Hibiscus could become official flower

When the City of St. Augustine Commission convenes Monday, Historic City News readers will learn if the hibiscus will become the city’s official flower and if “red and yellow” will be designated as the official city colors, among other things.

The University of Florida will be asking for the commission’s endorsement on a grant request for funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. If approved, the funding will be used to defray an estimated cost of $321,653 for computer digitization of “primary source materials” that cover a broad range of topics related to St. Augustine’s role in Florida, United States and world histories.

Proposed is a method that could bring together city, university, and St. Augustine Historical Society records in a digitized form for research and easier reference.

Documents and records that would be digitized relate to topics such as Spanish exploration and colonization, Native American populations, religion and missionization, slavery, architecture and urban planning, social and economic development military defenses and warfare.

General Services Director Jim Piggott will present an ordinance with six “test regulations” for the Mooring Fields Pilot Program for a first reading.

Piggott says the test regulations “were developed after staff gathered feedback from two public workshops held in June.”

The added regulations tweak the mooring fields program developed by the city last year in a state-authorized pilot program being conducted by five Florida cities — including St. Augustine.

“All actions in the pilot program are temporary,” Piggott said. They are set to expire in July, 2014, unless some or all are adopted by the state legislature.

Also on Monday night’s agenda, considering an agreement to create a Sunday afternoon farmers market near the Lincolnville Community Garden at the Galimore Center and Eddie Vickers Field.

If you are planning to attend — the regular St. Augustine City Commission meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. Monday and will be held in the Alcazar Room; on the first floor of City Hall, located at 75 King Street in St. Augustine. It will be broadcast live on Comcast Government TV (Cable Channel 3) and is streamed over the Internet.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer