After fierce debate, St. Augustine Beach Commission extends Civic Association lease

It might have been part of the consent agenda, but a vote on the extension of a $1-per-year lease for the St. Augustine Beach Civic Association did not come easily.

In an issue that had a shocking level of contention, St. Augustine Beach Mayor Andrea Samuels said, the St. Augustine Beach Commission eventually voted 4-0 to approve the compromise of a short extension at Monday's meeting.

Following a slew of angry public comments and a speech of defense from Civic Association president Bill Jones, Samuels and Commissioner Undine George had their own argument over the issue for several minutes.

Samuels eventually recused herself from even voting at all because her husband is on the Civic Association board and she is the former secretary.

George said the records of the Civic Association should be closely inspected and that the space rented - a former police garage on the south side of Pier Park - should be opened to bids from all nonprofit groups.

George said she just wanted consistency and that the debate wasn't personal. However, it was also revealed that she and her husband, former Beach mayor Ed George, had been denied renewal for membership in the Civic Association in 2012 due to disparaging remarks made about Samuels leading up to an election (according to an email produced by Undine George).

The other issue is that several members of the public complained about being restricted to "free speech zones" during events hosted by the Civic Association on public land.

They said they were harassed by lawyers retained by the Civic Association.

"It's a private organization, and it restricts free speech," Undine George said. "I don't think we should support this organization monetarily."

Jones said he would be glad to pay fair market rent for the space if the city required it. But he added doing so would just be taking money away from something the Civic Association would support for the good of the city, so there would be no net gain.

"Whatever we paid would just be trading it," Jones said. "Everything we do is about promoting the City of St. Augustine Beach."

The Civic Association signed a five-year lease for the space in 2010, and it expires in August. Commissioner S. Gary Snodgrass proposed a compromise in which the commission would have more time to examine terms of the lease - and perhaps alter them - without rushing to a decision.

He first proposed a three-month lease extension, but Commissioners Margaret England and Rich O'Brien suggested that six months was more appropriate.

So the commission voted to grant the short extension now with the possibility of approving a longer one soon. George also supported the compromise.

Before voting, Snodgrass and O'Brien praised the work of the Civic Association, which organizes various fundraisers and produces the Music by the Sea concert series.

"The Civic Association is in a class by itself," Snodgrass said. "They have a very clear record of giving back year after year."

Added O'Brien: "I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Snodgrass about the great work they do in the community."

The commission also approved a neighborhood traffic management program and an amendment to the City Commission's Policies and Procedures Manual regarding the distribution of keys to the city.