Bridge and appointments top Monday meeting

Last night, the St. Augustine City Commission got an update on the Bridge of Lions, made several citizen appointments, discussed offshore drilling and advanced a proposed ordinance to second reading.

City Commissioners acted to reappoint former Mayor Len Weeks and Fred Halback to the Historical Architectural Review Board, and named Old Town Trolleys Manager Dave Chatterton to the Code Enforcement Board, Jerry Dixon to the Planning and Zoning Board, and Joe Rubino to the Citizens Advisory Committee for the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization.

In a report from Bridge of Lions spokesperson Laurie Sanderson, the commission learned that the temporary bridge removal and road work is scheduled for completion by October. Landscaping of the bridge’s entryways should be complete 60 days later.

Sanderson said replacement parts are on their way to correct recent malfunctions.

The rehabilitated bridge opening time is slower than the old-old bridge; which has lead to several resident complaints. The delays, according to Sanderson, are not in the span opening, but rather the “historically accurate” swinging gates.

“The opening time is 4 1/2 minutes,” she said.

Commissioners urged that a dedicated right turn lane entering downtown from the west side of the bridge be marked as soon as possible.

In other action, Commissioner Leanna Freeman failed to get a second on her motion for a resolution against expansion of offshore oil drilling. Other commissioners felt that the issue has no direct local impact. A proposed ordinance to set a 30-day limit on temporary uses by exception in commercial medium zones was advanced to a second public hearing.