Monday, August 09, 2010

St. Augutine Record: At cost of $25,000 City delegation heading to Spain

City delegation heads to Spain
Seven St. Augustine officials seek to drum up support in advance of 450th anniversary
Posted: August 8, 2010 - 12:08am
By JENNIFER EDWARDS

Seven city officials will spend 13 days in Spain on a trip they said is geared toward creating economic initiatives for the 450th anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine.

City Manager John Regan, City Comptroller Mark Litzinger, City Heritage Tourism Director Dana Ste. Claire and four of five city commissioners will visit Aviles, Madrid, Cadiz and Malaga beginning Aug. 26. Commission members on the trip are Mayor Joe Boles, Vice Mayor Errol Jones, Commissioner Don Crichlow and Commissioner Leanna Freeman.

"My goal would be for every commissioner to go; I think it's that important," Boles said. "(Spain) needs to know we're in support" of the 450th celebrations.

Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline could not attend for family reasons, Boles said.

City spokesman Paul Williamson and Boles said the trip would cost the city about $25,000.

Williamson said three others would also travel with the group but would pay their own way.

In the next fiscal year effective Oct. 1, the city will face a $2 million gap -- $1.2 million less in revenue, $800,000 more in expenditures.

Boles said he views the trip cost as an investment into developing celebrations and events that could have "enormous economic impact."

He said the city hopes to add a million to two million more visitors to the about 4.5 million who visit the city each year.

"To keep a lid on property tax, we need to develop revenue centers" like the three years of celebrations surrounding the 450th celebration, he said.

The group traveling this year is not the largest delegation to go to Spain in the last decade. In 2007, seven went, and in 2001, eight.

Most years the group has been smaller.

Boles said it is important to send a large group to show Spanish government officials that the city is serious about the celebrations.

"If I could, I would have a group going to Aviles every month," he said.

Boles said that though Crichlow, a delegation member, is leaving office, he would be helping to plan events before that.

Williamson said an important aspect of the trip is reaffirming ties with St. Augustine's sister city of Aviles.

Each year, a delegation from the city visits St. Augustine, and vice versa, Williamson said.

"We have an unofficial agreement with Aviles," he said. "Whenever we go over there, they pay for all the commissioners' rooms and pay for all the meals."

And St. Augustine does the same for the Aviles delegation, he said.

"This is pretty much cultural and it's unique," he said. "Pedro Menendez was from there. He worshipped in the church and grew up there. Most cities can't visit the hometown of their founder 450 years ago."

Boles said a majority of the trip would be spent creating and reaffirming ties with officials in the Spanish regional governments, which have more economic resources than Spain's federal government.

Regan said commissioners would further discuss the trip agenda during Monday's commission meeting.

"The commission will formulate the business part, the actual purpose of the trip," he said. "We'll flesh them out, strategize a bit, maybe add, maybe complete."

What's next?

The City Commission will firm up the trip agenda at Monday's commission meeting, set for 5 p.m. in the Alcazar Room, City Hall, 75 King St.

The delegation is:

Mayor Joe Boles

Vice Mayor Errol Jones

Commissioner Donald Crichlow

Commissioner Leanna Freeman

City Manager John Regan

City Comptroller Mark Litzinger

City Heritage Tourism Director Dana Ste. Claire

Economic initiatives:

Mayor Joe Boles said the city is hoping to tie in the 450th celebrations with sites and celebrations in Spain.

For example, the city plans to give a replica of the Plaza's monument to the Spanish Constitution of 1812 to Aviles. Spain celebrates the 200th anniversary of that constitution in 2012.

St. Augustine's monument is unique because Spain told its colonies to erect monuments to the new constitution that year, but the monarchy regained control two years later and ordered the colonies to destroy the monuments.

All but St. Augustine complied.

In exchange for the replica, Aviles is giving the city a museum-quality replica of the ship Pedro Menendez sailed to St. Augustine, the San Pelayo. Spain constructed the ship using the original plans, he said.

"We'll make a huge festival out of (its arrival)," he said.

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Comments (21)
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mubbob
Drum them out of Office
By mubbob | 08/08/10 - 07:32 am

This behavior from the departing elected City officials is deploring. At least let us hope that some of them will be departing after the election ! Last chance boondoggle trip to Spain. What a waste of money and a slap in the face to all residents in this economic times. There are still 5 years to go and the trips have started already. What has Spain done for us lately.? Are we going to study their homeless issues, their carriage laws, the old rusty pipe solutions or any tangible problem that THIS City faces? NOT !!
This trip needs to be cancelled and they need to focus on the problems in their own back yard and not be off dancing the tango.

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lighthouseglow1959
I hope
By lighthouseglow1959 | 08/08/10 - 08:16 am

I hope they don't go running around in their undies in the hallway of the hotel ,or going onto the balcony naked .
and why 2 weeks
this is taxpayers $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

cdca

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tammyjk1021
youre kidding right
By tammyjk1021 | 08/08/10 - 08:44 am

Mayor Joe Boles

Vice Mayor Errol Jones

Commissioner Donald Crichlow

Commissioner Leanna Freeman

City Manager John Regan

City Comptroller Mark Litzinger

City Heritage Tourism Director Dana Ste. Claire

Shame on all of you.....You tell us the city needs to cut pay and services and you do this?

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Boboskiwatnot
I wonder if they'll run into
By Boboskiwatnot | 08/08/10 - 09:53 am

Michelle "Make them eat Tofu" Antoinette Obama while they're there.

If Obama tells a lie in the forest, and the media refuses to report it, is it still a lie?

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pedalboat
Hey why worry
By pedalboat | 08/08/10 - 10:08 am

When the City has $13,000,000 safely stashed in the checking account why worry about $25,000 to send a bunch of silly people on an all expense junket to Spain for two weeks?

I hope we also pay them a per diem or salary as they might have to take an unpaid leave day from their day job and that could lead to a financial burden to them.

I am surprised that the budget is only $25,000. That sounds pretty cheap for 7 people for 12 nights. I guess some "room-sharing" will be going on!

Let's do the math:

Air fare - $1,000 x 7 = $7,000
Hotel - $200 x 7 x 12 nights = $16,800
Meals - $100 x 7 x 13 days = $9,100
Incidentals - $200 x 7 = $1,400

Why only 7?

Why now?

Who picked who was going?

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BeachRoad
They go EVERY year!
By BeachRoad | 08/08/10 - 12:02 pm

This is not new, don't you know that this is a yearly trip? They go every year and we pay for it! First class plane tickets and all. ONLY in St. Augustine! Seem to recall this recently happening in another city and the State came in, arrested the officials for misuse of taxpayer funds!.

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Mikebrown
Well then lets just prevent
By Mikebrown | 08/08/10 - 12:18 pm

Well then lets just prevent the President of the United States from attending the next meeting with China or Russia and cancel the next G-8 summit. Heck he could do ALL his work from the White House and never have to visit a single country and have Hillary take care of all the dipolomatic relations with them. I knew right when I read this the negative rants would start. Give me a break. Hey if you want to goto Spain every year then run for commisioner. It's the usual "ohhhh my taxes my taxes!!!" rant. Let the city commisioners take care of their business and carry out their duties. They have done this for years. I have nothing against being critical about government but people get a life. Again you want to conduct the business of the oldest city in the nation.....RUN FOR COMMISIONER.

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Oldmanbill
Who picked who was going?
By Oldmanbill | 08/08/10 - 01:46 pm

The mayor of course. He wanted Sykes-Kline to go so it would be a unified waste of cash, but she is running for re-election and actually knows better. He thinks he is immune to challengers, given how he pushed to rig the mayors seat electoral process to make it difficult for new comers to challenge him. Regan is going because he was told to. Litzinger was invited so the Mayor could hide more personal expenses under the guise legitimate city expenses. you see, when you are out gallivanting around the Spanish countryside on Other Peoples Money, its nice to have the controller around so you can give him a wink and a nod and say, hey mark, this a valid city expense, wink wink nod nod chuckle chuckle. Ste Claire is going cause all he knows how to do is live off OPM, much like Boles. Besides Papa Gepetto needs another puppet around. Makes no sense for Critchlow as he is lame duck. What Jones brings to the table I don't know. Who else is going? The article did not say.

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citizen
My suggestion...
By citizen | 08/08/10 - 12:21 pm

One-way tickets.

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pedalboat
Nice analogy - G 20 summit v. Spain Junket
By pedalboat | 08/08/10 - 12:42 pm

I don't know what I was thinking. Of course the City Commissioners and the City Manager and the City Comptroller (which is different from the City's Director of Operations and the City's Director of Financial Services and the City's Director of Public Works, etc) need to go to Spain to ensure that Spaniards come to St Augustine to celebrate the loss of their New World Colonies.

It obviously is as important to the residents of St Augustine as relations with the developed world are to the residents of the United States.

For the next G-20 meeting I am sure we can expect that the President, Head of GAO and the majority of the House and Senate all attend as less than full representation would not send the right message.

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Mikebrown
Oh please "pedalboat" the
By Mikebrown | 08/08/10 - 02:08 pm

Oh please "pedalboat" the point is we can sit here and talk about the business of governemnt and what isn't and is important but at the end of the day most if not all city mayors, representatives, etc. goto other cities/states/countries to conduct business on behalf of their city. NYC Mayor Bloomberg travels many times a year to lure business /tourism to NYC. Yes....we are not NYC...but this being St. Augustine and also the oldest city in the nation I think to keep ties with our roots in Spain is important. At the end of the day this city lives and dies but it's history and it's charm (yes to include horse carriages / trolleys / cheesy ghost tours / etc.) . These trips hopefully enhance city management's understanding and relationship with our sister city in Spain and any ideas that can come from this and make our city more attractive is good for me...and business. Now if they were going to Vegas or Los Angeles well that might be a different story.

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lonnya
Mike Brown says -- "It's the
By lonnya | 08/08/10 - 02:20 pm

Mike Brown says --

"It's the usual "ohhhh my taxes my taxes!!!" rant. Let the city commissioners take care of their business and carry out their duties. They have done this for years. I have nothing against being critical about government but people get a life. Again you want to conduct the business of the oldest city in the nation.....RUN FOR COMMISSIONER.

Right on Mike, the rants appearing in this folder are as predictable as the tides. Its just silly!

Pedalboat -- a suggestion for ya. Read the article before commenting.

"Loyal Opposition" does not include Sedition or Treason

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southernman
Describe Just One Measurable Economic Benefit
By southernman | 08/08/10 - 05:12 pm

I challenge anyone to describe a single measurable economic benefit the taxpayers have received from all these trips over the years. More than likely these trips are ceremonial and nothing more. Does the city even know how many tourists visiting St. Augustine are from Spain?, or any other European country?

In solid economic time these trips are one thing but with the way things are, this trip is BS. And for such a large delegation to go makes it even worse.

In my opinion Don Crichlow has been a relatively good commissioner and I can't recall if he has been on one of these trips before but to participate in this trip with only months remaining in office is ridiculous and I'm rather surprised he isn't passing on the invitation.

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tammyjk1021
bad timing
By tammyjk1021 | 08/08/10 - 05:58 pm

We have workers taking unpaid furloughs. Its not my taxes I'm concerned about here, it's the cuts made to paychecks. I mean really, I think the city could have cut this expense safely.

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lonnya
Tammyjk1021, It that truly is
By lonnya | 08/08/10 - 06:32 pm

Tammyjk1021,

It that truly is your concern then I congratulate you and agree that there should be some consideration to your point. Sending the delegation is probably the right thing to do but it could be smaller. Unfortunately, if the cost is about $25k and we reduce the delegation and presumably the costs by a third or even half, I am not sure the saved money would go very far toward reinstated paychecks.

Lets face it there are many aspects to governance that often need to be addressed and or funded.

If these trips help create greater tourist participation in the 450 celebration it will have paid for itself.

"Loyal Opposition" does not include Sedition or Treason

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tammyjk1021
lonnya
By tammyjk1021 | 08/08/10 - 07:41 pm

I just have a tough time with a family living on a four day pay for this stuff. Some of those employees that were on furloughs dont make big bucks. To them, 100 dollars makes a difference. Either way, if its your taxes or paycuts that worry you, the ballot box is the way to go.

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dionysus
It is a junket
By dionysus | 08/08/10 - 07:50 pm

Do you really believe that Spain and the 'regional governments' care about our 450Th Anniversary? Spain is a midst of a deep recession, their unemployment soared. They are concerned about their own citizens, not like you. Mister Boles you believe that we are lot of gullible idiots and will accept the hogwash that you are serving the taxpayer. Just be honest and tell us that you and your retinue are going on an all expenses paid vacation. Are you all flying 'economy'? Don't think so. Most of the European tourists in our town are visitors from the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, Italy, France, yet to have run into one from Spain, unless you consider King Carlos and Queen Sofia as such, we do get many from Latin America. Don't believe that the cost is $25K, not at the rate of exchange between the Dollar and the Euro. If anyone remembers the flamboyant Adam Clayton Powell, when asked about the purpose of his trip to Paris, he responded that he was on a Parisian nightlife fact finding tour.

dionysus

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tammyjk1021
didnt
By tammyjk1021 | 08/08/10 - 08:23 pm

Powell also say "keep the faith, baby" ?

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southernman
Trip Is Indefensible
By southernman | 08/08/10 - 08:58 pm

Without clearly stated measurable economic goals and objectives beyond ceremonial and relationships a trip of this nature at the expense of the taxpayers in the current economic climate is indefensible.

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pedalboat
lonnya
By pedalboat | 08/09/10 - 07:46 am

I suspect that you are a "City Leader". As for your allegation that I did not read the article before commenting, I would appreciate a little more explanation of your thought process (although I doubt there was much).

There is no excuse for 7 people going to Spain for 13 days. Fox "News" is all upset about the First Lady going for 5. I understand that there will be economic "development" activities during our Junket. As has been pointed out, I would appreciate a complete and detailed accounting of just one such example from the years past.

In last year's budget we were told that there was not "an ounce of fat left" in the City's budget. Now the Public Works department has excess funds and we can afford 7 people traveling half way across the world. But we can't fix our streets or provide drinkable water?

Get your priorities right.

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Goldy
Fix the Infrastructure
By Goldy | 08/09/10 - 08:17 am

Commissioners and others who are going to Spain - you need to open your eyes and look around the city. Look at the infrastructure or lack of. The streets have been in need of repair/paving for years. Everyone of you have done nothing but look the other way. These annual trips to Spain do nothing. It's just a vacation for you and you know it. Do you all submit an after action report after your return? Don Crichlow does not need to go since he will not be in a position to make decisions. Don - shame on you! Jones doesn't need to go because all he is about is partying. You can find him at any of the local watering holes every day of the week talking smack. This is one commissioner (when it is time for his re-election) to boot off the commission.

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