Newport City Council Regular Meeting – August 12, 2026
Newport City Council Regular Meeting – August 12, 2026
The Newport City Council held its regular meeting on August 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 43 Broadway, Newport, RI. The meeting covered a range of agenda items including special event licenses, entertainment licenses, a harm reduction vending machine, various city contracts, and multiple resolutions. The council also convened as the Board of License Commissioners to handle liquor license matters.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A resident, Mr. Rice, expressed concerns about 50–60 large stones (2–3 feet in size) installed near Wickham Road opposite Rogers High School. He stated the rocks force pedestrians onto the road, narrow the roadway, create unsafe conditions for cars and pedestrians, and only serve to protect new grass. He urged their removal.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent calendar with the exception of items 1 (minutes), 4 (Newport Global Summit special event), and 6 (Bike Newport 10-Spot Ride). Item 4 was withdrawn. Item 6 (Tully Banta-Cain / Newport Beach Fest) was pulled for discussion and later voted on separately.
- Approved appointments: Charles Ridolf as Official Tree Warden for 2026 (unanimous).
- Approved special event licenses for International Tennis Hall of Fame, Preservation Society events, Newport Community School Back to School Bash, Japan-America Friendship Festival, Newport Pride’s Velvet Ball, and Preservation Society Holiday Dinner Dance.
- Approved banner licenses for IYRS School of Technology and Trades and Strategic Prevention Partnerships.
- Approved communication from Bradley Hawksworth for a neighborhood block party on Blackwell Place on September 6, 2026, subject to final details.
Discussion Items
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Newport Beach Fest (Tully Banta-Cain): The applicant, a former New England Patriot, described the event as a two-day beach football festival at Fort Adams State Park (September 5–6, 2026, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.), featuring youth activation, adult flag and tackle games, food vendors, a military obstacle course, and a rock climbing wall. The event would bring in 1,000 tons of sand and has a maximum capacity of 5,000 attendees. Several councilors expressed disappointment over the late application (submitted August 3, with the agenda printed August 5) and lack of notice to the public. Councilor Carlin opposed the permit due to concerns about traffic, noise, and lack of notice. Councilor Bennett supported it, noting the event’s youth focus. Councilor Napolitano, Councilor Smith, and Councilor Segley voiced support. After discussion, the council voted 6-1 to approve the special event license.
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Harm Reduction Vending Machine (Resolution 22): The council debated the placement of a public health vending machine at the Newport Fire Department on West Marlborough Street. The machine would dispense items such as Narcan, fentanyl testing strips, hygiene products, first aid kits, and cold-weather gear. Access requires a code from ACOS (AIDS Care Ocean State) clients. Councilor Carlin strongly opposed, arguing it condones bad behavior. Councilor Smythe noted the council had already approved the concept, and this vote was only on the location. Councilor Napolitano supported it, citing the need to help vulnerable populations. Councilor Pinnock emphasized the harm reduction benefits. Councilor Holder expressed reservations about items associated with drug use but supported non-drug supplies. Councilor Segley clarified that no needles would be in the machine. The vote was 5-2 in favor (official tally recorded as 5-2, though transcript notes “Five two four” – possible discrepancy).
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Historic Gravestone Restoration (Action Item 6660): Awarded to Beyond the Gravestone LLC of Storrs, CT, at an hourly rate of $150 for a stone conservator plus materials, for a three-year period with annual expenditures not to exceed $100,000. Approved unanimously.
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Carousel Storage (Action Item 6661): Awarded to WRF Designs of Plainfield, CT, for continued climate-controlled storage of the Easton’s Beach Carousel for one year at not to exceed $54,000. Councilor Carlin questioned progress on a potential donor; the city manager confirmed discussions with an interested party over the past five months but no formal commitment. Approved unanimously.
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Cliff Walk Restoration Grant (Action Item 6663): The council approved acceptance of an $11.8 million PROTECT grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, with a local match of $2.75 million from the voter-approved infrastructure bond. The city is working with CRMC on permitting; a decision is expected by the end of September 2026. Councilor Carlin asked about an abutter’s concerns – the city manager stated the property owner has been cooperative and allowed access. Approved unanimously.
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Additional Civic Support for Newport County Development Council (Resolution 18): The council approved an additional $10,000 from the contingency fund, increasing the annual grant from $15,000 to $25,000. Aaron Donovan Boyle, president/CEO of the Greater Newport Chamber, detailed the organization’s work on regional economic development, including a broadband study that leveraged $125 million in investment and a housing report identifying a need for nearly 10,000 new units. Approved unanimously.
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Middle Passage Port Marker Project (Resolution 19): The council expressed support for the project and its location between America’s Cup Avenue and Thames Street. Councilor Segley requested striking the word “minor” from the resolution to avoid ambiguity; the amendment passed. The design will continue to be refined with RIDOT. Approved unanimously.
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Temporary Advisory Committee on Utility Structure Review (Resolution 20): The council established a seven-member committee to evaluate the city’s utility governance structure. The committee will include experts in utility management, engineering, finance, law, and regional coordination. Councilor Napolitano expressed concern about the workload but supported the measure. Approved 6-1.
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Traffic Calming on Memorial Boulevard (Resolution 21): Councilor Smythe introduced a resolution requesting RIDOT conduct a comprehensive safety evaluation of Memorial Boulevard. Councilor Segley detailed prior improvements (hawk signals, crosswalks, bike lanes) and argued that another study was not productive. Councilor Napolitano suggested continuing the item to allow for revisions and specific proposals. The council voted to continue the resolution to the next meeting.
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Stop Signs at Bellevue Avenue, East Bowery & Bowery Streets (Resolution 23): The council directed the Interdepartmental Traffic Commission (ITC) to study adding stop signs at the intersection. Councilor Carlin requested that the ITC also consider a traffic signal and police presence. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Newport Beach Fest: Approved 6-1.
- Harm Reduction Vending Machine: Approved 5-2 (potential discrepancy in recorded tally).
- Historic Gravestone Restoration: Approved unanimously.
- Carousel Storage: Approved unanimously.
- Cliff Walk Restoration Grant: Approved unanimously.
- Additional Civic Support for NCDC: Approved unanimously.
- Middle Passage Port Marker: Approved as amended (struck “minor”).
- Utility Structure Review Committee: Approved 6-1.
- Memorial Boulevard Traffic Calming: Continued to next meeting for revisions.
- Stop Signs Study: Approved unanimously.
- Consent Calendar: Approved with exceptions (item 4 withdrawn, item 6 pulled for separate vote).
- Board of License Commissioners: Approved consent calendar for liquor licenses (Yachting Promotions, Preservation Society, Portsmouth Track Club) and renewed Class BL liquor license for Norey’s (156-158 Broadway) after a public hearing.
- Minutes: The council approved the minutes of the June 24, 2026 meeting as part of the consent calendar.
Note: The meeting adjourned after completing the Board of License Commissioners agenda.
Meeting Transcript
Mr. Rice, how are you doing today? Sorry to be the fair bad news. I've got to tell you, New Rogers has an ething problem. Specifically, Dragons. Somebody has installed 50 to 60 two to three foot stone rocks next to Wickham Road. And they're a problem. They're opposite the main uh main entrance of uh Rogers, New Rogers. And uh they keep people from pulling off the road. Uh the only useful uh purpose I see in them, they keep people off the new grass. That's the only only reason. We have many uh causing many problems. They force pedestrians out on to Wickham, which is not very wide, and uh the uh push uh people into the road for narrowing Wickham Road rather than uh and making it unsafe. Let's say and I see no reason to continue those rocks uh there. Uh a bunch of traffic uh stopping in in that area, uh kids running across the main entrance across the lawn uh into a parked cars, cars waiting uh and they have to wait in the middle of the road. There's no place for them to pull off. Uh so you're causing causing problems that are only gonna get worse as it gets darker. The lighting there is terrible. It's an unsafe situation, and I don't see anything other than protecting the grass. I see no use for it at all. So I think they ought to be removed as soon as possible. And uh I think it'd be safer for cars, safer for pedestrians, a lot of walkers uh on uh Wickham and Ruggles, a lot of dog walkers, especially, and bike riding. And you're just narrowing the these rocks, just narrow the road. They aren't any help at all. They don't do much good for cars if you pull off the road either. Thank you, Ms. Rice. Um, Mr. Chair, before we um move on, I'd like to uh make a motion to move number 22, uh authorizing the placement of public health vending machine uh program uh to in conjunction with number eight or after number eight seconds motion and second, any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye motion to approve the consent calendar in its entirety with the exception of number one and um four and and cry and six and six, chairman council Carlin. May we please add B six? Yes, and six, yes. Okay, motion and second, any discussion. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion uh to withdraw the application for Newport Global Summit doing business as Newport Global Summit Bell Court, August 19th, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 730 p.m. Second. Motion to second any discussion. All those in favor say aye. Motion to approve uh Tully, Banta, Kane doing business as Newport Beach Fest, Fort Adams State Park, September 5th through the 6th, 2026 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. second. I motion and second, any discussion. Chairman, Council Carlin. Chairman, thank you. Uh is the applicant here this evening. Yes. Yeah.
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