Special Committee on Environment Resiliency Meeting – December 11, 2025

This special committee meeting, chaired by Councilwoman Sue Anderboard, was convened on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 5:00 PM (presumed start) to address two main agenda items: an ordinance amendment regarding utility permits and a comprehensive presentation on stormwater and sewer infrastructure challenges and recommendations from the mayor's stormwater task force. The meeting included extensive discussion on the need for dedicated funding, equitable implementation, and next steps.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The committee accepted several pieces of written testimony submitted regarding Item #1 (the utility permit ordinance) as an exhibit, and a motion to continue the ordinance to January 2026 was approved unanimously. No oral public testimony was heard during the meeting due to the continuation.

Discussion Items

• Item #1: Ordinance Amendment – Utility Permits (Chapter 23, Section 23-35)

  • A substitute version was moved and seconded; the item was continued to January 2026 after brief discussion. Committee members expressed intent to refine the ordinance and sought to finalize it for residents.

• Item #2: Presentation on Stormwater Task Force Recommendations

  • Presented by Priscilla de la Cruz, Director of Sustainability, and Sheila Dormori, Chief of Policy and Resilience, with additional comments from task force members including Elizabeth Scott (SNEP Network), Alicia Lehrer (Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council), and Topher Hamblett (Save The Bay).
  • The presentation highlighted the city's aging stormwater and sewer infrastructure: 451 miles of pipes, over 19,000 manholes, 13,000 catch basins, and approximately 68% combined sewer system. Over 100-year-old pipes contribute to frequent collapses, sinkholes, and flash flooding across all wards, with hotspots near Pleasant Valley Parkway, the Thurbers Avenue area, and the hospital district.
  • The task force, convened in late 2023 and meeting throughout 2024, concluded that the current funding model (relying on property taxes and competitive grants) is insufficient. They strongly recommended implementing a dedicated stormwater user fee based on impervious surface area, ensuring all property owners (including tax-exempt entities) contribute proportionally.
  • Key concerns discussed: potential conflict with PILOT agreements (especially with large institutions like Brown University), impact on housing development (e.g., vacant lots converted to housing increase impervious surfaces), and need for robust customer assistance programs to protect low-income residents.
  • The city has secured a $300,000 SNEP Watershed Implementation grant (SWIG) to continue work with consultant Raftelis in 2026, focusing on rate structure, community engagement, legal adjustments, and program administration.
  • Estimated preliminary fee: about $25 per quarter ($100 per year) per average residential property, with credits for green infrastructure installation.
  • Timeline: 2026 for deep engagement and analysis; 2027–2028 for ordinance and program launch.

Key Outcomes

• Item #1: Motion to continue the utility permit ordinance to January 2026 passed unanimously (3-0, with one absence).
• Item #2: The stormwater task force reports, memo, and presentation slides were accepted as Exhibit 2 by unanimous voice vote. No formal action on the recommendation; the committee expressed strong interest in partnering with the administration on outreach and eventual ordinance drafting.
• Next Steps: The committee will hold further discussions in January 2026 and coordinate with the mayor's office on community engagement. The city will host ward-specific stormwater conversations and continue to refine the user fee model.