Deed, non-binding and vendor agreements on agenda

At the regular meeting of the St. Augustine City Commission Monday night, commissioners will consider the transfer of the former Mary Peck lot in the Colonial Spanish Quarter to the National Park Service, completing a package with state property intended to develop a Visitor Orientation Center for the Castillo de San Marcos.

The city property transfer to the National Park Service for a Visitor Orientation Center includes a binding deed of conveyance, with a “reverter clause”, and a separate non-binding agreement that identifies certain information the City would like the Park Service to include in their presentations after the Orientation Center is opened.

While on the subject, commissioners will also consider a vendor agreement that could take effect right away, allowing the City to sell entrance passes to the Castillo along with tickets to the Colonial Spanish Quarter.

Historic City News Editor Michael Gold spoke to City Attorney Ron Brown this afternoon, who explained that the deed for the City owned piece, to be proposed Monday night, mirrors the deed for the State owned piece that has already been conveyed to the Park Service.

“The National Park Service will not accept property with strings attached,” Brown said. They were willing to agree to the “reverter clause”, which requires the Park Service to commence construction of the Orientation Center not later than December 31, 2015, or to return the property, however, they would not agree to conditions that address what types of displays would be included — except in a non-binding way.

Photo credits: © 2010 Historic City News staff photographer