Editorial: St. Augustine's City Commission has a new look

Editorial: St. Augustine's City Commission has a new look



Publication Date: 12/03/08


The St. Augustine City Commission has a new look -- the first time that more than one commissioner seat has changed at the same time in six years.

We congratulate new commissioners, Leanna Freeman and Nancy Sikes-Kline, and returning commissioners, Mayor Joe Boles and Vice Mayor Errol Jones.

We thank outgoing commissioners Susan Burk and George Gardner for their leadership. Burk was on the commission for 12 consecutive years, including a term as vice mayor. Gardner was on for six years, four as mayor.

Monday's night reorganization meeting saw Boles sworn in for another two-year term as mayor but in the new mayoral seat; Jones, for a new four-year term and Sikes-Kline, for a two-year term. Freeman will be sworn in next Monday for a four-year term as she was out of the city. Commissioner Don Crichlow observed the ceremony as his second four-year term does not end until 2010.

These last six years have seen much movement in St. Augustine, attributed to a commission committed to listening better to the public. In 2002, when Crichlow, Gardner, and Jones were elected, public dissatisfaction over a planned parking garage behind the Lightner Museum led to two incumbents being voted out. Crichlow and Gardner won those seats. Jones won an open seat with no incumbent.

Gardner recognized the importance of visible citizen input when he pursued and won commission acceptance of his idea for neighborhood associations and a neighborhood council. These associations' members provide strong public comment at meetings; pros and cons to proposed city commission actions. They've made a difference

The parking garage at the Visitor Information Center and the newly operational parking system has had much public comment, for and against. The commission, with the help of its citizen-appointed Parking and Traffic Committee and staff, has held steadfast to the goal of managing traffic downtown.

This group of commissioners, too, launched the long-range planning for the city's anticipated world-class celebration of its 450th birthday in 2015.

What kind of difference this new commission will make remains to be seen. It will depend on alliances forged among the five members -- in public meetings, of course -- and their ability to reach agreements that benefit the city's quality of life.

Given the players, we foresee fresh ideas and lively discussions with extensive citizen input.


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