CouncilNotes
Agenda

Jul. 22, 2026 - Regular Session

Newport · Council July 22, 2026 Official source ↗ Retrieved Jul 16, 2026

The City of Newport Council meets July 22, 2026 at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers. The agenda includes a 15-minute Citizens’ Forum; consent calendar items (July 8 minutes, multiple special event approvals, communications, and licenses); sidewalk café license renewal; appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions; multiple communications (including Touro funds and fluoridation support); City Manager action items covering grant acceptances, contract awards for feasibility studies, playgrounds, splash pad, transit van, traffic signal work, FEMA grant authorization, rate study change order, pier expansion grant, and a drone program; an ordinance second reading on one-way street signage; and a Board of License Commissioners consent for a Class F liquor license.

Key topics

  • Citizens’ Forum
  • Consent Calendar (minutes, special events, communications)
  • Sidewalk Café License Renewal
  • Appointments to Boards and Commissions
  • Communications (Touro funds, fluoridation, Middle Passage Marker)
  • City Manager Action Items (grants and contract awards)
  • FEMA Flood Audit Pilot Project authorization
  • Water & Wastewater Rate Study Change Order
  • Ann Street Pier Expansion RIDEM Grant acceptance
  • Drone First Responder/Municipal UAV Program
  • Ordinance: One-way streets signage (Second Reading)
  • Board of License Commissioners: Class F Daily Liquor License
Read the full text the original record, verbatim

Official record ↗

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

CITY OF NEWPORT

DOCKET FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL

MEETING

JULY 22, 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.

1. CONSENT CALENDAR (THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS APPROVED IN ITS ENTIRETY UNLESS THE COUNCIL REMOVES AN ITEM FOR DISCUSSION. ALL LICENSES ARE GRANTED SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE WITH ORDINANCES (#31-80 AND #98-40)).

a. Minutes of the Regular Council meeting held July 8, 2026 (Approve)

b. Special Events:

1. Lisa Robb, d/b/a Na Kim Portraits, Old Stone Mill, Touro Park; July 28- August 10, 2026, consecutive 24 hours

2. The Preservation Society of Newport County, d/b/a MA: Lecture Atkinson, Rosecliff; July 30, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

3. Cheyne Cousens, d/b/a Gas Giant Summer Jam, Newport Skatepark; August 1, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

4. Friends of Newport Skatepark, d/b/a 2nd Annual Summer Bash, Newport Skatepark; August 8, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

5. Midtown Race Club, LLC, d/b/a Surf Club Summer Party, 1 Perry Mill Wharf; August 15, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

6. St. Augustin Church of Newport, d/b/a Feast of St. Augustin, St. Augustin’s Church; August 28, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

7. Ancient Order of Hibernian’s, d/b/a Family Day in the Park, Morton Park; September 26, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

c. Communication from Bonnie Watson, re: Clarification of statements made at the June 24, 2026 City Council meeting (Receive)

d. Communication from Maureen Cronin, Chair, Tree and Open Space Commission, re: Expressing support of the Newport Middle Passage Port Marker (Receive)

LICENSES AND PERMITS

2. Sidewalk Café License, Renewal, The Nitro Bar, Inc., d/b/a The Nitro Bar, 2 Pond Avenue

3. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Appointments

Conexion Latina Newport

Council Liaison - Ellen Pinnock

Ad Hoc Resilience & Sustainability Fund Steering Committee- (All members- 9 month term expiring April 22, 2027)

Tyler Bernadyn

Maryellen Atkins

Caroline Richards

Thomas Gibson Jr.

Aly Oakley

Thomas Tobin

Casey Tremper

Reappointments

Juvenile Hearing Board

Tracy Shea –– three-year term, expires 11/17/2028

COMMUNICATIONS

4. Memorandum from the City Solicitor, re: Abraham Touro and Judah Touro Funds (with accompanying resolutions)

5. Communication from Marian Royer, DMD, CAPT DC USN retired, re: Supporting Improvement in Fluoridation for Newport Water

6. Communication from Stephen White, re: Request for review of the Newport Middle Passage Port Marker Project

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER

7. Action Item #6649/26 – RE: Acceptance of Award - State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (w/accompanying resolution)

8. Action Item #6650/26 – RE: Award of Contract RFP # 2026-FIN-004 – Newport Navy Hospital Feasibility Study (w/accompanying resolution)

9. Action Item #6651/26 – RE: Award of Contract-MPA- Rogers High School Tennis Court Restoration (w/accompanying resolution)

10. Action Item #6652/26 – RE: Award of Contract-MPA-RIDEM Grant - John Chafee Recreation Area Splash Pad and Shade Structure (w/accompanying resolution)

11. Action Item #6653/26 – RE: Award of Contract-MPA - Aquidneck Park Playground Replacement (w/accompanying resolution)

12. Action Item #6654/26 – RE: Award of Contract-MAPC/GBPC MPA-Ford Transit Van-Facilities (w/accompanying resolution)

13. Action Item #6655/26 – RE: Award of RFP 2026-PS-013 - Traffic Signal Improvement Project - Professional Services (w/accompanying resolution)

14. Action Item #6656/26 – RE: Authorization to seek $300K from FEMA FMA Grant for a Flood Audit Pilot Project in the Point Neighborhood (w/accompanying resolution)

15. Action Item #6657/26 – RE: Contract # 2024-148 Change Order No. 2-Water & Wastewater System Rate Study, Public Outreach & Education (w/accompanying resolution)

16. Action Item #6658/26 – RE: Authorization to accept $1.434M grant award from RIDEM Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG-Tier2) - Ann Street Pier Expansion Project (w/accompanying resolution)

17. Action Item #6659/26 – RE: Contract-Drone First Responder and Municipal UAV Program (w/accompanying resolution)

ORDINANCES

18. Amending Section 10.56.010 of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “One-way streets designated-Signs required.” (Second Reading)

ADJOURN AS COUNCIL AND CONVENE AS BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS

BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS

1. Class F Daily Liquor license, St. Augustin Church of Newport, d/b/a Feast of St. Augustin, St. Augustin’s Church; August 28, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Laura C. Swistak, CMC

City Clerk

Adjourn- July 15, 2026