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Commission OKs first reading of mobile-vendor restrictions for crowded events, asks staff to study east-side sidewalk
Summary
City commissioners approved Ordinance 2025-6 on first reading to restrict mobile vendors in high-congestion sidewalks during Nights of Lights and Fourth of July, and asked staff to gather more data about the east side of Avenida Menendez before second reading.
The St. Augustine City Commission passed Ordinance 2025-6 on first reading on April 9, 2025, creating targeted restrictions on mobile vendors in parts of the downtown historic district during the city’s high-congestion events (Nights of Lights and July 4).
City attorney and planning staff framed the legal standard for restricting commercial activity on public sidewalks as requiring a factual basis tied to public-safety and crowd-control concerns. Assistant city attorney/Planner (presentation by Miss Lopez) told commissioners that sidewalks are a public forum under U.S. law and any restriction of commercial speech must be "directly related to a substantial public interest" and no broader than necessary.
The proposed ordinance would extend event-only prohibitions to the western sidewalk of Avenida Menendez between Orange and King streets and the north sidewalk of Cathedral Place for Nights of Lights, and add the Avenida Menendez east-side sidewalk near the Castillo for Fourth of July. Commissioners discussed whether both sides of Avenida Menendez should be closed for Nights of Lights; several commissioners asked staff to collect additional video and photographic evidence of congestion on the east side before second reading. Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder and other commissioners said restricting only one side would shift the crowd to the other side and create safety risks.
At first reading the commission accepted a staff amendment and a direction to gather further evidence, and authorized staff to continue refining the prohibited-zone map. The motion to pass first reading included a commitment to work with staff to explore adding the east side of Avenida Menendez for Nights of Lights if the additional data support that change.
During discussion staff said they will include the aerial video used in earlier briefings and a business-impact statement prepared by the customer service supervisor, who noted there are no mobile-vendor businesses registered in the city (staff conclusion: no material negative city-business impact). Commissioners also asked staff to consider interactions between the proposed vendor restrictions and a planned rideshare hub on Avenida Menendez.
The city voted on first reading and recorded the ordinance's short title; commissioners indicated support subject to the additional data gathering and a second-reading vote. Staff noted the ordinance is drafted broadly enough to be amended before second reading if the evidence supports it.
The ordinance creates section 27-512 of the City Code to define event-area vendor prohibitions and will return for a second reading after staff completes the requested additional analysis.
