Newport City Council Regular Meeting – October 28, 2026

The Newport City Council met on October 28, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at 43 Broadway, Newport, RI. All eight council members were present (Carlin, Pennock, Underwood Segley, Holder, Comsavoron, Smythe, Napolitano), establishing a quorum. The meeting covered consent calendar items, multiple special event and entertainment licenses, communications from the city manager, ordinances, resolutions, and a subsequent Board of License Commissioners session.

Consent Calendar

The consent calendar was approved in its entirety, including minutes from September 30, 2026; 17 special event permits (e.g., Inside the Solitaire, Halloween events at Pyramid Club and Newport Skatepark, Jane Pickens event, Bach’s Art of Variation, Newport Live concerts, Friends of Belmont Chapel events, Café Soul, Lucy’s Hearth, Newport Life Magazine Holiday Market, A Wish Come True Polar Plunge, Newport Art Museum winter speaker series and author event); a horse & carriage license for New Deal Farm; a communication from James Houston on powered micromobility; a communication from the Energy and Environment Commission on school rooftop solar; and a communication accepting the resignation of Erin Donovan-Boyle from the Sister City Commission with regret.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Pete Rice (1 Harrison Lane) urged the council to fix the concrete on Bellevue Avenue, noting the condition worsens and winter is approaching.

Discussion Items

Licenses and Permits

• Special Event License – Blue Horizon Racing (Newport Sprint Triathlon, June 20, 2027, 7:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., partial road closures): Applicant Walter May thanked the city and local businesses for past support. Approved unanimously.
• Special Event Licenses – Newport Festivals Foundation (Newport Folk Festival July 23–25, 2027; Newport Jazz Festival July 30–August 1, 2027, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.): Councilor Napolitano highlighted the foundation’s recent $15,000 donation of music equipment to Newport public schools. Both approved unanimously.
• Annual Entertainment License (Second Hearing) – Pyramid Club (32-34 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd., entertainment Sunday–Saturday 4:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m.): Public hearing closed and license approved unanimously.
• Annual Entertainment License (Second Hearing) – El Tapatio Newport (140-142 Broadway, indoor daily 11:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m., outdoor Sunday–Thursday 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., extended to 10:00 p.m. on weekends/holiday weekends): Public hearing closed and license approved unanimously.
• Annual Entertainment License (First Hearing) – Surf Club (337 Thames St., expansion of outdoor entertainment hours to Memorial Day–Labor Day 2:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.): No public comments; public hearing closed and license approved unanimously.
• 2026 Annual Victualing License Renewals: Chair Holder recused himself from votes on Gardner House and Gardiner Provisions. The remainder of non‑liquor victualing renewals were approved. Later, under the Board of License Commissioners, Gardner House (Bloody Bull LLC) liquor license was approved once Chair Holder’s recusal was handled.

Communications from the City Manager

• Action Item #6684/26 – Robert Potter League for Animals Animal Shelter Services: Three‑year renewal (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2029) at $93,000 per year. Approved unanimously.
• Action Item #6685/26 – Collective Bargaining Agreements with AFSCME Council 94: Covers July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025 and July 1, 2025–June 30, 2028. Councilor Carlin voted no, stating the contract was unfair to rank‑and‑file employees and that council members should participate in negotiations. Approved 6–1.
• Action Item #6686/26 – Snow Storage Agreement with Newport Hospital: Two‑year lease for use of Easton’s Beach parking lot spaces in exchange for snow removal services. No fiscal impact. Approved unanimously.
• Action Item #6687/26 – SmartNet Renewal: Approved unanimously.
• Action Item #6688/26 – Letter of Intent with Solect Energy for School Rooftop Solar: This item generated extended debate. Councilor Comsavoron and Councilor Carlin raised concerns about the procurement process, noting that only one vendor responded to an RFI and that Solect had not responded, making the process appear “rigged.” Councilor Smythe defended the process, explaining that the RFI was market research and that the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns had vetted Solect. Councilor Pennock expressed wariness about solar panels on new school roofs. The city manager confirmed the roofs were designed for solar. An amendment was made requiring a public bid process for any future power purchase agreement. The amended letter of intent was approved 6–1 (Councilor Carlin opposed).
• Action Item #6689/26 – Stormwater Development Standards and Stormwater Utility (First Reading): Three ordinances amending Chapters 13.09, 13.11, and 13.13 to establish a stormwater district, fee methodology, and development requirements. Councilor Carlin characterized it as a “tax on rain” and warned it would burden nonprofits and institutions. Director Schultz explained it would create transparency and fairness, shifting costs from water users to impervious area owners. Nonprofit exemptions were discussed but not included. The council voted 6–1 to adopt the first reading (Councilor Carlin opposed).
• Action Item #6690/26 – Gateway Center Restroom Access and Cleaning Agreement: Memorandum of agreement with RIPTA and Discover Newport for November 1–December 31, 2026. Approved unanimously.

Ordinances

• Ordinances 14, 15, and 16 (zoning amendments related to Innovation Hub and Waterfront Campus districts; permitted uses; use regulations and dimensional requirements): These items were continued to the November 18, 2026, council meeting without discussion.

Resolutions

• Sister City Commission Funding (continued from October 14, 2026): A resolution to allocate $60,000 annually from Gateway Center rental revenue to the Sister City Commission, with $40,000 already in the general fund and $20,000 from the parking fund. Councilor Segley supported it as a way to stabilize and grow student exchanges. Councilor Comsavoron and Councilor Smythe questioned the 200% increase over historical spending (~$20,000/year) without itemization, and suggested prioritizing school needs. An amendment to place funds in a special revenue account passed 4–3 but required five votes under the city charter; the amendment failed. The original resolution then died due to the earlier vote failure.
• Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2026-85 – School Funding Reduction: Reduced the additional FY2026 city appropriation to Newport Public Schools by $444,496.57 and rescinded the $700,000 interest-free loan. Finance Director explained the school ended FY2026 with a surplus and did not need the loan. Councilor Carlin questioned taking money from schools during a deficit projection. Approved 5–2.

Key Outcomes

• The council approved all consent calendar items unanimously.
• Special event licenses for Blue Horizon Racing, Newport Folk Festival, and Newport Jazz Festival were approved unanimously.
• Entertainment licenses for Pyramid Club, El Tapatio (second hearing), and Surf Club (first hearing) were approved.
• Victualing license renewals (non-liquor) approved, with Gardner House and Gardiner Provisions handled separately.
• Animal shelter agreement (Potter League) approved unanimously.
• AFSCME collective bargaining agreement approved 6–1.
• Snow storage lease with Newport Hospital approved unanimously.
• SmartNet renewal approved unanimously.
• Solar LOI with Solect Energy approved 6–1 after amendment requiring a public bid process.
• Stormwater utility ordinances passed first reading 6–1.
• Gateway restroom access agreement approved unanimously.
• Zoning ordinances (14, 15, 16) continued to November 18.
• Sister City Commission funding resolution failed after an amendment did not achieve the required five votes.
• School funding reduction resolution passed 5–2.
• As the Board of License Commissioners, the consent calendar (daily liquor licenses for Friends of Belmont Chapel, Newport Art Museum, Newport Live, Puddingstone Events, and Newport Festivals Foundation) was approved unanimously. A communication from Island Wine and Spirits regarding vacating 287 Broadway was received. The 2026–2027 liquor license renewals were approved, with Chair Holder recusing on Gardner House and Bloody Bull; Gardner House was later approved separately.