Vero Beach council votes 4–1 to lease airport terminal parking to private operator

The City of Vero Beach City Council voted 4–1 to adopt Option 2 in the airport parking development proposal—leasing the entire terminal parking parcel to a private operator—after a presentation from airport staff and public comment from aviation and developer representatives.

Brandon Danback, operations manager for the Vero Beach Airport, told the council staff’s financial analysis showed leasing the whole parcel would generate about "$422,000 of revenue a year" for the airport and would shift insurance, maintenance and operational burdens to the lessee. Danback said the full-lease model also would increase parking capacity in the area and create a single cohesive parking system with improved traffic flow and pedestrian access.

Council members pressed staff for details on cost estimates and alternatives. Council member Carroll repeated concerns about a $5,000,000 Hansen estimate that Danback said represented demolition of current lots and construction of a single new lot; staff acknowledged a detailed line-item breakdown was not included in the packet. Danback said FAA and FDOT funding and grant mechanics were being pursued and that consultants with airport management experience would help craft lease terms to protect grant assurances.

Multiple vendors and advocates spoke in the public portion. Steve Kovaleski of Vision Parking Partners said his group would be the lessee and that SafePark would supply license-plate–reader enforcement and payment infrastructure, pledging to invest $5,000,000 in construction and to manage parking operations. Several council members and residents raised questions about technology and equity, asking whether kiosks or call-in/payment alternatives would be available for older users and how mailed invoices and collections would be handled. SafePark’s representative said customers could scan a barcode, call a clerk to pay, or receive a mailed bill if they do nothing; the vendor said nonpayment could be tied to DMV actions in some cases.

After the discussion and public comment, Vice Mayor Dingle moved to adopt Option 2; the motion passed on roll call: Voss yes, Moore yes, Carroll no, Dingle yes, Mayor Catugno yes (4–1).

The council then approved Change Order No. 2 to Hansen, authorizing additional design work that includes an employee parking lot, a cell-phone lot and traffic-flow reconfiguration; staff said they would work with the potential lessee during the design phase. The change order passed unanimously (5–0).

Next steps outlined by staff include negotiating a lease with the selected developer/lessee, completing the Hansen design per the change order, and processing a public-transportation grant amendment related to the terminal parking project. Council members said they expect detailed lease terms and performance milestones to be negotiated with city staff, FAA and legal counsel before a final long-term agreement is executed.

The council’s vote represents the city’s decision to prioritize speed and outside capital for terminal parking expansion while shifting operational risk and maintenance responsibility to a private partner. The airport and council signaled they will continue coordination with FDOT and FAA during subsequent lease negotiations and design work.