>
Fernandina Beach’s controversial paid parking program in the historic downtown district generated $100,963 in gross revenue during its first week after going live Feb. 16, according to a report from Deputy City Manager Jeremiah Glisson.
The figures represent the program’s first seven days of operation. City officials noted that One Parking, the city’s contracted operator, is still building out reporting features, but preliminary data provides an initial snapshot of performance.
Revenue breakdown
- Hourly paid parking (visitors)
- $21,533 generated through hourly transactions.
- An average of 563 paid transactions per day.
- The busiest day was Saturday, with 1,020 transactions.
- The lowest day was Wednesday, with 412 transactions.
These payments are made through posted signage directing users to the city’s parking management system.
Permitted paid parking
- $79,460 generated through annual permits.
- 5,016 city resident permits issued (free for up to two vehicles per household).
- 619 non-city resident permits issued at $124 per permit.
The majority of first-week revenue reflects early non-resident annual permit purchases rather than ongoing hourly turnover.
The city remains in a 30-day grace period, during which no citations are being issued. Enforcement is scheduled to begin March 16.
Program expenses include $26,964 per month for parking management services, as well as transaction processing fees associated with each payment.
The $100,963 figure represents gross revenue and does not account for those operating costs.
Paid parking has been one of the most divisive issues in the city in recent years. The City Commission approved the program amid broader debates over the impact on downtown businesses, neighborhoods and the small town vibe of the city.
Supporters argued the system would shift more of the financial burden to visitors, improve parking turnover in high-demand areas, and provide a recurring revenue stream tied to downtown activity.
Opponents countered that it could harm local businesses, deter visitors, and was adopted without sufficient public support. The issue became central to a citizen-led referendum effort and remains a flashpoint in local politics. A referendum vote on the program is Aug. 18.
While one week is insufficient to establish long-term trends, the data suggests strong weekend utilization. The 1,020 paid transactions recorded on Saturday indicate substantial visitor engagement despite the introduction of fees.
City officials have indicated more comprehensive reporting metrics will be available as the system matures and enforcement begins.
For now, the first-week revenue provides the first measurable financial benchmark for a program that has significantly reshaped parking policy in Fernandina Beach’s historic downtown.
FunnyGirl4615
So - roughly 3/4 of the money in the first week was generated through the permitting of non residents. That is great but, once everyone has gotten a permit who wants or needs one, what happens next? Also, no deduction reported for operating costs. I am not sure they are going to see the $2 million annually they need pay the bond with based on this data.
Monday, February 23 Report this
Kelprod
The net profit on this paid parking program seems not to justify the very clear ill will being generated amongst visitors, downtown businesses and even local homeowners who are now dealing with parking on their streets outside of paid parking grid. The program has what appears to be an annualized cost of $360K+. Is the juice worth the ill will squeeze? Not sure it does.
Monday, February 23 Report this
Kobler73
This article is a masterclass in using "gross" figures to mask a "net" failure, presenting a $100,000 "windfall" that is mathematically impossible to sustain. By burying the fact that nearly 80% ($79,460) of that total came from one-time annual permit sales, the reporter creates a false narrative of a weekly cash cow; in reality, the actual recurring visitor revenue of $21,533 doesn't even cover the $26,964 monthly management fee plus transaction costs. Reporting on the "success" of a program during a 30-day grace period where no fines are issued—and without a baseline to show if foot traffic has actually dropped—isn't journalism; it is a slanted press release that prioritizes a "big number" over the economic truth for Fernandina taxpayers.
Monday, February 23 Report this
Barbarosa
The 1,020 paid transactions recorded on Saturday indicate that at least 1,020 space-hours were paid for, but since we don't know the number of hours (max 4 hours on-street, or 8 hours in city lots), it is impossible to determine an occupancy rate. There is a potential of 49,530 space-hours per week (762 spaces *10 hr/day *6.5 day/week). If we assume all 1020 were 4-hour parkers, the Weekly %Occupancy would be 43% occupancy. Not an inspiring number.
%. Not going to make a fortune at 7% occupancy.
Monday, February 23 Report this
RobertR
Are we really that stupid? Gross receipts is never the analysis of any business viability Folks. It's net to the bottom line. Gross receipts less - administrative costs less - payroll less - debt service less- equipment repair/replacement less - franchise fees. I'm thinking all this and at the end of the day city taxpayers end up with...... crickets. I am not even factoring in effects on small business owners, etc. Pure economic analysis. I also this week just saw first mention of paid beach parking.....That's going to be a really hard sell. Next beach passes so to sit on the beach we'll be charged for expansion of the Beach Ranger Patrols? When does Big Brother take a step back? Bed tax people.....where does $8 MILLION a year in collections evaporate to? follow the money and maybe you'll see the solutions vs. taxing the hell out of full-time residents.
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
Editor
The City's paid parking contractor has not provided the city with a detailed report regarding revenues and expenses thus far. Deputy City Manager Jeremiah Glisson told The Observer he expects a detailed accounting from the contractor soon and on a regular basis. The City will provide that information to the public when it becomes available.
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
Prof____H
Every dollar the city gets in parking revenue is a dollar residents don't have to pay in taxes. I'm all for it!
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
DouglasM
Thanks Mike and Mike.....looking forward to the detailed breakdowns as they emerge. With the first week number of 21.5K in hourly revenue you get only 1.1M on an annual basis. Back out the over 300K in annual expenses and you are at 800K. After that is just how many $124 permits get sold for the final tally.
No way they get 2M....but many predicted that. We'll see what the long term trend is as Glisson releases numbers. If the trend follows this week, then we have to sink this in the August election, because if we don't, the rates and fees will start to climb and the citizens will have no way to stop it......then comes the beach paid parking program.
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
Beachstoremike
One week of data in February is not a sufficient sample size. The good news is we have from now until August to collect and publish data to inform residents on how paid parking is performing. Is paid parking generating the revenue projected? Simple. One Parking has projections and is required to provide revenue and cost information to the city. Is paid parking harming local businesses? I would assume Fernandina Beach Main Street is putting together an analysis to determine if businesses are being harmed. If not, they should and it should be made public; a simple same store sales comparison for shops and restaurants for 2026 vs. 2024 and/or 2025. If businesses are not willing to collect and provide data then we should assume there is no negative impact. March through July is the busiest time on the Island and doing a proper analysis of paid parking would remove the emotion and let voters decide based on data.
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
GDecker
We are just entering tourist season--so the next 6 months will tell the tale. This is why the great rush to implement, as the city needs at least 6 months revenue to show lenders creditability--next 6 months are make or break time.
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
jlslot
Went out to Dinner Monday evening 02/23 and sat next to couple from Michigan. Since we were having dinner in Historical Area I brough up the "Paid Parking" issue. They had no problem paying for 2 hours of parking and could not understand why some residents were upset about it.
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
CarolC33
After visiting Fernandina Beach 2-3 times annually for at least 15 years, I was there the week of Feb. 9 for the last time in the foreseeable future. I simply refuse to pay additional money for the privilege of coming to your downtown to spend money...period! There are simply too many other, and similar, destinations that aren't trying to gouge visitors (and downtown workers)...delightful St. Simons Island, GA, for example.
I can only hope local voters do the right thing--vote down the paid-parking fiasco--in August. And, an even bigger and unfortunately a more unlikely hope, that local elected officials do not then turn around and ignore the voters' voices with the excuse that the city has already invested too much in the paid-parking mandate.
Thursday, February 26 Report this
DouglasM
Also (as predicted) there is increased street parking in the tertiary residential zones. Drive west on Alachua and take a gander north at 3rd street. The cars stretched well past Arte's pizza on a Thursday. Some nice homes there. Then look south at the 2 public lots. I saw several open spaces.
The shallow parking ringing the townhouses just south of City Hall are getting much heavier use. The grassy edges of the Tringali property have been turned into a daily lot,
And they aren't even issuing citations yet!!
Those citizens who live within one block of the zone will have to live with this every day.
Saturday, February 28 Report this