The St. Augustine City Commission has proposed a new plan that aims to ease long-standing parking frustrations for downtown employees during the city’s upcoming Nights of Lights festival.
The initiative would temporarily open a Flagler College parking lot on Malaga Street to eligible workers during the school’s winter break.
Under the proposal, 250 parking spaces would become available to employees of Historic District businesses operating during the Nights of Lights season from Dec. 14 to Jan. 4 when Flagler is not in session.
The event itself will run from Nov. 15 to Jan. 11.
Workers would be required to purchase a $50 permit to access the lot. While the permit does not guarantee a space, it would allow holders to park in the facility when spots are available.
Revenue from the permit sales would be split between the city and Flagler College.
The school would receive 20 percent of the proceeds, with a guaranteed minimum of $1,000, while the remaining funds would go toward administrative and operational costs, including 24-hour security provided by the city.
Parking availability during the Nights of Lights has been an intractable challenge for local employees, who frequently report being forced to park far from their workplaces or spending excessive time searching for open spots.
City officials hope the Flagler lot agreement will offer some relief to these workers, many of whom have few reliable alternatives during the high-traffic holiday season.
Permits would be limited to verified employees of Historic District businesses that are actively operating during the Nights of Lights event.
The City Commission will review the plan at its upcoming meeting on Monday.
