Morgantown staff outline municipal ID program; council asks for resolution on next agenda

Brad Riffey, the city’s public relations, marketing and communications director, presented a concept for a Morgantown Municipal Identification Card Program at the Committee of the Whole meeting on March 25.

"The Morgantown Municipal ID Program aims to provide all residents with a form of identification that enhances access to essential city services, and fosters community engagement and connectivity," Riffey said, describing potential uses including library services and future coordination with Mountain Line Transit Authority.

City staff framed the presentation as conceptual and invited council guidance on details including where the program would be housed, eligibility criteria and fees. Riffey said applicants would need to provide proof of residency and other documentation; once documents were verified they would be returned to the card holder and staff would not retain original documents for security reasons.

Riffey described a point-based verification approach discussed in the packet: six points of proof required overall, four for identification and two for residency; the draft application proposed a minimum age of 14 and noted a fee-waiver option "upon verification through an affidavit of hardship." He also said hardware and software startup costs under one vendor option were estimated around $2,000 and that another vendor quoted $10,000; third-party implementations elsewhere had been reported in the $30,000–$40,000 range. Riffey later added an approximate per-card printing cost of about $0.33.

Several council members asked how the program would serve people without a fixed address. Riffey said the draft would accept documentation from the homeless-management information system (HMIS) and other verifications to reduce barriers for unhoused residents while still requiring a clear verification process. He also said the ID would not replace state-issued driver's licenses or serve as a travel document.

When council asked how to proceed, the city attorney suggested a resolution directing the city manager and communications director to establish the program and return to council with specific implementation steps. "Counselors, one thing you might consider is just a resolution directing the city manager, along with your communications director, to establish a program, and then bring that back to council for final approval," the city attorney said.

Council members indicated they would like the resolution placed on the next council agenda so staff can work with administration on the details before any ordinance or formal council action is proposed.

Staff and council emphasized the concept is preliminary; no formal action to adopt the program or any ordinance took place at the Committee of the Whole meeting.