New London — The city on Monday took a cautious step toward addressing parking complaints, one of the concerns associated with the proliferation of short-term rentals in the city's beachfront community.

The City Council gave a preliminary nod of approval to a new ordinance that would ban parking on lawns citywide. The measure is aimed at addressing complaints from homeowners in the general area of Ocean Beach Park, home to a crop of residences turned into rental properties and marketed on websites like Airbnb and VRBO.

Some residents have complained of large groups renting the homes, leading to noise, trash and parking issues. There also has been alarm raised over the purchase of homes strictly for use as rentals.

As opposed to final passage, Monday’s vote is expected to be the first of three votes on the ordinance. Councilor James Burke had called for the matter to be taken up and voted on again at future council meetings to allow the public a chance to weigh in, rather than the council passing it with one vote. Burke, who voted in favor of the ordinance, also amended it so that state- and city-owned properties, such as Ocean Beach Park, are exempt from any penalties.

If eventually passed, the ordinance is expected to be enforced only in response to “nuisance” complaints and could cost both the homeowner and vehicle owner a fine of between $90 and $100. Both homeowner and vehicle owner would be liable under the ordinance. City police are expected to use discretion in handing out parking violations.

Councilor Reona Dyess made the point that the proposed fine was "not so nominal" for many city residents. When asked, City Attorney Jeffrey Londregan said, “I can’t speak to how the chief has the police department operate, but my understanding would be they would not be sending out a team to sweep the city to look for cars parked (on lawns).”

Resident James Diaz-Saavedra and Councilor John Satti, the lone member to vote against the ordinance, both argued that they are among other residents who sometimes park their vehicles on the lawn during snowstorms, something they said actually benefits city snowplows.

“Who knows if a police officer is going to be running around handing out tickets?” Satti said.

The ordinance was the result of a working group composed of city officials and a small group of residents who have complained about excessive noise, rowdy behavior, trash and parking issues associated with some rental properties. Some of those issues surfaced at a recent council meeting where, along with complaints, some residents urged caution on any prohibition of short-term rentals.

The issue is being debated in numerous municipalities nationwide and led Airbnb to announce recently its own measures to ban “house parties” and “open invite” events.

City zoning regulations already prohibit parking on lawns but the city does not have the resources to conduct zoning enforcement on the weekends, when most of the complaints are made. Londregan said the weekend issues can now be addressed with police enforcement, since the ordinance would allow police to issue infractions that must be paid in Superior Court.

In addition to updates to its policies, Airbnb last week announced a new initiative to resolve complaints about nuisance homes with the launch of an updated Neighborhood Support page and Neighborhood Support Line to file complaints.

The ordinance is expected to be considered again at a council meeting in January.

Burke said that based on some of the questions from the council, he would like to directly question the police chief about enforcement before a final decision is made. He said he is advocating for the city to continue “thoughtful, long-term solutions” that will ease the concerns of residents but not prevent homeowners from gaining income from their properties.

g.smith@theday.com