Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Providence City Council on this uh May 7th.

Madam Clerk, please call her all.

Council President Miller here.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois here.

Councillor Davidson here.

Present.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzales.

Present.

Councilwoman Graves.

Present.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Present.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Council President Pro Tempor Picardo.

Councillor Royus is absent.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Present.

Councilman Taylor.

Here.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Present.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Present.

You have four team present and one absent.

You have a quorum.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Well, everyone please rise for the invitation to be given tonight by Pro Tem Picardo.

Thank you.

If you indulge me, I go also going to be saying it in Spanish too.

A sacred season in which our choices ripple through the livelihoods of those we serve.

Whether they find themselves resting in a house they call home, an apartment, a shelter, or on the very streets of our city.

Ensuring no voice is too quiet to be heard in these halls.

Teach us to govern with the future in mind.

We ask for the wisdom to make decisions that humble us in the face of our responsibilities.

Protect us from the shadows of devastating war and internal conflict.

Defend the civil rights and the pursuit of freedom for every soul in our charge.

Remind our hearts that you placed us upon this earth to thrive, to protect and to love one another.

Help us to rationalize our priorities through the lens of your command.

That the greatest investments we can make is in the safety of a home for every child and every family.

Let the mandate be the blueprint for our legislation.

Amen.

This evening the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councilman Ryas.

Madam Clerk, item three.

Councilor Picciardo.

The vote is closed.

You have 15 ayes.

The motion carries the minutes are approved.

Clerk, uh, I'm sorry.

Leave.

Uh did we miss Councilman Royas at uh the roll call?

Please note Councilman Royus is in attendance.

So noted.

Item four.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What should the way the reader of four through eleven?

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on item four through eleven?

Hearing none.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Please note four through eight as received.

Uh nine through eleven to the special committee on ways and means.

So noted.

Item 12.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Motion to weigh the reader item 12 through 17.

Second, madam president.

You have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on items 12 through 17.

Hearing none.

Madam Clerk, please note uh 12 as received.

13 through 17 to the special committee on ways and means.

So noted.

Item 18.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What should the weigh the reading of item 18 and pass in a voice vote?

Second, madam president.

And a second.

Any discussion on item 18?

Point of order, Madam President.

Councilwoman.

Item 18 involves money.

It should be a roll call vote.

Any discussion on item 18?

You didn't hear it.

Councilman, there's a lot of echo today.

Councilwoman Ryan was sharing that it should be a roll call vote.

Any discussion on item 18?

I really don't think we really need any discussion.

It's been put up time and time again, so I don't think we need it.

Maybe you can explain a majority leader.

It's just going for a roll call vote, which I have no objection to it.

Any further discussion?

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

The vote will be open, and I will also call the roll.

Thank you.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois.

Aye.

Councillor Davidson.

Aye.

Majority Leader Espinall.

Aye.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonçalves.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Aye.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo.

Aye.

Councilor Royce.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Aye.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

Councilman Bar.

Thank you.

The vote is closed.

You have 14 ayes, one nay.

The motion carries and the matter is approved on a roll call vote.

Thank you.

Item 19.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What should the weigh the reader of item 19 through 25?

Second, Madam President.

Any discussion on items 19 through 25.

Hearing none, all in favor.

All right.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

So noted.

Item 29.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

What should the weigh the reader at a 26 through 29 and pass for the second time on a roll call vote?

Second.

Any discussion on items 26 through 29.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

The vote is open.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois.

Aye.

Councillor Davidson.

Aye.

Majority Leader Espinall.

Aye.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzales.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Council President Pro Tempore Picharda?

Aye.

Councilor Royce?

Aye.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Hi.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

Councilwoman Vargas, can you do your electronic vote?

Thank you.

The vote is closed.

And you have 15 ayes.

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

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 30.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What should the way the reader?

30 and 31.

Second, Madam President.

Discussion on item 30.

Councilwoman Davidson.

Yeah.

Thank you, Madam President.

I rise to briefly speak in support of item 30.

This is a small amendment to our existing ordinances that requires that additional flood and sewer protection measures be installed in flood-prone areas.

It's a fairly simple ordinance, as I said, it sort of builds on what we already do, but it'll protects our houses from the potential for sewer backflows into the actual structures.

I mean that's the function of what we're adding here.

It's particularly important in many parts of the city where we have rising water tables, where we have stormwater impacts.

And as we work as a city together to improve our aging infrastructure, we're still playing beat the clock.

So this is a common measure that exists in most cities with similar geological and meteorological conditions as Providence, and so I put it forward so that we can protect our residents from that unfortunate encurrence, which does happen to plenty of people every year.

Thank you.

Further discussion, item 30 or 31.

Majority leader.

Thank you, Madam President.

I rise to speak on behalf of item 31, which is the local vendor preference.

This one is a good one.

This is great piece of legislation.

So I want to thank the uh policy team and everyone that played a role in crafting this.

Uh we all know the value of small business offer in our community and those that are local, especially.

So we want to recognize them and we want to thank them for the uh what they offer.

We know that this uh contributes directly to our tax uh uh to our tax base and they hire uh local uh our neighbors and our friends and our families.

Uh this will establish a certified uh local vendor program to support uh Providence uh business.

Uh it gives local business a leg up in the uh bidding process and it attracts uh new business and is sustained those uh already uh established.

See, we uh promote to buy local to shop local, uh, but I think that uh hiring local is also just as important.

So this yeah highlights that and it works with the small business and and it puts something in process where they can actually uh bid for this local contract and uh be part of the uh competition.

Thank you so much.

Further discussion, Councilman Peterson.

Thank you.

I just want to echo um majority leaders' uh comments on this particular uh ordinance uh proposal.

We um I think this is a really great way to not only bring some of our local vendors into the process of being able to do business with the city, but also um appreciate and value in a way when we have so many of our businesses that are currently um not doing as great.

We like to try and uh and support in whatever possible way, and this is just one of as we often talk about tools in the toolbox.

So thank you very much for the opportunity, and I look forward to continuing to talk about this.

Thank you.

Further discussion?

Councilman Ryas.

I just want to add to the choir of voices.

Uh this is a um a really great ordinance.

I support it, and if I may I would like to co-sponsor as well.

Um I just I will I I shared all of the sentiments my colleagues have already said, and I just want to state that I'm surprised that we uh didn't have something like this that already existed.

So uh shout out to the sponsor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Further discussion?

Councilwoman Anderbaugh.

Um I just wanted to uh rise on item number thirty and commend our colleague uh councilwoman Davidson putting this forward as we're seeing more and more intense storms and also as she already mentioned rising water tables across the city.

We're seeing flooding across all of our neighborhoods, and I really just want to commend Councilwoman Davidson.

She took this on immediately upon coming into office and really dug into uh like a pretty technical fix to the ordinance um to make this work better.

So I just wanted to give my strong support and I'm excited for us to evaluate it in committee.

Further discussion.

Hearing none, all in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Uh Madam Clerk, please refer 30 to uh the special committee on environment and resiliency and 31 to the committee on ordinances.

So noted.

Item 32.

Madam President, wash the way the reading of it 32 and passing a voice vote.

Second.

We have a motion and a second, and before I open the floor for discussion, um please allow me the great pleasure of reading this resolution.

Whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk, a time-honored and vital part of local government exists throughout the world, and whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk is the oldest among public servants, and whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk provides the professional link between the citizens, the local governing bodies, and agencies of government at other levels, and whereas professional municipal clerks have pledged to be ever mindful of their neutrality and impartiality, rendering equal service to all, and whereas the professional municipal clerk serves as the information center on functions of local government and community, and whereas professional municipal clerks continually strive to improve the administration of the affairs of the office of the professional municipal clerk through participation in education programs, seminars, workshops, and the annual meetings of their state, provincial, county, and international professional organizations.

Now, therefore, be it resolved, in honor of professional municipal clerks week, stretching from May 3rd through May 9th, 2026, that the City Council of the City of Providence hereby recognizes the accomplishments and the importance of the office of the professional municipal clerk.

Thank you.

Counselors, discussion on item 32.

Councilman Rice.

Thank you, um President.

Just wanna just of course shout out our amazing clerks, the best clerks in any municipal government around, should I add.

There's so many things I could say.

I mean, like, Tina, uh just call you randomly, you pick up uh you are you you center me, you're also sort of my therapist.

Um it's not in the job description.

Uh but when when city government is moving faster than I can manage it, you keep me sane.

And all of you, really.

Um, whenever I need a citation, and it's like literally last minute, you never I don't know if you hang up the phone and say, Oh, this council council of Royus, but I don't hear it.

But I I appreciate uh you all doing that for me, and you just always come through no matter what.

And um, so I I I just I I appreciate you, and I just couldn't operate as a counselor without you, so thank you.

Councilwoman Anderbaugh.

Can't really top that, but I just wanted to say thank you.

You guys, the whole building would fall apart without you.

City functions would cease to operate, and we appreciate the heck out of you.

I appreciate the heck out of you.

Thank you for all that you guys do.

I didn't know you were offering therapy services, so I'm gonna have to call.

But no, for real though, thank you so much.

You guys are such superheroes, and everything would fall apart without you.

And I hope you you guys uh you deserve all the recognition.

I wish every day, every week should be City Clerks Week because you guys do so much.

Councilor Goncalls.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'm just here to reiterate what was already said.

You guys are the lifeline of this city.

Truly, like nothing functions in this city without you.

And you're just so instrumental to everything that happens in our communities every single day.

Gosh, we love you dearly.

So thank you, thank you, thank you for all the ways that you serve the people of Providence.

And I know we're just gonna hear from so many people, but look, there's one thing that we can all agree on, and it's that we have the best city clerks, not only in the city of Providence or the state, but in the whole country.

So thank you for all that you do.

We love you dearly.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Further discussion, Councilwoman Harris After almost 12 years, I have to say bitter.

Councilwoman Davidson.

Yeah, I just want to say all of you were so instrumental in helping me settle down, get oriented, just sort of be able to function quickly in this job.

So thank you so much.

I wasn't aware of the therapy services, so so noted.

Thank you so much.

Councilwoman Graves.

I have to stand for this one.

I want to say thank you to all of you.

And thank you for the candy.

Thank you for I like going into the office.

They always have a stash in there.

When you're feeling down, I agree with you, they bring you right back up.

And they always come through at the last minute.

I'm another one that can win at the last minute.

I actually need 15, 20, maybe 50 of these things, and they always come through.

And sometimes I don't have anything written out.

This is what I want.

And can you just do it?

And they do it, and they do it professionally without complaining, and they always smiling.

They are the best.

You are all the best.

And you put up with us throughout the day, and then you come back in the evening and you put up with us some more.

It's like you guys are gluttons for punishment.

And but we appreciate it.

Keep on doing what you're doing.

Thank you so much.

Majority leader.

I actually think this should have been the last item on the agenda.

I don't.

We really would have had some fun.

But I'll keep this uh short and simple.

Uh you make our jobs a lot easier, and uh we could not function without you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Further discussion, Councilman Vargas.

I think.

Well, thank you is not enough for you guys.

We have emergency for any salation or anything, or also call it.

Hey, you have to be here at this time.

You guys doing the great, great job.

Thank you again.

And I very appreciate it.

Any citation can you do for my people?

One say, I never receive any citation for my work could do it for many years.

And I say, you know, but you deserve for that people can make it for you happen, is the clear in my city town.

Thank you so much.

Councilman Peterson.

I won't belabor the point, but um with everything that everybody said, I think one of the things that I want to make sure that I um put across is that when our neighbors also come, they very much share how wonderful every single one of you are and so willing to support and so willing to assist.

And um you truly are the unsung heroes of everything that we do, so thank you very much.

Further discussion, Councilman Vargas.

Uh-oh.

Hey, you deserve everything, huh?

Don't ask for a raise, we don't have no money.

Thank you very much for all your work you do, though.

You work for 15 people.

Plus your staff.

God bless you then.

I appreciate what you do though.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Hearing none, all in favor.

Oh, and Madam Kirk, please open the vote.

The vote is open.

The vote is closed.

That is 15 eyes.

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

Thank you all so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And allow me to add my shout out as a point of personal expression.

Truly, uh, Madam Clerk, you and every single person in your office always find a way for all of us in this room, for every um resident that comes seeking information.

You there is no no in the vocabulary, and it is so much appreciated.

Thank you.

Item 33.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 33.

Pro Tempicharto.

Madam President, thank you very much.

Uh uh colleagues, this uh resolution urges passage by the Rhode Island General Assembly of House Bill H 8474 and the Senate Companion Senate Bill S 3174, which would rename the state bridge crossing Smith Street over the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 95 in honor of George Knee.

George Knee is a person that I've gotten to know for the past couple of decades now.

And with your indulgence and uh your recommendation, I'm going to do justice by reading his resolution, if you don't mind.

Whereas George Knee began his decades of labor organizing and leadership in the 1969 United Farm Workers of America Great Boycott in Dorchester, Massachusetts, demonstrating his resolve and his solidarity with working people.

And whereas that solidarity deepened with his within his assignment to Rhode Island in support of the 1971 letters boycott, where his experience with farm workers deeply influenced his belief that labor organizing and collective action would allow working people to control their lives and economic futures.

And whereas, in part, due to his efforts in organizing jewelry, clerical health care workers upon his return to Rhode Island in the years following the 1971 letters boycott.

And whereas Nee was hired by the Rhode Island AFO AFL CIO in 1983, serving as staff representative, executive director, secretary treasurer, and finally president of his tenure and remaining a steadfast champion of Rhode Islanders and their right to organize and whereas after 15 years as president of the Rhode Island AFL CIO and having held a vocation as a labor organizer and leader of 54 years, Ni retired from the presidency of the Rhode Island AFL CIO in 2024, having left an unparalleled legacy and abiding influence for the labor movement in Rhode Island, and whereas the Providence City Council wishes to convey its gratitude for the diligence, fortitude, and commitment of George Knee and all of the leaders of the labor movement in Rhode Island following his death, his dead.

Now therefore be resolved that the Province City Council supports and urges passage by the Rhode Island General Assembly of the House Bill H 8474 and his Senate companion Senate Bill S 3170, which would rename the state bridge crossing Smith Street over the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 95 in honor of George Knee.

Be it further resolved that upon passage, copies of this resolution be transmitted to lead sponsors, Representative Christopher Blasadewski, Senator Jacob Basilian, Speaker of Rhode Island House of Representative K.

Joseph Sakarshin, President of Rhode Island Senate Valerie Lawson, the renaming members of the Providence delegation to the General Assembly and to the Rhode Island AFO CIO to express the strong support of the Providence City Council for House Bill H 8474 and Senate Bill S 3170.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Further discussion.

I oh, please.

If it's appropriate, I also wanted to recognize that within us uh in our chamber is also now the current president, uh a strong leader that has come up the rank, and that is our own Patrick Crowley, Secretary of Director of AFL CIO.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Patrick.

Thank you, Pro Tem.

Further discussion on item 33.

Hearing none, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Please refer 33 to the special committee on state legislative affairs.

So noted.

Item 34.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Second, Madam President.

You have a motion.

May I may I ask for a reading of the resolution?

I'm not sure when to do that.

Whereas, though hearing and speech disabilities are rarely discussed, these are serious and often treatable conditions that affect an estimated 48 million Americans.

And whereas there are many ways that individuals in our community have acquired these conditions, some are born with them, others develop them after an injury or illness, and many others develop hearing issues as a result of occupational noise exposure.

And whereas untreated hearing loss is a major public health priority that affects many people in our community and in other communities, individuals who may not know that they should be screened and treated.

And whereas when someone shows signs of hearing loss, they may be averse to screening due to social stigmas around hearing loss and aging.

And whereas, even when an individual is diagnosed with hearing loss, the high cost of hearing aids and the inadequacy of insurance coverage for them can prevent members of our community from realizing the immense benefits of quality hearing.

And whereas early identification and treatment for hearing loss can significantly improve the ability of city residents to succeed at school and in the workplace and to enjoy a rich quality of life.

And whereas screening and treating hearing loss is also a critical way for adults to preserve their health as untreated hearing loss is linked to cognitive decline in older adults.

And whereas the Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing promotes resources for individuals experiencing hearing loss and their families, provides interpretation and captioning referral services, and operates a lending library of information and assistive technology.

And whereas Better Hearing and Speech Month raises awareness about the importance of hearing and speech health, and it is an annual reminder for adults to pursue hearing loss screening and intervention.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Providence hereby acknowledges and honors May as better hearing and speech month, and that this council encourages adults in our community to be screened and treated for hearing loss.

And be it further resolved that the City Council of the City of Providence hereby transmits this resolution to Mayor Brett Smiley, the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, and to Michelle Klein, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Councilwoman Davidson.

Thank you, Madam President.

Yeah, I just I wanted to bring this forth because as we know, hearing loss affects one in seven Americans, and I'm one of them.

I live with three odd adult onset conditions that impact my hearing otosclerosis, tittatus, and many Air's disease.

I am also very lucky because surgery and hearing aids provide help with the first two conditions, and diet and stress management have prevented the latter from worsening.

I know stress management.

What am I doing here?

But working on it.

Nevertheless, while I live with a significant degree of hearing loss, I'm well aware that many others do not have my good fortune.

I've been able to afford hearing aids and to have access to medical care that has made a huge difference.

For many, hearing loss causes social isolation that has real consequences.

When it's hard to hear, it can be easy to give up.

There's only so many times that you can ask your friends, family, and coworkers to speak up.

You decide that going to the fun dinner at the loud restaurant just isn't worth it.

We lose work opportunities and our relationships can suffer.

The mental health toll of hearing loss is real for so many of our friends, family members, and neighbors.

And as the resolution states, anyone hearing me or reading these words, get a baseline hearing test.

By the time we get to be older adults, 50% of us will have significant hearing loss.

And if you don't already, you probably know somebody who does.

So, but there's a lot of interventions, so please, please, please get your hearing checked if you can.

As many residents who come to this chamber know well, participating in meetings here can be incredibly difficult.

My friends with excellent hearing tell me that even for them, it used to be hard to understand what is said, both by members of this council and members of the public.

So I want to thank the many people who have made this space more accessible.

Special project manager Darius Henderson, the City Council Comm staff, Department of Public Property have all worked under the determined leadership of City Council Chief staff June Rose to do a huge amount of work in this echoing 19th century space.

The improvements that they have made include microphone upgrades, speakers installed all over the place, new carpeting that absorbs and transmits sounds better, and especially the monitors that we have here.

They display the live stream video with live captioned transcriptions.

This in particular makes a giant difference.

I love to hear your words, but I am usually reading your words when you speak because I really need that extra accommodation and support and to many, many other people who visit us here.

Um the electronic voting system helps a lot too.

You can sort of see as well as hear what is happening.

So, you know, for me and many others, these changes really provide vital access.

This building belongs to the people of Providence, and for so for so many more people.

You can now participate in our democracy in this space in the ways that we should.

So I just want to say kudos to all of you who made this difference.

It is really making me possible making it possible for me to do this job.

It makes it possible for members of the public to access our work.

So way to go.

It's great.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Councillor.

Further discussion.

Madam President.

I just want to rise and uh commend uh Councilwoman Joe Davison for this resolution and also bringing attention to the hearing impair and also the improvement that we've made here.

Um I know that we all have our own uh uh probably at times health issues as we get older.

Uh, as a veteran, many of us uh who serve um have uh hearing loss uh as we grow a little older, uh including myself.

Uh we have those disability, and I'll tell you uh those improvements have really helped a lot.

And uh through our leadership and our staff has been uh very uh positive, but also for for our audience.

So thank you for bringing this to our attention and uh congratulations and thank you uh to the staff for making this in June, hearing us out from the beginning when you got here.

Thank you.

Discussion on item 34.

Hearing none.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

Um so oh no, we're good.

Uh we were opening the vote.

Yep.

The vote is open.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

And the vote is closed.

You have 15 eyes.

The motion carries the matters passed on a voice vote.

Item 35.

Madam President, majority leader.

What's it the way the reader of item 35?

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 35.

Councilman Gong.

Thank you, Madam President.

So tonight I rise in support of this resolution, opposing the demolition of four historic homes on Brooke Street in the heart of Ward 1 in Fox Point.

These homes are really a part of our history in the city of Providence.

And uh PPS actually did some really great research on this and found that two of these homes were owned by black families.

In fact, there were homes connected to Alexander Gorham, a black real estate developer and philanthropist in the 1800s, as well as the Fuller family, and it has an important history related to uh Fox Point, all of these structures.

And as we know, once these structures are demolished, they're gone forever.

So I've been working with many of the neighborhood of Butters to oppose the demolition of these historic homes.

And Brown is currently proposing an economics building in uh this area, and more than 700 residents across our ward and across the city, in fact, have signed a petition that we've circulated in collaboration with the Providence Preservation Society and other stakeholders.

And so we understand that Brown has to grow.

We understand that preservation and progress do not have to be mutually exclusive.

And Brown has successfully in the past incorporated historic structures and development before, and so we're hoping that they can do so again.

And this resolution isn't anti-Brown's new economic building.

It's really about our history, it's pro-community, and that's why we want to make sure that the folks who are opposed to this, their their voices are heard loud and clear.

And we're asking that Brown simply pause, engage with the public meaningfully, and evaluate alternatives and including adaptive reuse before uh the reversible outcome of demolishing these homes.

So I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution and to stand with my neighbors in calling for a more thoughtful path forward.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Counselor.

Further discussion on item 35.

Hearing none, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Please refer 35 to the committee on public works.

So noted.

Item 36.

Madam President.

Majority leaders.

And passing a voice vote.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second discussion.

Councilman Gonkoffs.

Thank you, Madam President.

In a similar vein to the other resolutions that we've heard tonight, I want to make sure that we elevate mental health.

Mental health impacts nearly every family in every community.

Yet so many people suffer in silence.

And so this resolution is to recognize mental health awareness month and calls attention to the importance of reducing stigma and expanding access to care, particularly for those in high stress uh professions or just those who are dealing with mental health or substance abuse issues anywhere in our city.

And I want to recognize uh PC student, in fact, uh Lauren Buxton for helping bring attention to this issue and for her advocacy around mental health awareness, and that's why we introduced this.

So uh seeking help for anyone in our city should never be seen as a weakness, and by taking openly uh um or or talking openly about this issue, uh particularly mental health, we can certainly save lives.

So I respectfully ask for your support on this resolution.

Thank you for the discussion.

Uh Councilman Reyes.

Thank you, Madam President.

I want to thank the sponsor of this uh resolution.

This is uh very near and dear to me.

Um as some of you know, I'm a clinician and I serve as a uh school social worker, and we're actually celebrating mental health awareness month at my school.

I have a few thoughts about this that I will probably share every time there's uh uh mental health awareness month.

But we are seeing uh a dismantling of uh support uh services for mental health.

Um when we had the COVID pandemic, we for the first time in my lifetime, you know, I uh we we saw this surge in support now because the uh COVID pandemic has seemingly gone away, um we are governments have now um uh sort of um cut funding um to to support um folks struggling with their mental health.

You know, I I want to just ask you all to think about uh the upcoming budget, uh PPSD in particular, and look at and all all across Rhode Island we're seeing school districts cut uh mental health staff, and so I ask that you think about um the consequences if PPSD proposes a budget that cuts social workers from our district and think about what that will do uh to students.

Um I also just want to use this platform to echo a few more things.

It just the resources that we have.

I want to remind folks uh to use the 988 suicide hotline if you are in crisis.

I also want to call attention to BH Link, which is the adult crisis hotline for adults in crisis, and then there's kids link for a child in crisis.

Um I will just admit and be vulnerable or share share uh uh some of my vulnerability tonight is that I've used um BHLink in particular when I felt like I was experiencing a crisis, and I was uh fielded to someone of Rhode Island-based clinician who was compassionate, uh, just simply listened and then uh uh re-rallied me to the um to a service that was appropriate for where I was in life.

And so I I would just echo those supports and on a personal note, um, we all join this space because we want to do right for people.

And uh that sometimes comes out comes with sort of secondary trauma.

And a famous uh uh psychotherapist named Carl Jung uh once termed uh a concept for this.

He he called it a wounded healer, and so much of we take on even from our residents, though their stories can impact us, and just to be mindful of your own mental health.

And you know, we we as we as elected officials sometimes believe we have to have it so put together.

And um I think that is uh I I think that's a mistake.

I think um residents love authenticity and your families deserve you to be at your best self.

And so um I would encourage my colleagues here that if you've you're feeling like you need support to use the resources.

We are not uh superheroes.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Counselor.

Further discussion, 36 through 38.

Hearing none.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions, the motions pass.

It's all an electronic vote.

I'm so sorry.

Electronic vote.

The vote is open.

Thank you.

And the vote is closed.

You have 15 ayes.

The motion carries the matters are approved on a voice vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 39.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What should the way they're reading about 39?

Second.

We have a motion and a second discussion.

Item 39, Councilman Peterson.

If I could please ask the city clerk to read this resolution um into the record.

Thank you.

Whereas Jeannie Lippett, having been deafened from scarlet fever fever at the age of four, lacked an equal and accessible opportunity for a comprehensive education.

And whereas Rhode Island had no school for the deaf prior to and following initial demographic and educational reporting on the deaf community in Rhode Island in 1836, with the state instead subsidizing education for deaf students at the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, and at the Horace Mann School in Boston, Massachusetts.

And whereas determined that Jeannie learned to speak, Mary Ann Lippett developed a method of teaching both lip reading and speech for Jeannie, with later teachers including Harriet B.

Rogers, Mary C.

Wheeler, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Alexander Graham Bell furthering the education of her daughter.

And whereas, in recognition of the unmet needs of deaf and hard of hearing children in Rhode Island, Mary Ann Lippett founded the Rhode Island School for the Deaf in 1876.

And whereas, through the diligence and commitment of Lippett, and that of her husband, Governor Henry Lippett, the Rhode Island School for the Deaf became a state public school the following year.

And whereas the Rhode Island School for the Deaf is a public school providing an expansive bilingual and bicultural education to students from Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts and fostering academic and personal growth from preschool preschool through high school.

And whereas in the 150 years since its founding, the Rhode Island School for the Deaf has incorporated the linguistic, pedagogical, and social emotional advancements made by and in support of deaf and hard of hearing people and in furtherance of the empowerment and inclusion of its students.

And whereas the life of Jeannie Lippett and the ensuing work of her mother Mary Ann influenced innovative and progressive education for both deaf and hearing students generally, with Mary C.

Wheeler going on to found the Wheeler School and Harriet B.

Rogers going on to found what later became the Clark's Schools for Hearing and Speech.

And whereas the Providence City Council wishes to convey its gratitude for and support of an abiding institution that has educated and empowered deaf and hard of hearing children for over 150 years.

Now therefore, be it resolved that the Providence City Council hereby honors the life and legacy of Jeannie Lippett, whose life inspired tireless advocacy for the education of deaf and hard of hearing people.

And be it further resolved that the Providence City Council hereby officially renames the street known as Corless Park to Jeannie Lippett Circle, ensuring the abiding presence of the name and legacy of Jeannie Lippett and the continued inspiration toward advocacy for the empowerment and inclusion of all people, and be it further resolved that upon passage copies of this resolution be transmitted to the family of Jeannie Lippett, the Lippett House Museum, the Rhode Island School of the Deaf, the United States Postal Service Postmaster for Providence, the Office of the City of Providence, Director of Public Works, Patricia A.

Coin Faye, and the Office of the Mayor of Providence, Brett P.

Smiley.

Thank you very much.

I know we're only referring this to committee right now, but I did promise that I would convey a quick message on behalf of this.

And really, I just wanted to highlight these really wonderful students that brought me in and made me understand their need.

And I um I'm thoroughly appreciative of that moment.

But the other part to this is um how wonderful it is to see that they're so civically engaged.

They've done their research about what they wanted, and I've been able to not only learn quite a bit, but also see them walk this path of learning and being very civically engaged.

So I look forward to being able to do this with them at each step, and I welcome you all to be able to do that as well.

Um they're gonna be watching this, I think, tomorrow.

So I just wanted to make sure that I gave a quick um shout out about that.

And it's also pretty appropriate, being that we've just um submitted a resolution for the Better Hearing and Speech Month as as counselors.

So thank you very much, and I look forward to presenting this in committee.

Thank you, Counselor Councilman Gonkovski.

Thank you, Madam President, Counselor Peterson.

I just want to thank you for putting this forward.

As you all know, the Lipid House is in Ward 1, and anything that we can do to recognize the Lippitt family and their contributions and their impact on students all across our our city is something that we certainly ought to do.

Is you know she was uh a mentor and in many cases inspired folks like Mary C.

Wheeler, and these are both very powerful women who advanced education, not only in our city, but in our entire state.

And you know, I have had the honor of going to Wheeler as a student, but also having had the honor of teaching there for uh many years, and I mean their inspiration, whether it's Mary C.

Wheeler or uh Miss Slippett, they've done so much for all of our communities, and that legacy uh certainly lives on.

And then uh Madam President, I want to just make sure I am uh rising in support of the resolution that we introduced.

I apologize on uh Jewish American Heritage Month.

Um, and I want to acknowledge the many organizations and faith communities that continue strengthening Jewish life here in Rhode Island, whether that's the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, uh Temple withel, Temple Emanuel, uh Congregation, Beth Shalom, Chabad, the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, and so many others.

And I know we have many or two members, I should say, of our body that um identify as uh Jewish, and so uh really appreciate your partnership, uh, particularly Counselor Davidson.

Thank you so much for co-sponsoring this resolution uh with me.

And I also just want to thank Stephanie Haig, who's here.

Thank you so much, Stephanie.

Let's give her a round of applause.

And I know Emily Goudreau was supposed to uh potentially be here, but uh we are grateful for their work and their advocacy and helping bring attention to this important uh recognition as we acknowledge Jewish Heritage Month this this month, not only in our city, but all across uh our our country and our globe.

So it's really important that we're recognizing and celebrating our neighbors, and I respectfully ask you for your support on this resolution.

Thank you, Madam President.

Further discussion on item 39.

Uh Councilman discussion on item 38.

Uh 38 is we've passed item 38.

Sorry.

Point of personal expression after we uh move.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Oh, sorry, Council.

So after let's move through.

Oh, after.

Okay.

Yeah.

Further discussion on 39.

Uh hearing none.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstention?

Uh Madam Clerk, please refer 39 to the committee on ERP.

So noted.

Councilman Davidson, point of personal expression.

I was I off mic, I said maybe I'm being extra deaf tonight, so my apologies.

Um so I just wanted to briefly say um in support of item 38.

Um I come from a proud Jewish American family.

Um I had two grandfathers who had very different backgrounds.

One came here, one family came here in the 1830s, one whose family came much later.

They didn't agree on very much.

But one thing they both did agree on, both World War II vets were kid, you're an American.

That's what they would both say to me separately and often.

You know, sometimes as a Jewish kid, you don't know where how to say where you're from.

Where's your family from?

I got the forever everywhere.

It's hard to explain.

So I take, I always took such pride in being a citizen of the United States in my American heritage and in my Jewish faith.

But you know, just sort of like the specific wording of this Jewish American heritage had means so much to me personally.

I think I speak for a lot of people in that.

And so I just want to thank you all for your support in this.

Um really speaks to us, especially these days, an age of rising anti-Semitism.

No, we are here.

We belong here.

This is our country, and I'm super proud of it.

So thank you all for your support.

Thank you, Councilor.

Item 40.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Second, Madam President.

Any discussion on item 40?

Hearing none, Madam Clerk.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Uh yes, just briefly.

Uh this resolution uh calls for um the Providence Public School system as we continue the debate on uh on the budget to speak to us and figure out a plan for the over 250 or 300 students that are uh homeless, uh quote unquote.

And I think that uh it's uh not only a message for us to deal with as we continue to highlight the need for housing and those who are renting uh and so forth, that it's an immediate address that we need to make sure that families are housed, children are have some consistency and predictability in their own life.

And so this resolution calls on PPSD to come before the uh ways and means committee committee, right?

Uh to come and present uh what is the plan going forward with that with our youth.

Thank you.

Discussion.

Councilman Rayas.

Thank you.

And I know I'm uh talking a lot tonight.

I just uh want to uh thank the sponsors of this resolution.

It's um I I've often sort of preached that uh PPSD kind of keeps a steady uh record, unfortunately has been steady around 400 students from PPSD that have are experiencing homelessness in different uh different levels.

Um and we have the line share, unfortunately, of um uh students in a public school district compared to other school districts, and so it's a it's a serious issue, and probably one that's not getting enough attention.

Um I I could be because mental health awareness month is in the back of my mind.

I you know, I I think this um we often when we talk about young people experiencing homelessness, they often are accompanied with depression, anxiety, and um and the solution often is you know, some good natured folks might say, Well, well, I'm gonna I'm gonna uh you know refer your family uh to um maybe some out outpatient um uh services, and what they really need is a roof over their head or or a landlord that's not gonna raise their rents, and so you can't therapy therapy's uh uh a student out of homelessness or family out of homelessness.

Um and so um, you know, when I when I think about when I was a home-based clinician, um I would meet with clients and I would see all their diagnoses on paper, and I'm like, well, I think some of this would go away if they had heat, if they had food, if they had a roof over their head.

Um, and so we kind of treat mental health and uh these systemic issues as if it's there's something innate or innately wrong about a person rather than serve their their beast basic needs, and it goes sort of goes back to the Maslow's hierarchy of needs, not to sound sort of like a like a geek, uh, but um this reminded me of that, and so I thank the sponsors uh for starring that conversation.

Thank you, counselor.

Further discussion.

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please open the votes.

Vote is open, the vote is open.

And the vote is closed.

You have 15 ayes.

The motion carries the matters approved on a voice vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 41.

Madam President, majority leader.

What's it the way the reading of item 41 and pass for the first time on a raw code vote?

Second.

Uh we have a motion and a second.

Councilman Ander Rock for discussion.

Thank you so much, Madam President.

I rise in strong support of this ordinance.

Um, and I hope that you will um all join me in voting yes on this.

And I just wanted to share a little additional information.

The special committee on the environment resilience heard a really stunning presentation from Director De La Cruz from the Office of Direct Department of Sustainability and our um Energy Administrator David Ruggiero.

And this body passed two enabling pieces of uh uh two enabling pieces of legislation over the past couple years, the building energy reportings ordinance and the um carbon neutral buildings ordinance requiring all municipal buildings to be carbon neutral by 2040.

And the city uh under the direction of uh Director De La Cruz, sorry, my brain is in like a thousand places today, um, uh is doing just a frankly stunning job in implementation of that ordinance.

Um uh David Rugerio, the director of energy, um, has released a decarbonization pathway plan for the city.

If you haven't seen it yet or received a copy, I'm happy to get you one.

It is I keep using the word stunning, but it is like when you have such professional people working for this city and they're enabled to do their jobs well, what you get is excellence, and it's just like I like I cried on the way home, which I admitted to the other committee the other day, just being so proud of the work that's happening and the example that Providence is setting for the rest of the country in doing this work and for the residents of this city.

And so this ordinance here creates a green revolving fund.

As the um as the team has been implementing the decarbonization plan, we are seeing real savings from these projects.

In the last two years, we are now saving about seven percent on our energy bills, um, which is a very large quantity of um uh of funds.

And you might notice that your energy bills have been going up quite a bit over the last few uh few years.

They are certainly not going down seven percent.

So the work that we are doing to decarbonize to invest in energy efficiency, it is working, not just to help the environment, but to save our residents and our taxpayers real money.

Um and so we'll be reinvesting those savings into this green revolving fund.

We'll also be investing um uh any sort of incentives that we get from the federal government or from um the utility or from the state back into this so that we can continue to fund future projects.

And especially in the face of increasing hostility to clean energy from our federal administration and frankly also from our current state government.

Um Providence leading the way and showing, hey, we're seeing savings and we're gonna create our own incentives to keep doing this.

Is um we are showing real leadership um in doing so.

And I also just want to point out um the um the support we've received, not just from the environmental community, but the public testimony we received on this was all from the the building trades.

We saw the IBW, the steel workers, the AFL CIO, Climate Jobs Rhode Island, um, folks coming out to say that this is gonna help preserve real jobs in this state um as we move forward with decarbonizing our building.

So it's a really great ordinance.

Um I was really proud to sponsor it and work in partnership with Priscilla and David to move this forward.

And I just on record really want to commend them.

They are doing just a stunning job, not just on this, but on so much else, and really leading the way not just in our state but in our nation and creating um uh a really vital program.

So I hope you'll join me in voting yes on this.

And we are moving it quickly, though we've reviewed it thoroughly because there are federal incentives that are disappearing quickly.

And David uh Rugerio raised for us that um we could lose out on some federal money if we don't move this quickly.

And so we heard that call.

We met on a Friday at 5 p.m.

Thank you to my committee members that we could vote this out of committee last week in time for this meeting so that we grab every little bit of federal incentive that we can before those disappear and invest them here in our city.

So that was longer than I meant it to be, but I'm really excited about this, and I hope you all, every single one of you join me in voting yes on this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilman Santos.

Thank you, Madam President.

I was really trying to go all menial while saying anything, but I would uh be regretted to not uh give um the flowers uh councilmanwoman and roll deserves um on this and everything environmental related that we have done as a uh whole city council.

Um I'm not gonna lie, you guys probably know already.

Environmental policy is definitely not my cup of tea.

Uh but entering or closing out year four as a city councillor.

I have learned so so much um in in this committee of sustainability and resiliency.

Uh uh having the opportunity and and uh to interact and learn from Councilman Innerbaugh and all the amazing people at sustainability.

Uh this department does wonders, uh punches so so above their weight uh when it comes to uh resources and bringing in dollars and savings.

Uh so I'm committed to continuing this work uh to keep moving our city in the right direction.

Uh but I just want to make sure that Councilwoman Anderal gets uh her very uh deserving flowers on this work um because it's so so important.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilor.

Further discussion on 41.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Thank you very much.

I just wanted to make sure that I um reiterated exactly what uh councillor Sanchez has just said.

Um I had the pleasure of attending a League of Cities and Towns conference uh a few weeks back, and one thing that I noticed was I went into an environmental resiliency um uh seminar, and it happened to be our own city of Providence that was actually leading and teaching the rest of the cities and towns what we were doing as innovative, and and it was all led obviously by director Cruz as well as um uh David.

And um it was interesting to be able to learn it as a person that also doesn't know and understand as much um as my counterpart over here, but I'm very thankful that I was able to, and also to see um uh see the the feedback that we got from other cities and towns about how we are very much leading the way, and that made me feel really good because we um oftentimes we don't ever get to give our departments flowers.

Um, and this is one of those times where we absolutely should.

We are very much um allowing for an opportunity to create some savings and and hopefully we'll be able to do so many other wonderful things with this.

So if I'm allowed to, I would love to be a sponsor on this as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Rice.

Madam President, I uh I uh I said I was gonna this we I said previously it was gonna be my last time speaking, but I do have to give counsel And Oboire flowers as well, just an amazing uh leader on of this committee.

I've learned so much as so much as well.

Um if decarbonization doesn't move you then let cost savings move you for those who might be fiscally uh grounded in terms of uh how they view policy.

Um the one thing I will add is uh my daughter also had was invited to this committee two times and she she shared some great reviews and that may be related to Chair Ander Ba giving her cookies uh but uh but it was it was great and and so I also encourage you all to to support this ornaments it's really really great work and I'm a cynical of government often uh but this committee has been doing really great work um because of uh council and wall.

Thank you.

Councilman Gonkaus.

Thank you.

I would be remiss also if I didn't give my flowers to Councilwoman Andrew Brah.

She's done a great job on all of these issues related to the environment.

It's gonna be a huge huge void on this body without having your knowledge and your expertise on all issues related to the environment.

So I want to thank you for your leadership for the last several years to advance these issues and to ensure that we're a green city that's leading on decarbonization.

Uh and as I've been very open about on a pretty rapid timeline.

I mean, we should be moving faster.

Um I would love for us to be doing this by 2030, but I know 2040 and sometimes 2050 gets thrown out there because um climate change is real, and what we're seeing up at the federal level and the rollbacks that we're seeing all across this country means that it's going to have catastrophic catastrophic effects on on all of us.

And I just want to say that you've been a great leader in this arena, and we're so so grateful for everything that you've done to decarbonize our city to make sure we're leading the way on uh solving this climate crisis and Providence is going to have to lead the charge on this when other people unfortunately don't.

And so I just want to thank you again for all that you're doing along these lines.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you for the discussion.

Hang on.

Madam Clerk, please uh call the roll and open the vote.

The vote is open.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority with Andrew Bois.

Yes.

Councilor Davidson, yes.

Majority Leader Espinall.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Graves.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Yes.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo.

C.

Yes.

Councilor Royce.

I'm gonna bring decorum back.

Yes.

Councilwoman Ryan is absent.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Yes.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Anna Vargas.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Yes.

Councilor Picchardo, thank you.

The vote is now closed.

You have 13 eyes, two absent.

The motion carries the matter is approved for the first time on a roll call vote.

Yes.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

And Councilwoman Anarch.

Item 42.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Was it the way the reader?

And pass on a voice vote.

Second, Madam President.

Any discussion on items 42 or 43.

Councilman Davidson.

So sort of saving my thunder for this one.

Just want to say that as a member of this committee, I'm extraordinarily proud to be associated with the work that's referenced here.

The ways in which we are envisioning taking care of our city.

The proactive thinking that is represented here.

It's critical to the ways in which we are going to be able to move forward as a city.

We will be leading the way in Rhode Island and nationally to demonstrate that infrastructure gets old, but our thinking doesn't have to.

So I'm delighted to be able to support this work.

Thank you, Counselor.

Further discussion on 42 or 43.

Councilman Anderbrot.

Really briefly.

Well, first, that was super fire.

Councilwoman Davidson, we're over here just fangirling you for that phrase.

Just don't want to put that on the record.

And I rise to speak on number 42.

And we have been for a moment talking about our environment committee as if it's in the past tense, but it is not because this is uh resolution on stormwater and equitable funding for stormwater and sewer management committing us uh to continued partnership with the administration and director de la Cruz and her team to investigate ways that we can be sustainably funding um infrastructure green and a little bit of gray, but mostly green infrastructure to deal with our stormwater issues.

And I like how this meeting keeps having things at the beginning at the end that reference each other, like we had the hearing, and now we have Councilwoman Davidson's earlier ordinance around um backflows and stormwater, and this is also looking to find systemic ways for us to address funding disparities and um lack of funding for stormwater infrastructure.

So that work continues, and I'm excited because we're also now talking with professionals from the city of Newport who are looking to do similar work, and instead of being in competition, we're in collaboration and trying to do this um together and more cost effectively and uh bring in a bigger brain trust.

So I'm excited for what's to come and keep your eyes peeled for um some more work coming this way uh in the next few weeks on stormwater.

Thank you, Councilor.

Further discussion, 42 or 43.

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please open the vote.

The vote is open.

The vote is closed.

You have 13 ayes, two absent.

The motion carries the matters are approved on a voice vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 44, Madam President, Majority Leader.

What should the way the reader of item 44 through 47 and pass for the first time on a roll call vote?

Second.

Any discussion?

44 through 47 hearing none.

Madam Clerk, please open the vote and call the roll.

The vote is open.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois?

Aye.

Councilor Davidson.

Aye.

Majority Leader Espinal?

Aye.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzales.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves?

Aye.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Aye.

Council President Pro Tempor Picciardo.

Aye.

Council Arroyas.

Aye, sorry, I was your councilwoman Ryan is absent.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Hi.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

Councilwoman Vargas, can you put in your electronic vote?

Thank you.

The vote is closed.

You have 13 ayes, two absent.

The motion carries the matters are approved for the first time on a roll call vote.

Thank you.

Item uh 48.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Motion to weigh the reading of item 48 through 58 and passing a voice vote.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second on items 48 through 58.

Uh discussion.

Councilman Vargas.

Thank you very much, Madam President.

I rise to ask my question to the sponsor number 48.

Where we're going to be putting the mattress depot or the Trump first station if we transfer 700 Islands Avenue to the Province Redevelopment Agency, they will sell it if they do that.

Do we have any other location where we're going to be putting this?

Um these departments that was going on down there every Saturday.

Uh councilment, so I'll answer that at throughout discussion and vetting and committee.

Uh that part of 700 Islands Avenue is not uh what we are looking to transfer over to PRA.

It's just the building that is there.

So that the mattress depot will still be there.

So it's only the green building, that's it.

Exactly and the garages underneath.

Exactly.

Not not the rest of the land.

Not the mattress depot, no.

Because you know that we have can I sorry?

Sure.

Sorry.

As we know that we know that the city though is not a good property management.

They will sell this and then later on we will look for something to rent.

Let what happened with the salt.

Remember, we sold the the building and then we rent the space for to deposit the salt for winter that we still pay in rent.

So we as a consult people we have to watch and manage how the administration works, and we have to be careful when we give the power to them to do things that we're going to regret later.

Thank you.

Further discussion 48 through 58.

Uh Madam President, how can I vote no and 48 and yes and the rest?

Madam Clerk, take it away.

We will have to take back the motion, cancel the vote, and restart.

Um withdraw your motion to pass 48 through 58.

Majority leader.

Okay.

And then just take my second.

And then uh just put forward a motion to wave the reading of item 48 alone.

All right.

So uh motion to wave the reading of item 48 and pass in a roll code vote.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

Discussion on item 48.

Hearing none.

Uh electronic vote is gonna be ready, or should we just do a voice vote?

It is open.

Okay, electronic vote open.

The vote is closed.

We have 10 ayes, one abstention, two no's.

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

Thank you.

Uh Madam Clerk.

All right, majority leader.

May I have a motion for uh 49 through 58?

Uh yes, madam president, motion to weigh the reading on it 49 through 58 and pass on a voice vote.

Second.

Any discussion on 49 through 58?

Hearing none.

Madam Clerk, please open the vote.

The vote is open.

Councilwoman Vargas.

And the vote is closed.

We have 13 ayes, two absent.

The motion carries the matters are approved on a voice vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 59.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Motion to weigh the reader, item 59 and pass for the first time on a roll call vote.

Second.

We have a motion and a second discussion.

Chairwoman Harris.

Absolutely.

Tonight I'm rise to support the community development block grant.

Budget for the program 2026 and 27.

I just want you to know what's in this budget.

This year allocation represents a total investment of approximately 5.4 million in CBDG funding, supporting critical programs and projects across the City of Providence.

When paired with the addition federal resources through home, ESG, and Hawkwa, we are collectively advancing a comprehensive strategy to support housing, stability, economic opportunities, and community well-being.

At a high level, this budget reflects a balanced and intentional approach.

Over 1.38 million invested in housing, including rehabilitation, home repairs, and affordable housing initiative, directly supporting residents' ability to remain safely in their house.

More than 750,000 in facility improvements, strengthening community-based infrastructure such as libraries, shelters, and neighborhood centers.

Over 600,000 in public service supporting frontline organizations developing food as access, health care, youth programming, and service for vulnerable population.

750,000 in neighborhood investments across all 15 wards, ensuring that every community and province see direct tangible benefits from these funds, and target economic development investments, supporting small business, workforce and development, and local economic growth.

The impact of this funding is real and immediate.

It means safer homes, stronger communities, institutions, expand access to essential service, continue investment in neighborhoods we represent.

I also want to acknowledge that this budget is the result of a thoughtful and collaborate process through the Committee of Urban Redevelopment, Renewal and Planning.

I want to give credit to also Councilwoman Vargas, Councilwoman Graves, Councilman Dunkals, and of course our magnificent vice chairman Pachado.

And these are all my colleagues that have engaged in the commitment of this process.

Also, and recognition to the Department of Housing and Human Service, particularly Emily Freeman, and Alicia Darmont of their partnership and techno guidance.

As you guys uh go around in the neighborhood and cut many of these ribbons for housings that's being built, you often see uh Emily and Alicia at those things.

That's because you have made it possible for us to continue supporting in this area.

And from the council office, of course, we have Carl Delgada and Robert Bautisa for their work in supporting the review coordination and development of this budget, which means that they work directly with each and every one of you council people.

In my case, it keeps me from having a rolling quorum or something like you know, accidentally doing something that will disturb this.

So they have been magnificent in making sure that they reach out to each and every one of us and keep us connected.

Professional municipal clerk, clerks, Claire, uh, clerks Lauren and Carissa, thank you so much.

Without your support and without your help and making sure that we stayed on point, use the right attachments under the guidance and leadership of our Tina.

You have done an amazing job for the ERP committee.

This is a strong community center budget and reflects both our federal obligations and our local priorities.

So I really would love to have each and every one of you support this budget tonight.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Chairwoman.

Further discussion, item 59.

Councilman Gon Collins.

I'm here to just say thank you to the chairwoman of this committee.

I think this is at least in my opinion, one of my favorite committees to sit on.

And um this is sad because it's gonna be your last time chairing this committee.

I think we should give councilwoman Mary Kay Harris a really big round of applause for doing this for so many years.

Um and you know, she she runs a tight ship.

Um, but the amount of resources that are going to organizations all across 15 wards, you're talking community centers, affordable housing initiatives, homelessness services, youth programs and the organizations like you know, Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce were in this uh round Amos House and Crossroads and Meals on Wheels and uh Reba, and um I'm grateful to allocate my some of my funding to uh the Matthewson Street Church.

And I know many of you and do through your own ward uh uh funding will uh continue that incredible work.

But I just want to thank all the committee members who work so hard uh to advance uh these dollars and especially want to thank chairwoman Mary Kay Harris for her leadership for so many years throughout uh this entire process.

So thank you, thank you, thank you, uh Mary Kay Harris, your legacy will live on forever, and uh you will not be able to be replaced on uh the ERP committee.

So thank you for all that you do.

Thank you.

Further discussion on item 59, Councilman Graves.

Um I just want to say ERP is a great committee to be on, but it's also one of those heartbreaking committees to be on.

Everyone that comes before us deserves something.

All of those groups that come, they come in because they are supporting the people that need the most.

They come in with stories that can break your heart, and you want to give to each and every last one of them, but we don't have the money to give to each and every last one of them.

So you have to figure out who can I give to?

How much can I give to them?

You know, um, so it's a great committee to be on, like I said, but it is really popular the the worst committee to be on to.

And I uh I applaud uh Mary Kay, um, because she's been doing it for a while, and I know that it pulls your heart strings each and every time you you do it.

Because sometimes I go home and say, well, I really like this one, but I don't know if this one can do it.

So it's it's but it's a wonderful thing that we can give to some.

You know, we can't give to all, but we can give to some, and we try to give to the the ones that we we feel needed the most, but there's no such thing as needed the most because it's always gonna be a sad story in each thing.

So we have to keep on fighting, and hopefully we can get more monies in our coffers and give more, you know.

So Mary Kay, yes, is leaving, and we're gonna cry because I don't know who's gonna take our place, but we're gonna whoever it is is gonna have uh uh shoes so big, um they're gonna be clanking because I don't know if anybody's gonna fail.

But um we need someone that has heart and soul in that position.

We need someone that's doing it because they care, not because it's another little notch in their belt, and we definitely need them badly.

We need them badly, and we need them to know what's out there.

So we don't need anybody feeling a seat.

We need somebody to go out there in the streets to know those organizations and to understand what they're all about.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you.

Further discussion, Peter.

Madam President, I rise uh in support of uh councilwoman and chairwoman uh Mary Kay Harris for the community development blood grant budget for program 2627.

Uh I think we're all in agreement with that.

Uh but I have to say uh a very special thank you, thank you to the leadership of Mary Kay Harris, a chairwoman, because I've learned and I think we all have learned, uh, she runs a tight ship, but most importantly, the inclusivity that she actually uh employs when it's uh engaging the conversation within our own city council members, but also in the community.

I know through Councilwoman uh Anavargas and and and uh many of us who sit in the in the committee, it's making sure that our points of view and that we're connecting to the community that we're serving within our ward and making sure that more people participate in this program.

It's making sure that our points of view and that we're connecting to the community that we're serving within the ward and making sure that more people participate in this program.

And like uh it was said before, we wish we had more.

But I know that in the past four years since I've been uh serving in this committee in the ERP committee, uh we've allocated over 20 million dollars here in the city council.

We should all be proud of that.

And the leadership of Mary Kay Harris uh has shown me uh that if uh we're all grace still some of us uh that are uh gonna be up there for grace to return uh to this body that we can uh continue to uh resemble that leadership of inclusivity, but also making sure that uh the points of view and that people are really heard uh in our wards in our city.

Thank you, Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, and to all the staff members who really put up with us.

Thank you, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Further discussion.

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please open the vote and call the roll.

The vote is open.

Council President Miller, aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois, aye, Councillor Davidson, recuse, majority leader Espinall, aye, senior deputy majority leader Gonçals, Councilwoman Graves, aye, Deputy Majority Leader Harris, aye, Councilwoman Peterson.

Aye, Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo?

Aye.

Council Arroyas?

Aye.

Councilwoman Ryan is absent, majority whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Yes, aye.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

The vote is now closed.

So we have 12 ayes, one recused, two absent.

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

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, ERP Committee.

Item 60, please.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Second, Madam President.

Any discussion on 60 or 61.

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please open the vote.

The vote is open.

The vote is closed.

You have 13 ayes, two absent.

The motion carries the matters are received and approved.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 62.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

What should the way the reader?

I'm 62 and pass for the first time on a row call vote.

Second.

Any discussion on item 62.

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please uh open the vote and call the roll.

The vote is open.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois.

Aye.

Councillor Davidson.

Aye.

Majority Leader Espinall.

Aye.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzals.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves?

Aye.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Aye.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo?

Aye.

Council Arroyas.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ryan is absent.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Aye.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

The vote is still open.

And the vote is closed.

You have 13 ayes, two absent.

The motion carries the matter is approved for the first time on a roll call vote.

Thank you.

Item 63.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

I should weigh the reader of item 63 and continue indefinitely.

Second.

Any discussion on 63.

Hearing none.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

I'm going to ask Council to stand at ease for a moment.

Just want to clear something up.

Which is the only thing we can never notice Madam Clerk, item 64.

Madam President, majority leader.

Well, should the way the radio ran is 64 through 71.

Second.

Any discussion on 64 through 71.

Councilwoman Anarrah.

Just super briefly, friends, because I know it's going to committee, but I rise in strong support of item 67.

This is to take what is now just an empty parking lot on North Main Street and turn it into a mixed use building.

And the person who's doing this development grew up in Providence.

His parents are immigrants.

He grew up in my neighborhood, and um it's always been his dream to own a piece of the own a piece of property and contribute to the city.

And uh it was just stunning.

I spent a morning with him talking about the property.

He had done all this like research with archives of what used to be there and how we can make it fit in with the city.

And as soon as he said vacant lot, North Main mixed use building, my little heart just like exploded.

So as I'm sure you can all imagine.

But I just am strongly in support of this, and I'm really excited to see what is now just an empty parking lot serving no one um turn into mixed use building on my one true love, North Main Street.

Um, and we just need a minor zoning change to enable that.

Thank you, counselor.

Further discussion, 64 through 71.

Hearing none, uh all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

Uh the motion passes.

Madam Clerk, 64 point of personal expression, really quickly.

Uh let's let me send these away and then just kidding.

Just kidding.

Uh no, no, we're nearly there.

Uh 64.

Please refer to the committee on public works.

Uh 64 and 65 to public works, 66 through 67 to ordinances, 68 to pending suits, 69 through 71, note as received.

So noted.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Thank you.

Very quickly, because I know we've been here for a little while, but I did want to recognize or at least highlight an issue yesterday.

Um 11 families were displaced in a fire in my neighborhood, and that equals about 20 adults and eight children.

And um while the situation is still being investigated and um there's a lot of moving parts to all of this.

I just wanted to highlight and thank some really key agencies and some I'm sorry, some really key departments that just came and did the work as we all expect in it, but to see it um firsthand.

I I was moved and also very thankful.

So I just wanted to um quickly shout out our fire department.

Um I think that for me as I I was driving home and um picking up my daughter and getting call after call after call about the fire, that's very close to my house.

And um when I got there, the sense of order and the sense of calm between all the fire department working in in unison.

It was I've never been that close to a fire before, and it was really um it was just it was impressive.

Um I really want to commend our fire department um almost always they come out and support in so many different ways.

But today, uh yesterday we were able to see it really in action, and I was really impressed and and um really appreciated that.

Um obviously the Red Cross came in.

Um these families are you learn quickly how much or how how little we do with um how much we do with so little.

Um these families are being given um opportunity and of support for two evenings, and their property manager is supposed to now help them kind of facilitate what's gonna happen going forward.

Um but I want to thank my community who immediately ward 14 stepped up as quickly as all of this was happening to ask um what can we do, how can we help, where can we go, and how many people do we need to navigate for?

So I just want to thank the Ward 14 community for really stepping up and doing that.

And lastly, um the area that it was in was on East Drive, and for those that don't know our rec department, our main offices for the rec department are actually right over over there, they're right across the street.

And um Director Sean Hawley was one of the people to call me to say, what do you need?

And um in a moment of extreme uh you know, you have to think very quickly, um, not only Pima, but American Red Cross, they all went and were able to be to support the families that were displaced right from the rec department, and he opened his doors.

for those that don't know our rec department our main offices for the rec department are actually right over over there they're right across the street and um director sean hawley was one of the people to call me to say what do you need and um in a moment of extreme uh you know you have to think very quickly um not only Pima but American Red Cross they all went and were able to be to support the families that were displaced right from the rec department and he opened his doors he's also opening his doors to be um a little bit of a um a collection uh site for families who are going to be donating for the families that are um currently at total loss so I just wanted to really highlight um our community and our services in our departments it's just um in a moment of need and in a moment of an emergency it's beautiful to see how all of this works in such a cohesive way and I know I'm thankful for it I know my neighbors are thankful for it um and I just wanted to make sure that I address that today because there's 20 adults and eight children that right now don't have a place to go and we're trying to figure all of that out but without the support of these particular departments in the moment I don't know I don't know what we would have been able to do so just a a big shout out to our fire department and our rec department and also Pima for for being there and being able to assist thank you counselor Madam President point of personal expression uh thank you I just want to take a quick moment to wish all the moms and mom figures uh that I have the privilege to serve with uh very happy uh hopefully you guys are resting as much as possible on Sunday uh Mother's Day I love you all very much and I appreciate you all uh so much and thank you for all uh your contributions and wisdom uh you give uh me on a on a weekly basis thank you thank you it goes for uh for moms as well thank you excellent uh item 72 madam president was it the way the reader of item 72 and passing a voice vote second madam president any discussion all in favor aye aye any opposed any abstentions the motion passes item 73 Madam President was it the way the the way the written around 73 and pass in a unanimous rising vote second discussion on 73 all in favor aye opposed any abstentions the motion passes madam president majority leader being that there is no further business we're tonight we're motioned to adjourn and we do that in the name of Manuel Fernando Gonzalez Penant and all of those who have passed away may they rest in peace.

Second discussion all in favor any opposed any abstentions the motion passes we are adjourned thank you all thank you