City updates: Truman Drive nearing completion; hazard‑mitigation update and Army Corps flood easements discussed

City staff reported progress Jan. 27 on several ongoing infrastructure and hazard‑management projects.

Director Pagliarini briefed the council on the Truman Drive project, saying the work is nearing completion and that outstanding items include a pedestrian bridge and meter installation by the utility company. "The project was bid at $2,300,000," Pagliarini said, and the city has received about $3,000,000 in grants for Truman Drive. He told the council that 32 lamps have been installed and that temporary solar lights will be removed once Rhode Island Energy installs the permanent meter. Pagliarini said a consultant proposal of about $40,000 would design Phase 2 (a retaining wall, a staircase and walkway repairs) and estimated Phase 2 at about $4,450,000. He said additional funding sources, including a $150,000 closed project transfer and Infrastructure Bank support, could be combined to finance work at River Island Park (Phase 3).

The council also received an update on the city's 2024 natural hazard mitigation and flood management plan, drafted by a consultant with fire department and agency input. Pagliarini said the council is not being asked to adopt the plan now; the plan will go to Rhode Island Emergency Management and FEMA for review and the council will be asked to sign off after those reviews.

Finally, Pagliarini described progress with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on levee easements. The Corps notified the city in 2008 that documentation was incomplete and that properties behind the levees are at higher flood‑insurance premium risk while the city remains out of the federal program. The city has engaged a consultant to gather easements; Pagliarini said the consultant work has reduced the outstanding easements to fewer than three dozen and asked permission to continue the consultant's contract with an additional approximate $10,000 to finish the project. He told the council the Army Corps was pleased with recent activity and that re‑certification to the National Flood Insurance Program could take up to two years after documentation is submitted.

Ending: Councilors heard the updates, asked staff to bring design proposals and contract details back for review where required, and did not take votes on capital appropriations at the Jan. 27 meeting.