Providence City Council Committee on Finance Meeting - March 31, 2026

The Providence City Council Committee on Finance met on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 5:30 PM, chaired by Councilwoman Joanne Ryan. Present were Chairwoman Ryan, Councilwoman Graves, and Councillor Sanchez (three of five members, constituting a quorum). Vice Chairman Taylor and Counselor Angoth were absent. The committee discussed and voted on several items, including a judicial reappointment, contracts for traffic enforcement cameras, parking enforcement software, a climate justice plan consultant, and waste cart management software.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were identified.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received.

Appointment

• Reappointment of Courtney Hobbins as Associate Judge of the Providence Housing Court: Hobbins, a criminal defense attorney and mother of two, highlighted her three years of service as associate judge and her background as a pro hac vice judge. She expressed enthusiasm for continued service. Committee members praised her qualifications. A motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Graves, seconded by Councillor Sanchez, and passed unanimously (3-0). The appointment will proceed to the full council for a final vote.

Discussion Items

• Vera Mobility Contract for Traffic Cameras: Chief Walkins and Crystal Mayer presented an informational update on a proposed $19,045,000 contract for speed and red light cameras, to replace the legacy vendor Conduit. The contract is a five-year term with five one-year renewals. It includes full hardware replacement, reduced per-ticket costs, and pilot programs for “block the box” and sound enforcement. Council members asked about camera size, location flexibility, and timeline (target July 2026 implementation). No vote was taken; the contract will return for approval after negotiations are finalized.
• Passport/Classified Labs Contract for Parking Enforcement: The committee considered a $3,300,000, three-year contract (with five one-year renewals) for parking enforcement technology, permitting, and court integration. Anthony from Passport participated remotely. The system will provide real-time ticket payment, automated registered owner lookup, digital permits, and full integration with the court’s case management system (Curia). Council questioned data ownership (city retains data), AI capabilities, and transition timeline (July 1 launch). A motion to approve was made by Councillor Sanchez, seconded by Councilwoman Graves, and unanimously passed.
• Civic Incorporated Contract for Climate Justice Plan: Deputy Director of Sustainability Kevin Croft presented a $35,000 contract for community engagement and equity consulting to update the climate justice plan. Civic was selected over two lower bidders (by $20–$75) due to their fixed pricing, local experience with environmental justice issues in Providence, and prior work on the Providence Master Plan and waterfront access project. The update is expected to be completed by late 2026 or early 2027. A motion to approve was made by Councillor Sanchez, seconded by Councilwoman Graves, and unanimously passed.
• Pacific Company Contract for Waste Cart Software: Kevin Croft also presented a revised contract for software to manage the city’s new trash and recycling carts. The original award covered three user accounts; the revised contract expands to 14–15 accounts over five years with five one-year renewals. The per-account fee dropped from $2,300 to $1,560, resulting in approximately $11,000 in annual savings. Negotiations were commended for bringing the lower price and transparency. A motion to approve was made by Councillor Sanchez, seconded by Councilwoman Graves, and unanimously passed.

Key Outcomes

• The committee unanimously approved the reappointment of Courtney Hobbins as Housing Court Associate Judge.
• Approved the Passport/Classified Labs parking enforcement contract ($3,300,000).
• Approved the Civic Incorporated climate justice planning contract ($35,000).
• Approved the Pacific Company waste cart software contract (five-year term with reduced per-user fees).
• Took no action on the Vera Mobility traffic camera contract, pending further negotiations.
• The meeting adjourned following a motion by Councillor Sanchez, seconded by Councilwoman Graves.