Good evening.

Uh, welcome to this uh November sixth special city council meeting.

This time I'd like to call a meeting to order, and I asked the clerk, please call a role.

Present presentation.

First item of business will be the introduction of new business.

Um, it is a resolution supporting the city council's application.

This is to be referred to uh the ordinance committee, a resolution supporting this uh city council's application for the two thousand twenty-six green space outdoor recreation grant um to be implemented to the friendly playground.

This is sponsored by uh councilwoman Graziano.

Is there a motion to refer to committee?

Motion to refer.

Is there a second second?

Any discussion.

I see Councilman Doha.

If you could please add me to this, please, Mr.

President.

That would be very good.

Anyone else?

So gang's all here.

Well, I yeah, any other discussion.

So everyone in chambers right now would like to be at the moment.

Any other discussion?

I see.

Yes.

Okay.

At this time, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Is there a second?

Second.

All in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed, signify by saying nay.

The eyes have it.

The motion carries.

This meeting is adjourned.

The next meeting will start in approximately five minutes.

Thank you.

We are going to call the Public Works Committee meeting to order.

It is six oh one PM on Thursday, November sixth, twenty twenty five.

Clerk, can you take the roll, please?

Casmananduhar.

Present.

Council Mavazieri.

Present.

Council Camp Piano.

Present.

Here.

Council Vice President Heroyan.

Council Magrasiano.

Present.

Council President Wall.

Here.

Thank you.

Approval of meeting minutes.

May I get a motion to approve the meeting minutes of October sixteenth, twenty twenty-five as drafted.

So both.

Second.

Discussion.

None clerk.

Can I get the roll, please?

Yes.

Pastor Mavazieri.

Yes.

Past the camppiano.

Yes.

Pastor Banano.

Yes.

Pastor McGraziano?

Yes.

Yes.

Committee business matters carried over.

This evening there are none.

So we're going to head into public comment for docketed items only.

We will ask the public to come up to the podium, state your name and address, and we will take public comment in chambers on docketed matters only.

Are there any of the public online that would like to provide comment on docketed items?

Motion to approve.

Seeing none, Clerk, may I please get the role?

Consider Andrew Har?

Yes.

Councilman Zary.

Yes.

Conspect Campano?

Yes.

Council Banano?

Yes.

Council McGraziano?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Thank you.

Next petition is again from Narragansett Electric and Verizon, New England for the installation of a new pole located on Western Industrial Drive.

This is P17 and P18.

The council received a correspondence, which was from Director Correo, Department of Public Works, and he recommended approval.

So I would love to take a motion to approve this petition.

So approve.

Second.

Any discussion.

Seeing none, Clerk, may I please get the role?

Councilman Mazari.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Banano?

Yes.

Councilman McGraziano?

Yes.

President Wall.

Yes.

Thank you.

We're going to head over to Council Communications.

President Wall would like to discuss.

We're going to, there's two items here.

The first one we are going to discuss is 45 Poplar Drive.

That is at the corner of Hillside in Cyprus.

And this is to do with the rat and rodent issues.

Okay, uh, thank you, madam chair.

Uh at this time, I've got a report just literally this afternoon.

And inspections tells me that the property itself at this time is the traps are all the traps that have been put out are new, and that all rodent holes have been filled out.

So I'm glad they they they saw the light to actually fill them.

Um so at this time, I'm I'd say uh may ask the clerk to please continue leave this on for the next public works meeting, but I don't have any uh anything to add to that.

I'm gonna take it on faith, that's the actual fact.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, so we will add that to the agenda for the December meeting.

Thank you.

Um next is zero lawn acre drive and the legalities of trimming trees.

Um council president.

Yes, thank you.

Uh, some of you who've been uh paying attention to the issue with lawn acre drive, and uh I'll give you a short synopsis on it.

Um, that property is a long property that's uh and back of about 13 properties on Lawn Acre Drive.

And when the developer built Garden City, I guess my assumption as I look at the map is that they were trying to make kind of a buffer between the Garden City neighborhood and maybe the street, right?

And over the years, now that was about almost 80 years ago that they started developing it there.

And since then, the trees in that area have overgrown the area.

It's not an area that can build on, build be built on because it's wetlands.

Um, but the trees are are now in the situation where in those of you who remember the issue, they're growing into the neighbors' yards, they're growing over the neighbor's yards, and and these are not tiny trees, these are 70, maybe 70, 75-year-old oak trees, many of them, that if they fell on a home, and someone who has 75, 80 year old oaks and has had a tree fall on their home, it's gonna do considerable damage.

Um we're in a situation now, and I know the solicitor probably would be able to answer a couple of the questions I'm gonna ask them to come up in a moment.

Um it doesn't belong to the city, all right.

They haven't, and we don't really know what what's the story with the company.

Um, we do know that they haven't paid taxes in approximately 35 years, so that's a good good situation that they're not around any longer.

But the trees, as we don't own the property, and we we can't find the owner of that property.

Um the question for the neighbors and a couple of the neighbors are here, uh, have come to me.

And the question is this the law says that, and I've had the situation in my own home that I can cut down the limbs that that go into my yard.

If they go into my yard, I have a legal right to cut down those limbs.

But I think that the neighbors that abut zero lawn acre drive are not so much concerned with limbs.

I think many of them probably have cut limbs down.

We've got gigantic trees that are starting to lean and get old and get sick, and when they fall, the whole tree is going to fall down.

So, in that situation where you have a tree that is going to do some serious damage to your property.

What is the legal ramifications?

And uh I I'm not a lawyer, um, though I know how to operate the computer and I Googled it and uh I found nothing uh no legal guidance on that matter.

All I can find is that the neighbors are well within their rights to cut the limbs that go into the area.

But the the question would be, and I I ask uh solicitor Videki may perhaps to step up with this uh matter, um, because I know at least there's at least one of my constituents is here on that matter.

Uh so council president, um yeah, this is we addressed this issue uh I believe a couple of times in the past, and you're correct when you state that under Rhode Island law, there was a statute under Title 34, which basically says if your neighbors or an adjoining landowners, uh tree branches uh intrude onto your property, you have the right, it's a limited right, you can't destroy the tree, but you have a limited right to trim up to the property line, that portion or uh those branches that are uh intrusively uh affecting your property.

Okay, but the statute makes it clear that you can do that, but you do it at your own expense.

Now the lawn acre uh situation, unfortunately, is a unique one in that the uh property that contains the offending trees.

That parcel is predominantly made up of wetlands, and it was owned by an LLC, a limited liability corporation years ago, and then two problems occurred.

One they fell behind in taxes, and the city, after many, many years, um did in fact, I believe they they began um uh they didn't have a tax sale, but somehow um it never foreclosed any rights of redemption or anything like that.

But I think they took it in a tax deed or something like that, but it that's not ownership.

Um I I spoke with the tax collectors that this was this was a while back.

The problem is the legal owner right now is still this LLC.

The LLC is defunct, so that property right now, in terms of ownership is in limbo, it's not owned by the city, it's owned by this LLC that is now defunct, and legally, and I'm I'm speaking strictly legally, the city does not have a legal obligation to uh go out and trim um any of these trees.

The neighbors have that right.

Now, you mentioned that some of these trees are very large.

There was a decision last year, Judge Lamb Fair wrote this decision and interpreted the statute in in the unique circumstances of the case in front of him, where it was more than just branches, it was part of the tree trunk that was encroaching and on a garage.

And it ended up going to court because the adjoining property owner sued, basically saying you went beyond just trimming branches.

And Judge Lamb Fair sided with the uh the property owner whose land was being encroached upon and said no, in this situation, because this tree was so overgrown and posed you know a significant risk to your property, he allowed them to uh go beyond simply trimming some encroaching branches, and they literally took some of the trunk and a huge limb from the tree.

But that again, that was a unique set of circumstances.

That's the last case that was decided in court um that I'm aware of.

Um, I did talk to the administration, I I spoke with Chris Mullet before uh I came in, and my understanding, and I you know, Director Moretti's not here, and I certainly don't want to speak out of turn, but I believe it's the administration's position that um number one, they they don't want to undertake this type of exercise for several reasons.

Number one, if they do it here, they got to do it everywhere, and that could run into simply you know hundreds of thousands of dollars potentially.

That's number one.

Number two, there would be liability issues.

So say the city went in and into this lawn acre and say they um they began some uh trimming, and for whatever reason, I don't know, maybe the tree company didn't do it properly or or whatever, and the tree collapses.

Now the city is potentially on the hook for negligently uh you know cutting the trees.

So um the legally, we know what the standard is.

That's all I can speak to.

Um beyond that, it's it's it's really a policy decision, and it seems like the administration um does not want to go down that path.

May I just ask a follow-up if that's okay?

Um would it be all right?

And I know I'm kind of tonight.

I kind of just threw this at you.

The fact that I can't, I imagine a situation like this is probably could occur in other communities.

Would it be would it be all right?

Would you feel it or to maybe do a little more research on it and perhaps take a look?

And if it's okay, maybe I'm not sure if there's a solution, right?

Any precedent available.

And perhaps they could call into the solicitor's office with any anything that you do find.

I know the city is not I'll do that, but I I think again, see the this emanates this this starts with state law and and it comes down now.

And that's statewide application that applies to every municipality.

Now the municipality is free if it wants to enact something um, you know, maybe more beneficial, but uh I don't know how far a city could go.

And maybe Mike wants to weigh in on this because it seems like the state may have preempted uh you know this particular area of law.

I'm not, I'm not sure.

So I don't know how much help it would be if another municipality had you know a methodology to to address this situation.

It seems like state law controls, but I could I could look into it.

But I will uh if Mike has any uh comments.

Uh attorney Marcello, would you have any anything to add?

I I agree with the uh Mr.

Solicitor Radekia regarding his recitation of state law uh on the meet on the uh the ability of the landowner to take the trees that encroach upon their property line.

If they break the plane, I think is the term that they use to break the plane or the property line.

Um I don't know.

I mean, the town the city does have tax lien that's on file, but they never foreclosed upon it.

So we would own the land if they did foreclose, right?

But uh they haven't taken that, they haven't taken that step.

They have not.

Um the last research I did on this was probably a year ago.

And and it, and as I said, this is an accumulation.

This goes back, I I want to say in the vicinity of 15, 20 years.

No action has ever been taken.

Um, and and I'm not an expert on on you know the tax uh aspect of it, but I know we've never perfected ownership.

So councilman Andah, Mr.

President.

Um, I mean, this is a clear example why we need a redevelopment agency.

Um, but if you see the map between 274 and 282 Lawn Acre, there is an entrance.

It looks like there was a paper street there.

I've studied this case.

It seems like there's I believe roughly close to three acres in this in this area, and I find it very hard to believe we can't get one parcel or one buildable lot to where we can the city could sell it to somebody for uh under minimum price with the ex with the um agreement that they would cut those trees because this is a you know um an issue.

I mean, imagine you know, you just put up a vinyl fence that probably costs you three, four thousand dollars, and all of a sudden we had a big windstorm the other day, and all of a sudden there goes your your investment.

So um I believe that you know, right now it's a tax-reverted property.

We can and I'm for it, and I'll and I'll be more than happy to co-sponsor with you, but we should be able to do a loan with a depreciation value to get rid of these trees for these homeowners because it's a quality of life issue.

So this is why we need these um these courts, like especially for the housing court, because this is something that could have came up years ago when the LLC owned it and these people could have complained about it, this could have came up just like we need a re we need a redevelopment agency.

So I feel for the uh people that live in the area, I'm more than willing to help in any way I can, but I truly believe that we are gonna have to clean and lean that property.

I have a couple things to say, but I'll let um some of the other council members go ahead of me.

Is anyone else want us to continue on on this matter?

No, no, no, no.

So I'll just say um, I mean, I would I agree.

Um with the fact that we definitely cannot enter the property, we don't legally own it, so I'm not comfortable with that either.

The only way I'd be comfortable with doing anything is if there was a decision to move forward with tax title and a taking on the property um due to lack of payment on taxes.

Um I will let you know that this is a more costly job than I think everyone thinks.

Um there is a paper road, I saw that too.

There's also a way in from the main road, but um, if you go in from the paper road, it's a wetlands crossing and it's two wetlands crossings, maybe more.

And um, I haven't I can just see the stream.

So there's an in I didn't even check if it's intermittent or perennial, there'll be cost to crossing that.

It's also BBW border vegetative wetland.

So just impacting that wetland itself, driving in any type of equipment through there.

So you'd have to definitely be hiring somebody that could climb trees that doesn't bring in any type of equipment that comes through.

I fully support working on trimming the trees.

I just think you definitely need to do a plot plan with a survey of the wetlands, and then you're gonna have to apply to DEM.

I mean, you can't just bring equipment through there.

You definitely can't just cross a wetland.

So it's definitely a harder job.

So it's something that we definitely have to take some time to think about and decide what we're gonna do.

However, I would support it for open space and trails.

Um, and then maybe one house.

Um, but again, you you need a wetland scientist to go out there and delineate it before you would even think about doing something like that.

Um and how you would even get the permission to do that.

I'm not sure if the LLC's defunct.

So it sounds like does the town take, does the city take it?

That's a question.

That's my two cents.

Council President Wall.

And you circle back to where we originally came in, actually.

And there is that's that is a whole area of all kinds of issues that it has.

And I wish it could be utilized as some type of green space.

And it's definitely water, and I know Councilman Banano has frequent that area as well.

It's not really a street, it's a little inlet with network the houses are.

It was never intended to be a street.

Um it it looks to me when they developed it, was look it's actually a buffer.

There's not going to be houses back there.

Um but we go get into that same question.

What I think a lot of the people reluctantly who are living there are saying, all right, we get it, no one owns it.

And we get it.

The city's not responsible for it.

And it's a it's a good lot of lot of money to clear it out.

And as rightfully said, uh, councilwoman Graziano, high cost, but they're wondering legally, how am I going to get some reputation?

You need you need a pretty serious arborist tree tree person to go in there.

If I have my own money, how do I get the okay, the legal okay, to cut down a tree?

They they would have to get access to my home.

They have to get access from your land.

So in other words, if if the branch is coming this way, um, they don't have permission to go.

Oh, yeah, yeah, anyway.

So the answer to that is if I don't know.

I mean, for instance, my yard, you can drive on the side, and uh my neighbors have had trees cut and they come in and trim and I'm not looking for uh uh I don't think this is an answer right away, but I I'm I'm looking at that as well.

If you have the tree there, how far back can I cut that tree?

Can I cut it far back enough?

And it's with the equipment.

I know some of the you know good opera, they have the equipment that go could go pretty far back and probably make it so it would not um harm your property or your new fence.

That's the that's why I said I don't want to put you on the spot legally.

Perhaps they could call in that and check if we get some advisory opinion because that's what they're looking to do.

I think Judge Lampfair's decision started to go that way a little bit, but how far that would be extended, I don't know.

That wasn't the situation in his case.

You had an actual owner then.

This is a quote.

I mean, yeah, if we could find someone, we'd get their tax money.

I think it was like $600,000.

I don't know if it was that I I don't know if it was that much because this was on this was land, it is wetlands.

My understanding is it was non-buildable.

That was my understanding.

Thank you, solicitor.

If two things one, if you don't mind, Councilman Benano.

Um, first of all, it's a limited liability company.

Good luck finding the person that owns it.

That is one of the hardest things you could possibly try to do once they're gone.

Um, and secondly, you can only trim 30% of the tree canopy without actually injuring the tree.

It's 30%.

And if you took the whole tree, I'm gonna tell you DM's gonna come after you for an alteration to BVW, Councilman Bonanno.

So I I think something needs to happen.

And we got to collectively figure out what it is and what kind of putting ideas out.

I think this particular piece of property is worthless to everybody except the people that abut it.

So I would, as maybe because I'm a former chair of zoning, I would like to see, you know, uh the city perhaps think about approaching the people who abut it on the front on Lawnacre Drive, see if they want to expand their backyards by however many feet.

Because you can own wetlands, you might not be able to destroy them, but you can own wetlands, and then you can sort of have a little bit more control over what's going on within the laws for uh but DEM and their regulations.

Um, but this property, in my opinion, is useless to anybody that's not abutting it.

And you know, if if uh if it costs, let's say it costs a million dollars to um, you know, take that property over, and there's a hundred uh people that are butt the property, you each get this amount.

The city you city sells it to you for ten thousand dollars, do what you want with it.

I don't know if those are the real numbers.

I'm just making them up, so don't get nervous.

But um, you know, I I to me that's the only way to do it.

And then the person has uh um uh the the control over what uh what essentially abuts their property until it's far enough away from their house where they don't have to worry about any damage.

Um just something to think about, throwing it out there if you know, and I think we as a council need to come up with something collaboratively to one ensure that the city has no additional liability, and two, um, protect you know, the city as a whole, everybody in the city, uh, and the city as an entity, and two to put to uh to work for the neighbors in that area.

So we have that's our responsibility as council folks.

So we got to come up with an idea for that.

But my idea would be subdivide it, see if we can sell it to uh the people if if the people don't want it and we don't take the step and foreclose on it and then subdivide it.

Thank you.

Okay, I'll just mention that there's a cost to drafting up survey plans and changing lot lines, so just be aware of that.

And that would also have to go before planning board.

I'm assuming for our approval not required.

Yeah, the subdivision would have to go for planning and zoning and and all that stuff.

But you know, it's not impossible.

No.

There's just there.

So we just need to know else on the committee wanna chime in.

Okay.

Seeing none, I am going to move on to Vice President Heroyan and Councilwoman Graziano for a update on Budlong Pool.

We're gonna look to Director Correo to come up to the podium.

Thank you.

Good evening, Madam Chair Frank Corrello, director of public works.

Um, since the last time we met, a lot has taken place at the pool.

First of all, the gunnite walls and floors have been installed and completed.

The form work was there, and they're currently working on the removal of the forms that should be completed by tomorrow.

Once that is done, the next schedule thing would be to backfill around the pool and get it up to grade.

And the final step at that point before we shut down for the winter is uh they need to install the stainless steel gutters that go around the pool to capture the water, and that has to be done, and that's scheduled to start on November 17th.

Okay, so that's for the exterior part of the pool, the interior pool house.

They're currently working on the final coat of paint.

They're due to go out there on Monday to start with the final coating of paint throughout the entire lower level of that building.

Great.

Okay.

Sounds like great news.

Anything on the on the out like outside, outside, like any issues with water lately.

The great thing is no, water is staying where it's supposed to be, which is below grade right now.

Okay, and just sorry, anything else on the splash pad?

That was the second item.

Yeah, the splash pad itself, it's it's a little premature to get any pricing now because you wouldn't be installing that until probably March of next year.

So our current schedule is to wait till after the first of the year, and then we'll advertise a project for bid.

By the time it goes out in bid, it would probably be the end of January, and then you would be able to award the contract and be ready to put it in sometime March and April.

So probably I'm gonna take that off the agenda until January.

So I'm or maybe you can let me we can chat and you can let me know.

But sounds like maybe February would be the first time we talked about it because that would have gone out to bed.

Correct.

At that point in time, we do plan on having the winter shutdown once those gutters are installed in the backfill, which should be sometime by the middle of December, the latest, you know, the everything down there will pretty much shut down, and we anticipate getting started up again when the weather breaks would be some of it around March or April to complete that pool by the July date.

Um, Councilman Bonano.

I just have one question about the splash pad.

Um, does that timeline that you just mentioned um provide for well, I should say what what is the schedule for opening based on the timeline you just mentioned for the splash pad?

Splash pad would open concurrently with the pool.

That within that timeline, um you know, bids in January, awarding the contract, January, February, and starting construction in March, April, that would all jive with opening in July.

That would be correct.

Yeah, in order to get everything installed and have it complete and opened, it would be by the time we open up the pool.

Yes.

Thank you, Director.

And can you remind me?

I feel like I ask this question every time, and I apologize.

Um, the water and the splash pad will be recirculating.

No, it will not.

No.

Okay.

It's my favorite thing in the whole world.

It it is, but it has its own set of problems.

If there's any kind of a problem with somebody getting cut, you have to stop, you have to chlorinate the water.

There's a lot of complications.

It's much better to have that water drain right off completely and continually having fresh water.

No, I know, and it also has to be reviewed by the board of health on a regular basis, like the pool, but the pool is right there.

Okay.

Yeah, I mean, I don't support that type of thing, but um, thank you.

Okay.

Anyone else would like to speak?

Okay.

Seeing nothing else on the agenda, I will take a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

Any discussion?

All those in favor?

Aye.

All those opposed.

We are adjourned.

Six thirty.

It's about six thirty-three p.m.

Clerk, can you please take a roll?

Council Vice President Heroyan.

Present, Councilman Vazi, present.

Council Banano, present.

Councilwoman McGraziano.

Present.

Councilman Duhar.

Present.

Council President Wall.

Here.

Moving on to the approval of minutes from the October 16, 2025 meeting.

May antiprove.

So moved.

Second.

Any discussion.

Clerk, please take a roll.

Council Vice President Heroyan?

Yes.

Councilwoman Pazeri.

Yes.

Councilman Camp Piano?

Yes.

Councilman Banano?

Yes.

Councilman Graziano?

Yes.

Councilmanuha?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Moving on.

Committee, uh, committee business matters carried over.

Uh Ordinance eight twenty five oh one ordinance and amendment of Title Two, Chapter 40 of the City of Cristine Code of Ordinance of 2005 entitled municipal court.

Um, as a lead sponsor of this, I want to thank the eight of the eight council people that supported me on this, but due to some technicalities, um, I am withdrawing this with uh the intention to uh introduce at a further date.

So I am withdrawing this motion this ordinance.

Moving on.

Um now it's the Chris Banano show.

So uh nine twenty-five oh two ordinance and amendment of chapter of Title Ten, Chapter Twelve, Section One Thirty of the City of Cranston Court of Ordnance 2005, entitled Right Turns at U at Certain Red Lights.

Councilman Banano.

Thank you.

We got some real sexy and interesting stuff coming up here.

We got some no parking, we got some right turn on red.

We're gonna have a lot of fun right now.

Um so as the the lead sponsor of this with uh councilman andahar.

Uh, I think I think in order to proceed, we need a motion to approve.

Then I'd like to amend it.

Motion new amendment.

Okay.

Second.

Any seconds?

Second, Councilwoman Horoy.

Okay, thank you.

So uh in speaking with the um traffic engineer um with specificity uh to uh the right turn on red at Cranston Street and Gansett Avenue.

I think I'm gonna know where the reason we're doing it is uh crossing guards are uh requested this.

Um, and uh matter of fact, I think a couple um people close to crossing guards spoke on it last meeting.

Um the traffic engineer suggested that for the ease of enforcement and clarity, uh two drivers driving by that that the time, and I think Councilman Campiano actually mentioned it as well.

Um the time restraints be removed, and we just leave this a no right turn on red at all times.

Um so I would like to uh make a motion to uh amend uh this proposal to read um section one, title 10, chapter 12, section 130 is hereby amended by adding the following intersection of Cranston Street and Gansett Avenue, southbound onto Cranston Street, period.

Section two, this ordinance shall take effect upon its final adoption, and so on and so forth.

So that I'd make a motion for that amendment.

Motion to amend, second, second, councilman councilwoman Heroyan.

Any discussion?

Clerk, please take a rule, yes.

Councilman Vazieri, yes, Conspiano, yes, Consumer Banano, yes, Consulma Graziano, yes, Consuhar, yes, Consent Wall, yes, ordinance passes.

Next up, oh sorry motion to approve the uh the ordinance as amended.

So move.

Second, already moved.

Any discussion?

Clerk, please take a roll.

Council Vice President Heroyan, yes, councilman Vazeri, yes, Council Camp Piano, yes, council Banano, yes, councilman Graziano, yes, Andrew Har?

Yes, Council President Wall.

Yes.

Okay, moving on.

925 ordinance 92503 and amendment of title 10, chapter 32, section 40 of the city Cranston Code of Ordinances 2005 entitled No Parking on Certain Streets Generally.

Councilman Banano, I'll let you take the floor.

Thank you.

Um, so I think we're gonna do the same thing.

Uh I'll defer back to Chairman Anderhar um for a motion to approve.

Is there a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Second.

And I'd like I'd like to make a motion to amend um for the following reasons.

Again, in talking to the traffic engineer, he wanted us to clean up the language.

Um to make it simpler.

Um so I'd like to make a motion to amend this to the following.

Uh beginning on section, excuse me, meeting on line 23, reading section one, title 10, chapter 32, section 040 is hereby amended by adding the following.

Poppy Drive, east side from the corner of Garden City Drive in a northerly direction to utility poll number seven.

And then uh from uh line 28 down, it will remain the same.

I make that motion to amend in that way.

Is there a motion to approve this amendment?

Motion to approve.

Second second.

Any discussion?

Clerk, please take a rule.

Yes, councilwoman Vazieri, yes.

Yes, Cons Banano, yes, Councilman Graziano, yes, Councilman Andrew, yes, President Wall.

Yes.

Is there a motion to approve now?

Motion to approve.

Second, Clerk, please take a rule.

Discussion, first of all.

Clerk, please take a roll.

Council Vice President Heroyan, yes.

Yes, Conspiano, yes, Councilman, yes, Councilman Graziano, yes, councilman, yes, council president Wall.

Yes.

Okay, moving on.

Ordinance 92504, amendment title 10, chapter 32, section 40 of the city of Cranston Code of Ordnance 2005 entitled No Parking on Certain Streets.

Generally, Councilman Banano, you have the floor.

Okay, thank you.

Um, this one has um while it has no substantive changes, uh, it does have a few more linguistical changes.

So I'm just gonna read the whole thing.

But again, first, I think we should have a uh a motion to approve the whole thing so we can sort of discuss it.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion?

Okay, yes.

Um again, in speaking with the traffic engineer, uh, he suggested that um because this was such a uh niche sort of situation where we wanted to do no parking except for uh limiting it to one hour on Saturday and Sunday.

Um, it needed a new uh section of code in our city code.

Um and uh conferred with uh attorney Marcello and attorney Fredekia, and they said because it's essentially doing the same thing, it doesn't need to be reintroduced.

So um I would just like to read this from top to bottom, and uh at the end, I'm gonna motion to amend it in that way.

Again, is it's no substance of change, it's still gonna do the same thing, it's just uh the language is slightly different.

So the city Cranston ordinance of the city, I would like to amend for this to read, and I make a motion to do so.

The city of Cranston, ordinance of the city council, an amendment of title 10 vehicles and traffic of the city of Cranston Code of Ordinances 2005 to add chapter 32.700 entitled one hour parking Saturday and Sunday only.

Uh it is ordained by the city council of the city of Cranston as follows.

Section one, Title 10, vehicles and traffic, chapter 32, stopping standing and parking on specific streets of the code of the city of Cranston is hereby amended to add section 700 as follows.

10.32.700, one hour parking Saturday and Sunday only.

No vehicle shall remain standing for any period of time within or upon any of the following streets or highways or parts thereof at any time except on Saturday and Sunday, when no vehicle shall remain standing for any one consecutive period of time longer than one hour.

Hybrid drive, both sides of the street beginning at the corner of Garden City Drive and continuing approximately 225 feet in a northerly direction, ending at utility poll number one.

Holly Hot Drive, both sides of the street beginning at the intersection of hybrid drive and continuing approximately 150 feet to utility poll seven.

This ordinance shall take effect upon its final adoption.

Is there a motion for the amendment?

I made the motion, second.

Any discussion, Councilman Campo Piano.

For the chair.

Um, how are we going to enforce that?

They can I'm they're gonna chalk the tires.

I know what you're trying to do so they can park during church, but it's gonna be extremely difficult to enforce something like this.

So then yes, you're right.

Um, and I and I do uh agree with that.

I think that um you know the the the issue here is that uh there is consistent parking 24 hours a day, seven days a week um on the street in these locations uh because of the residence is a garden city, and because this is essentially a side street, um when people are parked on both sides of those streets, only one car can go by and barely as as you know, as I'm sure you know.

I mean, you've been to my house many times.

Is it there's a there's a lot of people in that area walking, riding bikes, there are children playing.

And when um and when the cars are there and people are coming around a corner, it's it's gonna be difficult for them to see.

So I think, you know, as far as I'm concerned, if if the police um are just ticketing people and they realize that if they're ticking people that are there Monday through Friday and they're not ticketing people that are there during church, um, that's fine by me.

I think they'll get the point.

Um, it's if when people are there 24-7 and their cars don't move and there's car covers on them and they're doing and they're changing their tires and changing their oil and changing the air conditioning fluid in the middle of the of the road.

That's what we're trying to avoid.

Um ultimately, I think, you know, I'm trying to when there's a busy church on a normal church day, by the way, there's no parking there on a normal Saturday or Sunday.

It's for Easter and Christmas and and that that you know, we don't want to uh we don't want to penalize people that attend St.

Mark's Church.

Um I think the the police will do fine in enforcing it, and if they enforce 75% of it, well that's 75% more than we had before, and that I think I'll be satisfied with that.

Any further discussion?

Clerk, please take a rule.

Consider Vice President Heroyan, yes.

Yes, pass me into her, yes, president wall.

Yes.

Now I believe we do another motion to approve it, correct?

Or that's it.

Yes, is there a motion to approve?

Motion to approve, second.

Any discussion?

Any further discussion?

Clerk, please take a rule.

Yes, councilwoman Vazeri, yes.

Yes, councilman to our yes, president wall.

Yes, may entertain a motion to take the agenda out of order.

Motion to take the agenda out of order.

Second.

All right, I would draw that.

Let's go back to the agenda.

Let me withdraw my motion to take the agenda out of order.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Going back to ordinance 92505 now.

92505, ordinance in the amendment title 10, chapter 32, Section 500, the City of Cranston Court of Ordinance 2005 in title one hour parking generally.

Councilman Bernano, you have the floor.

So because we amended it, um, the way we just did, this is no longer needed.

So I uh withdraw this uh particular uh ordinance.

Do we need to do a motion for that?

No, okay.

All right, now we move on.

So now I may entertain a motion to move.

Take the agenda out of order.

Is there a second?

Thank you.

Clerk, please take a any discussion.

Clerk, please take a roll.

Council Vice President Heroyan, yes.

Councilman Vazeri, yes.

Yes, Council Benano?

Yes.

Councilman Andrew Har?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

So moving on to new matters before the committee.

Um Ordinance 102503 and the amendment of Title II, Chapter 4, Section 60 of the City of Cranston Court of Ordinance 2005 entitled Advertising Special Meetings of the City Council, um, sponsored by Pres Council President Council President Wall.

Um, you have the floor.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Um, I have uh conferred uh with the sponsor of this ordinance prior to the meeting.

Um let me first give you a little background.

Yeah, I I know uh none of the members of the council want to be perceived as uh lacking in will to be transparent.

Um it's certainly something we don't like to read and print or hear in public.

So uh to that end, uh I I actually did have a conversation um with um the editor of the Herald, uh Editor Fox um regarding perhaps is there some middle ground?

Is there compromise?

Um and we discussed you know the legalities of how the charter had been amended and what it said, and and perhaps some of the things um that we could do.

Um the issue that we had was the special council meetings that it is difficult to advertise in in a print media that is published weekly if you're having a special meeting that could perhaps be in 48 hours.

Um, and through some discussion, uh the idea, and I can't say the idea was mine.

Um that the online version what might be a good solution to that.

Um, so I propose this.

Um, and I wrote it down and I did a check with the attorney Marcella.

Um, if you do take out the ordinance, um where it's stricken out.

Um, I'd like to add almost the same language, and I'll tell you what I'd like to add, and I'll give it to the clerk after the area that's stricken out.

If you have your ordinances in front of you.

Um, I'd like to add this language, and it's gonna sound very familiar, but I think this will be somewhat of a compromise here to amend it.

Um, I'd like to add the words be published in an online version of a newspaper of general circulation within the city.

Such published notice shall contain all the information contained in said written notice.

Such notice shall be posted on the city's official website.

Those of you who are familiar with the the ordinance will notice the only thing that's really been changed is now we put in the online version in this ordinance.

So we will advertise our special meetings.

Uh we'll be able to have special meetings within 48 hours, and uh after conferring uh with editor fox, it's very very easy if we give it in a timely manner to publish those on the online version of the Herald or so that's my that's the amendment on proposing.

Is there a motion motion to approve the amendment?

Second, any discussion?

I have one councilman banano.

Um would we still be publishing in the print version when uh possible?

The way I see it, yes, because this only this ordinance would only conform to a special meetings.

I believe, yeah.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Horoyan.

I would just like to stay on the record.

I put this in at the request of the city clerk.

Um, we have a lot of things on the books that we are not in um general assembly laws have passed or different things.

So she's trying to make us as much as we can in compliance.

And we were not.

So she asked to put this in.

It wasn't not to be transparent or violations.

This was at the request so that we would be doing things all the time at the same time.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Well, I I'd like to thank Council President Wall and Council Council President Vice President Heroin.

It seems it's making this more transparent for us.

Um the Herald is something that's viewed very, very heavily in Cranston.

So I like to thank them for sticking around and staying around because you know, as you know, smoke smoke papers, no newspapers, especially, you know, they're getting by out of state company.

So I like to thank the Herald for sticking around.

Um, clerk, please take a roll on the amendment.

Yes.

Conspected Camp Piano.

No.

I'm sorry.

Consident Banano?

Yes.

Consuhar.

Yes.

Yes.

Is there a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Second.

Second.

Any discussion.

Seeing none.

Clerk, please take a rule.

Yes.

Councilman Azeri.

Yes.

Caspa Camp Piano?

No.

Yes.

Yes.

President Wolf.

Yes.

Thank you.

Motion ordinance passes.

Moving on, let's do public hearings.

Is there anyone in the audience that would like to comment on documented items only?

Please just state your name and address.

And we'll love to hear from you.

Thank you.

My name is Joy Fox.

My address is actually 411 Fair Street in Warwick.

But I'm coming before you this evening as the publisher of Beacon Media, which is home to the work beacon, the Johnson Sunrise, the reminder, and our beloved Cranston Herald.

I'm here tonight to advocate not only for increased transparency, especially among public bodies, but originally to ask for reconsideration of the ordinance before you this evening.

But that this pertains to special meetings.

Special meetings are governed the same way regular meetings are, 48 hours notice.

We do recognize the Herald is weekly.

We think that we can, we know we can move quickly to put things up online and then use all of our electronic Facebook, et cetera, to get the word out as much as possible to make sure meetings are well attended.

My concern here too, um, and some of you maybe have seen my publishers know last week when we learned about it originally, and then I wrote one again uh today.

I have to have copies of the paper for you if you if you'd like them, but um I would just like to to raise a couple issues um that I'm not sure that we've addressed yet here.

Um so originally when I wrote last week, it was to basically say that we respect the results of elections because we were told and under the impression that this was due to the charter commission work in 2022.

Um that was previous week's note.

We got a call from the chair of that commission in 2022 who expressed um question and concern, saying that that was not in fact voted on in 2022, but what was was actually notification to all of you in terms of special meetings.

I guess originally it said registered mail, and then it the move was to let you be allowed to communicate via email, and that was in fact approved.

So, you know, we did our our work on it.

We reviewed the charter commission minutes as well as the 2022 voter handbook and did not again come across any reference to newspapers or advertising.

And according to the 2022 voter handbook, again, voters were asked if emailing the city council instead of sending them notices, registered mail was was good.

Um, and that change in communication was in fact um approved.

I did include that language this week.

Um, and again, reading that explanation, going back to the previous week and how this originally got introduced is where my concern is as well.

Um, that we were hard pressed to see how anyone could have interpreted um this to mean that notifying public about upcoming meetings through newspaper advertising would no longer be necessary.

So I still think there is a question here on where this ordinance actually came from and why now.

Um, and we do look forward to hearing if there's any more explanation to that.

And again, regardless of how and why our point, how and why this all came to pass in the first place, our point of view remains unchanged that we should be increasing obligations for transparency among our officials not rolling them back.

And as I also wrote last week, while our team is used to monitoring Facebook and chasing the rumor mill, um, I think the residents of Cranston taxpayers should expect more as we continue to provide that reliable source of information.

Again, uh, Council President, while I do appreciate and we're encouraged by our conversations this week and your your um your amendments tonight.

Um and I also want to note in full disclosure, as I wrote last week, yes, the removal of this provision would also mean a loss of revenue.

I'm confident to say it doesn't mean we go out of business, and that's not really why I'm here, but I do want to be fully transparent myself.

Um, but we do think things like this um really do cut into our mission to provide trusted and reliable news um to the city uh about the city to its residents.

Um if something like this were to proceed, then I worry about slippery slope and what what would come next.

So um thank you for the work tonight on the ordinance, but I do still think there's a larger question here about what exactly this charter reference was that we've been hearing about, and if something was in fact removed from the charter that maybe shouldn't have been.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the audience that would like to speak?

Please say your name and address.

Um, I want to I'm gonna go backwards in the order that things were put in front to follow up on Ms.

Fox's statement, which I greatly appreciate.

And actually, today was the first time I saw her pieces because I've been out of town quite a lot.

Um I spoke to you about this in the full council because my concern was and remains that were we to remove that newspaper notice, we're letting uh, you know, people who just don't use an internet access as their way to find things.

So that still is a concern.

Um that can't be fixed by the online.

It's I think it's a good thing to do that, but we still have a population that may not feel comfortable there.

Um, we also have people who do not have the privilege of home computers.

So I think um for me, transparency is important, and it saddens me.

We don't have more people in this room ever, really, and few online.

I think if we could scream it from the ends of people's streets, I'd want to see us doing that.

That's how I feel about the work of the public um representatives that you are.

Um, so I appreciate what Ms.

Fox said.

We come at it slightly differently, um, but I think we probably share, if I'm hearing her correctly, concern about where this came from and why we would bring it up.

So I I do um think there's more to do on that as well.

Um the other issue is the housing court.

So um I still I understand you withdrew it, but I still am not clear on why.

Not on the docket.

Ma'am, it's not on the dog, but you know what?

I'll let you speak.

It's not on the docket because you it's withdraw, but you know what I'll let you speak.

Is that how that works?

If it if you withdraw it, you can't speak on it.

Maybe we could speak on it.

Thank you.

Um, so uh I spoke to you as the council and asked that we be data driven, not only in um the this count, this court, but also in something like the newspaper advertisement.

Let's be data driven.

There's always a way to do that.

A part of that is asking the public, part of that is finding, you know, telling us how many people came to you and said you need a housing court.

So those are things I would encourage the council to do.

Um, I was concerned in the language that I know that you'd said at the last um meeting at the council meeting that this was going to be a um, I believe you said it was a pilot.

So if it is a pilot, I think the language should probably be in that when you reintroduce it.

And I guess I wondered, and this is for the lawyers, if a pilot has to be an ordinance or whether a pilot can run, and then if it's successful, become an ordinance.

And it would also really request that you look at the language about warrants and going into people's private homes.

Um, that concerns me.

And then the last thing I would say actually goes back to the newspaper advertisement.

Um, I just want to make sure that you all realize that you have not been following the rules, and that in fact, when I put in a public records request for special meeting notification, the newspaper ads, um, the city was unable to present present anything.

So that is a reason we should be concerned.

And I would suggest tonight that you guys figure out how to get out of what is probably a series of OMA violations that have been going on for some time.

I'm not gonna put that in.

I don't have the energy for that, but as a body with a new solicitor, I would strongly encourage you to figure out how that gets fixed.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the audience that would like to speak on document items only?

Good.

Seeing none clerk on is there anyone online?

There is no online public comment.

Thank you.

At this time, I would like to close public comment.

Moving on to ordinance 102504 ordinance in the amendment of title two, chapter eight, section 190 of the city of Cranston Court of Ords 2005, entitled Department of Law, number of assistant city solicitors.

Motion to approve.

Is there a second?

Second.

Second.

Any discussion?

President Wall.

Um, perhaps I and I'm not sure.

I I know director is not here.

Perhaps uh solicitor Budakia.

Uh I just have a couple of quick questions that um came out.

Um so how does this change our current situation?

I mean I wish I could answer that, but I think Solicitor Millet is the one that um would probably answer that best.

I I I think maybe um, and this is just me uh guessing at this point that it's just to I I think it's the charter language mentions um a solicitor and I want to say maybe two assistants or something like that, so that I I think this just addresses that gap because we do have more than two uh assistant solicitors, but it's almost semantics because they could still be hired as independent contractors in any event, but I I believe, and and that's I did not discuss this with um Solicitor Millet before I came here, but I think it's to just be um consistent with the charter and so that it's reflective of the uh the makeup of the department at this time.

That's my best yes.

Certainly we draw, yeah, certainly thank you, defer from a little old fashioned because I like to have the book, but have money guys, yeah.

Mr.

Verder is correct.

So the charter indicates under section point eight oh one that there shall be a department of law which shall consist of the city solicitor and such assistant city solicitors and other employees as may be provided by ordinance.

So in order to expand the number of solicitors other than one, you need an ordinance to do so.

I think that's what's before you.

So my my next question, just to follow off is there a cost associated in the in this?

No, this is I this encompasses um the number of solicitors we have now.

This isn't adding anything to my knowledge.

So it's it's cost zero.

Yeah, it's a net, it's a network.

Our budget is exactly the same.

Yeah, exactly.

It's changed as its language.

Yeah, and and that's those are the only two questions that you know.

I I'd be remiss if I didn't ask.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Harwin.

Um, I was concerned about this when it was put in, and I don't want to speak on behalf of administration or solicitor Malay, but I did put a call in to him out of concern, and he simply explained to me it's to be um so where he so people can have the title they should have.

It's no fiscal note attached, and it's the number of solicitors we do have, and it's to make us be the same as the chatter.

We've been operating that department without the correct titles of people.

Yes, that is true.

Um, I just want to say for the record, I did speak to councilman um city solicitor Malay, and he basically said it's just to add a formal title to the number two person there.

So um, councilman.

I can tell you that since the mid-90s, we've been operating with this amount of assistance.

Um I only know that because my father was an assistant under Mayor Traffic Canny uh a long time ago.

So any, you know, I could rattle off the assistance that were there with him.

So I mean, we've we've been doing this for Mike Traffic Canny hasn't been mayor in 27 years.

So we've been doing this for at least 30 years, and I think now um, you know, I give credit to the administration for finally putting it in front of us to codify it the right way.

Um, and I I think that it merely adds a deputy, uh which and takes away one uh assistant.

So one assistant that we could now call him a deputy just just to codify what we've been doing for years.

Any further discussion?

See a none clerk, please take a roll.

Consul vice president, yes, councilman Baziri, yes, but piano, yes, Banano?

Yes, Caspinanduha?

Yes.

Yes.

Now we are going into resolutions.

So there is a resolution adopting the city of Cranston's safety action plan.

Pretty sure everybody has it in their record.

Um does the clerk read this into the record, or we're just good with the question.

I'm sorry.

Does the clerk have to read this resolution into the record, or we're good?

No, we all might motion to approve.

Sarah second.

Second.

Any discussion?

President Wall.

Well, and this was brought to my attention, and I I have to confer with my colleague on this matter.

And I know it's been requested.

I do see the resolution, but is the safety plan?

And I know Councilwoman Woman Graziano did ask for the safety plan.

So this evening, I can tell you for myself, I'm gonna vote to move it out of committee.

However, I I would say that before we pass it, I think we all need to see when it comes comes before the full council.

I certainly will not vote for it if I do not see the safety plan.

Um I'll move it out of the committee.

Um, because I uh the idea behind it is I I think it's good.

However, I think we need to see the safety plan before we vote on it.

So uh that's that's my two cents on that matter.

Any further discussion?

Well, I think um I'll give it to the administration.

Maybe something happened, somebody couldn't be here, but I do agree with President Wall.

We should move it out of com we should move it out of committee.

But when it comes to the full vote, we do need to have it.

Is there I do see a hand and I perhaps I didn't think maybe maybe you could address that.

If that's are you speaking on behalf of the administration, director?

Yes, I will be.

Okay.

Uh please say your name and address.

Uh Stephen Piscapello, 85 Fox Ridge Drive, Cranston, Rhode Island.

Um, on behalf of the administration, um, I know the mayor is uh very excited about uh sponsoring this resolution on behalf of the administration, and he was pleased to um put into record a letter of support.

Um safe streets for all program is something he's excited about, uh partnering with the United States uh Department of Transportation and Ripta.

Um it's uh the program is consistent with the comprehensive plan.

Um it's um the planning department also requested that a letter from the mayor should support this, um, which is the reason why he put this um in place.

Um obviously we're all excited about having safe streets and doing the uh remedial uh changes that are necessary to make sure that our uh streets are safe, our bike pads are safe, uh our sidewalks are straight uh safe.

So um I know the administration is in his full full support of this, and I know the mayor is uh very excited to uh see this push forward, and um I know that this letter is being placed on the record, and like I said, he he uh he wanted me on behalf of the administration come here tonight just to voice his support for this.

Can I and Mr.

President Flozio?

That's okay.

Um, will the city now it refers to the safety plan in the spirit and the idea of it?

Uh I'll be honest, I'm very happy.

I read the letter myself, but is the safety plan going to be available to us on the 17th when we vote for it?

Do you able to make that answer that I I don't know?

I I I I can't do that.

Could you iterate please?

And I'll also uh mention that to the mayor in the chief of staff that it's important that we see it.

I mean, to vote.

I know there's a safety plan in place that I I think uh there was a copy sent.

Here's his and I and I hear things and sometimes I get stuck on them.

Okay.

The planning committee seen the safety plan.

I believe so, yes.

But the legislative body of the city of Cranston can't say it before we go on.

That that and I'm sure that's not a you know, so that's that's what I grabbed a hold of.

Sure.

So if it exists, we need a copy.

That's all if you could read it.

Thank you.

I and I don't mean to come on down on you.

No, no, no, but I think it's important, and I know it's been requested.

Transparency is very important.

That's what we just talked about.

Yes, director.

So this is more like painting repainting sidewalks, repaint like fluorescent paint.

This is what this is about, or is it do you know anything about this from previous jobs?

From what I've understood in.

And I only ask, I didn't mean to interrupt you because we have people in the audience and online, and people are gonna look at this and say, what is it?

So more or less if you give us your what your take is it, and then we'll wait for the plan to come.

Is they're gonna tweak what's already in place and try to make it better, um, more visible visible crosswalks, um, more um um, you know, visible pain, uh more signage, um, everything that's gonna make it uh a safe haven uh for our streets and our sidewalks and uh crosswalks and our bike paths.

So um, you know, obviously we're all uh in this to uh make sure that we don't have any injuries or well, unfortunate debts.

So I think uh it's important that this type of remedial work um in partnership with all the departments that I mentioned is important.

Okay, so uh we have a motion, we had a second, we're in discussion.

Just please if we could get that plan, we'd really appreciate it.

Um Clerk, please take a roll.

Yes, Consulwoman Baziri, yes, Piano?

Yes, Banano?

Yes.

Yes, President Wall.

Yes.

Next up, we have a resolution supporting the city of Cranson application for the 2026 Green Space Outdoor Recreation Grant for improvements to the friendly playground.

Um sponsored by Councilwoman Graziano.

I urge passage second.

Any discussion?

Uh I'm actually here.

Councilwoman Heroyan.

Um if anyone follows me on social media, you know I visit many of the playgrounds often with my great nephew.

Um in May of 2000, I had took some notes, 2025.

Mayor Hopkins signed a conditional letter of authorization with Rhode Island DOT to control the friendly playground, located at the corner of Dorick and Friendly Road.

I did go there last week and last month.

I don't know if anyone's even been there recently.

You really can't even tell really it's a playground unless you go to go to that playground.

It's very sad.

Um authorization for the sole purpose of allowing the city to maintain and make necessary improvements of this property.

Um where proposed amendments are vital to ensure safety for children, densely populated neighborhoods bordering highly trafficked areas, which that is extremely close to the highway.

Um Cranson's recreational and comprehension plan, emphasizing connecting parks and green spaces, developments, um friendly park improvements will replace upgrade playground equipment to meet on growing needs of recreational to promote physical activity and a healthier community, a play structure for a two-year-old to a 12-year-old years, support balance climbing, pulling sensory, all kinds of experiences.

This is a fully walkable playground area.

This recreational space serves as a community asset for families, children, and for seniors and for aunties taking their nieces and nephews.

Um outdoor activity is important by replacing the existing playground equipment.

It also promotes regional equipment and access to safe recreational facilities.

I know that we've all had discussions about our playgrounds and how much they need improvement.

Um, I just think it's this is very, very important.

I know that friendly is in ward one, it's only a few sheets away from ward two, but every playground, regardless of where it is in Cranston should be our priority.

Um, our kids of the future, but it's not just children that go to the playground.

So I'll be in full support of this tonight.

Thank you, Councilman.

Councilwoman, Councilman Bonano.

Uh Councilwoman Heroyan said everything I was gonna say.

So to make Councilman Campa Piano happy, I won't talk anymore.

Any further discussion?

Council President Wall.

Um, yeah, I'm knowing Councilman Banano usually says what I'm gonna say.

So I just want to say, listen, I have been to the friendly playground, and it hasn't, I don't even think it was a sign labeling it friendly playground last time I was there, and uh it was pointed out to me by then uh councilwoman Vargas, and I know it has been a press pet project for for some time, even prior to the time I was on the council.

So I'm very happy to support this resolution, and I I think it's solely needed, and um I'm looking forward to supporting it.

Again, I would like to thank um Senator Vargas for keeping our word and and vouching for these playgrounds.

Uh director, do you need to say anything?

Are you good?

I'd like to just a few.

Um councilwoman Horoyan was correct on her timeline.

Um, one of the first things that we did as a department and administration was identify that this was a priority.

It was a POP that is long overdue that needed work and needed an upgrade.

Um once we had an MOA in place, we we started on the design, and um we had something in place through uh community development money.

Unfortunately, um that area did not qualify.

Um so um fortunately, um there is an opportunity through uh TEM grant um that we're working with um Grant Writer Lisa Docia and um her staff um to come up with a plan, comprehensive plan to replace this park.

Um we have everything in place.

Um we have a draft that's going to be going out for the replacement of the park.

Um, I know I have the uh the funds available to matching funds available of 20 percent that's already in place.

So this will be going out.

There's gonna be a public hearing on this.

Um that's gonna be have to schedule through planning and development the development.

And once that's done, um I don't see any um obstacles for us to break ground on this um sometime in the spring.

Um that's that's what the timeline is, and um the best thing about this whole project that it it was already it was ready to go, so we didn't really have to do much legwork, it was just um putting together all aspects of the grant.

Um, and I think we're pretty much there.

Um and we we should foresee uh great results with this.

Councilwoman Haroon.

I have a question.

Did you just say 20%?

I thought it was a 25%.

It's 25%, 25%, whatever it is I have.

Right.

And I would just like to say something on the record.

Um if anyone knows anyone that needs community service hours, I have helped many people and will meet them at any playground for them to do or any walk and track in Cranston on any time they can be there to do a cleanup, and I will write them a letter of their community service.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Well, again, I'd like to thank Council uh Senator Vargas and just reminder that she also represents Board Three, so we need some help over there.

Uh Clerk, please take a roll.

Council Vice President Heroyan.

Yes, Councilman Mazeri, yes, yes.

Council Panano?

Yes.

Consider President Walk.

Yes.

At this time, I'd like to uh there are no council communications motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.