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Ridgewood council greenlights senior parking permit pilot, debates age threshold and enforcement
Summary
The Ridgewood Village Council moved forward with a senior parking permit pilot for the central business district, debating whether eligibility should begin at age 60 (statutory minimum) or 65 and how enforcement and exclusions will work. Councilors said they will review program uptake and revenue after 12 months.
The Ridgewood Village Council voted by consensus at its May 6 workshop to implement a senior parking permit pilot in the central business district to give older residents priority access to short‑term parking during daytime hours.
The pilot was framed as a response to repeated public comments from seniors who said glare from meters and the physical difficulty of feeding kiosks makes downtown visits onerous. Matt (village attorney) noted that the enabling statute allows municipalities to set an eligibility threshold as low as 60. “The statute says 60,” he said. Several council members said they preferred setting the pilot at 65 to better target residents less likely to be employed and to limit the fiscal impact on parking revenue.
Councilors agreed on additional program features during the workshop discussion. The pilot will be vehicle‑based (a visible decal/placard), will exclude commuter parking at the train station before 3 p.m. and the village’s 15‑minute spaces, and will be administered by the clerk’s office. Enforcement will be visual and handled by parking enforcement officers; Chief Lions and Captain Ender have discussed training guidelines with staff. The council set the decal fee at $75 in the draft resolution presented, and members requested a 12‑month review of revenue impact and participation before deciding on renewal or changes.
The council repeatedly framed the measure as a pilot. Pam (council member) said the program is part of a broader suite of senior supports, including a soon‑to‑open senior center, while another member emphasized that broader eligibility (e.g., lowering the age) would increase the fiscal impact. Councilors asked staff to confirm administrative details (number of vehicles allowed per registration, decal tracking, and enforcement documentation) before formal adoption.
What happens next: The council agreed to proceed with the resolution as a pilot and will review uptake and fiscal impacts after 12 months. The ordinance working group and police will finalize enforcement procedures and administrative forms.
