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Council hears plan to move New Braunfels river resident parking to digital permits, return to one-year term
Summary
City staff presented a proposal to digitize resident river parking permits through a vendor called Interstate, move from a three-year pass back to an annual pass, and shift enforcement to license-plate based verification; no formal council vote on the proposal is recorded in the provided transcript.
City staff presented a proposal to convert the New Braunfels resident river parking pass program to a digital, license-plate–based system managed by a private vendor referred to in the record as “Interstate.” The council heard details about how the program would work and how enforcement would operate, and staff said the city plans to return from a three-year resident pass to a one-year pass once the digital system is in place.
Under the proposal, residents would create an online account, upload the same forms of proof of residency the city currently requires (driver’s license with address, utility bill, lease, etc.), and register permitted vehicles — up to whatever vehicles appear on an applicant’s insurance. Interstate would verify residency and respond to applications, with staff saying the goal is an approval or rejection email within 24 hours. Once approved, a resident could park at designated river paid-parking lots (Elizabeth Avenue, Hemet Island Drive, San Antonio Street, Mill Street, Fairlane at River Acres Park, and Cypress Bend) without scanning a code or otherwise signing in on site. Prince Solms Park (transcript variant: Prince Alms/Park) would remain a paid lot requiring payment; staff said Prince Solms Park receipts have historically gone into the River Activities Fund.
Staff said switching to a digital system would allow the city to remove paper stickers and rely on license-plate recognition for enforcement. The first offense for a resident who has a sticker but failed to register online would be a warning that includes a registration link; repeat noncompliance could lead to citations. Staff noted the program should be live April 1 and that branding and user experience are still in design. The council did not record a formal approval or final ordinance in the segment of transcript provided; staff said two related ordinance items (an update to list Prince Solms Park in the River Activities Fund and a future ordinance to authorize third-party enforcement) would come back to council for formal action.
Several council members and members of the public asked clarifying questions about verification, appeals after a rejected application, corporate-registered vehicles, and the change from a three-year to one-year pass. Staff said Interstate has implemented similar systems in other cities and that the city would supplement the online outreach with QR-code A-frames in public buildings and in-person assistance at library branches and park offices.
