City Explores Downtown Paid Parking
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 Eighth 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:
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Downtown sidewalks, electrical/lighting improvements and landscaping.
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The demolition and replacement element for Brett's Waterway Cafe.
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Fernandina Beach street resurfacing, which is behind the recommended schedule for needed maintenance.
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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 are 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.
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 for parking downtown.
Lisa and Ron West run the Addison on Amelia Island, a 14-room bed and breakfast at 614 Ash St., that has only two dedicated parking spaces. Lisa West told commissioners that guests use available parking spaces 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 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."
Comments
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Conrad2k
I'm not a fan of paid parking, but I think there is a way to make it have a minimal impact on taxpaying residents of Fernandina Beach. Apps like ParkMobile are based on the vehicle's license plate number. The RFP the city should require the contractor to include the capability to register license plate numbers of vehicles belonging to taxpaying residents of Fernandina Beach. This same capability should be offered to local bed and breakfasts to allow discounted parking for the period of their patrons' stay. Otherwise, non-residents could either pay by app or at conveniently located kiosks.
This will not be met with cheers by the county residents, but that might encourage the county to chip in financially and pay to register their residents’ license plates with the Fernandina parking app.
Wednesday, April 2 Report this
Bob121
downtown parking fees are NOT popular, this will surely push cars to park deeper into the residential areas nearby.
Why not charge for beach parking, where the tourists want to go, in order to pay for more parking that will be needed as the Yulee population grows?
Wednesday, April 2 Report this
DouglasM
I'm not a fan of the idea but will withhold final judgment until I see what rolls out. I rarely have trouble finding parking and have never understood the cries of not enough is available......but I guess this is about money, not congestion.
Will residents be exempt? Pay less? What fees are we talking about? How will the police know who paid? My main concern is it pushes people into the residential streets beyond Ash and Alachua (think Shrimp Festival every weekend in the neighborhoods). Most of these streets allow parking on both sides turning them into a game of chicken with only one direction available at a time (try South 4th or 5th when it is turned into one way only during peak events). Traffic flow will be a big issue a lot more than it is today. I foresee unintended consequences that will have local residents in the downtown/historic district pretty upset.
Wednesday, April 2 Report this
Tandersen
Great idea! Now do the same at the beach access lots. As a resident, I feel the tourists or those that do not live on the island need to pay their share beyond the bed tax. Allow the residents an exemption through the license plate exemption.
Wednesday, April 2 Report this
FrankB
Why don't they just install toll booths before the bridge; locals can get discount passes and tourists have to pay more.
Thursday, April 3 Report this
JoeW
A problem with parking is that in never goes anywhere.
Saturday, April 5 Report this
PMallory
As a 20+ year property owner that already pays a significant property tax and has commercial & residential property zone C-3 with no required and no real space (available land) for more than one off street parking space ( which would require a significant expense to create as well) I believe some accommodation should be made if paid parking is required on the block where a property owner has their home or business . For example I have three residential units and three office spaces . Right now everyone can park on the street or in the Broome & 2ND parking lot at no charge. Some type of owner code allowing up to six “free parking passes” should be made available for a property like mine as well as any other property owner based on their particular needs. Tourism is great but let’s not penalize those who live here and make the downtown safer and “real”.
Saturday, April 5 Report this
PMallory
JoeW summed it up with his humorous brevity
Saturday, April 5 Report this