Providence City Council Meeting | July 16th, 2026

July 16, 2026

Official record

From the minutes filed with the RI Secretary of State on September 25, 2026.

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Attendance

11 present · 3 absent

Present

Council President Miller
Councilor Davidson
Councilman Espinal
Councilman Goncalves
Councilwoman Graves
Councilwoman Peterson
Councilwoman Ryan
Councilor Sanchez
Councilman Taylor
Councilwoman Vargas
Councilman Vargas
Councilor Pichardo joined late

Absent

Councilor AnderBois
Councilwoman Harris
Councilor Roias

Also present: Tina L. Mastroianni (City Clerk), Sheri A. Petronio (First Deputy City Clerk), Yuly Polanco (Second Deputy City Clerk), Napoleon Askie (City Sergeant), Jeffrey Dana (City Solicitor)

Recorded votes (19)

Journal of Proceedings No. 17 of the Regular Meeting of the City Council held July 2, 2026

APPROVED (WITH VOTE) [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (11)

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

Communication appointing Ian Westcott to the Green and Complete Streets Advisory Council as an Alternate member

RECEIVED

Resolutions transferring 43 Daboll Street and 38 Rodman Street to the Providence Redevelopment Agency

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on City Property

Ordinances amending Chapter 2 (Administration) and Chapter 27 (Zoning Map for 349 Killingly Street)

READ/PASSED SECOND TIME [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (12)

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

Ordinances amending Chapter 21 to add Article XIX (Providence 8 Law Qualifications and The Providence Build Act)

READ/PASSED SECOND TIME [10 TO 2]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (10)

Council President Miller , Councilor Davidson , Councilman Espinal , Councilman Goncalves , Councilwoman Graves , Councilwoman Peterson , Councilor Pichardo , Councilor Sanchez , Councilwoman Vargas , Councilman Vargas

Nay (2)

Councilwoman Ryan , Councilman Taylor

Ordinances amending Chapter 2 ("Art in City Life") and Article II of Chapter 21 of the Code of Ordinances

READ/PASSED SECOND TIME [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (12)

Ordinances for Tax Stabilization Agreements (256 Broadway, 730 Douglas Ave) and Disability Waiver (Rebecca Johnson)

REFERRED

Referred to Special Committee on Ways and Means

Resolutions requesting ceremonial renaming of Elmgrove Ave (Bob & Anne Rothenberg) and Fisk St (Roberto Gonzalez)

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal and Planning

Resolutions honoring Cabo Verde's Blue Sharks and supporting RI Hospital Resident Physicians

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (12)

Resolution Concerning City Deposits at Community Banks

REFERRED

Referred to Special Committee on Ways and Means

Resolution Transferring 19 Dorothy Avenue to the Providence Redevelopment Agency

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (12)

Resolutions Authorizing Approval of Contract Awards by the Board of Contract and Supply

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (12)

Resolution Abating Real and Tangible Property Taxes for AS220

REFERRED

Referred to Special Committee on Ways and Means

Certificates from City Assessor (No. 78B) recommending cancellation pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Claims and Pending Suits

Petition from Nicholas J. Hemond, Esquire, requesting to abandon a portion of Venice Street

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Public Works

Petitions for Compensation for Injuries and Damages

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Claims and Pending Suits

Communications regarding Raze Building Permit for 50 Branch Avenue and City Clerk quarterly report of monies received

RECEIVED

Resolution Extending Congratulations

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (12)

Remarks regarding Liberian flag raising and events

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilor Sanchez

Aye (12)

Unknown

00:40 - 02:23

Mic check. Test one two. Testing one two. This is the gooseneck. Testing one two.

Rachel Miller

25:02 - 25:09

Good evening everyone and welcome to the Providence City Council. This Thursday, July 16, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Tina L. Mastroianni

25:09 - 25:19

Council President Miller, present. Deputy Majority Whip Vanderbois is absent. Councilor Davidson? Majority Leader Espinal?

Pedro Espinal

25:19 - 25:20

Present.

Tina L. Mastroianni

25:20 - 25:44

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonsalves? Councilwoman Graves? Deputy Majority Leader Harris is absent. Councilwoman Peterson? Council President Pro Tempur Pichardo?

Is absent. Councilor Royas? Is absent. Councilwoman Ryan? Present.

Majority Whip Sanchez?

Miguel Sanchez

25:44 - 25:44

Present.

Tina L. Mastroianni

25:45 - 25:46

Councilman Taylor.

James Taylor

25:46 - 25:47

Present.

Tina L. Mastroianni

25:47 - 25:56

Councilwoman Anna Vargas. Present. Councilman Oscar Vargas. Present. You have 11 present and four absent.

You have a quorum.

Rachel Miller

25:56 - 26:04

Thank you Madam Clerk. This evening, the invocation will be led by councilman Oscar Vargas. Will everyone please rise? Thank you, madam president.

Oscar Vargas

26:04 - 26:25

In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. God, please help us to make great decisions to drive our city and to help our constituents. And bless everyone who's working hard to continue doing their best. Amen.

Rachel Miller

26:26 - 26:31

Thank you, counselor, and I will lead us in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance

Pedro Espinal

26:31 - 26:43

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

Rachel Miller

26:47 - 26:49

Madam clerk, item three please.

Pedro Espinal

26:49 - 26:50

Madam president. Majority leader.

Miguel Sanchez

26:50 - 26:51

I want you to weigh the

Pedro Espinal

26:51 - 26:53

reader of item three and move approval.

Miguel Sanchez

26:53 - 26:56

Second madam president. Any discussion?

Rachel Miller

26:56 - 27:07

Is my microphone working friends? A little bit? Yeah, it sounds a little weird to me. All in favor?

Pedro Espinal

27:08 - 27:08

Aye.

Rachel Miller

27:08 - 27:14

Any opposed? Any abstain? The motion passes. Item four.

Pedro Espinal

27:14 - 27:18

Madam president. Majority leader.

Motion to weigh the reader of item four.

Miguel Sanchez

27:18 - 27:21

Second madam president. Any discussion on item four?

Rachel Miller

27:23 - 27:25

Hearing none, all in favor.

Pedro Espinal

27:25 - 27:26

Aye.

Rachel Miller

27:26 - 27:31

Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion passes. Item five.

Tina L. Mastroianni

27:31 - 27:33

Madam president. Madam president

Rachel Miller

27:33 - 27:38

can Madam you receive clerk please note four as received. So noted. Item five.

Pedro Espinal

27:38 - 27:41

Madam president motion to waive the reading of item five and six.

Miguel Sanchez

27:41 - 27:43

Second madam president.

Rachel Miller

27:43 - 28:09

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on items five or six? Hearing none, all in favor. Aye. Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes. Madam Clerk, please refer item five and six, the committee on city property. So noted. And please note that Pro Tem Picciardo has, is present. So noted.

Item seven.

Pedro Espinal

28:09 - 28:10

Madam President.

Rachel Miller

28:10 - 28:10

Majority Leader.

Miguel Sanchez

28:10 - 28:11

I want you to weigh

Pedro Espinal

28:11 - 28:17

the reading of items seven through 15, and pass for the second time on a roll call vote. Second Madam President.

Rachel Miller

28:17 - 28:26

Any discussion on items seven through 15? Here, oh, Councilwoman Davidson.

Jill S. Davidson

28:26 - 30:12

Yes, thank you Madam President. So on item 15, I appreciate the collaboration that everybody has given to make this substantial change to improve procurement processes at the Providence Public Schools. We've had collaboration with the Providence Public Schools, with the school board, and with the administration. And with the passage of this ordinance, we will be on track to create substantial financial oversight while also speeding up the process of getting what students and teachers need to improve teaching and learning in our schools. It's been a great experience.

I truly also appreciate all of you as colleagues for working with the PPSD City Council Working Group to implement its recommendations quickly and meaningfully because the Providence Public Schools, as we all know, are back in local control. So this is a real assist. This is meaningful. And I'm truly grateful that we're going to be able to get this over the finish line. While I'm on the subject of schools, I just want to remind everybody that before we know it, we're going to blink our eyes and it's going to be back to school.

I know it's crazy, but it's true. So I just really wanna, I think all of you already do this, but I'm just grateful that all of us are gonna show up to our neighborhood schools on the first day of school. That we're gonna celebrate that. That we're gonna work with our local schools, because this is a momentous back to school. The first time in six years that our schools have had true control over their destiny, and I'm very excited about what's gonna happen.

So little advance plug for that. Thank you.

Rachel Miller

30:12 - 30:18

Thank you, counselor. Further discussion on items seven through 15?

Juan M. Pichardo

30:18 - 30:19

Madam President.

Rachel Miller

30:19 - 30:21

Councilman Sanchez.

Miguel Sanchez

30:21 - 30:53

Thank you, president. I just want to rise quickly and give our colleague, counselor Davidson, a lot of credit for getting us to this point. While there is more work to do, this is an excellent position to be in going into a very important time. Like counselor mentioned, the the return of of local control. The fact that the mayor's office, this body, and the Pradhan School Board is in agreement with this ordinance.