Providence City Council Meeting | September 4th 2025

September 04, 2025

Official record

From the minutes filed with the RI Secretary of State on September 22, 2025.

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Attendance

10 present · 4 absent

Present

Council President Miller
Councilman Espinal
Councilwoman Graves
Councilwoman Peterson
Councilor Pichardo
Councilor Roias
Councilwoman Ryan
Councilor Sanchez
Councilman Taylor
Councilman Vargas

Absent

Councilor AnderBois
Councilman Goncalves
Councilwoman Harris
Councilwoman Vargas

Also present: Tina L. Mastroianni (City Clerk), Sheri A. Petronio (First Deputy City Clerk), Lauren Gutierrez (Second Deputy City Clerk), Napoleon Askie (City Sergeant), Steven Nelson (Senior Assistant City Solicitor)

Recorded votes (20)

Approval of Journal of Proceedings No. 17 of July 24, 2025 and Journal of Proceedings No. 18 of July 29, 2025

APPROVED (WITH VOTE) [9 TO 0]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (9)

Council President Miller , Councilman Espinal , Councilwoman Graves , Councilwoman Peterson , Councilor Roias , Councilwoman Ryan , Councilor Sanchez , Councilman Taylor , Councilman Vargas

Abstain (1)

Councilor Pichardo

Communication from the Mayor appointing Todd Lincoln to the Greater Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau

RECEIVED

Communication from the Mayor appointing Tania Quezada to the Board of Licenses

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Finance

Communication from Council President Miller submitting re-appointments to the Community Libraries of Providence Board

RECEIVED

Ordinances repealing and establishing Tax Stabilization Agreements and relating to the Code of Ordinances

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Finance

An Ordinance in Amendment of Chapter 27 of The Code of Ordinances, "The City of Providence Zoning Ordinance"

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Ordinances

Resolutions authorizing contract awards, supporting a school construction application, and authorizing PPBA bonds

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Finance

Resolution in Memory of Judge Frank Caprio and Resolution Declaring a Vacancy in the Second Ward City Council Office

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (10)

Council President Miller , Councilman Espinal , Councilwoman Graves , Councilwoman Peterson , Councilor Pichardo , Councilor Roias , Councilwoman Ryan , Councilor Sanchez , Councilman Taylor , Councilman Vargas

Resolution Declaring Providence Public Schools as Safe Zones

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Ordinances

Resolution Honoring the Life and Legacy of Melvin F. Brundidge

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (10)

Resolution Recognizing Transparency and Accountability in the Gilbert Stuart/Alfred Lima School Construction Project

REFERRED

Referred to Special Committee on Health, Opportunity, Prosperity and Education

Resolutions renaming Obadiah Brown Field, recognizing Mexican Independence Day, and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (10)

Resolutions establishing honorary street designations for Miss Barbara Thurman Way and Mattie L. Smith

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (10)

Certificates from City Assessor recommending tax cancellations

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Claims and Pending Suits

Petition from Daniel Ryan, Network Building & Consulting, requesting an easement for Verizon Conduit Placement

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Public Works

Petitions for various actions from Michael Lajoie, Winifred Lambrecht, Nahlah Thomas, and others

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Claims and Pending Suits

Communications submitting resignations from Christian Lachapelle-Miller, Helen D. Anthony, Dylan Conley, and Angela J. Harris

RECEIVED

Resolution Extending Congratulations

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (10)

Resolution Extending Sympathy

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (10)

Communication from Council President Miller appointing Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan to the Committee on Finance

RECEIVED

Unknown

05:29 - 05:38

Thumbs up all around? Good evening everyone and welcome to this, Providence City Council meeting on September 4. Madam Clerk, please call

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05:38 - 05:46

the roll. Council President Miller. Present. Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois is absent. Majority Leader Espinal.

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05:46 - 05:57

Present. Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonsalves is absent. Councilwoman Graves? Present. Deputy majority leader Harris is absent.

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05:57 - 06:06

Councilwoman Peterson? Hi. I'm here. Council president Pro Tempur Pichardo? Present.

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06:06 - 06:12

Councilor Arroyas? Present. Councilwoman Ryan? Present. Majority Whip Sanchez?

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06:13 - 06:23

Councilman Taylor? Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent. Councilman Oscar Vargas? Here. You have 10 present and four absent.

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06:23 - 06:24

You have a quorum.

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06:25 - 06:46

Thank you, madam clerk. Will everyone please rise for the invocation tonight? Counselors, as we are gathered here tonight, we know that the students are back to school. We know the teachers are back to school. And in many ways, we ourselves feel like a back to school moment.

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06:47 - 07:25

And I I know that we wish strength and blessings for everyone who's undertaking a new school year, a new project, and also for us as we recommit to our work to the city, to one another. As always, as we humble humbly ask for guidance so that the decisions we make here today support all of the residents of our great city, and that we work with each other with integrity. We honor one another's opinions and personhood and decision making. I'd

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07:25 - 07:25

like to

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07:25 - 08:11

share a quote that was from the fifteen hundreds and is equally important today. As we contemplate the vast amount of work to be done for justice and peace in this world, we trust that we will find the grace to accomplish, to believe in, and to hope for the greatest things. As we gather here, we look for grace in the smallest things and are sustained by our confidence in God's presence in our work and in our gatherings from Saint Peter Faber in the fifteen hundreds. And we express gratitude for each other, for the work that we do, and for the ability to be able to make the decisions and do the work ahead of us. Thank you.

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08:12 - 08:16

Please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance led by majority leader Espinal.

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08:16 - 08:30

I pledge allegiance To The United States. The flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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08:34 - 08:37

Madam clerk, item three. Madam president. Majority leader.

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08:37 - 08:40

Motion to waive the reading right on three and move approval.

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08:41 - 08:42

Second, madam president.

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08:42 - 08:45

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor?

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08:45 - 08:46

Aye.

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08:46 - 08:51

Any opposed? Any abstentions? Hearing none, the motion passes. Item four.

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08:51 - 08:52

Madam president.

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08:52 - 08:52

Majority leader.

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08:52 - 08:55

Motion to weigh the reading of item four through 13.

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08:55 - 08:57

Second, madam president.

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08:57 - 09:00

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on items four through 13?

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09:00 - 09:01

Madam president.

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09:01 - 09:03

Pro Tem Pajardo.

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09:03 - 09:12

Not on item four, but item number three, since it doesn't change the vote, I would like to be recorded as abstained on the approval of the minutes.

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09:15 - 09:15

So noted.

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09:15 - 09:16

At the appropriate time.

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09:18 - 09:24

Any discussion on items four through 13? Councilwoman Graves.

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09:27 - 09:59

On twelve, I just would like to make a statement, and it's awful loud. How pleased I am of the appointment of Patricia Robb. Patricia Robb was one of the cofounders along with myself, Rochelle and quite a few others for the community libraries, and she served for many years. I'm glad she's going back on that board because they need that. So thank you so much for appointing her to that position.

Unknown

10:00 - 10:02

Thank you, Councilwoman Peterson.

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10:02 - 10:30

Thank you. I just wanted to echo what my fellow councilor said. Patricia Robb is a pillar in the Ward 14 community and she stands out for not just her work and her achievements in the libraries but also just being an all around supporter for transit and just everything and I am very thankful that you have considered her as well as our very own Erin Easter Gardner who is also very amazing and hardworking in his own right. Thanks.

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10:31 - 10:33

And I'm sorry that goes without saying.

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10:35 - 10:38

But always nice to say. Thank you Councilor Sanchez.

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10:38 - 11:15

Thank you, madam president. I'm just standing up real quickly and just giving a huge shout out and much gratitude to all of these individuals who are stepping up or continuing to step up and serve the city of Providence. These folks on these boards are are really the the bread and butter and backbone of making our city the city that we all desire it to be. I just wanna quickly give a shout out to Phoenix who who is here. I I know Phoenix has contributed a lot to the city in in many ways, so much gratitude for the continuance of that service.

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11:15 - 11:38

And then also just a huge shout out to Anthony Simon who's the chair of the rec board that I also serve on. We have been meeting monthly at a different rec center every month. Big shout out to the clerk's office for making that happen. And we are doing a lot of work to support the rec department. Thank you, madam president.

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11:38 - 11:42

Thank you. Further discussion items for you? Madam president. Majority leader.

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11:42 - 12:04

Thank you, president. I just wanna echo the expression of those that came before me in regards to those that have taken on the challenge to serve our city. But I also wanna point out to our very own Aaron Easter Gunner, who is quite a champion. And, I think his expertise will be a great asset to the community library. Thank you.

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12:05 - 12:12

Thank you. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed?

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12:12 - 12:24

Any abstentions? The motion passes. Madam Clerk, please note four through five I'm sorry. Four through 10 as received. Refer item 11 to the committee on finance.

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12:24 - 12:39

Note twelve and thirteen as received. So noted. And counselors, will you please join me in giving Phoenix, who's here tonight, a round of applause. Thank you, Phoenix. And I'm so sorry.

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12:39 - 12:49

All other appointments who I may not recognize, I apologize if I don't if you are here and I don't recognize you by sight. Thank you for being here, and congratulations. Item 14.

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12:50 - 12:50

Madam president.

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12:50 - 12:51

Majority leader.

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12:51 - 12:56

Question to weigh the reading of item 14 through 25. Second, madam president.

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12:56 - 13:08

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on items 14 through 25? Hearing none, all in favor? Any opposed, any abstentions? The motion passes.

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13:08 - 13:19

Madam clerk, please refer items 14 through 20 to the committee on finance, 21 to the committee on ordinances, 22 through 25 to the committee on finance.

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13:19 - 13:20

So noted.

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13:20 - 13:21

Item 26.