Fernandina Beach Paid Parking Nets City $136K in April as Revenue Tops $201,000

By Mike Lednovich/Editor

FERNANDINA BEACH - The city’s controversial paid parking program generated more than $201,000 in gross receipts during April while netting the city approximately $136,614 after taxes and operational costs, according to the latest monthly report from parking vendor One Parking.

The April report, submitted to the city by One Parking, shows the downtown paid parking system produced $201,759.49 in total gross receipts during the month. After deducting sales tax obligations and variable operating expenses, the city’s net revenue totaled $136,613.52.

The figures continue the strong early performance of the paid parking system that launched Feb. 16 and has remained at the center of an ongoing political battle in Fernandina Beach, including a pending Aug. 18 referendum that could ultimately determine the future of the program.

The April totals mark one of the strongest months yet for the parking system, fueled by spring tourism, permit sales and increased downtown activity tied to special events and Easter weekend traffic.

Hourly parking remained the city’s largest revenue source, generating $157,414.32 in gross receipts across 30,355 parking transactions during April.

Two-hour parking sessions remained the most popular option for visitors, accounting for 12,510 transactions and more than $65,177 in revenue. One-hour sessions produced another $33,598, while three-hour sessions generated approximately $33,751.

The report shows the city collected revenue from parking stays up to 10 hours, with the system also logging one “other additional rate” transaction valued at $10.42.

Under the city’s current pricing structure, hourly rates include base parking charges, convenience fees and taxes. A two-hour stay, for example, cost users $5.21 during April.

The report also detailed continued growth in permit sales.

Non-city resident annual permits generated $23,064 during April from 186 permits sold at $124 each. Another nine monthly non-resident permits generated $540.

City residents continued receiving up to two free annual permits under the city’s residential parking policy, though the city collected revenue from residents registering third or additional vehicles. Those “extra vehicle” permits generated $1,464 combined during April.

The cumulative permit data included in the report shows the city had issued 7,359 free city resident permits through the end of April, along with 1,393 non-city resident annual permits.

The parking enforcement program also continued generating significant citation revenue.

According to the report, parking citations produced $18,506 during April. Most citations — 286 of them — were paid within 30 days at the standard $50 rate, generating $14,300.

An additional 46 citations were paid late at the $72 rate, while seven citations were paid after 46 days at $92 each. The report also showed one ADA violation citation carrying a $250 penalty.

The city additionally collected $850.40 in construction-related parking permit revenue during the month.

One Parking’s report also disclosed more than $51,000 in variable operating expenses tied to the program.

Those costs included:

• $26,408.85 in hourly transaction convenience fees.

• $18,312 in permit administration fees.

• Approximately $6,296.57 in credit card processing fees.

• A $2,140 customer response service contingency item.

The report noted One Parking is now paying sales taxes on behalf of the city beginning with March 2026 collections. April sales tax obligations totaled approximately $11,988.55.

One notable item in the report referenced a continuing “revenue reporting issue” involving some hourly transactions.

The report states there was a negative hourly “over/short” adjustment of $79.23 due to “transactions appearing to be approved on the report side, but the funds are not transferred.” One Parking noted it did not believe the issue was impacting customers.

The city’s separate monthly operating reimbursement invoice of $26,964 was referenced in the report but was not included in the April revenue calculations because it was billed separately.

Paid parking has become one of the most divisive issues in Fernandina Beach politics, sparking lawsuits, recall attempts against city commissioners and a voter referendum scheduled for Aug. 18.

As previously reported by the Fernandina Observer, the parking system generated more than $100,000 during its first week of operation in February, though most of that early revenue came from annual permit sales during the initial rollout.