Providence City Council Meeting | Feb. 06 2025

February 06, 2025

Call to Order, Roll Call, and Election of Acting Council President

11:29 - 12:45

The council meeting was called to order, the roll was called establishing a quorum, and Councilwoman Harris was elected acting council president for the meeting.

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

12:45 - 14:17

Councilwoman Anthony delivered the invocation, followed by Councilwoman Peterson leading the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Item 3

14:17 - 14:45

The council moved to waive the reading of item 3 and approved the measure without discussion.

Items 4 and 5

14:45 - 15:16

The council voted to waive the reading of items 4 and 5 and formally noted them as received.

Items 6 through 9: Committee Referrals

15:16 - 15:55

The council waived the reading of items 6 through 9 and referred them to the Committee on Ordinance, Committee on Finance, and the Special Committee on Environment and Resilience.

Item 10: Hot Water Tank Repairs Resolution

15:55 - 18:38

Councilwoman Anthony explained the urgent need for a change order funding hot water tank repairs at 444 Westminster Street. The council voted to approve the resolution on the floor and refer it back to the Board of Contract and Supply.

Item 11: Finance Referral

18:38 - 19:27

The council voted to waive the reading of item 11 and referred the item to the Committee on Finance.

Items 12 through 16: Resolutions of Recognition and Community Support

19:27 - 36:57

Resolutions were read recognizing the Da Vinci Center and Better Lives Rhode Island for operating emergency warming shelters, establishing municipal recognition for Juneteenth and Black History Month, and expressing solidarity with residents facing uncertainty under federal policy changes. Multiple council members delivered remarks before the package of resolutions was approved.

Item 17: Finance Referral

36:57 - 37:26

The council moved to waive the reading of item 17 and referred the matter to the Committee on Finance.

Item 18: First Passage Roll Call Vote

37:26 - 38:39

The council waived the reading of item 18 and passed the measure on first reading via a unanimous roll call vote.

Item 19: Board of Contract and Supply Referral

38:39 - 39:06

The council approved item 19 by voice vote and referred the matter back to the Board of Contract and Supply.

Items 20 through 31: Board and Commission Appointments

39:06 - 44:10

The council considered nominations and appointments to various city boards, including the School Board, Building Board of Review, Board of Tax Assessment, and Providence Housing Court. Council members delivered congratulatory remarks before receiving and approving the appointments.

Item 32

44:10 - 44:35

The council moved to waive the reading of item 32 and approved the item by voice vote.

Items 33 through 43: Claims and Communications

44:35 - 45:20

The council waived the reading of items 33 through 43, referring claims to the Committee on Claims and Pending Suits and receiving communications into the record.

Item 44

45:20 - 45:49

The council voted to waive the reading of item 44 and passed the item on a voice vote.

Item 45

45:49 - 46:19

The council waived the reading of item 45 and approved the measure with a unanimous rising vote.

Adjournment

46:19 - 46:40

A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and passed with all in favor, concluding the city council meeting.

Unknown

11:29 - 11:37

I would like to call this council meeting of Thursday, 02/06/2025 to order. Madam clerk, please call the roll.

Unknown

11:38 - 11:46

Council president Miller is absent. Deputy majority whip Anderbois? Present. Councilwoman Anthony? Present.

Unknown

11:46 - 11:51

Majority leader Espinal is absent. Senior deputy majority leader Gonzales?

Unknown

11:51 - 11:52

Present.

Unknown

11:52 - 12:01

Councilwoman Graves is absent. Deputy majority leader Harris? Present. Councilwoman Peterson? Present.

Unknown

12:01 - 12:06

Council president Pro Tempur Pichardo is absent. Councilor Royas?

Unknown

12:07 - 12:08

Present.

Unknown

12:08 - 12:15

Councilwoman Ryan? Present. Majority Whip Sanchez? Present. Councilman Taylor?

Unknown

12:15 - 12:20

Present. Councilwoman Anna Vargas? Present. Councilman Oscar Vargas?

Unknown

12:20 - 12:21

Present.

Unknown

12:21 - 12:25

You have 11 present and four absent. You have a quorum.

Unknown

12:26 - 12:32

At this time, I would like to ask for a motion to elect an acting council president for this meeting only.

Unknown

12:33 - 12:39

I would like to make a motion to elect councilwoman Harris as acting president for this meeting only.

Unknown

12:40 - 12:42

Second that motion. All in favor?

Unknown

12:43 - 12:43

Aye. All

Unknown

12:44 - 13:04

opposed? The ayes have it. The pledge allegiance I'm I'm sorry. The invocation will be given by everyone, stand, please, as the invocation will be given by councilwoman Anthony. Dear lord,

Unknown

13:05 - 13:51

thank you for your many blessings, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to represent the residents of Providence. Please guide us during this unprecedented attack on our democracy by president Trump and his administration. Please help us provide assistance to our unhoused our undocumented, and our most vulnerable populations. Help us stand strong in the face of a federal administration that wants to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion because we all know that those beliefs and practices make our city one of the best places to live in the country. We ask you to help us provide calm, steady leadership during a time of crisis and chaos.

Unknown

13:51 - 13:54

Thank you, dear lord. Amen. Amen.

Unknown

13:54 - 14:01

Everyone remain standing as we have the pledge allegiance being led by, councilwoman Peterson.

Unknown

14:02 - 14:06

I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States

Unknown

14:06 - 14:08

Of America and to

Unknown

14:08 - 14:15

the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Unknown

14:17 - 14:19

Madam clerk, item number three, please.

Unknown

14:21 - 14:26

Acting madam president, motion to waive the reading of item three and move approval.

Unknown

14:26 - 14:28

Second, madam president.

Unknown

14:28 - 14:47

Any discussion? All in favor? Any of any opposed any abstentions? The ayes have it. Madam clerk, item number four.

Unknown

14:47 - 14:52

Acting madam president, motion to waive the reading of items four and five.

Unknown

14:53 - 14:56

Second, madam president. Any discussion?

Unknown

14:59 - 15:07

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? The ayes have it.

Unknown

15:08 - 15:19

Madam clerk, please note item four and five as received. So noted. Madam clerk, please read item six.

Unknown

15:20 - 15:25

Acting madam president, motion to waive the reading of items six through nine.

Unknown

15:26 - 15:28

Second, madam president. Any discussion?

Unknown

15:30 - 15:51

All in favor? Any extension? The ayes have it. Madam clerk, please refer item six to the committee on ordinance, item seven and eight to the committee on finance, and item nine to the special committee on environment and resilience. So noted.

Unknown

15:55 - 15:58

Madam clerk, item number 10.

Unknown

15:59 - 16:07

Acting madam president, motion to waive the reading of item 10, pass on a voice vote, and refer back to the board of contract and supply.

Unknown

16:07 - 16:09

Second, madam president. Any discussion?

Unknown

16:11 - 16:14

At this time, I ask councilwoman Anthony to take the floor,

Unknown

16:14 - 16:40

please. Thank you, madam president. With regard to this item, I'm asking that the council pass this on the floor because it's an urgent math matter. Public property is asking this resolution be passed to finalize the repairs on a hot water tank at 444 Westminster. As you know, that property is owned by Joseph Palino, and the city leases property.

Unknown

16:41 - 17:38

Pursuant to the lease, the cost of all the repairs are borne by the city. Right now, there are two hot water tanks that service that entire building, And with one out of service, I'm worried that the weather that we may have problems, and I'd hate to delay the repair on the one that's broken just in case we have some sort of event that causes the other one to fail. So it was referred to counsel because the change order was more than 20% of the original cost of the contract. The contract originally was $19,400 During the installation, the contractor discovered that there was an improper expansion tank which had to be replaced. Certainly wasn't foreseen that this was the case before they did the installation, so they have asked for an additional 5,650.

Unknown

17:38 - 17:45

So I'm asking the council to rather than to refer to finance to actually pass a resolution on the floor. Thank you.

Unknown

17:46 - 17:57

Any other discussion? All in favor? Aye. First, is there any discussion other than councilwoman? Councilman?

Unknown

17:57 - 17:57

Council

Unknown

17:57 - 18:14

council Madam president, point of personal expression. Just wanted to say thank you for your leadership on introducing the ordinance, to establish Juneteenth as a municipal holiday. As you know, Juneteenth marks the day that

Unknown

18:14 - 18:19

Councilman, we're not on that item yet. We're still on item number 10.

Unknown

18:19 - 18:20

Oh, okay. Great.

Unknown

18:20 - 18:21

We're in the middle of a vote. Thanks.

Unknown

18:21 - 18:28

Okay. Alright. No other discussions. All in favor? Any opposed?

Unknown

18:29 - 18:41

Any abstain? The ayes have it. Madam clerk, please read item 11.

Unknown

18:42 - 18:52

Acting madam president, motion to waive the reading of item 10 or item 11 and, pass on a on a voice vote.

Unknown

18:52 - 18:54

No. That would be