Are here on either side of us.

So we will be engaging in electronic voting for the first time tonight.

And I share this both to celebrate it and to uh say that we might need a little bit of patience as everyone gets used to the new method.

And as I said to our members in advance, if something's not going right, just give a shout, and we are uh right here for it.

With that said, uh, Madam Clerk, item three, please.

Second, madam present.

There's been a motion and a second.

Any discussion on that motion?

Madam Clerk, please open the vote.

Yes.

Uh councilman Harris.

I do not have I don't either.

There we go.

I'm good.

Yes.

Can someone assist?

Okay.

Item four, please.

Madam President, motion to wave the read of item four through six.

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion.

Uh all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions, the motion passes.

Madam President motion.

I'm sorry, uh, councilman.

Um, Madam Clerk, please note item four through six as received.

So noted.

Item seven.

Madam President, motion to wave the read over item seven through twelve and pass for the second time on a roll call vote.

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on items seven through twelve.

Hearing none, uh, madam clerk, please call the roll and open the vote.

The vote is now open, and I will call the roll.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Majority Leader Espinall is absent.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonçalves.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo.

Aye.

Councilor Royus is absent.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor.

Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

Councilman Vargas.

Aye.

Yes, Councilwoman Ryan and please do your electronic voting.

Thank you.

That vote is now closed.

And we have 11 ayes and three absent.

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

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 13.

Madam President, motion to wave the reading of items 13 and 14.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on items 13 or 14.

Hearing none, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions, the motion passes.

Madam Clerk, please refer 13 to the committee on ordinances, 14 to the committee on finance.

So noted.

Item 15.

Motion to wave the readings of item 15 and 16 and pass on a voice vote.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 15 and 16.

Councilman Andrew.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, I'm speaking also because our colleague, Councilman Royus, cannot be here on item 15, who's the sponsor of this resolution.

I just want to note that we've many of us have heard a lot of concerns recently about enforcement, especially for life at night activities.

And we want to make sure that our residents um and businesses have an opportunity to have their voice heard um in this time-limited way in this um time limit working group of the enforcement of city ordinances related to life at night.

It's particularly important for those parts of the city where residential and commercial um uh folks are just abutting each other, and there are either conflicts or just things we want to work out together.

And so um, I rise in support of number 15.

Um, and I'm grateful for you, Council President and Councilman Royus for um sponsoring it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Um, Madam Clerk, could you please read item 16?

Whereas Jenny DeLula was a daughter of Providence and a resident of the fifth ward of Providence, and whereas Mrs.

DeLula was a co-owner of the General Tool and Supply Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts, alongside her husband Bernard, and was known for a diligence that contributed greatly to their success.

And whereas, proud of her Lebanese heritage and a committed fundraiser in her home parish of St.

George Marinite Catholic Church, located in Cranston, Mrs.

DeLula was jointly awarded the Silver Musbaki Award, an honor conferred by the National Apostolate of Maronites to Maronites for extraordinary contributions of their time, talent, and resources with her husband in 1997.

And whereas Mrs.

DeLula was notably a Democratic committee woman for the fifth ward and an active supporter of varying political campaigns throughout her life.

And whereas Mrs.

DeLulo was also a deeply devoted and proud mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who encouraged her husband and children to seek success.

And whereas Mrs.

DeLula, having died on November 1st, 2025, at the age of 90, is remembered for her steadfast dedication to the causes, communities, and people so integral to her life.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Providence City Council recognizes the life and deep community ties of Jenny DeLula, and be it further resolved that Councilwoman Joanne Ryan of the Fifth Ward and the entire Providence City Council offer their most sincere condolences to her husband Bernard, her children Bernard Jr., wife Donna, Lewis and Janice, husband Nicholas, her grandchildren Elizabeth, husband Daniel, Alexa Christian, husband Gabrielle, and her great-grandchildren Coraline and Nicholas.

And be it further resolved that upon passage, copies of this resolution be transmitted to the family of Jenny DeLullo.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Ryan.

Just briefly thank you, Madam President.

Um I rise.

This is uh a family member for me on my brother-in-law's mom.

But um, it's a big loss for the fifth ward, big loss for our family.

Great lady lived a wonderful life.

Um, and thank you to my colleagues for um voting in favor of this resolution, certainly deserving of a wife, a life well lived.

Thank you.

Thank you, councilwoman.

Further discussion on items 15 or 16.

Uh Councilman Vargas.

Thank you very much, Mr.

President.

I have a concern about the number 15.

So now we have a group of people that they don't have no businesses.

And no experience to work on this type of ordinance or these type that we try to help the economy.

Uh councilman, may I answer that question as the sponsor here?

Uh, so this is not related to the uh other entertainment uh conversations we've been having.

So uh the appointments will be made.

There will be businesses that include are included on the working group, but this is not related to the it's related in as much as we're talking about enforcement, but it is not related to making other changes that have been in discussion in this in this chamber for a while.

So this this the working group will act on nightlife as it currently exists in the city of Providence, um, and just have a good conversation and with enforcement mechanisms and bring residents and businesses together to the table to have that conversation.

That does not impact other ordinances that are being uh considered by this body.

It's not, it's not it's a sim, you know, related but not part of.

Can I?

Thank you.

So we say this is related, this question to the sponsor.

Related, yes, to the whole city entertainment license that we have so far.

So is it an enforcement problem that we have uh councilman?

I am happy to engage a conversation also uh as the chair.

It's a little awkward for me to go back and forth with you on this.

So I would ask that you are welcome to uh support obtain or vote against, and then we can continue conversation.

Here's what I will say.

Uh, what is clear, and I think each of us in our neighborhoods have an opportunity and have hear from, especially when we have commercial, I think all of us do have commercial corridors that um have bring businesses and restaurants and bars right up against residences.

I um in particular am like a tremendous advocate for the arts and for music, and also have seen what happens when I think overwhelmingly throughout the city, businesses want to be a good neighbor because they have a lot of good reasons to do that.

They're part of our city, they're working together uh in our neighborhoods, and they want to uh bring neighbor like business both from outside of the neighborhood and inside the neighborhood, right?

In the occasion where there is a business that doesn't um respond in that way, it gets very, very hard to uh move forward with enforcing our existing laws.

It's harder than it should be for the city to enforce our existing laws and uh maintain the the uh climate of respect.

Um and and uh do kind of what we need to do.

So this is not uh I am as the sponsor of this, I am assuring you, this is not uh about uh restricting uh good culture that brings people together for a connection in events like music and other things.

It is an opportunity to discuss some of the ongoing enforcement issues that each of us have experienced in our wards.

It's an opportunity to bring um residents and businesses together with the Board of Licenses and Police and kind of look at what's working, what might work better, and what we might need state action to support.

Thank you.

Councilman Galsal's Thank you, Madam President.

I don't mean to belabor the points there, but I think the resolution is pretty clear.

This is a great way for us to work with residents and businesses across the city to strengthen coordination.

And you just enumerated all the points right there, so I don't want to again belabor the points, but I do think this is something that we should all be supporting as a council.

It's a great way for us to bring our residents or businesses together to uh work together and and to think about ways that we can enhance quality of life for those who provide entertainment for our neighborhoods and for those who are uh living in our neighborhood.

So I think that this is pretty much a no-brainer, and I hope that our colleagues will support that this evening.

Thank you, counselor.

Further discussion on items 15 and 16.

Hearing none, uh, Madam Clerk, please open the vote.

The vote is now open.

Madam President, Councilman.

Question to if you want to vote no and no for one and yes for the other one, how you doing.

Yep.

Uh so the process in this case is for the uh counselor who made the motion to withdraw the motion.

Uh motion to withdraw the motion.

I withdraw my second.

Okay, so we have a withdrawal and a second.

And now, Councilman Sanchez, uh, may I please have a motion to wave the reading by uh 15 and pass on a voice vote?

Madam President, motion to wave the reading of item 15 and pass on a voice vote.

Second, madam president.

Okay, the motion's been made and seconded.

Any discussion on item 15.

Hearing none, madam clerk, please open the vote.

The vote is now open.

Sorry.

All second.

The vote is now closed.

And you have nine ayes, one abstention, one no.

The motion carries the matter is approved on a voice vote.

Thank you, madam clerk.

And now, Councilman Sanchez, may I please have a vote uh to wave the reading with item 16 and pass on a voice vote?

Madam President, motion to wave the reading of item 16 and pass on a voice vote.

Second, madam president.

There's been a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 16.

Hearing none, madam clerk, please open the vote.

The vote is now open councilman Gonçalves.

Thank you.

The vote is now closed.

We have 11 ayes, um three absent the motion carries the matters approved on a voice vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 17.

Madam President, motion to wave the read of item 17 and pass on a voice vote.

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on that motion.

Um, can the clerk read this item into the record, please?

Yes, councilman.

Whereas cooperative enterprises allow workers, buyers, and others to directly own the business they work in or patronize, and whereas cooperative enterprises, particularly worker cooperatives, create stability and economic development by promoting the welfare of the owners and the communities they operate in over mere profit and ensuring that the needs of owners are balanced and met.

And whereas cooperative enterprises, particularly worker cooperatives, promote egalitarian decision making, strengthen democratic norms, and create shared responsibility among members.

And whereas on June 19th, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2025 to be the international year of cooperatives in recognition and encouragement of cooperative enterprises.

Whereas Co-op Month has been celebrated in the month of October since 1964 in recognition of the contributions that cooperative enterprises make to communities throughout the United States.

And whereas, through the efforts of labor organizers and aspirant worker owners, the state of Rhode Island has advanced the recognition of worker cooperatives through Chapter 6 of Title VII of the Rhode Island General Laws enacted in 2017.

And whereas Providence worker cooperatives such as White Electric Coffee and Hybrid Cooperatives, such as Heartleaf Books, provide their workers with meaningful control over their working lives while providing patrons superlative and unique experiences.

And whereas the Providence City Council wishes to earnestly recognize the contribution of cooperative enterprises to economic growth, to social development, and to the dignity of working people.

Now therefore be it resolved that the Providence City Council recognizes the contributions of cooperative enterprises to the life, prosperity, and welfare of the people of Providence.

And be it further resolved that the Providence City Council recognizes 2025 as the international year of cooperatives and encourages the city to support cooperative enterprises in its effort to further economic development.

And be it further resolved that upon passage copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of Mayor Brett P.

Smiley, to the City of Providence Director of Economic Development Edwin Carr, to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, Sabina Matos, and to the Rhode Island Worker Cooperative Alliance.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Further discussion, Councilman Sanchez.

Yes, thank you, Madam President.

Thank you to our city clerk for uh reading this into the record.

Um this was put this was attempted to put in uh last month, but uh some timing conflict uh denied that opportunity on our end um to celebrate uh cooperative uh month, which was uh October.

Um as we're all aware, um, you know, economy and it's really difficult for for a lot of folks, uh especially uh a lot of people in our communities, um, especially with how much uh favoritism I would say that corporations and uh mega uh billion and million dollar companies uh have right now under this federal administration.

It's important that we continue, and I say continue because this council has been pretty consistent on uh standing up for our smaller businesses and uh more specifically in this case our uh worker-owned uh businesses.

Um right now, uh a lot of these bigger corporations are taking advantage of the difficult uh economy and buying up more and more uh smaller businesses, and that leads to you know, uh a lot of layoffs and lower wages and weaker uh worker protections.

Um so this is a very small but uh in my opinion, meaningful uh resolution to celebrate and uplift uh all the amazing uh worker co-ops uh here in the state of Rhode Island.

Uh so I would urge uh support.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor.

Further discussion on item 17.

Uh hearing none, Madam Clerk, please open the vote.

The vote is now open.

Councilman Taylor.

The vote is now closed.

You have 11 ayes, three absent.

Uh the matters approved on a voice vote.

Thank you, madam clerk.

Uh, item 18, please.

Madam President.

Councilman Anderbois.

Motion to waive the reading of item 18 and pass for the first time on a roll call vote.

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 18.

Councilman Sanchez.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, I mean, we're all aware uh of what we're doing here.

Um, this was uh planned on being uh tabled uh because the vote was literally tied 30 minutes ago.

Um, obviously it appears that one of our colleagues is missing.

Um this is something I'm not proud of, but you know, slimy and and you know, I don't I don't want to offend anyone or make anything.

I'm sorry, councilman.

Personal uh point of order.

Under understanding, councilman, if you could not uh attack uh counselors.

Thank you.

I just want to stress that you know none of this is personal, and at the end of the day, I love uh serving with all uh 14 of you.

Um, but I'm gonna be walking out right now because what we're doing right here is ridiculous.

And if you oppose this piece of legislation, I would also urge you to walk out on it.

Councilman Ryan.

What is before us tonight is a six point two million dollar infrastructure investment in our famous historic corridor benefit street.

Actually, it's the benefit street area, uh otherwise known as the mile of history.

And it's also an expansion of our existing partnership with a Mile of History Association.

Uh, and also we're just gonna adjourn for a moment here.

Thank you.

Procedural vote.

But since we do not have quorum, we are no longer uh in the open meetings, you know, uh open meetings no longer uh covers what's happening in this meeting.

So I'm gonna ask for a procedural motion to adjourn from anyone in any counselor in the room, please.

Motion made by Councilman Taylor, secondary and uh Councilman Ryan, do we vote on a procedural motion to return?

And all in favor.

Yes, please.

All right, sorry about that.

So I'd like to adjourn in memory of Jose E.

Cordorial, David E.

Polisian, Retired Providence Fire Deputy Assistant Chief Stephen J.

Capricotta, Retired Rescue Captain, Providence Rescue Captain Alan Lippeter.

Thank you, Councilman.