Making the case that the city needs more money for upkeep of the Historic Downtown and other facilities, Fernandina Beach city commissioners Tuesday instructed staff to issue a request for proposal (RFP) on details for paid parking downtown.
By a consensus of 4-1, commissioners want to pursue a park parking plan that could generate around $2 million in additional revenue from parking fees.
The initial proposal under consideration would be to charge for "premiere" parking spots bordered by Ash and Alachua Streets, from Front Street east to 8th Street. The main parking lot at the marina would also be included. Preliminary estimates were provided to commissioners at their workshop.
"We don't have money and there's so much the city has to pay for. There's the demolition of Brett's, improvements to the downtown, aging and failing buildings like Atlantic Rec Center," said Commissioner Tim Poynter. "Everyone I've talked with doesn't want paid parking, but they have no other ideas on how the city can raise more money. What we're proposing here is trying to generate more dollars to fix this without having to put it on the backs of the 8,000 people who pay taxes here."
Poynter said the one million tourists who visit Fernandina Beach annually paid nothing to park downtown.
"Why doesn't it make sense for them (tourists) to share in the expense of maintaining this wonderful downtown?" Poynter said.
Mayor James Antun cautioned that putting out an RFP was a preliminary first step to explore whether paid parking would be feasible for the city saying it might not make sense after more information is gathered.
Deputy City Manager Jeremiah Glisson began the workshop with a presentation of why paid downtown parking was necessary.
He said the $2 million generated annually in parking fees could be used to fund:
Downtown sidewalks, electrical/lighting improvements and landscaping.
The demolition and replacement element for Brett's Waterway Cafe.
Fernandina Beach street resurfacing, which is behind the recommended schedule for needed maintenance.
Construction costs for segments of the riverfront flood protection wall, estimated at between $16 million to $20 million.
He said in order to raise the same additional $2 million with property taxes, the city would need to impose a tax increase of 10 percent on property owners.
Current paid parking programs require no parking meters or permit kiosks and a fully automated with users paying parking fees with their cellphones. Glisson said the program would be fully managed by an outside vendor.
Glisson said the area would account for 660 parking spaces in the downtown core and another 90 spaces in parking lots A & B at the city marina.
There would be no charge to park outside the designated section on city streets or city parking lots in those areas.
City staff drew on the expertise of SP+, a paid parking management company that provides services for Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and other cities in the state.
Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue opposed paid parking in the city.
About a dozen residents spoke on the issue, the majority saying commissioners should dismiss considering plans to charge to park downtown.
Lisa and Ron West run the Addison on Amelia Island, a 14-room bed and breakfast at 614 Ash Street, that has only two parking space., Lisa West told commissioners that guests use available parking streets on Ash Street during their visits.
"How will we be impacted with this plan?" she said. "One of the draws of our property is free parking. Where would we tell them to park (in the future)?"
Antun told West that her business is exactly what the commission needs to be able address on the impacts of a paid parking program.
"We need to be sensitive that all our (downtown) businesses might be impacted," he said.
Wally Borrero lives downtown and said his son works a night shift and rests during the daytime.
"So, it looks like he's going to have to pay to sleep with his car in that spot (during the day)," Borrero said. "I'm opposed to this as a downtown resident."
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