2025-29 Ruggles Avenue speed camera

WHEREAS, Residents of the City of Newport’s Third Ward have been very concerned about ongoing traffic safety problems in their neighborhoods and have expressed said concerns clearly to the city council and the city administration a number of times; AND

WHEREAS, On October 23, 2024, the Newport City Council directed the city administration to purchase and activate in key locations, five (5) Trailer Based Speed Monitoring, Warning and Data Collection machines; purchase and activate in key locations, 10 Pole Mounted Speed Display/Data Capture/Warning machines; implement Data Capture and Transparency recommendations; purchase if necessary, and install State Law Yield To Pedestrians Within Crosswalk signs at a minimum on Harrison Avenue, Morton Avenue, Thames Street, Bellevue Avenue, Old Fort Road, Wellington Avenue and Spring Street; Continue Directed Enforcement Strategies, which major intent is to decrease ongoing traffic safety issues; AND

WHEREAS, What the city administration was directed to do was based on the manager's feedback and neighborhood/public input, which consisted of three council meetings at which residents were asked to provide examples of traffic safety concerns and share potential ideas for remediation; AND

WHEREAS, At some point in the last 30 days, a so-called speed camera was installed in the third ward on Ruggles Avenue; AND

WHEREAS, The Newport City Council did not authorize the installation of a speed camera on Ruggles Avenue nor was there any discussion of such; AND

WHEREAS, The Newport City Council recognizes the absolutely critical and very frustrating traffic safety concerns that the residents experience and is committed to addressing the issues; AND

WHEREAS, The Newport City Council is also committed to adhering to proper procedure in undertaking its responsibilities and actions; AND

WHEREAS; With the knowledge that regarding the installation of speed cameras in the southern end of the city, there is a division in opinions held by third ward residents who have expressed such, and a deeper division in opinions concerning the installation of the speed camera on Ruggles Avenue, NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED: That the Newport City Council directs the city administration to remove the speed camera from Ruggles Avenue and (a) convene a community meeting which shall take place in a convenient location for residents in the southern part of the city regarding public safety concerns, speed cameras, directed enforcement strategies and more; (b) appropriately notify residents of said meeting via means that may include targeted mailing, advertising and other and shall include complying with state law concerning public meeting notices, social media exposure, use of the city's website and distribution of notice of meeting to city community partners; (c) explicitly seek approval from the Newport City Council for the installation of any speed cameras, red light cameras or other license plate tracking technology used in the city.

DAVID R. CARLIN III

IN COUNCIL
READ AND PASSED
FEBRUARY 12, 2025

LAURA C SWISTAK, CMC
CITY CLERK