Title:

Support Paid Parking in Fernandina Beach: Let’s Keep Our City Sustainable and Fair

 

Petition Summary:

Fernandina Beach is a beautiful, historic city that draws over 1.6 million visitors annually. Yet the cost of maintaining our roads, sidewalks, public amenities, and vital downtown infrastructure is overwhelmingly shouldered by just 8,000 city taxpayers out of a population of around 13,000 residents. Nassau County is an additional 90, 000 residents. It’s time for a more equitable and sustainable solution. Support paid parking in our downtown corridor—a commonsense approach that helps fund the services we all depend on, while keeping Fernandina strong for generations to come.

Full Petition Text:

We, the undersigned, call on the City of Fernandina Beach to move forward with implementing a paid parking program in the downtown area. Our city, with approximately 13,000 residents and only 8,000 contributing taxpayers, is currently subsidizing the costs of maintenance, amenities, and infrastructure that benefit not only us, but also:

A large population of unincorporated Nassau County residents,
Countless day-trippers, and
Over 1.6 million annual visitors who enjoy our charming city without contributing to its upkeep.

This situation is unsustainable. The burdens placed on our general fund—paid by local taxpayers—have continued to grow as our popularity as a destination increases.

Paid parking offers a practical, ongoing solution.

It would:

Generate dedicated revenue to maintain and improve roads, sidewalks, lighting, and beautification in the downtown corridor,

Reduce pressure on the general fund, allowing more investment in neighborhood projects and essential services across the city,

Leverage modern, flexible technology, allowing for carveouts and exemptions for Fernandina Beach residents, business owners, and employees,

Preserve free parking options outside of the central downtown area, so access is not denied to those who truly need it.

Let’s be clear: This is not about punishing visitors—we welcome them. This is about creating a system that shares the cost of the services and infrastructure that make our city desirable. It’s about fairness.

Other cities across Florida and the country use paid parking effectively to fund public works, protect their historic districts, and improve quality of life for residents. Fernandina Beach deserves the same.

We urge our city leaders to adopt a smart, equitable paid parking program that supports the long-term sustainability and vitality of Fernandina Beach.

Let’s stop expecting our small community to carry the financial load for millions. Let’s move toward a future that works—for everyone.

 

Sign today to show your support.