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Commission approves Bannon Avenue one‑way, raises illegal parking fines and adopts land‑use rezones; approves joint meeting with county on Nights of Lights
Summary
The City Commission on Aug. 25 adopted a set of ordinances and a joint‑meeting resolution, including making Bannon Avenue one‑way and raising illegal‑parking fines in the downtown enforcement zone to $100 for specified violations.
The Commission handled a slate of formal motions and votes Aug. 25, including approval of the agenda and consent agenda, adoption of traffic and parking ordinances, multiple first‑reading rezones tied to the city's conservation land purchases, and a resolution asking for a joint meeting with St. Johns County to discuss Nights of Lights funding and logistics.
Votes at a glance
- Agenda approval — Motion to approve the regular agenda with two staff additions carried unanimously (voice vote).
- Consent agenda — Motion to approve consent agenda (which included proclamations, eminent domain billing authorization and opioid settlement participation form) carried unanimously (voice vote).
- Ordinance 2025‑17, Bannon Avenue one‑way — Adopted. Motion to adopt ordinance designating Bannon Avenue as one‑way (second reading/adoption). Roll call: Mayor Nancy Sykes Cline — Yes; Commissioner Jim Springfield — Yes; Commissioner John DePrater — Yes; Commissioner Cynthia Gares — Yes; Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder — Yes. Outcome: approved.
- Ordinance 2025‑22, illegal parking fines — Adopted (second reading). The ordinance raises illegal‑parking fines within a defined downtown boundary from $35 to $100 for specified violations (excludes expired meter fines). Roll call: Barbara Blonder — Yes; John DePrater — Yes; Cynthia Gares — No; Jim Springfield — Yes; Nancy Sykes Cline — Yes. Tally: 4 yes, 1 no. Outcome: approved.
- Ordinances 2025‑23 and 2025‑24 (Florida Avenue & Theodore Street) — Passed on first reading (land‑use map amendment and corresponding rezoning to assign recreation/open space and government use/open land classification to upland and waterward portions). Roll calls recorded and were affirmative; items moved forward to second reading/public hearing as required for rezones.
- Ordinances 2025‑25 and 2025‑26 (Florida Avenue & Julia Street) — Passed on first reading for future land‑use and rezoning amendments assigning recreation/open space, open land conservation, and government use classifications to portions of the property. Vote recorded in favor; items proceed to required public hearings.
- Ordinances 2025‑27 and 2025‑28 (Smith Street & Evergreen Avenue) — Passed on first reading to amend future land use and rezone parcels to recreation/open space and government use/open land; roll call votes recorded in favor.
- Resolution 2025‑30 — Adopted. The commission approved a resolution establishing a joint meeting between the City Commission and the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners to discuss planning for the 2025 Nights of Lights, scheduled for Aug. 27 at 3 p.m. (or another mutually agreed, noticed date). Roll call: Nancy Sykes Cline — Yes; Jim Springfield — Yes; John DePrater — Yes; Cynthia Gares — Yes; Barbara Blonder — Yes.
Several of the rezoning and future‑land‑use changes are part of the city's conservation property acquisitions; the commission recorded the required ex parte statements and forwarded the rezones to subsequent hearings where applicable. No ordinance or resolution failed on final action at the meeting.
