The Portsmouth City Council on Dec. 22 referred a proposed resident-access parking (RAP) pilot to the city’s Parking, Traffic & Safety (PTS) committee for further study, after staff described a pilot that would let registered residents park free while non-residents would pay $1 in selected lots and adjacent streets.

Deputy City Manager Carl Weber described the concept as a pilot and proof of concept: residents would register vehicle plates in the app or at the tax office, and non-residents would be charged via an app or kiosk. “Non residents would pay a dollar. Residents don't pay anything. They just have to register license plates,” Weber said, adding that kiosks could be installed at the library, Pierce Island and the skateboard park for visitors without the app.

Staff’s draft financial estimate in the packet projected enforcement costs of about $4,200 per month and revenue of about $18,000 per month, which staff described as a net gain of roughly $14,000 monthly that could help expand the pilot if successful. Weber said staff would conduct neighborhood counts, order signs and run an outreach campaign; the council would receive quarterly reports on observed outcomes.

Several councilors raised concerns about specific pilot locations — notably the skateboard park and Pierce Island — and the potential for spillover parking into nearby neighborhoods and community gardens. Councilors asked for baseline metrics and a plan to measure success; one councilor suggested aiming for an 80% utilization benchmark in targeted blocks. Staff said the proposal had been discussed with the Recreation Board and that the pilot could be adjusted or reduced if some locations proved problematic.

A motion to refer the proposal to the Parking, Traffic & Safety committee was made and seconded; the council voted in favor. Staff said they would return with additional detail and PTS recommendations in January.