I’m proud of Newport for the participation and passion that I witnessed yesterday during the Black Lives Matter Rally for Justice and Equality. Thank you to everyone that came out to lend their voice to the cause of justice. Thank you to the Newport Police Department for their professionalism throughout both the march and the rally. Let’s keep building on the tangible energy from yesterday and harness it into real and sustainable change in our community.
This City Council has been taking action to build a more just and equitable Newport:
This week on the City Council docket, there is a resolution that I submitted with Councilors McCalla and Taylor that asks the Council to formally condemn the use of hate speech and that requires that all City employees and the City Council be provided with implicit bias training. We submitted this resolution as a step forward for Newport.
Last week, the Newport Planning Board discussed the formation of a subcommittee to examine if the Board unintentionally permits unfair racial outcomes. I applaud the Planning Board for taking this action.
The City has been working with a consultant group for the past 6 months on the development of the North End Urban Plan. We specifically made sure that a public outreach consultant was part of the team because we know that the North End is a historically underrepresented community. This development process has included extensive public outreach, with multiple public meetings and an online survey that was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The North End Urban will be used a decision-making tool for this and future Councils to shape that section of the City for the future.
The Council is also considering the ratification of a Cooperative Agreement between Newport and Statewide Planning for the purpose of funding the development of the Newport Transportation Master Plan. Transportation access affects people from across Newport and the plan will be developed with maximum community involvement, similar to the process we used with the North End Urban Plan.
I’m asking that everyone in our community stay engaged and keep moving forward, together, for justice and equality. The City Council meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month to vote on items that define and affect the systems at work in our city. This week, we are considering changes to short-term rental zoning, which affects housing across Newport. We are also voting to adopt the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which shapes everything from education to public safety to summer camp. Building equitable and just systems requires us to pay attention to the details of everything we enact, not just the resolutions condemning racism.
Racism can be defined: “racism = prejudice + power”. As the Council, we hold the power to shape the systems governing Newport, and we have the responsibility to keep prejudice out of those systems. The items that I’ve discussed above are only the beginning of this effort to build equitable and just systems. Progress will take your action and participation: bring your comments to public meetings, vote in local elections, and run for office. Bring the energy of this weekend from the streets into City Hall.
Mayor's Update for May 24
This Memorial Day looks very different, but the meaning of the day has not changed. Monday is a day of remembrance and gratitude to all the brave men and women who have given their lives in service to our nation and its people. We must each do our part as a community to remember these individuals and the families they left behind.
The Council will be meeting remotely twice this week; on Tuesday for our weekly COVID-19 status meeting and on Wednesday for our regular meeting. Both meetings are open to the public by phone or the Zoom app. On Wednesday there are some important items on the docket for discussion and approval.
The first item on Wednesday’s Council docket is a Public Hearing on the proposed FY21 City budget. We first considered this budget proposal during our May 13th meeting, and after substantial discussion among the Council we voted to continue the discussion to the May 27th meeting, asking the City Manager to come back with more information. Since then, the City Manager has sent a communication to the Council with new considerations for the FY21 budget, including ways to avoid some of the fiscal setbacks by including modest tax increases. The Council must weigh the impacts of any increases on a resident’s tax bill against the impacts of deferring infrastructure maintenance and retirement payments. We need consider what the impact and benefits of an approximately $10 per month residential tax increase could mean to the City as a whole; I am sure that we will again be having a robust discussion during the meeting. These are very difficult times, and I will make sure that the value of these new considerations to the taxpayer is well understood before making a decision.
As we move into the summer, there is the continuing discussion on how to breathe life back into our community and economy while making public health and safety a priority. I have been hearing from many residents and organizations wondering what we can do together to help boost community morale and how to re-imagine the “Newport Summer” experience. I have introduced a resolution that proposes a set of guiding principles for the Council and the Administration for managing this summer. It is intended to be a foundation for the Council to discuss and formally establish a vision for the summer and set policy for the City Administration to implement to navigate the months ahead for the benefit of everyone in Newport.
Social distancing is an effective way of combating the spread of the coronavirus, and restricting some roadways to parking or to vehicular traffic altogether can give people space to enjoy the outdoors. I introduced a resolution with two of my colleagues that asks the City staff to develop a plan for the restrictions of some roadways for the enjoyment of the public. The plan would then come before us on June 10th for deliberation and public input. The City will keep doing its part to make it easier for everyone to follow the public health measures in place - the Administration and staff did a great job this past week of inspecting and approving over three dozen restaurants for outdoor dining.
Following last week’s workshop on the proposed School Construction Bond to build a new High School and an addition to Pell Elementary School, the Council will be voting on a resolution to place the bond on the November ballot. I am strongly in favor of bringing this bond question to the voters. This school construction plan would be reimbursed at a historic rate of 52.5% by the State - money that our residents overwhelmingly voted for in 2018. We know school buildings and learning environments have a demonstrable effect on student learning. Rogers High School was ranked the worst school building in the entire state of Rhode Island - it is our duty to give our children the environment they need to learn and thrive. Newport's plan will give our children and their children the best possible environment to develop and learn the knowledge, values, and skills they will need to carry our community into the 21st century and beyond.
Mayor's Update for May 10
With the expiration of Governor Raimondo’s Stay at Home order comes the beginning of “Phase I” of reopening our state. Overall, there are not many changes from Stay at Home to Phase I, but I encourage you to read through the documentation on the Reopening RI website for details. Cloth face masks and social distancing are both still required at all times in public. The State has reopened some of their parks with social distancing and mask regulations in place; these regulations are also in place at City parks. If you do not have a face mask, please contact me and I will help you get one.
Locally, the Council has been working with the City Manager to streamline processes for our local businesses so they can get back to business. Even though there will be little change our day to day life during Phase I, the plans we make now will help us during the reopening under Phase II. The Council has another COVID-19 status meeting on Tuesday where we will further discuss the reopening process in Newport and welcome public comments and suggestions.
This Wednesday, May 13, the City Council will be holding a regular meeting at 6:30 via Zoom and call-in, and the main topic we will be discussing is the proposed FY21 budget. During this meeting there will be a public hearing on the budget, and the public is encouraged to comment and ask questions about the budget, revenues, and expenditures. Instructions will be provided at the meeting on how to comment and ask questions in Zoom or by phone.
The FY21 budget is a difficult one; we are facing a reduction of $3,557,885 from the General Fund due to decreased revenues and a budget proposal that includes no increases to property tax or sewer rates. The City Manager’s memo to the Council details the budget and the proposal of how $3.5 M would be cut: the elimination of the $1,261,600 from transfers to the revolving equipment replacement accounts and a reduction of $1,602,562 from capital funding. The impact of the reduced investment in maintenance and continuous infrastructure improvement have the potential to be felt for years, but the plan maintains a stable government staff to continue to provide essential government services that our residents need.
Following input from the public during the public hearing, the Council will vote on the first reading whether to adopt the budget, which is introduced as two ordinance changes. The second reading with the final budget approval will occur at the May 27 meeting.
Also on this week’s docket is a memo from the City Manager requesting direction on the scheduling of a workshop on the School Construction Bond. This workshop is critical to allow the Council the opportunity to discuss the project and the bond with City staff, the School Committee, and the public. The General Treasurer is also willing to participate in any workshop that is scheduled. The proposed project bond from the School Department would fund the construction of a new high school building and the construction of an addition onto the Pell Elementary School building. The application has been submitted for approval from the Rhode Island Department of Education. and the Council must consider the bond proposal before the public has the opportunity to vote on it. If the school proposal is accepted and the bond is passed this year, the project would be reimbursed at a rate of 52.5% from the State. If the bond is not voted on this November, the City is only eligible to receive the mandated minimum 35% reimbursement from the State after the incentive deadlines have passed.
The fiscal situation facing the City is one that no one has experienced in living memory. This pandemic has weakened our economy and our morale as a community. The upcoming year is one of contraction because the state of emergency has greatly reduced our City’s revenues. We need to be proactive in planning our future and make wise investments with our community’s money; I am going to keep working the Council and our community to determine a path forward that includes all of us. We must look beyond the upcoming year and build a long-term strategy for our recovery as a community.
Mayor's Update for April 26
The Newport City Council will be meeting virtually once again this Tuesday at 4:30 for our weekly COVID-19 status update from the City Manager. I hope that you will dial in to hear the update, and that you email the Council any questions you have before or after the meeting. The City also continues to update the dedicated COVID-19 page on the City website and sending out the new community newsletter to give you many options to receive information. I would also like to remind you about the Governor's daily briefings at 1:00 aired live on local television and online streams to update the public on the statewide status of COVID-19 and make announcements on executive orders and other matters.
As we enter the final days of April, it is still vitally important to the health of our community that we all remain home and obey the statewide stay-at-home order until it is lifted. I know that the social distancing measures continue to be difficult, but your actions are crucial to help prevent spread of the virus. We need our community to be healthy before we can begin the work to reopen, and your efforts will get us there sooner.
This past Wednesday the Council held a general meeting and had a robust discussion on how the City can begin reopening the community. The Council agreed on the idea of putting together a team that would assess the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and develop recommendations on how to safely reopen our community. This team will need to be engaged with the work happening at the state level so that Newport has a voice in the broader plans that will be developed. The City will be assembling our team in the coming weeks. It is important that we have input from members across our community, especially those most hard hit by the virus. Please reach out to me and the Council if you are interested and willing to help get Newport back on its feet.
Mayor's Update for April 19
The City Council will be meeting twice again this week. On Tuesday at 4:30, we have our recurring COVID-19 status update from the City Manager, and on Wednesday at 6:30 we will be holding a regular City Council meeting. Both of these meetings will be held virtually, and the public is strongly encouraged to call in and listen. If any members of the public have any questions about any docket items, please email the Council.
As we continue to adjust to new ways of life in this time, the Council is doing the same with our meetings. The Governor’s new Executive Order on the Open Meetings Act has allowed us to consider items other than those deemed essential in this state of emergency. Our finance director and City Manager continue to work with our department heads to fully understand and document the needed changes to next year’s budget due to the reality of the City’s decreased revenue from the COVID-19 crisis.
During Wednesday’s City Council meeting, we will be receiving a memo from the City Manager that will spur a discussion on economic issues within our community and how to tackle them moving forward. I have been talking to members of our community and reviewing policy research to be able to present the best options for Newport. I am looking forward to hearing the results of my fellow councilors’ research into addressing this unprecedented challenge.
We, of course, cannot have a conversation about economic issues and policies without discussing the proposed bond to build a new high school and add an addition to Pell Elementary School. This is an important consideration with short- and long-term economic benefits. I continue to stand firmly behind this project and will be soon releasing a position paper that further details the case how Newport will benefit from the project as a community.
Newport has been working hard for years to build up the technology and innovation leg of our economy to complement Newport’s robust hospitality industry. This work is evidenced in the success of Innovate Newport. With the new reality we are facing – job losses and economic downturn – we now must accelerate this work in a way that none of us anticipated. The North End Urban Plan is a critical component of this effort – we want to make sure that Newporters have their voices heard.
When the Council meets on Wednesday evening, we will be having a public discussion on the future of Newport, but it is just the beginning. I am asking all Newporters to reach out to us as your elected representatives and give us your insights as we begin our recovery from this challenge. We are in an uncertain time for our city and society, and recovery and prosperity will take time. But if we don't build Newport's future, who will?
Mayor's Update for April 5
If you have not already seen, the City of Newport has started a newsletter relating to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic with resources available to our residents and businesses. It has lots of important and helpful information - please sign up!
As I’m sure you know, we are in a census year. It is so important to participate and be counted – the data helps determine the number of Congressional Representatives that Rhode Island has and the federal funding provided to the state and municipalities. The census also provides critical information to officials responding to emergencies like the one we are in now, directing resources to where they will be needed most. The City has established a website to help Newporters fill out the census, including how we are trying to make sure everyone in Newport is counted. Please take the very short amount of time to be counted, and help make sure your family, friends, and neighbors are counted too.
The City Council will be meeting twice this week. We will be receiving our second weekly update from the City Manager on the COVID-19 efforts in Newport in a virtual workshop on April 7. On Wednesday, April 8, we will be hosting our first virtual general meeting. Our ability to meet this way is granted by executive order from the Governor. We are limited in what we can discuss and vote on; all items must be necessary for continued government operations or to ensure compliance with statutory or regulatory deadlines. This means we can discuss things like budgets, declarations of emergency, and the North End moratorium; all of which are time-sensitive based on charter or ordinance and required for continued operation of government.
We will be discussing and considering a resolution to reduce our current budget by $1,785,000 due to shortfalls in revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all making adjustments to our budgets and planning based on this crisis, and much like you the City is doing the same. The proposed plan to cover the shortfall includes a freeze on non-essential purchases that was enacted by the City Manager in mid-March and reductions in capital projects, including fire alarms and radios in the Fire Department, street lighting, Planning and Zoning equipment replacement, traffic signal replacement, and sea wall improvements. As we continue to assess the longer-term impacts, the Council and City Administration are working hard to make sure that we are able to keep investing in Newport's future.
The Council will be receiving a communication on financing a potential school bond - we will not be discussing this at the recommendation of the Attorney General regarding the executive order. We will continue it to a workshop. There is also a resolution on the docket concerning placing the bond on the ballot. This item cannot be voted on until RIDE approves the project which likely will not happen until May, and we will continue this item as well.
There are three items on the docket related to the development moratorium in the North End. Draft proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance concerning Floating Zone, Base Zone, and the Map are being received and voted on to refer to the Planning Board for recommendation. A resolution proposing an emergency extension to the moratorium due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a related ordinance amendment are both on the docket. The proposed emergency extension is for two months, given that normal City business has halted, staff has been prevented from meeting with the public and retained consultants, all City Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board meetings have been cancelled, and the required public hearings on zoning ordinance changes cannot be held, all of which has delayed the ability of the City to consider and vote on new zoning.
As the coronavirus emergency continues and we prepare ourselves for more challenging weeks ahead, please keep supporting the community and everyone putting themselves at risk to keep us safe by following the direction of the public health experts. If you need help, please reach out and use the resources that are available. I have been heartened to see the creativity and innovation in our community to help one another. I am confident that as tough as it gets, Newporters will be there for each other and our community will come through this together.
Mayor's Update for March 29
Thank you and all the residents of Newport that are and have been heeding the instructions of RIDOH and following physical distancing guidelines. I know that this has been hard, but it is so important to helping our community weather this pandemic. I urge everyone to tune into Governor Raimondo’s daily 1 pm press briefing with the Department of Health for current updates and instruction directly from State officials. It is aired on local news stations and streamed on-line.
As of March 28, Rhode Island is under a stay-at-home order, which means we are not to leave our homes except for essential needs. It is critical to follow this order. This weekend the State passed the grim milestone of the first deaths from COVID-19. As we offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of these first victims, we should be reminded that our individual decisions and actions have literal life-or-death consequences. For the time being, we must stay home and limit our physical interaction with a small group of five people to slow the spread and prevent new cases of COVID-19 in our community.
The City, State, and others across our community have been working tirelessly to put together resources to support everyone as we all take steps to flatten the curve. New resources are continuing to be made available in response to the needs of the community. Here are some of those resources:
City of Newport COVID-19 Page - Local directives, guidance, and resources
RIDOH COVID-19 Page - Health information from the State relating to COVID-19
Care.com/RINEED - Find volunteer and paid caregivers for critical workers. To volunteer, visit care.com/rigive.
Grocery Delivery - To comply with quarantine orders or to minimize contact, have groceries delivered
Restaurant Take-out / Delivery - Help support Newport's local restaurants
MLK Center - Resources and food for those in need, as well as instructions for donations
Commerce RI - Critical information for businesses
Department of Labor and Training - Instructions for applying for Unemployment and Disability
Small Business Administration - Information on loans available to small businesses
Business Tech Support - Expert assistance and resources for businesses for work-from-home technology, e-commerce, and other technology needs
A lot of “normal” business has changed or halted for the time being. As this pandemic continues, we are having to shift the way we all live, learn, and do business; this is no different for the City government. The City Council will be meeting via phone this Tuesday March 31st in a workshop. During this workshop, the City Manager will be giving an update on the status of COVID-19 in Newport and our response efforts. The Council will also be discussing the path forward for the North End Urban Plan and how it will affect the zoning updates and the development moratorium. The public is encouraged to listen in by telephone: Dial: 1-888-788-0099 or 1-877-852-5247 Meeting ID: 601 915 337
As we begin the next of what will be many weeks of challenging work to first slow the spread of COVID-19, and then begin to restart our local economy, I have been working with the City Manager and my fellow councilors on plans to provide our local government the agility it needs to operate in this new normal. I believe we need to be unafraid to take innovative and unprecedented steps to provide for the health, safety, and well-being of the residents of Newport. Working together as a community and using the resources available, we can chart our course through this tough time and emerge an even stronger, resilient community.
Mayor's Update for March 22
I would like to begin this update by thanking the City Manager and city staff for the hard work they are doing behind the scenes to manage the city's operations through this unprecedented crisis. This emergency has presented challenges not faced in generations which require agility to devise new ways to keep the city running.
I would especially like to thank the medical professionals and emergency responders who are on the front lines of the fight to stop the spread of the coronavirus, in harm's way while continuing to provide essential lifesaving services to those in need.
I would finally like to thank those working in the supply chain - pharmacy and supermarket employees, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, and producers. They are providing the goods and services we all need to survive while risking exposure for them and their families.
For the rest of us in Newport, we need to support those working in critical roles to keep us safe, healthy, and fed. The message is unequivocal - stay home. Every trip outside places you and everyone you go near at risk. If you must leave for a critical errand or exercise, minimize the risk by staying at least 6 feet away from all others. Spread this message to your family, friends, and neighbors to remind them that the choices they make affect us all.
The City continues to work with the State government to enact safety measures recommended by public health officials, and to provide all possible resources and support for those impacted by this unprecedented situation. Please visit the City's dedicated COVID-19 page for ongoing updates and information, as well as the RI Department of Health's dedicated website.
The City Council is holding a special meeting on Monday, March 23, at 3 pm to discuss and vote on extending Newport’s State of Emergency, as required by State law, to keep the City's emergency measures in place. This will be the first time that we meet as a Council remotely under the partially suspended Open Meetings Act. The meeting will take place via phone and is open to the public.
To join the meeting, please call in Toll Free at 1-877-853-5247 or 888-788-0099 and enter the following meeting ID: 621 757 348.
This is a difficult time for all of us, and I have been proud to see Newporters come together in support of each other. There are many local efforts to support local businesses, strengthen the local online community, and help neighbors in need. If you need ideas how to help, send me an email.
Only together can we come through this crisis. We all need to keep working together to flatten the curve and lessen the impact. The harder we work now, the better off we'll be.
Mayor's Statement on the Coronavirus Response - March 15
The COVID-19 response is continually evolving. Please do your part to help by staying home.
Public health and safety is this Council’s top priority. In the immediate future, this means doing everything possible to “flatten the curve” and limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community. This will have short term economic consequences; unfortunate but necessary sacrifices to avoid catastrophic outcomes. The City Council, City Manager, and Chamber of Commerce are working with State government to identify resources to help those individuals and businesses affected get the public health and economic support they need to get through this emergency.
The powers and responsibilities of the Mayor, City Council, and City Administration are defined in the City Charter. Some steps the Council can take to flatten the curve are in our role as the Board of License Commissioners. Businesses that operate within the city are required to obtain a license to operate and have the responsibility to run safe and orderly establishments. A letter promulgated by the City Manager on Friday communicates the City’s intention to consider the coronavirus guidelines from public health experts as part of the criteria for determining the safe operation of a business. In short, businesses that put the health of the community at risk by failing to follow expert guidance are subject to penalty, including losing their license to operate.
The Governor and Department of Health are holding a regular phone call with municipal officials across the state to share the most up to date information and guidance on the state-level strategy for managing the public health, public welfare, and economic issues all of us in the state are facing. The City is continually evaluating all options available to us to do what’s best for Newport’s public health and to support the state-level strategy to flatten the curve. The City Administration will include this latest information in its regular updates to the public.
Many in the local business community have been working with the City to do their part to flatten the curve. As the coronavirus spreads through the state, I anticipate the City and State will need to take even more restrictive measures to limit the crisis. The city government will work to provide the support needed to keep the public safe and help our economy through the emergency. I encourage everyone to reach out to local businesses to see how we can best support them in these challenging times.
Early last week, internal Council communications regarding the status of the parade were released prior to any formal decision by the Council. This caused confusion within the community as the situation and guidance were continuing to evolve. I take my share of responsibility for the unclear communication and the confusion caused by it. I will be working with the Council and City Administration to ensure our internal communication guidelines for this situation are clear, including developing explicit emergency communications procedures. We have always and will continue to refer everyone to the dedicated public health resources at the RI Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control for specific health guidance.
We need to work together as a community to get through this emergency. We are not public health experts – the public health medical professionals determine the path forward, and the city government will do what is in our power to follow their guidance and take the right steps. This is a critical time to act, and we should all expect new guidance to come out on a daily basis, from various levels of government. The Council and City Administration will take all measures necessary within our powers to limit the crisis within Newport, and we need everyone to stay informed and pitch in to flatten the curve and fight the spread of this pandemic.
Mayor's Update for March 8
Last week the City Council interviewed eight applicants for School Committee over two days. We had truly impressive candidates, all who applied because of their desire to contribute to their community. All eight interviews were held in the City Council Chamber and all applicants were asked the same questions so that the Council would be able to fairly compare their strengths when making the choice on who will fill the vacancy on the School Committee. We will be meeting in Executive Session on Tuesday to discuss the applicants and determine who the Council believes is the best equipped to fill the vacant seat. We will then vote on and appoint that person on Wednesday evening. The new School Committee member will serve until the next School Committee is elected and inaugurated in December.
This week we will be welcoming a delegation from our sister city of Kinsale, Ireland. This year marks the 21st anniversary of Newport’s sister-city relationship with Kinsale, a historic port and fishing town on the coast of County Cork, Ireland. Newport and Kinsale have much in common, including our military history, seasonal tourism economy, and restaurant scene. This relationship has been strengthened by Newport’s proud Irish community and we have regular cultural exchanges centered around St. Patrick’s Day and Kinsale’s celebrated annual Gourmet Festival, in which many chefs from Newport have taken part over the years. Newport and Kinsale have also developed a Chef Exchange, and there are several chefs from Kinsale in town this week. Please join us at the Edward King House on Thursday at 6:00 pm to officially welcome our friends from Kinsale.
During Wednesday’s City Council meeting, we will be appointing the new School Committee member. We also will be considering a few other items of note:
There is a resolution that calls on National Grid to improve its communication with City officials and residents. All too often, residents learn about utility work on their street by National Grid trucks pulling in and beginning construction; we need to do everything in our power to keep residents informed.
Another resolution is requesting action by our State Legislators to introduce legislation that would allow the City to create different tax classification for short-term rental properties.
We will be receiving an update from the consultant on the North End Urban Plan and the continued work to develop the plan and engage the community. A second public forum will be held at Innovate Newport on March 18 from 5 – 7. RSVP here.
The full docket for Wednesday's meeting is available here, and you are invited to come and voice your questions and concerns at the meeting.
Mayor's Update for February 23
I wanted to remind you about the North End Urban Plan Public Forum on Tuesday from 5 – 8 at the East Bay Met School. The forum is an opportunity for the public to learn about the progress of the plan and community feedback so far. Be sure to check out the project website before the meeting.
Wednesday night’s City Council docket has some items of note that I want to draw your attention to.
There is another Public Hearing on the FY 21 – FY25 Capital Improvement Plan. This time the Council will also vote on a resolution to adopt the CIP in concept. The City uses the CIP as a tool when drafting the budget and as a long-term planning document. I urge everyone to take some time and read through the CIP and give feedback.
The City Council will be voting on a resolution to support the Fair Chance Licensing Bill at the General Assembly. This bill is intended to lower barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals to occupational licenses in the state. In Rhode Island, these barriers affect approximately 10,000 people; these are people that have served their time and want a second chance in the community and an opportunity to work. This bill would help them do that.
I have put forward a resolution that would allow the City of Newport to create a property tax classification that distinguishes between non-owner occupied residential property and owner-occupied residential property. This would operate very similar to a homestead exemption and work to make Newport affordable for full time residents of the city. This issue is bigger than this resolution and also includes further regulation of short-term rentals.
There are two updates from the Planning Department on this week’s docket. The first is an update on the status of updating our zoning code and develop a Floating Zone ordinance. The second is an update on the progress of the Transportation Master Plan. This process started in September with a resolution passed by the Council, included a survey, a planning meeting, and now a Request For Proposals (RFP).
The full docket for Wednesday's meeting is available here, and you are invited to come and voice your questions and concerns at the meeting.
Mayor's Update for February 9
This Wednesday, the City Council will officially receive the letter of resignation from School Committee Member Kathy Silvia. Kathy served on the School Committee for many years and before that she served as City Clerk for Newport. We cannot thank her enough for her years of service to our City. The Council held a workshop on February 5 to discuss the approach we are taking to filling the vacancy on the School Committee. If you are interested in applying to fill the vacancy, find more information here.
There was a workshop this weekend with our State Legislative Delegation. The agenda was lengthy, and we discussed items such as the potential impacts of the Governor’s proposed budget, amending our tax classification law, the state school funding formula, and more.
Here are a few items of interest on the docket for the regular council meeting this Wednesday:
There will be a public hearing on the proposed FY21-FY25 Capital Improvement Plan. I mentioned on this in my last newsletter and I strongly urge folks to read through the CIP and come talk to the Council about it on Wednesday.
The City Council will be officially receiving and voting on the submittal of the Rhode Island Dept of Education Stage II application to build a new high school and construct an addition at Pell Elementary School. If the Council approves the application, it will then be submitted to RIDE for review and approval. After that, the next step would be for the Council to vote on putting the school construction bond question on the November ballot, which would allow the public to make the final decision.
The Director of Planning and Economic Development, Patricia Reynolds has submitted a communication for the Council with an update from NBBJ, the consultant developing the North End Urban Plan. We are currently in the Discover phase of the plan development and NBBJ has been meeting with residents, businesses, community groups, and other stakeholders to learn about critical concerns and issues, identify opportunities, and more. I have attended multiple outreach meetings and this effort is creating a strong base for the plan. Public engagement is key to making the North End Urban Plan a success, so I urge you to attend any outreach meetings you can.
As always, the full docket is available online. You are invited to come and voice your questions and concerns at the meeting.
On the Docket This Week
We are celebrating and commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday; the NAACP of Newport County has a full schedule of events to make it a day on, not a day off. On Wednesday, we'll be discussing these items and more at the regular City Council meeting:
In January, the City Boards and Commissions submit their yearly reports to the Council. This docket has reports from the Tree and Open Space Commission, the Cliff Walk Commission, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, and the Planning Board. The Boards and Commissions do a lot of work for the City – I highly recommend reading through their reports. If you are interested in serving on a Board or Commission, consider these opportunities to volunteer to serve Newport.
The Council is receiving the proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for FY21-FY25 and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for FY19. We use the CIP to guide the drafting of the budget; it is not a binding document, but it is an important tool in long-term planning. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and comment at the regular City Council meeting on February 12. I encourage you to read through the CIP and come to the meeting on the 12th.
The City Finance Department has provided an update to the Debt Affordability Presentation that was given to the Council in February 2019. This presentation focuses on the amount of debt the City is able to take on and the potential effects it could have on our budget. We are looking at additional ways of generating revenue beyond property tax, such as Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for non-taxable properties, increased tourism-based taxes, and changes to our tax structure.
The City Council and City Administration have been working to understand what changes are needed to implement to best control and regulate short-term rentals. There are items on the docket making required amendments to our zoning ordinance, calling on the state to reform short-term rental tax reporting, and reporting on the progress implementing the recommendations from the Short-Term Rental Investigatory Group.
The Council is receiving the draft of the Stage II Application to build a new high school and an addition to the Pell Elementary School. We will be reviewing the application over the next few weeks to provide feedback before it is submitted for approval at the February 12 meeting. Once approved by the Council, the application will be submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Education for their approval.
We have an update from the City Planner regarding the ongoing work of the Zoning Working Group to update our zoning code to conform with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. NBBJ has started work and outreach on the North End Urban Plan. This plan will help shape development in the North End and public input is crucial. Please stay tuned as meetings are scheduled.
You can find the full docket here. As always, you are invited to come and voice your questions and concerns at the meeting.
A Look Ahead at the January 8 Docket
The Newport City Council's first meeting of 2020 is tomorrow. Here are some of the items on the docket I think are important to highlight:
The Council has been concerned with floating liquor licenses and have asked those license holders to report on their plans and why the license has not had a permanent location. This concern stems in part from recent conversations on the current system of transfer and sales of licenses. Additionally, Rhode Island state law prohibits floating licenses.
There is a resolution requesting that our state legislators sponsor legislation to make civics lessons a requirement for graduation from RI public schools. Civics education has been a big topic of conversation nation wide, and last year a group of Rhode Island students actually sued the state for not providing them with civics education.
A recent Rhode Island Supreme Court decision found that our current hotel registration ordinance does not cover the short-term rental of houses, dwelling units, or condos. We will be voting on a set of amendments to our ordinance that will legally allow us to require registration of short-term rental units. I am and have been concerned with the prevalence of those rental units across Newport and am working with other Councilors on enacting proposals that would further regulate them beyond just registration.
The Council will be receiving a communication from the Superintendent with the schedule for Council approval of the RI Dept of Ed Stage 2 submission of the application for construction of a new high school building. The Stage 2 submission will be the final piece of the application that needs to be approved by RIDE before a public vote to fund the school can take place. The Stage 2 document will be on the Council docket on January 22 and February 12 for review and passage.
As a follow-up to an ongoing dispute regarding public right of way, we are receiving a communication from the attorney for The Reef Restaurant with a signed survey of Howard’s Wharf accurately depicting the public right of way on the wharf. With the corrected survey, we are able to ensure that public access to the waterfront is preserved.
As part of our effort to keep the zoning discussions related to the North End development at the forefront of the Council and the public’s mind, the City Planner has been giving regular reports to the Council on the status of the zoning updates. The zoning working group has been meeting weekly since the moratorium was passed. The December 19 meeting was attended by the Principal in Charge of NBBJ, the firm working on the North End Urban Plan. I want to make sure we will have the proposed zoning changes on our docket for passage prior to the completion of the moratorium and will be asking the Planner to provide a firm date for when we can expect to see those items on the docket.
You can find the full docket here. As always, you are invited to come hear the debate and voice your questions and concerns at the meeting.
An Open Letter to My Fellow Councilors
Dear Colleagues,
As we embark on the new term as a City Council, I am writing this letter to thank you for your dedication to our city. As colleagues, we share the common bond to serve and I look forward to working with you all to carry Newport forward. We all want Newport to be a successful and prosperous city. The people of Newport have placed their trust in you and I and our success in leading this city is their success.
This is a unique time for Newport. We are presented with many opportunities to transform our future. Our city has been developing, and we are embarking on new projects that will shape the city for the next century. It is my hope and belief that we can work together as a Council not only to tackle these immense challenges, but to be effective in the everyday for all Newporters. We have the opportunity to transform Newport for the better, but we can only succeed if we keep a clear focus and work towards that goal.
Working together as a group is not without challenges. We are all human; we will have different views as we move forward. Differences of opinion and informed debate are important on the council, and it is important that you are empowered to raise your concerns in the open. We must address these differences with civility, integrity and a commitment to doing what is best for Newport. We must ensure we are open and clear in our deliberations and debates. Transparency invites criticism, but I believe we should welcome that criticism to grow as public servants and civic leaders. The people of Newport have placed their trust in us and it is our duty to hear them.
I am honored to serve the people of Newport with such dedicated and capable people like you, our colleagues, and all the public servants committed to our city by the sea. I look forward to your contributions to the deliberations and debates that lie ahead. Please know that even if we find ourselves on different sides of an issue, I understand that you and I are working towards the same goal to serve the people of Newport. I value your perspective, insight, and honesty, and I am grateful for them as we chart the course for our city.
Sincerely,
Jamie Bova
