St. Augustine Moves Forward with Nightlife Ordinance

Looking to find a balance between downtown residents’ quality of life and the economic health of the city, St. Augustine City Commissioners recently took another step toward a new nightlife ordinance.

During a nearly three-hour meeting in late August, commissioners heard from city staff and residents about the potential impacts of the proposal and voted unanimously to move forward with the process.

Amy Skinner, director of planning and building, kicked off the meting with an overview of existing regulations, population estimates and legislative options, specifically limiting the sale of alcoholic beverages after midnight in the city only to establishments with a city-issued permit to do so.

Skinner said extended alcohol sales came to St. Augustine in 2005 when the Super Bowl was in Jacksonville and the additional hour “was never rolled back.”

Discussion on making changes to the regulations for alcohol sales began in 2019 with an eye to addressing residents’ safety concerns and increased service costs – notably police – as a result of increased nightlife activity.

“Sixteen other jurisdictions that we know of are interested in implementing similar restrictions in Florida,” Skinner said.

In addition to limiting alcohol sales from midnight to 2:30 a.m. to businesses with a city permit, the proposed ordinance would require the permit to be renewed annually, change sound regulations to refer to the city’s existing noise ordinance, clarify language tat businesses are not responsible for h=behavior outside their premises and recommends a waiver to the new requirements three times annually for holidays or special events. The ordinance also includes a provision for annual Fire Department inspection of businesses serving alcohol and crowd management training for employees of those businesses.

Commissioner Cynthia Gibbs said the main concerns she has heard from residents were related to noise issues.

“I think everyone should be comfortable in their home,” she said. “I also feel that we have to be mindful that people are in business to make money. I just think we as a community need to do what’s best for everyone, the residents, the business owners, the establishments, ourselves and our neighbors.”

Commissioner Jim Springfield said he agrees the changes are a good idea, but added the city should also enforce regulations already in place.

“I would not prefer to have an ordinance that would include items we know are not going to be enforced when we are already not enforcing some,” he said.

Mayor Nancy Smith-Kline said the issue straddles the city’s economic foundations.

“I believe we have three different economies in the city,” she said. “A daytime economy, an evening economy and a night economy.”

Smith-Kline said each one has its own needs and should have its own set of regulations.

“That’s really how I’m approaching it,” she said. “Everyone at this table talks about balance, residents, businesses and visitors. It’s very precarious and it’s very challenging to create that balance.”

The City Commission will take up the measure on first reading at a future meeting.