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Published by former Mayor George Gardner                      June 19 2015
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Francis Field parking
Francis Field parking  July 4

'pilot study' for Celebrate 450

   Francis Field will be opened for parking on July 4 as a "pilot study for Celebrate 450!,"Asst. City Manager Tim Burchfield says in a memo to city commissioners accompanying a resolution on Monday's consent agenda.

   The consent agenda is usually read by title and passed without comment. Burchfield estimates 500 cars can be parked on the field.

   There will be a flat fee of $10 at both the visitor center parking facility and adjacent Francis Field. The $2 reduction in the garage fee "will allow for smoother traffic flow due to less delay in change transactions and upset patrons wondering why they paid $2 more to park in the garage," Burchfield says.

   While Francis Field parking is cash only, the parking facility will continue to accept all forms of payment it currently recognizes, according to Burchfield.

   "Manpower at the Parking Facility is limited so the City will be working with an outside company to provide the necessary individuals to monitor the lot," he says.

Spanish flag

Spanish bunting

to be unfurled

   Spanish flags and bunting will be adorning city buildings beginning July 5 if city commissioners Monday approve a resolution "in support of the installation of decorative bunting throughout the downtown area from July 5, 2015 to September 30, 2015 in celebration of the City of St. Augustine's 450th anniversary."

   The resolution is on Monday's consent agenda.

   The city ordered more than $9,000 in Spanish bunting and flags - 370 units, from AGAS Manufacturing in Philadelphia.

   "The bunting will be installed on public buildings and light poles throughout the downtown area," according to a commission memo. 

   "The city also encourages private property owners to install decorative bunting on their buildings and balconies to show support for the 450th anniversary."

Valdes Dow property
Tour St Aug
Trolley adv
Bedtime adv

Public hearing for

Special Event Venues

   A Special Event Venue ordinance goes to public hearing and final action Monday as the city introduces regulations for a new term in city code.

   At first reading two weeks ago commissioners tweaked the ordinance which defines such venues as "a business where the primary use or accessory or ancillary use to a principal use is to host events" such as weddings and receptions.

   Changes included in the final draft include meeting off-site parking requirements and "If an historic site is used for a special event venue the event cannot negatively impact historic or cultural resources on the site."

    The issue arose last year when a Davis Shores property owner proposed use of his "castle" property on Flagler Boulevard to be a "small event venue."

Tweaking Entry

Corridor Guidelines

   When Entry Corridor Guidelines entered the city code a decade ago, a review committee of Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) and Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) was established to consider any disputes with regulations to protect the historic character of the city's three main entrances - San Marco Avenue, King Street and Anastasia Boulevard.

   Review responsibility was recently moved to HARB.

   "There are two main changes to the Design Standards" recommended by both PZB and HARB, Planning and Building Director David Birchim says in a memo to commissioners with introduction Monday of a new ordinance.

   "First," writes Birchim, "an opinion type process is introduced so that a potential development can be reviewed by the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) earlier in the design process, get preliminary design approval, than staff will review subsequent submittals.

   "Secondly, during the development of the Design Standards for the entry corridors certain architectural "typologies" were established ... however, as development occurs, it has been recognized that some buildings or areas may be different than the standards established.

   Therefore, this second proposal establishes a process to amend an assigned typology so that properties can be developed in more appropriate styles if found to be different than what was assigned in the standards."

   Other amendments such as defining Highway Commercial styles are also included.

   If approved the ordinance moves to public hearing and final action at a later meeting.

Lincolnville CRA report to commission

   A Fix-It Up program, Lincolnville  News  newsletter and an Overlay Zoning Workshop will be presented to city commissioners Monday by Lincolnville Community Redevelopment Area Steering Committee Chair Theresa Segal.  
Fix-It Up program - The Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) established a grant program of up to $7,000 for homeowners who qualify for emergency repair services for sub-standard housing. Construction services are being provided by the St. Johns County Housing Partnership, Inc.  
Lincolnville News  A periodic newsletter is keeping Lincolnville residents up to date on CRA and neighborhood activities.
Overlay Zoning Workshop - Residents last month overwhelmingly rejected the idea of overlay zoning to create commercial areas on ML King Avenue and Riberia Street.

Quotable

'You people are a pain in the a--'

City Manager John Regan, quoting a 7-Eleven official in the final stages of negotiation

leading to the city's purchase of its proposed site at San Marco Avenue and May Street.

Regan had asked the official why the corporation had finally relented.

He described the exchange to a gathering of cheering residents

who fought the 7-Eleven plan for three years.

 

History's highlight

July 1821, Florida's transfer

81 days to St.  Augustine's 450th anniversary

     The transfer of the Spanish territory of Florida to the United States July 21, 1821 was the result of the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, which also set out a boundary between the U.S. and New Spain (now Mexico). It settled a standing border dispute between the two countries and was considered a triumph of American diplomacy.

Luis de Onís John Quincy Adams    The treaty was signed at Washington, February 22, 1819, by John Quincy Adams, secretary of state, and Luis de Onís, Spanish minister. Ratification was postponed for two years, because Spain wanted to use the treaty as an incentive to keep the United States from giving diplomatic support to revolutionaries in South America.

   Once signed, the U.S. Senate ratified unanimously; because of Spain's stalling, a new ratification was necessary and this time there were objections. Henry Clay and other Western spokesmen demanded that Spain also give up Texas. This proposal was defeated by the Senate, which ratified the treaty a second time on February 19, 1821.

   The U.S. did not pay Spain for Florida but did agree to pay the legal claims of American citizens against Spain, to a maximum of $5 million. Pinckney's Treaty of 1795 between the U.S. and Spain was to remain in force. Spanish goods received certain tariff privileges in Florida ports.

   There was no great exodus from Florida following the transfer as had occurred following similar changes in 1763 and 1783. Times were different and few of the present settlers perceived a religious or political threat from the new rulers of Florida.

   Most of the territory's residents had homes and businesses to protect, and many had nowhere to go. The Menorcans and Greeks, brought to Florida by the English, were well established and wanted to stay.

   The chaotic years of war and revolution in Spain and the wars of independence in Spain's New World territories had destroyed most of Spain's empire. Thus, neither the Spanish-speaking countries on this side of the Atlantic nor even of Spain itself were attractive goals of emigration.

   A few Spanish Floridians removed to Cuba, but they were a distinct minority. Most of the Spanish residents simply stayed where they were. Of course, by 1820, the majority of the residents in Florida were English or Anglo-Americans from the states north of Florida's borders.

   It was a small and polyglot population that saw the Stars and Stripes raised over St. Augustine's Fort, now named Fort Marion. 

   Images: Luis de Onís (left) and John Quincy Adams 

 

   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