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Council directs overhaul of resident parking program amid complaints of permit abuse
Summary
The council unanimously approved a resolution asking administration and the solicitor to present a comprehensive overhaul of Newport's resident parking program within 30 days, including tightened residency proof, a two-tier fee structure, caps per address, and stepped-up enforcement.
The Newport City Council voted to task city administration and the solicitor’s office with drafting revised policies and ordinances to overhaul the city's resident parking permit program.
Councillor Mark Romley explained the resolution was prompted by complaints that the city’s parking-sticker system — unchanged in many respects for years — is being abused: some addresses and entities have been issued an excessive number of resident stickers. Interim finance director Jim Nolan confirmed the current program issues roughly 14,000 stickers annually and that nonresident permits have historically cost $10 per year, a fee that has not been updated in many years.
The resolution requests a framework that: (1) prioritizes availability and affordability for year-round residents, (2) ties proof of residency to stronger indicators such as participation in the two-tier tax program or a Rhode Island driver’s license with a Newport address, (3) implements a two-tier fee structure charging nonresident entities more, (4) caps the number of permits and guest passes issued per address, and (5) increases enforcement intensity and citation fees to deter misuse.
Councilors discussed operational implications (how to verify residency for tens of thousands of stickers and potential self-service portals to prevent overwhelming staff) and asked staff to propose implementation and IT-assisted enforcement options. The resolution passed with direction for staff to return recommendations (including administrative policy and any ordinance changes) within 30 days.
Next steps: administration will analyze verification options (including the two-tier tax database and a possible online portal), propose fee levels and caps, and outline enforcement resources and projected revenues. The council asked staff to prioritize clarity for residents and build exceptions for special cases (for example, students who register vehicles out of state but are part of a household).
