FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – Fernandina Beach city commissioners are exploring details for paid parking downtown, saying it could generate around $2 million in additional revenue.
RELATED: Fernandina Beach city leaders discuss plan to bring additional parking to downtown
The initial proposal would be to charge for “premiere” parking spots bordered by Ash and Alachua streets, from Front Street east to Eighth Street, including the main parking lot at the marina. The city said there are roughly 1800 parking spaces downtown.
Commissioner Tim Poynter told the Fernandina Observer that the city doesn’t have the money to pay for its many projects, including improvements and aging buildings.
Poynter said they’re trying to make more money without putting the onus on the taxpayers. He also said the one million tourists who visit Fernandina Beach annually pay nothing to park downtown.
About a dozen residents and business owners spoke, with most saying commissioners should dismiss plans for paid parking.
Marisol Triana owns Hola Cuban Cafe in downtown Fernandina Beach. She walked around to other businesses to tell them about what the city commission is planning.
“There’s a million questions and they have gone forward with asking for a request for proposals when there’s a lot of questions that need to be addressed in the request for proposal,” Triana said.
Another resident rebuffed the idea.
“They’re going to push people out from downtown like the people who work in those restaurants,” Marian Phillips said.
Another business owner said she’s for paid parking in some parts of the area because it could help her business.
She said it could ensure people don’t stay in one spot all day and block others from coming downtown. They’d be forced to move or extend their time, possibly letting another person park in that spot.
But other residents said if people parking in one all day is a problem, then the city should enforce it signs that say you can only park for three hours.
The city said he request for proposal would go out in the next couple of weeks, and they could receive it back by June, and the commission could change their mind at any time on pursuing this matter.
