This weekend, a section of the Cliff Walk collapsed. Thankfully no one was walking on the section at the time, and no one was injured. City staff is currently working to evaluate the cause of the collapse and develop a plan for repair. Maintaining our infrastructure must be a priority for the City, especially as impacts from climate change continue to increase. We have to find all resources available to us – including funding at the State and Federal levels – to address these challenges.
Newport is facing a housing crisis; there is limited housing availability and high rent and home prices. A significant contributing factor is the proliferation of investor-owned short-term rental units across the City that are taking homes that could otherwise be occupied by year-round residents. Disallowing this use in residential zones will return housing stock to our neighborhoods. In January, the Council sent proposed amendments to disallow whole-home short-term rentals in residential zones to the Planning Board for review, and they will be discussing them in their Monday evening meeting.
There are two proposed amendments to the zoning ordinances. The first amendment adds the term “short term rental” to the official list of definitions in our zoning ordinances. Having an official definition is important and helps with both enforcement and communication. The second amendment removes “guest houses” as a use allowed with a special use permit in all residential zones. It is also changing the regulations in the limited business zone to require a special use permit for a guest house. This means that the only type of rental allowed for fewer than 29 days in a residential zone would be a home occupation. Home occupation allows for the rental of up to two rooms in a home while the owner is present in the unit.
The Council will receive the Planning Board’s recommendation following their meeting. At the start of our meeting on Wednesday, the Council is holding a public hearing on the proposed zoning ordinance amendments. I support these amendments because I believe they will help protect our neighborhoods and aid in resolving some of the housing shortages facing our community.
This week the City Council is meeting in person at City Hall for our regular meeting. The IT team at City Hall is working hard to get our hybrid meeting system up and running so that residents can participate in meetings from home. It is not yet operational, so this meeting will only have in-person participation available, although it will be livestreamed for viewing.
I am pleased that the St. Patrick’s Day parade will be back next weekend for the first time in two years. I hope you enjoy the festivities safely and responsibly!
Councilor Bova's Update for February 27
There are a few meetings, workshops, and information sessions happening this week that I want to make sure you are aware of.
The City Council will be meeting in person this Wednesday, March 2, to hold a workshop discussing the use of the American Rescue Plan Act funds in our City. The workshop will be held at 5:30 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting will also be streamed live but if you want to participate or speak, then you must be there in person. Newport has been allocated over $7 million in federal money to be distributed over the next few years. The City has used the last several months planning how to spend this money and has asked for input from our residents. This workshop will go over how and what the ARPA funds can be used on, the feedback from residents, recommendations from City staff, and more.
On Thursday, there will be two Public Information Sessions on Redistricting in Newport, at 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM. Both sessions will be held live in person in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
There is also a virtual meeting of the Charter Review Commission on Thursday at 4:30. An agenda with meeting log-in information has not yet been posted but I will update you when it is available.
Councilor Bova's Update for February 21
The City Council is meeting virtually again this week. Wednesday's meeting will begin with a public hearing on the City's application to the Federal CDBG Grant program. This application combines multiple needs from several City programs and non-profits into a single application. The Council will also be holding a public hearing on the FY2023-FY2027 Capital Improvement Program. The CIP is a planning document used by City staff and departments to develop the annual City budget and project proposals.
The School Department and the City have been working to begin our budget discussions earlier in the year to make decision-making clearer on both sides. In December, we had a School Budget Workshop. This week we are receiving the School Department's preliminary budget. Both the City's and the School Department's upcoming budgets are still in development, but beginning these talks now allows us to work together to better serve our entire City.
Back in September, the Council established the Tax Relief Ad Hoc Committee to study options for a more flexible tax system in Newport and appointed five members of the public to serve on the body. Since then, a few news articles have discussed the Committee's work with City staff to study and weigh different options. The discussions have ranged from studying what other communities around the state are doing to the evaluation of a tiered tax system vs. a homestead exemption. Tax relief for year-round Newport residents has long been a priority of mine, and I am glad that we have a formal body studying this issue. As their work continues, it is imperative to remember that year-round residents are both homeowners and renters; we have to take all Newporters into account. A report is due to the Council soon, and I look forward to reading it and the discussion it inspires.
Councilor Bova's Update for February 13
This week the City Council is holding a virtual special meeting on Wednesday at 6:30 to discuss and vote on the use of bond premiums on the new Rogers High School project. This item was continued during last week’s Council meeting after extensive discussion and debate amongst the Council. I did not vote to continue the vote because I felt that the Council had ample time and information to understand the issue and make a decision; I used last week’s newsletter to explain bond premiums and how they could benefit the construction of the new high school for Newport. I continue to be in support of using the bond premium this way.
The Planning Board reviewed the Local Advisory Group’s proposed amendments to the North End Zoning on Monday and voted to recommend approval to the City Council. This means that these amendments will come before the City Council soon. These are significant and necessary amendments that will improve and protect the quality of life for our residents and neighborhoods. I will notify you when the Council is set to consider them.
Councilor Bova's Update for February 6
The City Council will be meeting virtually again this Wednesday. We are receiving the FY2023 – FY2027 Capital Improvement Plan; a public hearing on the CIP will be held on February 23. The CIP is a planning document used by City staff and departments to develop budget and project proposals. Each year, a new CIP is approved by the Council, building on previous versions.
There are items on this week's docket related to the funding for the construction of the addition to Pell Elementary and the new Rogers High School. They get into a technical aspect of municipal finance and municipal bonds, called a bond premium. When a municipality issues a bond, the bond premium is an amount above the original bond value that the bonding agent pays the municipality – effectively a share of the profit from the bond sale.
The School Building Committee is asking the Council to grant them access to the additional income from the bond premium to cover some of the costs for the design and construction of the new high school that have been driven up by inflation. There has been significant construction cost inflation directly related to COVID, which has caused the cost of the new high school's original scope to exceed the bond amount. This has led to several items such as automotive technology, athletic fields, and more being set aside as "add alternates" until additional funding can be secured. Using the bond premium to fund these items would allow us to maximize Newport's investment in a high quality high school.
The City has been working to improve the safety of Hillside Avenue and this week's docket includes a request to approve the receipt of a $230,000 grant for some of that work. This grant is federally funded and a part of the Safe Routes to School program. It will fund traffic calming measures on the entire length of Hillside Ave, including the construction of a sidewalk from Bedlow Ave to Admiral Kalbfus Rd. These improvements will make this area of Newport safer for all pedestrians, especially our students.
Councilor Bova's Update for January 23
The City Council will be meeting virtually again this week. Residents are invited to join and participate via zoom or on the phone.
Newport is in a housing crisis, with extremely limited housing availability and high rent and home prices. A contributing factor to this crisis is the proliferation of full-time investment short-term rental units in our neighborhoods taking homes that could be used by families. Disallowing this non-residential use will help return housing stock to the market for year-round residents. The Council will receive and refer to the Planning Board several zoning amendments concerning short-term rentals. As was discussed in the Council Workshop in October, short-term rentals are currently permitted in several residential zones with a special use permit. These proposed amendments would remove the ability to apply for a special use permit in those zones and make it so that investment short-term rentals are not allowed in any residential zone.
Newport Public Schools has sent a communication to the City Council regarding the state of the Thompson Middle School playground. Currently, it is in very poor shape and requires substantial repairs to be safe and accessible for TMS students. The total cost is estimated to be $300,000. NPS is requesting some of the funding to be provided from the City Council and the approval to submit the application to RIDE.
Based on a Council resolution passed in November, a contract for the redrawing of City Council Ward and Precinct Lines is on our docket this week. The State level redistricting has been completed, and the new maps have been approved. It is now in the City’s hands to adjust our ward and precinct lines based on the new maps to determine which ward you are in and where you will vote. The first public meeting to discuss the potential changes is scheduled for February 1st at 11:30 AM; additional public meetings will be held in the evening or weekend.
Our City Charter establishes our form of government and defines the role of the City Council, the Mayor, the City Manager, and more. The Charter Review Commission has been meeting to discuss potential changes to the Charter. Their most recent meeting was on January 13th, and the commission plans to meet on the second and fourth Thursday of every month until May 11th.
Councilor Bova's Update for December 5
You probably recognized that my letter on the effect of the North End zoning on Bishop’s 4th Street Diner was a continuation of a subject that I have been working on for a long time. Zoning is a tool that the City can employ to regulate and incentivize business; it applies to everything from food trucks to recreational cannabis and from short-term rentals to gas stations. It is a powerful tool that Councilors should understand and use effectively to build and protect our communities. Our actions must be guided by resident participation and reflect the values of our community.
During the Council’s deliberation on the North End zoning, residents, neighborhood groups, and businesses presented an array of proposed amendments. They shared their concerns about the potential for displacement in the neighborhood. The Council voted to forward those proposals to the Planning Board for review, and we are awaiting their response. Councilor McCalla and I have a resolution on this week’s docket directing the Planning Board to prioritize that review and give the Council a report by March 2022. These additional amendments would help to ensure that development in the North End is done in good faith with our community.
This week’s Council meeting will also include a public hearing on zoning related to the sale of cannabis in Newport. There has been movement on the State level towards the legalization of recreational cannabis, and the Planning Department is still working on their report on how legalization could potentially affect Newport. We have had a moratorium in place for some time while the Planning Department works, and we will vote on extending it until May. If the sale of recreational cannabis is legalized, Newport must have proper zoning in place to appropriately regulate where it can happen across the City.
A second public hearing is on Wednesday’s docket concerning a Community Choice Aggregation Plan, a program that would enable Newport residents to source a percentage of their energy from sustainable sources. The Council recently voted to continue the CCA process, and Wednesday’s public hearing is the result. There will be a series of meetings and public hearings to educate the public on what CCA is and how it can benefit Newporters.
We will also be appointing the members of the Charter Review Commission on Wednesday night. The last time a Charter Review Commission was established was in 2014. The appointment process for this Commission this year is that each member of the Council chose an applicant to appoint. It should be a good mix of residents from across Newport with seven total members. As a reminder, the City Charter requires that a Commission be established at least every ten years to review the Charter and recommend any changes to the Council. The Council then votes on whether any recommended changes should go before the public on the ballot.
Bishop's 4th Street Diner
There has been much concern and sadness over the potential loss of the locally owned and beloved Bishop's 4th Street Diner. To make matters worse, a chain convenience store would be built in its place. Since this news came to light, many citizens have wondered what role the City could have played in preventing this.
The City sets a vision for our neighborhoods and community through the zoning code. It is how we determine which areas are residential, which are business, and the type of development allowed in those zones. Last year, the City worked with residents to create the North End Urban Plan and associated zoning to guide the development in the North End neighborhood. Hundreds of residents from across Newport provided input to shape the vision of the types of buildings and their uses in the area. This North End Urban Plan was adopted into the Comprehensive Land Use Plan last January, and the zoning ordinances were sent to the Planning Board for review and finalization.
The Planning Board completed their work in September and brought the zoning ordinances to the Council, recommending specific changes intended to improve the ordinances and more strongly support the community's vision. Councilor McCalla worked extensively with the businesses and neighbors affected by the North End Urban Plan to get their voices heard; I supported these improvements and expressed my support multiple times to the Council, as did many members of the public. Despite years of public input, expert guidance, and community review, the five other members of the Newport City Council voted down the improved zoning amendments for the North End.
The decision to terminate a relationship with a tenant is a business decision, but business decisions are not made in a vacuum. By voting against the interests of the residents, some councilors sent the message that building a chain convenience store might be more profitable than a beloved local business tenant. However, the North End zoning that is in place still includes restrictions on the development – this is why Colbea is seeking a special use permit to further weaken the neighborhood's zoning. The members of the Technical Review Committee and the Zoning Board of Review need to consider the matter carefully and ensure the community's vision for the North End is not undermined by a developer from Cranston. If Colbea wants to develop their property, they should follow the North End Urban Plan and the zoning ordinances. If their development plans don't align with Newport's plans, perhaps leasing to an established business tenant makes better business sense.
The conflict between Bishop's 4th Street Diner and Colbea illustrates what can happen when "pro-business" politics allows large corporations to take the wheel. By choosing to ignore the community's vision for what is acceptable development in the North End, some members of the City Council are sending a message that they are willing to prioritize outside developers over our neighbors. I hope that this situation serves as a wake-up call to my colleagues and that they will join Councilor McCalla and me to ensure that our residents are protected and businesses are enabled to grow in a way that benefits the entire City of Newport.
Councilor Bova's Update for November 7
During this week’s Council meeting, we will consider a program that would allow Newport residents to source a percentage of their energy from affordable, sustainable sources. If Newport approves a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, all ratepayers in the City who don’t choose to opt-out would be automatically enrolled to use renewable energy sources and receive a lower utility rate. The City Council and City staff have been working on implementing CCA in Newport for over a year, and held a workshop on the topic several months ago. The effects of climate change are a reality here in Newport – choosing CCA means that we are actively taking steps to use sustainable energy sources, and we will save money for Newporters in the process. It is a win-win.
Also on Wednesday’s docket is a resolution sponsored by Councilor McCalla and me addressing how the State’s redistricting will impact Newport. Every ten years, State voting districts are redrawn based on population changes documented in the Census. Rhode Island is currently undergoing this based on the result of the 2020 Census. The State Redistricting Commission has been meeting across Rhode Island and is gathering public input; the City must emulate this effort and make our process as public as possible. Once the State level effort is completed, Newport will need to redraw our Ward lines to reflect the changes. Our resolution would require ample public input and at least three public meetings to determine the proposed ward lines.
The resolution to establish a Charter Review Commission was continued to this week's Council meeting from the last meeting. The City Charter establishes our form of governance and determines the roles and responsibilities of the City Council, the Mayor, the City Manager, and more. The last time a Charter Review Commission was formed was in 2014. I encourage you to review our current Charter and make sure you are well informed as changes are discussed.
Councilor Bova's Update for October 25
In this week’s Council meeting, we will be voting on a resolution to establish a Charter Review Commission, with the intention of their recommended changes to be on the 2022 General Election ballot. The last Charter Review Commission met in 2014, and it is required that the Charter be reviewed at least every ten years. A Charter Review Commission is made up of residents appointed by the Council. It is tasked with examining the City Charter, gathering public input and opinion, and recommending changes to the City Council. It is then up to the Council to vote on which recommended changes will go onto the ballot. Throughout my time on the Council, I have heard from many residents with concerns about our Charter and proposed changes. I look forward to interviewing the applicants and hearing what our community has to say about our Charter.
If you missed last week’s Short-Term Rental workshop, the video is now up on the City website. It was an engaging presentation from City staff and a thoughtful conversation with the public. It was beneficial to have the scope of Short-Term Rentals laid out clearly. There is a lot of work ahead for the Council and City staff to crack down on unregistered properties and make policy to curtail spread of Short-Term Rentals.
Councilor Bova's Update for October 11
During the City Council meeting this Wednesday, we will be discussing and voting on a Green and Complete Streets Ordinance. Green and Complete Streets are streets that have been designed with all road users in mind and safety at the forefront. The standards of Green and Complete Streets also address environmental issues such as stormwater runoff, roadway flooding, street trees, and green space. It is a policy that addresses the issues on our roads now and ensures that any roadwork is done with thoughtful planning for the future.
This ordinance has been in the works for quite some time – beginning with a resolution that I submitted in September 2018, which was rejected by that council. After that setback, I continued to work with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission and other concerned Newport residents to make a Green and Complete Streets policy a reality for Newport. In December 2019, the Council passed a new resolution that I submitted with then-Councilor Taylor to keep the effort moving forward.
To make the ordinance before us this week as strong as possible, the 2019 resolution directed that the City Solicitor's office work with the Planning Department, Public Services Department, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, and multiple civic organizations. The Newport Health Equity Zone, Bike Newport, and Newport for All Ages are just some of the organizations that have been involved in the development of the ordinance that will come before the Council on Wednesday. A working group was formed and worked for almost 14 months to develop Newport's ordinance and Green and Complete Streets policy. The group has drafted a policy and ordinance that will improve Newport in both the near and long term.
Throughout my time on the Newport City Council, our residents and local organizations have continuously spoken up about the need for safer and more sustainable roadways. This ordinance will help us get there.
Councilor Bova's Update for September 19
Last week, the Council held a workshop to discuss the condition of the buildings at Easton’s Beach and potential Council and City actions to address them. The rotunda, snack bar, and carousel buildings are all in disrepair and the architectural and structural study found only the rotunda can be repaired. The snack bar and carousel buildings cannot be salvaged and will need to be completely rebuilt. During our workshop, we heard from the public and discussed potential options for how to approach a rebuild. The public was firmly in support of keeping a snack bar and the carousel onsite. I believe that we need to better engage with the Beach Commission to ensure that we continue to get public input as we move forward. I also believe that it is essential that we don't repeat the mistakes made by previous Councils – if we are going to build public infrastructure, we need to commit to providing adequate funding to keep it from falling down. What we repair and rebuild at the beach must come with a maintenance plan that the City is committed to following and funding.
At this Wednesday’s City Council meeting, we will once again discuss the possibility of building a skate park in Newport at the Abbruzzi Sports Complex. This discussion has been ongoing for quite some time, both in the community and at Council meetings, and in a workshop. Newport residents have consistently stated that they are concerned and unhappy with the recreational opportunities and activities for our youth. City Staff has been working some time to construct a basketball court with a grant the City received from RIDEM. Friends of Newport Skate Park has been canvassing and raising money to pay for the skate park.
I worked with Councilor Ceglie to submit a resolution to authorize the City to move forward and work with both Friends of Newport Skate Park and Newport Little League to build a new skate park and find a new home for T-ball in Newport. It is crucial to the success of both Friends of Newport Skate Park and Newport Little League that the City find a new home for T-ball before construction on a future skate park begins, and I made sure that we included that in our resolution. We have room for all of these sports in Newport, and our children deserve access to them.
The work on the Pell Bridge ramps continues and updates can be found at www.dot.ri.gov/projects/pellbridgeramps/. I am pleased to see how the bike path is coming along and look forward to using it.
If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, you can do so at a state-run site or through a pharmacy. The state's website, covid.ri.gov/vaccination has more information and can help you get the vaccine ASAP.
Councilor Bova's Update for August 29
The City Council is holding a special meeting this Wednesday, September 1, at 6:30 to take up all the items from last week’s canceled meeting. That meeting was canceled because the City Hall elevator was not working, meaning that our meeting would not be accessible to all of our residents.
We will begin the meeting this Wednesday with a public hearing on the proposed North End Urban Plan zoning amendments. When the Council adopted the NEUP in January, we knew that we would also need to make changes to our zoning in order to make the plan work. The NEUP lays the foundation for the redevelopment of the North End to be done in a way that benefits both residents and businesses. The zoning will make the plan enforceable and implement real change. The Planning Board reviewed the draft zoning and has provided their recommendation for adoption and along with potential amendments meant to make the zoning more consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. When the Council hears the zoning changes, we will also discuss these proposed amendments.
Because the North End Urban Plan and the North End zoning will significantly impact the neighborhood and community, the Newport Health Equity Zone (HEZ) began working with Smart Growth America (SGA) to review the proposed zoning. HEZ and SGA created a Local Advisory Group made up of seventeen North End residents – these are residents who will be directly impacted by the zoning changes and development in the North End. The Local Advisory Group has communicated to the City Council that they believe the neighborhoods and community of the North End would be better protected by enhancing and strengthening some of the proposed zoning. They will be present at Wednesday’s meeting, and the Council must listen to their proposals and adopt the changes that will better protect our Newport. I believe that our duty as public officials is to listen to our residents and address their concerns. I look forward to hearing from our residents and to the discussion on Wednesday.
This week’s City Council meeting will be taking place at City Hall, in the Council Chambers. With COVID-19 cases unfortunately on the rise, masks are again required inside of City Hall. If you need a COVID-19 test or still need to get vaccinated, please go to covid.ri.gov for more information on how to schedule.
Councilor Bova's Update for August 8
This week’s City Council meeting will be taking place at City Hall, in the Council Chambers. With COVID-19 cases unfortunately on the rise, masks are again required inside of City Hall. If you need a COVID-19 test or still need to get vaccinated, please go to covid.ri.gov for more information on how to schedule.
We have seen remote public meetings act as a tool and a lifeline for local government throughout the pandemic. Our residents came to rely on the virtual meetings and their ease of participation; we saw both higher attendance and more diverse voices in our remote meetings than they had been when the meetings were entirely in person. Council meetings are now back at City Hall because Governor McKee let the executive order permitting virtual public meetings expire. In response to this expiration, the Attorney General issued guidance and clarification on the State’s Open Meetings Act – explicitly stating that remote public participation is permitted. Newport does not currently have the technology to allow for virtual public participation, but funding from the American Rescue Plan can be used to pay for the technology upgrades needed. I have sponsored a resolution on this week’s docket to direct the City Manager to investigate and determine which technology options are best for Newport. I feel very strongly that the City Council must work to ensure that public participation in our meetings is as accessible as possible, and this resolution will help that cause.
The Council is also receiving communications regarding the proposed skatepark in Newport from groups on both sides of the issue. I am pleased to see the level of public outreach that Friends of Newport Skatepark has done to help neighbors understand their proposal. During the workshop on the topic, my biggest concern was that they had not yet done enough to reach out and explain the concept to the surrounding neighborhood. I maintain my belief that we can find room for a skatepark and baseball in our City.
I have spoken many times about the essential work that our City’s Boards and Commissions perform. They do research, work with the community, and provide policy recommendations to the Council. They are vital to Newport’s government. There has been a lot of discussion on the Council lately about how we can improve how we interview and appoint the volunteers on these Boards and Commissions. Based on that conversation, I took the initiative to submit a resolution laying out rules to define the process so that we can keep our Boards and Commissions full with qualified residents who are representative of Newport’s diverse community.
Councilor Bova's Update for July 11
In this newsletter I will focus on local and state government actions that affect our neighborhoods. Our neighborhoods are vibrant and walkable when our residents and businesses co-exist and strengthen the fabric of our community. Our neighborhoods are strengthened when our locals can afford to rent or buy homes here and grow roots in our community. To ensure that our neighborhoods grow to benefit our neighbors, we in government must take the necessary steps to shape the growth of our community – that can happen via zoning and business regulation.
This week's City Council meeting begins with a public hearing on proposed zoning amendments on Broadway. Some of the businesses on Broadway in the Residential District are petitioning to have their individual lots rezoned to as Limited Business – this would amend the City zoning regulations to reflect the built environment. As part of this application process, the Planning Board reviewed this proposal and is in favor of the change – with conditions. In Newport, we have long had neighborhoods with small businesses nestled in with residential neighbors, whether they’re a restaurant, convenience store, or auto mechanic. Having small businesses as a part of the fabric of our neighborhoods is a big part of what gives Newport its small-city charm. I believe that it makes sense to have our zoning reflect what our City looks like and what we want it to continue to look like.
Governor McKee recently vetoed a bill that would have required short-term rentals to register with the Department of Business Regulation – allowing the State to aid municipalities in tracking and regulating the use of homes as short-term rentals across the State. Here in Newport, we have been doing our best to maintain a registry but having a State registry would significantly improve our ability to regulate and enforce laws around short-term rentals. Newport gives so much to the State through our hospitality taxes and rarely asks for the State to step in and help us. I believe that it is the State's duty to help curb the proliferation of short-term rentals in Newport and elsewhere. The role of the Department of Business Regulation is to regulate business across Rhode Island; short-term rentals are a business and must be treated that way.
Councilor Bova's Update for June 20
This week Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday. Juneteenth honors the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston, TX learned they were free – over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. In Newport last year, we officially honored Juneteenth as a holiday with a proclamation. This year, Sankofa Community Connection put together the celebration of Juneteenth, and we gathered at City Hall, Great Friends Meeting House, and the Liberty Tree to honor the day and celebrate together as a community.
During this week’s City Council meeting, we are receiving the proposed zoning ordinance changes for the North End to help us achieve the goals set forward in the North End Urban Plan (NEUP). We are receiving the proposed changes and referring them to the Planning Board for their review and recommendation. This is the standard process for proposed ordinance changes and will allow ample time for public discussion and input. I encourage everyone who was engaged throughout the development process for the NEUP to give your feedback on these potential changes to our zoning. The NEUP was developed with the intention to direct redevelopment of the North End in ways that address historical inequities, offer more diverse economic opportunities, and better incorporate the North End into Newport. The corresponding zoning amendments are crucial to making this happen.
We have a resolution in this week’s docket endorsing a State bill that would increase the State funding for school districts whose free and reduced lunch population is greater than 20% - which includes Newport. Unfortunately, before the Council could consider this resolution, the Senate and House Finance Committees made the decision that it would not come up for a vote before the full General Assembly this year. This bill would greatly aid Newport and other districts around the State, and I will push to have it considered again next year.
It is important to remember that increased State funding is not the complete solution to funding our school system. When the Council approved the FY22 City budget at the last meeting, it included just a 1% increase in the funding for our school system. I voted against this budget because I believe that our schools need more to thrive, and our budget must reflect our community values. Our schools need to be reliably funded from both the State and the City in order to have predictability in their budgeting.
Councilor Bova's Update for June 6
This week's City Council meeting will again begin with a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget. At the last Council meeting, we received the School Department's proposal of a 4%, $1,080,031.20 increase over last year's School budget. This differs from what is in our City budget – a 1%, $270,151 increase. Recognizing the mismatch between what the City had in our budget and what the School Department was asking for, I voted to approve on first reading to continue the conversation on properly funding schools. I spoke about the need to plan now for how the City and School can better work together on budget planning going forward. Since the first reading of the budget, I have heard from many residents, those with and without children in the school system, concerned that the Council is seriously considering only granting the 1% increase. I agree with them. I believe that if we want our schools to flourish, we need to invest in them. Newport voted overwhelmingly to approve the bonds for school construction – our residents support our schools, and the Council should fund them with that in mind.
Housing affordability and availability have long been an issue in Newport. In March, following a resolution I submitted, the Council held a workshop to discuss homestead exemption and other options for tax relief for year-round residents. On the docket for Wednesday's meeting is a resolution that would create the ad-hoc committee to review and investigate the potential options to provide year-round property tax relief as discussed at the workshop. The Committee will be made up of City Administration and community members, and it will meet for six months before returning to the Council with findings and recommendations. I'm pleased that we are beginning to make headway on this critical issue.
We are once again talking about bike lanes and safety this week. A posting error prevented the Council from debating the resolution at the last meeting under the Open Meetings Act. It has been corrected, and we will be able to discuss and vote on the resolution this week. This resolution can help set the stage for additional and improved bike lanes and routes throughout Newport.
Councilor Bova's Update for May 23
This week’s City Council meeting begins with the second public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget (with adjustments made since the first hearing). We are also receiving the full school budget proposal for the upcoming year; the School Committee just approved it on Thursday. There is a significant difference in how the City has proposed to fund the School Department (a 1% increase) vs. what the School Department is asking for (a 4% increase). Before I vote on the budget, I need to understand the potential impacts of funding the School Department at a lower rate than proposed and whether or not those impacts can be absorbed. We are still feeling the effects of COVID-19, and the City has not fully recovered financially; we need to make these budget decisions thoughtfully and with as much information as possible.
This discussion also brings to the forefront the need to make changes to our tax system that would allow the City to tax part-time residences at a higher tax rate than year-round residences. This additional revenue would allow the City the budget flexibility and stability it needs to maintain the resources our full and part time residents enjoy and invest in our future generations. Our schools were not adequately funded for years, and we are still making up that deficit – so understandably, there is some concern within the School Department that could happen again. Once this year’s budget is passed, I plan to bring this conversation up again and get the ball rolling.
This week’s docket also includes the resolution on bike lanes that was continued from the May 12 meeting. The resolution has been changed since the last meeting - please reach out with your thoughts on the changes. This resolution was spurred on by the State’s Bicycle Mobility Plan (BMP), which addresses bicycle infrastructure, accessibility, and operations across Rhode Island. The BMP includes several recommended routes and potential bike lanes across Newport. We are instructing the City to use the BMP, along with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the eventual Transportation Master Plan, as a guiding document for Newport’s bike transit needs.
Councilor Bova's Update for May 9
This week’s Council meeting will begin with a public hearing on the proposed FY22 Budget. Public hearings on the budget are a means for both the Council and the public to continue to develop and evolve the budget. The Council and public input at these hearings drives important updates to the proposed budget before it is adopted. In last weekend’s newsletter I dug a little deeper into our budget – you can read it here.
The State is developing multiple coordinated Transportation Plans, including a Bicycle Mobility Plan (BMP) that will address bicycle infrastructure, accessibility, and operations across Rhode Island. The BMP includes several recommended bike routes and potential bike lanes across Newport. In our Council meeting this week, we will be considering a resolution directing the City Manager to have the Department of Public Services begin the planning and implementation of these bicycle routes.
In April, we announced that Toole Design Group has been selected to develop Newport’s Transportation Master Plan, and work on the plan is underway. With the Transportation Master Plan, investigating improved bicycle infrastructure, and other efforts in the City, I'm glad that we are working to make Newport a safer and more accessible City.
The School Building Committee and the Superintendent of Newport Schools have a communication on this week’s docket about the progress made on the Pell and Rogers school construction projects. Downes Construction Company has been selected as the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM). The OPM represents the City and School’s interests throughout the life of the project and works directly with the construction and design teams. These projects will benefit Newport for decades to come, helping to provide our children with the education they deserve.
Newport is receiving a grant from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank for $180,990 for the restoration of Almy Pond. The work will primarily focus on removing pavement and restoring the meadow surrounding Almy Pond. Properly managing the areas around our water sources helps ensure that our drinking water stays clean and safe.
COVID-19 vaccinations are available at many sites throughout the state without an appointment. If you haven't been able to get your shot yet, check covid.ri.gov/vaccination to find information about locations, hours, and transportation.
Councilor Bova's Update for May 2
COVID-19 vaccines are now available at select state-run vaccination sites, including in Middletown, without an appointment. Any adult can walk in to one of these state sites to get vaccinated, or make an appointment at vaccinateRI.org.
This Thursday at 5pm there is a public workshop to discuss the proposal for a skate park at the Abruzzi Sports Complex in the North End.
Throughout April, the City Council held several workshops with our City staff to go through their budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2022, which begins on July 1, 2021. The workshops allowed for dialogue between the Council and staff and informed the complete budget proposal we received last week. Now we head into the public hearings on the budget – the first is scheduled for May 12. Public hearings on the budget are a means for both the Council and the public to continue the development of the budget. The budget often changes through these hearings as the departments incorporate feedback from the community. Based on both the workshops and my review of the budget, here are some important items I’m focusing on for the upcoming public hearing.
The proposed Fire Department budget for FY22 includes $1 million of overtime funding . It stood out to me that for several years the actual dollar amount spent on this line item has significantly exceeded what was originally budgeted. Our Fire Department has been on the forefront of the COVID-19 response, so I want to make sure that I understand how and why the overtime overspending occurs and how to effectively plan for it.
The City has not yet received the final budget proposal from the School Department and School Committee, so that is not integrated into the FY22 City budget. In our current year’s budget, the Council did not fully fund the School Department’s budget request and I do not believe we can do that again. For a number of years previously, the Schools were flat-funded and we are still recovering from the impacts of those decisions. I am committed to fighting for our schools to get the funding they need for Newport’s youth.
The proposed budget for the Department of Planning and Economic Development includes funding for 4 planners. Currently the department has three but there has been a vacancy. This department is responsible for overseeing and influencing economic development in Newport. It is integral in crafting our city plans and ensuring that those plans are followed as development challenges and opportunities arise in Newport. The City is working to hire a Community Resilience Specialist, a position that will focus on issues such as climate change and development impacts on the community.
In the budget workshops, we also discussed the funding that Newport will receive from the American Rescue Plan Act. This funding has not yet been allocated and while we know there will be limitations on how it can be spent, those limitations have not been laid out.