The city council meeting on Thursday, October 2nd.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller.

Present.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois.

Majority Leader Espinall.

Present.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzals.

Present.

Councilwoman Graves.

Present.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Present.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo is absent.

Councilor Royus.

Present.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Present.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Present.

Councilman Taylor.

Here.

Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Present.

You have 12 present and two absent.

You have a quorum.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Will everyone please rise for the incation given by uh majority leader, Pedro Espinal?

Thank you, Madam President.

Dear God, we come before you once again to thank you for the opportunity.

The opportunity to serve a community to serve our city.

Please guide us as we make very important decisions for the future of our city.

In you we trust, amen.

Thank you, and please remain rising for the pledge of allegiance led by Councilman John Gonzals.

I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America for the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty, and justice for all.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, item three.

Madam President, Majority Leader.

What should the way the reader item three and move approval?

Second Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item three?

Hearing none, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Item four.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What should the way the reader four through eight?

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second on items four through eight.

Any discussion?

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Madam Clerk, please note item four through seven as received.

Item eight, refer to the committee on finance.

So noted.

Item nine.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What should the way the reader item nine through 23 and pass for the second time on our roll call vote?

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on items nine through 23.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois?

Aye.

Majority Leader Espinall.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Council President Pro Tempore Picciardo is absent.

Council Arroyas.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor.

Aye.

Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

You have 12 eyes, two absent.

The motion carries the matters are passed for the second time on a roll call vote.

Thank you.

Item 24.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

What should the way the reader writed 24 through 27?

Second, Madam President.

Any discussion on items 24 through 27.

Councilwoman Graves.

Yes.

Um 25.

Um, this is the 444 thing.

Oh no, I'm sorry.

I'm looking at the wrong thing.

Never mind.

All right.

Any discussion on items 24 through 27.

Hearing none.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Uh, Madam Clerk, please refer items 24, 25, and 26 to the committee on ordinances.

Uh 27 to the committee on public works.

So noted.

Item 28.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What should the way the reader about at 28 and pass on our voice vote?

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 28?

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Thank you.

Tonight I rise to welcome into our chamber.

Uh Colonel Sonny Cepeda of the Dominican Republic Police Department.

Now, Sonny is the liaison between the Dominican Republic, the City of Providence, and the City of New York Police Department, who is doing great work and providing international.

And Sonny is all uh also celebrating tonight 25 years of a wonderful career.

So, Madam Uh Clerk, I would love for you to read the resolution into the record, please.

Whereas Colonel Sonny Cepeda has dedicated 25 years to the Dominican National Police, beginning his service on November 15th, 1999, demonstrating unwavering commitment to public safety, and whereas he holds degrees in police sciences and law, a diploma in operational management of police functions, and has completed special specialized training in mountain operations, combat tactics, and international policing.

And whereas throughout his career, Colonel Cepeda has served in key roles, including the judicial police, the core of military aids, to the president of the Dominican Republic, interurban road safety oversight, and command positions within Digisset.

And whereas, as a liaison between the Dominican National Police and the police departments of Providence and New York, Colonel Cepeda has strengthened cross-border cooperation, promoted public safety, and supported Dominican communities abroad.

And whereas his work serves as a model of dedication, integrity, and service, inspiring both colleagues and youth in the community.

Now therefore, be it resolved that the Providence City Council recognizes Colonel Sonny Cepeda for his 25 years of exemplary service and for his critical role in fostering international collaboration and advancing by national security.

And be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be transmitted to Colonel Sonny Cepeda and the Office of Mayor Brett Smiley.

It is Stado de Rowland, Ciudad de Providence, reconocimiento oficial.

And I'll also ask my colleague at the end of the session if you could stay so that we can just take a couple of pictures.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Majority Leader.

Any further discussion on item 28.

Hearing none, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Colonel, thank you for your service and your partnership with us.

Item 29.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Second, Madam President.

Any discussion on item 29.

Councilor Annebro.

Thank you so much, Council President, um and colleagues.

I rise obviously in support of this ordinance and just wanted to explain a few of the changes that have happened since um the public hearing that we held together in March.

Many of you were there.

Um but first I want to express a lot of gratitude to all the advocates who came out um and submitted letters of comment, um, who are both environmental advocates, neighborhood advocates, noise advocates, and the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association.

After that hearing, I carefully read all of the um uh letters we received and the testimony we were heard and met several times with Rinla, the Nursery and Landscape Association, as well as advocates, both in their places of business as well as here at City Hall.

Um, and I know that the preference from uh landscapers is that we not passed this.

Um, but they offered really constructive feedback for if it were passed, how it would be easier for them.

And I really wanted to take that to heart because the goal of this, as we've discussed before, is to address the noise pollution in our city as well as the carbon emissions and um other forms of environmental degradation that come from gas leaf blowers.

It's not meant to harm small business, it's meant to be something that's positive for our residents, for our health, and for the health of our neighborhoods and the health of our climate.

And so I was really grateful for their partnership and their um coming to the table to talk.

Um hope that you can vote in support.

And so the few changes we made, which I think still, which I know still maintain the integrity of the proposal and will phase out the leaf blowers over time, um, does a few things.

One, it clarifies the definition of leaf blower to be really specific about what the type of equipment we mean.

Um, the initial phase of the phase out allows gas leaf blowers to be used only during a certain time of year during the fall when the leaves are heaviest and wettest.

Um, the current electric equipment, I've been told by many people it just is not up to the task yet.

So the idea is to phase it out over time and allow them to continue using it during just the fall and use other equipment during other times of year.

Um, and we also moved the fines to the property owner, not to the business for a few reasons.

One of which is it pertains to everybody using these, it's not just for uh services, not for just people hiring services.

Um, people are also worried about their workers and people taking photos of their workers, and many folks are really worried about having their photo taken and being submitted to any sort of enforcement, even if it is just DIS in the um really challenging federal environment we are in, which I don't need to explain any further.

Um, and it does start with a warning first.

So our constituents aren't gonna immediately get a fine for doing this.

They will get a warning, they'll get a heads up that you know, hey, heads up, this is a thing that happened.

Um, and heads up, we have this ordinance um that's happening.

The other thing, and then I really will stop talking, I promise, is um I did talk with the Office of Energy Resources at the state level, as well as Rhett Boylan, um, who um had sponsored uh uh incentives for switching over to leaf blowers, and I'm also h and I spoke about those with Rinla.

I spoke about them with OER to make sure that those incentives were easier for businesses to access, and they have changed the criteria for how um how folks can um sign up for them because it was uh being reported as overly uh onerous.

So that has been amended.

And I'm also happy to meet with any of the small businesses in your wards or who operate in your wards who are like, I didn't know about that.

Happy to come chat.

I wanna make sure that this works for everybody and that they've access to all the resources.

Not everyone's a member of Rinla, Rinla's who reached out, they know how to work um with us.

Um, but a lot of small businesses don't participate in that.

So the goal is to really transition over and not uh be overly burdensome.

So I hope that you do support this.

Um it's something a lot of our residents um have been asking for.

It's probably one of the top five things I hear about.

Folks have said, like, I'm like, it'll be so much quieter.

I can't wait to move back to Providence.

Um, you know, when they heard that this uh could be passing tonight.

So I hope for your support.

I'm really grateful for it.

And also to the committee members for their thorough review and conversation on this past week, um, last week when we heard it again in committee and for the large volume of people who came out to testify um at the public hearing.

So I'll stop, but thank you so much.

And I do hope you you vote in support.

Thank you, counselor.

Councilman Taylor.

Madam President, colleagues, I think we really need to think about what we're doing as council members.

Um the first, when I first read this, it says gas-powered lawn equipment, which I know it is, obviously, it falls under that category.

But where do we stop?

We're gonna have lawnmowers, we're gonna have uh chainsaws, weed whackers.

Is that the plan that we do because just keep going after and have everything electric?

Um I did some research on this as well, and like in say California, the affluent places like Beverly Hills, uh Santa Barbara uh, yeah, Santa Monica, um, and Massachusetts, Cambridge, Brookline, all affluent neighborhoods have this.

And again, I know people won't like me saying this, but this is two sets of Providence.

We have the East Side and we have the rest of us.

In my ward, I've been pres uh councilman for seven years.

I haven't gotten one call on noise of a leaf blower, not one.

I've gotten plenty of fireworks and uh uh roosters and uh uh loud music, um, you name it, which we already have a noise ordinance.

The noise ordinance we have now is not enforced.

So why do we keep putting I I call it, I know some of my colleagues don't like this either, but I call it a feel-good, let's get on the press type of ordinance because who's gonna enforce this?

The police.

The police have enough to do.

You want them to go to uh uh call for a leaf blower uh or someone's house being broken into or someone being robbed.

So it just doesn't make sense.

We don't we don't have any enforcement on the ones we have now.

We like I said, we have fireworks that go off, not enforced.

We have loud music, not enforced.

We have roosters in the city, not enforced.

Uh the list goes on and on, and we just keep putting ordinances in.

And we don't enforce them.

So I I don't see how that is gonna help.

Um and where do we stop?

uh uh call for a leaf blower uh or someone's house being broken into or someone being robbed so it just doesn't make sense we don't we don't have any enforcement on the ones we have now we like I said we have fireworks that go off not enforced we have loud music not enforced we have roosters in the city not enforced uh the list goes on and on and we just keep putting ordinances in and we don't enforce them so I I don't see how that is gonna help um and where do we stop like in my ward in Silver Lake and a lot of wards the workers live in my ward they're not on the east side the the ones that are out there doing landscaping don't live in the east side to work on the east side they work over in my ward in in Silver Lake and you name it that they they're there working so we're giving them uh another issue to go through you can go out and buy a gas leaf blower for anywhere from 60 bucks to 400 bucks electric ones are anywhere from 100 to 700 and they have to have all the batteries then they don't just it's not like I'm doing my house they do like 10 different houses or more a day.

So what are they going to do?

How are they going to keep the the the cost on the batteries are very expensive.

And I feel that we're pushing these small business they come here and their small businesses do landscaping and they do excellent work.

And I feel that we're tying their hands I don't care if it's now or eight years down from now there's not you can't even buy a used electric uh leaf blower right now because it's not even out there.

You can't buy a used electric anything right now because they're brand new um but I I feel we're tying the the uh hands of a business someone that comes out they have five or six people they work very hard and now we're gonna say so what are they what's their option my my suggestion if this passes go out and buy a generator buy a generator put it on the back of the trailer start it up that makes more noise than a leaf blower and charge your batteries because we're giving these people no ultimatum and the the kicker is the fine goes to the the homeowner what are we doing how many how many fines do we want to give the homeowner they got the recycling we do the recycling they have no clue you get a little wristband they don't pick up their garbage that goes to the homeowner now we got uh if you have tall grass environmental goes out they give you uh a fine for that now we got a fine I know it's only a warning but how many people when they get the actual fine say they never got it so how many how are they going to get a warning?

They they're gonna get fined we just raised taxes it just never ends for the people in the city of Providence and and I don't like I said where does it stop because it says gas powered lawn equipment this year it's leaf blower next year lawnmower following yeah uh weed whacker following year chainsaw what we're not business friendly here we have a lot of people in my ward and in other wards not even including the people that sell it but I just I'm gonna vote no hopefully people can think about it um because at the end the fine goes to that person we're nickel and diamond these people out of this city and eight years from now these people aren't even going to be here they're just gonna leave they're gonna say you know what I'm out of here because I can't afford this city so thank you very much madam president for listening.

Councilman Gonzalez thank you madam president and thank you councilman Taylor for those comments uh I think it's a really important policy discussion that we're having and I think it's important to consider everyone's perspective on this.

I do want to say that this has been an issue citywide perhaps maybe not in your ward but uh there are many people who have been calling to see this happen in the city uh and I understand your concerns here uh as we think about phasing out gas powered leaf blowers this is all a also about protecting the uh the public safety and also the public health of of the worker um if you think about the toxic emissions of gas powered leaf blowers it's equivalent to driving a gas powered vehicle for 1,100 miles many of these workers in fact do this work without having the proper equipment uh necessary or needed to make sure that they're safe and many of these workers as you know are disproportionately people of color so that's one argument on the public health perspective and I think we sometimes operate under this assumption that uh we are trying to be punitive or hurt people but actually in this case it's it's it's the exact opposite we're trying to protect people and we're trying to protect workers.

The other piece is the quality of life challenges that this is uh posed for many of our residents in the city irrespective of what neighborhood you're in whether it's the east side or anywhere else in the city people deserve peace and quiet and I think the problem that we are trying to solve here and we've all received these deluge of emails is the fact that people are using these gas powered leaf blowers that are in many cases in violation of the noise ordinance at times that are not helpful for anybody in that community.

So if you're a baby being woken up by a gas-powered leaf blower, that's a problem.

If you're someone who uh it you might laugh, but uh I've gotten those emails from from constituents about that.

Uh there are people who have public health issues and challenges.

There it and it's it it's something that we we should address.

Um the other piece is we've seen other municipalities, we've seen other states, we've seen other cities pass these laws to uh to uh completely uh eliminate gas-powered leaf blowers, and they've been on the forefront of that years and years ago.

So, in fact, we're behind the curve on this.

California passed this law uh a while ago, and there are so many other municipalities that have uh these laws on the books.

I do want to say uh, you know, a lot of appreciation for the people on this committee, but also the uh the lead sponsor, councilwoman Andrebois for being very thoughtful and intentional about this process.

There were a lot of advocates that were part of this process, but she also, uh as you heard, uh worked very diligently with uh the people who are in opposition to try to find some middle ground and to find some commonality to move this forward.

Ultimately, gas-powered leaf blowers, they pollute our air, they threaten our public health, they shatter the peace of our neighborhoods.

This is not a punitive ordinance.

This there's plenty of lead time to try to uh educate the public on what we need to do.

As the sponsor mentioned, we can work very closely with the members of the General Assembly to try to get uh resources and funds to mitigate some of the challenges around uh moving to cleaner energy and technologies, but ultimately this is the right thing to do.

It's protecting the worker, it's protecting our constituents, and in the long term, we're doing the right thing for everyone involved.

And the and the one point that I just want to make last point the parks department has already been leading the charge on this.

So we have many people in our city, in fact, um, who are using this cleaner technology.

Uh, these are workers in our city that are benefiting uh from the fact that they don't have to use these overly noxious gas-powered leaf blowers that are detrimental to their public health.

And I think we are serving as a model.

We have to lead on this issue.

This is about quality of life, this is about protecting the workers.

This is not a punitive ordinance.

We're not saying we're gonna do this tomorrow.

We're giving people some lead time.

So I think this is completely reasonable.

And I hope, I hope that our colleagues, irrespective of how you feel about this issue.

I hope that we'll look at the bigger picture here and think about how we're gonna protect our people, our workers, but also the quality of life of the residents in our city.

And with that, I'll say uh lastly, I just want to say thank you to the sponsor.

Thank you to everyone who worked incredibly hard on this initiative.

I want to send us a shout out to the Providence Noise Project, all the neighborhood associations across the city who are part of this process, but also the people who had who had issues with it and worked and came to the table to try to think about making it better, and that's what I think this is.

So again, I I hope that we'll support this ordinance and um finally pass it tonight.

Thank you, Madam President.

Further discussion, item 29?

Councilman Vargas.

Thank you very much, Mr.

I agree with my colleagues about everything they say.

And I wish we can have a job position for them tomorrow when they lose the right to go and do and use their gas power.

I got a lot of families and constituents in my area, they they depends on this particular job.

They have a lawnmower, a leaf blower, a wee walker.

Yes, a leaf blower electric will cost more than 300.

They barely make money to survive, especially with the raise the rent so high.

They do every day go to work to make ends meet.

And these job to do a landscaping business, you don't need a rocket science title like my colleagues have in this chamber.

They don't go to Harvard to get a title to go cut grass.

But my people, my community, they need these jobs.

It's very great to every council person who's here and introduce new ordinance.

And it's so great, great when we compare with huge cities like California, cost you $900 to get there from here.

We are a little tiny city in Rhode Island that we're trying to survive.

Everybody's trying to survive here, including us here.

Why we don't create new ordinance to create jobs, to create incentives, to create positions, and stop going after the property owners.

How much more we can take from them?

This ordinance will cite the property owner.

The property owner pays a contract to the landscaping company.

The landscaping sends a bill a month later.

By the time the property owners get the bill for the landscaping job, he will get the citation, that violation, $100.

It will say, hey, how come I got this?

So I'm not paying you for the job you did because I got this violation.

I'd rather pay the relation and I pay the landscaping company.

Then that's what the issue is.

That's where the problem is.

This ordinance is not a great ordinance.

It's a good idea to help the climate.

We're going ahead, but we have to wait.

We're not ready yet.

If you got a $3,000 to buy a generator that will produce more smoke than the leaf lower, it's fine, but they don't have $3,000 to go buy a diesel generator and put it in the back of the truck to charge batteries.

So we're not saving nobody.

We're not saving the planet.

We're not doing anything different.

Why going to be using the people's plug to charge my batteries?

I don't think so.

That's private property.

This ordinance is not helping.

Doesn't help my community.

I don't know.

We might have to do some ordinance, yes, divide the walls.

Oh, this ordinance will be for war one, war two, war 15, war 13.

We can create ordinance like that.

Only in this area, that area.

But we're not here to split the city.

We're here to unite and work together for the better future of this city.

That's why we get elect to protect our constituents.

If I'm talking here, it's because I'm talking for my constituents.

And everyone here will talk for their own constituents.

And that's why we bring this ordinance to the floor and make the right decision.

I'm sorry I'm going to be boring now because I got 11,000 people saying, What are you doing?

Creating more ordinance to squeeze the dollar out of the people, that's not right.

Let's work and create good ordinance, good policies that will help the people, the people of Providence, because that's the city we represent.

Thank you.

Further discussion.

Councilman Sanchez.

Thank you, Madam President.

I rise in strong support of this ordinance.

Um, like my colleagues have mentioned, uh, a huge amount of uh gratitude uh strong uh commend the sponsor for doing her due diligence on this ordinance.

Uh it's not easy to bring uh people uh around the table with strong uh opposing uh opinions, but that's exactly what my colleague has done uh by working on this ordinance.

Most concerns that I have heard today um are addressed in this uh revised ordinance.

Um I hear speeches and I start to think, I'm like, do my colleagues read the ordinance?

Because most of the stuff has been uh addressed, um, which you know leads you to the next question of different, you know, enforcement concerns and you know, folks uh having concerns about uh the the fines going to property owners that that was the result of sad conversations happening.

Um, you know, it's definitely not an easy thing.

This, you know, you see the headline, oh, the the city banning gas powered, you know, it brings a lot of different opinions, but to do the work and put all the mud slinging into the side and get to the point where we're at today, um, it's not an easy task.

And that's what my colleague has brought us uh to to this point.

Um, like folks have said, this does not go into effect until 203.

Um, while I do, you know, respect and appreciate the the noise concerns, what what really drives me uh to support something like this is the environmental piece.

Uh folks are you know are worried about the cost of living, uh, you know, the the expense of rent, which is all valid concerns, but if we don't have a clean environment to live in, then literally none of this matters, and and that's exactly where we're heading as a society uh here and in Providence and other places.

You know, we've talked about pollution around the poor, we talk about uh the congestion and in different parts of the neighborhoods of traffic.

We need to be doing everything as a municipal as a municipal body uh to to start you know showing love to to this planet that gives us love every single day.

Um and you know, this might not you know cut off all carbon emissions, but if you read and see the papers and data and research that the uh emissions that these uh instruments put out uh on a yearly basis, it will literally blow your your mind.

Um so that's why you know I want to rise and in strong support of this, you know.

If you read it as a headline, then yeah, you maybe not support it, but once you dig down in the details and actually understand uh the process that is played out, to me, this is the very common sense, uh good government bill, and I'm proud to support it.

Thank you, Madam President.

Further discussion, item 29.

Uh yeah, further discussion before go ahead.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Well can you hear me?

Okay.

That's a little strong.

Um so thank you very much.

I wanna thank the sponsor of this for putting this together.

I'll be extremely honest with you.

I've been completely on the fence on this one for the longest time for a variety of reasons.

Um, many of them that were um spoken about today.

Um but what I think is a really positive move about this particular ordinance is that you've put it out so far in advance so that we can do all of the things that we're intending to do the right way.

And I think that that um it really needs to be noted that the time and dedication to make sure that we get it right has been put into place into this particular ordinance, and I appreciate that.

If there is one particular ask that I could make, um, and it's only because of a situation that I came across in the past uh month and a half um for my professional life, is that um we really do a lot of education around the batteries and how to dispose of them properly.

Um I sat in a training with fire chiefs from all over the state about just about diffusing these actual batteries, and it was really scary, and it's not something that most people would even realize with these things.

So if there's one point of advocacy that I would make is that we just um put our best foot forward and really create some advocacy around doing it the right way, especially if we're going to have homeowners taking care of these things um on their properties and and things like that.

So I am gonna be supporting this.

I do appreciate the all the work that you put into this, and I do um I do agree with my fellow counselors that had a lot of hesitation, but I also understand that there is um a lot of room to make sure that we do um enact and enforce in the proper way.

And with regards to enforcement, I think that's a very broad term of things that we need to work on, and we should actually be taking care of a lot of those things through our committees.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Um, anyone who hasn't spoken yet before I allow the sponsor to say no.

Okay, councilman Anderbot.

Thank you.

And I'll be brief.

Um, one, I really appreciate this robust debate, even among the folks who opposed it.

So thank you for sharing your uh your views.

I did want to share three three additional quick things.

One is an agreement with councilwoman Peterson.

Yes, let's work on that.

Um, those same batteries are in the mobility, the scooters and things like that.

And I want to make sure as a city we're addressing some of those issues as well.

So people can use all of these devices and all of these batteries as safely as possible.

So 100%.

I just want to highlight something that councilman Sanchez and I believe Councilman Gonkovs were saying about public health.

I have constituents who've called me.

The the gas leaf plow gas leaf blowers are so powerful and blow up so much particulate matter from the ground, um, especially during times of year when not right now, when it there are fewer leaves on the ground and they're just kind of blowing.

Um people have become, they use the phrase with me, prisoners in my home.

Like if they have respiratory issues or any issues with their lungs, like being outside when those are being used is like incredibly challenging for their health.

And I have a number of constituents who just cannot leave their houses during certain times of the year because they can't breathe when they go outside or they constantly have to be masked.

Um and so it's it's an environmental issue.

It is a noise issue, but it's also just a public health issue for people who are like literally trapped in their homes with like tons of um uh air purifiers and things like that.

Cause they're used across the whole city.

They're used off North Maine, they're used in your neighborhoods, um, whether or not people are complaining.

And the other, I just want to address this.

Isn't just a big city thing.

Um, I'm part of a group of folks, um, counselors across the country who work on environmental issues, and they're teeny tiny little towns, big cities, medium cities, cities of all sizes who've already done this, um, and they're doing it fine, and we're not seeing giant generators in the street.

Um, you know, it's good to think of all the worst case scenarios and make sure we're planning for that.

Um, but it's not um other places have done this, and it has it's been okay.

And we haven't seen a lot of these, it's not just for huge cities, it's not just LA, it's also um smaller places across the whole country, including here in New England.

So we are not at the cutting edge.

We're like catching up a little bit.

So I just wanted to point that out.

Um, but thank you all.

I love the robust debate and conversation.

Um, and hope hope you will support it and we'll sit down.

Further discussion, item 29.

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois.

Aye, majority leader Espinal.

Aye.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonçalves.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves.

No.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

A stain.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Aye.

Council President Pro Tempore Picardo is absent.

Councilor Royus.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Councilman Taylor.

Nay.

Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Nay.

You have eight ayes, three nays, one abstention, two absent.

The motion carries the matters passed for the first time on a roll call vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 30.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What's it the way the reader 30 and passing a voice vote?

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 30.

Uh, Madam Clerk.

Uh no, I'm sorry.

Um, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Item 31.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Wash it the way they're writing about 31 and passing a roll call vote.

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on item 31.

Councilwoman uh councilwoman Graves.

I'm sorry, Councilwoman, could you use your microphone?

Thank you.

Sorry.

Um I'm speaking on part of this because you had there in two things.

One is for Doyle, and the other one is for the water for water fountain.

I wish they had separated it.

Um because I think that two separate things, and probably should have been looked at differently.

Um, my concern is 444 um Westminster.

Was a horrible um decision that was made well before any of us, I guess, was sitting at the in these chambers.

But um it was this things that we have been doing or have been doing for a while is voting on things and having leases that go 30 and 40 and 50 years, and this is what happens.

Things get kicked down the down the road, the tent and then we're stuck.

That was probably the worst lease I have ever seen in my life.

We gave away everything and achieved nothing from this.

So now we uh stuck to the decision of whether or not we should buy this building that should have been brought back then, or be held over a barrel and paid these millions of dollars each and every single year.

Um I think this is a good thing.

If those of you who have not seen that lease need to see that lease, read that lease, and see what we've been doing and what has been going on and realize that we need to stop doing these things.

We need to understand before we sign our names to these things.

We need to understand what the what the outcome can be and where where we can be putting another council in the same predicament that we're in right now, and we need to stop doing this.

It's not good for our people of the city, it's not good for us, and people just keep on doing it.

It seemed to be the same players all the time, and we gotta say enough is enough.

That being said, um, I know that we probably should you know buy this thing just to get out from under, but sometimes we need to learn a hard lesson.

We need to learn that these this is what happens, and maybe we need to chew on this for the next 10 years.

So I'm gonna say no to this, only because 444 should never have happened, and I and I think is I have to say shame on those that sign that lease.

I was never so disappointed because I know Angel, and I know he's a very intelligent young man.

I know he went got the best of education.

I don't know how he got steered into signing that, but I hope the next mayor in the next city council will never sign anything like that again.

So that's all I have to say.

Further discussion, item 31.

Chairwoman Ryan.

Thank you very much, Madam President.

I rise to uh speak on item 31.

What is before us is not a lease on 444 uh Washington Street, it is a resolution to authorize the bonding um to acquire to allow the PP um PPBA the um authority to acquire two pieces of property 444 Westminster Street and the Waterfire Arts Building.

Um again it's a 25 million dollar bonding.

Um it is fiscally sound, quite frankly.

Um it gets us out of a lease that we've been in for 14 years.

Um it's a 25-year lease, so we've got quite a ways to go.

Um, and we are currently paying uh 1.7 million dollars annually to rent that building.

That building houses 10 departments of the city of Providence.

I think it's about 70,000 square feet, as we all know.

Moving people, um if we should buy out that lease on or stay in there, um, we'd be subject to escalated rent payments.

But if we were to move out of the building at any time on the costs would be high, very high.

It would be a Herculean task to uh move those um 10 departments, um, not to mention the significant downtime.

The reality is on this is a fiscally sound transaction, it is taking that 1.7 million dollars off our debt obligation, our budget um is enhanced because of it, because of not having that rent payment.

We're moving the that uh obligation to the bond payment, which we have room in bond service capacity.

Um it provides critical wonderful space for us.

Um anyone who's been in the building knows that first floor has tremendous uh community space potential, it's used um a lot by the CPC for their community meetings, the basement has tremendous capacity to relocate our archives.

Uh, it's one of the things that have been discussed.

Moreover, as a renter, we haven't been able to do anything to make that space fit our needs.

Um so part of this bonding includes a 2.75 million dollar reserve to allow us to um do some space planning to make that building fit our needs now and into the future.

Um, and that certainly is an important step that needs to take place.

On again, I support this.

The uh finance committee met.

We had a great deal of discussion.

My recollection is it unanimously passed that evening.

Um it is the lease is not the best, but we have to deal with what we have in the time that we're dealing with it.

And quite frankly, this is a good deal right now.

It makes fiscally uh it makes fiscal uh sense for us.

Um and I support it wholeheartedly.

Thank you.

Further discussion, Councilman Sanchez.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I uh when I first saw this, uh I think a Goloco article is uh the first way I found out about this proposed deal.

I I definitely, you know, had a lot of concerns and in my mind right away, I was like, absolutely not.

Uh but then you know, you dig deep in the details.

Um, you know, my just general concern uh with the city uh going out for a bond uh in these times is that it adds more responsibility to the city in a time where uh we're asking for our neighbors to to you know pay more.

I definitely hesitate uh to be uh asking uh for more money uh for the city of Providence.

Uh but when you dig into details um as the finance committee did a couple weeks ago, conversations with the finance team.

Uh this is uh makes sense.

Absolutely.

Uh going forward, it's gonna give the city um a lot more flexibility.

Um we on top of the rental payments where we're spending more than uh a quarter million dollars on maintenance and repairs on an annual basis.

Uh so when you add that to the rent, um the the debt payment, it's gonna be uh a lot less.

And then we have full control of the building to do whatever we need to do uh in terms of uh repairs, upgrades, uh moving offices around to fit the needs of our city departments better, um, which is is a great plus.

Um, but it's important to acknowledge that this wouldn't be uh a good deal if that really really crappy lease wasn't in place.

Uh so I think it's important as constitu as uh representatives uh of the people that we serve to to highlight uh those important details um to show um you know our neighbors these decisions that that were done in the past, probably you know, behind uh uh a backroom, you know, quickly pass through a council chamber.

I don't know the exact process that went through, but if I had to guess, there wasn't a lot of community and public input uh because we all have read the lease, it's extremely uh unfair to the people of Providence.

Uh but by you know buying this building with this opportunity that we have, I I think we're we're doing a little bit more uh justice to the people that that we serve.

Um and the last thing I would like to highlight, um, which was another concern of mine is that we wouldn't have any more uh debt capacity to you know keep funding future uh CIP projects.

Uh the finance team of the mayor of the administration uh did say on record that this doesn't impact uh any other future CIP or any other uh possible uh bond uh projects that we want to do in the future.

Uh so with all of those things uh noted, uh I'm gonna support this uh this bond.

Thank you, Madam President.

Councilman Gotzovs.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you for those comments that were made by my colleagues.

I also had a similar reaction, but want to say that uh this is a financially prudent thing for the city to do.

Uh we are the the term expires in fiscal year 2036, and it would likely need to be renewed at the time.

I understand the concerns that people are sharing here, but as you just heard from the finance chairwoman, you just heard from my counselor uh um colleague or council colleague uh Miguel Sanchez.

Um, the the annual lease, it it's gonna cost 1.5 million per year, and that's just going to escalate.

Uh and as you also mentioned the figure um of 250,000 in additional maintenance and uh management and utility costs for uh the project.

So this is a financially prudent thing to do, and so I certainly urge my colleagues colleagues to support this as it relates to uh the Valley Street and and water fire um building.

You know, that's a critical cultural institution in our city, and uh I think it's also important that we're able to uh think about this holistically and collectively and uh the average debt service on that borrowing, as we have heard in committee and from um our finance department is is over three hundred thousand dollars a year.

So this planned purchase will allow us to lease the building in its use for 20 years and also ensure that we're uh operating in a very fiscally prudent way as a city.

So it's the right thing to do.

I understand that there are people who have reservations here, but I I think ultimately this is going to be beneficial for our balance sheet here in the city of Providence.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Further discussion.

Item 31.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Aye.

Majority Leader Espinal.

Hi.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzals.

Aye.

Come again.

Aye.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Graves.

Nay.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Nay.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo is absent.

Councilor Royus.

Nay.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas is absent.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

You have nine ayes, three nays, two absent.

The motion carries the matter is approved on a roll call vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 32.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Motion to wave the reading.

I'm 32 and receive and approve.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 32?

Councilman Sanchez.

Thank you, Madam President.

Today I want to rise in strong uh support of this appointment.

I've met with with uh, you know, possibly to be director, uh, Sean here shortly uh a handful of times.

Uh we had a rec board meeting and he did attend.

Um being the director of the rec department is not an easy job, but it's a very important one.

Um, especially now uh, you know, I think we we're living in a time where we're utilizing rec centers for a lot more than just a recreational center.

It's it's a huge community hub, a lot of resources, um a lot of lives being saved uh by a lot of our youth spending time and and learning important life skills.

Um but um through those conversations and experiences uh with Sean, uh I think he's gonna be a great director.

Um he knows that this is uh a team.

Uh we're gonna you know hold them accountable when need, but we're also there to support uh to keep uh you know uh increasing funding to to the rec department.

I think it's something we should start talking about now before the budget season uh comes.

Um so uh I just wanted to rise and in strong support um uh of uh Sean Holly.

He is uh here today.

Thank you for the discussion, Councilwoman.

Thank you, I also wanted to echo my the comments from my finance committee uh uh colleague.

Um he made Sean made a wonderful presentation in the finance committee, and what we learned on and what was testified to is his commitment to the city of Providence, to the youth of the city of Providence, and being partners with each council member in um running our rec centers.

Um we disagree at this in this chamber, around tables on a lot of topics, but one of the things we all agree on is our youth, our children, proper education, wonderful recreation service.

It's critical to their growth and their development, and it's something that every single council person I know on takes very seriously.

I think that Sean has a is a great pick.

I think he's got a strong background, and I'm really excited about the the what he's gonna show our young people.

He's certainly going to be a strong leader and someone that they can all look up to.

So I wish him well, and I wholeheartedly support him in that role.

Uh further discussion.

Oh, Councilman Gonzalo, sorry.

Thank you, Madam President.

I don't want to belabor the points here, but I couldn't think of a better person to hold this role.

So I also just want to echo the remarks of my colleagues.

Thank you, Sean, for stepping up and being willing to lead here in the city of Providence.

You know, as someone who has spent uh a long time in early childhood education, the way that you have spoken about addressing the needs of our kids in a very holistic way is something that has always made me really perk up, and I couldn't again think of a better leader to uh lead that operation.

The way that you have spoken about addressing the needs of our kids in a very holistic way is something that has always made me really perk up, and I couldn't again think of a better leader to uh lead that operation.

Our rec centers are not just about our kids playing basketball, and that's something that we've talked about, and I know that he is ready to step up to the plate to make sure that we're really addressing all the social emotional needs of our kids.

Uh and and the you know, whether it's job training, the other uh holistic elements that we've spoken about.

So I just want to thank you for stepping up and leading on behalf of the children in the city of Providence and want to thank you in advance for all that you do.

So thank you again.

Further discussion, item thirty councilman Vargas.

Thank you, Marisha.

I raised to welcome Mr.

Sean.

I just wanted to clarify the the city province is full of new cultures.

We have too many uh different people, and every community has a different need.

I hope you will understand all the needs of different communities that we have in the city, and we can work together to for the best of each different community center or each uh recreation center because everyone is totally different.

I want to welcome you, and we can I hope we can work together.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Graves.

Um, I know Sean from a while back.

I my thing is I hope and pray, because I know he has it in him.

I hope and pray that this is a long-term thing.

This is something that you're gonna commit to and stay with.

Um, and put your all in it.

Listen to the directors at each and every blast one of the sentence that are already there.

And if you have any issues, get in contact with the council person in that area and let us know.

Um we are willing to fight for our rec and we will fight to the end, and you will have our support as long as you're doing well by the the kids, as long as you're doing well by our directors, we will do well by you.

So welcome.

Further discussion, item 32.

Uh uh majority leader essential.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just uh like to welcome Sean Hawley on board and wish him much success.

Uh looking forward to working together with him uh with his dedication, his educational skill set.

I think it'll be a perfect fit with the recreation department.

Thank you.

Any further discussion before all right, Councilman Sanchez.

Sorry, uh thank you, madam president.

Um, I I see Jackie here in the crowd, so I just wanted to give him his flowers and gratitude.

Jackie.

Um Jackie is a staple, obviously, in your uh rec center as Zucolo.

Uh, but he really held uh and led the ship uh while we didn't have a permanent director.

So he's a huge staple and support system for our rec uh department.

Definitely just want to give him the gratitude he deserves.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you so much, counselor.

Further discussion, item 32.

Hearing none, all in favor.

I any opposed, any abstentions.

The motion passes.

Allow me, counselors, please, to take a point of personal expression.

Um, I think that everyone knows that uh public service is um very rewarding, but also not necessarily for the faint of heart.

So I really want to thank and congratulate both uh Jackie and Sean for the dedication to the youth of our city, to all of the neighborhoods, and to the work that we're gonna do together.

Thank you both.

Item 33.

Madam President, majority leader, motion to weigh the reading around 33 and 34.

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on items 33 and 34?

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Madam Clerk, please send 33 to the uh committee on claims and pending suits and 34 note as received.

So noted.

Item 35.

Madam President, majority leader.

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on item 35?

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Item 36.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What should the way the reader 36 and pass on a unanimous rising vote?

Second, madam president, Madam President.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Point of personal expression.

Before we adjourn, I'm sorry, we have to pass the item 36.

Any discussion on 36?

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstention?

The motion passes.

Majority leader.

Point of personal discussion.

I just want to thank uh Mark, who will be leaving us.

It'll be a great loss, but um very happy for him that he's gonna have an opportunity to reunite with his family.

Uh you will be deeply missed.

Uh we'll always be here.

It's been a pleasure knowing you, Mark.

Thank you.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Second, madam president.

Any discussion?

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Uh counselors, please remember we have a um meeting on the rise.

So take a few minutes and also let's take a couple of pictures and then head over to uh the other room.

Thank you.