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Council approves series of licenses, contracts, appointments and ordinance second readings; residential parking resolution amended and passed
Summary
The council approved the consent calendar (except item G), multiple special-event and entertainment licenses, appointments to boards and commissions, several public-works contracts and second readings of smoking and pedicab regulations; the council also amended and approved a resolution on resident parking stickers.
The Newport City Council approved a number of routine items and formal actions in a sequence of motions, including licenses, appointments, contracts and second readings of ordinances. Key approvals and outcomes at the meeting included:
- Consent calendar: Approved in its entirety except letter G (motion moved, seconded and approved).
- Licenses and special events: Approved a special event license for Newport Art Museum’s "Summer Art Party Gala" (76 Bellevue Ave, July 11, 2025, 6 p.m.–11 p.m.), a valet parking license for the same event, a sidewalk café license for Get the Scoop LLC on Broadway, and entertainment licenses for Brenton Hotel (roof deck) and Newport Playhouse (indoor and specified outdoor hours). The council also approved the 2025 annual entertainment license renewals.
- Appointments and reappointments: Frederick Hunsbury appointed to the Planning Board (term expires 2028-05-28); reappointments and appointments to other boards and commissions included Andy Bjork to the Environment Commission (term to 2028-04-09), Jack Grant to the Henderson Home Commission (term to 2026-03-10) and Nick Zambrata to the Newport Beach Commission (term to 2028-04-11).
- Event/road closure memorandum: The council received a memorandum regarding road-closure logistics for a Juneteenth Rhode Island Slave History Medallion event; the council previously approved the special-event license and referred details on additional closures and police detail to administration.
- Public works, utilities and contracts: The council approved a RIDOT subrecipient agreement for the Cliff Walk Restoration Project (budgeted), a professional services contract (via state master price agreement) with Beta Group Inc. to develop a pavement management system (not to exceed $25,000), and a supplemental agreement to continue pavement striping work (amount referenced in docket and budgeted). The council also approved an agreement with Roadie Surf Inc. for Easton Beach umbrella and chair concessions, annual chemical bids for the water-treatment plants, and a group of vendor awards for assorted water and sewer products.
- Ordinance second readings (all second readings moved and approved): Amendments related to smoking on buses, pedicab operations, smoking prohibitions in and around municipal and school buildings, Easton's Beach regulations, athletic and recreational facilities' smoking prohibitions, and prohibition of smoking on public beaches, parks and the Cliff Walk.
- Fiscal and procedural items: Motion to continue consideration of FY 2027 biannual budget (moved and seconded and approved); a resolution concerning resident parking stickers was amended during debate and subsequently approved. The amendment clarified that resident stickers should be made available to those who "in any manner reside in residential dwelling units as defined by the City of Newport" and removed language that would have limited stickers to property owners only.
All listed items were recorded in the meeting as motions moved and seconded and, where recorded, approved by the council. Where detailed vote tallies were not provided in the transcript, motions were recorded as adopted by voice vote. Several items were explicitly noted as currently budgeted; the meeting did not appropriate new large capital sums in open session for any of the approved items.
