A resolution to revamp Newport’s Resident Parking Program will be introduced at the August 14 City Council meeting, aiming to address longstanding issues of availability and affordability for year-round residents.
City Councilor Mark Aramli is introducing the resolution, which aims to close loopholes that have allowed non-residents to exploit the system and prioritize parking access for full-time Newport residents.
According to the resolution, the current program, established over 20 years ago, has not been updated since its inception. This has led to significant challenges for residents seeking permit-based street parking, particularly due to the issuance of numerous permits to individuals and entities that do not qualify as year-round residents.
“Availability of permit-based street parking has become extremely difficult for year-round Newport residents,” the resolution states, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
According to the resolution, the City Administration and Council have identified widespread abuse of the existing program. In one egregious case, 14 resident parking permits were issued for a single downtown address, clearly not representing full-time residents.
Aramli’s resolution outlines several key objectives for the program overhaul:
- Prioritize parking availability and affordability for true year-round residents.
- Implement stricter qualification criteria based on participation in the two-tier property tax registration program or presentation of a Rhode Island driver’s license with a Newport address.
- Establish a two-tier fee system that maintains affordability for residents while charging non-residents a rate commensurate with the parking service provided.
- Set caps on the maximum number of permits and guest passes issued to a single applicant or address.
- Increase enforcement efforts and parking ticket fees for violations in resident-only zones.
- Allocate additional revenue from these changes towards improving city roads, transportation, and parking-related programs.
The resolution calls for the City Administration and City Solicitor’s office to collaborate with individual councilors in developing revised administrative policies and ordinances within 30 days.
“It is the desire of the City Council to overhaul the rules and governing ordinances of the Resident Parking Program,” the resolution states, emphasizing the need to close loopholes and prioritize year-round residents.
The proposed changes aim to address the evolving needs of Newport’s community, particularly in light of the growing short-term rental market and seasonal influx of visitors.
By implementing a more stringent qualification process, Aramli hopes to ensure that parking permits are issued only to those who truly reside in Newport year-round. This may include requiring proof of residency through the property tax registration program or a valid Rhode Island driver’s license with a Newport address.
The two-tier fee system proposed in the resolution would maintain affordable rates for residents while potentially increasing costs for non-residents who wish to obtain parking permits. This approach aims to balance the needs of the community with the demand for parking from visitors and seasonal residents.
Enforcement is another key aspect of the proposed overhaul. The resolution calls for increased vigilance in monitoring resident parking zones and higher fines for violations. This stricter approach is intended to deter abuse of the system and ensure that designated resident parking areas remain available for those who need them most.
The allocation of additional revenue generated from these changes towards infrastructure improvements demonstrates the city’s commitment to addressing broader transportation and parking issues.
Newport City Council’s meeting will occur in the Council Chambers at Newport City Hall at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, August 14. The meeting is open to the public. See the full agenda here.
Resident Parking Program Resolution
