Providence City Council Meeting | December 4th, 2025

Welcome to the Providence City Council on this beautiful 12/04/2025. Madam clerk, please call the roll.

Council president Miller?

Present.

Deputy majority Consolves.

Present.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Present.

You have 13 present and one absent. You have a quorum.

Thank you, madam clerk. Tonight, we have some special guests I'd like to recognize. We've got the parent, leadership training participants, will you please stand up and be recognized? Thank you very much. Thank you so much for joining us.

Please stay after for a moment. We'd like to celebrate everything you did in the leadership cohort and take a picture. We also have city council elect Jill Davidson here with us. We're welcome, Jill. We are very much looking forward to your swearing in and getting to work.

Counselors, am I forgetting any other special guests in the room tonight? Alright. The invocation will be given tonight by councilwoman Shelley Peterson. Will everyone please rise, including our guests who are able?

Thank you, madam president.

Hello. As we embark on our holiday season, I wanna take a moment to pause and remember why we're here. And while we may define public service in our own ways, the heart of it is still the same. We show up because we care about the people who call Providence home. We don't always approach things the same way.

Some of us focus on the needs right in front of us, and other others look at the bigger picture. But every morning, we step into this work with a shared purpose, to lift up the residents of this beautiful city. This time of year can bring out both our best efforts and our toughest debates. We'll still wrestle with decisions about sidewalks, budgets, and the many challenges ahead. But I hope we also remember that in every one of our neighborhoods, there are people carrying burdens that we may never fully see.

Some struggles are beyond our reach, but others, we have the power to ease. So as we continue our work, may we put our residents first, honor the trust they've placed in us, and remember that the seats we hold are only ours for a short time. The choices we make should reflect the needs of all of our communities. And finally, I wanna say, truly, it's been an honor to serve alongside each and every one of you. As we enter our final year together, I can say that I've learned so much from every single one.

I'm grateful for your commitment, your grit, and the heart of what you bring to this council. May this season bring you peace, clarity, and a renewed love for the city we all care about. Finally, as we close out the year, I pray that each of you feels the strength, patience, and grace that only God can serve. May this guidance shape our work, steady our steps, and remind us that service is a calling bigger than any one of us. Wishing you and all of your families a blessed and hopeful holiday season.

Thank you, councilwoman. And tonight, the pledge of allegiance will be led by, pro tem Juan Pichardo.

The flag

of The United States

Of America

to the republic which you stand.

One nation

under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

Madam

I want you to waive the reading of item three and move approval.

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on that motion? Hearing none, madam clerk, please open the vote.

The vote is now open. Thank you. Councilman Vargas? The vote is now closed. And that is 13 ayes.

The minutes are approved.

Thank you, madam clerk. Item four.

Madam president.

Majority leader.

Motion to weigh the reading about them four through six.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on items four through six? All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion passes. Madam Clerk, please note four through six as received. So noted.

Item seven.

Madam president.

Majority leader.

Motion to waive the reading of items.

Madam president.

We have a motion and a second. I just on item seven. Hearing none, madam clerk, please open the vote.

The vote is now open. Councilwoman Ryan. The vote is now closed, and we have 13 ayes. When absent, the matter passes on a voice vote.

Thank you, madam clerk. Item eight.

Madam president.

Minority leader.

Motion to weigh the reader of item eight and pass on a roll call vote.

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second. I need to go to item eight. Councilwoman Ryan.