2026-09-17 - City Council

00:15Good evening and welcome to the city

00:17council meeting on Thursday, September

00:2017th, 2026. Madam Clerk, please call the

00:23roll.

00:24>> Council President Miller.

00:25>> Present.

00:27>> Deputy Majority Whip Anderbo.

00:28>> Present.

00:29>> Councilor Davidson.

00:31>> Present.

00:32>> Majority Leader Espinal.

00:33>> Present.

00:34>> Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzales.

00:37>> Present.

00:38>> Councilwoman Graves.

00:40Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

00:42>> Present.

00:43>> Councilwoman Peterson.

00:47Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo.

00:49>> Present.

00:50>> Councilor Reyes.

00:52>> Present.

00:53>> Councilwoman Ryan is absent. Majority

00:56Whip Sanchez.

00:57>> Present.

00:58>> Councilman Taylor.

01:00>> Present.

01:01>> Councilwoman Anna Vargas.

01:02>> Present.

01:03>> Councilman Oscar Vargas.

01:05>> Present.

01:05>> You have 14 present, one absent. You

01:08have a quorum.

01:10>> Thank you, Madam Clerk.

01:11And will everyone please rise for the

01:13invocation tonight, even our guests.

01:21Councilors, as we reconvene this fall,

01:23let's um

01:25ask for the strength and the resilience

01:29uh to find the absolute joy in the daily

01:33work that we do.

01:34Uh

01:35the joy that allows us to be present

01:37with the people that we

01:40work with and for.

01:42Um when we're working on behalf of large

01:43issues, when we're working on behalf of

01:45issues here in in the council with uh

01:47special guests,

01:49um and when we're working on on

01:51neighborhood issues,

01:53the ability to recognize that we have

01:56people across the city who dedicate so

02:00much heart

02:01to so many good things that we care

02:03about. Uh and the power to recognize

02:06that together

02:08uh we can accomplish

02:10so much good for the people of

02:12Providence, for our families, for

02:14ourselves.

02:16Uh and that we have so much to offer

02:18when we are able to recognize with

02:20gratitude

02:21uh our power in this moment.

02:23Thank you.

02:25And tonight the pledge of allegiance

02:26will be led by Counselor Sue Anderwood.

02:30>> I pledge allegiance to the flag

02:32>> of the United States of America and to

02:35the republic for which it stands,

02:37one nation under God, indivisible, with

02:40liberty and justice for all.

02:48>> Madam Clerk, item three, please.

02:50>> Madam President.

02:51>> Majority Leader.

02:52>> Move to skip the way the reader of item

02:53three and move approval.

02:55>> Second, Madam President.

02:57>> We have a motion and a second. Any

02:58discussion on item three?

03:00Hearing none, all in favor?

03:02>> Aye.

03:03>> Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion

03:05passes. Item four.

03:07>> Madam President.

03:08>> Majority Leader.

03:09>> Move to skip the way the reader of item

03:10four and five.

03:12>> Second, Madam President.

03:13>> Any discussions on items four or five?

03:18Hearing none, all in favor?

03:20>> Aye.

03:21>> Any opposed? Any abstentions?

03:24The motion passes. Madam Clerk, please

03:26note item four

03:28and five as received.

03:30>> So noted.

03:32>> Item six.

03:33>> Madam President.

03:34>> Majority Leader.

03:34>> Move to skip the way the reader of item

03:36six through eight.

03:37>> Second, Madam President.

03:39>> Any discussion on items six through

03:40eight?

03:43All in favor?

03:44>> Aye.

03:45>> Any opposed?

03:47Any abstentions? The motion passes.

03:52>> [laughter]

03:53[gasps]

03:54>> Um Madam Clerk, please refer items six

03:57through eights to the Committee on Ways

03:59and Means.

04:00>> So noted.

04:01>> Item nine.

04:02>> Madam President.

04:03>> Majority Leader.

04:04>> to waive the reading of item nine

04:05through 11 and pass it on a voice vote.

04:07>> Second, Madam President.

04:09>> We have a motion and a second.

04:10Discussion on items nine through 11.

04:12Councilwoman Peterson.

04:14>> Okay, my turn. Thank you. So sorry.

04:16It's I'm not used to being back.

04:19Just kidding.

04:20Um

04:21Thank you, Madam President. Um good

04:23evening, everybody. Um I am here

04:26speaking on behalf of

04:28uh item number nine, which is a

04:29resolution celebrating the Elmhurst

04:31Youth Baseball

04:33um 12U championship, or them winning the

04:35Mayor's Cup. I would love if the City

04:38Clerk could read the resolution into the

04:41record, please.

04:44>> Whereas the Elmhurst Youth U12 Baseball

04:47team is part of Elmhurst Youth Baseball,

04:50established in 1966 as the center of

04:53youth baseball in the neighborhood of

04:55Elmhurst. And whereas Elmhurst Youth

04:59Baseball is a proud tradish- tradition

05:02throughout the neighborhoods of

05:03Providence and emblematic of the storied

05:06history of the national pastime in the

05:08city.

05:09And whereas the Mayor's Cup is an annual

05:12championship tournament including teams

05:15across the city.

05:16And whereas on September 6th, and having

05:19been undefeated throughout the

05:21tournament, Elmhurst defeated Washington

05:24Park to win the Mayor's Cup final,

05:27securing the championship after a

05:29successful season.

05:31And whereas the Providence City Council

05:33wishes to congratulate the players,

05:35coaches, and parents on the occasion of

05:38said championship and to commend the

05:40skill, dedication, discipline, and

05:43teamwork of the youth of the city.

05:45Now, therefore, be it resolved that the

05:47Providence City Council offers its

05:50congratulations to Tegan Robinson, Leo

05:53Ucci, Rayland Para, Grayson Romano,

05:56Dominic Bianco, Amasia Evans, Jordan

06:00Viera, Asher Duncan, John Ramirez, Luca

06:03Polo, and Armani Jimenez on their

06:06victory in the Mayor's Cup. Be it

06:09further resolved that the Providence

06:10City Council offers its congratulations

06:13to Matt Duncan, Calvin Robinson, Kyle

06:16Robinson, and James Musgrave on their

06:18coaching of the Elmhurst Youth Baseball

06:21U12 team to that victory. Be it further

06:24resolved that upon passage, copies of

06:27this resolution be transmitted to the

06:29above-named players and coaches and to

06:32the Elmhurst Youth Baseball in

06:33recognition of the achievements of the

06:35team.

06:38>> Thank you very, very much. Um so, thank

06:42you. It's an honor to recognize the

06:44Elmhurst Youth Elmhurst Youth Baseball

06:4612U champions of the Mayor's Cup. Uh as

06:49someone who has been a part of the

06:50Elmhurst Youth Baseball family, both of

06:53my children participated and my husband

06:55coached um for many years.

06:58I don't know if he's still coaching, but

07:00keep going if you did. Um I know

07:02firsthand that youth baseball is about

07:04so much more than what happens on the

07:06field. It's about teamwork and

07:07discipline and the friendships that

07:09they're making and the confidence and

07:11the community of the families coming

07:12together to support all these kids.

07:14So, tonight, I do want to recognize each

07:16of them. I am going to repeat their

07:17names, but what I would like is for

07:19everybody to please stand up so that we

07:21can when we're done, we can give you a

07:22round of applause. Um let's see. Tegan

07:25Robinson.

07:28Leo Ucci.

07:30Rayland Para.

07:32Grayson Romano.

07:33Dominic Bianco.

07:36Amasia Evans.

07:37Jordan Viera.

07:39Asher Duncan.

07:41John Ramirez. Luca Polo.

07:44And Armani Jimenez.

07:47Also,

07:49I'd also like to ask the coaches to

07:50please stand up as well because I know

07:52how much time and dedication you give to

07:53this. I've watched you on those fields

07:55many a year. So, Matt Duncan, Kelly

07:59Robinson, and Kyle, and of course the

08:02Elmhurst Youth Baseball President and

08:03Coach James Musgraves, please stand up.

08:06Thank you for all of your service. Thank

08:07you for all your hard work, kids. We're

08:10all really, really proud of you, and

08:11we're going to share it with this this

08:12round of applause with you. Thank you.

08:16>> [applause]

08:22[applause]

08:26>> We have these beautiful citations here

08:29that I'm going to give to your coaches

08:30to give to you, but if we could just

08:32take May I ask for just a quick recess

08:34so we could take a picture? Would that

08:35be okay?

08:38Sure. Yes.

08:40So, if everybody could just come and

08:41take a picture real, real, real, real

08:43fast. I appreciate it.

08:49>> Can I do it for the kids?

09:38>> 1

09:392

10:06>> [applause]

10:26>> Congratulations again. Thank you,

10:28Councilwoman Peterson.

10:30Further discussion on items 9 through

10:3311.

10:37Wait till everyone gets back to their

10:39seats, actually.

10:41Okay, hearing none. All in favor?

10:44Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion

10:46passes.

10:48>> [snorts]

10:48>> Item 12.

10:50>> Madam President.

10:50>> Majority Leader.

10:51>> Motion to waive the reading of item 12.

10:53>> Second, Madam President.

10:55>> Any discussion on item 12?

10:57>> Yes, Councilwoman.

11:00Thank you so much for everybody come

11:02back to

11:03you know, doing our job. So, for me that

11:07resolution is make it especial.

11:10Especial when you people, you know,

11:11driving for two week and then the

11:15parking lot is one way and other way,

11:17you know, can go back and forth because

11:20you have another car in the back. So,

11:22for me that resolution make it

11:25the neighbor better way

11:28to

11:30to um for example, when you drive over

11:33there, when you have an U-turn and a

11:36Simon, so this way is two way is too

11:39tight. People have to go other side or

11:42go to inside to the parking lot to the

11:44some people because you not can go back

11:46and forth. Thank you so much and I hope

11:49you can consider it.

11:51>> Thank you, counselor. Further discussion

11:52on item 12.

11:54All in favor.

11:55>> Aye.

11:56>> Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion

11:58passes. Madam Clerk, please refer 12 to

12:00the Committee on Public Works.

12:02>> So noted. Item 13.

12:03>> Madam President.

12:04>> Majority Leader.

12:05>> Move to adopt the way the reader on 13

12:06and pass on a voice vote.

12:08>> We have a motion and a second.

12:09Discussion on 13. Councilman Vargas.

12:11>> Thank you, Madam President.

12:13>> Second, Madam President.

12:15>> I'm sorry.

12:16>> [laughter]

12:17>> Councilman Vargas.

12:19>> Thank you very much. With Um these

12:24resolution

12:25>> Can I talk?

12:27I'm breaking the rules now?

12:29>> You can now, sir.

12:31>> So

12:33if you remember what happens in Union

12:35Avenue and the ramp when the

12:38a Guatemalan junior was killed by a the

12:40bus

12:42the school bus. That was like a year

12:44ago.

12:45So we start the process how we can make

12:48this intersection safer.

12:51And we have some

12:53funds from

12:55uh

12:57from from Riot.

12:59I see from DOT. So these three corners

13:02belongs one is to

13:05uh

13:06Madam President, Richard Miller and the

13:08other corner belongs to Taylor and the

13:10rest is mine.

13:12And I'll be glad to talk to you later to

13:15see how we can implement a safer

13:17location now and but we need to pass it

13:19today for the state to release the

13:22funds. If we not we lose the funds.

13:26It's a good amount of money. It's half a

13:28million dollars and

13:31so it's going good for the for the whole

13:33three neighborhoods.

13:35Thank you very much and I hope you can

13:36support me. Thank you.

13:38>> Thank you, counselor. Further discussion

13:40on item 13.

13:43Hearing none, all in favor.

13:44>> Aye.

13:45>> Any opposed?

13:47Any abstentions? The motion passes.

13:51Item 14.

13:52>> Madam President.

13:52>> Majority Leader.

13:53>> Motion to waive the reading of item 14

13:55and pass on a voice vote.

13:56>> Second, Madam President.

13:57>> Request a roll call vote.

13:59>> Any discussion on item 14?

14:02Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

14:04>> Council President Miller.

14:05>> Aye.

14:06>> Deputy Majority Whip Anderbo.

14:08>> Aye.

14:08>> Councilor Davidson.

14:11Majority Leader Espinal.

14:12>> Aye.

14:13>> Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzales.

14:15>> Aye.

14:16>> Councilwoman Graves.

14:19Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

14:21>> Aye.

14:22>> Councilwoman Peterson.

14:26Council President Pro Tem Por Pichardo.

14:28>> Aye.

14:29>> Councilor Reyes.

14:30>> Aye.

14:31>> Councilwoman Ryan is absent. Majority

14:33Whip Sanchez.

14:35Councilman Taylor.

14:38Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

14:40>> Aye.

14:40>> Councilman Oscar Vargas.

14:42>> Aye.

14:43>> You have 14 ayes, one absent. The motion

14:45carries. The matter is passed on a roll

14:47call vote.

14:49>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Item 15.

14:52>> Madam President.

14:52>> Majority Leader.

14:53>> Motion to waive the reading of item 15

14:55through 30.

14:58>> Any discussion on 15 through 30?

15:02Hearing none, all in favor.

15:05Any opposed? Any abstentions?

15:08The motion passes. Madam Clerk, please

15:10refer 15 through 17 to claims and

15:14pending suits

15:15and note 18 through 30 as received.

15:19>> So noted.

15:20Item 31.

15:21>> Madam President.

15:22>> Majority Leader.

15:23>> Motion to waive the reader. Item 31

15:25passes on a voice vote.

15:29>> Any discussion on 31?

15:31All in favor?

15:32>> Aye.

15:33>> Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion

15:35passes.

15:36>> Madam President.

15:38At the appropriate time.

15:38>> For what purpose, Majority Leader?

15:39>> Uh

15:41personal expression.

15:44Thank you, Madam President. I just

15:46briefly wanted to rise. Uh I know that

15:48we just passed uh

15:49couple of resolutions. The first one was

15:52on the Hispanic Heritage Month. As we

15:54begin another new year that uh this

15:57going to be

15:58um not just only celebratory uh events

16:01in the city, but also throughout the

16:02state, but also reminding us

16:04uh of our cultures in the Hispanic

16:06community. And I just wanted to uh

16:08express my uh

16:11my joy and also invite everyone to uh uh

16:15disfrutar, uh to enjoy the festivities

16:18as we continue to enjoy the

16:21um Hispanic Heritage Month, which

16:23usually starts on September 15th to

16:25October uh 15th. And then um

16:29the last one is the resolution on the uh

16:31September 11th, 2001.

16:34Uh I know it passed already, but it's

16:36significant for many of us that went

16:38through it as a

16:40um member at that time of the armed

16:42forces. Uh

16:43Uh it was a very difficult time. And

16:46this year we weren't uh for those of us

16:50that paid attention to news and I know

16:52we all marked it. 25 years of

16:54remembrance of the terrible uh terrorist

16:57attack in New York. And uh wanted to

16:59express our sympathy from uh the

17:01Providence and also from our Providence

17:03City Council.

17:04And then lastly, this weekend, PVDFest

17:08is going to be a big party in downtown

17:09Providence. Let's uh enjoy it. Uh we

17:11invite all of our residents from

17:13different wards to uh come downtown and

17:16enjoy the party uh which just happens to

17:19be during the month of Hispanic Heritage

17:21Month. So,

17:22Thank

17:24you.

17:25>> Thank you for your time.

17:27Item 32.

17:30>> Madam President.

17:31>> Majority Leader.

17:32>> Motion to waive the reading of item 32

17:34and pass it on unanimous rising vote.

17:37>> Second, Madam President.

17:45>> Any discussion?

17:47All in favor?

17:48>> Aye.

17:49>> Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion

17:51passes.

17:54>> Madam President.

17:54>> Majority Leader.

17:55>> Motion to suspend

17:57Rule 16B of the rules of the City

18:00Council in order to take a matter not

18:02appearing in the printed docket.

18:04>> Second, Madam President.

18:05>> Any discussion?

18:07All in favor?

18:09>> Aye.

18:09>> Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion

18:11passes.

18:13Item 33.

18:14>> Madam President.

18:15>> Majority Leader.

18:15>> Motion to waive the reading of items 33

18:17and 34.

18:20>> Second, Madam President.

18:22>> Any discussion? All in favor?

18:25>> Aye.

18:26>> Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion

18:28passes. Madam Clerk, please refer item

18:3133 to the Committee on ER and 34 to the

18:34Special Committee on Ways and Means. So

18:36noted.

18:37>> Madam President.

18:40Before we adjourn, we tonight like to

18:43adjourn in a memory of Lorenzo Nunez, a

18:47well-known sports youth and athlete

18:51coach who passed away recently. We'll

18:54send our condolences to his family. And

18:58also our sister and colleague Thea

19:00Graves' brother, Frank Frankie Branch.

19:04Our condolences to you, dear colleague.

19:07As well as one of our staff's father,

19:11Luis Manuel Serrante, Luis Serrante's

19:14father, who recently also passed away.

19:16We extend our condolences and with that

19:18said, we know that there is no further

19:20business on the calendar, motion to

19:22adjourn.

19:23>> Second by President.

19:24>> All in favor.

19:26>> Aye.

19:26>> Any opposed? Any abstentions? We are

19:28adjourned and our deepest sympathy and

19:30love to everyone. Thank you.

19:33>> Thank you.

19:34>> Okay.