The St. Augustine City Commission held a lengthy regular meeting that drew a packed room and a long line of public speakers, covering topics ranging from a Pride Month proclamation that sparked sharp debate, to competing concerns about carriage horse welfare, to a new ordinance regulating the city’s growing vehicle-for-hire industry, to a detailed report on homelessness in the community.
Pride Month Proclamation
Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder read Proclamation 2026-24, officially designating June 2026 as Pride Month in St. Augustine. The proclamation cited the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling establishing same-sex couples’ right to marry and called on residents to “stand as an ally with our friends and neighbors in the face of prejudice.”
Sarah Bloomberg, who has advocated for the annual designation for years, accepted the proclamation. “I just want to thank all our allies for coming out,” she said. “To our community, it saves lives. It gives us room to breathe, to know that we have space to be who we are meant to be.”
Several members of the public spoke both in support and opposition to the proclamation during general public comment.
Those opposed included a group of speakers who used religious arguments and scripture readings to object to the designation. One speaker called homosexuality sinful and made derogatory remarks toward LGBTQ+ individuals. Another quoted from the Mayflower Compact and the Bible. A 15-year-old also spoke in opposition using a Bible passage. Mayor Sykes-Klein repeatedly reminded speakers to address the commission as a whole and not individual members, and warned against boisterous behavior from the audience.
Those in support included Roger Carlson, a retired United Methodist minister of 40 years. “The United Methodist Church affirms the sacred worth and basic human rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,” he said. He outlined five theological arguments for a Christ-centered approach that prioritizes grace and reads the Bible in its historical context.
Retired pastor Gary Haddock, who served United Methodist churches for 43 years, pointed out that many passages in Leviticus — often cited in opposition — are no longer observed by modern Christians, including rules about eating pork, wearing mixed fibers, and working on the Sabbath. “I believe you are doing what the Jesus of my Christian faith and the God I believe in calls us to do,” he told the commission.
Kelsey May shared a personal story about coming out and repairing her relationship with her father. “I remember how good I felt with him,” she said. “I’m finally myself and he accepts me.”
Jackie Wolf, chair of the Inclusion Committee at Grace United Methodist Church, stated: “I am a United Methodist, and while I do not believe that homosexuality is a sin, I do believe that homophobia is a sin. Any reading of scripture that produces contempt for your fellow human beings is a misreading of scripture.”
Vicki Pepper, representing Community Advocates for Racial Equity (CARE), noted that the governor recently signed SB 1134, which she described as intended to prevent local governments from taking actions supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion. She said Florida House Speaker Perez has made clear the law does not prohibit citizen festivals and parades, even when permits are required. Chris Fulmer added that this would likely be the last such proclamation the city can issue under the new state law.
Historic Preservation Awards Highlighted
Historic Preservation Officer Julie Courtney and Preservation Planner Candace Seymour presented highlights from the 2026 Florida Trust for Historic Preservation awards, recognizing several St. Augustine individuals and projects.
Award recipients included Gordon “Gordie” Wilson, who served for 33 years as superintendent of Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas National Monuments and received the President’s Award. Paul Weaver III received the Individual Distinguished Service Award for nearly 50 years of preservation work.
Preservation projects honored included the D’Amici House at 155 Cordova Street (built 1865–1884), the Zion Missionary Baptist Church in West Augustine (a 1921 building restored by architect Sarah Ryan), and the St. Johns County Black Heritage Trail — a guidebook and website featuring people and places of cultural significance throughout the county and available free online.
Two 2025 award recipients were also recognized: the owners of 121 Kingsbury Way in Lincolnville, who spent four years on a painstaking restoration, and the St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center, which brought new life to the 1898 St. Benedict the Moore Schoolhouse. Commissioner Murphy praised the city’s preservation ethic and its dedicated staff. “It should be a new tradition,” he said of the recognition ceremony.
Carriage Horse Debate: Two Sides, Many Concerns
Carriage horses drew more speakers than any other single topic. The debate involved the welfare of the horses, the conduct of protesters, the safety of horses in city traffic, and the city’s oversight responsibilities.
Supporters of the industry argued that the carriage trade has operated in St. Augustine since 1855 with zero documented carriage-related fatalities of horses or drivers. One speaker said recent horse deaths — including horses named Tightpass, Ghosts, and Lisa — were caused by colic, pneumonia from strangles, and an undetectable internal hernia tear, not abuse or poor ownership. She also raised concerns about proposed electric carriages, noting most are manufactured in China, require large lithium batteries known to catch fire, and that China slaughters more than 1.5 million horses annually for meat.
Carriage driver Jesse Sabo told commissioners that protesters had placed a large banner staked to the ground near the carriage stand, causing a horse to spook when the wind caught it. He accused protesters of deliberately trying to provoke incidents and called for a police mediator to be present whenever protests occur. “I don’t really care that much what they do to me,” he said, “but I really would like some help in defending our animals.”
Opponents and activists presented what they said was documented evidence of ongoing neglect. Patricia Ramos showed photographs of a carriage horse named Barbie belonging to Coastal Carriages, showing a deep laceration on her leg that was allegedly visible from March through early June 2026. Ramos said Barbie was sent back to work on multiple occasions — including June 3, 6, and 7 — with the wound concealed. She noted a veterinary exam on May 14 had cleared Barbie as free from wounds despite the injury being visible in photos. She asked the city to invoke its franchise agreement’s suspension provision, which allows the city to suspend a franchisee’s operations pending investigation into allegations of animal abuse or neglect.
Heather Wilson made the same request, citing the franchise agreement and city ordinance provisions requiring animals to be free from open sores or wounds before being used to draw a carriage. She called on the commission to formally investigate Coastal Carriages. Catherine Zota showed footage of a horse spooking on the Bayfront and argued that no regulation can eliminate the inherent unpredictability of large animals in city traffic.
Tom Reynolds raised concerns about heat and hydration, stating that 90-degree pavement can reach 150 degrees and that horses working in downtown St. Augustine have access to little shade and inadequate water.
Vehicle-for-Hire Ordinance: First Reading
Assistant City Manager Reuben Franklin gave an overview of Ordinance 2026-10 (Vehicles for Hire) and Ordinance 2026-11 (Franchise Ordinance), both up for first reading. The full workshop on the ordinances had been held May 8.
The proposed ordinance creates a two-tier system. Tier 1 covers larger operators like trolleys and trains, with up to 16 vehicles allowed. Tier 2 covers smaller operators — golf carts, pedicabs, and similar vehicles — with a maximum of 3 vehicles per franchise and up to 15 franchises permitted, for a potential total of 45 Tier 2 vehicles.
Multiple small business owners raised concerns:
Insurance requirements were the most common complaint. Under the proposal, Tier 2 operators would need to carry $1 million in combined commercial liability coverage — the highest such requirement in Florida. One operator noted the only comparable requirement is $500,000 in Miami, and that the state minimum for most cities is far lower. Another said the new insurance cost would run $20,000–$25,000 per year — more than half his projected annual income of $40,000. Several speakers asked that insurance requirements be tied to at-fault accidents rather than applied universally.
Vehicle caps drew concern from small operators who felt they were being unfairly limited while rental cart companies — which are not subject to the same cap — can put an unlimited number of vehicles on the streets.
Enforcement was raised by multiple speakers. One operator, Blaise Morrell of Pineapple Ride and Tour, said research found over 35% of current vehicle-for-hire businesses are either noncompliant, non-existent, or carrying incorrect insurance. He argued the city should enforce its existing rules before adding new regulations.
Congestion was raised from a different angle by Dave Chatterton of Old Town Trolley. He supported the ordinance overall but asked that future franchise transfers revert to a 2-vehicle cap rather than 3, which over time would reduce the maximum potential Tier 2 vehicles from 45 to 30.
Former city commissioner James Hill, speaking as a franchise stakeholder, asked the commission to allow the ordinance to remain flexible and revisit it on a scheduled annual basis, noting that transportation is a rapidly evolving issue. “Let staff have the flexibility to fix what is broken,” he said. “Let this evolve, let it breathe a little bit.”
Joanna Ingle of Tasting Tours praised the commission for the difficult work done at the May workshop and identified three priorities: how enforcement will identify legitimate franchise operators versus unlicensed ones, fairness in franchise privileges (such as being allowed to cross St. George Street during Nights of Lights), and the inconsistency of capping franchise vehicles at 3 while rental carts remain uncapped.
Both ordinances are scheduled for second reading on July 13.
Neighborhoods: Parking, Speed Humps, and a Toy Shop
Residential parking: Allie Birchfield of Rhody Avenue asked the commission to expand the Nights of Lights residential parking restriction program to cover other major events, including Sing Out Loud, the Celtic Festival, and the Seafood Festival. She said approximately 75% of residents on several streets have signed petitions in support. The program uses resident parking tags and closed streets to protect neighborhoods from being overwhelmed by visitors avoiding parking garage fees.
Speed humps: Judy Glazebrook, also of Rhody Avenue, asked the commission to approve speed humps to reduce cut-through traffic. Rhody Avenue sees approximately 500 vehicles per day and 3–4 accidents annually — high numbers for a street serving only 37 residents. The street does not meet the city’s 85th percentile speed threshold, but residents argue that safe, careful drivers are actually lowering that average.
Downtown restroom vs. toy shop: Ted Hill, owner of Manly Toys and Hobbies at 35 Hypolita Street, told commissioners that the city’s plan to convert his leased space into a public restroom would end his 10-year business. He offered an alternative: use the wide walkway in front of his building for portable restroom units, avoiding the significant cost of installing plumbing and electricity. “It’s not simply a choice between a business and a restroom,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to find a solution that serves visitors, protects taxpayers, and preserves a business.”
Homeless adults at parks: A Ponte Vedra Beach resident asked the city to create an ordinance prohibiting unsheltered adults from loitering at Davenport Park, a fully fenced children’s playground near the St. Johns Public Library. She said on any given day, two to five homeless adults are present at picnic tables or benches in the park and expressed concern about the safety of children and families.
Property tax reform: Multiple speakers weighed in on the homestead property tax exemption proposal heading to the November ballot. Chris Fulmer raised the same concerns heard at many local government meetings statewide: if property taxes are eliminated or severely reduced, what replaces them? He raised specific questions about existing debt backed by property taxes, what qualifies as a “core service,” and whether Tallahassee would ultimately define what local governments can fund.
Homelessness: Point-in-Time Count
Hannah Evans of the St. Johns Continuum of Care presented results from the January 26, 2026 Point-in-Time count — a single-night census of homeless individuals.
Key findings:
- Total counted: 367 individuals (177 sheltered, 190 unsheltered)
- Unsheltered numbers increased significantly from 133 the prior year; sheltered numbers declined slightly from 183
- Overall homelessness has declined since 2022
- Demographics: 247 white, 80 Black; 235 men, 132 women
- Ages: Youth (under 18) decreased from 39 in 2024 to 27; adults 55 and older rose from 68 to 116; middle-age adults increased from 143 to 183
- Special populations: Veterans count rose sharply due to the inclusion of the Home Again facility; domestic violence survivors dropped from 78 to 45 (both self-reported)
- Cause of homelessness: Relationship breakdown (27%), financial breakdown (23%), and lack of affordable housing (23%) were the three most commonly cited factors; 89 individuals reported it was their first time experiencing homelessness, 42% of whom cited relationship breakdown
- Chronic homelessness: 41 individuals were classified as chronically homeless
- Substance use: 87 individuals reported substance use; 33 said their use began as a result of their homelessness
Commissioners noted the relatively lower percentage (23%) citing lack of affordable housing compared to expectations, and asked about the disparity between adult-only households (286) and adult-with-children households (25). Evans suggested that more targeted services for families may explain the difference, and that adults-only individuals may be harder to serve.
Boat Anchoring Ordinance Updated
The commission unanimously approved Ordinance 2026-14 on second reading, updating the city’s anchoring and mooring rules to align with new state law. City Attorney Isabel Christine Lopez explained that St. Augustine Marina was part of a state pilot program, and the state has now adopted statewide regulations, some of which preempt local rules. The ordinance retains provisions that are not preempted and adds language affirming the city’s proprietary interest in its submerged lands. The vote was 5-0.
The next regular city commission meeting is scheduled for June 22 at 5 p.m. Second readings of the vehicle-for-hire and franchise ordinances are set for July 13.
