NewsLine staff
The Fernandina Beach City Commission held its regular meeting Aug. 19, voting to begin unwinding the city’s paid parking program a day after voters approved a citizen-initiated referendum on the issue. Commissioners also received an update on the city’s comprehensive plan review, heard capital project and budget reports, approved a police union contract, and discussed funding options for displaced Peppertree Village residents. Reverend Sarah Minton delivered the invocation.
Commissioners vote 4-1 to rescind paid parking contract
Commissioners voted 4-1 to direct city staff to begin terminating the city’s contract with parking vendor One Parking, a day after a citizen-initiated referendum on paid parking passed with about 75% of the vote, according to figures cited during the meeting from the Nassau County Supervisor of Elections. City Manager Sarah Campbell later told commissioners the city is required to give 90 days’ notice to cancel the contract, meaning the program would end around mid-November. The city estimated it would spend up to $16,250 to continue paying the parking manager’s salary and up to $16,900 for an enforcement officer’s salary during the wind-down, along with prorated signage costs, all paid out of the parking program’s existing fund.
Commissioners spent more than an hour before the vote discussing the referendum results and the financial effect of losing paid parking revenue, which several commissioners said the city had budgeted to help fund the Brett’s Waterfront restaurant demolition and the broader waterfront park project. One commissioner proposed the city study creating a dedicated downtown taxing district to help fund infrastructure needs going forward, and asked staff to research the idea’s legal requirements, boundaries and projected revenue. Commissioners did not vote on that proposal.
Four residents addressed the commission on the paid parking issue before the vote. Mac Morris urged commissioners to move forward with canceling the contract and said the community needed to begin healing after 18 months of division over the issue. Pete Stevenson said ending paid parking without a replacement revenue source could cost the average city taxpayer an additional $167 a year and asked commissioners to identify a funding solution rather than simply reacting to the vote. Taina Christner suggested the city consider hiring an efficiency consultant to review the budget rather than raising taxes. Barb Zoodsma, who voted for the referendum, said she understood the ballot measure as establishing a process for future citizen input on parking decisions, not as an immediate repeal of the existing program.
Comprehensive plan review identifies six community priorities
The Northeast Florida Regional Council presented results of the city’s required Evaluation and Appraisal Report, based on survey responses from about 150 residents. The process identified six priority themes for the city’s updated comprehensive plan: community character, growth compatibility, environmental stewardship, walkability, resiliency and infrastructure, and affordable housing. Respondents ranked tree canopy preservation above beach access as the top environmental concern and named overdevelopment as the biggest threat to community character. The city must submit required plan updates to the state within the next year.
Capital projects update: beach boardwalk reconstruction, road work continue
Deputy City Manager Jeremiah Glisson said the city is about 83% through its fiscal year on capital projects. Reconstruction of the Jasmine Street beach boardwalk, a $225,000 project, has been deferred to fiscal year 2027 pending state environmental permitting. Street resurfacing on 1.3 miles of city roads, delayed by rain, is back on schedule, and land acquisition for the Ybor Alvarez soccer complex remains on hold pending property appraisals. An interior remodel of the MOK recreation building has been postponed, with funding redirected to sports field redevelopment.
Budget summary: general fund revenues outpacing last year
City Comptroller Susan Carless told commissioners the general fund’s year-to-date revenues exceed expenditures by $4.2 million, with the fund balance running $2.5 million ahead of last year. Sales tax revenue is trending lower than expected due to the city’s declining share of the county’s population. Significant July expenditures included $80,000 for a new police vehicle and $40,000 for ocean rescue radios. Carless separately reported improved investment returns after the city shifted funds to a higher-yield money market account with Ameris Bank.
City already meets most new state budget transparency rules
City Attorney Teresa Prince said the city already complies with most requirements of House Bill 1329, a new state transparency law taking effect Jan. 1, 2027. New requirements include posting five years of budget history instead of three, publishing employee names alongside salary data, and holding a public budget-reduction workshop before adopting a budget. The law also caps future impact fee increases at 100% over four years.
Commissioners approve police union contract, other resolutions
Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a new collective bargaining agreement with the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association, raising the department’s starting salary and restructuring officer pay by years of service at a cost of $309,000 this fiscal year. Commissioners also voted 5-0 to approve an interlocal agreement with Nassau County for the Amelia Island Beach Harmonization Project, rebuilding Seaside Park’s boardwalks and stormwater infrastructure; the county will cover 70% of the cost, with the city’s 30% share estimated at $1.7 million. In a third resolution, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a grant application for firefighter cancer-decontamination equipment, funded 75% by the grant.
Board appointments, first-reading ordinance approved
Commissioners voted 5-0 to appoint Peter Kasinski to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee over fellow applicant Richard Riley, and voted 5-0 to appoint James Rauschenberger to the Board of Trustees of the General Employees’ Pension Plan. Commissioners also gave 5-0 first-reading approval to an annual update of the city’s employee pay and classification plan.
City weighs funding request for displaced Peppertree Village residents
City Manager Sarah Campbell and Commissioner Minchew told the commission about a stakeholder meeting regarding Peppertree Village, a roughly 55-unit low-income housing community whose federal loan has matured, leading to the property’s pending sale and residents’ likely displacement. The Nassau County Council on Aging has proposed a roughly $230,000 relocation assistance program, including a dedicated case manager to help residents find new housing, and has requested $50,000 contributions from both the city and Nassau County; Baptist Health has already committed $50,000 toward the effort.
Commissioners expressed mixed views on using city tax dollars for the request, with some noting Peppertree Village sits outside city limits and questioning whether city funds should help relocate residents who may leave the county entirely, and others voicing support for finding a way to help, including possibly structuring any city contribution to take effect only if the program reaches certain fundraising milestones. Commissioners reached a general consensus to have staff return with funding options rather than take formal action Aug. 19.
Residents highlight film festival, skate competition during public comment
A resident updated commissioners on the inaugural Amelia Island International Skate and Surf Film Festival, held June 20 on North Second Street, which screened 18 of 28 submitted films, awarded $8,000 in cash prizes and drew more than 700 attendees; organizers plan to expand next year’s event to multiple days. Waldemar Borrero told commissioners about the 10th annual Terry Kelly Skate Competition, held that Saturday, and asked commissioners to release the remaining $60,000 budgeted for skate park design.
Other business
City Clerk Caroline Best congratulated Commissioner-elect Scott Inglis, who takes office Nov. 17, and thanked candidates Len Kreger and Staci McMonagle for running. City Attorney Prince announced a Sept. 1 executive session on pending litigation, Pledger v. City of Fernandina Beach. In commissioner comments, Mayor Anton announced the city’s redesigned website, a free flower giveaway Aug. 21, the third Summer Sunset Concert Series show Aug. 23, and the police department’s 15th consecutive year of state accreditation. Anton also floated naming the Atlantic Recreation Center pool after longtime resident Lulu Louise Bowers, who died recently at 106 and swam in the pool until age 105; no vote was taken. Other commissioners announced the Keep Nassau Beautiful Coastal Cleanup on Sept. 19 and the Humane Society’s Barktoberfest fundraiser on Oct. 10.
Video of the full Aug. 19, 2026 Fernandina Beach City Commission meeting is available at https://fernandinabeachfl.new.swagit.com/videos/396760
