Madam Clerk, we take a roll call, please.

David Carlin.

Here.

Lynn Underwood Segley.

Here.

Charlie Holder.

Here.

Side camps Borova.

G Maria Politano.

Here.

Alan Pinnock.

Stephanie Smith.

There's a quorum present, Mr.

Chair.

Please rise for Pledge of Allegiance.

Pledge Allegiance.

The United States of America.

Individual with liberty justice for all.

All right.

As you notice, we're a little short on council members tonight.

Unfortunately, Councillor Pennick and Council Smythe have come down with the flu, so they can't make it tonight.

Councillor Comps of Ourovong says he should be here, but he'll be running late.

So we have us four.

And then so before we get going, uh Madam Clark, do we have anyone for the citizens forum?

We do.

Emily Conklin.

Hello, Emily Conklin, Seven Gwynn Court, Newport, Rhode Island.

Happy Earth Day.

As today is Earth Day, I want to just take my a couple minutes to speak with you all and with everyone watching and everyone in the gallery about the composting pilot that is going on in the city.

So as I'm sure you all are aware, um the city got a grant through 11th hour to fund free weekly curbside composting pickup for 1,500 households in Newport.

We are doing super well as of today.

I just got an update.

We have 959 participants.

And since the pilot started in October, um we have diverted approximately 64 tons of compostable material, and that equates to approximately $4,000 in municipal savings in our um tipping fees.

So we are really um as the Energy and Environment Commission and just personally, we are really per pushing this to get to the 1500 families.

Um this is a huge boon environmentally and also could save the city a lot of money.

Um and I've been pulling every lever that I can think of to get to um to 1500 families.

So we're hopeful that we'll get there soon.

And uh we hope all counselors are going to compost if you're not already, and that everyone in the city who can participate will.

Um it's very easy.

You get a bin in liners from Black Earth when you sign up, and they pick it up every week, so it's not smelly.

It's you know, we have I've never personally had any issues with rats or raccoons, which are the two things I've been asked about.

Um so hopeful that we'll continue to push this out that we'll get to 1500.

And um, please, if there are any questions, you can always direct them to me in the energy environment commission.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Emily, can how many families or how many residents do you have in the program now?

959 um households enrolled.

Okay, so you need another 500.

Yes, about okay.

Yep, thank you.

Anyone else?

And Maureen Crona.

Hello, good evening, Warren Cronin, 10 Harvard Street, and I'm here tonight with a reminder and a thank you.

Uh, first of all, on behalf of the tree and open space commission, we want to make sure that everybody remembers that it's our day and the start of the 250th anniversary on Friday, and um, we'd love to see you there at the planting of the new Liberty Tree.

Look at it this way.

It's your last chance in 250 years to put some uh more dirt in the new tree.

So we hope you're there.

It starts at 1.30, and we're looking forward to seeing everyone.

The thank you is a few months ago, you all get a resolution that propelled um the administration and ourselves to get right out and work with Ride Ot in order to get them to start making that Pell realignment project be much more than it should be and what they promised.

And I just want to bring you up to date that so far we've had a four-hour walk around with them.

There is a team that's now been assigned, they've hired an outside uh landscape architect firm that's working on it, and in two weeks we're gonna see the first plans, and their goal, right-out's goal is to have trees in the ground this fall.

And their goal, right's goal, is to have trees in the ground this fall.

So thank you for being strong.

Thank you for pushing that through, and thank you for making sure that it happened because probably it wouldn't have.

And we're really excited about it.

And so are the neighbors on Halsey, who were gonna make them look like they're living in an urban garden if we can.

So thank you.

Thank you, Maureen.

All right.

All right.

Uh so before we get into the consent calendar um portion of the meeting, we there is a uh proclamation I'd like to read, recognizing uh public works week, which is May 17th through 26th.

Uh, so whereas public works infrastructure facilities and services provided in our community are of vital importance to maintaining a vibrant and sustainable city for the health, safety, and well-being of our residents and visitors.

And whereas the support of an understanding and informed citizenry is vital to the efficient operation of public works and infrastructure systems and programs associated with roadway and sidewalk maintenance, buildings, grounds, parks, forestry, and cemetery maintenance.

Engineering, vehicle uh vehicle fleet maintenance, solid waste recycling and composting, emergency response, drinking water supply, and sanitary and drainage collection.

And whereas such systems and programs would not be possible without the dedicated efforts of city personnel who are responsible for designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining such infrastructure, facilities and services, essential to serving our community.

And whereas this year marks the 66th anniversary of National Public Works Week, sponsored by the American Public Works Association.

Now, therefore, be it that I, Charles Holder, mayor of the city of Newport and the state of Rhode Island, do hereby proclaim May 17th through the 23rd of 2026 as Public Works Week in the City of Newport and call upon all citizens and civic organizations to acquaint themselves with the issues involved in providing our public works and to recognize the contributions which our public works personnel make every day to our health, safety, comfort, and quality of life.

I'd like to ask Director Riccio.

Hiding over there in the corner.

Thank I just wanna uh have you come up and uh be able to personally in front of everyone to uh thank you for the work that you do in your departments, uh, as well as the rest of the departments in the city do for um as I just read in the proclamation, keeping everything running smooth and safe.

And uh especially uh we noted this winter with uh the the blizzard and the snowstorms that we've had and the excellent work that uh you and your team have done.

So I wanna thank you uh publicly.

Thank you, Mr.

Appreciate it.

Rob too.

And uh Director Schultz, uh, you get your you get your moment too.

You wanna pop up here real quick?

No.

Director Schultz, uh you usually get to get the the brunt end of uh a lot of it with the sewer and water uh portion of things.

But uh again, I want to also take a moment to publicly thank you for for the hard work that you do in your department and and every everything you do for the city.

So uh I'm gonna give a big hand to the Director Schultz as well.

We're not gonna string them up from the flag post.

All right, motion to approve the consent calendar in its entirety, with the exception of uh E and H.

Second, Mr.

Chairman.

That's a uh Carlin, go ahead.

Thank you.

Uh might I poll please also for discussion by the council uh item B four.

Okay, add item B4, please.

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

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion to approve uh Audrey Motorsport doing business as uh Audrey Veteran Car Tour map attached, May 17th, 2026 from 6 a.m.

to 3 p.m.

Do you have a second?

I motion a second, any discussion?

Mr.

Chairman, Council Carlin.

Can I call upon Audrains representative to give a brief explanation to the council and to the public as to what uh the Audrain veteran car tour composes?

What streets will you be using?

Uh it's a great event.

You've done it, I believe, in the past.

But yes, we have let's uh let's assure our our residents that uh this is gonna be once again a great event.

And uh won't cause them any concerns.

Thanks.

Thank you, counselor.

Um the Audrey and Veteran Car Tour is a great example of bringing history right back to the streets of Newport where it started.

Um we have anywhere between 10 and 15, sometimes we get 20 veteran cars, either cars from 1899 all the way to 1910 that are staging uh for the public to view on Bellevue Avenue from 6 to 10 a.m.

event you've done it I believe in the past but yes we have let's uh let's assure our our residents that uh this is going to be once again a great event and it won't cause them any concerns thanks thank you counselor um the Audrain veteran car tour is a great example of bringing history right back to the streets of Newport where it started um we have anywhere between 10 and 15 sometimes we get 20 veteran cars either cars from 1899 all the way to 1910 that are staging uh for the public to view on Bellevue Avenue um from 6 to 10 a 10 a.m in the morning and then we have a nice drive out to Bristol where we have a nice lunch and we return back and they will park in a parking lot that they'll pay to park across the street from the Audrey and we have a nice reception afterwards um we do utilize the police and work with them our uh director of security as well as myself and then Chester operations manager are in constant communication with them and um you know we're always happy to uh assist in any way we can and answer any questions of course Mr.

Chairman thank you thank you very much uh it's a great event as I said earlier sometimes I uh perhaps my colleagues and perhaps members of the public can get confused based on Audrain submitting a number of uh of permit requests so wanted to make sure that uh the public understood how great an event this is good luck thank you appreciate it yeah I you've taken the time to bring in some signs would you mind bringing them up and just reading what's on the signs I think it's not apply to the veteran's car yeah that's the oh okay okay we'll see later all right um I just wanted to compliment you on the fact that you took us up on our um uh asking to have signs available for the neighbors that experience a lot of traffic during that time and to sh for the drivers to show their respect yes absolutely and that's something I didn't mention earlier if I can just say uh during the veteran car tour we do have signage that directs the route of the tour so that the public can also know where those cars are going to be uh touring on that day so we do put that out and then take it back up immediately after the event thank you any further questions are all in favor say aye motion to approve subject to details being worked out with the city administration communication from Charles Pava and uh Gregory Fader Newport Gulls um requesting permission to place temporary signs on game days in various locations throughout the city second all right we have a motion and a second um a reason I asked to get this pulled is I just want to take a moment to recognize um Chuck Piwa I don't know if Chuck's here uh Chris Patzos and Greg Fader for all the work that they've done uh with the Newport gulls uh if you're not familiar uh Newport Gulls is not just the uh the the baseball league but what they've done for the community has been fantastic they uh have donated over thousands of dollars uh to graduating seniors from Rogers High School who participate uh in baseball and softball um and also um I I don't even know what the the amount is but uh tens of thousands of dollars to over 20 Newport County uh charitable and nonprofit organizations uh and this meaning their 25th year of play I just want to um congratulate I know uh Mr.

Fader you're over there hiding in the corner but uh thank you for all the hard work that you guys have done in that organization it's been uh it's it's a great treat if you haven't been to a game I suggest uh you you make your way down there one night they're cheap tickets um and it's just uh it's a great time so thank you so much all right any uh further discussion all those in favor say aye aye next is a communication from Colleen Burns Jermaine superintendent notice of projected school budget deficit pursuant to RIGL 162-9 F.

I'm gonna ask that we continue receiving this uh communication second I motion and second any discussion all those in favor say aye aye aye license and permits uh motion to approve a special event license Audrain Automotive Museum doing business as Audrain Automobile Museum Cars and Coffee 12 dates at various locations list attached this was continued from March 25th 2026 second all right motion and second any discussion Mr.

Chairman Council Carl thank you to council napolitano's uh point earlier uh this would be most appropriate a time or a most appropriate time uh for Audrain to uh come to the podium display any signage that you'd like to and uh perhaps most importantly uh to talk uh about to the public and to the council about uh the many steps that you've undertaken I'd also like to ask the chief of police uh to uh stand by if necessary so uh not to confirm uh but if I get anything wrong uh to correct me um let me pause having said all that this uh item was continued from the council meeting of March 25th uh because there were a number of concerns from residents uh of uh the southern end of the city uh particularly residents of of Harrison Hallidon uh Brenton Beacon Hill uh and folks should remember the last two streets include Moreland Farms which have dozens of uh Newport

Um let me pause.

Having said all that this uh item was continued from the council meeting of March 25th, uh, because there were a number of concerns from residents uh of uh the southern end of the city, uh particularly residents of of Harrison, Hallidon, uh Brenton, Beacon Hill, uh, and folks should remember the last two streets include Moreland Farms, which have dozens of uh Newport residents who live there.

And then if we stretch past Harrison and look at streets like Ridge, uh Ocean and beyond, there were a lot of concerns about uh the cars and coffee events in the past, uh, lack of official police details.

Very, very concerning, of course, uh, was the uh was the speeding, the sound, engines revving, etc.

The total numbers uh given what I just mentioned, and many more items.

Which I am very very pleased to tell my colleagues uh who already know and the public uh that Audrain and your your top management uh have agreed to uh remedy for the residents that I just mentioned.

I want to thank uh the top management of Audrain for doing such.

And uh I will be supporting uh these uh license or permit requests on the condition that you once again assure me tonight, not because you need to.

I already have uh uh said gentleman's agreement, which I thanked you for and will do again.

Uh, but the public should also hear that you are agreeing to pay for uh police details where necessary.

And in fact, also uh informally, which I won't put into the condition to approve tonight, but Audrain has also the top management has also agreed that look, uh, you know, let's approve these these permits, please, uh, because we have agreed to the conditions, but knowing that if something goes wrong after two or three events, we we can come back as a council and look at uh the need to uh to do stricter enforcement.

I do want to ask my colleagues this evening to approve all of these permits, in part because you have publicity and public relations concerns.

You need to advertise these events well in advance and not one at a time.

So uh having said all of that and taken up all of uh or taking up far too much of your time, my colleagues' time and the public's time.

Uh Ms.

Chairman, uh, unless there's anything else from my colleagues, which of course is up to you, but uh uh I'd love to hear from our drain, and I thank you once again.

Counselor, we really appreciate all of the work that you have um provided to us and to our top management and the concerns from the citizens.

We have certainly listened.

I just want to reiterate that the Audrain Museum is open every day from 10 to 4, and we invite anybody that has any concerns to come by, they can call us, email my email address as chief operating officer for our drain group is on our website.

My phone number is also listed on there as well, and I'm always um normally at the Cars and Coffee events as well.

We have been doing the Cars and Coffee events for many, many years at different locations throughout Newport and Middletown, and we certainly appreciate the council's support for many years as well.

We have noticed, um, as we have as you all brought to us and we have brought um to the community that there has been some concern, and we have certainly taken that into consideration, and we want to do everything possible that we can do.

I just want to say that we have 30 meeting signs, uh 20 signs.

20 of these signs, which is the yard signs.

Yep, 10 of these eight frames.

Ten of the A frames.

And we have been in communicating.

Pardon me.

I'm I beg your pardon really quickly.

Because the cam cameras uh work at at different angles.

I'm not even sure how you will be able to show the public.

Oh, okay.

I see it.

Okay, sorry, never mind.

Uh it's great.

And I want the public who watched this on uh their computers to be able to see that.

And I also want to put um into the record if if you would accept it, um, our website.

We have two uh screenshots of what we actually say um when we announce events, and obviously if we approve, they'll be announced as well as the conditions of attending our cars and coffees and are subject to ban you from coming to Cars and Coffee if you uh break those rules.

And obviously, also stating that we work with the Newport Police Department, and we actually support ticketing, and we support um the full enforcement of the laws of Newport and brought up motion to receive, second.

Second.

Motion and second, any further discussion.

You can give those right to the clerk.

Yes, I'll also was gonna ask you also to accept 25 letters, eight of which are from businesses, and um the rest would be from citizens of the community that address the social as well as the economic impact of cars and coffee.

We bring over 250 to 300 each cars and coffee, and then during cars and coffee during the concourse, there's over 600 cars that are coming from all parts of the state and the region to the local community that move to accept.

Yeah, but yeah, chairman.

But the benefit of um those in the audience that can't see one of the signs, it says, please be respectful of the surrounding neighborhoods, this venue and other cars and coffee participants.

Please abide in all local speed limits and traffic regulations, absolutely no unnecessary engine revving, burnouts, or loud noises.

Thank you for your cooperation.

And those are going to be placed around the neighborhoods that um have in the past experience this kind of activity.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Probably be at the um the bridge.

Um at the bottom of the bridge.

Yeah, thanks.

Yeah, certainly do that.

Um, do you have to sign up?

How do you do you sign up through the website to go?

Because some a couple of people have asked me about this.

So is that all you do is just sign up and how do you get approved?

Yes, we we send out an email on Monday to our members.

So we have info of all the members already, and then folks uh from the public get an email on Wednesday, and they have to put their first name, last name, what car they're bringing, along with an email uh associated.

Okay, thank you.

It's also a helpful way for us if something is spotted and brought to our attention for us to be able to notify the police of that car and the driver.

All right.

Any further discussion?

All right, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve a special event license, International Tennis Hall of Fame, doing businesses hall of fame open, international tennis hall of fame, uh, July 5th through the 12th, 2026, from 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m.

with the following information.

Uh transportation plan update and request for the use of the north side of Memorial Boulevard for bicycle parking, and request for restricted parking on Freebody Street from Memorial Boulevard South to East Bowery Street and uh Memorial Boulevard at 9 Memorial 9 Memorial Boulevard East towards Freebody Street.

All right, motion a second, any discussion, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you.

Also a wonderful event.

Uh congratulations to the Hall of Fame for hosting it again.

It is not uh entirely the Hall of Fame and the asked areas, uh asked geographic streets or asked streets in the third ward, but it overlaps.

But nonetheless, uh, we're a small city.

I have questions for the administration regarding parts one and two uh of this event uh or this permit request.

Uh part one asks for the use of the north side of a memorial boulevard for bicycle parking.

Part two asks for restricted parking on Freebird Freebody Street from Memorial Boulevard South to East Bowery Street and Memorial Boulevard at nine Memorial Boulevard East towards Freebody Street.

Uh, can the city manager tell us tell the public uh what does that entail regarding the total amount of parking spaces taken away from uh residents uh in in the middle of the summer?

Thank you.

I don't know the total number on part two part part part one is zero uh because all of those bicycles will be parked just outside of the curb on the grass area, so no parking spaces on the north side of Memorial Boulevard.

So either chief or deputy city manager, do you happen to know the number of spaces on part B?

Free buddy.

I don't have we could get that information for you, but I don't have that off the top of my head.

Okay.

Uh and and there's really no need unless you have the information tonight.

Um my vote will be my vote.

Um I wish you you would have had that information about how many parking spaces are being taken uh from Newport residents uh during the very busy time of July 5th through 12th.

Uh but it is what it is.

As for uh the part one request, uh I I will vote yes for that.

I think uh that uh there are many entities, including Bike Newport Barry and her staff and uh their membership do a great job in encouraging bicycle usage for heavily trafficked events like this and many other events.

So I certainly gladly uh vote yes part one.

But Mr.

Chairman, uh can I request that we split the votes part one and part two?

Yeah, as a professional courtesy to me.

Thank you.

Uh and that's all I have to say.

Mr.

Chair, I did receive the information.

It's 18 parking spaces for part two.

Company.

Yeah, I can't take away 18 spots uh from city residents during the busiest time of the year.

Uh and with that I'll stop.

Thank you.

Can you make one comment on that?

Just Mr.

Rhodes Burrough Row for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

I live in Portsmouth.

Uh it it is two hour parking in the summer.

It's not city resident, it's not permit parking.

It is it is two hour parking for general public that we're requesting to close, sir.

Appreciate that.

Thank you.

The obviously the the residents of the city uh use whatever available parking or whatever parking is available in the summer and beyond.

I think uh my comments speak for this.

Any other uh comments, questions from the council?

All right, so we'll take uh okay.

Um take a special event and then the special event first.

Yeah, okay.

Uh so uh motion to approve the special event license, International Tennis Hall of Fame, July 5th through the 12th from 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m.

Second.

All right, motion and second.

Any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion to approve the transportation plan update and request uh to use the north side of Memorial Boulevard for bike parking.

Um so just I just want to mention that the uh there will be off site parking at Clayborn Pell Elementary School, uh in conjunction with the partnership with Bike Newport.

Um and the uh tennis hall of fame request to restrict all parking on Freebody from Memorial Boulevard South.

So okay.

All right, we have a motion and a second, any discussion on the uh bicycle parking.

All right, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Aye seven.

Motion to approve a request for restricted parking on Freebitty Street from Memorial Boulevard South to East Bowery Street and Memorial Boulevard at nine Memorial East, uh towards Freebody Street.

Second.

Uh motion and second, any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Post.

Motion to approve a special event license, the Bermuda Race Foundation doing business as Newport Bermuda Race 2026, Fort Adams State Park, June 19th, 2026, from 11 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve a daily entertainment license, Uptown Hospitality LLC doing business as Mother Pizzeria 49 Long Wharf Mall, May 10th, 2026 from 11 a.m.

to 6 p.m.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve the Vittling License Expansion HTL 6.

Newport TRS LLC doing business as Hotel Viking, one Bellevue Avenue to expand the patio service on floor B1 and expanded service into the into the spa vieward.

Uh this is in Mr.

B and this says in conjunction with the liquor license expansion.

Do I um second?

Should I just motion your motion should just uh say it's the VIT license.

It's for the Vida just for the vitaling license.

Okay, thank you.

All right, we have a motion and a second, any discussion?

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carlin.

For the members of the public who have come to speak tonight regarding Viking issues, uh this is not at all per Mr.

Bian's explanation and uh councillor vice chair Segley's question.

Uh this does not have to do with the liquor expansion.

This is simply uh a vitaling license, which is required by the state and by the city, and it allows you to do business outside of liquor and other it's for food.

For food, yeah.

Yeah, it's it's essentially for food, but it's it's also for other things, but it's essentially for food.

I want to make sure everybody understands it's not the liquor license expansion.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you.

All right, all is in favor say aye.

Aye motion.

Mr.

Chairman, I uh I'm sorry, I will uh at the end of the uh license and permits section.

Uh I would like to request to move up a certain item which relates to not directly but indirectly what we just uh dealt with, but I'll wait till uh licenses and permits are finished.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Motion to approve a vitaling license new CODO LLC, doing business as Kodo 95 Broadway.

Second.

All right, motion and second.

Any discussion?

Have anyone had those?

Oh my God.

Yes.

Yes.

Too many.

I bring them on.

Uh motion to approve a vitaling license new.

Amy Carey doing business as Amy's 104 Broadway.

Second.

All right.

Motion and second.

Any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve a sidewalk cafe license new Amy Carrie doing business as Amy's 104 Broadway.

Second.

All right.

Motion and second.

Any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve a mobile food cart license new Mooseman concession doing business as Mooseman Kettle Corn, 20 Dixon Street, Newport, Rhode Island.

Do we have a second?

Second.

Motion and second.

Any discussion?

Mr.

Chairman, thank you.

Question for the clerk, please.

Is there a limit on how many of these uh mobile food cart licenses the city council issues?

Yes, six.

How many do we have outstanding now?

I believe one.

One.

So there are five.

This is either I'm sorry.

How many do we have in existence now?

Oh so this would be number five, I believe.

Okay.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Yep.

All right.

All is in favor say aye.

I'm pointing boards and commissioners.

Thank you.

Yes.

Uh out of courtesy, please, Mr.

Chairman.

And I know this is a bit odd uh since we normally deal with this last on our agenda, but out of courtesy to those who do want to speak regarding uh the uh permit request or the application of if you will, the Viking Hotel uh for the uh expansion of their uh uh liquor license.

I would like to ask that we move licenses and permits uh to this part of the agenda uh above appointments to board and commissions uh so that we can take that uh testimony first and not have so you want to move the adjourn as counseling convene as board of licensed commissioners.

Temporarily uh uh madam vice chair, thank you.

Okay.

All right, so we have a motion, we have a second.

Second.

All right, motion and second, any discussion.

All is in favor say aye.

Aye.

Um license and permits.

I'm just gonna take the first one.

Sunday selling license renewal AMAR seven three seven seven LLC um Bliss Road Beer, Wine and Spirits 25 Bliss Roof.

Second vote to go in if the board and licenses are we have to vote to go in.

Shouldn't we do that?

We downser took his motion.

Oh motion to adjourn as counseling convene as board of license community.

Second set motion and second, any discussion.

All is in favor say aye.

Aye.

Sorry, I thought we did that.

Okay.

Uh Sunday selling license renewal AMAR737 LLC doing business as Bliss Road Beer, Wine and Spirits 25 Bliss Road.

Motion to approve.

Motion to approve.

All favor say aye.

I next is an application of HTL6, uh, Newport TRS LLC, doing business as Hotel Viking, one Bellevue Avenue, holder of a class BT alcoholic beverage license to expand the license premises by adding a portable bar measuring 15 feet by six inches and six feet by nine inches and nine feet by two inches to the patio area and to the addition of expanded service into the spa.

This is a hearing, Mr.

Chair.

Um make a motion that well, do you want to make a motion to continue now?

Uh I I would like to make that motion at the end.

Uh I will second uh for the purpose of starting the discussion.

I will second the motion uh to approve.

Okay.

Motion to approve, second.

Okay, we have a motion to a set.

Uh we have a motion and a second.

Um any discussion?

Yes, Mr.

Chairman, please.

Yep uh let me explain, please.

Uh I do intend to ask the council to continue this item uh out of uh reverence to uh counselors Smythe Pennick and Kamza Vorovang, who I am certain would like to be here for this vote.

Uh but it was too late this evening to put out notice to both the Viking and their uh fine staff and attorneys, as well as to the public who are here to speak about this.

Uh so I would like and my colleagues have uh agreed uh or I hope my colleagues will agree uh to allow for the testimony of anybody who is concerned.

Uh and then at the end of said testimony, I will move to continue to the next meeting.

And I thank you, Mr.

Chairman and my colleagues.

All right, uh anyone from the public like to come up and speak.

Uh when you call up, just state your name and address, please.

Come on, Julie.

My name is Mike Nahill.

Uh my wife, Debbie and I live at 17 High Street here in Newport, right around the corner.

Thank you.

Yeah, I apologize for my hearing issue.

I'm Julie Priestley, owner of 12 High Street.

I have been the sole owner for 12 years.

My husband Richard Priestley purchased it 49 years ago.

The house is dated 1750.

12 High Street is the only other property on the same block as the Viking Hotel.

Of five new spotlights on poles placed by the Viking, two have now been turned off.

The two remaining poles with three spotlights total complete the encircling of my property.

I consider them 40-foot intense stadium lights, such as for baseball or sports field stadiums.

Their range covers at least four stories with a very wide range reaching the ground.

They are on from dawn until dusk.

The sky or air is brilliantly lighted all night.

There is no way I or my tenants can shield the bright light all night.

There is no peaceful enjoyment outside.

The lights are an imposition on our lives and well-being from dawn until dusk.

My garage roof and abutting property areas from Mary to High are absolutely lighted up.

My property values are impacted.

This style of lighting is unnecessary and is a deterrent to my property.

My tenants have justifiably complained to me.

We have a right to enjoy the darkness at night from the patio deck and landscape yard every night, all night, forever.

Regarding the Vikings licensing request, considering a present rooftop bar, voices, singing music possibilities.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chair.

Council Sargon.

Yes.

I'm sorry.

No, I I was just saying, are these stadium lights temporary?

Or is this something that's a permanent these are permanent fixtures?

We don't know.

And we haven't received a reasonable uh explanation for the use of the lights.

And I I very much respect your your answer uh or your attempt to answer, Michael, but I I think it's appropriate only uh for counsel for the Viking or for the Viking management to answer that question.

Yeah, we'll um we'll uh Mike you're gonna say something or I am okay if I may after you're done the uh the representative from the hotel Viking can come up.

Yeah, we we appreciate your time and we know this is uh probably uh a trivial matter for the city of Newport as in as a whole in general, but it's not for our community.

As Julie just stated, uh the lights are very intrusive.

Uh they're on all night long.

Uh they permeate our our homes.

Uh the area looks like a lit baseball field for a night game.

Uh and it's just, you know, we're very reasonable people, but we just want to know what the reason might be uh for the lights uh of this nature to be on all night long.

If it's related, and I don't know, to the previous uh issue that's being discussed tonight.

Uh I don't know why they would need that in the you know in the parking lot in our front yards.

Have you spoken to management about this in the past?

I haven't.

I went by there a couple of weeks ago and met with the gentleman who was very pleasant.

Um, but it was an informal discussion.

Uh so I wasn't able to get any any concrete issues uh really discuss properly or or resolved.

Thank you.

Um it's weird.

I I think we're all fairly private people.

So we don't uh this is the first time I think I've ever spoken in front of a city council.

Um, but the issue is uh is really prominent in our in our lives at the moment, and we need to get a resolve one way or the other.

And there might be there might be remedies that I'm not a I'm not a contractor, I'm not an engineer, I'm a financial advisor, so I don't know how to protect or project light in a less intrusive manner.

If there are reasons that uh, for example, that they need it for safety concerns or for patrons at the hotel to you know walk in uh in dark parking lots or dark areas, but I think they need to take consideration uh of the of the people in the uh homeowners of the neighborhood.

And that's all we're just looking for a reasonable you know resolution of the issue.

Uh if there are reasons that that they want us to know about that may circumvent anything, any change in the current situation.

We're open-minded to hearing about it.

Mike, thanks so much.

That's what I think.

Thank you for your time.

The new um case the reps from the uh hotel vice chairman, Council Carl.

Uh, an additional member of the public, uh Michelle Drum, I believe, would like to.

Yes, I'm Michelle Drum.

I live at 25 School Street.

I'm not directly impacted by the lighting, but as a neighborhood, we all are I've been uh owner of this nationally registered property, probably almost as equally important as Julie's house for over 30 years.

We certainly have our ups and downs with the Viking, but we've always had come to a meaningful uh amenable you know resolution.

And uh frankly I'm a little disappointed, and hopefully we can finally come to some sort of meeting of the minds with this new ownership.

Um, you know, with the lighting, you walk by and you need sunglasses.

Uh substantially will devalue both Judy's and Mike's and the other neighbors that are not here as much and so are not as aware of what's going on.

So, you know, I think if they want a further expansion of the liquor licenses or anything that impacts the neighborhood, I think they need to learn to how to be a little bit maybe better neighbors.

They have other parking lots that are not lit up like this, so I don't understand what the need is suddenly after 30 some years for these for these stadium lights to be in.

You know, the light across the street on Church Street is I don't think there's a single light.

Um, and they also have parking across the street of Bellevue.

I don't think there's much lighting there, so I don't understand.

I could understand if it was like all parking lots needed to have certain lighting for insurance reasons, but um I do think yeah, this lighting is excessive.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you.

Well one more well, is this about the lighting as well?

Okay, all right, come on.

Hi everybody.

Um I'm Neif Bauhan.

I live at Seven Whitfield Place, which is right um around the corner from the Viking Hotel.

Um, and I just want to express the um extent to which the Viking has infiltrated our lives, um, noise being sort of the most major one.

Uh the rooftop bar plays the radio during lunch.

It's uh as if I'm listening to the radio, if I sit out back, um it just the way the you know the sound travels.

Uh the music live music starts Wednesday evenings at five and goes every night for the rest of the for the rest of the week, excuse me.

Um and then, you know, and across the street we have uh from the Viking, we have the Hilltop Inn, which is also running events, um, you know, in a manner that uh is opposed to their their zoning.

And so combined this with their application of the Viking to expand their outdoor uh offerings and event space uh would continue to degrade the quality of our lives um in in the summer for sure uh in the neighborhood.

And in the neighborhood is and all of Newport has these quiet pockets and these quiet pockets are just um disappearing due to applications like this.

I appreciate uh your time.

Thank you.

And just as a clarification, uh the hilltop in, correct me if I'm wrong, is not a property of the Viking Hotel.

It is not.

Right.

Okay, it is so I just want to make sure that we're not yes, I'm sorry.

So we're keeping those separate.

Thank you.

Council Carl.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you very much.

Uh no, nope.

Just a quick question.

Uh I promise it'll be easy.

Yeah.

Thanks for coming up.

Uh it's not easy to come before a public body like this.

So thank you to all.

Uh you're raising two young children at your house, correct?

I am not.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Sorry.

Is are there two children?

Um I I received an email if if I might.

And uh Alana Hearn.

I am so sorry for confusing.

I beg your pardon.

No, I'm I'm so very sorry.

All right.

I equally appreciate your concerns.

Uh, but there are also families who are raising young children.

Yes.

And I think as you just as you just uh mentioned, correcting me, uh, and I'm embarrassed by getting the wrong family situation, but thank you.

Okay, yes, no, no, and I can't imagine trying to put children to bed.

My neighbors are elderly trying to fall asleep if you're unwell or elderly.

I think all of those are uh real concerns for citizens of the town.

How long have you lived at that residence?

My whole life.

Your whole life.

Wonderful.

Thank you, ma'am.

Okay.

Members of the council, thank you again uh for the record.

Rob Stolzman at Adlopalic and Shean representing the Hotel Viking, and with me is Mr.

Jay Sheldon, the new general manager of the facility.

Um I want to first thank you for the attention uh paid to this, and second to to set the platform and the context of this.

Um the uh new ownership of the Hotel Viking is a reminder, uh, really saw this as a unique opportunity to do the historic restoration of the entire facility and um and continue the long tradition of the uh Hotel Viking being uh a premier uh destination uh venue in and uh Newport.

Um the lighting issue.

Well, before we get to the lighting, let me just talk a little bit about the the subject matter of the uh the liquor license.

Um this isn't affecting the rooftop.

If there are problems with the rooftop, Mr.

Sheldon will address those with the neighbors uh as they as we learn more about the the summer operations there.

Uh that hasn't been affected.

The application is related to the courtyard adjacent to the ballroom on the lower courtyard, all interior, and as we discussed last time, adjacent to guest rooms, and there's no motivation or desire to increase any noise or impact on that.

And as occurred last time, we learned this lighting thing has become a big issue.

So uh as the old saying goes, uh uh uh the road to hell is paved with good intentions, today being Earth Day.

Mr.

Sheldon came on board, and the property management's working with Rhode Island Energy said, let's change some of those old sodium lights and incandescent lights in the back.

There's a bit of a hodgepodger lighting in the back lot.

Let's change those to LED lights.

And lo and behold, all of us were surprised that as Mr.

Carulo said, looks like Fenway Park.

So we after your last meeting, uh we met out there, and um uh I I hadn't observed the the new lights yet, and it was very, very bright.

Now, since then, 12 or um uh 12 of the 18 lights, including the two adjacent to Ms.

Priestley's house, have been removed fully.

Now, why would we just remove lights?

And to your questions, this parking lot is used for uh parking of guest cars, but is hand the cars are handled exclusively by uh valet parking.

So uh we we control the valet, we control the the movement of the cars.

The thought was to to and the intent is to just light it so it's safe enough for for the cars.

There's no intent to intrude on anyone's property lighting, etc.

So the the since the majority of the lights have been removed, they've been working on this steadily, can and anticipate continuing to work on this.

Um the um uh for any of the neighbors we haven't spoken to before we leave.

Please get get Mr.

Sheldon's number.

Um in the process of getting cards.

Um, but the intent is uh for us to work regularly with the neighbor.

We have met with Ms.

Prezen.

When I say we Jay has met with Ms.

Priestley, and we're we're gonna continue to meet Mr.

Crewe.

I don't know how many hours if he keeps track of his hours.

We know it's been a lot of hours he's spent on this um coming out and working with uh Mr.

Uh Mr.

Sheldon.

So we thank you for the opportunity.

We want to be good neighbors.

I I mean this is it it absolutely want to be good neighbors.

Do not want to uh unduly um impose upon the neighbors with light.

Want to have it safe enough so that the the car attendants can get back there, get the car safely.

Uh we don't want to create an attractive nuisance with parked cars out there, so we want enough light to be safe, but not so much light as to be a nuisance.

And we're gonna find that balance.

That's our that's our goal is to find that balance.

Um I think that's that's the goal.

Uh I've learned this evening that this matter uh may be continued, and and that gives us more time to continue to talk.

We'll use that time to continue to play with the lights, remove lights.

One light should stay, but it should it can be shielded.

Uh Mr.

Sheldon's gonna have a shield fabricated uh uh uh for this light uh because it doesn't look like there's a stock shield that will do the job to his satisfaction or to the neighbors.

So um there will be some light out there, and there has been light out there historically.

It's always been used as a parking lot, but but it is bright, it is too was too bright.

We think it's in the right direction, hopefully close to being corrected.

And um, and uh we're uh we we're very thankful for the hands-on oversight from the administrator's office, and Mr.

Krula particularly has been very attentive to this.

Um, and your councilman Carlin is uh Council Carlin has has also been we appreciate the attention.

Again, our goal is to be a good neighbor, uh, continue to talk to the neighbors and figure out the right balance of safety and uh neighborly uh relations with the lights.

Mr.

Chair, how long ago were the some of those lights removed?

Uh within uh the of the since the last hearing.

Since the last hearing.

Yeah.

Have the neighbors noticed a difference in the lighting.

Some of some of the those stadium lights, what do they call stadium lights had been have been removed?

Uh 12 of the 18 lights were removed.

Do you notice a difference in the brightness of the area?

That's an interesting that's even noticing a difference.

The two lights that we moved from the back.

There were there were 12 lights removed.

There were 12 lights removed.

There were 12 lights in total removed out of approximately 18 that were initially brought to the attention of the city.

Um, that's including the Zion Place um employee parking lot um to the outside of the entrance next to K Street, yeah, as well as the church street parking lot.

Um so there was a total of 18 lights in total in the rear parking lot adjacent to Ms.

Priestley's house in High Street, there were three directional spotlights on the outside of the garage as well as five pole LED lights.

So it was a total of eight lights in that parking lot.

The Viking removed the three directional lights off of the garage.

Those have been taken down, those have been disconnected, as well as two out of the five pole lights.

So they have actually removed five lights or eliminated five lights out of the um out of the eight.

And there are three remaining.

And has there been an improvement?

Yes, there has.

And Ms.

Priestley has also just indicated as well that there has been an improvement.

Um she still wishes for additional improvement.

Um I acknowledge that as well.

Um, not only for the uh in the best interest of the neighbors and the well-being of the neighborhood, but also in accordance with our ordinance to make sure that we are um aligning within chapter seven and our performance standards on illumination and lighting.

Um there are uh the additional middle pools there, or as we have been referring to as light number three and four.

Um those lights still need either one of them to be eliminated entirely or proper shielding in place to stop that shedding of light into the uh corner area of Ms.

Priestley's yard by her garage.

And um, and we've been we actually myself and Mr.

Sheldon actually walked um the area.

I did speak with Ms.

Priestley again.

Um she has indicated that she's appreciative of the work we're doing, but she still feels that um that that section by her garage is still shedding onto her property, and Mr.

Sheldon representative the Viking are aware of that.

And they are they're they are being extremely um cooperative with the city and the neighbors end up and and really doing everything that we're asking of them to make sure that they're compliant with our ordinance.

Yeah, yeah, come on.

I think with regard, and thank you, by the way, for your you know, for your due diligence of trying to rectify the situation.

We want to be good neighbors.

We understand you know, the this management company who bought the biking hotel paid in a very handsome amount for it, and nobody's holding them back from trying to you know create such um opportunities to increase cash flow to pay for any indebtedness that they may have incurred in purchasing the hotel.

But this as I said, this could have been uh construed as somewhat of a you know uh an issue that is has very narrow um impact, uh, but it does impact our lives brightly.

So um we'll continue to monitor the monitor the sit the lighting situation.

And uh I'll email Dave, who's been very gracious in terms of uh uh corresponding with us.

But have about about any uh about any changes and how it's impacting us, both good and bad.

I just hope that the council uh kind of a look back uh policy that if certain conditions are approved, that we reserve, not we, me residents, but the council members themselves yourselves reserve the right to look back and evaluate whether um agreements are being withheld uh with uh upheld.

I should I'm sorry.

Mr.

Chair, yes, Council.

Again, thank you very much for your butt but have you noticed a difference in the lighting since uh no because the lights are coming right at my house.

Okay, so I think for Julie, I'm very happy that a lot of the uh a lot of the full lighting has been dismantled or uh reduced and and um but I I haven't noticed it because we're seeing the light come directly across the parking lot across high street to 17 high street, 15 high street, and to a lesser degree, probably to Julie and and um Joe and Alana just like yes and the condominiums.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you again.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carlin.

First and foremost, I want to thank Deputy Manager Carulo uh for extraordinary uh efforts to uh governance is the art of compromise uh for his extraordinary effort efforts uh uh to ensure that all sides are particularly our residents uh are satisfied.

You're gonna break the uh break the bank on our overtime budget here, Mike.

I appreciate you.

Uh secondly, uh the general contractor uh of the Vikings renovations upgrades, et cetera.

Tremendous.

I have nothing but uh great things to say.

Uh and I hope at some point uh that perhaps the Viking management will invite our neighbors and friends uh to see the wonderful work.

Uh in fact, I'd love to see it myself that the general contractor uh has done.

Third, as I said, uh at the last meeting, and I will repeat uh to the Viking management and to the owners, you have one of the finest lawyers in the state of Rhode Island representing you.

Uh I've known Mr.

Stolzman for 25 plus years.

Uh and uh I admire and respect his work in general, but for being here this evening, and I thank the general manager uh for being here this evening as well.

Mr.

Chairman, with that, I I would ask that we continue this to the next council meeting.

Second.

All right, motion and second.

Um I'd like to continue it to the May 26nd.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I meant to say that, Mr.

Chairman.

Uh I would ask that we uh continue this item, Mr.

Chairman and members, uh, to not the next council meeting, but the meeting after that.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

So we have a motion and a second.

Um and just for uh clarity, the uh one of the reasons that we're to continue it tonight and also to the following uh council meeting on the 27th is uh obviously you see there's three counselors missing tonight, and um there'll be two counselors not here uh at our next meeting.

Um so we want to make sure that we have the uh the full the full board of council members when we make this decision on on the expansion of the license for the Viking Hotel that everyone has uh their opportunity to uh to say their piece.

So we have a motion and a second uh for a continuance to May 27th.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye motion to adjourn as board of licensed commissioners and convene as council.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Appointments to boards and commissions.

Uh we have a few uh reappointments, uh, four reappointments tonight.

Uh first uh to the zoning board of review zoning board of review, uh Bark Grimes to a five-year term expiring September 16th, 2030.

I have a second.

Second.

Motion a second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Uh to the sister city commission, Joseph Loges with three-year term expiring April 24, 2029.

May have a second.

Motion and second.

Oh, is uh any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye aye.

Uh to the Henderson Home Commission.

Uh apologies to uh Jack Grant, who we missed, I guess, uh last meeting.

I don't know, you left off the the list of the rest of the commission.

So uh Jack Grant, one year term expiring uh 310 2027.

Second motion and second, any discussion?

Quick Council Connolly.

Jack, thank you.

Thanks for being here.

And to Pam.

Uh you're at many of the council meetings and your contribution to not only this commission but the city in general.

Uh is appreciated by all of us.

I know you don't like being highlighted, but I'm gonna do it anyway.

Thanks, Jack.

It was nice.

All right.

Uh any further discussion?

All right.

All in favor say aye.

Uh to the energy and environment commission, uh Didi Lorelard Cowley to a three-year term expiring uh four and nine, twenty twenty-nine.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Okay, next communications from the city manager.

I think we're going to proceed with the uh police report.

We think we're in good, we're in good time.

Okay, okay.

No, on the agenda size.

We don't have a quorum.

We do one comes in, the other goes out.

Yeah, the seems like a good trade.

Oh, doc.

You don't have the PowerPoint on the okay.

Um, if you give me a minute, if I if you could move on, I'll come back here.

If I make sure that we're able to pull up.

Okay.

Sure.

Thank you.

You want us to just continue with another action item?

Yes, are you ready?

Okay.

All right.

Uh action item 6586.

Uh, it is recommended to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the city of Newport and NEARI.

Supervisors union for one year period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, attached as a con is a contract agreement resolution and the pay schedule ordinance for the current fiscal year.

Uh this is currently budgeted.

I move approval and I will I will read the resolve.

Uh that the proposed one-year collective bargaining agreement between the city and NEARI supervisors for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 is approved, and the council is authorized to sign said agreement upon review by the city solicitor's office on behalf of the city.

Is that a second?

Second.

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

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item 6587.

Uh, it is recommended that the administration uh recommends approval of the license agreement between the city of Newport and yachting promotions for the operation of a Newport International Boat Show for a 15-year term commencing in September of 2026.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion second, any discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item six five eight eight.

Uh it is recommended that council approve a five-year license agreement between the city of Newport and the Newport Gulls for the use of Carden's field in Newport, Rhode Island, the field for the calendar years 2026, 27, 28, 29, and 30, with one additional five-year option period for the calendar years 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 seasons.

I move approval.

Second.

Hey, motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item 6589.

It is recommended that the attached parking agreement with the Brenton Hotel LLC, formerly LWHLC to allocate 30 parking spaces at the gateway parking lot be approved.

Approval of this agreement will result in revenue to the city and the amount of $30,000 annually for the initial five-year term of the agreement.

This is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item six five nine zero.

The police department recommends awarding a contract for the purchase of one uh 8.5 feet by 20 feet tandem axle enclosed V nose cargo trailer to the trailer depot LLC 10 1037 Middletown Avenue, Northford, Connecticut.

Um being the most responsive and responsible qualified bidder, meeting all requirements in the request for proposal.

The total amount is 51,995.

This is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item 6591.

The Newport Police Department requests city council approval to enter into an annual memorandum of understanding with the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety State Police to use CSI Technology Group InfoShare as the police department software vendor for their computer aided dispatch, CAD.

And records management system RMS at a not to exceed cost of $83,645 and 65 cents.

This is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item 6592.

The Department of Public Services recommends exercising option year one contained in a lease agreement with yachting promotions for temporary use of parking spaces at Easton's Beach for patrons of the Newport International Boat Show.

September 17th through the 20th.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

Yeah, Mr.

Chair.

How much are we getting for this?

I'm just curious.

What is the fee that we're this is looking at $13,470 for this year?

Okay.

Thank you.

Action item six.

Oh, sorry.

All those in favor say aye.

Action item 6593.

The Department of Public Services recommends exercising option year one contained in a lease agreement with the Audrain Automotive Museum for temporary use of parking spaces at Easton's Beach for Patrons of the annual Audrains Newport Concord Motor Week October 1 through the 4th, 2026 inclusive.

This is I uh this is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item six five nine four.

The Department of Public Service recommends approval of a supplemental agreement with GZA Geoenvironmental Incorporated of Providence, Rhode Island to provide additional professional engineering services for the design of cliffwalk repairs in not to exceed 84,350 in accordance with the contract term of agreement in Section X supplemental agreements.

Um this is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

I do want to say that the um second the motion and second and discussion, council.

Yeah, the supplemental agreement number two increases the existing contract work to the amount of uh 84,350.

The total authorized contract amount is um 459,405 dollars to 543 543,755 dollars.

The terms of agreement and section three of the contract will be extended.

So that is a those are supplemental numbers, right?

The the the 459,000 and the 543.

Correct.

The 459 figure has already been approved by council at previous meetings.

The additional delta of 84,350 is what is in front of each.

And how much uh do we think that the entitled all the all of the work at Cliff Walk will cost?

You mean for for just for G just for our dealing with GCA, as is the case?

No, just all toll.

Um 21 about 21 million.

Thank you.

Action item six five nine five.

The department of public services recommends awarding the contract associated with RF.

Hate to interrupt, I don't believe you voted on that.

Oh, we didn't vote on it.

Yeah, I'm jumping the gun.

I'm sorry.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item six five nine five.

The department of public services recommends awarding the contract associated with RFP number 2026, PS1010.

Janitorial Cleaning to the most responsive bidder, JN Strategics of Cranston, Rhode Island at unit bid prices for an anticipated total not to exceed amount of 160,000 dollars.

Award shall be for a base year period of May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027, with a two-year option periods, same months at the discretion of the city.

Uh, this is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

That motion and second, any discussion, Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carlin, briefly.

I've said this before, so now is as ideal a time as ever.

Um, I appreciate the fact that a Creston firm has to make money.

Uh this is 160 plus thousand dollar contract.

I can name just here tonight.

Plenty of uh janitorial and cleaning firms here in Newport and Newport County.

We've got to do better.

And I know there are restrictions with regard to who's on the master contract acceptable list from the state of Rhode Island's perspective, but we've got to do a heck of a lot better to reaching out to Newport County businesses to let them know that their city is bidding on items like this.

I'm gonna vote for it, but uh I'll continue saying this every year that I'm here if we don't change our pattern.

Thank you.

Uh just out of curiosity, just to McDonald's and Carlin.

Do we have any local bidders in this proposal?

We did not.

Uh we have we had seven bidders ranging between Danvers, Massachusetts, Braintree, and uh South with Warwick.

So seven altogether, no Rhode Island.

There is a Rhode Island bidder.

No new court bidders.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Uh suggesting giving the contract to our island bidder.

Uh Mr.

Chairman, I I want to clarify um and for the public's understanding.

I'm sure my colleagues understand this in the administration, the administration very uh very well understands this, that we must use a list uh of approved vendors.

And what I'm suggesting is not that we ignore uh that list, but that we make an effort, as I said last year around this time also, we make an effort to reach out to our uh newport business owners in general, any business, and let them know get on that master list, provide the city and/or the state or and the state uh your qualifications, your basic bonding, assess uh your basic bonding requirements and your basic insurance requirements, because then we would have a plethora of Newport businesses bidding on contracts with which often go to firms like those in Cranston here, other parts of Rhode Island, and more disturbing to me, other states, even outside of New England in some cases.

So let's uh let's make an effort to do that.

I ask, and I thank you.

City manager.

I do um this was this was uh this was not off of just a correct uh this was not off of a master price agreement.

So actually, we did this was an open bidding process through our bid net system for a request for proposals.

We did receive seven bids.

Uh to your point, uh, if there are Newport related businesses that we know of that we could then inform to potentially uh encourage them to uh to bid in our process.

We will absolutely take that under advisement.

But this was open uh to a range of service providers, not just from a uh master price agreement list.

All right, so all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Action item six five nine six.

The department of public services recommends approving the purchase of play equipment for the Mayan Tonomy Park playground at a not to exceed cost of 40,606 dollars and ninety-nine cents.

I move approval.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye on behalf of council pinnick, thank you.

Action item six for this.

That's good.

Is this the new fire station that the chief wanted?

I noticed action item six five nine seven.

The department of utilities recommends award to Tasca Ford, East Berlin.

Connecticut authorized under Rhode Island Master Price Agreement 55941 2026 Ford F 50 4x4 super cab dump truck for not to exceed 85,745 dollars and forty cents.

I move approval.

Second.

A motion and second, any discussion, chairman.

Council Carlin.

Ditto, thank you.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item six five nine eight.

The department of utilities recommends the award of contract number 2026 UTL-002 comprehensive system scale leak detection program to right pierce providence, Rhode Island for an amount not to exceed 169,900.

Funding will be provided from the water front.

I moved a move approval.

Motion and second, any discussion?

Chairman.

Council Carlin.

Ditto, thank you.

All is in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item 6599.

Um the recommendations to authorize the department of utilities to procure and install security and access control improvements at the Bliss Mine Water Treatment Facility in an amount not to exceed 119,989.72 cents using custom computer specialists uh LLC through state contract MA ITC 71.

And this is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second any discussion.

Mr.

Chairman, Council Carlin.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Action item uh 6600.

Uh is recommended to authorize the Department of Utilities to procure and install security and access control improvements at the Lawton Valley water treatment facility in an amount not to exceed 132,580 and 46 cents.

Using custom computer specialists LLC through state contract MA ITC 71.

This is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

Motion and second any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Moving on to ordinances, uh motion to amend section five point.

Do you want to we're gonna go back to Chief Duffy?

Ah, yes, we gotta go back to Chief Duffy.

Thank you for the reminder.

Council Subgy wants to get out of here apparently pretty quick.

It's been a long day.

Thank you, Chief Duffy, uh police.

Um I always like hearing Dutch.

I'm uh so this is the quarterly report for the um uh for the speed data that we've collected.

Uh the quarter is uh January through March.

Uh just uh I did notice uh late in the game there was there's a type on one of the slides that say November to August.

So don't be confused by that.

It's just uh left in there from uh the last product report.

So uh it's it's January to March.

Uh next slide, please.

Uh so uh the data is similar to what I presented last time in a similar format, so that uh we can compare um and I there'll be a handful of new graphs to show the previous quarter to the new quarter.

Um next slide, please.

So uh similarly to last last time.

So for the new quarter, uh, for each of the streets uh in your packets, um, that you'll have the speed, the high-end speeds, um, uh the total volume and the peak volume.

And so it's these may differ from street to street uh based uh for example high-end speeds, depending on the the makeup of the street, what we consider a high end speed may be different on one street than another street.

Um but it's what would we would feel that um that uh whilst all speeding shouldn't happen, it's uh kind of like a gross violation of what we would call a high-end speed.

So here that here's the data here for uh for Gerard Avenue.

Uh next slide, please.

What I did was um uh give you an idea or comparison from on the each one of these streets will have two slides.

The first slide, which gives you the data uh for the this those four categories that I said, the next slide after that gives you an uh uh gives you a visual representation of uh the data compared to last quarter.

Um so in Droid Avenue and in terms of um speed comparisons with uh from average speeds and high-end speeds, uh, most notably is a drop in um in the high-end speeds.

If you do look over at the total volume though on the right uh for Gerard Avenue, uh you'll see that we've had a total we've had a dip in the total volume.

So um uh just to kind of show that uh the the drop in high-end speeds.

One uh could be could account for from our uh attention to the uh to the roads, but also just for um transparency, there's also been a drop in volume as well.

Next slide.

Uh Malbones are our next street, and you have the data there uh for you to consume.

And please, if I move too fast, just let me know, and I can back up and answer any questions that you have.

Uh next slide, please.

Uh here's the Malbone Road speed comparisons.

Uh again, we're seeing, and I think you'll you'll find throughout all these streets is that we'll this next this quarter uh being the second half of the winter that we'll see a drop in volume pretty much throughout all this all the streets.

Uh you know, I anticipate um you know, naturally, as we enter into spring into summer, we'll see the volume start to peak up a little bit.

Next street.

Again, here are the here's the data off third street.

And next slide here.

Yep, third street speed comparisons and volume comparisons.

Bliss Road.

Next slide.

The Bliss Road comparisons.

K Street data.

And then the K Street comparisons.

Parker Avenue data.

And the Parker Avenue speed and volume comparisons.

The Morton Avenue data.

And then the Morton Avenue speed and volume comparisons.

And the Wellington Avenue comparisons.

And the Harrison Avenue comparisons.

And then the old Fort Road speed and volume compared.

This next slide is kind of a look at between all of the streets, what we consider uh the high-end speeding or the gross violations compared to the makeup of the street.

This is what we look at.

This is an important graph or our directed enforcement to kind of see what uh where we should be.

Yeah.

Third third street, Mr.

Chair.

Um, third street is that area around the Navy hospital.

So it feels like a highway.

Yes.

And um, I'm wondering if you know we could look at some sort of a road diet there with um putting some markings for uh bike lanes or something just to try to slow down or more trees or something, you know.

Okay.

Um, but I do think that sign is helping.

Yes.

Yeah, I think so too.

I we we do get a lot of good feedback about the signs and requests from from residents that don't have signs and want signs.

Right.

But it's just it feels like an extension of a highway.

So certainly.

Uh next slide.

And just a look at the total volume all together.

Between the 10 uh the 10 streets that have the signs.

I know the people on K are very happy about this.

They want more.

Uh next slide.

Uh just to kind of bring up the speed on uh the Admiral Calpass Roads.

Only Chief Duffy before uh before we get to the Admiral Calpus.

Sure.

Um so like you mentioned, so it's showing that the the speed signs seem to be working, you know that it's very incremental.

Um do you have that data on how many speeding tickets we've issued on in those areas?

I do have that data, and I can give you that data.

I didn't I don't have that data with me tonight, but I can pull that data.

All right.

You know, when we for the next quarter.

Certainly.

So just to see, okay, are we hitting these areas that are that are showing that there's like third street, like uh council Sugg just mentioned.

I noticed that three of the streets that happen to be in the southern end of Newport actually have increased speed average, even though it's by still under the speed limit, but they're still increasing.

So certainly just kind of keep an eye on those.

Thank you.

Thanks.

So the Admiral Calpus Road Speed and Red Light Automated Enforcement System.

Um, overall overall graph, and there's some nuance to it to kind of show you over the past two quarters what we've seen in terms of the number of violations that have been issued from the automated speed enforcement.

Um I just want to point out that uh January uh probably the best uh month uh for comparison because it was a full month of uh enforcement operations.

Um is westbound side of uh uh the westbound site.

Uh the speed enforcement uh was significantly impacted in January, February due to radar calibration issues resulting in a high number of avoided violations that was that was westbound in February.

Um it didn't constitute a full month of enforcement due to one week of scheduled school vacation and an additional in uh week impacted by the winter storm and subsequent cleanup.

So even though we do see the continuous trend downward, that just wanted to call for transparency, wanted to call that call that out.

And then in March, uh was also not a full month of uh enforcement uh for the camera certification and calibration expired, and there was a week uh where it went down uh for that uh recalibration.

Uh so while I'm I'm confident to say that there's uh there is a good trend and a positive impact by these cameras uh in terms of slowing people down and preventing people from violating red lights.

Um this past quarter had some nuances to it in terms of of what the data shows, but I'm um being competent to say that it has a it's continues to be a positive impact.

Uh next slide.

Uh East Brown and Admiral Calphus Road.

Um is just an idea of what we're looking at uh by speed citations in January, February, March, uh as far as the numbers uh broken down to red light citations.

Next slide.

So northbound, um northbound Hillside Avenue and Admiral Calphus Road.

Uh we are seeing not a lot of activity in terms of speed citations over the uh over this quarter.

We issued no speed violations and very few red light citations.

Uh I wanted to point that out.

Next slide.

Um that our intention based on the DAF discontinue the automated speed enforcement function on the northbound side, uh northbound Hillside Avenue at Admiral Calpus Road.

Um we're going to maintain the red light violation enforcement uh that function for the duration of the year, but it is producing something just to get an idea on the trends that are there.

Um but as far as the speed enforcement, uh it doesn't make sense to continue that that uh and pay for that particular function.

So what's in the works right now?

Uh we are uh looking at additional feedback signs and their locations.

We're working in collaboration with the planning department uh for the placement of those of those speed signs, uh those um feedback signs.

Uh we are continuing to do direct enforcement based on the data from the 10 feedback signs, and this next quarter, as as requested, I'll have some information on the on the ticket numbers.

Um currently we are studying the Bellevue Memorial intersection for a possible application of a red light camera.

But if the study's favorable, we'll present something to you uh and that data for you to consider uh for a red light at the Bellevue Memorial Intersection.

And that's that's the report.

Pretty much uh any questions, comments?

Yes, a comment.

Uh Chief, thank you.

Sarge Sergeant Head, thank you.

Appreciate all of you.

Very good.

Thank you.

All right, okay.

Um licenses and perm I'm sorry, ordinances.

Uh motion to amend section 5.04.030 of the codified ordinances entitled registration fee.

This is a second reading.

This uh there shall be an application fee of uh $20.

Um the registration fee including annual renewals shall be 100.

So we're removing.

I'm sorry, let me just say this again.

We're going to remove there shall be a one-time initial application fee of ten dollars.

Um the registration fee, including annual renewals will be 25.

Um, the registration fee, including annual renewals will be $25, and instead for business licenses, there will be an application fee of $20, and the registration fee including annual renewals shall be $100.

Second, motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to amend section 10.24.010 of the codified ordinances entitled parking prohibited at all times in designated places.

William Street North Side beginning 156 feet west of Thomas Street and proceeding a distance west for 23 feet.

This is a second reading.

Second.

Motion second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you.