Providence City Council Meeting |Special Council Meeting | April 20th, 2026

April 20, 2026

Call to Order and Roll Call

06:11 - 07:08

Council President Miller called the special city council meeting to order. The clerk conducted the roll call, determining that 12 members were present and a quorum was established.

Motion to Waive Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

07:08 - 07:29

The Majority Leader introduced a motion to waive the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council voted in favor without discussion, and the motion carried.

Items 1 and 2

07:29 - 07:48

The Majority Leader moved to waive the reading of items 1 and 2 and record them as received. The motion was voted upon and approved unanimously by the council.

Item 3

07:48 - 08:33

A motion was made to waive the reading of Item 3 and approve it via a vote. The measure passed with 11 affirmative votes and 1 opposing vote.

Points of Personal Privilege

08:33 - 11:33

Councilwoman Ryan expressed opposition to the rent stabilization ordinance and criticized moving the city budget to a new committee. Majority Whip Sanchez defended creating a new budget process to break an impasse within the Committee on Finance.

Item 4

11:33 - 11:52

The council considered a motion to waive the reading of Item 4 and record it as received. Following an affirmative voice vote with no debate, the motion passed.

Items 5 through 11

11:52 - 12:54

The council reviewed a motion to waive the reading of items 5 through 11, with Councilman Vargas speaking on taxpayer responsibility. The council approved the motion and referred items 5 through 11 to the Special Committee on Ways and Means.

Adjournment

12:54 - 13:13

With no further business before the council, the Majority Leader made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Unknown

06:11 - 06:20

Greetings. Calling us to order, for this special city council meeting on Monday, April 20. Madam clerk, please call the roll.

Unknown

06:20 - 06:26

Council president Miller. Present. Deputy majority whip Vanderwa. Present. Councilor Davidson.

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06:26 - 06:29

Present. Majority leader Espinal.

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06:29 - 06:30

Present.

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06:30 - 06:40

Senior deputy majority leader Gonzales is absent. Councilwoman Graves. Present. Majority leader Harris is absent. Councilwoman Peterson.

Unknown

06:41 - 06:46

Council president Pro Tempur Pichardo. Present. Council Arroyas.

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06:46 - 06:47

Present.

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06:47 - 06:48

Councilwoman Ryan.

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06:49 - 06:50

Present.

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06:50 - 06:52

Majority Whip Sanchez.

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06:52 - 06:52

Present.

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06:53 - 06:59

Councilman Taylor. Present. Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent. Councilman Oscar Vargas.

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06:59 - 07:00

Present.

Unknown

07:00 - 07:03

You have 12 present and three absent. You have a quorum.

Unknown

07:03 - 07:09

Thank you, madam clerk. Majority leader.

Unknown

07:09 - 07:12

Madam president, motion to waive the reader of item one and two.

Unknown

07:12 - 07:16

Can you do a motion to waive the invocation? Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay.

Unknown

07:17 - 07:20

Motion to waive the, invocation and pledge of allegiance.

Unknown

07:21 - 07:22

Second, madam president. We have a motion

Unknown

07:22 - 07:27

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

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07:27 - 07:30

Any abstentions? The motion passes. Item one.

Unknown

07:30 - 07:30

Madam president.

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07:30 - 07:31

Majority leader.

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07:31 - 07:33

Motion to waive the reading of item one and two.

Unknown

07:34 - 07:36

Second, madam president. We have a motion and

Unknown

07:36 - 07:43

a second. Any discussion on items one or two? Hearing none. All in favor. Any opposed?

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07:43 - 07:49

Any abstentions? The motion passes. Please note one and two as received. So noted. Item three.

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07:49 - 07:50

Madam president.

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07:50 - 07:51

Majority leader.

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07:51 - 07:54

Motion to waive the reading of item three and pass on a voice vote.

Unknown

07:54 - 08:03

Second, madam president. Any discussion on item three? Hearing none, madam clerk, please open the vote.

Unknown

08:07 - 08:30

The vote is open. The vote is closed. You have 11 ayes, one no, three absent. The motion passes. The matter is approved on a voice vote.

Unknown

08:30 - 08:35

Thank you, madam clerk. Madam president. Councilor Ryan. Point of personal privilege.

Unknown

08:36 - 08:53

Thank you. On my entire time on this council, all three terms, I've been the fiscally prudent voice of the council. It's my background, that's who I am. Currently, the city has two critical... Currently, the council has two critical items before it.

Unknown

08:54 - 09:08

Council recently passed rent stabilization ordinance. We're well aware the mayor's promised a veto. He's already vetoed it. I will support the mayor's veto. Why?

Unknown

09:08 - 09:22

Because we don't have a fiscal note for rent stabilization. What was put before us is inefficient. It's it's on... Doesn't present the two cross... True cost of that ordinance to the people of the city of Providence.

Unknown

09:22 - 09:31

I can't vote for it. On... And I won't vote for on... Vote for it, which is why I'm supporting the mayor's veto. On...

Unknown

09:31 - 10:06

It's unfortunate that the council has taken the move that it has tonight to move the budget, a 603 fill... $5,000,000 city budget to a new committee without any experience. Again, I think it's a mistake, it's a bad move, it's a political move, and it's inappropriate. I can assure you that I know you have the votes tonight to do what you're doing to take this action. Again, it's inappropriate.

Unknown

10:06 - 10:22

I will continue to be the fiscal watchdog for this city that I have been since I was elected. That's what my constituents elected me to do on... And this action will not stop my voice from being heard. Thank you.

Unknown

10:23 - 10:25

Thank you. Madam clerk, item...

Unknown

10:25 - 10:28

Madam president, point of personal expression.

Unknown

10:28 - 10:30

Okay. Go ahead, councilor.

Unknown

10:30 - 10:57

Thank you. The city council has a responsibility to deliver a fair budget for the people of Providence. That responsibility is bigger than any one individual. A majority of the committee on finance shared that we had reached an impasse with the current chair. Additional members of the council shared that they did not have the confidence that their voices would be heard in the upcoming budget process.

Unknown

10:58 - 11:31

Despite efforts over the past weeks to reach a mutual resolution resolution, it became clear that a new path was required to move beyond this stalemate. Our focus remains on ensuring the council performs its fiscal oversight role effectively and delivers a budget that reflects the needs of residents in every ward. While internal conflict is regrettable, it is critical that every member of the council has a voice in vetting and shaping that city budget... The city budget. This new process will allow that.

Unknown

11:31 - 11:32

Thank you, madam president.

Unknown

11:33 - 11:34

Thank you, councilor. Item four.

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11:35 - 11:36

Madam president.

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11:36 - 11:37

Majority leader.

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11:37 - 11:39

I you to waive the reading of item four.

Unknown

11:40 - 11:41

Second, madam president.