OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Providence City Council Special Meeting - April 20, 2026

City Council — Monday, April 20, 2026
BodyProvidence, Rhode Island
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
6:11

Greetings.

6:13

Calling us to order uh for this special city council meeting on Monday, April 20th.

6:19

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

6:20

Council President Miller, present.

6:22

Deputy Majority Whip Ander Wa.

6:24

Present.

6:24

Councillor Davidson.

6:26

Present.

6:27

Majority Leader Espinal.

6:29

Present.

6:29

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzals is absent.

6:33

Councilwoman Graves.

6:35

Deputy Majority Leader Harris is absing.

6:38

Councilwoman Peterson.

6:40

Council President Pro Tempore Pachardo.

6:43

Present.

6:44

Councilor Royus.

6:46

Present.

6:46

Councilwoman Ryan.

6:50

Majority Whip Sanchez.

6:52

Present.

6:53

Councilman Taylor.

6:55

Councilwoman Anavargus is absent.

6:57

Councilman Oscar Bargins.

6:59

Present.

7:00

You have 12 present and three absent.

7:02

You have a quorum.

7:03

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

7:07

Majority Leader.

7:08

Madam President, motion the way the reader of item one and you do a motion to wave the invocation.

7:14

Oh, I'm sorry.

7:15

That's okay.

7:16

Why should you wave the uh invocation?

7:19

Pledge of allegiance.

7:20

Second, Madam President.

7:21

We have a motion and a second.

7:23

Any discussion?

7:24

All in favor.

7:25

Aye.

7:26

Any opposed?

7:26

Any abstentions?

7:27

The motion passes.

7:28

Item one.

7:29

Madam President.

7:30

Majority leader.

7:31

Motion to weigh the reader of item one and two.

7:33

Second, Madam President.

7:34

We have a motion and a second.

7:36

Any discussion on items one or two.

7:38

Hearing none, all in favor.

7:42

Any opposed?

7:43

Any abstentions?

7:44

The motion passes.

7:45

Please note one and two as received.

7:47

So noted.

7:48

Item three.

7:49

Madam President.

7:49

Majority Leader.

7:54

Second, Madam President.

7:55

Any discussion on item three.

8:00

Hearing none.

8:01

Madam Clerk, please open the vote.

8:06

The vote is open.

8:18

The vote is closed.

8:20

You have 11 ayes, one no, three absent.

8:25

The motion passes.

8:26

The matter is approved on a voice vote.

8:29

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

8:31

Madam President, Councilor Ryan.

8:33

Point of personal privilege.

8:36

Thank you.

8:40

All three terms.

8:41

I've been the fiscally prudent voice of the council.

8:45

It's my background.

8:46

That's who I am.

8:48

Currently, the city has two critical, currently the council has two critical items before it.

8:58

We're well aware the mayor's promised a veto.

9:01

He's already vetoed it.

9:03

I will support the mayor's veto.

9:07

Why?

9:08

Because we don't have a fiscal note for rent stabilization.

9:12

What was put before us is inefficient.

9:15

It doesn't present the true cross, true cost of that ordinance to the people of the city of Providence.

9:21

I can't vote for it.

9:50

Again, I think it's a mistake.

9:54

It's a political move, and it's inappropriate on I can assure you that I know you have the votes tonight to do what you're doing, to take this action.

10:04

Again, it's inappropriate on I will continue to be the fiscal watchdog for this city that I have been since I was elected.

10:11

That's what my constituents elected me to do on and uh this action will not stop my voice from being heard.

10:21

Thank you.

10:23

Thank you.

10:24

Madam Clerk, item five.

10:25

Madam President, point of personal expression.

10:28

Okay, go ahead, counselor.

10:29

Thank you.

10:31

The City Council has a responsibility to deliver a fair budget for the people of Providence.

10:38

That responsibility is bigger than any one individual.

10:42

A majority of the committee on finance share that we had reached an impasse with the current chair.

10:50

Addition members of the council share that they did not have the confidence that their voices would be heard in the upcoming budget process.

10:58

Despite efforts over the past weeks to reach a mutual resolution resolution, it became clear that a new path was required to move beyond this stalemate.

11:09

Our focus remains on ensuring the council performs its fiscal oversight role effectively and delivers a budget that reflects the needs of residents in every ward.

11:19

While internal conflict is regrettable, it is critical that every member of the council has a voice in vetting and shaping that city budget.

11:28

The city budget.

11:32

Thank you, Councillor.

11:33

Item 4.

11:35

Madam President.

11:36

Majority Leader.

11:36

Watch it the way the reader of item four.

11:39

Second, Madam President.

11:40

We have a motion and a second.

11:42

Discussion on item four.

11:44

Hearing none, all in favor.

11:46

Aye.

11:47

Any opposed?

11:48

Any abstentions?

11:50

The motion passes.

11:50

Please note four as received.

11:52

So noted.

11:53

Item five.

11:54

Madam President.

11:55

Majority leader.

11:58

Second, Madam President.

12:00

We have a motion and a second discussion on items five through eleven.

12:05

Councilman Dargett.

12:07

Thank you, Madam President.

12:09

I just want to raise my voice on the on these budget.

12:15

Remember, this is a taxpayer's money that we're dealing with.

12:19

And I wish the best to the new uh committee.

12:23

And when it be part of that committee, I'll be there asking questions, and I need support to make the right decisions for the taxpayers in the future for this city.

12:35

Thank you.

12:37

Further discussion, five through eleven.

12:41

Hearing none, all in favor.

12:43

Aye.

12:43

Any opposed?

12:44

Any abstentions?

12:45

The motion passes.

12:47

Madam Clerk, please refer items five through eleven to the special committee on ways and means.

12:51

So noted.

12:53

Madam President.

12:54

Majority leader.

12:55

Me and there's no further business.

12:56

Motion to adjourn.

12:58

Second, Madam President.

12:59

We have a motion to adjourn.

13:00

Any discussion?

13:01

All in favor.

13:02

Aye.

13:03

Any opposed?

13:04

Any abstentions?

13:04

The motion passes.

13:05

Thank you all so much for coming in today.

13:11

You want to talk in the mic?

13:12

Mayor.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████50%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████████████████████████████████50%
Summary of Proceedings

Providence City Council Special Meeting - April 20, 2026

A special meeting of the Providence City Council was held on Monday, April 20, 2026. Twelve members were present, three absent (Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzals, Deputy Majority Leader Harris, and Councilwoman Anavargus), establishing a quorum. The council considered routine agenda items, heard points of personal privilege and expression on two significant issues, and voted on multiple items.

Consent Calendar

  • The council voted to waive the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, and to waive reading of items 1 and 2. Both motions passed unanimously.
  • Items 1, 2, and 4 were received and noted after separate votes. Item 3 was approved with 11 ayes, 1 no, and 3 absent.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the meeting.

Discussion Items

  • Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Mayor’s Veto: Councilwoman Ryan exercised a point of personal privilege, stating she would support the mayor's upcoming veto of the rent stabilization ordinance. She argued that the ordinance lacks a fiscal note, does not present the true cost to the city, and is a political move. She emphasized her role as a fiscal watchdog and promised to continue voicing her opposition.
  • Finance Committee Restructuring: An unnamed councilor (likely the Majority Leader or another member) made a point of personal expression regarding the budget process. They stated that the council has a responsibility to deliver a fair budget, that a majority of the finance committee reached an impasse with its current chair, and that a new path was needed to move beyond the stalemate. The goal is to ensure every council member has a voice in shaping the budget, despite internal conflict.
  • Items 5–11 Referral: Councillor Dargett spoke on items 5 through 11, reminding members that these involve taxpayer money and expressing his intention to ask questions on the new committee. No further discussion occurred on these items.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 3: Approved (11 ayes, 1 no, 3 absent).
  • Items 5 through 11: The council voted to refer these items to the Special Committee on Ways and Means.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned after completing all business.

Meeting Transcript

Greetings. Calling us to order uh for this special city council meeting on Monday, April 20th. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Council President Miller, present. Deputy Majority Whip Ander Wa. Present. Councillor Davidson. Present. Majority Leader Espinal. Present. Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzals is absent. Councilwoman Graves. Deputy Majority Leader Harris is absing. Councilwoman Peterson. Council President Pro Tempore Pachardo. Present. Councilor Royus. Present. Councilwoman Ryan. Majority Whip Sanchez. Present. Councilman Taylor. Councilwoman Anavargus is absent. Councilman Oscar Bargins. Present. You have 12 present and three absent. You have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Majority Leader. Madam President, motion the way the reader of item one and you do a motion to wave the invocation. Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay. Why should you wave the uh invocation? Pledge of allegiance. Second, Madam President. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion passes. Item one. Madam President. Majority leader. Motion to weigh the reader of item one and two. Second, Madam President. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on items one or two. Hearing none, all in favor.

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