Visioning consultant and Vice Mayor Horvath still not done

When Vice Mayor Roxanne Horvath brought Herbert A. Marlowe, Jr., PhD of Analytica Consulting to the city commission’s handpicked panel of volunteers, there were mixed reactions and some neighborhood residents said we didn’t need to spend the initial $15,000 consulting fee for a “visioning statement”. Taxpayers would end up spending $74,500 for the out-of-town consultant.

That was a year ago, and the visioning zombies are not through yet. They have said through Horvath and the city’s public affairs director that they hope to be through in May. If all systems are “go”, they will present their vision of how we should focus our city for the next 20 years sometime in June. Mark your calendars for the zombie apocalypse accordingly.

So what hath the oracle of Newberry and the junketeer brought us for our $75,000?

The vision statement developed by the committee reads:

St. Augustine will be a livable, authentic, waterfront city that builds upon its rich history and environment to enhance a distinctive community character founded on a healthy and vibrant economy, a diverse mix of people and experiences, and a valuing of its natural assets.

We’re at $1,693 per word right now.

The four strategic goals, each with its own explanatory statement, are:

• Livability: Maintain the quality of life for residents through a focus on ensuring City policies and resources enhance livability.

• Authenticity: Encourage and facilitate development and redevelopment in ways that are consistent with the look and feel of the various areas of the City.

• Character: Maintain St. Augustine as a small residential community while protecting its historic nature and scale, distinctive neighborhoods, and physical environment.

• Vitality: Secure the vitality and sustainability of St. Augustine for the future through policies and practices that support economic vitality, environmental assets and human and historic diversity.