CouncilNotes
Agenda

Jul. 8, 2026 - Regular Session

The City of Newport Council met July 8, 2026. Agenda included approving June minutes and reviewing special event permits for organizations like Sallie Hunt Foundation and Redwood Library. License renewals processed for waste haulers and entertainment venues including Diego's and Wharf Pub. Several resignations from commissions received with regret. Appointments were made for Tree/Open Space and Historic District Commissions. Action items covered ordinance revisions on parking/one-way streets, a school budget deficit notice, an FHWA grant award ($321,600), water treatment plant contracts, and wastewater bond approvals. The meeting concluded by convening as Board of License Commissioners to review liquor licenses.

Key topics

  • Minutes Approval
  • Special Events Permits
  • License Renewals
  • Commission Resignations
  • Appointments
  • Ordinance Revisions
  • Grants & Contracts
  • Liquor Licenses
Read the full text the original record, verbatim

*https://www.clerkshq.com/newport-ri- link to supporting documents on the agenda.

CITY OF NEWPORT

MEETING

JULY 8, 2026

The following items of business, filed with the City Clerk under the Rules of the Council will come before the Council at a meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, Council Chambers, 43 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840.

Citizens’ Forum: (Speakers must sign in with the City Clerk) The Citizens’ Forum period shall be no longer than fifteen minutes, and citizens may address the Council on one subject only and for no longer than three minutes.  Issues to be discussed shall not include matters to be considered or discussed as part of the regular Council agenda and must be related to substantive city business.  No comments regarding personnel or job performance are allowed.

a.         Minutes of the Council meeting held June 10, 2026 (Approve)

b.         Special Events:

1.         The Sallie Hunt Foundation, d/b/a Serial Killers Speakeasy, Newport Art Museum; July 16-17, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. and July 18, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

2.         Overlap Art Space, d/b/a Art Opening (for Internalized Landscapes), 112 Van Zandt Ave.; July 18, 2026 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

3.         Andrew Gifford, d/b/a Retromania Summer Shindig Vintage Market, 141 Pelham St.; July 18-19, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

4.         Cynthia Guyon, d/b/a Newport Elks Craft Fair, 141 Pelham St.; July 25, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

5.         Salve Regina Dance Program, d/b/a Roots in Revelry, Ochre Court; July 29, 2026 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

6.         Redwood Library and Athenaeum, d/b/a Redwood Concert Series, Redwood Library and Athenaeum; August 4, 11, September 1, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

7.         The Preservation Society of Newport County, d/b/a Community Concert: RI Philharmonic, Rosecliff; August 9, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

8.         Newport Global Summit, Inc., d/b/a Newport Global Summit, 76 Bellevue Ave.; August 18, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and August 19, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

9.         Redwood Library and Athenaeum, d/b/a Garden Party, Redwood Library and Athenaeum; August 23, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

c.         Communication from newportFILM, re:  Request for Venue Change Amendment – Event Permit for July 9, 2026 (Approve)

d.         Communication from CRMC, re:  Application of NRI TT RGG LLC ET AL for a State of Rhode Island Assent to: The current plan includes conducting maintenance activities along the entire 550-foot length between Webster Street and Narragansett Avenue.  For ease of discussion, we have divided the area into 5 sections.  Refer to the attached plan set for details. (Receive)

e.         Waste Hauler License, Renewals:

1.         Waste Management, 65 Halsey St., Newport, RI

2.         Waste Connections of RI, d/b/a E.L. Harvey and Sons, MTG, Patriot Disposal, 1166 Shawmutt Ave., New Bedford, MA

f.          Communication from Michael J. Murray, Esq., re:  Resignation from the Sister City Commission  (Receive with regret)

g.         Communication from Deanna Amorello, re:  Resignation from the Historic District Commission  (Receive with regret)

h.         Communication from William Finlay, re:  Resignation from the Historic District Commission  (Receive with regret)

i.          Police Department Annual Report 2025 (Receive)

3.         Special Event License, Ron Kitt, d/b/a The Newport Kite Festival, Brenton Point State Park; July 11-12, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

4.         Annual Entertainment License, Renewal, Class A (Indoors), Salve Regina University, d/b/a Casino Theatre, 9 Freebody St.

5.         Annual Entertainment License, Renewal, Class A (Indoors), Diego’s of Newport LLC, d/b/a Diego’s, 11 Bowen’s Wharf

6.         Annual Entertainment License, Renewal, Class A (Indoors), The Wharf Pub Newport LLC, d/b/a Wharf Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar, 37 Bowen’s Wharf

7.         Victualing License, New, New Umi Asian Inc., d/b/a Umi Asian Cuisine, 82 Broadway

APPOINTMENTS

Tree and Open Space Commission

Ellen Ruppert– three-year term expired 7/8/2029

Historic District Commission

Jan D’ Entremont– move from Alternate to Full – three-year term expires 3/25/29

Benjamin Willet– move from Alternate to Full - three-year term expires 3/25/29

REAPPOINTMENTS

Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission

Theresa (Soni) Stokes – R.I. Black Heritage Society Representative – three-year term expires 8-23-29

Gary Ruff – Newport Preservation Society Representative - three-year term expires 8-23-29

Bert Lippincott – Newport Historical Society - three-year term expires 8-23-29

Sister City Commission

Mary Jameson– three-year term expires 4-24-2029

9.         Communication from Colleen Burns Jermain, Superintendent, re:  Notice of projected School Budget deficit pursuant to R.I.G.L. §16-2-9(f) (Receive)

10.       Action Item #6642/26 – RE: Ordinance Revision - 10.24.010. – Parking Prohibited at all times in Designated Places – South Baptist Street,  201 Feet West of Spring Street Proceeding West for a Distance of 26 Feet   (w/accompanying ordinance )

11.       Action Item #6643/26 – RE:  Ordinance Revision - 10.56.010- One-way Streets Designated – Signs Required Bridge Street, Westbound from Thames Street to Americas Cup Avenue  (w/accompanying ordinance)

12.       Action Item #6644/26 – RE: Henderson Home Trust Distribution for Maintenance and Reserves (w/accompanying resolution)

13.       Action Item #6645/26 – RE: 80 JT Connell Highway Parking Lot – Designation as “Newport Access Hub” (w/accompanying resolution)

14.       Action Item #6646/26 – RE:  Authorization to Accept $321,600 FHWA | FY-24 SS4A Grant Award (w/accompanying resolution)

15.       Action Item #6647/26 – RE: Contract Award #2026-UTL-004 - Station 1 Drinking Water Treatment Plant SCADA and PLC Modernization (w/accompanying resolution)

16.       Action Item #6648/26 – RE: Electricity Supply Fixed Rate Contract (w/accompanying resolution)

17.       Amending Section 10.24.010, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Parking prohibited at all times in designated places (Russell Avenue) (Second Reading)

18.       Amending Ordinance No. 2025-77, Approving the issuance of Wastewater System Revenue Bonds (Second Reading)

19.       Requesting a Personnel Audit- S. Smyth- continued from June 10, 2026

ADJOURN AS COUNCIL AND CONVENE AS BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS

1.         Class F-1 Daily Liquor License, The Sallie Hunt Foundation, d/b/a Serial Killers Speakeasy/Theater, Newport Art Museum; July 16-17, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. and July 18, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

2.         Class F Daily Liquor License, Overlap Art Space, d/b/a Art Opening, 112 Van Zandt Ave.; July 18, 2026 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Laura C. Swistak, CMC

City Clerk

Adjourn- July 1, 2026