Park staff outline parking app rollout and enforcement plan after resident questions

Park department staff spent a substantial portion of public comment and discussion explaining the city’s new beach-parking system and enforcement procedures.

Staff said registered Michigan City residents will continue to register their plates (initially in person) and, once registered, will not need to use the app to enter: “Once you register your car, you no longer have to stop at the gate,” staff said. Visitors will prepay via a kiosk, the app, by text or on the website and will receive notifications when time is running low so they can add more time.

On enforcement, staff said the department will have “at all time at least 2 enforcement officers working, at the beach at any given time. They will be checking the lots almost continuously, either by golf cart… or by foot,” and that officers will scan license plates to check paid status. Staff described the citation lifecycle: a contracted company waits 10 days for payment, sends letters, conducts a DMV search if unpaid, and then refers unpaid citations to a collections bureau.

Residents raised questions about how the system will handle exemptions, how enforcement will be visible without stopping cars at exits, and what happens if people drive away without paying. Staff responded that parking staff can issue citations and that unpaid tickets are pursued through the contracted process. One resident noted municipal tickets often escalate after several days; staff described a series of warning letters followed by collections after the final notice.

Board members and staff emphasized an online portal is planned once initial bugs are worked out; staff said the registration process remains largely the same for residents and the department planned outreach explaining registration options.

Next steps: staff will continue public outreach, finalize operational procedures and monitor enforcement as the system rolls out for the summer season.