City agrees to let staff attend county meeting on Nights of Lights amid debate over county role

St. Augustine commissioners on Sept. 30 agreed to let city staff attend a county-requested meeting about Nights of Lights after a contentious discussion over whether elected officials should participate and what the meeting’s purpose is.

The commission did not take a formal vote but signaled consensus that the city manager should decide which staffers to send. The city manager told the commission, “I have not spoken to the county commissioner about the creation of this meeting, but we would we can certainly send city staff members to the meeting to participate and to ask or answer any questions that may arise about Knights of Lights.”

Why it matters: Nights of Lights is St. Augustine’s largest seasonal event and draws large numbers of visitors; commissioners said the event imposes significant costs on city services and that planning must protect public safety while limiting demands on staff time and city funds.

Commissioners expressed frustration that the county’s outreach came late in the planning timeline. Commissioner Jim Springfield and others said major elements of this year’s program are already contracted and underway. “Our contracts are let. This is — we’re starting Nov. 15 — is go time,” a commissioner said during debate, noting that lighting contractors and crews were already working. The city manager confirmed staff can attend “to answer questions” and brief the commission afterward.

Several commissioners warned the meeting should be informational, not a new decision-making body. Commissioner Cynthia Garris characterized the county-requested gathering as “a meeting of the minds” and said staff participation would be courteous and useful: “The only difference…we never went to the county and asked them for $850,000 either. We did it on our own revenue,” she said, urging city staff be allowed to attend to present facts and represent the city’s planning work.

Commissioner John DePrater and others said the city’s events plan is “solidified” and that the more important immediate task is to run the event and evaluate outcomes afterward — for example, whether shuttle capacity, police deployment or restroom access were sufficient.

The commission also discussed alternatives to offseting event costs, including private sponsorships. Garris suggested approaching local hotel and restaurant owners about sponsoring specific light installations or segments.

Discussion vs. direction vs. decision: The commission’s discussion produced direction (the city manager may send staff to the county meeting at his discretion) but no formal resolution or ordinance. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized the city’s planning and advertising process had included public and business input.

Background and funding: Commissioners said the county has appropriated funding for this year’s Nights of Lights and that the county’s Tourism Development Council supported an increase in funding; one commissioner noted an $850,000 county appropriation had been discussed during the meeting. Commissioners also described a roughly $58,000 shortfall the city will cover from general funds for this year’s event.

The commission ended the discussion with an in-chamber nod of agreement that the manager should handle staff participation and report back to the commission, and then adjourned the meeting.

Ending: The city manager will determine which subject-matter staff attend the county meeting and return with a report to the commission. Commissioners asked that staff be prepared to correct factual errors and explain contracts and operational details if questions arise.