Published by former Mayor George Gardner September 10 2016
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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 Is shipwreck Ribault's fleet?
Underwater archaeologists have discovered debris trails of the wrecks of at least three and possibly as many as five ships off Cape Canaveral, opening the possibility they may be the
fleet of France's Jean Ribault, lost in September 1565 while attempting to attack Spain's Pedro Menendez.
"The debris trails ... have many large anchors, iron and bronze cannons, and other remarkable features rarely seen," archaeologist Thom Parham writes in the September issue of St. Augustine Entertainer. He notes "some of the artifacts- including a marble column with the Coat of Arms of France," fuel the speculation.
It was September of 1565 that Menendez sailed to the new world to found St. Augustine and drive out the French, who had established Fort Caroline near today's Jacksonville. In the midst of a hurricane, Ribault sailed south to catch Menendez unawares, but his fleet was driven south by the hurricane and shattered along the coast believed near Canaveral.
Menendez, meanwhile, marched his troops overland to capture Fort Caroline and later put the French fleet's survivors to the sword at Matanzas.
Read Parham's complete story here.
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The 15th annual Ceremony of Remembrance will be conducted Sunday, September 11, to remember those who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
The ceremony will be held at the St. Augustine Fire Department's main station on Malaga Street at 8:30 am.
The 15-minute program will include a presentation of the colors by the St. Augustine Police Department Honor Guard, musical presentations by St. Augustine Fire Department Engineer Ed Purtill, and remarks by Mayor Nancy Shaver and newly appointed St. Augustine Fire Chief Carlos Aviles.
A minute of silence at 8:45 is timed to coincide with the time the first plane hit the first tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Then the St. Augustine Fire Department's historic 1900 fire bell will ring 15 times, once for each year since 9/11.
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$9 million loan for
major water project
An application for $9,403,394 in State Revolving Fund monies for water main replacements goes before the City Commission Monday.
Monday's regular commission meeting begins at 5 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall and is live-streamed on CoSA.TV. The funding would cover 100% of the Drinking Water Facilities Plan adopted by the city commission in April,
"This is a loan," notes Public Works Director Martha Graham. "The interest rate is about 2%, however they will offer a subsidy rate reduction, so we are expecting the loan interest to be 0.86%.
The project includes:
- San Marco water main replacement $2,820,113
- Fullerwood water main replacement $1,849,472
- North City Water main replacement $1,731,998
- Meter Replacements - Phase I & II $2,250,000
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Anniversaries to be
noted by commission
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The 150th anniversary of Lincolnville and 25th anniversary of the Limelight Theater will be recognized by the City Commission Monday.
Lincolnville festivities begin Friday, September 16, 6 to 9 pm with presentation of a historic timeline of Lincolnville by Lift Up Lincolnville Revitalization Corp. in The Galimore Community Center hallway.
Look for music, hors d'oeuvres, birthday cake, cash bar and silent auction! Donation: $25 per person, prepaid ($30/at the door) in support of the historic 37th Lincolnville Festival.
The free 37th Annual Lincolnville Festival with music, dancing, food and drink for the whole family will be held at Eddie Vickers Park Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25.
Limelight Theater opens its 25th season with a dinner and show Wednesday, September 21, featuring and perennial favorite Oklahoma!
Included, a 3-course Oklahoma-themed meal at The Raintree Restaurant on San Marco Avenue and the opening performance of Oklahoma!
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Taxi ordinance
in public hearing
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A taxi ordinance outlining additional equipment and safety review and defining pedicabs and low speed vehicles goes to public hearing and final action before the City Commission Monday.
"There are substantial changes to the equipment standards and annual inspection by an ASE certified mechanic," Assistant City Attorney Denise May says, as well as "definitions for pedicabs and low speed vehicles, and standards and equipment for those vehicles" in the ordinance.
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Mooring fields extension,
Flagler garage agreement
on commission agenda
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Commissioners Monday are expected to approve extension through July 1 2017 of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Pilot Program for mooring fields in the Matanzas and San Sebastian rivers and Salt Run.
The item is on the consent agenda which is usually approved without comment.
The original pilot mooring program went into effect through July I, 2014 and was extended through July 1, 2016.
Also on the consent agenda, an agreement with Flagler College for shared expense for a paved driveway suitable for use by fire trucks and equipment from the parking lot on Fire Station Property to King Street as part of Flagler's Malaga Street Project.
That project includes a 150-student two-story residential hall and four story parking facility around Flagler's current dormitories in the former trio of Florida East Coast Railway buildings at Malaga and King Street.
"The drive will run along the western portion of their property by the river," Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield says. "Cost is split 50/50, with the city maximum of $25,000."
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In the mailbag
Candidate commentaries
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It still comes down to which candidate you trust, who will listen to all and who will make the right decision even when that decision might prove unpopular. It is a difficult choice, always.
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Resolution says change
in water quality standards creates 'higher risk threshold'
The City Commission Monday will consider a resolution opposing recent changes to Florida's surface water quality standards as "a less protective path that exposes millions of Floridians to a higher risk threshold."
The Florida Environmental Regulation Commission adopted the changes in a 3-2 vote, "to support changes that increase the amount of numerous toxic chemicals in Florida's waterways," according to the resolution.
The resolution adds, "U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and eight members of the U.S. House have sent a letter to the (Federal) EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, stating that they have 'serious concerns' about the changes, which will be sent to the EPA for final review and approval."
The resolution "urges the Governor, Rick Scott, to reconsider the Commission's recommendations to increase the limits for numerous chemicals discharged into Florida's waterways prior to those recommendations being sent to the Environmental Protection Agency for final review and approval.
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Relive the 'original' First Muster
 The National Guard will tell you the Guard was "Founded in 1636 as a citizen force organized to protect families and towns from hostile attacks."
The Florida National Guard will tell you the first muster took place September 16, 1565, in the newly established San Agustín de la Florida, and involved some 50 men directed by Founder Pedro Menendez to protect the homefront while he marched his troops some 35 miles north to attack the French Fort Caroline.
The Guard and Florida Department of Military Affairs join Florida Living History, Inc. to commemorate the 451st anniversary of that first mustering of America's original citizen-soldiers, in a free event 4 - 5 pm on Friday, September 16, at the St. Francis Barracks on Marine Street.
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History's Highlight
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City commissioners Friday unveiled a plaque recognizing the contributions of Fred Francis, the namesake of Francis Field.
 As a member of the amateur St. Augustine Saints baseball team, Fred Francis moved on to play professionally at shortstop in the Class B Southeastern League.
When he left active playing, he became manager of the Saints in the semi-professional Northeast Florida League and the Class D Florida State League. Under his management, the Saints brought the pennant home three times in just seven years, 1935, 1936 and 1941.
Francis became "Mr. Baseball" for St. Augustine and, in appreciation, the St. Augustine City Commission recognized his contributions by declaring September 11, 1934 as Fred Francis Day. In June 1938 the baseball diamond, then at the southeast corner of Riberia Street and Castillo Drive, was officially named Francis Field.
In 1952, the Saints played their last game, and a decade later, on July 4, 1962, Fred Francis died at his residence on Shenandoah Street just a few blocks from the field that bears his name.
A second baseball field was built to the east of Francis Field and was named for Eddie Vickers. That field was relocated to its present home adjacent to the Willie Galimore Center and Francis Field, as a baseball diamond, fell out of use as St. Johns County built more enhanced facilities.
Francis Field faded as an athletic arena but its name remained, unofficially, until the City Commission passed a resolution August 22 officially naming the nearly four acres of open space as Francis Field.
Friday's ceremony commemorated that official act with a plaque honoring Fred Francis and his commitment and enthusiasm for his community.
Image: Fred Francis, courtesy of Historic City News
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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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