Providence City Council Meeting - Thursday, September 17, 2026

The Providence City Council met on the evening of Thursday, September 17, 2026, with 14 members present and Councilwoman Ryan absent. The council approved multiple agenda items, including a resolution honoring the Elmhurst Youth Baseball 12U team, discussed street and intersection safety measures, and adjourned in memory of community and staff family members.

Consent Calendar

• Item 3: motion to waive the reading passed.
• Items 4 and 5: passed and received.
• Items 6 through 8: referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
• Items 15 through 30: passed; items 15–17 were referred to Claims and Pending Suits, and items 18–30 were received.
• Item 31: passed.
• Item 32: passed by unanimous rising vote. The council also voted to suspend Rule 16B to take up a matter not appearing in the printed calendar.
• Items 33 and 34: passed; item 33 was referred to the Committee on ERP, and item 34 to the Special Committee on Ways and Means.

Discussion Items

• Items 9–11: Councilwoman Peterson sponsored a resolution congratulating the Elmhurst Youth Baseball 12U team on winning the Mayor’s Cup. The resolution noted the team was undefeated in the tournament and defeated Washington Park on September 6. Councilwoman Peterson, who said her children played in the league and her husband coached, recognized the 11 players and four coaches by name and extended her appreciation. The resolution passed.
• Item 12: A councilwoman spoke in support of the item, describing local street and parking difficulties and asking colleagues to consider it. The item passed and was referred to the Committee on Public Works.
• Item 13: Councilman Vargas spoke about a resolution for safety improvements at the Union Avenue ramp intersection, where a Guatemalan man was killed by a school bus about a year earlier. He said the intersection corners were in three different councilmembers’ areas, funding was coming from DOT, and passing the item that evening was necessary for the state to release the funds. The item passed.
• Personal expressions: A council member invited residents to PVD Fest during Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15), marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and expressed sympathy on behalf of the council.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution honoring Elmhurst Youth Baseball 12U passed.
• Item 12 passed and was referred to the Committee on Public Works.
• Item 13 passed.
• Item 14 passed by roll call vote: 14 ayes, 0 nays, with Councilwoman Ryan absent.
• Adjournment: The council adjourned in memory of Lorenzo Nunitz, Frankie Branch (brother of Councilwoman Thea Graves), and Luis Manuel Serrante (father of staff member Luisa Serrante), extending condolences to their families.