The Coronado Flower Lady's decades-long presence at Rotary Plaza could end Monday, Aug. 31, after City Manager Tina Friend told the city council the city has had a "difficult past" with the vendor, citing unpaid rent and an outstanding COVID loan.

"We've had a very long history of late payments and non-payments, and we've threatened revocation of permits before," Friend said at the Tuesday, Aug. 18, council meeting. "We've had a difficult past with this particular vendor."

Owner Shanel Albert, who has run the flower stand since 2016, received a city letter dated July 30 informing her that her commercial use permit would expire Monday, Aug. 31, and she must vacate. The stand opened in 1981.

A city public records document dated April 14 showed Albert was three months behind on rent at that time and carried an outstanding COVID small business loan balance of $15,870.83, according to the Coronado Times.

Albert disputes the city's account. She says she is current on rent and has paid in multi-month lump sums for the past 10 years, a practice she says the city accepted without complaint until the termination letter arrived.

"I don't owe the city any rent," Albert told the Coronado Times. "There have been times I have paid for multiple months at a time, like I've always done for the last 10 years. I don't want people to think I owe the city anything, because I don't."

Friend described Aug. 31 as a "natural end" of Albert's conditional use permit, issued approximately five years ago. She said nothing has been decided about Rotary Plaza's future and no deal has been struck with another vendor.

Several residents spoke at the Aug. 18 meeting to push back. Patricia Faircloth said the council decided to end the permit in closed session without public notice and called on members to reconsider. Mila Albertson called the Flower Lady Coronado's only florist, saying the alternative is buying flowers at Vons. Longtime resident Maris Dunn Yaple urged the council to reconsider, saying the stand has contributed to the charm of Rotary Plaza for 45 years.

Friend said the city initially intended to keep the matter private as a business transaction but chose to share details publicly because of community concern and what she called misinformation. She framed the permit expiration as a chance to reconsider how the city uses the plaza, including whether to bring in a different vendor or a different type of business altogether.

A timing wrinkle complicates matters: the permit expires one day before the next scheduled council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 1825 Strand Way. It is unclear whether the council could call a special session or take administrative action before the deadline.

Residents who wish to weigh in can attend the Sept. 1 meeting or contact the city council through the city clerk's office.