Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parking topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Atlantic Beach tables plan to match Neptune Beach's $5 parking rate amid employee-safety concerns
Summary
Commissioners tabled a resolution to align Atlantic Beach paid-parking with Neptune Beach after residents and business owners warned a jump to $5 an hour would worsen employee parking shortages and create safety risks for late-night workers; staff was directed to negotiate solutions and return Jan. 26, 2026.
Mayor Curtis Ford opened an extended discussion on whether Atlantic Beach should adopt the Beaches Town Center fee schedule after residents and merchants raised safety and equity concerns.
Jessica McKinley, owner of Witt's Frozen Custard, told the commission she and other businesses have lost nearby free lots and that "it's just not a safe journey for [employees] to get to their car" after parking turned paid and employees must walk long distances at night. Sandra Bete said she attended a Beaches Town Center meeting where she was told Neptune Beach would begin charging "$5 an hour" and eliminate a free 30-minute pickup window, and she criticized the lack of Atlantic Beach representation at that meeting.
City Manager Mr. Killingsworth and several commissioners said the $5 jump represents about a 200%+ increase over previous rates and could shift parking demand across the border. Killingsworth warned of operational and contractual constraints tied to the partner that administers the system, and recommended staff explore short-term mitigations such as employee registration or dedicated employee zones.
"Allow the employees to register," Killingsworth said during the discussion as a potential short-term step to reduce burden on workers. Commissioners pressed for clarity on the interlocal agreement and the software/contract that Neptune Beach uses to administer payments and resident registrations.
Commissioner Brandt and others urged the city to coordinate with Neptune Beach and the Beaches Town Center Agency to find shared solutions, including a possible two-tiered arrangement or designated employee parking. Commissioners also asked staff to consult the merchants association and compile counts of employees, parking supply, and potential shared parking opportunities.
Faced with unresolved technical and equity questions, the commission voted to table Resolution 25-108 and continue the matter to a date certain: the commission's meeting on Jan. 26, 2026. In the meantime, Neptune Beach will continue to collect the higher fees as administrator of the current system, and Atlantic Beach directed staff to begin negotiations and return with options addressing employee parking and registration.
