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Council refers flood-protection ordinance and local vendor preference to committees
Summary
Councilmembers endorsed an amendment to local flood and sewer protections and a proposed local vendor preference; item 30 (flood/sewer protections) was referred to Environment and Resiliency and item 31 (local vendor preference) to Ordinances for further review.
The Providence City Council moved to refer two separate ordinances for committee review: an amendment to local ordinances requiring additional flood and sewer protection measures in flood-prone areas, and a local vendor preference program to help Providence small businesses compete for city contracts.
Councilwoman Davidson described item 30 as "a small amendment to our existing ordinances" that would require additional flood and sewer protections to reduce the risk of sewer backflow into homes, especially in neighborhoods with rising water tables. "It protects our houses from the potential for sewer backflows into the actual structures," Davidson said, urging committee consideration.
Majority Leader Espinal and other councilors praised item 31, which would establish a certified local vendor program to give Providence businesses an advantage in bidding for city contracts. Espinal said the local preference would help sustain small businesses that hire neighbors and contribute to the local tax base.
Both items passed procedural motions and were referred: item 30 to the Special Committee on Environment and Resiliency and item 31 to the Committee on Ordinances. The council's referrals set the stage for technical committee review, public hearings and any future amendments before final votes.
