Evaluators score Ripley’s ahead of Historic Tours

Historic City News has learned from Tim Fleming, Deputy Director of General Services, that rival sightseeing companies, Ripley’s St Augustine Attractions and St Augustine Historical Tours, Inc., each responded to a request for proposals for the renovation and operation of the city-owned miniature golf facility located adjacent to the Municipal Marina at 111 Avenida Menendez.

The City of St Augustine Commission, at its May 14 meeting, directed staff to generate the request and to determine the “best qualified” applicant of those responding.

A three-member staff panel including Assistant City Manager Timothy A. Burchfield, General Services Director James C. Piggott, and Historic Preservation Special Project Planner Jennifer M. Wolfe, received and evaluated the proposals on Friday, June 22.

At the conclusion of the process, with a final combined score of 262 to 251, the team scored Ripley’s slightly ahead of the operator of Old Town Trolley Tours.

City Manager John Regan has recommended that the Commission concur with the evaluation team’s findings and award the lease agreement to Ripley’s St Augustine Attractions during Monday night’s regular commission meeting.

Photo credits: © 2012 Historic City News staff photographer