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Council approves Easton's Beach fee changes, extends free resident parking with concerns about nonresident stickers
Summary
City updates Easton's Beach fee schedule to cover rising wages and contract costs and to allow free year-round parking for vehicles with Newport resident parking stickers; councilors raised concerns about eligibility and funding structure.
The City Council approved an update to Easton's Beach amenities and parking policy intended to bolster beach operations and respond to rising costs for lifeguards, contract services and utilities.
Art (Mr.) Reese, presenting the proposal for the Department of Public Services, said seasonal wages have risen about 35% since fiscal 2020 and contract services costs have increased 119% for items including water sampling, restroom cleaning and pay stations. Reese said the proposal would align daily rates with a neighboring beach and simplify resident access by allowing free parking for vehicles displaying a Newport resident parking sticker year-round (previously free parking for stickered residents applied only before Memorial Day).
Why it matters: Councilors pressed over two issues: whether nonresidents who obtain a Newport resident parking sticker would qualify for free beach parking, and whether beach-derived revenues should be retained in an enterprise fund rather than directed to the general fund. Finance Director Jim Nolan said the beach was moved into the general fund about eight to 10 years ago because operations could not support themselves at that time; he said the operation now runs roughly at breakeven but cannot cover added debt service.
Councilor Napolitano supported the fee change but urged the city to reconsider directing beach-derived parking revenue back to beach operations and to restore an enterprise fund as a longer-term solution. Several councilors expressed concern that nonresidents with resident parking stickers could receive the same free access; city staff said the proposal relies on the resident parking-sticker program and online registration of license plates for enforcement.
Council action: The council voted to approve the updated Easton's Beach fees and the proposed resident-parking provisions. The transcript records a voice vote of approval; a roll-call tally was not recorded in the meeting transcript.
Ending: City staff and councilors said the changes aim to provide stable funding for lifeguards and services while staff will continue to review enterprise-fund options and enforcement details for resident stickers.
