Backlash builds: Citizens mobilizing to recall commissioners over downtown parking fees
Opposition to Fernandina Beach's plan to implement paid parking in the historic downtown area has sparked a grassroots effort to recall two city commissioners — Tim Poynter and Genece Minshew — over their support of the policy.
A Facebook group titled Fernandina Beach Commissioner Recall Petition Group launched Sunday and has already attracted nearly 500 members. Group administrator Mark Swope has scheduled an organizational meeting for Nov. 8 at noon at Shuckers Restaurant in Yulee.
Swope, a former city employee who served as superintendent of the municipal golf course for nearly two years before stepping down in May, declined to comment in detail. “Thanks for reaching out. At this time, I don't have any information I can offer you,” he said in a Facebook message to The Observer.
Veteran Fernandina Beach attorney and state lobbyist Buddy Jacobs said this recall campaign is unprecedented in Nassau County. “I don’t believe it’s ever happened,” Jacobs said.
Also advising the effort is local Facebook influencer Mac Morriss, a prominent figure in the successful No Paid Parking petition campaign that secured a spot on the 2026 ballot.
“I’m not part of the recall effort team, and it’s not appropriate for me to comment,” Morriss told The Observer. However, in a post within the group, he clarified his role: “Please be patient — this team hasn't met for the first time yet. We still need to complete basic paperwork to create the necessary recall petition and open a bank account for donations. My role is as a consultant. This is my second grassroots petition and affidavit initiative.”
Florida law makes recalling elected city officials significantly more difficult than launching a referendum. Under Florida Statute 100.361, residents can initiate a recall of municipal officials like city commissioners, but the process is tightly regulated.
The process for recalling a public official in Florida are the following:
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Grounds for Recall: Must be based on specific reasons such as malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence, permanent inability to perform duties, or conviction of a felony.
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A city commissioner must have served for one-quarter of their elected term (in Fernandina Beach, 4 years) before initial petitions are submitted. That would be December of this year.
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Initial Petition Phase: Within 30 days of the first signature, organizers must collect signatures equal to 5% of the city’s registered voters (about 400 signatures) to trigger the legal recall process.
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Final Petition Phase: Once approved to proceed, organizers then have 60 days to gather signatures from 15% of the city’s registered voters.
Petitions must be submitted to the Fernandina Beach City Clerk, then validated by the Nassau County Supervisor of Elections.
The 30-day time frame stands in contrast to the No Paid Parking campaign, which faced no firm deadline and gathered 1,700 signatures over three months.
Four of the five city commissioners — Poynter, Minshew, Joyce Tuten, and Mayor James Antun — voted in favor of the plan. Only Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue has opposed it.
Commissioners have defended the paid parking program as a necessary revenue source to fund major infrastructure projects. Among them: construction of a flood protection wall along the Amelia River, demolition of the now-closed Brett’s Waterway Cafe, reconstruction of the Fernandina Harbor Marina docks, and upgrades to downtown streetscapes and lighting. The cost of these capital improvements is expected to reach into the tens of millions of dollars. Commissioners said that paid parking would generate critical revenue without raising taxes.
Meanwhile, negotiations continue between the city and One Parking on a final contract, which must also be approved by the City Commission.
Comments
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JoeW
Do It! Just Do It!
Wednesday, October 29 Report this
PaulaM
If recalls were allowed every time something gets passed that some don’t like NOTHING would ever get done. You can’t please all of the people all of the time as the saying goes. This parking plan is certainly not to everyone’s liking..it’s unfortunately a “ necessary evil” to offset huge upcoming costs that would drive up taxes and take more money out of everyone’s pockets. You can’t have it both ways and money just can’t be pulled out of the air. To go as far as demanding a recall of these 2 public servants is overreaching and most likely will not pass the necessary requirements.
Wednesday, October 29 Report this
charlesebrown
I hope both are recalled and never hold any elected office again. Both are a disgrace to this great city.
Wednesday, October 29 Report this
Mark Tomes
Tim and Genese have done a lot of good work on the commission, and too often when legislators are recalled, they are replaced with people more conservative and less responsive to the citizens. We must be careful what we ask for, it can backfire!
Wednesday, October 29 Report this
John Bertsch
If you are going to have a meeting about recalling FB elected officials, at the very least you should have the meeting in a FB business.
Wednesday, October 29 Report this
NanciR
The 1700+ “No Paid Parking” petitions were collected in less than one month. I oppose paid parking and signed a petition but I’m not in favor of a recall at this point in time.
Wednesday, October 29 Report this
dpwagner
It’s been said over and over the monies secured from paid parking is minuscule when looking at the big picture. $2 million will do very little to address the needs of the city. The unfortunate fact is that the commission simply would not listen to the citizens they are supposed to represent. To the commission: That is why we are in the position we are today. Listen to the people you represent and don’t assume you know all.
Wednesday, October 29 Report this
DouglasM
Keep us posted on this. I will sign.......
Friday, October 31 Report this
Cmoss56
Sadly this effort of retribution against public servants smacks of selfishness and lack of willingness to accept solutions that are not an individual's first choice
Pushing for a recall is a small-minded to express one's displeasure - as the saying goes, "elections have consequences" - and absent any clear malfeasance or illegal activity there is no
Unfortunately, this reflex to "change the rules if I don't like the outcome" is becoming contagious in our country (see mid-decade redistricting efforts in TX, OH, NC, MS and others ), (see recission of funds authorized by Congress bipartisanly then pulled back by POTUS and the GOP)
Proponents of a recall might consider putting their energies into shaping a preferred outcome vs throwing things into chaos
Friday, October 31 Report this
DouglasM
I'll respond to some of the thoughts opposing this recall:
"We may get people LESS responsive next"......how can anyone be less responsive than the 3 newbies? When has an initiative for a ballot ever made it to the people to vote on? Still, they chug full speed ahead.
Devote "energies toward a preferred outcome instead"........numerous people tried that when they spoke at FBCC meetings. How about running a tighter ship! Have you seen the Chief's new vehicle? Why is there a new position of "Downtown czar"? I don't believe we ever had that before. What is the pay and benefits there? Savings exist if they want to do it.
And I'm OK with raising taxes when necessary. It just happened anyway! Everybody got their trim notice recently with a tidy increase. Not adopting the "rollback rate" automatically is a tax increase. I'm OK with that......still, they want more.
The real down and dirty is there is a perception (real) of violating the public trust of those who put them in office......and that crosses a line with many. Some things in life are unsalvageable. Violating trust is numero uno.
Saturday, November 1 Report this