Thank you all for joining us.

Today is Monday May twenty twenty six.

That's five o'clock special committee on state legislative chairs and being here.

Chairman Muscle is present.

So let's do go through this first item.

Uh AS220 is here.

And also, Aaron, thank you for being here as well.

So um, let's chat about item number one, and then we'll take some of the other items on a term.

So this uh first item is the legislative package introduced by the same RIPTA coalition, which would establish a long-term stability for Ripto after some of the devastating budget cuts that we have recently um seen uh this last fall.

Um so I think many of us have read through this um bill to appropriate five million dollars um from unappropriate state general treasury funds to RIPTA as well as some other bills that will um increase funding to RICTA solders age 7363 uh and then Senate Bill 2323.

You know, many of you have an opportunity to review this in your package.

So um we can start off questions from committee members on these items had a chance to review this, seeing that there are no further questions.

This first item.

So moved by counselor breaks, seconded by counselor Peterson.

All those in favor, all those opposed.

The eyes have it, so I think we're audience approved.

So we'll uh make a motion to take a couple items out of order of so the first item number from the court said A study to know the motion to uh hear item number nine first year.

So by counselor Peterson, seconded by counselor Graves, all those in favor, all those opposed the eyes happen.

So we'll take uh item number nine.

It's very recorded here.

Item number nine resolution endorsing and urging passage by the General Assembly of Senate Bill 2026-2039, an act relating to taxation properties subject to taxation.

Okay, so hi, counselor.

Very nice to see you.

At this time, we'll ask uh folks from AS220 to come up to the table.

Uh my followers questions, but uh thank you all for being here.

Sophie, if you would mind.

I know many of us know who you are.

We're so grateful for the workwork that you do in AS220.

Uh but if you wouldn't mind just briefly introducing yourself and why you're here today.

Um, really appreciate it.

Thank you so much for that.

Okay, yeah.

So um I'm Shauna Duffy.

I'm the co-executive director of AS220.

I also serve with council meeting on the board.

Um, and I've been the executive director of AS2 for about 11 years on the board for eight years before that.

So I've been around AS20 for about 30 years now.

Um is Josie Mann, I'm a financial manager at AS220.

I've been with the organization for about seven years.

Um I think most of y'all know AS20, but just a real quick overview.

Um, so ASU20, part of the downtown court.

We're supporting about 100 FTEs every year, it's 35 to 40 employees, about 50 contracted teaching artists, a number of other artists from here about 80 youth and emerging um creative sector employees are employed by AS20.

Uh, about 3,000 artists get paid every year, we have over 500 months, a year, 800 classing workshops.

About 30,000 people come through AS220 on an annual basis, uh, including a five artist that some sort of experience can be part of AS20.

It's about 100,000 square feet across our three buildings.

There's about a 25 million dollar investment in the downtown, starting in the early 90s, our original building in Empire Street.

Um, creative education may not be what you think of with AS20.

A lot of people think of AS20 for the events and the galleries.

Uh creative education work has become the real center piece of our work, especially for the last five to ten years, but it really started in the 90s when you start working throughout the training school first rated youth.

It is right now one of our core areas trying to own what we do on creative education across all of our programs.

But at this point, our youth program is our largest program.

We are seeing for its support for our summer jobs program, but we also receive support from the department of education, the department of labor, and partnership and families for our uh work with youth all year, as well as uh emerging creatives as we try to find pathways from young people in after school arts education into actual jobs in the creative sector.

Um, and to this point, that creative education is all ages fans, you know, from young kids to our core work with 14, 24 year olds, all the way to a woman who told me she took her first dance class at 80 years old because she always wanted to be a dancer and thought I was doing and fast first ballet class for her 80th first yeah.

Um the reason we are coming forward with this now.

We've asked for the support from the state house is a number of different factors combined with the last several years to put us in a position where while we were very proud to be uh property taxpayers for a long time, it's become untenable.

It's a combination of the pandemic, and as you probably know, the state um forgot about um the arts and culture sectors.

They were trying to figure out pandemic recovering.

The city was very supportive, but the state was not as important about the arts and culture sector.

So we're still recovering from the pandemic and trying to build back, as is everything downtown.

The inflationary impacts that everybody is feeling and owning a lot of property.

We are feeling very intensely right now, combined with some changes to the valuation of our buildings and various things that have caused our property tax bill to about doubled since before the pandemic.

So those things are combined to make this a much more urgent issue than it has been in the past.

So that's just why I'd like to share some overall, but happy to take any questions.

Um just really appreciate uh speaking considering thank you.

Um questions from meeting members.

No questions.

I remember when you guys were still going to have all these things, and you have been around for a long time and done fantastic work.

And not only have you put on a lot of different shows all ages, but you also help support a lot of things.

I remember the library used to do their fundraisers and a lot of other places, but they fundraise crazy things.

So you help support the other people as well.

I'm not gonna percent this measure.

Um I think it's a long time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor Graves.

Councillor Peterson.

Thank you very much for being here.

I just um wanna just ask a clarifying question.

Um requesting our merging passage to all of your properties.

There's 10, right?

Uh three.

Oh, sorry, there's three buildings.

There's three buildings split into various lots, but yes, the whole offering so all of them.

Yes, they can't questions for community members.

Council members just the photo of class for I didn't get that last part, so it's three buildings.

It's three buildings, they're split into several each building is split into several tax lots.

It's kind of especially our original building, it was split into six lots going back to the 90s.

Uh it's confusing.

No, we would have really building on different labs.

Yeah, different floors are split separately from other things.

Thank you.

Well, I just want to chime in to say we're so grateful for the work that AS20 does to advance arts in the city and just grateful for all of the leadership and all that you do for our youth.

I know decades ago too.

I would pop in and it's been an institution providence for a long time.

So all that you do.

Uh Mr.

May, do you have anything you want to add?

I don't want to take out too much for any time, but it's you know, just want to say I really appreciate you all being here to hear this issue, and uh emphasize how the platform would be for the organization is trying to sell.

Thank you all.

Great.

I guess I have one quick question.

Do you know the timeline up at the General Assembly?

Um I think they're just waiting on this from the city council, and then they'll be able to move forward.

I think their goal is to try to get that in place before they get into the you know their end of season crazy time, as I'm sure you all are too.

I'm sure you've heard from my colleagues were very grateful and super supportive of the AS220.

So if there's anything that we can do, please pause really appreciate it.

So without further ado, is there anyone who wants to make a motion to approve this item?

Motion made by Counselor Draves.

Second by Councilor Clark.

Yes, all those in favor.

All those opposed have it.

Thank you very much.

Thank you here.

So we'll take the next word for several days.

So we're gonna take a minimum number of degree.

So we can make a motion to take that.

So motion may be by counselor Peter Sign.

Second by Council Grade is always in favor of my call.

That's opposed.

Yes, I will take by the degree our order here to have this public question.

I'm sorry for that number um item number two.

Resolution endorsing an urgent passage by the General Assembly of House Bill 2026 H7389, an act relating to education, the support and access to bilingual education unit.

That's what we have a cast running message today as well.

So if you wouldn't mind joining us, I think for being here.

So uh I guess we can share a little bit more about this, and I know you also have it to enter the record.

So um to the counselors, yeah.

If you give it to the clerk, uh you can have a motion to enter this item is that it number one given to the record.

So we'll buy council seconded by counselor council crates, all those in favor.

Can't have it uh doctor.

Maybe before I share all my remarks, um we could also add the Senate bill number to this.

The resolution was introduced before the Senate bill.

Yes, we can yeah, that's a good idea.

We can do that now.

So uh just so everyone's aware, we had a House bill that was introduced before the Senate bill, and so this only includes the House bill.

So this would be a very simple amendment that's includes the Senate bill.

Two five five.

And that number is uh two five.

I five five.

So can we have a motion to amend this item to include Senate bill to five motion made by counselor trades seconded by council?

All those in favor, opposed the eyes, right?

Dr.

Lucy.

Good evening, uh chairs and member of the committee.

My name is Erin Papa.

I'm the co-founder and executive director of the coalition from multilingual Rhode Island, and I'm here to support the resolution, um, which would support the legislation of the state level, I thought it doesn't need to be a done to find by support that um just a little background on our coalition first.

So we are a coalition of over 30 organizations, um, spanning youth and family-led organizations to policy-oriented organizations like it's currently to be policy institution higher ed as districts, um, all collectively um advocating for um more multilingual education programs and public schools.

Um that Rhode Island can be a tree to state where it's just the norm to have more than one language that you need to um and so we focus on ground growing high-quality language programs in public K 12 school districts.

Um, as you probably know, Providence Public Schools um has um almost half of the students are designated as multilingual learners, which means that um they're becoming multilingual, or maybe they're already multilingual, they're in need of English learner services.

Um I always like to point out that also many more of your students, our students in Providence are multilingual also, but their English is proficient enough that they're not given that label.

Um we have a wealth of multilingual um individuals in our schools, and um this act would help us to invest in more educators and the growth of more dual language programs that would support the development of not only an English language, but they're you know foster the home language um proficiency as well, so that they're not coming to school and losing their home language and then having to relearn it later in life, um, and they realize that oh, maybe it is important to have this for not just my family and community, but my career and all the things that I meant to commit.

So um, we're asking for your support of this bill.

Um, so that we can grow programs.

And Providence has been growing real language programs in the public school district, um, but they're not going fast enough, and part of the reason is there are not enough public teachers.

So right now the coalition, we have an initiative that's called Rhode Island's multilingual educators.

Um we received a catalyst grant from the Rhode Island Foundation that is a catalyst to this work, and we've already, since we received a grant in October, had over 200 or around 200 multilingual adults connect with us, um, that are interested in becoming um the language educators.

Some of them are already teachers looking to add that certification, which is a huge need.

Some of them were teachers in their home country and they're living in Rhode Island and really underemployed and working in kind of um low-mage jobs, um, not using the credentials that they have because they haven't figured out a way to navigate the classes.

So we're helping them to that, and others that have degrees in other areas that are interested in a change.

Um with additional support from the state, we would be able to really accelerate this access.

Fantastic.

Thank you so much, Dr.

I know that uh folks have had an opportunity to read through this stuff.

So I think it means very supportive.

So you don't have to belabor the points based for education, especially in the city and province really great for all sotion to the smaller session to approve.

That's amended.

As amended, yes, because uh with the Senate uh bill as well.

And thank you for that wonderful presentation to I know that many of my colleagues are very much interested in work that you do when I continue to support the work that you do.

Without further ado, can we make a motion to approve?

Oh, yes, as amended.

Yep.

So second second by Castle Bart.

It's nice.

All is in favor.

All that's opposed.

The eyes have it.

Well, thank you so much.

Really appreciate it.

All right, so um, I know we've had folks that I can get to the other community, so we're gonna try to do it a little bit more quickly here.

We've got um we take item number um four.

Um looks like item number five, and then item number six together, those those three items.

Um, I think everyone's had an opportunity to read these.

Um they're very straightforward, state-founded rental subsidy program, it's a 2500 um potential rental subsidy program, ripta, and then uh child care essential act.

Um like to make a motion to approve items number four to six.

Yes.

We're doing the same thing from five resolution or supporting the entire yeah, so it's the entire package, but it doesn't hurt to necessarily pass it since it's on the docket again.

It's the same thing, but um, sorry, no clarification for policy.

Um, Brendan, can I ask you to just answer a question for me?

Um because they're gonna be sending resolutions for both, right?

Yes.

So would it be advisable to send two?

What is the original five?

Well, it might consider opinion if I may.

Given the fact that the state ripta legislative package includes the House and Senate versions of the five million dollar appropriation to Ripto, the House Bill being 8256 and the Senate Bill being to eight to five.

Those are the same.

So again that being listed separately as a separate resolution when it's already included as part of the general save for the legislative package.

Again, it should be the resolution supporting the legislature package was prepared and introduced before that one for 8256 and 2825.

However, given that the entire package that's considered by the Prophet Streets Coalition because the leading group in the city coalition includes 8256 and 2825 in its remit.

I personally would advise that having eight two five six and two and two five in a separate resolution when all of that is together in that package.

I feel that having that resolution um ultimately hearing passing not as a resolution is redundant.

Understood.

Yeah, and again, and also in our memo, it is this given that redundancy that policy staff doesn't recommend passage twice.

What given that it's already part of the secret?

Usually said, so we'll we'll take your advisement on that.

We're going to pass item number four.

We'll continue item number five indefinitely, and then we'll pass item number six.

Do you want to do motion for five to continue item?

Yeah, it's sure.

Let's do that.

So item sure.

Item number five, let's continue item number five indefinitely.

Motion to continue item number five seconds.

So moved by counselor Peterson, seconded by counselor Vargas, all those in favor.

All those opposed.

Yes.

So item number four and then item number six.

Can we have a motion to approve those two items?

Um move by counselor uh Peterson, second it by Councillor Vargas, all those in favor.

The eyes have it.

Thank you very much.

All right, so we're moving on to item number seven.

There's a slight amendment of item number seven.

So uh item item number seven.

Uh we revise that um in this legislative package there's um the eight law bill, which the council isn't supported above.

So we're gonna strike that out.

So if we can make a motion to amend the uh item number seven, the house legislative package to remove whereas clause that would also support House 12 8006 will uh approve this as um so we'll strike out that clause because that's not something that the council is just want to also put on the record um council councillor Royus had reached out and he wants to remove himself as co-sponsor for this item.

So that's um yeah, question.

Yeah, so uh we're a couple of things that question odd and so forth.

Unfortunately, we're taking these all type of things, which makes it a little bit more um different because obviously as we're supportive, there's certain things that I think individually for us as counselors can kind of see things a little differently.

Yeah, um, so specifically for me, um eight zero zero five doesn't necessarily work quite yet without some sort of formality of um what to do with the or what to do with it um along with a lot more um discussion of the items may be single.

Um so I believe drawing figure out some more plan policy towards the fact that supporting it.

Yes, um I think the documentary said something.

Yeah, so I can I suggest something just for the sake of time.

What if we just leave here this item?

Or we can continue this.

I'm gonna come back to it because it sounds like it needs more discussion.

So we'll um let's continue by item number seven, uh, to a date served and um so motion council please consent counselor, all those in favor, uh all those opposed, the eyes have it, so we'll go back up to our chat.

So we'll actually have to grad five or extract because now that's it, violence victims.

I think this is one that uh all supported most.

So um should we just make a motion to this item?

So motion made by counselor seconded by council bargas, all those in favor, all that's opposed, guys have it basically that the item number screwed um eight ten and eleven.

Um item number eight is the copy of the tax credit, which I think are very supportive of item number 10.

It's included to California or Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and we've spoken to us about that, and then um item number of seven um has to do with uh residents expressing support for speech rights uh licensing registration inspection uh student housing to better regulate impacts on new regards and share safe lending conditions.

Um so uh yes, Councilor Graves.

No, no, I just gonna say that I think we have gotten in the motion approval.

Motion to approve by Councillor Graves, seconded by Councillor Vargas.

All those in favor, aye, all those opposed, the eyes have it seemed like the vote for business on discussion and make a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn the second by counselor, all those in favor.

Aye, all those opposed.

Yeah, 531.

All right.