunnellon, Florida, at Rainbow Springs. According to J. Lester Dinkins, a Dunnellon historian, Osceola's bones were rumored to have been placed in a bank vault in Dunnellon in 1967, while the memorial was being built. Under pressure from people in Florida, as well as other parts of the country, to substantiate Shriver's claim, the National Park Service, which had assumed jurisdiction of Osceola's grave site when it purchased Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, for a National Park, exhumed Osceola's coffin in 1968. From the contents of the coffin, it appeared that the coffin had, in fact, not been disturbed. Having completed its investigation, the National Park Service reburied the contents of Osceola's coffin on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, and not in Florida, as he requested. Image: Osceola's grave outside Fort Moultrie walls
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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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