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Residents press council over persistent illegal parking on Sergeant Wiedemann Street
Summary
Homeowners told the council that vehicles repeatedly park in posted no-parking zones on land owned by Newport Housing Authority, blocking driveways and emergency access; residents provided a Housing Authority letter and asked police and administration to take written enforcement actions.
Homeowners on Sergeant Wiedemann Street urged the Newport City Council to press the Newport Housing Authority and the city’s community police officer to enforce posted no-parking signs, saying illegal parking has blocked driveways and delayed emergency response.
Jean Peterson said the Housing Authority’s ground lease (Article 4.2) requires residents to avoid nuisances and that a 05/08/2024 letter reminding homeowners about lease responsibilities had not stopped violations; she told the council she has had to call police and wait for officers to clear vehicles to access her driveway. Joan McCarthy, another homeowner, described similar incidents and said a community officer assigned to Newport Housing should speak directly with violators and file written reports so there is a record of enforcement.
Both Peterson and McCarthy said the street is owned by the Newport Housing Authority, which complicates city enforcement; McCarthy said periodic newsletters warn residents that violators risk towing and tickets but that towing has not occurred. Chair and council staff accepted Peterson’s handout and voted to receive the materials into the record.
Councilors asked the city manager’s office and police to coordinate with Newport Housing Authority representatives, and asked administration to report back on what enforcement steps — including towing, written police reports, or additional signage — are available and who will be responsible for follow-up. The council did not adopt a formal ordinance or directive during public comment; rather, the items were received for referral to staff.
The council did not vote on a specific enforcement action during the public-comment period. Residents said written reports and clearer assignment of responsibility (City police versus Housing Authority) are essential next steps; the manager’s office was asked to review the letter cited by residents and to clarify contractual/land-ownership responsibilities in a future communication to council.
