Fernandina voters approve paid-parking restrictions, but downtown program remains in place for now

By Mike Lednovich/Editor

FERNANDINA BEACH - City voters approved a citizen-initiated ordinance Tuesday requiring voter approval before the city implements paid parking in any designated area.

With [NUMBER/PERCENT] of the vote, the “Yes” side defeated the “No” side, which received [NUMBER/PERCENT], according to unofficial results from the Nassau County Supervisor of Elections. A total of [NUMBER] city voters participated in the referendum.

The vote represents a clear rejection of any future expansion of paid parking without direct approval from city voters. It does not, however, automatically terminate the paid-parking program already operating downtown.

The ordinance approved by voters states:

“The City of Fernandina Beach shall not implement paid parking in any designated area, defined as all areas within the City, without majority approval (50% plus one) vote from a public referendum of registered City voters.”

The ordinance exempts temporary paid parking associated with a publicly noticed special event lasting no longer than 30 days.

Because the language prohibits the city from implementing paid parking in the future, City Attorney Teresa Prince has said it is not retroactive to the downtown program approved before the referendum.

“If the initiative was adopted, became an ordinance, then it is not retroactive,” Prince told the City Commission on Oct. 21, 2025.

City Manager Sarah Campbell subsequently confirmed that interpretation, saying the city did not believe the initiative would apply retroactively to the downtown program.

That means paid parking will continue unless the City Commission separately votes to repeal or substantially change the program, or opponents successfully challenge the city’s interpretation in court. The City Commission meets Wednesday.

Paid parking has become one of Fernandina Beach’s most divisive civic issues in recent years, splitting residents, downtown business owners and city commissioners. Opponents organized a petition drive, challenged the program in court and argued that charging for parking would discourage residents and visitors from coming downtown. Supporters maintained that paid parking would improve space turnover and generate revenue for long-delayed downtown improvements. The dispute produced months of contentious commission meetings, public criticism and heated debate on social media before voters finally had their say Tuesday.

The commission approved the downtown paid-parking program after the petition initiative was underway. Paid parking began Feb. 16, with enforcement beginning March 16 following a 30-day grace period.

The program charges $2 an hour in designated downtown spaces. City residents may obtain free annual permits for as many as two vehicles, while non-city residents may purchase annual permits for $124.

City officials projected the program would produce approximately $1.9 million in annual gross revenue and about $1.1 million after operating expenses. Revenue is placed in a special fund and restricted to downtown capital improvements and maintenance.

Although Tuesday’s vote does not eliminate the existing program, it changes the balance of authority over paid parking. The City Commission will no longer be able to implement paid parking in another area of Fernandina Beach without first receiving approval from a majority of city voters.

The result could also increase political pressure on commissioners to reconsider the downtown program. But ending it would require a separate commission action rather than occurring automatically because of the referendum.

Under the City Charter, an ordinance adopted through the initiative process also may be repealed or amended by a four-fifths vote of the City Commission.

The referendum grew out of a petition campaign that gathered more than 1,700 certified voter signatures after the commission began considering paid parking downtown.

Tuesday’s vote settled the question placed on the ballot: Future paid parking cannot be implemented without voter approval. The political dispute over the existing downtown program, however, is likely to continue.