Cranston commission approves capital budget with amendments; school project, parks and public-safety items debated

Cranston City's capital budget commission met in a special session and approved the city's capital plan as amended, voting to fund school, public-works, fire, police (as amended), information-technology and library projects while removing two proposed projects: an indoor police shooting range and a dog park.

The commission's finance director described the package to commissioners as an "aggressive" capital improvement program that reflects worst-case borrowing assumptions while the city pursues grants, particularly for stormwater and other public-works work. The director said the city would use short-term notes and only go to the bond market about a year from now, borrowing only what is needed to fund projects.

Why it matters: The capital plan sets which large purchases and infrastructure projects the city will pursue and how they will be financed. Commissioners approved funding for several department proposals but amended and removed specific line items after debate about community impact, site readiness and necessity.

The school department asked the commission to finalize a carryover authorization tied to a larger bond authorization that dates back to an earlier program. As part of that, commissioners approved a $10 million allocation for the Apprenticeship Exploration School (AES) to complete renovations and program space for the charter school. Finance staff said the AES project is part of an existing $40 million balance from a previously authorized package; the city purchased a property identified as 4 Shop Drive for about $3,150,000 and has contracted Secosha and Associates for design and cost estimating. Lindsay Tavares, executive director of the Apprenticeship Exploration School, attended and thanked the commission for considering the project.

Parks and recreation director Steven Piscopello presented a multi-year list of maintenance and replacement projects including playground surfacing and court repairs, replacement of an aging garbage/maintenance truck, and upgrades to Cranston Stadium's dugouts and spectator sightlines. Commissioners also discussed site needs for a new regulation (60/90) baseball diamond on the city's western side, and a proposed outdoor track for Cranston East (the track was listed as a FY27 item with the site to be determined). Piscopello described the request as prioritizing existing infrastructure and noted the city is exploring several potential sites.

Debate in the parks package focused on a proposed dog park. Some commissioners said they supported some type of off-leash or dog-friendly trail area; others said the dog-park proposal, as presented, did not meet a clear necessity and raised concerns about maintenance and conflicts with youth play areas. The commission voted 4-2 to remove the dog-park item from the capital plan.

Public-safety items drew sustained attention. The police department requested several items including specialized vehicles and an enclosed, indoor shooting range. Several commissioners raised concerns about necessity, the range's noise impacts and declining rental revenue from outside agencies. After discussion, the commission voted unanimously to amend the police package to remove the indoor shooting-range project and then approved the remainder of the police requests as amended.

The fire chief described the department's needs, including replacing an aging engine in the western end of the city, server and station repairs, and a proposed training facility listed in an out year with a planning cost of about $2,000,000. The chief said the department currently relies on regional facilities for live-burn training and that a local training site would reduce the need to send on-duty crews off-site or use overtime. Several commissioners asked for a future cost-benefit analysis when the training facility item returns for approval. The fire department's capital requests were approved as presented.

Other departmental items approved included IT hardware and cybersecurity upgrades (finance staff said grant applications could remove these items if funded), library repairs paid from previously identified cash proceeds for an Auburn branch bathroom upgrade, and a number of public-works equipment and infrastructure line items. Commissioners discussed the City Hall annex concept; finance staff said several surplus school properties that may become available after the Gladstone opening could be candidates for reuse but that the city and school administration must declare surplus status before reuse is determined.

Votes at a glance

- Reappoint Mr. Barberi to the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission — Motion to reappoint made by Vice President Coop, seconded by Commissioner Zedelas; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- School department authorization including $10,000,000 for the Apprenticeship Exploration School (AES) — Motion made by Commissioner Adelis, seconded by Commissioner Mancini; outcome: approved (voice vote). The city reported a $3,150,000 purchase of 4 Shop Drive tied to the project; Secosha and Associates contracted for design and cost estimate.

- Public works capital package — Outcome: approved (voice vote). Finance staff said many stormwater items are presented as worst-case scenarios pending grant awards and that borrowing would be limited to what is needed when the city issues bonds.

- Police: amendment to remove an indoor shooting range (proposed $5,000,000) — Motion to amend to remove made by Commissioner Zadellis, seconded by Commissioner of Dallas; outcome: amendment approved unanimously.

- Police capital package as amended — Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Fire department capital requests (including replacement of Engine 6, station repairs and an out-year training facility listed at about $2,000,000) — Outcome: approved (voice vote). Commissioners requested a future cost-benefit analysis if the training facility returns for funding.

- Parks & Recreation: removal of dog-park line item — Motion to remove made by Commissioner Zadellis, seconded by Vice President Coop; outcome: amendment passed 4-2 (nays: Commissioner Zadellis and Commissioner Lamphere recorded as voting "nay"). Parks & Recreation package otherwise approved as amended.

- IT hardware and cybersecurity upgrades — Outcome: approved (voice vote). Finance staff said pending grant awards could remove these items from next year's plan.

- Libraries (Auburn bathroom upgrade financed from existing cash proceeds) — Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Capital budget, overall, as amended — Motion to approve final capital budget made by Commissioner Zadellis, seconded by Vice President Coop; outcome: approved (voice vote). The meeting adjourned following the vote.

Speakers quoted in this report include: Finance director (title used in meeting), Vice President Coop (commissioner), Commissioner Zedelas, Commissioner Lamphere, Commissioner Mancini, Commissioner Exter, Commissioner Zadellis, Commissioner Adelis, Steven Piscopello (Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Cranston), Lindsay Tavares (Executive Director, Apprenticeship Exploration School), and the Fire chief (title used in meeting). Direct quotes were attributed to these named speakers when used.

Ending: Commissioners approved the capital plan with the cited amendments and asked staff to return with additional details on site feasibility and cost-benefit analyses for larger out-year projects when they are scheduled for final bond or authorization votes.