Providence Council Meeting | July 24th 2025

July 24, 2025

Roll Call

00:00 - 00:09

The meeting is called to order, and the clerk conducts a roll call of the council members. A quorum of 14 present members is established.

Invocation

00:09 - 01:27

Councilman Oscar Vargas delivers the invocation prayer for the evening. He prays for guidance for the council members to make the best decisions for the city's future.

Pledge of Allegiance

01:27 - 01:53

The Council President leads the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. The clerk is then directed to proceed to the next item on the agenda.

Item 3

01:53 - 02:08

The Majority Leader moves to waive the reading of Item 3 and approve it. The motion is seconded and passes unanimously on a voice vote.

Items 4 and 5: Appointment of Licensed Administrator

02:08 - 05:34

The council discusses the appointment of Jose as the licensed administrator for the city of Providence. Council members praise his public service, bilingual skills, and dedication to helping local businesses before approving the appointment.

Item 6

05:34 - 06:15

The council votes to waive the reading of Item 6. The item is subsequently referred back to the Committee on Finance for further consideration.

Items 7 through 12

06:15 - 06:45

The Majority Leader moves to waive the reading of Items 7 through 12. The motion passes, and the items are referred to their respective committees, including Finance, Ordinances, and Public Works.

Items 13 through 17

06:45 - 14:48

The council discusses and approves several resolutions, including funding for North Main Street improvements and the Washington Secondary Bike Path. They also read and approve a resolution declaring Liberian Independence Day and discuss supporting a potential WNBA team in Providence.

Item 18: Capital Improvement Plan

14:48 - 21:25

The Finance Committee recommends approval of the proposed five-year capital improvement plan. After a discussion highlighting funding for neighborhood projects like a splash pad in the North End, the plan passes on a roll call vote.

Items 19 through 21

21:25 - 21:51

The council votes to waive the reading of Items 19 through 21 and pass them on a voice vote. The items are referred back to the Board of Contract and Supply.

Items 22 through 24

21:51 - 22:19

The Majority Leader moves to waive the reading of Items 22 through 24 and receive and approve them. The motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

Item 25: Excel Academy Lease

22:19 - 01:00:25

The council engages in a lengthy and passionate debate regarding a proposed 35-year lease of the Cal G. Laurel Building to Excel Academy charter school. After hearing arguments on financial benefits, school choice, and the impact on the public school system, the motion to approve the lease fails on a roll call vote.

Items 26 through 32

01:00:25 - 01:01:14

The council votes to waive the reading of Items 26 through 32. The items are referred to various committees, including Ordinances and Claims, or received as noted.

Item 33

01:01:14 - 01:01:28

The Majority Leader moves to waive the reading of Item 33 and pass it on a voice vote. The motion is seconded and passes without opposition.

Item 34 and Adjournment

01:01:28 - 01:02:26

The council passes Item 34 on a unanimous rising vote and moves to adjourn. Before adjourning, announcements are made regarding Peruvian Independence Day and the swearing-in of a new official.

Speaker 0

00:00 - 00:08

The woman, Anna Vargas? Present. Councilman Oscar Vargas? Present. You have 14 present and one absent.

Speaker 0

00:08 - 00:09

You have a quorum.

Speaker 1

00:09 - 00:19

Thank you, madam clerk. This evening, the invocation will be given by councilman Oscar Vargas. Will everyone please rise, including our guests for the invocation?

Speaker 2

00:19 - 00:43

Thank you very much, madam chair. These prayers will be everyone who can pray can pray at the same time to for every single council to make a decision tonight. Hopefully, it will be the best decision for our future. In the name of the father, the holy, and the holy spirit. Amen.

Speaker 2

00:43 - 01:26

Gar, please help everyone here to make the right decision tonight and bless everyone here who's who came and have the time to come to the city hall as your city hall to enjoy and see the the best way that we make decisions. Father, please open our minds, give you also a a great vision how we can continue working with this great city to have a bright and great future for everyone. God bless everyone here present, and god bless every single councilman, and god bless the community. Amen.

Speaker 1

01:27 - 01:51

Amen. Thank you, counselor. Tonight, the pledge of allegiance will be led by me. I pledge allegiance to the flag, The United States Of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Madam Clerk, item three, please.

Speaker 3

01:53 - 01:54

Madam President.

Speaker 1

01:54 - 01:55

Majority Leader.

Speaker 3

01:55 - 01:57

Watch to weigh the reno of item three and move approval.

Speaker 4

01:58 - 01:59

Second, madam president. We have

Speaker 1

01:59 - 02:05

a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed?

Speaker 1

02:05 - 02:08

Any abstentions? The motion passes. Item four.

Speaker 5

02:08 - 02:12

Madam president. Majority leader. I you to weigh the reading of item four and five.

Speaker 4

02:13 - 02:14

Second, madam president.

Speaker 1

02:14 - 02:20

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on items four or five? Councilman.

Speaker 4

02:20 - 02:35

Thank you, madam president. I don't know if, Jose is here, but he is. If you could please stand up. I want to give a big shout out to Jose, for officially becoming the licensed administrator for the city of Providence. Jose is someone I've known for years.

Speaker 4

02:35 - 02:48

He's been with the city, always has demonstrated, what a true public servant does. He goes above and beyond, for every constituent here in the city of Providence when it comes to, licensing and permitting.

Speaker 6

02:49 - 02:52

It it's someone that, you know, will answer phone calls

Speaker 4

02:52 - 03:06

on weekends when when there's questions to to be answered. So I know he's been in this acting role for quite some time, but I definitely wanted just to, get up here and give him the the recognition he he does and and our full support as a body. Thank you, madam president.

Speaker 5

03:06 - 03:10

Thank you, counselor. Further discussion on items four or five? Madam president? Counselor.

Speaker 2

03:10 - 03:27

Thank you. I raised to to support, Jose. Jose is like, I echo my colleague. He's a person who speak the two languages, so nobody can say, I didn't understand my inspector. So but he's been a big help in the community.

Speaker 2

03:28 - 03:44

Like, he he tries to help and and teach and and educate. Basically, we sometimes we don't have the knowledge how to do things with small business. It's not yes to open a door and we have a business. It's a process. And Jose is one of those person.

Speaker 2

03:44 - 03:53

He he teach the business owner which way they have to go and get the process done without a huge headache. Thank you.

Speaker 1

03:54 - 03:57

Thank you. Further discussion? Councilman Ryan.

Speaker 7

03:57 - 04:15

Thank you, council president. I rise to add my voice to my, colleagues. I've had the pleasure of working with Jose on a number of matters. He is absolutely a pleasure to work with. He's so professional, just tremendous customer service skills.

Speaker 7

04:15 - 04:28

And all of the feedback that I've received from my constituency is that they're absolutely pleased, with his, service to the city. So add my voice to, support that. Thank you.

Speaker 0

04:28 - 04:29

Councilor Goncalves.

Speaker 8

04:29 - 04:44

Thank you, madam president. I'm also here to add my voice to the praise. I just wanna say, Jose, thank you for your leadership. Let's give him a round of applause, everybody. A wonderful public servant and looking forward to supporting your appointment.

Speaker 8

04:44 - 04:45

Thank you for all that

Speaker 2

04:45 - 04:45

you do.

Speaker 1

04:47 - 04:51

Counselors, further discussion items four or five? Yes. Vargas?

Speaker 9

04:51 - 05:01

Hi. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm back. Jose for me is like open a door when you know something

Speaker 6

05:01 - 05:01

that

Speaker 9

05:01 - 05:16

you needed. Right now, we're working for the Marino Park, and he tried to help the best the best. So, Jose, whatever you do, thank you. Thank you so much. I very appreciate it.

Speaker 1

05:18 - 05:24

Further discussion? Items four or five. Hearing none, all in favor. Aye. Any opposed?

Speaker 1

05:24 - 05:34

Any abstentions? The motion passes. Madam clerk, please note four and five as received. So noted. Jose, you have my congratulations as well.

Speaker 1

05:34 - 05:35

Item six.

Speaker 3

05:36 - 05:37

Madam President.

Speaker 1

05:37 - 05:37

Majority Leader.

Speaker 3

05:37 - 05:39

Motion to waive the reading of item

Speaker 4

05:39 - 05:41

six. Second, madam president.

Speaker 1

05:41 - 05:44

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on item six?

Speaker 10

05:46 - 05:52

Councilwoman Graves? I I have a question. Are we laying this back on the table? What what is going on with it?

Speaker 1

05:52 - 06:08

Councilwoman, the the, we're the motion in front of us is to waive the reading, and the action will be to refer it back to the Committee on Finance. Okay. Further discussion on item six? All in favor? Aye.

Speaker 1

06:08 - 06:15

Opposed? Any abstentions? The motion passes. Madam Clerk, please refer item six back to the Committee on Finance. So noted.

Speaker 1

06:15 - 06:16

Item seven.

Speaker 5

06:16 - 06:18

Madam President. Majority Leader.

Speaker 3

06:18 - 06:20

I motion to waive the reader of items seven through 12.

Speaker 1

06:20 - 06:28

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on items seven through 12? Hearing none, all in favor?

Speaker 4

06:28 - 06:29

Aye. Any