Providence City Council Meeting |March 5th, 2026

March 05, 2026

Call to Order and Roll Call

04:16 - 05:18

The regular meeting of the Providence City Council was called to order, and a roll call was conducted to establish a quorum. Twelve members were present and three were absent.

Invocation

05:18 - 06:29

Councilman John Gonsalves delivered the invocation for the meeting. He reflected on the responsibilities of public service and urged empathy for the city's unhoused residents during the cold winter months.

Pledge of Allegiance

06:29 - 06:58

Councilwoman Althea Graves led the City Council and attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. This concluded the opening ceremonial portion of the meeting.

Approval of Minutes (Item 3)

06:58 - 08:16

A motion was made and seconded to waive the reading of Item 3 and approve the minutes of the previous meeting. The motion passed on a roll call vote.

Items 4 through 8 (Design Standards and Comprehensive Plan)

08:16 - 13:36

The council discussed and voted on Items 4 through 8, which establish design standards for new housing developments to ensure they complement existing neighborhoods. The measures passed on a roll call vote for the second time.

Items 9 through 13 (Committee Referrals)

13:36 - 19:16

The council discussed several items including warming shelters, traffic safety cameras, and building benchmarking. The items were received and referred to their respective committees, including Finance and Environmental and Resiliency.

Item 14 (Resolution Honoring Deceased Unhoused Neighbors)

19:16 - 22:18

The council read and passed a resolution honoring the lives and dignity of Irina Kozav, Stanislaw Kozav, and Ryan Beauver, who tragically passed away during extreme winter cold. The resolution expressed the city's deepest condolences to their families and friends.

Items 15 and 16 (Snow Removal Tracking and Committee Referrals)

22:18 - 28:03

The council discussed a resolution to explore the feasibility of a public snow removal vehicle tracking system to improve transparency during winter storms. The items were referred to the Committee on Public Works and the Special Committee on Hope.

Item 17 (Sale of Acer Messer Street School)

28:03 - 32:33

The council approved a resolution authorizing the sale of the historic Acer Messer Street School and adjoining lots to be rehabilitated into a mixed-income residential building. The project aims to preserve a landmark while generating tax revenue and housing.

Item 18 (Humboldt Avenue Firehouse RFP)

32:33 - 41:57

The council debated the disposition of the Humboldt Avenue firehouse, which was awarded to a developer through a competitive RFP process. Despite community interest in a Montessori school, the council voted to uphold the integrity of the procurement process and refer it back to the Board of Contract and Supply.

Items 19 through 22 (Committee Referrals)

41:57 - 43:10

The council voted to waive the reading of Items 19 through 22 and referred them to their appropriate committees. These included referrals to the Committee on Ordinance, Committee on Public Works, and Committee on Claims and Pending Suits.

Item 23 (Voice Vote Approval)

43:10 - 43:29

A motion was made to waive the reading of Item 23 and pass it on a voice vote. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

Adjournment

43:29 - 44:02

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting in memory of Laura Crum, Maria Garcia, and Cesar Agusto Mattel. The motion was seconded and the meeting was adjourned.

Speaker 0

04:16 - 04:24

Good evening, everyone, colleagues, for the regular meeting of the province city council for Thursday, 03/05/2026.

Speaker 1

04:34 - 04:37

Is absent acting council president Picciardo?

Speaker 0

04:38 - 04:38

Present.

Speaker 1

04:38 - 04:46

Deputy majority Whip Vanderbois? Present. Councilor Davidson? Present. Majority leader Espinal?

Speaker 2

04:46 - 04:46

Present.

Speaker 1

04:47 - 04:49

Senior deputy majority leader Gonsalves?

Speaker 3

04:49 - 04:50

Present.

Speaker 1

04:50 - 04:51

Councilwoman Graves?

Speaker 4

04:51 - 04:51

Present.

Speaker 1

04:52 - 05:00

Deputy majority leader Harris? Present. Councilwoman Peterson? Is absent. Councilor Arroyas?

Speaker 1

05:01 - 05:06

Is absent. Councilwoman Ryan? Present. Majority Whip Sanchez? Present.

Speaker 1

05:07 - 05:08

Councilman Taylor.

Speaker 0

05:08 - 05:08

Present.

Speaker 1

05:09 - 05:10

Councilwoman Anna Vargas.

Speaker 5

05:10 - 05:11

Present.

Speaker 1

05:11 - 05:17

Councilman Oscar Vargas. Present. You have 12 present and three absent. You have a quorum.

Speaker 0

05:18 - 05:26

Thank you, madam clerk. For today, the invocation will be given by councilman John Gung Carls.

Speaker 3

05:32 - 06:24

Thank you, pro temp. As we begin tonight's meeting, let us take a moment to reflect on the immense responsibility we all carry as public servants and neighbors, particularly in times of hardship hardship during these cold winter months, we're reminded that many in our community, especially those who are unhoused, face challenges that most of us can never fully understand. But may we approach our work tonight with empathy and humility and a commitment to seeing the humanity in every person who calls this city home. And may we continue striving to build a providence where dignity, safety, and opportunity are extended to all. Thank you.

Speaker 0

06:29 - 06:36

Thank you. The pledge of allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America will be led by councilwoman Althea Graves.

Speaker 2

06:37 - 06:49

My allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which you stand, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Speaker 0

06:58 - 07:05

Next item on the agenda is item number three. Mister president. Majority Leader.

Speaker 2

07:05 - 07:08

Motion to waive the reader of item three and move approval.

Speaker 5

07:08 - 07:09

Second, mister president.

Speaker 0

07:09 - 07:14

The motion has been made and second. Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? Aye.

Speaker 5

07:14 - 07:15

Oh,

Speaker 0

07:15 - 07:16

I'm sorry.

Speaker 4

07:20 - 07:20

Vote is open.

Speaker 6

07:36 - 07:38

My voting screen is not working.

Speaker 5

07:42 - 07:45

Tap the screen. Okay. Thank you.

Speaker 0

07:47 - 07:48

Has everybody voted?

Speaker 1

07:49 - 07:52

No. I'm still waiting for councilwoman Graves.

Speaker 4

07:55 - 07:58

And the vote is now closed. And

Speaker 1

08:01 - 08:05

that is 13 ayes. The motion carries. The minutes are approved.

Speaker 2

08:16 - 08:20

Through eight and passed for the second time on a roll call vote.

Speaker 5

08:20 - 08:21

Second, mister president.

Speaker 0

08:21 - 08:25

The motion has been made and second. Any discussion?

Speaker 5

08:25 - 08:27

Mister president.

Speaker 0

08:27 - 08:29

Councilwoman Joanne Ryan.

Speaker 5

08:29 - 08:36

Thank you, sir. I rise on on item seven, which everyone here knows is near and dear to my heart.

Speaker 0

08:36 - 08:37

You may proceed. Thank

Speaker 4

08:38 - 08:38

you.

Speaker 5

08:41 - 09:45

Providence wants and needs new development, especially new housing, to meet the needs of its current and future residents. As the city continues to grow its housing stock, it is essential and reasonable and responsible to ensure that new development fits within our existing neighborhoods and complements the built environment that residents care deeply about. Scale massing architectural details matter. They shape how buildings relate and to the overall character of our neighborhood. These design standards directly implement a clear directive in the city's comprehensive plan and community stakeholders to help guide this important work.

Speaker 5

09:45 - 10:43

The committee was established and its input meaningfully shaped the standards that we're voting on this evening. The planning department fulfilled the goals set out in the comprehensive plan, and produced practical, predictable rules that address common design concerns while still supporting housing production. The standards focus on fundamentals such as building entries, facades, proportions, and materials for both small and large projects with the intent of discouraging low quality design choices that do not serve our neighborhoods. These standards were discussed extensively during the comp plan process and were identified by residents as a priority as Providence grows. The ordinance has been reviewed by City Plan Commission and received positive feedback as a balanced approach that supports development while ensuring, we improve design outcomes.

Speaker 5

10:44 - 11:17

Most importantly, the standards are structured to maintain affordability, provide clarity for applicants and avoid unnecessary delays in the review process. This proposal is a result of the city's inclusive stakeholder engagement and responds directly to our residents' concern about design quality while while remaining aligned with the city's housing and growth goals. I urge my council colleagues to look favorably on this, ordinance before you and pass it. Thank you.

Speaker 0

11:17 - 11:23

Thank you, councilwoman. Any further discussion on items four through eight? Councilman Goncalves.

Speaker 3

11:23 - 12:18

Thank you, president. I would like to share that I wanna thank councilwoman Ryan deeply for her commitment to this work. This is something that is extraordinarily extraordinarily important to the people of the East Side, and I've heard directly from many of my constituents that this kind of measure is going to improve, again, the outcomes of design standards in the city. We are seeing lots and lots of ubiquitous boxes everywhere we go, And I think these kinds of standards really set the stage for where Providence is going and also ensures that we can be sensitive to our beautiful historic housing stock and preservation that's occurring in in the city. I wanna thank councilwoman Anthony, who's also part of this effort, and everyone who helped bring this to to the floor tonight for its second vote and hopefully passage.

Speaker 3

12:19 - 12:29

And again, I just wanna thank councilwoman Ryan for her leadership and being such a strong steward for design standards across the city of Providence. Thank you.

Speaker 0

12:29 - 12:37

Thank you, councilman. Any further discussion on items four through eight? Seeing none, madam clerk, open the vote and call the roll.

Speaker 1

12:40 - 12:47

The vote is open. Council president Miller is absent. Acting council president Picciardo.

Speaker 7

12:48 - 12:50

Yes. A.

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