CITY OF NEWPORT
MEETING
DECEMBER 10, 2025
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 Regular Council Meeting held November 12, 2025
b. Special Events:
1. Cheyne Cousens, d/b/a Holiday Toy/Food Drive, Newport Skatepark; December 14, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2. Robert Vitello, d/b/a Belmont Chapel Music- JD Hunter Concert, Belmont Chapel; January 11, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
3. Newport Festivals Foundation, d/b/a:
a. Newport All Star Softball Game, Cardines Field; July 23, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
b. Newport Folk Festival, Fort Adams State Park; July 24, 25 & 26, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
c. Newport Jazz Festival, Fort Adams State Park; July 31, August 1 & August 2, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
c. Tattoo License Renewal, Owner/Operator, David Bennett, Sitting Bull Tattoo LLC, 136 Thames St.
d. Pool Table License, Renewal, Atlas Vending Inc., 1106 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904 - 1 table
e. Pool Table License, Renewal, Fastnet Pub, Inc., d/b/a Fastnet Pub, 1-3 Broadway - 1 table
f. Communication from the Newport Housing Authority, re: 2026 Draft Annual Plan & 5-Year Capital Fund Action Plan (Receive)
g. Communication from Charles Roberts, re: Requesting the City sponsor the 250th Juneteenth Celebration Event at Fort Adams in 2026 (Receive)
h. Communication from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, re: Accessible Sidewalks & Street Crossings (Receive)
i. Communication from C.R.M.C., re: Application of Castle Hill, Inc. 590 Ocean Ave., Newport, R.I. for Commercial Viability Aquaculture (Receive and refer to the Waterfront Commission)- Continued from October 22, 2025
2. St. Joseph’s Church & Jesus Savior Church, d/b/a Guadalupe Celebration, Broadway; December 14, 2025 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Street closure request- 3:00 p.m., Broadway, from Jesus Savior Church to St. Joseph’s Church for the procession
3. Victualing License Expansion, 2 Church St., LLC, d/b/a Queen Anne’s Loft, 212 Thames St., second and third floors, to expand the service area by adding a 134 square foot outdoor deck over the existing roof (In conjunction with liquor license expansion)
4. Victualing License, New, 527 Thames Opco, LLC, d/b/a Scales & Shells, 527-537 Thames Street (In conjunction with liquor license transfer)
5. Sidewalk Café License, New, 527 Thames Opco, LLC, d/b/a Scales and Shells, 527-537 Thames St., consisting of eight tables and 32 seats (In conjunction with liquor license transfer)
6. Victualing License, New, 24 Memorial Opco, LLC, d/b/a Jo’s American Bistro, 24 Memorial Blvd. West (In conjunction with liquor license transfer)
7. Annual Entertainment License, New, Class A (Indoor), Newport Protective Club, d/b/a The Protective Club, 596 Thames St., to have entertainment Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. (Hearing)- continued from November 12, 2025
8. Annual Entertainment License, New, Class A (Indoor), 527 Thames Opco, LLC, d/b/a Scales & Shells Restaurant, 527-537 Thames St. to have entertainment daily from noon to 11:00 p.m. (Hearing)
9. Annual Entertainment License, New, Class A (Indoor), 24 Memorial Opco, LLC, d/b/a Jo’s American Bistro, 24 Memorial Blvd. West, to have entertainment daily from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Hearing)
10. 2025-2026 Victualing License Renewals (lists attached)*
Appointments:
Newport Beach Commission
Susan Marks –– three-year term, expires 12/10/2028
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission - Casey Lindie –– filling vacant five-year term, expires 5/10/2027
Reappointments:
Newport Waterfront Commission
Mark Marosits – Chair – three-year term, expires 1/11/2029
Henry N. DiPietro –– three-year term, expires 1/11/2029
Planning Board
Margaret Polski –– Chair- three-year term, expires 10/31/2028
Theresa (Soni) Stokes – three-year term, expires 10/31/2028
12. Memorandum from the City Manager RE: Police Department Presentation on Traffic Safety Initiatives
13. Action Item #6532/25 – RE: Utility Pole Petition – Rhode Island Energy – Install Conduit-Old Beach Road
14. Action Item #6533/25 – RE: Award of Bid/Proposal - RFP #2025-REC-004 - Lifeguard Chairs at Easton’s Beach (w/accompanying resolution)
15. Action Item #6534/25 – RE: Revised Advisory Committee Proposal - 2027 Comprehensive Plan Update (w/accompanying resolution)
16. Action Item #6535/25 – RE: Contract Extension # 23-053 – Decorative Street Light Maintenance Services (w/accompanying resolution)
17. Action Item #6536/25 – RE: Award of Contract – RIMPA – Purchase of Fire Department Vehicle (w/accompanying resolution)
18. Action Item #6537/25 – RE: Appropriation of Committed Fund Balance for Area Traffic Study (w/accompanying resolution)
19. Action Item #6538/25 – RE: Two-Tiered Resident Tax Program Revisions (w/accompanying resolution and ordinance)
20. Action Item #6539/25 – RE: Bank of America/514 Thames Street – Amendment to License Agreement (w/accompanying resolution)
21. Action Item #6540/25 – RE: T-Mobile, USA – Amendment/Extension of Lease Agreement - Toppa Field (w/accompanying resolution)
22. Action Item #6541/25 – RE: Authorization of Funds for FY 2027 Capital Improvement Program, Brick Market HVAC Project (w/accompanying resolution)
23. Amending Section 10.24.010, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Parking prohibited at all times in designated places.” (Second Reading)
24. Amending Section 10.52.010, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “No through-streets listed-signs required” (Second Reading)
25. Amending Section 12.28.020, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Definitions” (Second Reading) continued from October 8, 2025
26. Amending Section 12.28.071, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Mooring permit classification and quotas” (Second Reading)
27. Amending Section 12.28.071, entitled, “Mooring permit classification and quotas” and 12.28.072, entitled, “Requests for mooring permit and permit changes” (Second Reading) continued from October 8, 2025
28. Amending Section 12.28.200, entitled, “Fees and fines” (Second Reading) continued from October 8, 2025
29. Authorizing the issuance of additional Wastewater System Revenue Bonds (Second Reading)
30. 2026 Regular City Council Meeting schedule
31. Requesting the City’s support of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center’s North End food pantry- S. Smyth, C. Holder, E. Pinnock, X. Khamsyvoravong, L. Ceglie
ADJOURN AS COUNCIL AND CONVENE AS BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS
1. Class F Daily Liquor License, Robert Vitello, d/b/a Belmont Chapel Music- JD Hunter Concert, Belmont Chapel; January 11, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
2. Class F-1 Daily Liquor License, Newport Festivals Foundations:
a. Newport Folk Festival, Fort Adams State Park; July 23, 24, 25 & 26, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
b. Newport Jazz Festival, Fort Adams State Park; July 30, 31, August 1 & August 2, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
3. Application of 2 Church Street, LLC, d/b/a Queen Anne’s Loft, 212 Thames St., second and third floors, holder of a Class BV alcoholic beverage license, to expand the service area by adding a 134 sq. ft. outdoor deck over the existing roof (Hearing)
4. Application of Nautilus Restaurant, LLC, d/b/a Scales & Shells Restaurant, 527-537 Thames St., holder of a Class BV alcoholic beverage license, to transfer ownership to 527 Thames Opco, LLC 1899, LLC- 100% (Thames Capital Ventures, LLC 51% (Nicholas Schorsch 100%) and Aquidneck Holdings, LLC 49% (Nicholas Schorsch 100%), at the same premises (Hearing)
5. Application of American Bistro, LLC, d/b/a Jo’s American Bistro, 24 Memorial Blvd. West, holder of a Class BV alcoholic beverage license, to transfer ownership to 24 Memorial Opco, LLC (1899, LLC- 100% (Thames Capital Ventures, LLC 51% (Nicholas Schorsch 100%) and Aquidneck Holdings, LLC 49% (Nicholas Schorsch 100%), at the same premises (Hearing)
6. PUBLIC HEARING - 2025-2026 Liquor License Renewal
LIQUOR CLASS D
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Friendly Sons of Newport Social Club
d/b/a Friendly Sons
5 Farewell
Laura C. Swistak, CMC
City Clerk
Adjourn- December 3, 2025
*VICTUALING LICENSE RENEWALS
DBA Ownership Address
Kaffeology Kaffeology Inc. 359 Thames St.
Peaceable Market Peaceable Market, LLC 520 Thames St.
Tropical Smoothie Café G&P Enterprises, Inc. 199 JT Connell Highway Unit