Emerald Isle raises beach parking rates and amends UPP Global contract over dissent

The Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners voted March 10 to raise paid parking rates for its Eastern and Western Ocean regional access lots and to revise the town's revenue‑sharing contract with UPP Global.

Town Manager Frank Rush told the Board the proposed hourly fee would increase from $4 to $5 and the daily maximum from $20 to $25 for the 2026 paid season. Rush said the rate change is expected to generate about $130,000 in additional annual parking revenue and that amending the revenue split with UPP Global from 50/50 to 65% Town / 35% UPP Global would allow the town to retain roughly $120,000 of that additional revenue rather than about $65,000 under the existing split.

Mayor Pro‑Tem Jason Holland moved both the fee schedule amendment and the resolution to amend the contract with UPP Global. Each motion passed 3-1: Commissioners Josh Sawyer and Kris Plum voted in favor; Commissioner Roy Brownlow voted against; Commissioner Alesia Sanderson was recused from the parking items for a disclosed conflict of interest.

Brownlow said he opposed the measures because he lacked sufficient information. "I could not responsibly approve it without better understanding," he told the Board.

The Board did not change the timing of the 2026 paid season in the motion. The additional revenue was described as intended to fund visitor services. The town did not provide itemized line‑by‑line allocations for the anticipated funds at the meeting.

Next steps include finalizing the amended contract language with UPP Global and implementing the new fee schedule for the 2026 season.