St. Augustine Record: City bans performers on Hypolita Street

City bans performers on Hypolita Street


Posted: July 9, 2013 - 12:39amRelated Stories•City may limit garage sales, street performers

By PETER GUINTA

peter.guinta@staugustine.com

Guitar music can be quiet and relaxing, unless of course the guitarist knows only three songs and plays them over and over, or unless he’s squatting on the sidewalk blocking your shop entrance, or smashing shrubbery, blocking traffic or begging for money.
The St. Augustine City Commission had heard all the complaints before Monday’s meeting.
This time, on a motion by Commissioner Don Crichlow, it unanimously passed Ordinance 2013-16, prohibiting street performances on Hypolita Street from St. George Street to Avenida Menendez.
“You go down there any weekend and you can see it,” Crichlow said. “Since 2002, (street performers) have been a constant problem. There’s no other way than removing the vendors completely from Hypolita.”
He was supported by Commissioner Roxanne Horvath, who said the narrow sidewalks at Hypolita and St. George streets are dangerous for pedestrians.
“I don’t think this is the right place (for performers). You can’t enjoy them because you’re trying not to be run over by traffic,” she said.
However, Commissioner Leanna Freeman she disagreed that the ordinance was the only way to stop the problem, but added, “I’ll support it.”
The ordinance language says “unregulated performances in public places” create “a visual blight” that damages the economic retail interests” of merchants who pay property taxes.”
The ordinance will go into effect July 18, which is 10 days after its passage.
Businessman Ray Dominey, who photographs the congestion and damage by performers near his Hypolita and St. George street shop, said it’s not just businesses there who want relief from performers crowding that area every weekend.
He read a letter from Kim Kiff of Ripley’s, which said navigating their trains through that intersection “is an increasing challenge for us. When our guests get off, they disembark into a feeling of discomfort.”
Dominey also read a letter from Dave Chatterton of Old Towne Trolley Tours, who said the intersection was “a popular place for our guests to get off and shop on St. George Street. (But) with the noise from the performers and spectators, it’s extremely difficult for guests to hear our safety instructions. This is not a workable location for street performers.”
Street performers sometimes bunch up on the tiny sidewalk, leaving their arms and legs vulnerable to being stepped on or run over by a vehicle. Automobiles and delivery trucks behind tour vehicles there must wait until performers move before driving through.
Mark Frasier of St. Augustine said street performers have been an issue for “two decades. You’ve had many legal battles over this. Send this ordinance back (and) do some research on it” and present it again, he said.
Ed Slavin, a St. Augustine activist, asked the commission to reconsider.
“As St. Augustine said, ‘An unjust law is no law at all,’” Slavin said.
Bruce Labona of Black Parrot Candy said he’s been a store owner in St. Augustine for 18 months.
“It’s been the most positive experience of my life,” he said. “But (street performers) add nothing to the experience of St. Augustine.”
Pointssponger2 07/09/13 - 06:20 am 71City to consider Ordinance 2013-17.
The Record has learned that the city will at it's next meeting consider Ordinance 2013-17, prohibiting breathing on Hypolita St. Breathing will be permitted in the city only if you purchase a breathing pass that can be obtained at City Hall, or at oxygen stations to be installed at the hundreds of parking meters that now be found throughout the ancient city, thanks the city commission who's job function is to look after the best interests of the residents.

Raymond Monk 07/09/13 - 06:54 am 61Street performers.

I have never had a problem with street performers as long as they do not block bussiness entry's. we are fighting over a musician trying to earn a buck that may slow down traffic. How about anyone who slows down traffic, anyone who blocks a door. Why a musician is the target. You want a to call a musician a blight on the city, yet transients can take up seating space on st George street while they sleep. The transients one of them yours truly witnessed sleeping on a bench urinating on himself down his lig and onto the sidewalk. This is a blight on the street. The musicians should be allowed to apply to obtain a permit with regulations as to where they can perform, how loud they can play. A permit that can be revoked if rules are violated.

I myself believe the musicians ad to the allure of St. George st.
However the transients are discussing, rude, and block the few seating areas there are on the strip, begging for money, digging in the trash for smokes. Remove them from the area of town that keeps the tax revenu flowing. Give the musicians permits as to when, and where.