FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — The Fernandina Beach City Commission voted Tuesday night to reject an ordinance that would have banned paid parking downtown and at area beaches, setting up a public vote on the issue in 2026.

More than 1,700 residents had signed a petition calling for a referendum to stop paid parking programs before they could take effect. The petition forced commissioners to consider the “no paid parking” ordinance, which failed to gain enough support during its first reading.

Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue moved to call a special election so voters could decide the issue sooner, but the motion died on the floor for lack of a second. Under the city’s charter, that automatically sends the matter to voters, likely during the August 2026 primary election.

Despite the controversy, the

See Full Page