Debate over downtown restrooms and carriage horses ends with lease extension for Manly Toys

St. Augustine’s downtown restroom plan and repeated calls to end carriage rides collided on Wednesday as dozens of residents urged immediate action on animal welfare while small-business owners and neighbors warned of economic consequences.

"Please, let's do the right thing and finally abolish this cruel and outdated tourist attraction before Saint Augustine has its own tragedy," Heather Wilson told the commission, citing alleged past injuries and gaps in enforcement of stabling conditions. Wilson, one of several commenters who cited videos and time-stamped photographs, urged abolition rather than incremental code revisions.

Opposing that view in public comment, Ted Hill, owner of Manly Toys & Hobbies, said the city’s plan to reclaim the property adjacent to his shop for restrooms would threaten his livelihood. "If you take my store away, you won't get any of that" tax and local-spending revenue, Hill said in his three-minute turn.

City staff explained the restroom proposal as an expansion of the existing public facilities near the Casa and said the proposal is contingent on the budget process. "We have an estimate for construction and utility connection charges; funding decisions will come during the budget cycle," the city manager said.

Commissioners discussed alternatives, including high-quality portable restrooms connected to sewer lines on a seasonal or event basis, and asked staff for a firm calendar and design details for any permanent installation. Commissioner comments repeatedly emphasized the need to balance downtown infrastructure (especially during Knights of Lights and Fourth of July events) against the economic effects of displacing established tenants.

With those competing considerations unresolved, Mayor (presiding) moved to "authorize the city manager to extend the lease to September 2027." The motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote; the authorization keeps the tenant in place while staff returns with a funding timetable and construction plan that will be considered during the budget process.

Why it matters: The decision delays any immediate displacement while creating a clear schedule for staff to present costs, scope and timing. Animal-welfare advocates left the meeting without a legal ban or immediate policy change; they and supporters of the carriage industry may press the issue at future hearings.

What’s next: The city manager will return with a timetable and funding plan showing when construction would begin, how many fixtures would be installed, and whether temporary sewer‑connected portable restrooms will be used in the interim; the commission could revisit the lease if the budget approves permanent restrooms.