The meeting is formally called to order by the Council President, followed by a roll call to establish a quorum. The initial portion of the recording includes technical audio checks and preparation before the official start of the session.
Invocation
23:31 - 24:14
Councilman Oscar Vargas leads the council in an invocation prayer to open the meeting. The prayer focuses on seeking guidance for the budget process and protection for the community.
Pledge of Allegiance
24:14 - 24:41
Councilman Jill Davidson leads the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. This follows the invocation as part of the meeting's opening ceremonies.
Approval of Items 1 and 2
24:41 - 25:10
The council moves to consider and approve the first two items on the agenda. The motion passes on a roll call vote for the first time without significant discussion.
Budget Discussion (Items 3-7)
25:10 - 40:20
The council engages in an extensive discussion regarding the proposed $635 million city budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Various council members praise the committee's work, noting that the budget is balanced, invests in city services, and does not include a tax increase.
Roll Call Vote on Budget Items
40:20 - 41:29
A formal roll call vote is conducted to approve the budget matters for the first time. The motion carries with 14 votes in favor and one member absent.
Adjournment
41:29 - 41:50
With no further business on the calendar, the Majority Leader moves to adjourn the meeting. The motion is approved, and the Council President provides a brief reminder about an upcoming Pride Month exhibit.
Juan M. Pichardo
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We're good.
Rachel Miller
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Hey. How are you? Good. Test on two. Testing one two.
Rachel Miller
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Mic check. Test one two. Test one, two. Testing one, two. Testing one two.
Good evening and welcome to the Providence City Council. This special meeting on Monday, June 15. Madam clerk, please call the roll.
Tina L. Mastroianni
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Council President Miller, present. Deputy Majority with Vanderbijn, Councilor Davidson, Majority Leader Espinal, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzales.
Mary Kay Harris
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Present.
Tina L. Mastroianni
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Councilwoman Graves. Deputy Majority Council President Pro Tempur Pichardo.
Juan M. Pichardo
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Present.
Tina L. Mastroianni
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Councilor Royas is absent. Councilwoman Ryan is absent. Majority Sanchez?
Miguel Sanchez
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Present.
Tina L. Mastroianni
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Councilman Taylor?
James Taylor
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Present.
Tina L. Mastroianni
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Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent. Councilman Oscar Vargas? Present. We have 12 present and three absent. We have a quorum.
Rachel Miller
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Thank you, madam clerk. This evening, the invitation will be led by councilman Oscar Vargas. Everyone, please rise.
Oscar Vargas
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Thank you, madam president. In the name of the father, spirit,
Miguel Sanchez
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and
Oscar Vargas
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the holy ghost. Lord, please give your vision on this budget to understand and explain our community how we can work together. And god, please protect us from anything bad against us and help us to have a better future and work today.
Rachel Miller
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Thank you, counselor. And this evening, the prayer of allegiance will be led by councilman Jill Davidson. Madam clerk, item one, please. Madam president? Majority leader.
Rachel Miller
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Wash it away, the reader of item one
Oscar Vargas
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and two.
Mary Kay Harris
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Second, madam president. Any discussion on
Rachel Miller
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items one or two? Hearing none. All in favor? Aye. Any noes or pass for the first time on a roll call vote.
Mary Kay Harris
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Second, madam president. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Chairman Sanchez.
Miguel Sanchez
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Thank you, madam president. I just wanna quickly rise and thank all of the committee members, councilor Phil Griggs, councilor Joe Davidson, councilor Sean Peterson, vice chair Taylor, councilor Anibal was there for for the beginning of the process, and and was always committed colleague in in getting through this work. And, of course, our council staff, Kyle and Brandon, of course, everyone else definitely stepped up and and assisted us in ways that, you know, I'm super grateful to them. I also wanna thank the clerk's office and our city solicitor's office for always being there. There was a couple of weeks in a row where we met three, four days consecutively for three, four hour meetings at a time.
Miguel Sanchez
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And while it is our duty to do the work of the people, they're very important work, it's tough at times. I mean, we all have a lot of responsibilities to juggle, but I definitely wanna show my my gratitude to tell people that got us to this point, which is proposed to go and and approve a budget that is balanced. It's responsible, and it does respond to the needs of people's problems. Of course, there's always more work to do. That's something
Juan M. Pichardo
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that none of us
Miguel Sanchez
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here take advantage work that continues three hundred and sixty five days year, and that's what I'm committed to in in improving this budget for continuing to fill any gaps that we might have missed, or we just simply did not have the sufficient resources to allocate in in this budget. And I'd also wanna, you know, publicly acknowledge the the finance department who was there with us throughout this whole process. We are at a at a point where we wanna continue serving the needs of the people that that put us in these seats. So with that being said, I I just wanted to to thank everyone that got us to this point. Thank you, madam president.
Rachel Miller
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Thank you, counselor. Madam clerk, please note that councilor Royall is present, so noted. Further discussion item three two three seven. Does that sound great?
Althea Graves
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I also would like to say thank you to the people that stepped up. We had
Rachel Miller
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a little hiccup at the beginning
Althea Graves
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but counselor Sanchez really stepped up to the plate. He has done an excellent job as our chair. Other ways, it means I appreciate counsel Peterson and Davidson for stepping in. They have really helped us a lot. Sue has always I'm sorry.
Althea Graves
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Sue has always been wonderful. We always knew that she was there and she always had the questions. But, I mean, this was last minute stuff and they really stepped to the plate. Jim has always been our little anchor also. So I have to thank everyone that is on our ways and means committee.
Althea Graves
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I don't wanna jinx anything because we're at the last little stretch, but I think this is probably one of the easiest ones that I was on once we finally got our feet upon the ourselves. And thanks to the ladies and then clerk's office. They were there. They were prepared as always. They really, really got us through and all of the staff.
Althea Graves
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All of the counselors that came in, asked the questions, the pertinent questions that may have brought up something that we may have overlooked or failed to ask. We appreciate all of it. I just feel relieved. I feel like this is a really good deal. I think we really did an excellent job for what we had.
Althea Graves
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So thank you all. I am very proud of all of my colleagues. That's all I have
Rachel Miller
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to say. We can't play further discussions. Counselor Harris?
Mary Kay Harris
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I have to stand and say that this is my final budget and it was the best budget. I was so impressed with the talent of that committee and how you guys stepped up and how you guys really looked into the budget and tried your best to shake something. And a lot of times, there become a lot of confusion. I've been around here about twelve years. And twelve years out of that, it's been get so tense when it comes around to the budget season because of all the things that sometimes does not shape out in a way that we collectively work together as, you know, as as a body.
Mary Kay Harris
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But this year was really beautiful. And what was beautiful about it, I'm looking at a generation that is able to get this work done. And as someone who has been around for a very, very long time, it's impressive to see no complaining, bringing council people together to make sure that you're understanding exactly what we need. That's a lot of work. That's a lot of work and a lot of hours.
Mary Kay Harris
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We appreciate that. And we also appreciate the respect, the professionalism, and everything that went into this this budget this year. When I got in office, somebody said to me, the budget's gonna be with you every year. But I didn't know at times how challenging the budget could be, especially when we have to raise tax. But this was a time where it was shown that you paid attention, you learned a lot.
Mary Kay Harris
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And not only did you learn a lot, all of you on that budget committee, I mean, on that process of passing the budget did a wonderful job. And you did it so good and so kind to everyone. And you worked collectively together with the administration. Something that has been challenging over the years and have not been always, you know, pointed out that we can get along as a government body and work together and show our constituents that we can get something done. Really appreciate you.
Mary Kay Harris
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I say when I leave this time, I'm leaving with some good stuff in my head. Lot of great things have happened in this council. And I gotta say, I gotta give credit to this process that took place this time because it's really, really rewarding. Thank you. Thank all of you.
Mary Kay Harris
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You all did your best. Thank you.
Rachel Miller
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Thank you, councilwoman, and thank you for your service on 12 city of Providence budget. We're pretty good. We've been happy. Councilman Vargas.
Oscar Vargas
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Thank you, madam president. Councilwoman, thank you for your service. 12 budgets. The good thing of this the good thing of this budget is the administration is not raising you taxes. That's a good thing.
Oscar Vargas
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And I'm proud to say like we worked very hard with the administration to get to this point. Dollars $635,000,000, that's our budget. I'm very proud to work on this project together with the ways and means. I was there asking questions and always be there because I am a watchdog for the tax payers. This budget went up $11,000,000 and I don't know how this went up for $11,000,000.
Oscar Vargas
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But the good thing is we're not raising taxes. The administration is not raising taxes. And hopefully, we have a lot of good programs in this budget to keep helping that community. Like the million dollars for the people who is renting to help them. We're waiting for.
Oscar Vargas
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Hopefully, next year, we can put another million dollars will be $2,000,000 to rent the community. And we will continue working very hard for our constituents, our people, our 11,000 people that we represent in our community. It's a good budget. I don't like it, but it's a good budget. 635,000,000.
Oscar Vargas
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We're getting close to the billion dollars, but we have to start thinking how we can start cutting. How we can do a better service to the constituents. And that's why we approved this budget to have a better service. If we have any issues, pick up the phone and call every department. Why we're not getting our services?
