Council approves Easton's Beach fee and parking changes, leases for major events and service contracts

The City Council approved several actions affecting Easton's Beach, including updates to the beach amenities fee schedule, temporary parking leases for large events, and service contracts for seasonal sand grading and portable toilets.

The council updated the Easton's Beach fee schedule to align daily rates with other local beaches and to allow free beach parking year‑round for vehicles that display a Newport resident parking sticker (the council eliminated a separate beach sticker under the proposed approach). City staff said the change simplifies enforcement and noted seasonal wages have risen roughly 35 percent and contract services roughly 119 percent since 2020. The revised fee structure passed on voice vote.

Councilors debated whether non‑residents who possess a Newport resident parking sticker (for example, seasonal property holders or people who spend less than seven months per year in Newport) would receive free parking under the new rule; staff said the free parking entitlement in the proposal is keyed to possession of a Newport resident parking sticker. Councilor concerns about directing parking revenues to beach replenishment resurfaced, and Finance Director Jim Nolan said the beach was moved into the general fund about eight to ten years ago because operations were not self‑supporting at the time.

The council also approved two short-term lease agreements for parking at Easton's Beach: a $12,829 lease with Yachting Promotions for the Newport International Boat Show (Sept. 11–14) and a $10,210 lease with the Audrain Automotive Museum for Audrain’s Newport Concours Motor Week (Oct. 2–5). Each agreement included a one‑year option to extend by mutual agreement.

Separately, the council approved an award to East Coast Landscaping & Construction (Portsmouth) for seasonal construction equipment and operator services at Easton's Beach (not to exceed $10,000 annually); staff explained private contractors are used to avoid damage to city-owned equipment on the sand. The council also approved a portable‑toilet contract (Halman Septic Services and Portable Toilet LLC) with a two‑year base term and options, not to exceed $25,000, and a Pine Street Driftway shoreline adaptation contract (DeCenzo) not to exceed $92,475.

Councilors said they want to reconsider the structure of beach-related revenues and a potential enterprise fund during the budget process to ensure beach parking and meter revenues support beach operations and replenishment. The votes on the parking leases, contracts and fee schedule all passed by voice vote.