Council approves licenses, contracts and resolutions including strategic plan update and increased parking fines

The Newport City Council approved a range of routine licenses, procurement awards, and policy resolutions at the meeting. Below is a compact “votes at a glance” listing of items the council voted on and the outcomes recorded in the public meeting.

Licenses and special events - Sunday selling (liquor‑store) license renewals: Approved (consent). - License for Newport Independence Day celebration (Sons of the Revolution): Approved with direction that aspects (police detail/waivers/fiscal‑year funding) be reviewed by the city manager. - Banner license (Newport Public Education Foundation, Rogers High School celebration, June 11–16): Approved. - Multiple sidewalk cafe/street cafe/entertainment licenses (Corner Cafe; Poor Judgment; Hungry Monkey; Nicholas Pizza; Nitro Bar; Scales and Shells; Stoneacre; Pivotal Brewing Company; Chomp Kitchen & Drink): Approved (public hearings held where required). - Sound variance/Summer Gala (IYRS): Approved. - Appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions (including Jimmy Winters to Affirmative Action Commission; Mark Fitzgerald reappointed as Beach Commission chair): Approved.

Strategic plan and resilience - Strategic Plan 2025 progress update (resolution adopting 2025 updates and 2024 accomplishments): Approved as amended. Council amended the lead‑abatement language on page 4 to say “lead abatement” citywide rather than singling out the North End. Motion to receive and adopt the updated plan passed.

Public works, utilities and procurement - Water distribution system improvement change order (Contract 60311, CB Utility Co. Inc.): Change Order 1 increased the contract by $730,700; new contract amount reported as $2,187,500. Council approved the change order; item was reported as budgeted. - Janitorial services (RFP 2025PS-14): Award to M and B Cleaning Service (Pawtucket) for base year 05/01/2025–04/30/2026 with two 1‑year options; not‑to‑exceed annual estimated $125,000: Approved. - Quarterly fire alarm testing/on‑call maintenance (RFP 2025 PS‑016): Award to Coastal Electric Inc. (Newport), not to exceed $25,000 annually: Approved. - Citywide electrical services (RFP 2025 PS‑016): Award to Frank A. Toner Electric Company (Middletown), annual not‑to‑exceed $75,000: Approved. - Automatic temperature control services: Award to Automatic Temperature Controls (Cranston), annual not‑to‑exceed $75,000: Approved. - Police office cubicles, desks and chairs (Allsteel Inc. via W.B. Mason): Purchase not to exceed $41,626.34: Approved.

Police and safety - Waiver of procurement for unmarked vehicles for Police Vice Enforcement Unit (to keep models confidential for undercover safety): Council approved a waiver allowing direct purchase from vendor for the duration of the unit (15 years or until unit dissolution), reported as budgeted.

Parking and enforcement - Ordinance amendment to increase minimum parking penalties: Council amended City Ordinance 1.14 to increase many minimum parking penalties from $40 to $60; public‑safety exceptions (blocking hydrants, fire lanes, handicap, snow removal) remain or are set at $100. The council approved the ordinance change. - Addition of special parking limits: BITC recommendation to add a 5‑minute parking zone on Dr. Marcus Wheatland Boulevard (west side, 20 feet north of Edward Street for 75 feet, 7–9 a.m., Monday–Friday): Approved.

Other ordinances and resolutions - New chapter 17.107 (Temporary Use Permits): Approved on second reading. - Amendment to section 5.70.02 (license required for special events longer than 14 days) to allow council review even if zoning decision denied: Approved (first reading/amendment adopted as presented). - Resolution endorsing the 2023 Bridle Island Bike Plan as an advisory guiding document for transportation planning in Newport: Approved. - Resolution supporting a Bicycle Friendly Community application (League of American Bicyclists) and directing city departments to assist Bike Newport/BPAC with data for a June 25 application deadline: Approved. - Resolution opposing proposed state conveyance‑tax legislation (House Bill 05‑1956 and Senate Bill 0037) that would add an additional conveyance tax on real estate above $900,000: Approved. Council directed the clerk to send the resolution to the city’s legislative delegation.

Procedural notes and continuances - Two parking‑related ordinance items (residential parking designation on Marsh Street and Bridge Street; and a separate Dixon Street item described as parking prohibited at all times) were continued to a future meeting date (item 6,410 and the Marsh/Bridge item).

Vote recording and budget notes - Many consent items and licenses were approved on voice vote or show of hands; several procurement awards and the water change order were described in staff reports as covered by the current budget. When exact roll‑call names for every vote were not read into the audio record, the clerk announced tallies (for major contested votes, specific tallies were recorded; e.g., P&S vote 4‑2).