City Approves Downtown Paid Parking Contract

Following months of public controversy and division, the Fernandina Beach City Commission on Tuesday voted 4–1 to approve a contract with One Parking, Inc. to manage paid parking operations in the city’s historic downtown and waterfront. Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue cast the lone dissenting vote.

The contract becomes valid with them passage of a paid parking ordinance at a later date.

The approved agreement with One Parking, a West Palm Beach–based firm, authorizes an initial two-year term with options for renewal. The contract's first-year cost is capped at $355,925, including a 10 percent contingency, and may increase by up to 3 percent annually. The company will provide “walking enforcement” in designated paid parking zones and install technology including license plate recognition (LPR) systems, signage, and payment kiosks.

Under the contract terms, the city may terminate the agreement with 120 days’ notice or immediately if a citizen-initiated referendum overturns paid parking. Should that occur within the first year, the city must reimburse unamortized capital costs and limited salary expenses for One Parking staff.

The contract also specifies that parking-related credit card and mobile app fees will be deducted from gross parking revenues or charged directly to users rather than absorbed by the city.

According to the contract, hourly parking fees are to be charged in the downtown core, with local residents eligible to purchase discounted parking passes. Violations of paid parking rules will result in fines processed through One Parking’s enforcement system.

Tuesday’s vote followed months of heated debate, with many residents arguing that paid parking would damage the city’s small-town charm and hurt downtown businesses. Opposition has been so intense that it spurred the formation of a Facebook-based recall group targeting two commissioners who supported the plan. That group, led by former city employee Mark Swope, has scheduled an organizational meeting Saturday to explore recalling Commissioners Tim Poynter and Genece Minshew.

In October, a separate citizen petition drive produced more than 1,700 verified signatures to place an ordinance banning paid parking on the 2026 city ballot, though the commission declined to adopt it directly.

Ayscue, who opposed both the contract and the pace of implementation, failed in his bid to call for a special election before signing any long-term agreement two weeks ago.

Mayor James Antun and Commissioners Minshew, Poynter, and Joyce Tuten voted in favor of the contract, arguing that paid parking revenues of $2 million per year are essential to fund downtown flood protection, marina improvements, and the demolition of Brett’s Waterway Café.

The paid parking program will not take effect until the city passes a final ordinance authorizing it. Once enacted, One Parking will begin equipment installation and enforcement setup, with operations expected to begin sometime in 2026 following city review and public outreach.