Stephanie Smythe here.

There's a quorum present.

Madam Clerk, before we officially pledge the flag and begin the meeting, I would like to move uh to elect councillor, former mayor, former chair, Gene Napolitano as the acting presiding officer, the acting chair.

And I would also like to move Councillor Stephanie Smythe as acting vice chair.

I'd like a second, please.

Second.

All in favor, say aye.

All opposed.

The ayes have it.

Madam Chair, the meeting is yours.

I'd like to welcome everybody here tonight.

Whoops.

Everybody here tonight.

Um I appreciate the fact that so many of our residents and also staff members are here to help us out.

Could we please stand for the pledge of allegiance?

I pledge to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the Republican.

Under God, individual.

Madam Chair.

Yes.

But our director of public services, Bill Riccio, has been named the nation's top ten public works leader by American Public Works Association.

And I just wanted to congratulate him and thank him for all of his hard work.

It does make us wonder why he stands in the corner every meeting.

Okay, first order of business.

Okay.

Um move to approve the consent calendar in its entirety, with the exception of items B5, D, F1.

Madam Vice Chair.

Yes.

May I add uh item one D to be pulled from the consent calendar?

One D.

One D, please.

Thank you.

Second.

There's a motion and second.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Okay.

Um B five, friends of Belmont Chapel and Island Cemetery doing business, Belmont Stakes, Race Day, fundraiser, 180 Narragansett Avenue, June 6, 2026, from 4 30 p.m.

to 7 30 p.m.

Motion to approve.

Second.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

I just wanted to make a notation.

Belmont Chapel recently, the person that worked hardest to redo Belmont Chapel, Pam Kelly, Pass.

And Pam was absolutely relentless in her efforts to look into grant funding and funding from almost every source.

She was a real champion of Belmont Chapel.

And I think people, if you haven't been there, it's in Fairwell Cemetery.

It is absolutely gorgeous inside.

You'd be shocked.

And many people that go there, and I've heard this a number of times, used to go there to drink as teenagers.

Can't do that anymore, and it is the most beautiful chapel inside.

And I'd like to acknowledge Pam and her efforts to bring people together and to make it happen.

So I hope some people do uh go over there and see it.

It's really nice.

Thank you.

Great.

Okay.

Um item number one D, communication from Maureen Cronin, Chair of Tree and Open Space Commission, expressing support for the proposed naming and dedication of the park on John Street in honor of Newport's fallen first responders.

Motion to approve.

Madam Chair.

Thank you very much for the motion and the second.

Uh can we call up, please, Maureen?

Uh, if she's here, I'm sure she is.

And the gentleman who worked with you, uh, I think, most diligently uh on the uh oh, he's one of ours.

Sorry.

I didn't realize that.

Forgive me.

Uh can we get a little synopsis from both of you as we show our appreciation?

Um, no, thank you for helping us move this forward.

Um, I can honestly tell you that this is very, very important to everyone on the train open space commission and as it should be to every citizen in the city of Newport.

And if it wasn't for Lieutenant Hoore, who will speak in a few moments, um, we wouldn't have known the history, we wouldn't have known uh the rationale behind it.

Um, but the reason that we are overwhelmingly supporting this and asking you to allow us to move to the next step, which is landscape planning, feasibility, budgeting, is because it is a miss that our community does not have a place for solemn remembrance and good thoughts for our fallen first responders.

That is just something that we should have.

We should have it both for the active responders that are working right now, and we should have it for the families and the friends of those who have left us.

And I couldn't speak better than Lieutenant County.

So I'm gonna take a moment and move aside, but I can tell you he's inspiring, and the work he's done is amazing, and it is a pleasure to work.

Thank you.

Thank you for having me.

Uh, you know, miss Ms.

Cronin said it best, but uh, you know, I I started this project uh to honor uh fallen first responders for the city of Newport, and there have been four of them.

Uh three police officers and one firefighter.

Uh the firefighter died fighting a fire in this building.

Uh and through my research, the first uh police officer who who was killed in the line of duty actually was shot and killed on what is now the the park on John Street.

So uh with that knowledge, I I you know just kind of developed this plan to create a memorial uh to honor all the first responders for for the city uh where it would mean a lot to to us as active members, um it would mean a lot to the retired guys and and families.

Uh it the goal is to create a uh place of quiet remembrance and and not take over the park uh and eliminate the park.

It would just uh offer us a place uh to go and remember those who have passed.

Thank you for any consideration.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, yeah.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

Item F1.

Um, Councilor Napolisano is recusing herself.

A one roofing and construction, LLC, 1133, West Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion?

All in favor, aye.

All opposed.

Motion's passed.

Did you um did you take a vote on the item D?

No, we did not.

Uh we did not vote to officially receive, move to receive.

Receive and refer to city administration.

So moved.

Second.

There's a motion second to receive and refer to city administration.

Okay, go ahead.

All in favor, all in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I have it.

Okay.

Moving on to licenses and permits.

Item two, special events license.

Heather Russam doing business at AC Newport Home Matches, Topa Field.

523 26, 6626, 613 26, and 624 26 from 6 p.m.

to 8 p.m.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion, second, discussion, hearing none.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I have it.

Item number three, bittling license renewal.

Lindsay Kusick doing business as Gooseberry concession and grill.

Gooseberry Beach Oceanav.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion, second.

Any discussion?

Hearing none.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Item four, vitaling license, renewal.

Seaside Scoops, LLC doing business as Seaside Scoops.

225 Goddard Road.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion, second.

Any discussion?

Hearing none.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I have it.

Item five, bittling license.

Change in doing business as and use.

Two D Potsi LLC doing business as Casamiya catering.

Seven Memorial Boulevard with a communication from Matthew Lees Esquire requesting approval of the application subject to the zoning board approval on May 18th, 2026.

Motion to approve.

Second.

With the condition that it they obtain the zoning approval for the service.

Right.

Yeah.

Okay.

There's a motion and second.

Any discussion?

Madam Chair.

Yes.

Question on formality.

Why are we doing this in what seems to be the opposite uh course of action?

Uh I would prefer, not that I'll vote against it, but I would prefer seeing the zoning board give their blessing uh or give their uh at least give folks the opportunity for public hearing since the more controversial uh of the two asks is the zoning ask.

I would rather see what the zoning board has to say uh prior to coming to the council.

It should be done the other way around, I think.

As I said, the zoning board doesn't need uh permission from the council, nor does the council need permission from the zoning board to effectively deny uh the requests, but why should it not be the other way around?

Why should we be dealing with something that the zoning board will deal with in the future rather than the opposite?

Mr.

Lees, would you like to address this?

Sure, uh Matt Lee's representing the applicant, 2D Potsy LLC.

The reason that we're coming to you uh now before zoning, I understand the normal course of events is to go to the zoning board first and then come to the city council for the bidding license.

However, we were on the zoning board agenda last month and ready to go.

And um, because of the backlog on the zoning board agenda, our application got continued, and it's very important to my client to be open for Memorial Day weekend to get the summer going.

And um, this is the last city council meeting before Memorial Day.

Likewise, next week is the last zoning board meeting before uh Memorial Day, and so if they don't if we're not granted tonight, they won't be open for Memorial Day.

Um, and there will be, you know, there'll be a public full public hearing on Monday on the application where everybody and everybody within 200 feet will have gotten notice and have an opportunity to be heard, so plenty of chance for people to comment.

What date what day is memorial days?

Is Memorial Day the the 20th?

Yeah, okay.

Yeah.

I would personally like to grant it subject to the approval of the zoning board approval on the 18th.

I think it's an important holiday, and I also think it's important for a new business getting started to be open then.

Um I will be supporting this.

Is there any other questions?

Just what are they asking for in terms of what is your client asked asking for, Mr.

Lee's from the zoning board?

Well, right the property, as you may know, it's been uh a restaurant for over 20 years.

Uh it was Pasta Beach uh and Opasta Beach moved to Bellevue Avenue, and then uh about 2020 it became 2D Potse.

It then changed its name, same uh applicant changed his name to Mr.

R.

Um, and now that was uh what was referred to as a standard restaurant under the zoning ordinance.

They've decided they want to try to change the concept a little bit so that it'll be uh grab and go during the day.

Um, you know, sandwiches, salads, wraps, that type of thing uh and then at night they're gonna have a a sort of a catering uh private dinner uh upon request use as an accessory use in the evenings uh no more than three times a week and uh under the zoning ordinance the the grab and go use is technically considered a fast food restaurant um and so we have to get a special use permit from the zoning board for that and for the accessory use how is the parking is there a differential mr uh city slow mr bean is there a difference in the parking standards for the restaurant that it was as it relates to the zoning ordinances versus the fast food description i would ask that it will be so i would ask mr lease is he's all is he also looking for a uh parking variance with this relief uh no we're not actually we so the answer would I would say no yeah we we there is uh they have they've had adequate parking for the standard restaurant use for over 20 years and actually the fast food restaurant use requires less uh on-site parking so we don't need a variance for that are there any other questions hearing none are we ready to vote all in favor please say aye aye any opposed eyes have it okay number six sidewalk cafe renewals a Newport bubble tea LLC doing business as empire tea and coffee 22 Broadway motion to approve second there's a motion and second questions hearing none all in favor please say aye aye item B ETC group LLC doing business as empire tea and coffee one twelve William Street motion to approve second there's a motion second any questions hearing none all in favor please say aye aye any opposed eyes have it number seven bittling license new one oh three bellevue opco llc doing business as to be determined 103 to 105 bellevue av in conjunction with liquor license transfer motion to approve second there's a motion second discussion hearing none all in favor please say aye aye any opposed eyes have it number eight vitaling license new s wm hospitality newport LLC doing business as chomp kitchen and drinks 11 Broadway in conjunction with liquor license transfer motion to approve second there's a motion and second any questions yes thank you counselor carlin regarding item seven I understood the optics of the liquor license transfer it's essentially under one umbrella transferred from one part uh of the organization to another part uh to be determined later on the agenda in conjunction with what we just voted on the video with with number eight I do not know uh what the circumstances are the applicant here or can someone explain if it is a change in ownership or simple transfer uh within the family so to speak changing ownership um me and my business partner are buying out the primary owner um excuse me could could we have your name absolutely my name's Nicky Holden okay um I've worked with Chomp for just about seven years I was 10% owner as of last year my business partner's been with them for 10 years he was uh 10% owner for the past five years on the primary owner um is just looking to do something different so we're acquiring business from him keeping everything the same um at all three locations keeping the menu the same we're not changing anything we're keeping the sidewalk um cafe entertainment everything the same just looking for transfers for all of the items any other questions hearing none all in favor aye aye any opposed eyes have it.

Number nine, sidewalk cafe license.

New SWM Hospitality newport, LLC, doing business as chomp Kitchen and drinks.

111 Broadway.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion and second discussion.

Madam chair.

Yes, counselor.

And I'm not certain who to call up for this, frankly, the prior owner or the new owners uh expected, but I'll make my comments first.

Last year the council, upon the initial and first request ever of Chomp uh to have a sidewalk cafe rejected uh by a four to three vote that request because of the dimensions of the sidewalk cafe.

Upon coming back two weeks later, the council by a seven to nothing vote approved uh the redesign of the sidewalk cafe.

But fast forward to where we were in the last season, uh my opinion is that the uh the design of the sidewalk cafe significantly still significantly obstructed uh traffic moving south toward here, City Hall, uh, from Arault Street and down.

Can you tell us?

Do you plan to make any changes to the design that was approved and in place last year?

We could look into that.

My understanding was that we were supposed to stay uh, I believe it was six or eight feet from the building.

Um six feet, yeah.

So we did have like uh one of the uh sidewalk lines that the servers were supposed to set it up past.

Um if they didn't always do that, that is something we can definitely put something there that kind of stays there to make sure that we stay away from that area for sure.

The the concern I had was simply being able or not being able, but for our residents, many of whom uh in that area and elsewhere travel with little ones in a stroller, and there are folks who elderly who access uh that sidewalk frequently what I'm looking for, I guess, is not so much uh a separation and uh a rope that might be set up or any type of thing you have in mind.

Well, I very much appreciate it, and I know your intents uh are good.

Um I'm concerned about the obstruction between Broadway and uh I in other words, in plain English, I don't think there's enough room for for folks that I just described, and I'm always gonna vote for uh or side in favor of of residents first.

I mean we don't want anyone to feel impeded as they walk by our restaurant at all either.

So um if there's anything that we could do that would make you more comfortable, we're absolutely willing to do that, um, whatever that you know is we discuss now another time.

You know, I don't I don't really know how it works from here, but um we're very willing to work with you.

Counselor Carlin, there are regulations for setting out tables and chairs on the sidewalk.

I do believe and they have accommodated those regulations with a six-foot expanse where people can walk by.

I'm not sure unless you know we were to change regulations.

That's across the board.

I appreciate that uh madam chair.

I I understand the regulations very well.

Uh I've read the ordinances many times.

Yeah, and I didn't suggest that we need to change the ordinances.

I'm saying I I think obstruction for our residents is taking place here in a different scenario than it does in other locations with sidewalk cafes, though they all live by the same rules.

I don't know what to tell you.

If we can't do anything, I'm just gonna my answer, my simple answer is I'll vote no.

Okay.

Okay, are we ready to vote?

Yeah, I believe so.

Can we vote on this?

Yes.

Okay, all in favor, please raise your right hand.

Any opposed?

Eyes have it.

Okay.

Number 10, entertainment license, new SWM Hospitality Newport, LLC, doing business as Chomp Kitchens and Drinks, 111 Broadway.

This is a hearing.

Yes.

Is there anybody in the audience that would like to address the fact that they're requesting it their entertainment license at Chomp?

If so, please come to the podium.

Is there any issues that you'd like to address?

Yeah, for your entertainment license.

No, I we usually just do kind of singer songwriters.

I think we had one band on St.

Patrick's Safe Parade Day inside.

It's never outside.

We do open the doors, but um, usually, like I said, it's one person with a guitar, maybe an accompanying um hand drum, but it's never anything else super loud or.

I do have to tell you windows and doors have to be shut.

Okay when they're performing.

You got it.

Okay, yep.

Is there any questions from the other council members?

Hearing none, are we ready to vote?

I think we have to motion to close the hearing.

Oh, yeah, motion to close the public hearing.

So I have a second.

Second.

Um ready to vote.

All in favor, please say aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

And then we have to motion to approve the entertainment license.

Yes.

Okay.

Is there a second?

Second.

There's a motion, second to approve the entertainment license.

Um all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Okay.

Number 11, 2026, annual entertainment license renewals.

Um motion to pass in the entirety.

Second.

There's a motion, second to pass the entertainment license renewals.

Uh the list is attached uh to our docket.

Um are there any questions from the council members?

Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Uh the next is appointments to boards and commissions.

Uh we have two reappointments to the sister city commission.

Amy Arnmanger, three-year term expires 4-24-29.

And Michelle Gallagher, three-year term also expires 4 24 29.

I move approval.

Second.

There's a motion and second.

Um, any questions?

Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Motion passes.

Okay.

Communications item 13.

Update from interface studio.

Ari, the comprehensive plan update.

Good evening, council members.

Uh, for the record, my name is Trish Reynolds.

I'm the planning director for the city.

As you all know, uh the city is currently in the process of updating our comprehensive plan, a plan which will help guide future decisions related to land use, housing, transportation, economic development, and infrastructure, all using community priorities as a foundation.

Tonight, our consulting team, Interface Studio, will be providing the council with an overview of the process to date as we continue to work with residents, stakeholders, and community partners to develop a plan that reflects the community's visions and priorities.

You've received a comprehensive slide deck, and tonight's presentation will be limited.

If any council members have questions or comments that are not addressed, please feel free to contact the planning department at any time.

At this time, I'd like to turn it over to the interface team, Mindy Watson, Maria Gonzalez, and they'll be taking you through the short presentation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, members of council.

Nice to see you.

My name is Mindy Watts, principal interface studio or the lead planning firm uh updating your comprehensive plan.

I believe I have some slides in the somewhere.

Oh, okay.

Is it small ad upstairs?

Okay.

I'm not sure who has control over the um turning on the PDF.

Is that upstairs?

Okay.

Sorry for the delay.

But it's actually not the on your Madam Chair.

While we're waiting, can we move on to communications from the city manager?

Uh how much time does it?

I think maybe we ought to wait just a minute to see if they can pull it up?

There we go.

Seems promising.

There we go.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, we are here for a robust week of community engagement.

We have had nine focus groups since Monday.

We had a briefing for the planning board on Monday as well.

And um we will be having six more focus groups and a meeting with our advisory committee that has been seated by this council.

So it's a busy week of conversations, and we're so glad to be back.

Oops.

Let's see, here we go.

We are at a turning point in the process.

If you recall, I last was here to brief city council in October.

That was our first trip to Newport to work on this comprehensive plan update.

And since then we've been doing our research and getting our analysis of existing conditions under our belt.

We've also been doing some initial engagement efforts, a community survey, and um a big public open house that was uh back in December.

So it was a cold rainy night.

Um, where is this?

Oops.

Oh my gosh, I'm a mess tonight.

Bear with me, please.

There we go.

Um so it was a cold rainy night, but we did have a good number of people come out and participate in a range of activities and stations.

Some of them were fun, some of them were serious, and um this week we have a chance to go much deeper at these uh series of focus groups.

So just to give you a sense of uh where we'll be heading next in the process.

Um, we'll be back in July with uh a set of draft strategies and ideas that will ultimately make their way in some form into the comprehensive plan update.

We'll be testing test driving those with a second round of focus groups, and then we intend to come back at the end of August to provide the revised goals and strategies for the public at an open house that will be on the evening of August 27th.

From there, we'll be spending our fall packaging the plan, and we'll bring it to the planning board and then city council with the intention of having the review process complete before the December 1st deadline that we're working towards to provide the document to statewide planning.

So that is the schedule as it stands right now.

Um, and uh the only other update that I'll mention is that we were able to meet with our advisory committee for the project that this uh council body had a hand in bringing together.

We had our first virtual meeting last week, and it was really um, I think it was worth the wait and the process that council went through to do all those interviews and make those elections really brought together a group with really diverse perspectives, a lot of passion for your city, and we're so excited to get to know them in person this Friday, and then we'll be meeting monthly with them for the balance of the project.

So just to kind of recap the engagement that we've done, um, we've had a bunch of interviews with city staff and and key partners, um, I think over 30 at this point.

Uh, this is actually our sixth briefing when you count the two that are happening um this week.

Uh we, along with planning and development staff have been present at five open public events, um, a couple uh smaller community meetings, and we've had um nearly 900 people complete the community survey.

So I'll be sharing results from that this evening.

Um, and then if you recall, there was a big map traveling around City Hall and other destinations uh in the city, and also available online, and that tool collected 230 different insights and ideas that will help to populate our recommendations and the comprehensive plan.

I won't belabor this, you have it in your packet, but it's just a list of everybody on city staff and city leadership, elected officials that we had the opportunity to interview as we were getting our feet underneath us for this work.

We've also connected with um a much larger actually list of anchor institutions and partners this week, but this shows you who you were able to connect with uh prior to this week of focus groups.

And then at this point, we're more than halfway down that list of the focus groups for for this week.

So we had a session on housing, water and natural resources, energy, coastal players who are involved with the harbor and recreation and uh economic development a range of ways, um, flood risk neighborhoods, transportation, large event transportation, and uh we just wrapped up uh this afternoon with parks recreation and open space and community services and facilities.

So the sessions that lie ahead of us are with Broadway merchants, Thames Street merchants, North End neighbors, the historic preservationists, cultural preservationists, and people who are involved in development in Newport.

So that will be round out the balance of our week in addition to our meeting with the advisory committee in person on Friday.

So I will just go briefly through the survey results and happy to answer any questions that you all may have.

So, like I said, we had nearly 900 people who completed the survey.

On the whole, I would say the survey participants or respondents tended to be older, higher income, higher educational attainment, kind of disproportionately white.

I will say that the Hispanic-Latino participation here at 2% seems is I think a little bit low when you look at the number of households who respond that they also speak Spanish at home, it brought the participation rate among survey respondents to 5%, which is still underreported with the Latino population representing 10% here in Newport.

So we'll be doing we'll have an opportunity tomorrow with the North End neighbors to do some additional survey work and make sure that we're doing some more intentional outreach in some of the underrepresented communities.

This map just shows where we received the survey responses from.

So you can sort of see scaled dots based on where people live within Newport.

And if you recall, the survey had a short form that was like five questions that we wanted everybody to respond to, and then there were three tracks beyond that for people who had the interest to take more time.

People who lived here, people who work here, and people who live in a nearby municipality or are visiting Newport.

So that we'll provide a full digest of all the questions on the city's website.

But for tonight, we thought we'll just provide a high-level overview.

So we did provide the full list of for those short answer questions.

What did people say?

You know, when you think about the future and the most pressing issues in Newport, what are what's the most grave, the most serious things that we need to focus on?

And aging infrastructure received the highest number of votes, followed by the lack of housing affordability or availability, followed by a need to balance resiliency and preservation of the historic buildings with new development.

And so I think those are all issues that come before council with some frequency, and I suspect resonate with the concerns of your constituents and residents in the city.

For that, we heard the first response was measures to ease traffic in crowds, the second one was about discouraging dark houses and second homes, and the third was about finding ways to get parking out of the downtown so that we have less congestion in the downtown.

And so I think that again it's likely resonates with what you might expect that some of the impacts of visitors and tourism in the city has been something that's been a challenge for people who live here and spend their life here.

And this is the last one, I'll provide the full data set for is just about we asked as the city grows and changes, what would you like to see more of?

And so I think from the resident perspective, there's an interest in parks and green space and public space and improvements to those spaces.

There's interest in pedestrian and transit only areas to limit traffic in key destinations, and there's a real appetite for water access and water programming and related services.

And so that again feels like it's very core to the identity of this place.

I think if you were to look at the next two, affordable housing and middle income or workforce housing, and you lump those together, it sort of bumps the housing issue up above the other three, and just to say that that housing concern that was one of those key issues really shows up here as well.

So the rest of my presentation is just uh 10 high-level takeaways, and we've built these from listening to the or analyzing the results of the public survey, listening at public events, interviews with city staff, and then our own analysis and research that we've been conducting.

And so I'm gonna go pretty quick in interest of your time and your long agenda, but I'm happy to slow down or back up if you if you want.

So the first takeaway is that housing and affordability is like been something that people have been bringing up to us since our very first day in your city, and it's been a key concern throughout the engagement process.

I think the city got out in front early with updating updating the housing chapter with the 2024 update, but it shows that there's still a need to address this topic and to continue to talk about it as a community.

We heard from renters as well as homeowners in this um uh survey, and we are seeing that the housing cost burden is growing among owners as well as renters, and really a marked growth among homeowners, and so I think it's something this is an issue that's affecting all corners of the community.

Oops, um, tourism is a really important economic driver for Newport, but as I mentioned a couple slides ago, it is something that is really um straining the quality of life, and so that comes across in transportation-related issues, circulation, uh, congestion, and also with the impacts in the housing market and housing availability.

There were a lot of comments on the collaborative map about the need to move parking out of the downtown so that we have less people circulating forever and clogging up the streets.

Um, and there was a lot of interest in how can we more strategically move people to and through our city and help them navigate where they're trying to get to, and we had some really robust conversations today with the transportation focused groups on that point.

There's just a slide here that talks about the significant impact in terms of housing that that the presence of short-term rentals brings, and really the people uh experience that people have on their neighborhood streets where there's fewer neighbors and more people coming and going with the short-term rentals, and so there's varying statistics about the the level of occurrence of this people who aren't or houses that aren't occupied year-round, but we'd say it's at least 15 to 20% of the housing units in your city, maybe more.

So, number three is aging infrastructure.

That was the top issue for like what is the most serious issue that the city is grappling with.

It is something that was a theme in all of our conversations with city staff, just a concern about um knowing that we had this real success with the 98.5 million dollar bond that was passed in 2025, but also understanding that the need that lies before us is great, and so thinking about this plan as a 20-year horizon, understanding that we need to be thinking about what are the possible new sustainable funding sources to fill a gap that we see.

I have a few slides here about the range of opinions related to new development and preserving local character within the neighborhoods.

I think that we have heard that 24% of respondents want to see more middle income housing, 23% of house respondents have a call for more affordable housing, 21% of respondents say we don't want to see any more new development, and so I think that again this is something that will come up as we're working through the future land use map and the strategies that the comprehensive plan will contain.

This graph shows that data cut in a little bit of a different way that you know some people think there's too much housing being developed, many people think there's too little housing being developed, and people have differing opinions about where that housing is being developed.

But a third of people believe that we should not be allowing additional development within the floodplain.

And then it's about a third, a third, a third in terms of people's perspective on how neighborhoods are changing, whether neighborhoods are improving or declining.

And so we just called out a few quotes from the survey about you know, some people are seeing that buildings are getting fixed up, that there's more businesses, that there's better maintenance, that some of the nuisance issues like abandoned cars have been addressed.

Um, so there's gratitude in these comments.

Some people are saying, you know, nobody lives on my street anymore.

Um, how real estate is so overpriced, there's traffic that's you know makes it so difficult to get around, and so I think that maybe those are like two sides of the same coin, but um uh anyway, a range of opinions on this point of how neighborhoods are changing in the city.

Um the fifth point that we'll make is focused on the harbor front, and um we've had a lot of good conversations and a tour yesterday of the harbor itself with the harbor master and the chair of the waterfront commission.

Um we have looked very closely at how existing land is being used in your city, and we have zoomed in to understand the 69 harbor front parcels, and so of those very limited frontages on the harbor front, only 38% are water-based uses.

So 12% are what we would call maritime commercial and 26% maritime mixed use.

And so I think that given the importance of the harbor for the city and its identity, given the importance of the harbor for the city's economy, we really have to think carefully as we're planning for the future land use of that space.

Um it's also been flagged for us that the harbor will require some dredging within the next five to seven years, so that's another one of those cost items that this comprehensive plan will need to factor in.

And then we've done a bunch of mapping and research to understand the value that exists within the harbor front, the value of those properties and their contribution to the tax base and their contribution to the commercial setting in downtown Newport at the same time their vulnerability to flooding and future sea level rise.

The sixth note that we'll pull out from the input to date is the need for a more diverse job base and a year-round livable wage jobs.

This was something that came up pretty strongly in our conversation around youth and education and community services earlier this afternoon.

And I think when we asked the question at the December open house, you know, what is a resilient economy mean to you?

People were saying we need year-round opportunities, we need entry-level opportunities, we need a diversified economic base and prosperity for locals so that we can remain here.

So I think that our economic development chapter really needs to pay attention to a full range of jobs and pipelines for work.

Excuse me.

We there was a lot of interest and appreciation for the parks and open space and water recreation coming through in the public engagement to date.

I think there's interest in continued improvements and investments.

We've heard uh demand for public bathrooms and demand for athletic fields and multi-purpose indoor place space, and so space is limited.

We know that that's like not an easy thing to deliver, but it's something that we will continue to think about and as we're building upon the very recent tree park and open space master plan.

Just a few more takeaways.

Um this one is about sort of the um parts of the population that require more support and attention and investment, and so to us that means families with young children as well as our growing population that's 65 and over.

And so we heard in the survey a lot of interest in services and programs specifically for youth and families.

We heard a call for investments in parks and playgrounds, and really just more things for kids and families to do in town.

I think that this is closely related to some of the housing pressures that we know exist here and the ability for families to find a place that they can afford to live and stay and raise their families here.

So, like many of the topics in the comprehensive plan, there's a lot of interrelationships.

Likewise, there was a call for some attention to feature investments in the city for mobility and accessibility for public transit and better sidewalks and safe streets.

I think we did hear that there's a need for services for an aging population, and so we can make sure that people can age in place and have their needs met through that process.

Arts and culture is a huge part of what brings people here and what keeps people here, and I think that there are opportunities in this comprehensive plan to think about community and how people come together and how they form their senses of identity, and so this is something that again we see an appetite for and a real pride of place about in terms of the local businesses and the arts and cultural activities and venues that exist and bring people you know out together to enjoy the city.

And then the last big takeaway, I think harkens back to a charge from the beginning of our project where planning and development said we'd like you to use resiliency as a thread through and through each of the plan elements and think through what is a resiliency mean when it comes to the economy when it comes to housing when it comes to city services and facilities.

And so our climate experts on the project have been helping us parse this data and understand, you know, exactly which uh city facilities are at risk and within the floodplain and um which local properties and what are some of the investments and changes we can make in the near term um medium-term and long term to help protect um all of these assets and places.

And so we had, like I said, a full day of focus groups dedicated to that um yesterday.

And I will just conclude by saying that the um the results from the question um that we posed in the December open house about like what makes a resilient place uh your what's your definition of a resilient Newport really said to me this is about staying power and making sure that this place uh remains a community where people can live and stay and be among neighbors, and um that they people have a really um kind of nuanced and um broad definition of resiliency, and so we're excited to echo that back in the plan.

And so my very last slide is just to say where we are and the process and what comes next.

So we have as our sort of starting point the 2017 comprehensive plan, which has a vision and goals.

We have a bunch of very recent planning work that also has vision and goals, and so we've been doing our work to blend those um inputs together, um, do our own thinking around some edits to those goals, and that's what we're workshopping in breakout groups with um different focus groups this week.

And when we come back in July, we'll be ready to have a work session with council and planning board, I believe, and we will also be having a second round of focus groups with um the people that we're meeting with this week to um talk through our process, and in between now and then we'll be working closely with the advisory committee, who's our sort of our first sounding board on all of this work now that they're um brought together in the room.

So that's all I had for you, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you for the time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That was a lot of material to get out.

Are there any questions from the council members?

No.

Okay.

Well, I'll see you next time then.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Okay.

Moving on to communications from the city manager.

Item 14, action item number 6601-26.

Bike Newport license agreement with accompanying resolution.

So, there's a motion and second discussion.

Hearing none.

So, read the recommendation.

Yes, please.

The it is recommended that council approve a five-year license agreement with Bike Newport with up to four additional successive terms of five years each for the utilization and occupancy of the bike barn, a space located on lot one ten on plat five of the Newport Tax Assessors Plat and further designated as 20 Sunset Boulevard Newport, Rhode Island.

There is no fiscal impact.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Okay, there's a motion and second discussion.

Um the only question I have, that's a really long term for a lease.

Uh yeah, the 25 years.

If you if you add it up, and I'm just wondering, you know, will that put um what if something happens?

I mean, will there be a need with that property?

Right, right, and that's why we're doing this in in five five-year increments.

So it's one initial five-year term and then options.

Um, also, uh, I I note the agreement is between the city and bike newport, uh, but if I'm not mistaken, the land itself is actually owned by the housing authority.

So they are under a separate bike Newport is under a separate uh lease agreement uh with the housing authority for the land.

The agreement for the use of the facility in in the form that it takes in the form of the bike barn is with the city.

That's a zero cost five years at a time, so that we do have some outs if we need them along the way.

I guess my question is do we own the land?

We do not own the land.

Okay, that's all.

Thank you.

Any questions from the council?

Hearing none, all in are we ready to vote?

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, ayes have it.

Item 15, action item 6602 slash 26.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Community Center lease agreement for the food trailer with accompanying resolution.

It is recommended that council approve a five-year lease agreement between the city of Newport and the Martin Luther King Jr.

Community Center to lease a portion of property at 120 Hillside Avenue, consisting of the South Side Grass Lot area adjacent to the Bike Newport Traffic Garden and the Maha Center building for up for the operation of a food pantry trailer.

There is no fiscal impact.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Second discussion.

Um I would just like to say that uh, you know, they have they've had a need for a long time to have some sort of um trailer that people could go to that didn't have to come down to they could stay in their neighborhood.

And I think this is um a good project, and I'm happy to support it.

So, madam chair?

Yes.

Um, I just want to thank the MLK Center and um also city administration for helping to make this happen.

Um, I know reps from the MLK Center are here.

Did anybody wanna say anything?

Your name first.

Hi, I'm Heatherholes Trout, and this is Ed Crowley.

I'm the executive director of the Martin Luther King Community Center, and Ed is our director of hunger programming, which is a vast variety of hunger relief programming throughout Newport County.

And this project is something that we have been trying to make happen for a really long time.

So I just want to say thank you to the city.

Um thank you to Mike Carulo, who we've worked with, and for all of you for making this happen.

It really is something that's going to help the lives of we think thousands in our community.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other discussion?

Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, eyes have it.

Okay, item 16, action item 6603 slash 26.

Purchase of automated noise enforcement trailer and equipment, source well massing purchasing agreement with accompanying resolution.

The recommendation is the police department recommends purchasing an ATS 5 surveillance ready trailer and associated equipment for its automated vehicle noise enforcement program from all traffic solutions LLC through the Source Well Mass Purchasing Agreement.

This is currently budgeted, and the resolve is the purchase of one ATS5 surveillance ready trailer with all equipment, hardware and technology at a cost of 21,708 dollars and twenty-eight cents for the police department use to enforce noise abatement from all traffic solutions LLC through the source well mass purchasing agreement is hereby approved subject to favorable review by the city solicitor.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion.

Second.

Discussion.

Are we ready to vote?

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, eyes have it.

Okay.

Item 17, action item 6604/26, amendment ordinance revision to 10.24.010, parking prohibited at all times and designated places.

William Street, North Side beginning 102 feet west of Thomas Street and proceeding a distance west for 18 feet with accompanying ordinance.

The recommendation, the ITC recommends adding to chapter 10.24 of the City of Newport's codified ordinance as follows.

10.24.010, parking prohibited at all times in designated places.

No person shall park a vehicle at any time upon any of the following streets.

To remove Williams Street, the north side beginning 156 feet west of Thomas Street and proceeding a distance to the west 23 feet.

And to add William Street North Side beginning 102 feet west of Thomas Street and proceeding a distance to the west 18 feet.

There is no fiscal impact.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion, second to approve.

Discussion.

So there were two previous Williams Street uh hearings.

First reading and second reading as required by our ordinances, required by our rules or the charter.

Uh is this a totally separate William Street uh well?

I shouldn't address you, it's coming from the admin.

Uh is this a totally separate William Street ask?

It is not.

Uh the this is correct.

Simply put, this is a correction of an error made in the previous ordinance.

Enough.

Move to approve.

There's a motion second.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, ayes have it.

Okay, item 18.

Action item 6605 slash 26, award of contract, RFP number 2026, PS 011, police station mini split replacement with accompanying resolution.

The recommendation is the Department of Public Services recommends awarding a contract to Cold Masters of Cranston, Rhode Island for the purpose of replacing a mini split HVAC system at the police station 120 Broadway in the total amount of $35,490.

This is currently budgeted.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion and second.

Discussion.

Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

I have it.

Item 19, action item number 6606 slash 26, award of contract, RFP number 2026, PS 012, Martin Recreation, Exterior Improvements with accompanying resolution.

The recommendation is the Department of Public Services recommends awarding a contract to Dubon Masonry Construction LLC of East Greenwich, Rhode Island for the purpose of exterior renovations at the Martin Recreation Center in the total amount of 47,500.

This is currently budgeted.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion and second.

Discussion.

Hearing none.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Item 20, action item number 6607 slash 26.

Award of contract.

RIMPA 494 Architectural Services Edward King House with accompanying resolution.

The recommendation is the departments of planning and development and public services recommend awarding a contract to DBVW Architects of Providence, Rhode Island, in accordance with RIMPA 494 architectural services for the purpose of providing architectural conceptual design and planning services associated with the Edward King House in the not to exceed amount of a hundred and nineteen thousand three hundred and three hundred and sixty dollars.

This is currently budgeted.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion.

Second.

Discussion, hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, ayes have it.

Item 21, action item number 6608 slash 26.

Authorization to accept 500K award from RIDEM, outdoor recreation grant with accompanying resolution.

The recommendation is the grants office within the Department of Resiliency and Sustainability in collaboration with the divisions of recreation and parks, grounds and forestry recommends that the council authorizes acceptance of a 500,000 grant award from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 2026 Recreation Acquisition and Development Grants Program.

This requires a 25% match, 167K from the city, which can be included in the fiscal year 28 CIP.

This program supports the development and renovation of public open space and recreational amenities with required alignment to the state's comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.

Awarded funds will support the construction of a new recreational amenities and site improvements at the John Chafee Boulevard Recreation Area.

This requires additional appropriation motion to approve.

Second.

Second discussion.

Yes.

Yes.

So originally when we were applied for this grant, we weren't really sure that we were going to get it, but then we did get it.

The grant requires a hundred and sixty seven thousand match.

That is currently not budgeted.

And the easier thing was to move this to 2028, but with all the conversation that happens about projects not being completed and this particular project being really important to kids and families, especially in the north end, I'd like to make a motion to amend the resolution that our city management find the grant match of 167,000 and move it to fiscal year 2027.

And ask for a second.

Second, there's a motion and second discussion.

Um has any department or official been approached with this idea?

And is it possible?

It is possible.

I have to be careful not to talk about the fiscal 27 budget because it's not on the agenda today, but it is possible with further discussion during the budget hearings to accomplish this.

And yes, uh councillor Pannock, uh, while I was away on vacation, uh, had several discussions with Deputy City uh manager Carulo, and and this was the administration feels this is an acceptable proposal, okay.

Is there any other questions?

Council, yes, thank you.

Thank you, madam chair.

Uh councillor Pinnock.

Um, if I support this, uh will you be open to supporting what I will do in the future regarding uh finding money for the stone slide and its repair?

Absolutely.

You know I'm down for anything that's thank you.

And I also don't think I appreciate the administration's input regarding your idea, but you're the policymaker here.

You brought it forward.

So if we need to find the money via fiscal twenty-seven, we will.

I think uh your idea about the youngsters being able to uh participate for lack of a better word.

Compliments of this grant and compliments of uh other city resources is wonderful.

It's wonderful.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Deputy City Manager Crulo for all of your hard work and the conversations that we had over the I don't know how many days, but I appreciate it.

Is there any other discussion?

I was uh second on the amendment, yeah.

So you have the vote on the amendment of the accompanying uh resolution.

Okay, yeah, yep, um motion to approve the amendment.

Second, can I second amendment?

You know, I I've got to tell you I have a little problem with this.

I feel like we've been trading horses up here.

Uh you know, to say if you support me on this, I'll support you on that.

Um, I'm uncomfortable with it.

I'm sorry, and I want that for the kids, but I'm uncomfortable at the way it was proposed.

Does anybody else see it that way?

No.

Well, you would.

I don't either.

You asked the question, so I answered.

I have a pretty strong moral compass, and I anything that's for kids.

Well, I agree.

But the stone slide.

We haven't even voted on that yet.

Okay.

Okay.

All right.

Are we ready to vote?

All in favor of the amendment, please raise your right hand.

All opposed.

Okay.

Motion carried.

They have it.

Now we'll make now on the resolution as okay.

Motion on the resolution as is.

Can we have a vote?

Second.

There's a motion second.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Okay.

Item 22, action item number 6609-26.

Authorization to approve grant award 100,000 from the Rhode Island Department of Health and Human Services with accompanying resolution.

The recommendation is the grants office within the Department of Resiliency and Sustainability in collaboration with the FIRE EMS Department recommends that the City Council authorize acceptance of a $100,000 grant award from the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services through the Opioids Settlement Municipal Incentive Grant Program.

This funding will support and expand the work of the Newport and Middletown Situation Table, a cross-sector collaboration focused on improving outcomes for individuals and families experiencing acutely elevated risks.

There's no fiscal impact.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion second.

Discussion.

A number of people attend these meetings trying to care for the neediest in our communities.

So I would like to thank them for the work that they do.

And I think they meet every single week.

So we truly appreciate it.

Yes.

Okay, any other discussion?

Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, eyes have it.

Number 23, action item number 6610 slash 26.

Award of bid RIMPA, Trench and Sidewalk Restoration 2026 with accompanying resolution.

The recommendation is the Department of Utilities recommends the award of the trench and sidewalk restoration, Hartford Paving Corporation, Johnston, Rhode Island, based on unit price quotes submitted on March 23rd, 2026.

The resolution is that the purchase from Hartford Paving Corporation, Johnston, Rhode Island via the Rhode Island Master Pricing Agreement number 492, site improvements for a not to exceed cost of 132,064.62 cents is hereby approved and a purchase order may be issued.

This is currently budgeted.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Second discussion, hearing none.

Hearing none.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Item 24, action item number 6611-26.

Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank borrowing for primary clarifiers with accompanying resolution.

The recommendation is the utilities department recommends that the city council adopt an ordinance amending ordinance number 2025-77 to authorize conduit loan financing through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, in addition to clean water state revolving fund financing for the primary clarifier and process improvements project under contract 15-023.

The total authorized borrowing of 20 million is unchanged.

There is no fish fiscal impact.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion second.

Discussion.

Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Item 25, action item number six six one two slash twenty six award of contract r I MPA F 550 4x2 utility truck with accompanying resolution the recommendation is the department of utilities recommends award to task afford east Berlin Connecticut authorized under Rhode Island master price agreement 559 for one 2026 Ford F 550 4x2 utility truck for the not to exceed amount of 177,143 dollars and 55 cents this is currently budgeted motion to approve second there's a motion second discussion hearing none all in favor please say aye aye any opposed eyes have it item 26 action item number 6613 slash 26 award of bid number 2026 utl 006 water treatment chemicals with accompanying resolution the recommendation is the department of utilities water division recommends as follows the award of the annual bid for chemicals used at the two water treatment plants and for treatment of the raw water reservoirs the total value of the bid award is based on chemical usage at both plants and the reservoirs and is estimated at 1,719,675 dollars the value is only an estimate and subject to the raw water conditions this is currently budgeted motion to approve second there's motion and second discussion madam chair yes count budgeted via the 27 or 26 enterprise fund yes good enough okay no i think what Rob said yes yeah okay all in favor please say aye aye any opposed odds have item 27 action item number 6614 slash 26 award of bid number 2026 utl 05 005 utility supplies with accompanying resolution the recommendation is the city received bids from six vendors for assorted products for use by the water and water pollution control divisions of the department of utilities for fiscal year 2027 bids were received on April 7th 2026 the products include meters piping fittings valves etc these products will serve the department's needs to maintain the water sanitary sewer and storm drain systems the bids have been evaluated based on cost proposal compatibility of proposed products with our existing systems and service reputation of the vendors the recommended awards are attached all awards recommended are based on the lowest qualified bid the purchase of utility supplies is bound by the budgeted account values the total annual value of the bid award is not to exceed 986013 dollars the term of the bid is for the period July 1st 2026 to June 30th 2027 this is currently budgeted motion to approve second there's a motion second discussion hearing none all in favor please say aye any opposed ayes have it item 28 action item six six one five slash twenty six show course hearing cafeology increw motion to uh withdraw because the applicant has satisfied the violation code second there's a motion second discussion hearing none all in favor please say aye aye any opposed ayes have it up next, ordinances item 29, amending chapter 3.16.060 classification plant supervisory employees NEA.

This is the second reading.

Motion to approve.

Second.

There's a motion.

Second.

Discussion.

Hearing none.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed ay have it.

Moving on to resolutions.

Item 30, supporting the CRMC application of Castle Hill and requesting an aquaculture farm.

Madam Chair.

Yes, counselor.

Thank you.

Uh, as of about three hours ago, uh, it is my understanding that some folks uh from some of our friends from the Lapstring and Commercial Fisherman's industry uh intended to speak on this resolution.

I did not realize that.

Uh my intent is to continue this item because, well, my intent is to ask the council to continue, and it's not just my decision.

Councillor Holder.

Mayor Holder is not here.

Councillor Sai is not here, and Councillor Segley is not here.

Three of whom have uh a great interest in this particular item.

Having said that, and knowing that our friends have waited uh many hours for their chance, or at least an hour plus for their chance to speak.

Uh, I will make the appropriate motion to continue.

But first, I would like a second on the resolution so that we can hear from our friends.

Second, thank you, madam chair.

There's a motion and a second discussion, Madam Chair.

I believe there are folks here, as I said, who would like to speak on the resolution.

Um, if you could give your name and address before you speak, please.

Thank you.

Captain Brayman, Robert B.

21 Ridgewood Road, Middletown, Rhode Island.

I've been on the water here in Newport for 51 years.

There's three other fishermen behind me.

You add us all together, it's probably 140 years.

Is the Coast Guard going to require regulation lights when this aquaculture comes off the coast for nighttime navigation?

There's so many questions involved in this that they we could spend two or three hours discussing it.

It's uh it's gonna be hazard to navigation.

I don't think the people proposing it fully understand the current, the tides, and what's involved in what they're planning.

And once that becomes a hazard to navigation, will that make let them expand?

And then you know, it just is too many questions involved.

The one of the proposals I heard that there's no buoys in this area.

We have over the years learned to keep our buoy near the eastern shore.

We wrap traps in the cove near Coast Guard Cove around the corner to keep the buoys away from navigation coming to Coast Guard coming out of the cove and other things like that, but there's uh there's three people that fish inside of me, and two people that fish outside of me.

There's five people that fish directly there, almost 12 months out of the year.

No, I just you know it's it's got to be continued.

There's a there's a lot to go on there.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Harry Gould, uh 38 years fishing.

I'm from Middletown, Francisco Drive.

I was at the meeting.

I believe it was uh the harbor front or the waterfront mission.

We don't really mix with that type of people, so I don't know the exact term.

There was a presentation, they had a display, they had a little picture of the cove they plan to utilize.

They told us how deep the cages would be, and that it would take up no more room than I believe eight car parking spots in order for them to put those aquaculture cages in, they have to be at a minimum depth.

I think they said sixteen feet, so they have to come off the beach sixteen feet, which is depth, not distance off the beach.

That that would directly impact where I sat.

Tommy sets closer to the beach than I do.

They they had no understanding of the buoys that they planned to use for the lady that gave the demonstration.

They wanted to use a small toggle buoy.

I don't know if any of you guys are familiar with any types of buoys.

Toggle buoys look like little footballs.

If you've ever been to the beach and you've seen the the life line that they put out, the buoys that hold them up, those buoys are going to be underwater as soon as the tide switches.

Another hazard to navigation, as as Bob said.

One of the other things we've heard, and maybe it's incorrect, is that once they get this in there down the road, they will look to put a dock in there once it becomes unnavigable.

You know, it's just a concern for us.

I fish that cove, or as Rob told you, I fish from just west of Castle Hill on the north side, and I do come inside that cove, wrap around a tip into the Coast Guard Cove and come up towards that little Chinese tea house there.

It's some type of developer, video game developer or something, I think.

But the it does impact us.

And I and I don't think the proposal is well thought out.

I don't know if any of you guys have been down there in a good nor'easter, but those cages are going to be on the beach in a matter of hours when we have a good storm.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Patrick Heaney.

I'm a career Newport Fisherman.

My question for the council, I guess, is this was turned down, the resolution was denied previous to this.

I'd like to know why it's being reapproached again.

In reading the docket, it says that it was it was denied prior to this, and now it's being brought forth again.

Right.

Uh and I'll answer that, and I think it's appropriate for me to answer it since on the sponsor.

Uh the council was given two opportunities prior to this evening to opine on this as it relates to where most of uh your arguments will have to be made.

Uh the council is not as in fact we're nothing uh like the CRMC Coastal Resource Management Council as it relates to an understanding of the issue at hand.

CRMC simply came to us uh back in roughly roughly July of 2025 and said there is an application by Castle Hill N, DBA, uh asking for CRMC's approval for this permit.

CRMC then is required, as you all likely know, uh, to ask certain stakeholders, what say you?

One of the same stakeholders was the city council.

Uh in September of 2025, CRMC, or I'm sorry, uh Castle Hill N DBA was not in attendance at the meeting, so we continued the opinion that CRMC was looking for until December of 2025.

In 2025, I'm sorry, in December of 2025, Castle Hill uh was not here again.

Uh so I think that moved some of my colleagues, certainly moved me in voting no.

I wanted to hear from Castle Hill in as to uh why they're doing it, what the parameters are, uh, what the pros, it's not their idea, it's not their job, I should say necessarily, to tell uh me or my colleagues what the cons are.

Others can do that.

You've done that well tonight.

Uh, but uh uh we wanted to hear from them.

They weren't here, so I voted no, and it was rejected, wasn't rejected.

Again, it's up to CRMC.

The council by a four to three decision in December uh of last year, voted to tell CRMC.

Our opinion was uh we do not support this.

Back to your question after the history.

Why did why am I changing my mind?

Uh and this is in part the reason why I want to continue this because uh I know why I'm changing my mind, uh, but I'm not gonna speak for my three colleagues who are not here this evening, though.

I have a pretty good handle on how they will vote.

I just want to make sure they are afforded the same opportunity uh to talk on it.

My opinion is twofold.

Number one, as it was explained to me, Castle Hill did not understand uh that they were um essentially expected to be at the council meeting.

They thought that their uh or their expectation was that they would be before Newport's Waterfront Commission and certainly before CRMC.

Uh so I can understand that.

I understand the dynamics of public hearings that the council holds, but they might not have.

It's a simple mistake.

Second, I saw what they were proposing in person.

Is it intrusive?

Maybe it is, as you're describing tonight.

But at the time that I looked at it, I got a very detailed of explanation, which was far different uh than what I thought it would be.

Number three, Castle Hill Inn, which is an employee owned company, or which is an employee-owned entity, part of a DBA, uh, had a terrible fire, as we all know.

Nobody needs to be explained that they lost a significant amount of business, and their employees lost a significant amount of compensation.

You might say, well, you know, uh there's unemployment, etc.

They were planning to uh move forward with operations not related to uh this permit request, but with normal operations, and then the fire hit uh and folks lost, as I said, a lot of money who worked there uh because though they were entitled to unemployment benefits, it is nowhere near uh what they could have earned were they open in full uh support of what they provide to the public.

So for those reasons and with the desire uh to do my small part uh for uh an entity that's located in my ward with many employees uh who live here in Newport and live in the third ward and elsewhere.

Uh I wanted to provide what they told me, Castle Hill Management and Employees told me would make a difference regarding making up some of that lost revenue.

Uh so I think uh, although again I will be asking for a continuance, uh I I do not think I will be, in fact, I'm quite certain I will not be changing my mind regarding voting uh yes and reversing my original vote with regard to how the council uh opines back to CRMC.

I appreciate you being here, and I again wanted to make sure everybody got their chance to talk because you've been waiting for a long time.

Uh but uh I will be supporting Castle Hill's application and I will be asking my colleagues uh not that we vote on this if we continue it uh on the 27th of May, which is the next regularly full scheduled council meeting, uh, but I will be asking my colleagues to put this aside when we have a full slate of seven uh for the expected special budget hearing, we can simply add this item to the agenda that night.

And I hope that that satisfies or at least I apologize for the long explanation.

I'm kind of known for that, uh, but I hope that that explains to you all to Castle Hill, their employees, the public, and anybody else who wants to know why I did what I did.

Thank you, madam chair.

One question and one point I'd like to make question B Newport City Council, City of Newport holds no real regular regulatory control over that site, is that correct?

Okay, I don't have the answer, and I I don't think I'm ready to uh opine on anything else.

I think what I what I said speaks for itself.

Okay, and one point I'd like to make is uh I think the existing users of that piece of bottom should be entered into the equation uh to upsurp that piece of bottom from people who've tended it for 30, 40, 50 years, seems uh contrary to uh common sense.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

May I?

Well, I I Are you gonna make a motion?

I will uh, but I as long as we're still on uh the actual resolution, I do want to mention one more thing.

Uh I have tremendous sympathy for uh commercial fishermen, lobstermen, and others, who might feel that, and this has not been mentioned yet tonight, but who might feel that by CRMC granting this permit, it allows Castle Hill to take away what might have been uh some natural business for the industry.

You might have been able to sell uh oysters to Castle Hill.

But I want to assure you all and anybody else who's interested that uh this is a trial.

Uh it's a trial period, it's not a permanent license or permanent permit if CCR if uh CRMC allows it.

And secondly, uh I'm also concerned about the spreading to other entities, and I think uh that both the council when it's time to fully vote on this and CRMC uh will take that into consideration as well.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

It just the point we try to make is it absorbs it upsurps a established user group and displaces them from that spot.

And that's uh I think that has a weight.

Thank you.

Yeah, um, I would support a continuance on this matter, and the reason I would do that is because I think we or the people haven't heard from the Coast Guard yet.

I don't know if all the T's have been crossed in the I's done.

That would be my reasoning, plus having the full council backed for the vote.

So I will support a continuance.

I'll make the motion then.

If other counselors uh allow it at this this point.

Uh madam chair.

I make the motion uh to continue this item to the next gathering of the Newport City Council, and I ask for a second.

Second.

Uh any discussion?

Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, I have it.

Okay.

Item number thirty-one supporting Newport Youth Basketball.

Sponsor is Councillor Carlin and Pinnock.

Thank you, Madam Vice Chair.

Thank you, madam chair.

Uh I will not be I will be very brief in explaining this.

Uh we have uh an organization here in Newport known as Newport Youth Basketball, which is uh comprised of dozens and dozens of youngsters throughout the city and families uh who support and organize uh the Newport Youth Basketball.

I became aware several months ago that this volunteer-driven, all volunteer driven, no public financial support organization, uh is being charged, and I hold no ill uh for uh this the city regarding what I'm about to say.

I simply didn't know that they charged is being charged uh uh as much as uh seven hundred dollars a week uh to use what we commonly call, at least I did, uh I still do the HUT.

Uh the hut is the Newport recreation center.

These youngsters go uh for court time each week at the hut to play as a part of this Newport youth basketball, uh and and they are charged by the City of Newport uh again to the tune of at least six hundred dollars a week, if not 700 or more dollars.

Uh their season lasts 12 plus weeks.

I'm asking that the council uh direct the administration to waive these charges.

If we do not do that, this organization, one of two things will happen.

Uh number one the folks, the youngsters whose families receive financial aid to participate in this program, uh, will no longer be able to participate in the program.

It'll only be the folks who have the money who are able to participate, and I assure you the organization will not allow that to happen.

Uh they have never turned the youngster away, and they promise that they never will for financial reasons.

So number two, what will more than likely happen is the organization will go out of business.

The organization, it's not a business, the organization will cease to uh exist.

So let's do something, my colleagues.

I move I uh there's already a a motion and a second.

I thank you for your time, Madam Chair, yes.

Um I just want to say that I do obviously support this resolution wholeheartedly.

I think it's in a great resolution as someone who works with youth of all ages in school, out of school.

Cost should never be a barrier to engagement for our kids.

We spent a lot of time talking about wellness and um kids being involved in things.

Um, and I just think that as a city and as people who care about kids, we should do everything in our power to make sure the access to programming is equitable.

Um, while this might not seem like a lot of money, whatever it is the kids are paying to show up, um for some families having to, if that cost increases, it will prevent them from being able to engage in activities.

So I hope that is considered um when it comes to this resolution, and I thank you.

Um Councilor Carlin for authoring this.

Yes, um this is a tough one.

This usually when an organization comes to the city, um, certainly the city is in a position at times to maybe waive certain costs, or even have it we have a process for putting them in the queue for city participation.

That process I don't believe was followed.

Um, there has to be a letter.

There has to be, there is a need.

There are not only kids from Newport in this organization, but kids from Middletown.

And certainly I think the two entities could come together and figure out a way that uh we could offset some of the expenses, but you have to realize when these kids play at the hut, we have to hire an employee on the weekends, sometimes Saturday and Sunday, to be there.

We have to, we charge other different groups, different whether it's it's sports groups or uh sometimes there's indoor recreation activities there that they do charge people for, so I think it's important that we got to keep this in mind.

Um at this juncture, I think I would continue this.

Um, there were a number of occasions that they actually booked the um I think Saturdays and didn't they didn't have people there, and we had an employee there.

So I think, you know, it's important that we weigh this.

Uh I don't disagree.

You know, I think we should have the kids there, but if we have Newport and Middletown kids there, and they all are supposed to pay a fee, and I'm not talking, I know there's certain kids that come anyway without the fee.

I realize that.

I don't have a problem with that, but I do think we've got to be fair.

Anytime that something comes to the city that we're asking the city to support, um, there's a process, and it's certainly most of these organizations, particularly the sports organizations raise money.

Um, they have smaller events and they're pretty successful.

That includes our baseball teams uh who play on our fields and we take care of the fields.

That includes any activities at the hut.

So I I I just um I'd like to continue this item until we have a full council here.

Madam Chair.

Yes, please.

Thank you.

Uh, first of all, I assure you that I didn't just decide this would be a good idea.

Let's circumvent uh any processes that exist.

Uh I am not as familiar as you are.

You you have vast experience on the Newport City Council many, many, many years.

Uh I'm not experienced in what the step-by-step process is, but I I know that uh Newport uh youth basketball has had extensive conversations with Newport Recreation Leadership.

And I would simply ask that my colleagues, if there's even a second, reject the idea of a continuance.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, may I?

Yeah.

First of all, I just like to say that the city um I just want to be clear, the city wholly recognizes that the Newport Youth Basketball Association is a significant contributor to youth in this community.

Not only this community, but like you stated, in other communities as well.

And uh the city's position on this, however, is that they do not just serve youth in the Newport community.

There are members of the of the organization from other communities as well, as you stated, Middletown would be one.

Um there are processes in place.

Um, I've had conversations with the director of uh beaches and recreation uh was here to speak if you wish to if you wish to hear from him regarding efforts that we that the city has taken to work with um the youth basketball association um to kind of get them transitioning to being on their own.

Um the whole program used to be run by the Newport Recreation Department for years.

Uh there was a period where it transitioned over to the basketball association, and that organization now took on those operational responsibilities.

Um, so once those operational responsibilities shifted, unfortunately, the recreation department, the city, we still bear those soft costs, uh, like uh like uh the uh like the chair said.

Um we we have utilities and we have staff that we have to put in, cleaning expenses and things that we still need to do to support these programs and these organizations that utilize our facilities.

Um to fully subsidize a program that is uh that is supporting youth from multiple communities and not only our community.

Uh I I I'm I would caution that.

Um, however, um, as far as processes are concerned, uh there are processes for non- for nonprofits.

We've gone through it.

Last year in the budget hearings, this council significantly tasked the administration for coming up with a non-subjective, a more objective process to to granting and issuing these awards to nonprofits um this past year.

Uh we have we have awarded to 30 other nonprofit organizations because they did come to the table, they did take the recommendations from uh the administration um on how to uh receive additional funding.

So providing that type of uh of assistance isn't new though either.

Um, and that is not the only manner in which we provide that type of assistance.

Uh two years ago, um the director of recreation, um, there was a there was a uh a substantial bill.

We worked with them to cut that bill down.

Um we've worked with them as we do with all other nonprofits um in providing them with the opportunity to to receive additional funding.

Again, this is not uh a criticism whatsoever towards the towards the basketball association.

I I I stand by it when I say that we we recognize the importance.

Um I would just prefer that uh that the recreation department in the city have the opportunity like we do with other nonprofits to continue conversations with them and work with them.

At no time has a door been closed in their face.

Um I just don't want that to be the impression um of anybody, certainly in the public and for the council to believe that uh we're not willing to work with our with you know with our nonprofit partners because they are a valuable organization.

And if you have additional uh questions about the history or how we got here, um our our director of recreation and beaches is here to to answer that.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

Carulo.

Madam Chair, yes.

Uh Mike.

Are you familiar with the fact uh that many of those players from Middletown, a minority, a significant minority, uh subsidize many of the significant majority of players who are from Newport.

Hypothetically, and it's not too far off.

The program costs ten thousand dollars a year, and there's a hundred members participating, a hundred youngsters participating, each gets charged a hundred dollars.

Now, suppose Ellen as a player can afford the hundred and her family can afford it, no problem.

They give you the hundred dollars, but I can't afford it.

What is to happen to the youngster who can't afford it.

In many instances, as I mentioned just a couple of minutes ago, those folks from Middletown, the families of the players, subsidize the folks from Newport who can't afford to play.

Uh, number two, I'm sure my colleagues are aware of uh what the fiscal twenty-seven budget proposes, but one of the items that it proposes, I'll just pick one out, uh, is a uh a hundred and seventy-three thousand dollar line item for a traffic administrator.

I would much rather support a seven thousand dollar ask or so here tonight, uh, and go back to the community and our youngsters and their families and say, look what we gave you, then try to explain uh to the taxpayers and the voters why I rejected that seven thousand dollar request, but potentially accepted uh a hundred seventy-five thousand dollar request.

We not too long ago as a council bought the Harbormaster a five hundred thousand dollar boat, and we're gonna reject this seven thousand dollars.

Uh I think um with all due respect to the city's explanation.

We owe it to these kids, and I would ask once again that my colleagues support this request.

May I ask uh Madam Vice Chair, can you read the last sentence or two of the resolved, so that is simply not an explanation to the public of the waiv, but there's an additional ask I have in the ordinance or in the resolution.

Thank you.

Yes.

Um resolved that this Newport City Council hereby directs the city administration to waive all fees associated to assess to Newport Youth Basketball for this season to work with the program's leadership to accommodate a reasonable fee schedule for future use and to report back to the Newport City Council with results.

Thank you.

That last part was put in by me because uh you can, as an administration, Mike, go ahead and negotiate uh with the leadership of youth basketball, find out how many of those middle town participants there are, charge them, but don't, and I know you don't shut the door, but don't open the possibility that the program has to be turned down or closed, and that our youngsters won't have the opportunity uh to play.

That's why that last sentence was in the resolution, madam vice chair.

I am not suggesting that at all.

I believe the sports should be uh offered across the board to all the kids, and I understand there are kids or certain families that couldn't afford it, and there are accommodations made for that.

There are a number of kids when my kids were playing, I paid for other kids, and I just did it because I knew what the situation was, and that happens time and time again.

I think sports is a wonderful thing for kids.

I think it teaches them a lot of different values.

Um, but there's a process to do this.

I don't think that we should just if we did it for certain teams and not for others, then we would be hearing about it.

I think there needs I would love Mr.

Carrulo to be able to sit down with whomever and uh negotiate something in terms of a participating basketball team.

I think it's important.

But to just say, oh, we're gonna do it, and who cares about the cost, and who cares about um whatever the hut has to have and the employees and you know, it there's a way of doing it correctly, and I'm just asking that we do it correctly and uh have it worked out, madam chair, yes.

Um Mr.

Carulo, can can you tell us how much it costs just for the labor and the utilities to run this program at the hut?

Or Eric, thank you.

If I could ask Eric Reese to step up on on soft costs like that.

Thank you.

Good evening, Eric Reese, recreation administrator.

Um crunching some numbers today.

Um we have a facility attendant, which is required by the association during their basketball games to be on site.

So that came out to about $2,000.

But that's kind of the ballpark, like hard cost that we have as far as a hard bottom line of what we dedicated to the program.

Okay, so less than $5,000.

Yes, okay.

Um and is it that we're just looking for money to pay for this year so that the the participants will be all set and then for the city administration to come up with another plan for funding this program versus the participants paying for it.

Is that correct?

You have a uh you've almost hit the hammer on the nail.

Okay.

Um there are many other costs besides what the uh Newport basketball, Newport Youth Basketball pays to the city for the use of the hut.

Uh those costs we certainly are those costs are not part of this resolution that I'm asking for.

Okay.

Uh those those costs, along with what the organization pays the city, are paid for entirely by parents and families.

Uh but the only cost this evening that I'm asking the council to address is the waiver of the accumulated costs to date that are still outstanding, few thousand dollars that the city charges the youth basketball, and any additional costs uh that might accumulate until the end of the season.

I'm asking for the waiver of fees associated uh with the cost that the city of Newport charges per hour uh to use the basketball court at Newport Rec, which as I understand it is sixty dollars per hour.

Uh and there are at least ten, if not twelve hours of basketball court time each week.

Uh so uh about seven hundred dollars a week.

It accumulates very fast.

That does not include, as I said earlier, any outside costs uh that parents and families pay for.

So a waiver of what's owed, and then the last part of the resolution is get the city of Newport and the league's leadership to meet and work something reasonable out for the future.

Uh frankly, if they turn over what's owed, they're out of business, they have no more money.

They have just enough as I understand it uh in their coffers in their bank account uh to pay the bill for the use of the court.

Okay, it's it's a difficult position to be in.

I recognize that.

I'm wondering if you could meet with Mr.

Carrillo and we could find out uh or perhaps negotiate something.

With the team.

Or with, but you know, you'd have to open your books too.

I'm sure that then.

Yeah.

Come on up.

Your name, please.

My name's Megan Biddlich.

And I just want to say that um Eric and the recreation department has been wonderful since um we've started this program and in the best way when we started there was seven kids that that played.

There was one team.

And seeing that there was a need, these kids wanted to play, but it was it's very overwhelming for the recreation department to handle that.

So we got together and as parents you know put together organization to take it over, and it from that first year we've transitioned.

It's only been two years, and so it went from seven kids to sixty kids, and then the year we took it over, it went from sixty to a hundred.

And so it was it was enormous, but the time that we used at the rec at the hut never increased.

So we had one team practicing Wednesday nights and Friday nights in this past season we had six teams.

We split the court, two teams, one hour.

So we haven't tried to expand it more than that.

We try to really utilize it, and it's really just coming back down to the idea of just getting as many kids to play as possible and understanding we'd like that would love to continue to work with that because it they have been wonderful and it's been a a great relationship, but just understanding it happens so fast because they love basketball, right?

We want these kids to be playing that it grew so much.

Um, and trying to balance that cost of of playing it's it's just a challenge and and gym time is is very rare.

It's hard it's hard to get so they have a formal registration process we do, yes.

Yeah, mm-hmm, yeah.

So we learned we you know, I I worked with Eric and Dave over the those those kind of transitional years and um and we're still improving it.

So um it's it's you know it's volunteers uh that are are running it.

So we're improving it and trying to.

Um so it's really just trying to do what we can to continue the program to grow it, um, and but also make it sustainable just because the cost is not uh it's not that affordable for everybody, so we just want it to continue to continue to grow.

So I just want to say that we really do appreciate the relationship that that we have, and um it's really a good problem to have that we're just getting more kids to play.

So I just wanted to say that.

Thank you.

This is certainly a dilemma.

You know, um, yeah, sure.

Come on up.

Steve Claire, um 12 Door Street, lifelong Newport resident, like Megan said, Eric's been awesome, and Dave Via I went to high school with has been great.

Um and I I hear what everyone's saying, I'll put my speech away.

Youth sports is important, so I'm glad we can agree on that.

And it is costs are high, which is a hard thing for us to manage, and I appreciate that there are mechanisms in place for us to seek funding, but I I do want you to know that we've attempted that, we've tried, and we're at capacity.

You know, there's only a few of us as parents, so we're looking for an alternative, and I'm hoping that the uniqueness of the situation in that it was once a program under the Newport Recreation Department, and like Megan said, we're simply using the time that was already established historically.

So what we're really looking for is like a grandfathering of that time.

I don't know how it works internally, but I don't think the recreation department was charging itself to use that time.

So I in and in other words, I don't think we're using up more resources than were being used, and if anything, we're probably giving resources back to the recre recreation department and that they don't have to oversee the league.

Um so we're trying to give what we can and and hoping that we can find a way to make it sustainable because right now it's not.

Um so I'm hoping and I don't know if there's precedent with how the little league operates, but I don't think they rent the field from the town.

Um I don't know the details.

They they pay their bees.

Do they cover their costs or do they pay a I'm well, outdoors, it's different, you know.

But um sure, it's town facility, but fair, but fair.

But yeah, I'm hoping there maybe is another mechanism um that would allow us to do it.

Like a grandfathering potentially.

Does the city of uh pardon me, madam chair?

Yes, does the city of Newport charge sixty dollars an hour for the Fifth Ford Little League field?

No, or the Newport uh little league field.

Well, it's all in one now, but Fifth Ward Little League Field.

K Street Field, Bragg A Park.

The Newport former Newport Little League Field located in the North End.

The city charged sixty dollars an hour.

We own all that property.

Yeah, do we charge or have we charged the organizations $60 an hour to put their teams out there and use the fields?

Uh my understanding is the Little League covers their costs, which makes perfect sense.

And we're reasonable.

We don't the city of Newport does not charge them sixty dollars an hour to use those fields, correct?

I don't believe there's a rental rate.

Yeah.

We the Newport Little League has in the past, Fifth Ward Little League, Newport Little League has in the past paid for uh utilities and other, but they have not been charged to my understanding.

They have not been charged sixty dollars an hour to use those fields.

Yeah, which is essentially the equivalent of what you're being charged.

Newport youth basketball is being charged now to use a f uh a city field.

There's no difference, it was in the inside or outside.

You're gonna charge 60 bucks an hour to use it.

Yeah, Newport Little League would be here before us either in past years, now or in the future if they had the same dilemma.

Uh so I mean, and I just want to drive the point home too that we're not just another outside organization nonprofit.

We picked this responsibility up from the rec department, and I I think that's important to know.

We're not just uh we didn't form ourselves, we picked up what was already existing.

And the Middletown Co-op, which is a benefit to the league, as Councillor Carlin said, it's it's it's subsidizing some of the scholarships we need to give out.

That co-op was established before we took over.

Um and I think there's also precedent for that overlap as well.

And Newport Little League, formerly Fifth Ward Little League, formally uh Newport now, depends on any number of descriptions you give to Little League and Newport.

Wonderful organization has been, is now, will continue to be.

Uh, but uh the city has contributed uh many, many thousands of dollars to Newport Little League throughout the year.

In fact, tomorrow night uh the city has as it is my understanding, uh purchased uh a number of of tickets to their annual fundraising event.

So um let it not be said that uh other organizations have not asked the city for help, including the very fine, as I said, Newport Little League.

Madam Chair, yes, thank you.

Uh I just want to say that I want people to understand how difficult it is to run programming for youth when finances are an issue.

So among other things, run a summer camp.

Um we have 100 kids, and our programming is completely free, and our camp costs us about four hundred and fifty thousand dollars a summer to run.

Um, and we don't charge anything to kids and families, but the amount of time that is spent having donor conversations, writing grants, reporting on grants, piecing things together to make sure that these kids have the engagement and the activity that that they deserve is probably one of the most time consuming things, and it pulls you away from the thing that you love, working with kids and making sure that kids have outdoor recreation for their health and wellness, um, both mental and physical.

And I think what you're doing is admirable, um, and I just think that as a city, we do a lot for nonprofits in in this community, um, and many others.

Um, and it's just I'd be I just hope that the city can find a way to help support you through the rest of this year to make sure that kids have the opportunity um and the connections that they deserve to thrive.

So again, just thank you for what you're doing for the kids in our community.

It means a lot.

I appreciate you saying that.

Is your program year round?

Um, no, it's November through March.

November to March.

Okay.

Um I'd feel more comfortable if you actually sat down with uh even Mr.

Reese.

I'd be happy to.

I guess you feel comfortable is a discretion.

Excuse me, front of order.

Uh I appreciate that, but let's not negotiate this here we have no I have a we have a resolution in front of us it's been second it's been seconded I did not recognize you I was talking you've known me for 50 years how can you not recognize me that's a joke gee yeah have another one um I just think that you know want to do the right thing for the right reasons and certainly I understand there's a number of of kids in the um that aren't paid for which is fine because there are ways to raise money aside from just relying on the city so I'm just wondering we do fundraise aggressively we do everything okay I mean we're still there's a small group of parents that come out of pocket to fund the shortfall yeah and it's just what I would like is my son is in sixth grade and in two years he'll be out of the program I'd like to be able to pass the program on to another set of families um in a sustainable way because if if we remove ourselves from the program right now there isn't enough funding and we fundraise aggressively we do everything we can and of all the sports maybe hockey aside but indoor sports are more expensive so there's there's another challenge right I move the question I'd like a second please second yeah anything else all right are we going to vote on this all right um I know you wanted to continue to have the other council members here I think that would have been ideal however um you know if you're gonna vote on it tonight without the other council members and without a meeting of the minds between the city and the requesters um be it okay all in favor please raise your right hand opposed motion carries okay item number 32 requesting the administration to explore options for the restoration of the stone slide at Murphy Field counselor Carlin thank you madam vice chair thank you madam chair um we all want to get out of here um let's fix the stone slide and we will and we will find the resources to do so thank you counselor pinnick for your support earlier and thank you all who have uh fond memories of the stone slide and who would like to see it back from the neglect that it has experienced I would like your support on this thank you madam vice chair madam chair yes um I just want to point out that the uh tree and open space commission has been working on this item um I would like to recommend that council have a joint workshop with tree and open space just to get up to speed um on what they have been doing with this project that can also potentially help city administration and provide um some transparency to the public as to what they have been working on thank you okay um when this came across my desk I realized I said gee this looks familiar uh we voted in 2000 and let's say two thousand and eighteen to request a proposal for the Murphy Field stone slide.

We got the uh proposal in.

And the cost to restore the slide was 795, 873.

That's a lot of money.

Um I will say that I'm not crazy about I the stone slide.

I know it has memories for a lot of people, but it's not something that's recommended for any playground at this point.

Uh it's high impact.

There's injuries.

Um I'd be willing to go out for a bid, but I guarantee you it's gonna come in probably closer to a million dollars, if not more, in this marketplace.

So having said that, you know, I have the full contract that we approved back in 2018, and uh I just don't think that kind of money spent on a cement slide that even the consumer protection agency will not endorse, and all parks and recreations across the United States don't endorse.

There's concrete slides in other places.

I'm sure a lot of people had a lot of fun, but um they are a bit dangerous.

So uh having said that, I would not be supporting it, but if the others would like to proceed and we can get a bid and find out how much it costs, that's fine.

Uh Madam Chair.

Yes, I think it's just request the administration to explore options for the restoration, which doesn't necessarily mean that there will be an option, but that we're asking for them to at least explore it.

Is that correct?

Uh thank you, Council.

Uh Madam Chair.

Thank you, counselor.

That is uh essentially correct.

We're not asking, we're not voting tonight to put out a uh request for proposal.

Uh we are specifically asking that the administration uh explore means by which we can get information.

Let's get requests for information.

Uh but there let me be as clear as I possibly can uh that uh I will continue throughout this uh coming few weeks throughout this election season, the coming election, uh to fight for um and I appreciate counselor or chairman, chairwoman uh Napolitano's comments, but uh there is uh an enormous and enormous uh appetite to bring this back from the neglect that frankly the city let happen.

Uh so I would ask again my colleagues, uh particularly councillor Smythe, uh, please vote with me for this resolution.

Thank you.

That's fine.

Are we ready to vote?

Mm-hmm.

All in favor, please raise your right hand.

Any opposed?

Eyes have it.

Okay, motion to adjourn as counsel and convene.

Oh, sorry.

Yep, that's okay.

Um, madam chair.

Um, can I ask the court or the um council to consider um reconsidering item 21 once again for the sole purpose of further amending that resolution to provide that the chair of the council is authorized to uh sign any grant agreements and Mr.

Ricky?

So moved.

I have a second.

Second, this is for the reconsideration.

So if you could vote on that motion to reconsider.

Okay, okay.

And so put it to item two.

All in favor of reconsideration for item 21, action item 6608 26.

Uh authorization to accept the 500,000 award from writing.

Yeah.

All in favor, please raise your right hand.

Any opposed?

And I'm just asking for a further amendment to the already amended uh resolution that authorizes the council chair to sign any grant agreement.

And the only reason we're doing this is because right um many times will ask for the resolution that specifically says the chair can sign it.

Okay.

So second motion second.

All in favor, please raise your right hand.

Any opposed?

I have it.

Okay, okay.

Motion to adjourn as council and convene as Board of Licensed Commissioners.

Second.

Motion second discussion.

Okay.

All in favor.

All in favor, please raise your right hand.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Okay.

Um the consent calendar motion to approve in the entirety.

Second.

There's a motion second to approve the consent calendar in its entirety.

Um discussion.

Hearing none, all in favor, please raise your right hand.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Okay.

Under licenses and permits, item number three, application of Chomp Newport, LLC, doing business as Chomp Kitchen and Drinks.

111 Broadway, including Sidewalk Cafe, holder of a class B V alcoholic beverage license to transfer ownership to SWM hospitality, Newport LLC, doing business as Chomp Kitchen and Drinks at the same premises.

This is a hearing.

Second.

There's motion and second discussion.

Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, eyes have it.

Item four, Robin Realty LLC doing business as to be determined.

103 to 105 Bellevue Avenue, holder of a class B V alcoholic beverage license to transfer ownership to 103 Bellevue Opco LLC, which is wholly owned by Heritage Restaurant Holdings LLC, which is wholly owned by Bellevue Capital Partners LLC.

Bellevue Capital Partners LLC has the following ownership.

Nicholas Sorch, 90%, and Edward M.

Wheel, 100% 10%.

Sorry.

Doing business as to be determined at the same premise.

This is a hearing.

Do I have a second?

Second.

There's a motion, second.

Discussion.

Hearing none, all in favor.

Please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

There's a motion second to adjourn.

Um all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Okay.

We're adjourned.