City staffers headed for Aviles, Spain

PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 11/06/09

St. Augustine's history has always been connected to the northern Spanish city of Aviles -- the birthplace of Pedro Menendez -- and now the city's upcoming 450th birthday will make that connection deeper and more pronounced.

Mayor Joe Boles and his wife, plus three other St. Augustine couples, have traveled to Aviles for a week to meet unofficially with business, cultural and government officials, making friends and contacts. Boles and his wife are paying their own way.

City Manager Bill Harriss said Thursday that Hariss sent two city employees, John Regan, the city's chief operations officer, and Dana

Ste. Claire, executive director of St. Augustine's 450th Commemoration Commission, to accompany the unofficial delegation.

The trip's cost, including airfare, hotel and meals, will total roughly $4,000 for the two men, he said.

"I won't know exactly until they come back," he said.

Regan will be there the entire week, Ste. Claire only two days.

Ste. Claire had to be here to present the initial offering of "Discover First America: Legacies of La Florida," shown at Flagler College Auditorium on Thursday night. The presentation was called "People's Before Ponce de Leon."

He also was expected to ask about a Spanish ship that Aviles said it would build and sail to St. Augustine by the time of the birthday. The 450th Commission plans to build a caravel here as well, the type of ship used by Ponce De Leon.

Harriss said, "Basically, this is not a city trip. Any time our commissioners go (on trips), I want to make sure a staff member's there to keep things in perspective."

And, though the trip is unofficial, some official city business is bound to be discussed, he said.

Plus, since Mayor Boles is the only commissioner going and it's an unofficial trip, Florida's Sunshine Law does not apply.

"This was an opportune time for the visit," Harriss said. "Dana hadn't been over there yet and wanted to go. I need to keep everyone walking down the same path."

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