Long time uh New Porter, uh born and raised, graduated class of 1953 Rogers High School.

Um, he was a man that was a devoted educator, uh, especially with the uh the Newport Vocational Technical Program, now called NAT Tech, as most people know.

Um, but he's also a man I was proud of his community, very civic-minded and oriented.

Uh served on the Waterfront Commission, the housing authority, and most people know recently as the Miyan's uh Miantonomy Park uh commission.

And for those people who knew Charlie, you knew he was a bulldog.

He was feisty.

He did not stop for anything.

He was uh a wonderful man.

He was uh I remember him for just as again his spiciness and his devotion to his to his community, and uh he will be missed.

And uh, we just want to take a moment of silence for him.

Thank you.

And then uh before we get to the citizens forum, uh I do have a proclamation uh that I would like to read.

Uh today is Greek Independence Day.

And uh this afternoon we had a ceremony uh with the Greek community um where I read a proclamation and I'm gonna read uh tonight for you for you all you all.

Um whereas the nation of Greece, through his 5,000 year history, has produced some of the world's greatest philosophers, poets, mathematicians, statesmen, political uh medical practitioners and mayors of Newport.

And whereas no other nation like Greece, I'm Greek, it's whereas no other nation like Greece has contributed to the formation of our culture and heritage, and whereas the Greek people have endured persecution, oppression, and bigotry, yet have steadfastly remained a free nation since 1821.

And whereas sons and daughters of this nation emigrated to the United States, making it their home country, defending it in conflict and contributing significantly to the quality of American life.

And whereas the city of Newport celebrates its 30th sister city twinning anniversary with Skiatos, Greece in 2026.

And whereas many of the descendants of the original immigrants from Skiatos were instrumental in the founding of St.

Spiriton's Greek Orthodox Church, which annually hosts a Greek feast festival, which celebrates Greek food and culture and attracts numerous visitors to the city.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Charles Holder, may of the city of Newport and the state of Rhode Island, do hereby proclaim March 25th, 2026 as an observance of the 2005th anniversary of Greek Independence Day, and call upon all citizens to join me to pay honor to the country of Greece by acknowledging their civic, governmental, athletic, charitable contributions, and extend our congratulations to the people of Greece on their 205th anniversary of independence.

The City of Newport will display the national flag of Greece from the mayor's balcony at City Hall from today, Wednesday, March 25th through March 31st, 2026.

Thank you.

All right.

All right.

Uh Madam Clerk.

Do we have anyone for the Citizens Forum?

Yes.

Nora Eschenheimer.

Um just before we get going, Nora and anyone else comes up.

You have three minutes, just so you know, and you'll hear the buzzer.

Hello, and thank you so much for your time.

Uh, my name is Nora Eschenheimer.

My address is 18 Melbourne Road.

I am a Newport resident, born and raised.

I'm a local captain, and have spent my life connected to Narragansett Bay and the little city-owned lighthouse that sits in the middle of it.

The lighthouse is embedded in the hearts of this entire community.

And we are asking the city to restore the community's voice.

In 1984, the city of Newport received the Rose Island Light Station at no cost to the government and entrusted its care to a nonprofit with a clear purpose to preserve and operate it with the public and for the public good.

From its founding, the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation was membership-based by design.

This nonprofit structure was deliberately chosen by its incorporators, including city staff who were serving on the board at that time, so that a publicly owned historic property would be governed democratically by the community that supports it through annual meetings and importantly, voting rights to elect the board.

This model remains standard among many successful Rhode Island peer organizations, such as Save the Bay, Autobond Society chapters, and the Norman Bird Sanctuary.

But 32 years after the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation was formed, all of this changed.

In 2016, without notice to the members, Article II, members of the corporation was deleted from the bylaws, disenfranchising the membership.

Annual membership meetings disappeared that following year.

This was a massive change to the structure of Rose Island's governance and transformed the nonprofit from being member driven to one with a self-electing board.

In recent months, interest in Rose Island's future has grown, along with the concern about its direction.

There's been high staff turnover since 2016, and the lighthouse previously open year round, has been closed the past five months, left to weather the harsh winter alone without heat and without a keeper's daily care.

In seeking a way to support Rose Island's long-term success last month, supporters formally asked the board to restore member voting rights in annual meetings.

A petition was shared to better understand the level of interest.

Amazingly, more than 500 members of our community signed, over a third being Newport residents.

And incredibly, over 60% of all who signed indicated that they would consider becoming due paying members if voting rights were reinstated.

That could more than double the current membership.

But the board declined this request.

Why?

This is an opportunity.

It is clear the community is eager to re-engage.

That is why the community is turning to the city for help.

A nonprofit stewarding city-owned property deserves meaningful democratic accountability, and we believe that re-engaging the community will only help the island we love.

We are therefore asking the city to explore ways it can help restore and protect member voting rights in annual meetings at Rose Island.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Norm.

Madam Clerk, anyone else on the citizens forward?

Uh yes, Rob Vitello.

Hi, my name is Rob Vitello, and I'm here in my capacity as co-chair of the Newport Democrat uh Direct Action Committee.

And first of all, I will say that I totally support the uh uh motion that the um previous speaker said.

Uh so thank you very much.

And I'll only take 30 seconds.

Um I am here to invite uh all of you up on the dais to the No Kings uh Whitney Island March that we're having, uh rally that we're having uh this Saturday at 10 a.m.

Uh from Potsey Field up to Two Mile Corner.

Uh we are joining with communities around the state and around the country to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.

We are exercising our right here in the year that we're celebrating the 250th uh birth of our democracy.

Uh, we're celebrating that by fighting for our democracy.

So we hope you'll all join us.

And I have uh an invitation for you that you can pass around.

It has a QR code so that you can sign up to attend.

Good motion to motion to receive.

Second.

Motion and second discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Thank you very much.

Good evening.

Thank you, Rob.

Tyler Grimes.

Hello, thank you for having us.

My name is Tyler Grimes, and I serve as the secretary of the Newport Birthing Center Community Coalition.

Our coalition brings together legislators, healthcare advocates, and community members with a shared mission to protect the Newport Birthing Center and ensure the safety and well-being of local mothers and their babies.

We're here tonight with the intention of keeping the risk of closure at the forefront of this conversation.

The birthing center is an essential and essential resource in our community, and we are deeply concerned about what its loss would mean for the safety and care of moms and their babies across Newport County and Aquidneck Island.

As a first-time mom who delivered at Newport Hospital, this is deeply personal for me.

After my daughter was born, she was placed quickly on my chest, and within moments she began to turn blue, which we quickly learned was because of tachypne and mecconium aspiration.

The nurses immediately stepped in and were able to stabilize her.

I often think about what could have happened if I had been home or farther away from care.

At this time, the update we have is to share to share is that there is no update.

The future of the birthing center is still being determined.

That uncertainty is exactly why we must keep this issue visible and urgent because the health, safety, and equity of children and their parents on the island are at risk.

We cannot afford to risk and lose this.

If anyone is uh interested in learning more, we have a few ways to contact us, but I'm just gonna share uh just a little fire for everyone about that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Motion to receive second.

Any motion and secondary discussion, all in favor say aye.

Thank you.

Sorry, thank you.

Great.

William Nolan.

Um thank you very much for holding this council meeting this evening.

I am a short-term resident of the city of Newport.

And if I could, I'd like to hand you uh some things that I've been going through.

Um it's been very difficult.

Can oh um uh can you say what's what's the subject that you're talking about first?

Um my subject is my landlord and and what has happened since I have been here.

My landlord, it's very apparent why you have rules and why you require a pre-inspection on the home from January 24th till present.

I have had no water pressure and very little hot water.

It was warm at best.

I took temperatures of it.

The building inspector was wonderful who came out.

My we have no, we don't have a permit.

There's no permanent place.

He was like, Oh, he was upset because he didn't, he's like, Oh my god, she had we never inspected this home.

So, where my challenge is is why am I supposed to take it on the gym?

What I would do any.

Really well.

What an education he has.

He has seven certifications from American boat and yacht.

I'm so proud of him.

He would never touched a sip of alcohol.

His friends all smoke marijuana.

He will never touch it, and they know not to give it to him because of who he is to me.

And my landlord expects us to not have water, and she's an I'm not what has happened to me.

There would never fly.

I'm a I do home.

I'm sorry.

Take your time, take your time as no.

Mr.

Mellon, you want to.

Yes, second.

We'll receive your information if you then if that gives you a little chance.

We'll receive your information now if you want, and then we will take a look at it, and then you can continue.

Is that okay?

Yeah.

Mr.

Collin, I am going to ask for your assistance in the third ward is where my home is.

And uh I love everything there.

I love Iris.

I love the restaurant, same street kitchen to Caliantes, the top go join.

I gave them a five-stall rating.

My York's other constituents, my neighbors who I become friendly with, the old people in this year.

I love snow.

I brought my snowblower here.

I made sure that they had food.

I made sure that they would that they were shoveled out.

I'm going out tomorrow night with one of them.

He insisted on taking me to dinner, and I said he can only pay for the tip.

This is who I am.

And my landlord is saying I followed everything I have in here, the landlord tenant handbook.

I won't hand it to you.

I will I will distribute it afterwards.

What she told me on the 24th is that she would have the furnace service, she would have the boiler service, and she punished me.

She sent uh uh plumbers to the house hours late, had me sit there eight to twelve, blah blah blah, never paid for the Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you so much.

We cannot, as a council, respond to these needs directly now because it's not on the agenda.

We'll get in trouble with the state.

Understood.

But I want the city manager to assure the council members that what we have received tonight will be received by the administration as well and properly addressed for my constituent.

I may chairman.

I know this shouldn't fly here.

What a wonderful city.

I was just sitting with your other constituents saying what a wonderful it is thing it is.

Your 25 mile an hour speed limit that that uh block party drive and the policemen.

I see them pulling people over on Thane Street.

I thought the policeman over there.

Thank you very much for your assistance here and keeping this city the way that it is.

I want to move here.

I want to move here.

And I want to know that my landlord, Lisa McDonald doesn't have a friend in here because that's what it felt like to me.

It felt like she had a friend here.

All of a sudden it went through oh my god, she has 207,000 in fines.

And and now it's not.

You want me to stay until the end?

I want to know I don't want to stay in my house anymore.

Mr.

Nolan, we hear you loud and clear.

Okay, well, I'm right.

I I see that, and we'll we'll do everything we can to help you out.

Uh, but we do have uh time constraints that we are limited to.

So that I have here, please do.

It is detailed, and I really I appreciate this.

I thank you for bringing your plate to us.

Absolutely.

I have an I bought an extra one for the newspaper.

I'm sure motion to receive section.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Hi.

One more.

Oh, we have one more.

We have uh Pete Rice and one for everybody that was here.

There was text messages, which are not in what are I not a subject.

I can't say you don't want to speak, Miss Royce.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, motion to approve the consent calendar in its entirety with the exception of B2.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Motion to approve uh Cheyenne Cousin.

I'm sorry, motion to withdraw.

Uh B2 Cheyenne Covent Cousins doing business as Easter extravaganza, Newport Skate Park, April 4th, 2026 from 2 p.m.

to 9 p.m.

This is continued from March 11th.

Um, Mr.

Chair, I'd like to withdraw.

All right.

We have a motion and second, any discussion.

Those in favor say aye.

Let's just wait a minute.

Yeah.

Motion to approve a mobile food cart license renewal, long gate, LLC doing business as Dells Lemonade 337 Thame Street, Unit 16.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion?

Those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Uh the next one you are recusing.

Uh yes.

Okay.

Motion uh to approve a biddling license, new owner, Gardner House LP doing business as Gardner House 24 Lees Wharf in conjunction with her liquor license transfer.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Good proof.

Um any discussion.

All in favor?

I uh motion to approve a special event license fireworks display, America's Jubilee.

Um care um Iris uh doing business as America's Jubilee, June 5th, 2026 for a 12-minute display at sunset for three barges in Newport uh Harbor, number three of eight permitted displays.

This is a second request for display on June 5th, 2026.

First request approved on February 11th, 2026.

I'm okay.

Motion second, any discussion?

Mr.

Chairman, Council Carlin.

Thank you.

Uh wonderful event.

Obviously, we are celebrating our 250th anniversary as a country soon.

Uh and I appreciate what Iris is doing.

There are surrounding residential streets.

As it relates to third ward neighbors.

Are you aware of any, or is the clerk or is the manager aware of uh any notification giving given to uh surrounding neighbors?

I know one is not required by law or by ordinance, but have they been notified that fireworks are going off in their neighborhood?

No, no, we have not sent any notification.

I see uh Mr.

Chairman, I see the sponsor, or I see I should say the uh uh the permit.

Oh no, that's fine.

The permit applicant is here.

You can uh come up to the podium.

Oh, sorry.

I I would like to deliver this.

Hold on, please.

Say your name and address, please.

Yes, uh Harry Graves, America's Jubilee.

Uh I am a visitor to Newport for 35 years consistently.

Uh we are bringing a wonderful celebration on the 5th of June, right in between uh the date when Rhode Island uh broke loose from from Britain on May 4th and America on July 4th.

Uh we have a major sailing event, 250 boats, uh including tall ships, 12 meters uh and world-class boats and all the way down to 24 feet.

The evening concludes with fireworks, and I was just going to just say, I believe the three barges are out in Narragansett Bay, uh closer to the bridge, so way far away from any residential.

I I did see, as you pointed out, that I think the notes uh mentioned Newport Harbor, it should have been Narragansett Bay.

I don't know if our other representative is here tonight.

Uh the the actual folks who who do the fireworks uh uh is that the demon?

Yes.

So so we're we're both here tonight uh to help with that.

So he he can answer any technical questions.

Uh they are a very experienced team.

My understanding my understanding is they actually carried out the fireworks for the Super Bowl.

So uh you're you're getting the best of the best.

And that would simply complete this wonderful day uh where we're celebrating 250 years of America uh with as many sailboats as we can get out there.

No more than 250, though.

It's exactly 250.

And uh it's a very friendly, open to all effort.

Uh usually these things are quite expensive.

The entry fee is 250, no matter what size boat you are.

So it's uh completely celebrate Newport, celebrate uh the sailing capital of the world.

And this event you should know is inspired uh by the America's Cup Jubilee in Cows, England, uh, where 201 boats celebrated 150 years of the America's Cup.

This is 250 years celebrating America.

It's 250.

This is the official poster, which I will leave with you, and maybe someday it'll make it on the wall.

And and of course, others hopefully will get to enjoy it.

But it's it's completely a mix and a celebration of that very clean sport.

It happens to be on World Environment Day during World Oceans Week.

Uh that was an accidental good news uh that that we're able to tie in with that clean energy and climate action benefit.

So any questions technical questions.

Our friend uh can help with that, but I think the key point that you were asking is this gonna be near any residential?

It's gonna be way out in there again today.

Mr.

Chairman, thank you.

The only concern I ever have with respect to the fireworks being uh shot off uh and the council being asked for permission to approve is that the neighbors are informed.

Um we've had some some concerns in the past when neighbors have not been informed, and it startles uh animals and people.

Yeah, yeah.

Uh so I appreciate your explanation.

We're not required to notify, but have you you're shooting them off not in the harbor, apparently, but beyond the harbor.

So I think from have you notified the residents of the point area by chance?

Uh I I personally have not, and I really would you would you all just be willing to please notify the neighbors that they're gonna be shot off?

Thanks so much.

That's all I have.

I thought we're on the way to a mile away.

I guess Council Napolitano.

Um, yes, when uh the Navy does it once a year, too.

Yes, yeah, and they have beautiful fire wharves.

There's a perimeter set where boats can't go.

Right.

Um, will that be the case?

Yes.

Uh maybe we should bring the expert.

I'm the sailor.

He's the fireworks, yeah.

No, I I've seen them at for years at the Navy base, and that's how they do it.

They set the parameter where boats can't go.

Right.

Um, we had an accident.

Uh I think last year.

I have great confidence in the Super Bowl team, but also the committee that's that's bringing this forward includes Navy Admirals and Coast Guard captains.

So uh I'm just a helmsman of uh.

Okay, thank you.

Mr.

Chairman, Council Crawling.

Uh I also want to note that I never have an issue with respect to the safety of the fireworks.

Uh great fire marshal and Newport Fire Department handles that quite well.

So it's not an issue at all about uh what you're shooting off, how you're shooting off the fireworks, etc.

It's only a notification issue.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you.

I I will deliver this to you.

Motion or motion to receive motion and second, and any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh any further discussion?

So I move move to a vote.

All those in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve a special event license, Audreen, Automotive Museum, Automobile Museum, uh doing business says Audreen Automobile Museum, Cars and Coffee, 12 dates are listed on the docket.

Um, I move approval.

Second.

All right, motion and second, any discussion.

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carlin.

Thank you very much.

Uh I believe my colleagues have received uh a forwarded message from uh a constituent of mine representing the neighborhood.

If my colleagues recall last year, at about this time, uh there were a number of requests similar to what we see before us this evening for special event permits, many of which are being held or were held and are being requested tonight uh for Fort Adams, others at other locations because of concerns that the neighbors had regarding a number of things, not the least of which is speeding, the sound of the cars, uh the general disruption of the quality of life to the neighborhood, uh leading up to and beyond Fort Adams.

I asked that we individually approve uh the license requests or the permits that were brought before us last year.

We had a discussion, a healthy discussion, and at that time we received assurances within the debate last year, uh that every effort would be made to resolve these concerns.

Here we are a year later, and as my colleagues know from the forwarded message, but so the public understands as well, there is still a great deal of concern from the neighborhood or from the residents of the neighborhood surrounding Fort Adams, where the proposed at least several of the proposed events will be held, uh, not to mention beyond that immediate neighborhood on the let's say Brenton, Beacon Hill, including Moreland Farms, Ocean, Upper Harrison, and surrounding areas.

Uh so Mr.

Chairman, with respect to uh the entirety of the request, I ask uh please, and of course Bellevue Avenue is not exactly where it's definitely not where I just mentioned, but it certainly has uh its own neighborhood concerns, very similar to what I just mentioned.

So I ask uh that uh uh within the uh total permit requests, 12 of them that item two, item three, item four, item five, item six, item seven, item eight, item nine, item ten, and item twelve be continued to a further council meeting until such time as the organizers meet with the newport police department, uh, and if necessary, the neighbors, the neighborhood as represented by the individual whose email I forwarded to you all, uh, and any others uh who have interest in ensuring uh that among many other things, a police detail is provided and paid for by uh the event organizers and those requesting the permit or the permits tonight.

Uh Mr.

Chairman, that was a very long explanation.

I appreciate my colleagues and the public's patience with that, but I asked for a continuance.

Uh I will make that motion and ask for a second, please.

Second.

Sorry, so before we get into to that, so for oh what hold on.

Is there anyone here?

Is there a representative here from More Drain?

Can we please come up to the podium?

Just say your name and address, please.

Hi, all Ben Chester, uh, 80 Cole Street in Jamestown.

Uh Rhode Island.

I want to thank you all for your time.

Uh everybody.

Um I do want to say we have stepped up our enforcement of these events based on the concern of not only our residents in town, our neighbors, our friends, but ourselves.

Uh we uh love these events, obviously.

We love providing this outlet uh for a local community and greater regional community.

Um it's a great bonding experience for our neighbors and our friends here, and you know, we're able to uh bond over a common theme.

Um last year we added um yard signs uh with wording to say basically no reckless driving, no speeding, etc.

We're changing those signs to make the font bigger uh and make it more clear for drivers.

We're ordering more of those signs.

Uh we've been in touch with the police.

We haven't scheduled our details yet uh for this season, but we've upped our police presence with two details at each event.

Um we've also connected with the departments to have a um, I guess the proper term, an operating officer who's on duty and we've instructed do not hesitate to give tickets for reckless driving, anything over the speed limit is unacceptable.

Um I'm a car guy, I completely understand the decibel limits in town, and I think they're completely fair.

Um I I run these events myself.

I've thrown out a number of people from these events, and um, based on bad behavior, even entering the event, uh, we can hear these cars coming down the street, and I've turned people away and you know, basically with the uh wording of let's try again next week, and if you can behave, you can come again.

Um yes, I appreciate everybody's time.

We're very strict on this.

We're very um uh particular about our wording and how this all happens.

Um, but we're like I said, very strict and we're we care deeply about this, and it's it's a great thing for us and for the town, brings people in for breakfast um and for church and whatnot.

So um yeah, thank you uh for your time.

I hear you understood.

Um we do everything we can to do this in the right way to do this properly, uh, so all of us can enjoy this.

And um, you know, we're just as concerned about the board drivers as you.

And I do just want to say on the grounds of the events, whether it's Ford Adams or you'll see Newport Craft or the mansions on the grounds, the behavior is completely, I would say near perfect.

Uh, we don't allow any revving, any sort of reckless behavior on site.

Anything I can control, I absolutely control along with the property managers or uh whoever that may be at each event.

Um, and like I said, we've communicated with police that after these events end to feel free to give out as many tickets as needed based on behavior.

Mrs.

Jeremy.

Councilman Paul Thomas.

Uh yes, do you uh have the cars re-register or free registered?

Yes, we do, and uh that includes year make and model of the car along with and can you send out a notice because I received a lot of phone calls, particularly since they're coming in at 6 a.m.

And I know it's not all of them, but there's a few that really whatever, you know.

So um I think it would be helpful to let them know ahead of time that prior to entering the fort, yeah.

They can't be revving their motors, they can't be blowing their horns.

And that type of activity.

Absolutely.

And uh the first wording we use on our emails and on our website and on our signers that we print is respect our neighbors, because it's completely unacceptable to be doing this at any point in a in a town like this, maybe in the middle of Nebraska, that's okay.

But you know, it it doesn't fly here.

But yes, we can add that wording that says through and from the events counts as being at the event essentially.

I think that would solve a lot of problems.

And if they don't observe it, then they don't get to do come into the fort or be registered again.

And we've actually taken uh photos of a number of license plates and sent them along to police uh extraordinarily bad behavior.

So we'll we'll keep that up as well.

Okay, thank you.

Mr.

Chair Council.

I'm just wondering, has anyone from this group ever received a um ticket with the um the noise camera that we have on Thame Street?

Does anybody know?

Ryan Duffy, Chief of Police.

I I don't know specifically if somebody from this event has we have during the summer and when this event is has occurred, we have given out uh uh noise tickets from the from the technology that we have, but I can't relate definitely.

Could we um especially during the the entire summer though, have some signage that says that there is a noise camp?

I know that we have well, there is one that I've seen, but I'm just wondering something that's more obvious so that people will know that they could possibly get a ticket if they are noisy.

We can do that.

Yeah, thank you.

It would be a mass trailers.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Any further questions?

Council Carlin?

Mr.

Chairman, thank you.

I appreciate you uh addressing the council.

What we did last year did not work.

The residents, as I have told my colleagues and uh others have great concerns.

There's a motion on the floor and it's been seconded.

I invite you to meet with the neighbors, the police department, and come back with a more stringent plan that includes paying for police details and more if necessary.

Uh, and then ask for council permission for the permits.

Absolutely that, Mr.

Chairman.

I move the question.

Um so just for clarification, Council Carlin, we you only want to continue 10 of the 12 items.

So the two items that are that is correct, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you for the clarification.

I did not ask that item one and item 11 be continued.

Excuse me, those are not in the third ward.

Thank you.

Council Pennick, do you uh want to have anything to say since the other two are in your ward?

Yeah, I think it would be helpful to have like a just a more detailed plan um for like noise and traffic mitigation.

So um that would be good for us to see.

Sure.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chair, how many cars usually participate in?

Well, it depends on each location.

Fort Adams has a lot of room, so we don't turn cars away based on space.

Uh the uh Newport Craft Brewery, for example, uh, is gonna be probably a members only event with about 200 cars.

Um so it varies.

Mr.

Chairman, yeah.

What uh and thank you for allowing this additional question so long as we were on uh the subject of the total number of cars as it relates to Fort Adams and specifically your premiere event at the fort uh regarding cough uh cars and coffee.

I read in the application uh about what you should be proud of as an organization, the growth from a few dozen cars to what you referenced now, but to my colleagues' question, I believe the answer is anywhere between 400 and a thousand cars.

Am I correct?

Anywhere between 200 and a thousand, but okay, good enough.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you.

Um excuse me, I would like to make a motion just to amend Council Carlin's um call for continuation to add all 12 events and not just the 10 that are in the third ward.

Second.

Thank you.

So we got a motion and second, any discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

And on a matter of can the continuation, we have a motion and a second, any further discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it, we'll continue.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Motion to approve a special event license, RITB authority, gray matter marketing, bell pell bridge run, a plan attached, August 30th, 2026 from 7 a.m.

to 10 a.m.

Do I have a second?

Second.

All right.

We have a motion, a second, we have discussion.

Uh we have uh a representative from gray matter with us.

Should have got a for this microphone.

Yeah.

Like it'd be like uh Evita.

Sounds fast.

Good evening, Counselors.

Matthew Gray, owner of Grey Matter Marketing.

Sorry, it was packed has when I got here.

Uh Matt, so just a just a quick um, it's not even a question, but would you mind just kind of explaining what the change of the date situation?

Uh traditionally, this event has been at the end of October.

Um, due to some upcoming construction for the resurfacing project at the Pell Bridge, uh, we will not be able to host the event uh as we had always planned to.

Uh part of that is due to the contractor not being finalized yet, so we haven't had a chance to meet with them to discuss the plans for an event while they're doing construction.

So uh it is our goal to continue to host this great community event to raise a lot of money for the charities that are involved and not to see it go away for one year, because maybe if it goes away for one year, it doesn't come back.

Um so August 30th, not being a Labor Day weekend, being the weekend before, and somewhat, if you will, the quietest weekend of the summer.

Um, we thought that would be the most ideal time.

The bridge and turn bike authority has also agreed, and we met with uh Newport Police Department to discuss, and everybody is in agreement.

Perfect.

Okay, any uh any comments from the council?

All right.

Um this it's an awesome event.

It's probably what I think it's usually rated with the top event, you know, in in the area.

So thank you for your hard work on that and all you do for it.

Uh so all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I said it.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Motion to approve a special event license yachting promotions to mean business as Newport International Boat Show on September 17th through the 20th, 2026 from 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m.

to 5 p.m.

on Sunday.

Second uh Mr.

Chair.

Oh yes, motion is yes, and subject to agreement with the city's right of way, correct?

The agreement between the part uh city and the applicant for the use of the rights away.

Yes, which should be on your docket probably the next meeting.

All right, so we have a motion and second, any discussion, Mr.

Chairman, Council Cromlin.

Two questions, thank you.

Uh Mr.

Solicitor, we had that uh item on a pass docket regarding right away, correct?

Council, I believe, uh either formally or informally agreed to pass over uh approving that right away because we were too close to the international boat show at that time.

I don't think it was I don't think it was on the docket, the the agreement.

I I I believe there was some last year there was some draft of that agreement that was being circulated.

And I think you in the end you are right with what you're saying, but it wasn't uh docket item.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Chairman, this is another great event for Newport.

Um my question for the city manager is notwithstanding the fact that it's a great event for Newport, it provides uh significant economic development opportunities.

Uh what does the city itself directly receive from this event or an event like it?

In other words, considering that this is according to a recent report from URI, an economic driver for the state to the tune of 50 plus million dollars.

What is the city of Newport itself directly receiving outside of reimbursement for police and fire detail?

Directly, I'd have to refer to the solicitor.

He might have the details of the agreement.

I don't remember those off the top of my head.

Certainly indirectly, lots of hotel and meal and beverage taxes for those who visit the city.

There's um manager Kenny, there is uh fees for parking lot uses at the beach and those kinds of things, right?

The shuttles.

Yeah, yeah.

Um again, it's Mr.

Chairman.

Again, it's a great event for the city of Newport.

I would just like the public to understand what we as you all as resident taxpayers receive directly for compensation, if you will, uh because an event like this, a great event, as I said three times, is being held in the city.

We see that the state has received 50 plus million in economic development impact.

What is the city of Newport directly receiving?

There is there is in the past agreements, which were I believe some 15 years in duration, it was no monetary consideration paid.

Uh it was the city allowing them the use for a 14-day period of a portion of the rights away.

So there wasn't a direct monetary contribution made, but that basically I believe was the policy of councils before that not to seek any.

Um in the negotiations for the present agreement without getting into a draft form of agreement right now, all the terms in particulars.

There is we are addressing a it's not a overly significant contribution, but there would be a contribution uh along that those lines and and these are issues that we we did um provide the outline to the council in communications.

So um I have not um uh being careful on you know discussing these things at at this point, there wasn't a significant uh significant interest in getting into that issue uh up to this point.

Uh we have the representatives from the yachting promotions incorporated with us.

Yes, uh good evening.

Members of the council, Peter Regan representing yachting promotions along with Lisa Nol, who's the director of the Newport International Boat Show.

Um so a couple of things.

Uh in addition to detail fees and permit fees and those sorts of things, I believe there's a payment of 13,000 for the use of the beach parking area.

There's a use of five thousand dollars, I believe, in addition to that for the use of market square, and there may be some other license fees with regard to certain sub areas.

There's a proposal in the proposed license agreement with regard to commercial war for additional payment compensation for the use of that.

And under the prior agreement, which was in place for a number of years, when that agreement went into effect, my understanding is a Newport Harbor Corp, which used to run the boat show at that point in time, actually made some physical improvements uh to commercial war, that sort of compensation for that license agreement, which ran through last year's show.

So we've we've made a proposal which I think will be coming to you hopefully very soon, uh continued use of that going forward.

But there are in addition to just the regular permit and uh uh detail fees, there are in fact direct compensations of the city for use of those other properties, and uh in accordance with another economic impact study that was done uh that there's uh directly 16 million dollars worth of direct economic activity here within the city uh as a direct result of the show, which has been part of the city for 53 years at this point.

Thank you.

Thank you very much and good luck again this year for a fantastic event.

Thank you.

Any further comment?

All right, all those in favor say aye.

Any opposed?

Next appointments to boards and commissions.

Um boards of commissions, we have uh two appointments to the historic district commission.

Uh first uh appointment, Benjamin Willett as an alternate three-year term expiring 325-2029.

Second.

Yes, Mr.

Chair.

Council Segley.

Just a question for the solicitor.

Um do alternates on the HCC have term limits.

Do they have term limits?

Yeah.

Um, I am not sure.

Because I don't think on the zoning board they do.

Well, the reason why I'm not sure is that those terms are set by enabling legislation as opposed to our ordinances.

So without that in front of me, I'm I should have asked you that before.

I just declared.

Well, the clerk whispered she didn't think so.

Okay.

So uh so maybe we shouldn't say to tell you the truth.

I think the language in the enabling legislation is basically says you can have alternates, and it doesn't get too deep into to the alternates after that.

Okay.

So that's probably correct.

What the clerk is suggesting that no.

All right, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Uh next up is Jan Detremont.

Alternate for a three-year term expiring 325, 2029.

We have a second, second, most of a second.

Any discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Uh next up, uh trust and investment commission.

Uh, we have William Hogan for a five-year term expiring 325 2031.

Second.

I have a motion and a second.

Any discussion?

Mr.

Chairman.

Counselor Collins.

Uh Bill, you've been very involved with the city since I became a member of the council.

What a welcome appointment.

Thanks, sir.

Being willing to do this.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Council Sai.

No, Council Carlin stole my thunder on that one.

But I will say this.

Uh, when you look at our ability to take on many of the complicated problems that the city has, part of why Newport is so well situated is because of the stewardship of the investments that we have.

Councilor Napolitano, I know you've played a leading role, making sure that's gone well over the years.

And with an appointment like this, going through what's going to undoubtedly be a challenging financial time, making sure we have people that are really experienced is really important.

Um, I've known Mr.

Hogan during my time here in Newport.

His reputation in the prior 15 years of my career that included a lot of work in Connecticut is outstanding.

He is one of the most trusted professionals on finance in New England, period, having led as a finance director in multiple major municipalities across New England.

We're very lucky to have his service on this commission.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Any further comment?

Uh okay.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Uh next up, we have two reappointments for the historic district commission.

Uh, first up is Raymond Goddard, a three-year term expiring 2-3-2029.

Second second.

Motion and second, any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Uh next is Kelly Moran, three-year term expiring 2-3 2029.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor, say aye.

Aye.

And then one more reappointment is for the Energy and Environment Commission.

Uh, Christina Guaran, three-year term expiring 4-9, 2029.

Second.

A motion and second, any discussion.

Those in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All right.

All right.

On to communications from the city manager.

Action item 6572.

Um, it's recommended to approve a one-year parking lot contract agreement between the city of Newport and Emmanuel Trust, Emmanuel Church for the 2026 parking season.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

Uh question for the uh city manager.

So do we does the city get any money from this agreement?

Um, besides uh I know we pay the church and we cover the costs of um of the patrol and the uh the monitoring.

So do we do get anything extra?

I'll defer that to uh the deputy city manager who arranged the agreement.

Thank you.

Um parking violations uh come to the city.

The uh the the cost, the actual parking fee and the charges to utilize the lot go to a manual church, less um operating expenses for the city.

Great.

All right, thank you.

All right, Chairman.

Council Cromlin.

Uh I did not want to or I wasn't planning on speaking on this, so I'll make it very, very brief.

Uh and I realize that uh Councilor Kamzvorovang has uh recused.

Uh however, it was Councilor Kamzabarovang uh two and a half plus years ago, who started the discussion with the manual and with uh the Reverend with the Rector of the Church and with uh the church elders.

The sole purpose at that point was to provide for mostly folks who work in downtown Newport during the summer months, an opportunity to park at a reasonable cost because parking is uh very difficult to say the least in the summer months or even before in downtown Newport.

It expanded beyond that and has worked out tremendously well.

I want to thank the Reverend and thank my colleague who left the room.

Uh and I want to thank my colleagues and deputy manager Carulo, as well as the police department and the fire department, I believe, were originally involved.

What what a great way to see a problem, figure out what we can do, and ultimately do it.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Council.

Uh any further discussions?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Ayes have it.

Action item six five seven three.

It is recommended to approve four additional five-year renewal terms uh to the lease at 2154, West Main Road, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, between the city of Newport and Aloha Towers LLC for continued use of that site for cellular tower equipment with automatic renewals for up to four additional terms, five years each.

I move approval.

Second.

All right, motion and second.

Any discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item 6574.

Um, there's a recommendation that the council considered uh petition.

The staff has reviewed the petition and has not identified any issues with a new poll location.

Uh this is for a poll.

Um this petition meets the approval.

And um, I'm sorry, Narragansett Electric.

Wendy Peluoch.

Um, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I should have looked at where is this poll?

This um oh, I see.

I'm sorry.

Attaches a petition from Rhode Island Energy to install a new poll and anchor on the opposite side of the road from the existing poll for an electric service upgrade to support overhead wiring feeding to the Girl Scout camp located at 160 Carroll Avenue.

I move approval.

Second, motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Okay, moving on to ordinances.

Um motion to amend section 10.32.020 entitled definitions.

This is a second reading concerning the residential parking program.

Um this is the definitions changes to 10.32.070 and 10.32.140.

Second.

We have a motion and second.

Do you have any discussion?

Council Smythe.

Mr.

Chair.

Um, thank you.

I just wanted to clarify a few things just to make sure that um myself and that the residents are understanding what we are proposing here.

Um, I understand that this section is being um revised due to the resident definition was too broad in this section.

Is that correct?

No, it's not that it's too broad.

Uh, we're we're created in order to facilitate the additional ordinance changes, which are items number 13 and 14.

We have to make sure that the definitions, which in the code precede them, match up uh the new terminology that we have in place in the new category.

City solicitor helping uh develop these in more detail.

Yeah, but on this on this docket item, there's no changes from the first reading.

From the first reading, and that was just to sort of clarify the dwelling unit, the eligibility proof, household definition, and then the um residence class R1 and R2, correct?

Correct.

Okay, and R1 is anybody who's living in town longer than seven months, R2 is anyone who is uh less than seven months, correct?

Right, there's okay a primary residence here at least seven months, and then uh tenancies of uh uh at least a year and uh military.

Okay, thank you.

Any further discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to amend council curl.

Uh call for those opposed, please.

Oh, I'm sorry, though all those opposed.

Aye.

Motion to amend section 10.32.070 entitled residential parking permits, visitor passes, temporary permits.

This is on second reading.

This is a residential parking program eligibility and proof of eligibility, application requirements, caps and limitations, duration, renewal and verification fees, digital permit system and enforcement and revocation.

Do I have a second?

Second.

All right, we have a motion and second.

So these are the um uh provisions where there are this section that was read, passed on first reading, have been they've been revised.

There's some revisions we're asking the council to consider.

And the council has before it those revisions, and I would just ask the council to receive those.

Um so they're in the record.

So we're just receiving tonight, or no, no.

You get but I want you to written.

I understand those reads.

Okay, motion so you can act on them.

Motion to receive the uh amendments to um section 10.32 point zero seven zero second motion and second, any discussion on receiving the council Smith.

Yeah, I just I just want to be clear.

So we're just receiving the actual memo.

We are not voting to approve the amendments.

Correct.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

And what I'm gonna suggest is that they're actually found in three sections of section 10.32.070.

So I'm suggesting that you take up those three sections separately.

And I can give you an overview of of each one as you as it comes up.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chairman, Council Brown.

Thank you.

To Councillor Smythe's point uh or question.

I will vote yes to receive these proposed changes simply because we're receiving them.

I'll explain my uh eventual vote and its justification when the time is proper, but receiving is not an issue.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um so we have a motion and a second to receive uh the proposed amendments.

All those in favor say aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Um before we get into uh the discussion on these, I'd like to just open up for public comment.

So does anyone from the public like to come up and make a comment?

Do so now.

And just state your name and address, please.

Timothy Carroll, 675 Thank Street.

Um, I have a copy of what I'm gonna be saying.

If I I'd like to hand it to you guys just so you can have it uh when this meeting's over.

That's to receive.

Thanks, I motion and second to receive.

All uh any discussion.

All is in favor say aye.

Aye.

And who's this with you?

I'm sorry.

Who's this with you?

My daughter Alison.

All right.

Good evening.

Oh, can I go?

Shall I go?

Go ahead.

Name name and address for the record, please.

Sure, Timothy Carroll, 675 Thame Street.

Good evening.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak in all um in front of all of you tonight, or I can voice my concern of fairness for my family and I with regards to the opportunity my wife says right for us to park our vehicles in our neighborhood.

My name is Timothy Carroll, and I'm here with my daughter Alison.

I'm the owner of my house at 675 Thame Street, which my family has owned the property since at least the 1870s.

I worked at TJ Brown and lived in the same address for many summers, living with my grandmother Sashiki.

Um I was fortunate enough to buy my heaven on earth.

Both of you this is gonna happen after my grandmother passed away.

I love it here, and I live here full time.

I I would live, I plan to live here full time at some point in the future.

I currently have five family responsibilities in New York, where I must stay where and where I must stay in New York.

I care for my 93-year-old mother, Joy Sheiki Carroll.

I watched the first reading of this new proposed parking permit program, which was held on March 11th, 2026.

Connell explained the details of the current proposal to me over the weekend and on Monday, which I'm grateful for his time.

I'm now sure of my humble opinion regarding the the new parking proposition.

That is not fair, I believe divisive, and will create unfair burden for my family and I.

Um shows and everything that was uh throughout the city, and less of an issue in the summer of 2025.

No complaints in the fifth ward.

Um, just some tickets have been given out.

Um I went over to the Newport Police Department and asked them for that information about the if there was a parking problem and complaints in the fifth ward, which I was told no.

If the city believes it's prudent to implement a new computer-based program, as the current system is uh not supported any longer, that's fine.

I feel as I pay my taxes, and I understand that I pay more because I'm not considered a full-time resident.

Although I don't like it, I get it.

I don't rent out my house ever, so I don't get the economic benefit as others might with their property.

However, I should be afforded the same respect and benefits for the simple basic need to park my car and my wife's car in our neighborhood.

I don't know of any household.

I do agree there might be some, but not many, with only one car between a husband and wife, especially when both work.

My wife and I have three cars registered in my name.

I drive one, she drives one, and my other car, it's a 2001 Toyota Camry is parked in my mother, who is a native New Porter's driveway in New York, as she is 93 years old and has had both of her legs amputated.

I'm able to I'm able to keep her in the house, thank God.

She is not comfortable in a house with no vehicle in the driveway with 27 years in law enforcement.

I agree with my mother.

I've certified disabilities from being down at the World Trade Center on 9-11 in my capacity as a police officer.

So do you want to take your daughter's three minutes?

Yes, please.

Thank you.

My wife has MS.

Thank God, no new episodes.

We both have asterisks next to our future and no timeline if things will progress.

I truly hope, especially not for my wife.

I would hope not to have our parking options limited because of this new program.

My wish is the council would roll out this pro would roll would roll out this program, not in a rush, but in a timely matter to address as many of the possible issues as possible.

And then leave open the option for amend for amendments any to amend any future issues that might arise.

If the council is going to uh put a cap on the amount of stickers per resident, I think up to three is fair.

Please don't segregate Newport homeowners.

The full-time residents get their tax break and save money.

Homeowners, whether they're full-time or not, have to park, especially when their residence has no driveway.

My little brief looking on the uh Google Earth, 83% of the driveways on my street and 85% of the street above me have driveways.

I don't have a driveway in my property.

Give homeowners the ability to purchase extra extra tickets.

I mean extra stickers.

I think there was confusion on the original costs.

I believe up to three free stickers, extra stickers if approved would be a cost at the mercy of the council.

Make the additional stickers and annual registration with proof.

Example, my two daughters work in Newport for the summer.

They will live in our house.

Their application should have proof of employment, work agreement, pay stub, etc.

If the council sees it necessary for re-registration, maybe have it every two or three years for the free three stickers.

And um I would say one year for the um for the temporary.

Again, please don't rush this process.

Please allow for amendments to make future corrections.

Each municipality and neighborhoods within each municipality have different parking issues to address.

I'm sure this new software will have all have the ability to do many things, pull many CAN reports and specific statistics to keep the program fair and equitable for all taxpayers and applicable for specific neighborhoods in the city.

Please give me the respect just to finish what I prepared here.

I I mean it took me a lot.

I have PTSD from being down there, and my pauses maybe you should have stopped the clock for me.

That's all I'm asking for.

And I'm not asking for money.

I just want to park and finish.

Go ahead.

Allow the allow the unit in charge to question and investigate and disqualify if there any if there appears to be any misuse.

Thank you for your time and cons and the opportunity for my family's concerns to be heard.

Thank you.

Ms.

Carroll, thank you so much.

You bring up a lot of great points too.

And um, I know I think I do believe some of those will be getting addressed uh with some of these recommendations that we have as well.

So um, but I appreciate your time and your your words.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else uh from the public like to make any comment?

Yeah, please come on up.

Good evening.

Um, Maria and Michael Cornelius, 47 Dixon Street.

Uh, we sent this email to the city council, and my husband I believe had a great conversation with uh council member Harlin.

Yes.

Um, but I wanted to read it here this evening for all you folks in case it didn't make its way around.

We are residents of 47 Dixon Street.

We purchased our house um almost two years ago.

It'll be two years in May.

Um, while we're not full-time Newport residents um or residents of our island, we spend as much time as possible at our lovely little home on Dixon Street.

And we do not rent out our home.

We don't have intentions on renting out our home.

Um, and as members of the council, all of you know, uh, we pay taxes and we pay more than our fair share, not being full-time residents.

Uh, like many properties in the yachting village, we do not drive.

We have to park our vehicles on Dixon Street.

We're year-round parking can be a real challenge.

The proposed changes of availing only one parking permit per non-permanent resident address would greatly limit our ability to spend time at our home and creating a significant hardship for us.

As you're finalizing the changes to parking permits, we asked that at the very least, residents in similar circumstances be afforded the same proposed courtesy as we read at one point as LLCs.

Um, or perhaps having the number of parking permits correlated with the numbers of themes identified on the deed, which there are two of us.

Um, and or even avail the opportunity to purchase additional parking permits for a fee, whatever that fee may be.

So it does give us some flexibility.

Please recognize that we consider ourselves a part of the Newport community.

We've been coming here for decades.

Um, and as needs have arisen, we employ only people who are from Aquidneck Island, um, whether it's a mover, a locksmith, a contractor.

Um, we're support many of the communities and are part of the nonprofits here, Newport Classical, Preservation Society, Sale Newport, uh, the Jane Pickens Theater, and my proud beholder of a Newport public library.

We each have one.

Great.

Um, we really appreciate whatever efforts and respectfully ask that careful consideration be given to non-permanent residents like us, and like this gentleman here who just want to be able to enjoy our homes and park our vehicles.

We too have older vehicles.

Uh, and it just would be a quite a hardship for us in order for us to come down here from Massachusetts at every I mean, through the snowstorms, through you know, whether it's New Year's Eve, anything, we have the opportunity to come down here and spend as much time as we can.

Yeah, Michael Canelli is I just want to add that I think there are different non-residents.

There are landlords that rent out their properties, and there are non-residents that are here all year round.

And we feel part of the community, and we want to continue to be part of the community.

We just can't make that seven months happen.

That's the only thing.

Not yet.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I do I do want to make one clarification that the the proposal as it stands for our two non-resident property owners, such as previous speakers, uh, would be to to allow a max of one permit per co-owner.

So in this case, uh, assuming both individuals were co-owners on the deed, each would have eligibility for one one each total, too.

So it's not per residence, it's per owner in that situation.

Question, Mr.

Chair.

Sorry.

Why would the alternative be?

Why why one?

Um, just what was the logic, right?

So there's no monetary when there's a monetary gain, I can reconcile that because we can afford some relief to year around residents financially and kind of get that balance right.

I actually think our non-resident population has been very understanding of our need to do that to alleviate some of the housing crunch.

We look at something like this.

I see no attached fiscal note indicating a monetary impact to the city.

Why have we created a tier two-tier structure that is complicated by a differential number of permits between residents, part-time residents, trusts, LLCs?

Why not make it three across the board for simplicity?

No, I okay.

I understand the question now.

I I would I would offer that that goes back to my interpretation of council policy that has existed since I've been here.

For example, the current two-tier tax rate was designed uh as a policy to encourage long-term honor, uh long-term uh residency and long-term rental.

Uh, and so in the thinking about the parking program, we we holistically looked at that council philosophy that we've been interpreting over the last two years and applied it to this circumstance as well.

So uh we felt that there would be some additional benefit to encourage, continue to encourage full-time residency and and long-term rentership.

Um, while still providing some avenues for availability for permits for non uh for non-permanent residents and for shorter term rent, but not as many.

So that that was the thinking behind that is to try to answer the intent and the philosophy of council as as as the administration interprets.

I I follow it, by the way, I appreciate the the framing administration took on this.

I don't think it was with malintent, but I guess I would just ask the same question again.

Aside from making life more difficult for those that are maybe only here for part of the year.

Um I'm still a finance guy at the end of the day.

What's the bottom line financial benefit to the city here?

This is this has never been about money.

I mean, I know some people think that because we initially had some proposals for cost.

We were using cost mainly as a means of putting some of the uh the excess use of permits in check.

It was never going to make any significant money at all.

So it wasn't a stretch for the administration to ultimately drop those cost elements completely.

Uh, because it's to us it's more about appropriate caps citywide than it is about any kind of revenue.

Okay.

It's truly is not about cost at all.

That's helpful.

I appreciate it.

Like I just for me, I sit here and I think how am I as a resident who's here year-round better off by my neighbor who's only here for part of the year by making them feel different in some way here and making their lives more difficult as a result without there being a real financial gain that flows through at the end, not to make it all about money, but obviously that's part of what drives this.

Um so I appreciate the administration's intent here.

Um I intend when we get to the appropriate part to offer an amendment, because I think it'll also just make things simpler and clearer for this round that we're in.

Maybe we'll call it the Carroll amendment, right?

To just say, look, across the board, it's three, right?

So it's the same level for everyone.

The city wants to revisit that in the future with the data, that's the city's decision at that point.

But at least as we get through this initial round, let's just level set so it doesn't feel like we're pitting residents against one another.

But at the appropriate time, we'll make that a quest.

Um Mr.

Chairman.

Could you um explain the changes in this document that um have been that are being proposed?

If you look at section 1032 uh 07 oh in the first paragraph, there is a revision because the language was directed towards vehicles registered to a person.

And we did realize that there are a lot of leased cars out there that are registered, obviously, to leasing companies, and many people use company cars and such.

So we we added language that would say that uh upon verification of control by the the person, that vehicle would also um qualify.

Um the next, and that would be in subsection A.

The next one would be in subsection Caling with R1, which is the long-term resonance, uh, where it says three permits, and this I believe was feedback from council people that this amendment came from.

Um it basically says that a uh an individual who qualifies in R1 may be issued additional permits for vehicles registered in the individual's name for each dependent who is under the age of 25, who is a member of that household, and the dependent also has a license that has that address.

So that uh was a spit a specific uh amendment based on again council uh I'm not saying the body as a whole, but several council members who I believe um uh wanted to see something along those lines.

The next one is uh D, and D basically suggests well provides, excuse me, not suggests, but provides that the permit periods are going to be now May 1st in an even year through to December 1st of an odd year.

So it will cover two parking seasons, and they will start on May 1st, 2026.

So everyone who had permits mailed to them in the past.

If you had permits, you open up your mail and there's your permits, they're going to get those same permits for those two parking seasons.

So for two parking seasons from now, they don't have to worry about applying.

Umly people who did not get uh permits by by mail, or if they're changing what they get, say they have to add on something, they would need to apply at that point.

Um the other any other per, as I suggest, any other um people outside of that parameter would have to apply May 1st for the May 1st on that.

So those are basically the changes and uh those revisions again, other than the first one I talked about that we caught a potential issue.

The other ones were driven by concerns of the public of residents who um have contacted council people.

Yeah, and in short, what we were trying in summary, what we were trying to do is allow a gradual phase in of this program since we know that uh uh uh there's some reluctance to just jump all in all at once on an application process.

So we thought let's let's allow a grandfathering period of up years to to allow this process to kind of take shape, and then uh starting in 2028 it becomes official where you have now biannual, not annual registration that also addresses a concern about having to do business with the city too often.

So we tried to address that.

And then the last part was there was a concern that some families in town with uh uh teenagers and young adults uh who still live in the home might be unfairly disadvantaged by the cap of three, and so this uh that portion addresses an exception for families who are structured that way.

So that in a nutshell is the crux of it.

Mr.

Chair, so there's no application period this year and next year.

If you were if you received a permit automatically last year, yes, then you will receive one this year and you will receive one next year.

Okay.

If any of your circumstances change or you're new to the area, then you will apply for the program the way we are struck.

Okay.

Mr.

Chair.

Sorry, so I just have one comment.

I I don't think that this was meant to make life more difficult for residents.

I think that this was to improve the quality of life in order to allow more parking spaces to be available for people who need them.

So I just want to be clear that I don't think the city's intention was to try to make things difficult.

I think the intention was to make parking easier.

So I I just wanted to say that.

Thank you.

Council Smith.

Um, thank you.

I I just want to clarify the changes that were just discussed.

Is that specific to the R1 resident class, which is anybody who lives here for more than seven months of the year?

Go ahead.

Well, depending on who gets the uh permits mailed to them are probably gonna be um long-term residents.

I mean, is it possible that others were mailed permits outside of that?

Possibly.

Uh I can't tell you right now.

Um but uh uh that, but they're gonna get it yeah, without any kind of application, and there's no fee unless the council imposes a fee on any of this, whether you're R1 or R2, there's no fee for the for the permits.

And did the stickers go out to the recipients already?

No.

Okay.

Yeah, I saw I I think I know what you're asking.

I saw one person on social media today said they got their sticker, and and that was a little surprising to me because I don't believe we've mailed them.

So that might be challenging.

Oh, okay, that's what it was.

Thank you.

Apparently that was a that program, that element of the program is not under consideration of these changes.

So if it makes sense that the F Pass would have automatically in the okay, Mr.

Chairman, oh my council Napoleon.

Yeah, I understand um two people had gotten up tonight that come to Newport regularly.

They don't live here because they live elsewhere because of job app uh uh jobs and and taking care of people.

I I don't you know if they're not renting out their homes, which it doesn't sound like they're renting out their homes to anybody.

Why would we not give them the additional uh stickers for well?

I mean, I think you you've struck upon a policy decision that the council needs to make.

Uh so the way that the administration has made a recommendation to you is to give a little bit more flexibility to long-term tenants, 12 months or greater, or uh uh full-time residents who live here seven months or greater uh to counselor size point.

Maybe you want to kind of shift that balance a little bit more uh back to a little more equilibrium with uh uh with non-resident property owners and or short-term tenants.

And by short-term tenant, in this case, I mean seven to twelve month tenants.

So that's a policy decision you may choose to make.

In so doing, you might have more stickers on on vehicle.

I'm sorry, you might have more permits being issued, but at least then we get data over the course of the next few years and into the into the permanency of the program where we're able to then readdress this later if needed.

I understand I understand the non-resident, you know, the way it's explained.

However, there are people that perhaps when they retire or or when they have a change, would want to be here permanently.

And they have no intentions of renting out their property um in the interim.

But you but the ordinances have to be structured in a way they have to cover.

I mean there's always going to be something that's not covered.

We found that out with the two-tiered tax system that you're gonna have situations that might prove they could be what you consider to be unfair.

But that's gonna happen in any kind of program that you roll out.

And if you start making inroads to it with exceptions, then there's gonna be further people who are unincluded, and it may not be fair to them based on the new the new exceptions you made.

So it's a policy decision, and I know that the people who worked on this um were also under the direction from this council that many counselors um suggested that the long-term residents be at the brunt of the the primary um industry in this town, which is tourism.

So that's where a lot of this came from.

If you want to back off of that, then I know you're right.

Give us the policy, and I can we can redraft provisions and or or you know, make amendments to it.

But that's where it came from, at least this as a basis.

Council Carlin.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

I'll yield to uh counselor Pinnock.

Thank you.

Um Council Pinnock.

Thanks.

I I think we keep like talking about exceptions and things, and I understand that, but I think when we're putting in policy and ordinances, we have to find like an equitable way to do these things.

So I think the term is equity and not exceptions.

And I I just don't want to unintentionally disadvantage any of our multi-generational um families who do come here and pay taxes and spend money um and would live here full time if it weren't for the circumstances.

Um so I'm just I'm a little bit concerned with some of the language and the what seems to me like an unfair um disadvantage to some of the folks.

So um perhaps like we continue this and come back.

Counselor.

Well, I don't know.

The manager wanted to answer.

No, I I I respect the commentary.

I was I was just I'm reluctant to talk about continuing because we are we are at break point where we either need this is happening this year or it's not yeah.

Um we just need some direction as well.

I didn't make a motion.

Understand, yeah.

Okay.

Council Sai.

I think why we enact policies matter and what drives that matters.

And I don't think you've incorrectly identified the council's priorities.

So I do recognize that you're hearing us on that.

I think the challenge is you have to think about what the driving purpose is behind any change that we're making.

The driving purpose we've articulated on the differential here is to help us address the housing crunch that exists for residents who live here year-round.

But what we haven't articulated in any way is how this parking policy change substantively improves the housing situation or the attractiveness of housing for residents here.

Conversely, the argument we have been hearing about why we need this parking program has had very little to do with the housing issue, which was just used as the justification for the differential between resident and non-resident.

The original impetus behind this that's dominated the conversation until now is the issue of the shortage of how of parking in this city.

So the conversation up until just now this evening has been very much around we've got you know, X number of parking spaces and four X number of vehicles with permits.

That inconsistency, I think, is part of why people are feeling a little bit jerked around and like you know, they're being divided on this issue.

Um I acknowledge that the the timing situation that we're in here, unfortunately, this evening.

Um I think that the changes that are being recommended put forth reflect staff listening on this, which we appreciate.

They reflect um a the city staff stepping up and saying, here's the reality of what's going on with the data, and that we actually have pretty good data.

And they also reflect Nick and his whole department really working hard to wrangle technology to work for as residents to lower this initial impact in the first few months.

Um the the area that I think I will ultimately be looking to seek some equity to Councilor Pinnock's point to hopefully offer a pathway forward for this body is to just say let's level set across the board 333, and if it needs to get revisited in the future, revisit it, but nonetheless at least keep us moving forward.

Mr.

Chair, Council Carlin.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Sorry.

I have a number of concerns about uh this proposal before us, but uh of the primary concerns that I have is that the council two weeks ago voted by a five to two margin to approve the first reading of a significantly different version of what is before us this evening.

I understand, and as counselor Kamzavaravang said, that the city of Newport is dealing with time pressures as it relates to getting our permits out to our residents and others.

However, for the purpose of doing things the right way, that is not a concern of mine this evening.

I want things done the right way.

This with significant amendments completely upending what was done two weeks ago for the most part, should be a first reading, not a cheap way by amendment of satisfying the two hearing requirement.

Mr.

Chairman, thank you.

Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, but I just want to say these proposed amendments that were in front of us are a result of what we talked about our last meeting.

So these aren't just coming out of nowhere.

Council Smythe.

I I agree with Councillor Carlin.

We're seeing these new amendments for for the first time tonight.

They didn't go out to the public.

They were not on the docket.

This was something that the council received.

So I don't feel as though that there was proper community engagement on how these changes, which which I think are relatively good changes.

Um, you know, I commend the city staff for all their hard work and for hearing what council has said, what the community has said, but it still hasn't been relayed to the community so that we can get adequate feedback if if how this is going to impact them.

We heard from two people tonight that that appear to be greatly impacted by these changes.

Um, especially for individuals who who don't have driveways, how how is this going to greatly impact them going forward?

Um so I do have some great concerns regarding that.

What would happen if we did push to continue this?

What what situation does that put us in?

I think you know, given that May 1st is only 40, 40 or so days, 35 days away at this point.

I think pushing this to April 8th is simply too late.

Um we we would effectively be legislating for next year um at this point.

And meanwhile, the the automatic renewals would go out, which they which they would with the amendment.

That's that that that's been motioned anyway.

Um, but only those.

And then anyone who wishes to receive a new apartment would have to come in under the old system, which is I think really cheap.

It's what $2.

It's it's it's it's a very simple application process for anyone to town or a military member.

Same way we we've always done it.

Um, but we wouldn't be able to uh uh put any we wouldn't really be able to put any caps on the program, which is one of the intents of this.

Um we would be able to enforce it well uh because we have that technology in place uh with the light, the automatic license plate reading uh um and the additional handheld devices that are traffic aids will use, but the ability to put any reasonable or uh uh significant cap on the program would would not exist.

Mr.

Chair, we just in real world numbers, um under the the city's new proposal, how many stickers would Mr.

Carroll be um eligible for?

It uh depends on how many vehicles he has.

Five, I think oh, Mr.

How many on the Dr.

How many yeah?

Oh, you I'm sorry, under the new proposal?

Under this new proposal, right?

The new one in in his situation would be would be one because he is the only person on the D.

Okay.

So um, so if we went with uh Counselor Komsavoravong's, he would receive three.

Correct.

And I um um Deputy Krula uh whispered in my ear appropriately, he also has eligibility for his guest pass as a property.

Okay, really, it's sort of like two, but again, under Councillor Kamzavorvong's proposal would be three.

Okay, thank you.

Oh, one quick second.

Go ahead, council.

Can I just ask one more question?

If we do three, three, and three, are we really cutting down the number of stickers that we're sending out?

We might based on the estimation from the last meeting and the data we run.

Uh we would probably take about 485 vehicles uh out of 16,000.

So it wouldn't be it would not be significant, it'd be a little bit.

Okay.

Um thank you.

Question Mr.

On this, then how many vehicles would be impacted if we didn't do the 333?

I don't have that number in front of me because we don't have the breakdown yet of who's R2 and who's R1.

So uh yeah, I I just don't have but do we have an estimate or a rough idea?

I don't, and some of that some of that goes to the fact that we don't know how many of those would then take advantage of the exception for dependence, which we're proposing uh uh that's further amended to.

So there's too many variables there for I just know that 485 was the number above three, uh, based on last year's depth.

Yeah, and we had a lot of our conversation at the last meeting was very much that the intent here is to really zero in on that now narrow category of folks that have four more permits, those are like the ultimate offenders.

That's the lower hanging fruit of people where we think we can you know claw back some capacity.

We at no point really got into discussion of you know that the intent of this policy might actually be to call back some of that that part-time summer resident parking.

So for that reason, Mr.

Chair, what I'd like to do is propose with Mr.

Carroll's blessing here, the Carroll amendment here to move those numbers to 333 across the board.

May make that motion for that amendment.

Second, second the the only thing with that is you have to watch out if we do three, we can do it for individuals, but we have some because R1 was treated, excuse me, R2 was treated differently.

We have the LLCs, and we also have the truss.

We have the LLC, we give up to two members of that LLC.

One each, so you want them to also get three each on something on an LLC or I mean I see no issue with it for just the initial simplicity of the program.

Okay.

We have a motion and a second uh on an amendment uh discussion on that amendment.

Um Mr.

Nolan, did you want to come up and say something?

You got to come up to the podium, please.

No, thank you.

As I'm listening, been wonderful watching you guys come to agreements.

Well uh to balance the playing field, homes that have a driveway, they should be limited.

If you have a driveway that parks one car, level it to your neighbor that doesn't have a driveway.

Why should somebody that has a driveway get more parking because they have the benefit of a driveway?

Thank you.

All right, discussion on this discussion on uh thank you, Ms.

Nolan.

Discussion on the amendment.

All right, so uh I'm sorry, Ms.

Com Savorabong.

Um just restate the amendment.

Yeah, under uh section R2, the number of respective permits that are currently in brackets to all be changed to three across the board.

Second all right.

Um just uh for clarification.

Um make sure I got this right.

I cannot you want me to just try rewording it with some of the citations.

Because we're just talking about we want to take these uh the three changes on the on this ordinance uh separately.

That's all.

I just want to make sure we're doing the right thing.

All right, so we have an amendment to uh make it three um for each classification.

So all those in favor, please raise your right hand.

No posed.

Okay, all right.

So for section A on 10.32 point zero seven zero residents uh uh shall fall within either resident parking class one or resident parking class two, or one is a newport resident with primary residence uh or military resident twos, non-resident property owners and short-term tenants.

Um do we have one have any further discussion on the classification?

Which one are you on A.

On A, the it's just a change in the in the first paragraph of the section, just adding some language about control of the vehicle.

Yeah, that would you got all right?

So uh for A, we'll uh we're gonna have a separate vote for that.

So uh raise your right hand if you're in favor of um change an ordinance on just 10.

Say that again 10.32.070A.

Raise your right hand.

Any opposed?

Mr.

Chairman, for the reasons stated earlier.

Opposed.

So on all right.

Now moving on to C uh 10.32.070 C, where we added language to permit the cap for primary residents, which we just changed uh to three to include additional permits uh for dependents in the residence household under the age of 25 who operate a vehicle registered to the resident and has a license with a residence address.

Right?

Any uh motion for approval.

We do have a second.

Second, motion and second any discussion.

Quickly, Mr.

Chairman, Council Carlin.

Very good amendment by councillor Kamzavarovong.

I agree with the amendment.

That's why I voted yes to move the amendment forward.

The underlying reason that I am voting no on this final approval is for what I stated earlier.

This should be a first hearing, not a second.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Okay, any other discussion?

All right, uh all those in favor, raise your right hand.

Any opposed six one and now to D 10.32.070 D.

Um revising amended language dealing with the duration and renewal of permits.

Uh so as a stated by the solicitor earlier, these are basically for two parking terms.

So starting March, uh sorry, May 1st, 2026, going through December 1st, 2027.

Second, second.

All right, we have a motion and a second.

Any discussion.

All those in favor, please raise your right hand.

Any opposed?

Six to one.

That's it for that.

That's right.

All right.

Um motion to amend section.

I'm sorry.

Sorry.

Oh, we have to do motion as amended.

Oh, sorry, yeah.

Uh want to make that motion.

Okay.

I make a motion as amended as amended.

We have a second.

Second.

Motion and second.

Any discussion?

All those in favor, raise your right hand.

Any opposed.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr.

Chairman.

I beg your pardon.

Opposed.

Reverse my vote, please, to a negative.

Thank you.

Sir.

So six to one.

Okay.

Motion to amend section uh 10.32 point one four zero entitled Revocation of Permits on Second Reading.

The resident this is concerning the residential parking program for the use of false fraudulent or a misleading information to apply for or obtain a residential parking permit enables criminal prosecution and establishes a fine of up to 1,000 dollars.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion?

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carlin.

This language was not significantly altered, was it?

No.

Wasn't altered in any way, as a matter of fact, right?

No, just the definition.

It it not from the first reading.

Yeah, that that was what I wanted to make clear.

Thank you, Mr.

Manager.

This was not significant.

This was not altered at all from when the council took up uh the request two weeks ago.

This is a very good uh proposal by the administration.

Uh it will help us crack down on those who abuse the system.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes.

Um yeah, thank you.

Um I I agree.

I I think that this was very well done.

I just want to make a suggestion to um city administration that once the votes are are final on this tonight.

Can we make sure that the information that we get out to the public that it very clearly states so they can understand what was changed here and how they will be impacted, please yes, absolutely.

Uh that was that was our plan uh already with the communication spark pending the outcome of any votes and amendments tonight to a full out blitz uh communications-wise to make sure that it's very crystal clear of how these changes are being implemented.

Um Mr.

Chair Segment.

Before we move on, I just I want to just make sure that once all a lot of this is settled that we get a report as to how many stickers we actually um did not how many we did not um put out, you know.

And I I'm just curious the numbers I'm sorry, the number of stickers that were actually issued compared to what we have issued in the past.

So I I'd like just to report on that as you know, as we just move forward through this program this year.

Certainly, we we can we can probably in early May give you a preliminary report, and then there will be some additional applications that are made as people move into the area of military members transferred.

So we can get your preliminary and then a final at the end of the season.

Thank you.

Um I just want to also mention that.

I I want to thank the staff, uh, the city staff for their hard work um in going through this this residential parking program changes.

This has been a two-year process.

Um, so I I understand we get things put up put uh put towards us at the last minute, but this has been something that's been going on for quite a while.

We've had workshops, we've had uh this is our third council meeting on this.

Um so I know a lot of work has been done in what we're trying to do is we're trying to create a perfect system, which is nearly impossible, if not completely impossible in Newport.

There's just too many variables that we that we have with with the city, especially over city this age with the streets, um, how they were um they were designed so many houses with no driveways and close together in different parts uh of the city.

Um, you know, I think what we're gonna have to start to look at next time we visit this is actual um parking zones and not just one flat because it's just too complicated.

And I greatly appreciate the people that came up today and and their their hardships that they have through no fault of their own.

Um, but trying to there's just no way to make it perfect for every single resident that we have here.

And this is you know, keep in mind this is a resident parking program.

Um, so I know we try to do the best we can, and we try to, you know, make as many people happy as possible.

Um, but you know, we where we're at, I really think we're gonna need to look at this uh deeper the next time uh around.

So I again, but I just want to appreciate the staff and and administration's work on this.

We just have to vote on this.

Oh, we did.

No, no, on the uh all is in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Yay.

Six to one.

Okay, motion to amend section 10.20170 entitled towing by police division.

Uh this is to add paragraph C and Araganset Avenue beginning 646 feet east of Oaker Point Avenue, proceeding 60 feet east to its terminus while encompassing the street width of 34 feet.

Uh, this is on second, this is um on second reading.

We're voting.

Second.

Motion second, any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to amend section 10.24.050 entitled uh two, three, and four hour parking limits, library and recreation parking lot and equidnic park.

This is a second reading that no vehicle, uh no motor vehicle or other vehicle shall be parked for longer than three hours, Monday through Saturday between 6 a.m.

and 9 p.m.

and Sundays between 10 a.m.

and 9 p.m.

in the area so designated and signed for three-hour parking in the library and recreation parking lot in Aquidnick Park.

From May 1 through September 30, only those vehicles bearing resident stick parking stickers shall be allowed to park in this parking lot between the hours of 10 p.m.

and 6 a.m.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

Those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to amend section 10.44010 entitled multi-way stop signs on second reading.

This is to add Bedloe Avenue and Hillside Avenue.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Okay, moving on to resolutions.

Uh speed camera revenue uh slash school restricted fund.

Uh, this is something that I brought forward, but um, Mr.

Chair, I would like to table this um for now.

Second.

Motion and second to table this resolution.

Any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Next uh resolution advocating for an increase in fiscal year 2027 green economy and clean energy bond facility improvements to support Fort Adams State Park.

Uh Councilor Smythe.

I'll just read the resolved.

That the Newport City Council Council respectsfully urges the governor of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island General Assembly to support and pass House Bill 8144 and Senate bill number to be determined, thereby increasing the facility improvements line item within the fiscal year 2027, green economy and clean energy bond by an additional five million dollars, specifically to support the restoration and stabilization of deteriorating historic fortification structures at Fort Adams State Park.

That the Newport City Council supports capital investments that extend the useful life of existing public infrastructure, strengthen climate resilience of coastal historic sites, and promote workforce opportunities in the preservation and construction trades.

That the Newport City Council clerk is directed to transmit copies of this resolution to the Office of the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Chair of the House Finance Committee, the President of the Senate, the Newport Legislative Delegation, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission.

Do I have a second?

Second.

I motion a second, any discussion.

Yes.

If you could help you up to the evening.

Good evening.

If we're gonna ask you, say your name and address, please.

Uh Paul Marshall, 26 Parker F.

Thank you.

Okay.

If um were to ask the state for an additional five million into that bond program they have.

What what are the plans for Fort Adams?

How would they use the money?

It explicitly says in the bill that we would be using it for historical restoration and preservation on urgent areas of the fort that need stabilization uh issues that have stabilization issues.

Um it's deferred maintenance that has happened for years, and uh we want to make sure that the fort stands for another 200.

Is there any is there any plan or any construction plans or anything like that?

Yeah, we've gone through master plans over the years.

We have uh construction plans on areas that uh that are currently being renovated and restored.

We currently work with uh on site Mason um that has been on the fort for well over 15 years, uh, that uh constantly is helping us improve areas and he's named he's named as long as as architects uh areas that are are so of serious concern.

Um and the intent here is to uh uh help move that needle.

We uh we currently only get um from the RICAP funding about it's gone up, but about three to five hundred thousand dollars a year, and we have to apply for that money through DEM.

Uh three to five hundred thousand dollars a year gets us.

I mean, you know how budget works, it keeps a couple of light bulbs.

Um so uh this will help kind of set the tone and how we can actually stabilize and uh and make sure that we don't have uh any long-term damage that would close the fort public uh in the in the future.

I mean, we've seen what deferred maintenance has done to multiple different uh facilities across Newport over the last few years, and we're just trying to be ahead of the curve here.

So it'll actually be used on the fort structure.

That's how the bill is written, yes.

Okay, okay.

Mr.

Chairman.

Um do we have any uh I believe there's another resident that that wanted to speak towards the importance of um restoring the fort.

Did you want to come forward?

Thank you, Paul.

Thank you, Paul.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Um, my name is Suzanne Hale, and my address is 12 Apthorpe Avenue here in Newport.

And uh first, I want to show this picture.

This picture is a picture of my dad at Fort Adams.

You want to take a motion to receive second.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on a subject that is very important to my family.

I am here tonight on behalf of my father, Frank Hale.

He was the founder of the Fort Adams Trust and served as president for many years.

I think 40.

His connection to Fort Adams reflects a deep appreciation for its role in our community.

So we grew up going to the fort as my family.

My children called it Papa's Fort.

My daughter was married at Fort Adams.

Fort Adams is not only a historic landmark and treasure, but a valued public space that is actively used and loved by residents, including scouting events, historical reenactments, weddings, movies, concerts, boating nature, not to mention the breathtaking views.

While meaningful progress has been made, the restoration continues and requires continued investment and stewardship.

Ongoing support is essential to preserve its integrity and ensure long-term accessibility for generations to come.

As you consider decisions regarding Fort Adams, I respectfully request that you keep my dad, Frank Hale, and his lifelong dedication in your thoughts.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And your picture going up.

Council Crawlin.

Mr.

Chairman, thank you.

I'll pause a moment.

Suzanne.

I knew your father.

I knew your mother as well.

Many of us did.

Colonel Hale was a great American.

I served far too young, far too young.

Just after my teenage years, early 20s, maybe, on the Fort Adams Trust, after your father had created it, along with the efforts of many other retired military.

And folks who simply had an interest in bringing the fort back to where it should be or where it should have been.

So I admire your dad and your mom.

Thank you for coming tonight.

Thank you very much for the kind words.

He was also the um sorry, the artillery company, president of the Sons of the Revolution.

And he also ran the Rhode Island Independence Memorative at Newport, also known as right, man.

Um here in the board.

So he's he did a lot for the community, and he put in a lot, a lot of effort.

I sweat floors over there as a kid, and he chopped away rambles and um poison ivy and and everything else just to get to the to get to the port before they can even start.

And he and some other gentlemen gave towards and just took donations.

They probably paid more in than what they uh than what was received, but they did take donations and um it's well it's awarded a lot for many, many, many, many years.

And I would like to see it continue.

It's a beautiful place.

Thank you, Suzanne.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Uh as I said, the Colonel was a great man.

I remember him saying to the youngsters, Rogers High School students and others from other high schools, they gotta get you kids in the tunnels.

We gotta clear up those tunnels.

You probably remember something similar.

Fort Adams is a jewel, obviously.

Uh, and originally, depending on who you look at, and we're not casting blame, I certainly am not, but the federal government, the state of Rhode Island, City of Newport, the community, whomever, had not done enough uh to ensure what Suzanne talked about, the preservation and the upgrade, the maintenance needed for the fort.

So this is a small way that the Newport City Council, the Rhode Island General Assembly, and if we are so fortunate, the voters of the state of Rhode Island can put into the fort some of what Colonel Hale had described years ago, uh, and some of what is described tonight by you and others as so necessary.

I will support this.

And I'll do that proudly.

But I say to the state of Rhode Island, to the city of Newport, to my colleagues and everybody else.

Let's not also forget our friends, residents, and others, as I mentioned an hour plus ago, who surround the fort, who are concerned about uh various issues that might arise from misuse of the fort.

Your father was a great, great champion for the proper use of the fort.

Again, thank you.

I urge my colleagues to support this.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Just to clarify for folks who are watching and wondering what we're doing here.

What we're asking is for the state to expand the green bond to include specifically these renovations to Fort.

This is important because this type of resolution not only makes it clear to the state house that Newport uh is firmly behind this, including the third board counselor where the fort's located, but also instructs our contract lobbyists who are at the state house to get up there and advocate to bring home more money for Newport, ensuring we keep getting our fair share.

Um, I will give credit to this council and working with the administration.

We have brought in a historic amount of funding working together on this.

This is the type of cooperative action that for all the back and forth we have up here, we fight together when it comes up to the statehouse, and that's proving to bring back revenue and funding for court and assets like this.

Uh, Paul, thank you to the entire uh foundation for bringing this concept forth and for championing this with the state.

So, yeah, um Paul and the rest of Fort Arms Trust look forward to working with you guys uh with with the city and you know to keep this going and because I think it's a great idea, and just the work that's been done already has already been a tremendous improvement uh out there.

I've been able to take uh a couple tours out there, and it's been uh it's fabulous.

There's a lot of lot of potential out there for just to see the you know, almost put you back in time when you're walking through some of those tunnels.

So thank you for uh for that effort and for putting this forward.

Um those uh four say aye.

Any opposed mark next uh resolution supporting a statewide discussion of affordability evaluation methods in drinking water and clean water state revolving fund, Council Napolitano.

Second moment you gotta read it first and then we've been there.

Um I'm just going to give a very brief synopsis of this.

Uh um, I'm sorry, counselor, would you please just read the resolve and then make it resolve as a resolve um death?

Let's see.

Uh read it.

Yes.

Resolve that this resolution be sent to the governor of McKee, our current elected officials representing Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth, and Naval Station Newport, and board members of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank and the Department of Environmental Management to promote implementation.

I move passage.

Second.

Motion second in discussion.

South Waltz off.

Basically, what this is, we really, and I think everybody knows now, you've been receiving your water and sewer bills, and we're really at a disadvantage in the city of Newport.

For some reason, they feel that we have 28,000 people paying the bill.

Well, we not only supply the water in the sewer for Newport, but also for Middletown and the water for Fort Smith and the water and sewer for the Navy.

And the other problem that we have, we have the most shallow water resources in the state.

You can go upstate to Providence to uh Johnston to Walwick.

They have clean water or fresh water resources, much more than we do.

Our ponds are very, very shallow, and we do a lot of treatment, and that is the reason that our sewer bills are almost as much, if not more, than our water bills.

We really need help.

We don't qualify for the Rhode Island infrastructure infrastructure bank.

Uh we're tier three, the lowest, and they just don't look at our projects.

I'm beginning to think they think Newport is nothing but wealthy people.

And I have repeatedly said we do more affordable income than any place else in the state.

We're number one.

And we take care of our citizens in Newport.

And we don't all live on Bellevue Avenue.

I think it's time that the infrastructure bank, and I just wanted I had a few notes here.

I just wanted to um let you know that let's see.

Recently, the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank provided financial assistance to various projects across the state.

Um million Providence Water Maine rehabilitation.

Over the last 30 years, Providence has received 300 million in low interest loans because that's what the bank issues, and 36 million in forgiveness on those loans.

11 million to Warwick and West Warwick, and 20 with a 20% principal forgiveness, uh forgiveness, which equated to 2.2 million dollars of grant money.

200,000 to URI to evaluate manganese concentrates in the water, 320,000 to North Providence for lead pipe replacement.

We have not been able to secure any money, any low interest money or grant money from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.

Something is wrong with this system.

We provide a lot of services to a lot of people.

And I really think the people that are the residents here now that are complaining about the water and sewer bills, they should be complaining.

Unfortunately, we can't seem to get the benefits of all these other communities.

And it's about time they looked at us in Newport, our population is approximately 25,000.

Another 20,000 in Middletown, another 17 in Providence or Portsmouth, and the Navy supports approximately 27,000 people not living there, they're working there, and then they have their Navy command schools, which they wouldn't give me the number on.

Um, so it's it's just not fair to Newport.

We really need to um request this money, and I hope the governor takes a look at it.

Uh it just, you know, they had no problem asking us for some of our uh money that was going toward um the marina or the uh repair of uh down at uh brick marketplace where the boats come in and the ships come in and bring people to go to the mansions.

They think we're made of money, and I really think that attitude has to change.

So that's all I'm gonna say on it.

That's it.

Anyone want to complain about your water bill any other discussion?

We do have a motion and a second, uh, any discussion.

I just have a question.

Um, will this is this something that has to be voted on by the legislature?

Or is this strictly a governor's action?

Well, I think the governor could facilitate this, but this is the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank that has determined that the city of Newport, City of Newport, and we service all these other communities, um, you know, doesn't qualify.

So I I would really like to see that changed.

Okay, thank you.

Uh all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Aye seven.

Next resolution supporting the placement of a plaque in Liberty Square honoring the Newport Artillery Company and the daughters of the American Revolution.

Council Napolitano.

Yes, thank you.

Um I this is a very short resolution, so I'll read it.

Umas the Newport Artillery Company was initially established under the reign of King George II in 1741.

Later, they became an independent unit in Rhode Island, allowing the company to choose their own members, subject to Rhode Island governor's approval.

They are the oldest continuing artillery company in the nation, participating in almost every historical event anniversary event in Newport, no matter the weather, and full revolutionary regalia, original woolen jacks it jackets were worn, even in hot on hot August afternoons.

And whereas the daughters of the American Revolution were chartered later and required stringent proof of their ancestors' participation in the American Revolution War of 1776.

These women worked in hand in hand with the counterparts displaying outfits and customs of the revolutionary periods.

And whereas these important organizations remind us of freedoms that have come at a price as they continue to commemorate the importance of our past and future endeavors with their participation in middle many events throughout Newport, including Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and now therefore be it resolved.

Congratulate their efforts, resulting in the approval of a plaque to be displayed, commemorating the sacrifice sacrifices of those who have come before us.

I move passage.

Motion and second, I make a motion to receive a second, second.

Motion and second, those in favor say aye.

And I think it's really going to be a very nice tribute to all the different events that your organization and the artillery attend attend, including unfortunately, Suzanne.

I don't think she she realized that it was, you know.

I remember Frank being at these meetings.

Yes, Frank.

I I love Frank.

He was part of the character, and we had great relationships.

And I like to tell and just tell you quickly.

You just say your state your name and address.

Oh, my name is Barbara Simmons, and I live in Newport.

Um, the Quick Now chapter, National Society, Daughters in the American Revolution and the Artillery Company in Newport have vested interest in this.

And I'm just gonna cut my speech in that in a quarter of whatever it is.

The daughters of the American Revolution had this will cover three events, okay?

It would cover the tree in 1952 that we put there.

It was the William Ellery chapter now is now the Cricket Gowan chapter there to honor our first president, George Washington on his 200th anniversary of his birth.

And then the Italian country, who has been chartered original charter in 1741 as Jeannie has told you, and to honor the men and women of whom we have a sacred compact to ensure that these United States of America continues as a government of the people, by the people, for the people, with and to honor these patriots on the 200th anniversary of the founding of America.

We will also put that is that's our main course.

Okay.

I have given you all a picture of where we like to have the plaque and everything.

I hope it to your liking.

I'm not a genius in doing those things, but I try.

This would bring exposure to our organic great organizations.

And I thank you very much for the pleasure of coming in front of you.

I think the fact is gonna be presented on granite.

Yes, and probably Memorial Day.

Pardon?

Would it be Memorial Day?

Is that we like to do it on Memorial Day?

Yes, because you know, there's so much we have going on at the Fourth of July.

We got the William Ellery, which we uh tribute at uh common burial grounds, which we do every year.

Okay, look forward to it.

Yes, we hope you all come and come.

I'll send you a personal invitation.

How's that?

Okay.

Uh any further discussion.

All right, and this is also unanimous unanimously uh backed by the tree open space commission as well.

All right, so all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Next uh resolution supporting the um supporting the support and access to bilingual education act.

Uh Councilor Pinnock.

Thank you.

Um it is a long one, it's three pages, but I am just gonna read the last page.

So is that okay, Rebecca?

All right.

Um resolved that the that the Newport City Council and herewide and hereby express their support for the establishment of a bilingual education support fund within the Rhode Island Department of Education in the amount of nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars to support the implementation and expansion of bilingual dual language and world language education programs and the growth of related teaching certifications.

I resolved that this program will assist traditional local education agencies in partnership with community-based organizations and institutions of higher education to design, launch, and implement language education programs that reflect the languages and cultures of Rhode Island's diverse communities, and resolve that the program will require the Rhode Island Department of Education to collaborate with the Rhode Island Office of Post-secondary Commissioner in consultation with approved educator preparation programs to increase and streamline the issuance of world language and bilingual dual language certifications for the purpose of increasing the number of qualified teachers serving local education agencies with high incidence of multi-lingual learners.

Um I just want to say thank you to Connection Latina to Rebecca for your constant advocacy and making sure that Ellen's want to make a motion.

Oh, yeah.

Make a motion is in the form of a motion.

Second, thank you.

Um thank you for keeping the focus on educational equity and making sure that all of our children in Newport um have what they need for success.

You are a constant um light and a constant advocate for our entire community, um, especially our immigrant in our Latino community.

So thank you very much, Rebecca.

Thank you.

Rebecca Gomez Beneck.

Uh, may I give you some information?

We're getting a lot of gifts.

Uh all is in favor.

Uh Ellen just gave you some information about the Sabe Act last night.

Um, I had the pleasure of going up to the state house to advocate with actually three Rogers High School seniors who have started the um Latinos haciendo juntos um club at Rogers, the first Latino club at Rogers High School.

Um, the first group of Latino students who have actually spoken out and asked to be seen and heard um listened to.

Um, and the first group of students who've actually said the programs here are not working across.

Um, and we need to do better.

Um I I'm not sure how how uh informed you all are about what's going on in our schools.

So I will let you know that we are one of the districts with the highest amount of um MLL students, multilingual learners, uh, in the state.

And as reported by our director of multilingual learners, um, we are uh more than half of our students, our multilingual learner students are not receiving the time that they are required to be receiving of multilingual instruction.

Um, and the assumption is that is because we do not have enough multilingual link multilingual to teach it or that want to teach it.

Um and so part of this bill, a large part of this money um is to um educate and uh um certify teachers, bilingual teachers.

Umport tells us that there aren't there is nobody that wants to be certified, um, or there are people not anybody in Newport that wants to be certified.

Um, this bill would provide money for people who are coming from other countries who might be teachers in their countries or might be teachers somewhere else that want to get certified as ELL teachers.

Um, and we're hoping that that will provide a boost to our severe shortage of teachers, period, um, but to MLL teachers in speci in uh in particular.

Um, the second part of the bill um is to provide dual language programs in schools so that children will be learning both languages together.

I don't know how many multilingual people there are in the room.

Raise your hand if you speak both two languages.

Um I've been on Duolingo for 50 days.

Which is good job.

Okay, so I personally can tell you that it's tremendous benefit not only to me, but people that I serve.

Um and if I had and I didn't learn it in school, so if I could have learned another language in school, I could have started this job many, many, many years ago.

Um, and so the English speaking students in our community are at a tremendous or are it is a tremendous disservice to them to not be able to take advantage of the language that they are not learning from their peers, from their Spanish speaking peers.

Um, and so to be able to provide some money to Newport um to be able to provide those kinds of programs where children can both can be learning from each other, um, is would be uh a travesty.

Um, and so this is uh not a tremendous amount of money, but it would be something to get us started, and so the school committee has already said that they would back this.

I hope that you all will, and with with the advocacy of our students at the State House and the coalition for multilingual RI.

I'm hoping that the state will put some money into it and uh we'll get something moving down here, fix what we've already got, and then move uh thank you for your time.

Mr.

Chair, thank you, Councilman.

I just have a question, Rebecca.

Uh this the district does hire MLL teachers, right?

But what is the difference?

How would they employ this program differently from the way it is currently being employed?

The district has MLL teachers, um, but the over the past uh there's a statistic there that I believe our MLL population was 300 and something percent over the last 10 years.

So the MLL teachers that they had weren't enough to service the hours that they needed to be servicing.

So they offered a program where all of all of our teachers could get a certificate a level of certification.

Um from what I understand, that level of certification is really for Rebecca Gomez math teacher to go in and get this certification that says I can be a math teacher, but I can also teach math to MLL students.

It doesn't make me an expert in MLL education.

Um, and so we don't have enough specialized MLL teachers to be able to teach math.

I'm sorry, to teach English language to students.

Um they tried to reshuffle everybody, they move people around, they moved teachers around, they tried to figure out different ways so that they could serve us all of the students.

They just don't have enough teachers to do it.

Um I don't know what efforts were made to bring new teachers into the district.

I really I'm not informed anymore because I'm not there, but um, what we're doing right now is not working.

Thank you.

And that comes from the MLL tenders.

Yeah.

Thank you, Rebecca.

Any further discussion?

Council Sai.

I just think this is a beautiful duality in the message that we're sending to the state right now.

Help us preserve our past, as we heard about with Fort Adams, help us fix the things that aren't working right.

Council Napolitana's resolution about water is and help us invest in the future of the state with things like the SAB Act.

Thank you so much for bringing this forward.

Thank you.

Okay.

So all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Next, addressing sidewalks on Melbourne Road, Councillor Smythe.

Thank you.

I'll just read the resolves.

The city council hereby directs the city administration to develop a plan for the design and construction of a sidewalk along the remaining segment of Malbone Road necessary to provide a continuous pedestrian connection to Admiral Calfus Road, and be it further resolved that the plan shall include but will not be limited to the following ADA compliance sidewalk standards, evaluation of drainage, grading, utility relocation, and right of way considerations, traffic safety analysis and potential complementary traffic calming measures, estimated project costs, including design, permitting construction and contingency, fiscally responsible and expeditious funding strategy, identification of any required easements or property uh impacts a proposed project timeline.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Motion and second and discussion.

Mr.

Chair.

Council Smythe.

Um, I just want to point out that the um this was discussed with the bicycle and pedestrian commission, and they did submit a letter to support it.

Ms.

Chairman.

Yes.

Um I live on Malbone Road.

This is and I've been on the council a long time.

This has been studied a couple times.

I kind of wish that prior to putting in a resolution, we did the last three, which is or the last four things, the estimate project costs.

What happened in the past?

Um, they either have to have one side of the road or the other.

And it's a taking up property, and that created such a nightmare.

The property on the one side of the road is all residential.

Well, it's all residential, is all residential, but they have very small front yards and they have telephone poles.

To move the telephone poles alone was astronomical each time.

And then on the other side, there's an estate, and they not only have to remove their fence to take some property to do this, but also remove trees.

So I, you know, I'm just kind of I'd love to see it, but you know, I just think probably some more uh information would be better at this point, or even to reach out to some of the neighbors, you know, to and that's that's what I'd like the the city administration to look into because we're we're at the point where Malbone has become a major through street to connect the North End residents to the rest of the city, but also people who work at the Stop and Shot Plaza use that street regularly.

And it's just going to be a matter of time before a pedestrian is hit.

We've already had a couple of pedestrian incidents where people have been hurt, and I just think that that we need to at least look into a way to try to fix the situation instead of waiting for somebody to get hurt because families and kids do use this road to get to Pell School to get to Thompson, and you know, I again it's it's it's a public safety issue at this point.

So this resolution is just for us to look into it.

If studies and reports have already been done, then maybe those can be consulted and to see where we are currently today um with what we can do, because there has been more foot traffic since the bridge realignment with Melbourne than before.

So I don't know when these studies were performed, but if it was done before the bridge realignment, then maybe it wasn't such a pedestrian concern as it is today.

Uh Mr.

Royce tomorrow.

Just my first question is why cherry pick Melbourne.

Uh I can find five other roads around town that need sidewalks.

Uh start with Wickham and Ruggles.

You know, high school.

Uh a lot of kids out there walking on the street.

Uh I don't know.

How did you arrive at uh Melbourne?

Why pick Melbone and uh uh instead of all these other streets?

Because of of some pedestrian incidents that have happened, but also some of the streets that you mentioned, I believe are already on a list that are due to have either looked into to have sidewalks, Melbone was not.

So I'm just putting the program.

I I believe it is.

I was under the impression that that was one of the streets that perhaps was on the list.

I don't have the city engineers already listed for me.

I I couldn't tell you for sure.

A larger picture question is we spend lots of time and money doing studies, transportation master plans, comprehensive plans.

Where is Melbone on there?

Why isn't it is it on there?

No, no, it's not.

I don't believe it is.

Yes, is it?

So it it directly is not north end sidewalks is it's item number S11, if I recall correctly.

And uh Director Crean uh came prepared that question came up, so I'll bring her to the podium.

Thank you, Teresa.

Hi, Teresa Crean, Director of Resilience Sustainability.

So when we saw this on the docket, we did reach out to our city engineer and deputy public services director Bill Boardman and also our planning director Trish Reynolds.

So I'll just do an excerpt of what they shared with us.

Um we do have a comprehensive keep Newport Moving Transportation Master Plan.

Um and Trish, for the implementation program of Keep Newport Moving, um, it's prioritized into immediate, which is a first two years, um, short three to nine years or medium 10 to 15 year set of actions.

And so 15 years is the total time frame expected to enact the Keep Newport Moving plan, which was approved by council in 2023.

So projects are prioritized in that plan by number one high crash history with public safety being number one, two complete network street sidewalks or bike facilities that build on existing projects and make a connection between other high priority projects, creating a complete network.

Three mode shift projects that are in areas with a high number of existing short trips by vehicles and have a high potential to reduce congestion.

Four, um I keep Millen.

Thank you, thank you, Ms.

Kreme.

Opportunities, projects that present a unique opportunity, such as a scheduled street resurfacing project, adjacent development, currently low traffic volumes, or an easy project with a big impact.

So for this case, um uh director Reynolds pulled out uh from keep newport moving.

We have um PS3.

I don't know what the PS3 stands for, but it's one of the strategies in the Keep Newport Moving Plan.

Invest in sidewalk construction and repair is a priority, and S13 sidewalks on Narragansett and Ruggles uh sidewalk apps are both listed for short-term implementation.

So for Malbone, um it the northern section of Malbone is highlighted in the pedestrian network map on page 60 of keep Newport moving for those who are thumbing through the plan at home as an area for sidewalk improvements.

The length of Malbone is shown as a supporting street to the bike network, uh keep Newport Moving, page 62.

Sidewalk improvements on Malbone could also be considered to be supportive of S11, the north end multimodal connections, although only east west bike and pedestrian connections are cited.

And S11 is also listed for the short-term implementation, which is that three to nine year time frame.

So thank you for letting me go through that information that Director Reynolds provided.

Um, I'll also add that um our city engineer um deputy public services director, Bill Boardman.

Noted that if we have a special project with funding to go along, we can enlist a consultant engineer to design the new sidewalk.

We'll have to take into consideration drainage and other issues.

And I think to your point, um, Councilor Napolitano, we can certainly come compile all past um past study, past studies that have been done for Melbourne.

Um, but currently on Melbourne, existing concrete sidewalks generally exist from Broadway to just short of Smith Avenue.

That's about 2400 linear feet.

This is from our engineer course of existing sidewalk, about 700 feet of double sidewalk from Broadway to Van Zant, plus 1,000 feet of single-sided sidewalk, um, Van Zant to Smith Street.

So we have another about 2,000 feet from Smith to Admiral Calphis without sidewalking curbing with potential drainage utility poll and right of way issues.

Um so that is what our staff are offering in response to seeing this on the docket.

And again, um we're happy to follow up with a comprehensive staff summary.

Mr.

Chair, I have a question.

Um so the first time you saw this was when it was on the docket.

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

I I I think yes, the resolution.

I I I think it it best practice is to work with staff before putting something on the docket.

But um, you know, I certainly will support this because it's I think it's an important um thing to do, but uh I think that we need some of that information before we put something in front of us.

Thank you.

Can I just mention Pell School?

Uh the students on Melbourne catch the bus.

I had three bus stops.

Oh, yeah.

I I I live on Russell, so so I see see the bus stops, but um there are still a number of school kids that do walk it to either get to Pell or if they've missed the bus to get to Thompson.

Yeah, Mr.

Chair.

So um yeah, well, I don't have Mr.

Rice just finish up, but you have about I think a minute and a half left.

Yeah, I just don't see why we're picking one sidewalk to fix when there's so many that need fixing.

And I'm questioning why you do that this one and in uh uh contrast to some of the other ones, but in general, it's one versus many.

I think it's a whole bunch of sidewalks that need pixie.

So I don't know why to start with one.

If you can do one, you know, it's bothering somebody about one.

Why is it why don't you listen to the people uh that are also bought another side?

Thank you, Miss Rice.

Uh Council Pennick.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, thank you for the report.

Um Director Reynolds did speak about all of that at the um bike and ped commission also, which we really appreciate.

But I also just wanted to highlight the 74% of school children live in ward one in that surrounding area.

And while there are three or four bus stops on Melbourne, you have to consider things like after school programming, summer programming, kids who walk to and from Thompson.

Um, and some families do walk to Pell every single day.

See them because I'm outside of Pell every single day.

So, you know, I understand that it's a little bit more complex.

We can't just throw down a sidewalk.

It's gonna take um time and and effort.

And I don't really think it's a matter of prioritizing um areas.

I think it's it speaks to like the need, the public safety, the health and safety.

Um while kids may be walking around Rogers, it's not as prominent as it is in that area um of ward one, where a majority of school kids do live.

Thank you.

Council Carlin.

I'm simply preparing to cast my yes vote.

So I turn my microphone on.

I'm like a tabloff dog once I see your thing to go to the microphone.

Understandable, Mr.

Chairman.

We go no, no, no, no.

All right.

All right, uh, let's take a vote.

So all is in favor of the resolution, please raise your right hand.

Any opposed?

Ayes have motion to adjourn as council and uh convene as board of licensed commissioners.

Motion and second, any discussion.

Those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve the consent calendar in its entirety.

Second.

Motion second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Under licenses and permits, Sunday selling license renewal, uh, fifth ward liquor doing businesses.

Fifth ward liquor 695 Thames Street.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Motion second and discussion.

Those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve Newport Prescription Center doing business as Island Wine and Spirits 287 and 291 Broadway and portion of 2989 Broadway.

Second.

Motion and second any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve new Newport Liquor doing business as Point Wine and Spirits three Thames Street.

Second.

Motion and second any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve hone Incorporated.

Doing business as Rex Liquors 146 Broadway.

Second.

Motion and second and discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All right.

Next, um, yes, um, Mr.

Chair will be recusing.

Uh this is a um motion.

This is a hearing on an application of Bloody Bull LLC doing business as Gardner House.

24 Lees Wharf, holder of a class BT alcoholic beverage license to transfer ownership to Gardner House LP, Howard Cushing, 33.33 percent.

Work Baffler, 33.33 percent.

Oliver Demaris, 33.33 percent.

Doing business as Gardner House at the same premises.

Um, I move approval.

Second.

Any discussion?

Anyone from the public like to be heard on this?

Okay, motion to close the public hearing and approve.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye aye.

Motion to adjourn.

Second, second motion and second discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.