CITY OF NEWPORT
MEETING
APRIL 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 Regular Council meeting held March 11, 2026
b. Special Events:
1. Puddingstone Events, d/b/a This Love Between Us, Rough Point, 680 Bellevue Ave.; April 15, 2026 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
2. Cathleen Carr, d/b/a newportFILM Indoor Screening, Rogers High School Auditorium; April 16, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
3. Rev. Mark A. Sauriol, d/b/a Blarney, Balogna and Beyond- Comedy Night, St. Augustin Church Hall; April 17, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
4. Newport In Bloom, d/b/a Daffy Trolley Rides, streets of Newport; April 18 & 26, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
5. Newport String Project, d/b/a Newport County Concert Series #4- Rough Point, Rough Point Mansion; May 2, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
6. Emmanuel Church, d/b/a Swing Into Spring, Emmanuel Church; May 15, 2026 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
7. Puddingstone Events, d/b/a Jazz at the Redwood: The Paul Cornish Trio, 50 Bellevue Ave.; May 27, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
8. Trinity Episcopal Church, d/b/a Annual Strawberry Festival, Trinity Church lawn; June 13, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
9. Newport Historical Society, d/b/a Opening Weekend for the Center for Black History, lawns of Great Friends Meeting House & Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House; June 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., June 20, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and June 21, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
10. Lucy’s Hearth, d/b/a Lucy’s Hearth Pickleball Fundraiser, Rogers High School Tennis Courts; June 20, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to noon
11. Brian Votolato, d/b/a Irreverent Warriors Silkies Hike, streets of Newport (route attached); November 7, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
c. Communication from Charles Roberts, re: Requesting permission to change the date of the R.I. Slave History Medallion at the Newport Art Museum to April 11, 2026 which was previously approved but canceled due to the Blizzard of 2026
d. Food Concession Licenses, Jesus Saviour Church, d/b/a
1. Holy Ghost Feast; May 24, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
2. Summer Bazaar; July 23-25, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
(Rain date- July 26, 2026 from 12:00 p.m.)
e. Bingo License, Jesus Saviour Church, d/b/a Summer Bazaar, 1 Vernon Ave.; July 23-25 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
f. Pawn Broker License, Renewal, Fall River Financial RI, LLC, d/b/a Fall River Pawn Brokers, 128 Broadway
g. Communication from Maureen Cronin, Chair, Tree and Open Space Commission, re: Expressing support for the plaque in Liberty Square commemorating the grant of land in 1748 (Receive)
h. Communication from Peter Janaros, Cliff Walk Commission, re: Cliff Walk Restrooms (Receive and refer to city administration)
i. Communication from Jacob Wojciechowski, re: Resignation from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (Receive with regret)
j. Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget (Receive and order advertised for public hearing on May 6, 2026 at a Special Council meeting)
2. Victualing License, Renewal, Brack’s on Bellevue, Inc., d/b/a The Pantry Café & Provisions (change of d/b/a from Brack’s Café), 111 Bellevue Ave.
3. Victualing License, New Owner, Playa Newport, LLC, d/b/a Playa Bowls, 201 Goddard Row
4. Special Event License, Newport Craft/Wally’s Weiners, d/b/a Food Truck Friday Newport, 293 J.T. Connell Highway, 5/22/26, 5/29/26, 6/5/26, 6/12/26, 6/19/26, 6/26/26, 7/10/26, 7/17/26, 7/24/26, 7/31/26, 8/7/26, 8/14/226, 8/21/26 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
~Request to waive Section 5.57.040 (c), entitled, “Restrictions on permit”, of the Codified Ordinances, which prohibits a food truck within 250 feet of an existing restaurant.
5. Special Event License, Audrain Auto Museum, d/b/a Newport Daffodil Parade, streets of Newport, beginning at Easton’s Beach; April 12, 2026 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
6. Special Event License, Audrain Automobile Museum, Inc. and Audrain Concours Foundation, LLC, d/b/a 2026 Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week, various locations (details attached); October 1-4, 2026
a. Request to close Bellevue Avenue between Memorial Blvd. and East Bowery St. from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
b. Addition of a Super Car Parade, streets of Newport, October 1, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
7. Sidewalk Café License, Renewals
a. Pickled and Cured, Inc., d/b/a Audette & Thames Street Kitchen, 505-509 Thames St.
b. 22 Washington Sq., Inc., d/b/a Bar Cino, 22 Washington Sq.
c. Caleb Opco, LLC, d/b/a Caleb and Broad, 162 Broadway
d. 527 Thames Opco, LLC, d/b/a Claw and Hammer, 527-537 Thames St.
e. Fastnet, Inc., d/b/a Fastnet, The, 1-3 Broadway
f. Get The Scoop, LLC, d/b/a Get The Scoop, 4 Broadway
g. Monkey Business, LLC, d/b/a Hungry Monkey, 124 Broadway
h. Mel’s Lunch, Inc., d/b/a Mel’s Lunch, 25 Broadway
i. Nick’s Fine Foods, Inc., d/b/a Nikolas Pizza, 38 Memorial Blvd. West
j. Parlor, LLC, d/b/a Parlor Bar & Kitchen, 200 Broadway
k. Picnic Ltd., d/b/a Picnic, 28-32 Bellevue Ave.
l. Root Newport RI, LLC, d/b/a root newport, 6 Broadway
m. Scratch, LLC, d/b/a Scratch Kitchen and Catering, 88 Broadway
n. Kale Stems, LLC, d/b/a Stoneacre, 28-30 Washington Sq.
8. Street Café License, Renewals:
a. Fitzsimoes, LLC, d/b/a Corner Café, 110 Broadway
b. Leinster, Inc., d/b/a Malt, 150-154 Broadway
c. MBK, LLC, d/b/a Pour Judgement, 32 Broadway
Appointments:
Council Liaisons
Standing Charter Review Commission– Charles Holder
Waterfront Commission Council – Charles Holder
Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission- Ellen Pinnock
Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission- Community Organization Appointments
Tree and Open Space Commission - Maureen Cronin (non-voting liaison)
VFW Post 406 - Paul Radion - three-year term, expires 4/8/2029
Newport Historical Society - Rebecca Bertrand - three-year term, expires 4/8/2029
Audubon Society of R.I. - Lauren Parmelee - three-year term, expires 4/8/2029
Newport Tree Conservancy - Natasha Harrison – three-year term expires 4/8/2029
Standing Charter Review Commission– (terms are not defined)
Martin L. Cohen
Jane LeBoeuf
Robert Dufault
Gerard "Gerry" DeCotis
Charles F. Pattavina
Meghan Rego
Ann Elise McCaffrey
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Commission (all terms expire 4/8/2027)
| Sean Alexander | Geoffrey Latimer |
| Caren Banks | Stephen Marley |
| Tyler Bernadyn | Taryn Mazza |
| Mark Fitzgerald | Herb McCormick |
| Karl Andrew Bjork | John Michael |
| Chris Burich | Rupert Nesbitt |
| MaryJo Carr | Santiago Ricardo Neville |
| Sara Cassis | Charles Pattavina |
| Joan Galvin | Emma Polinsky |
| Carmela Geer | Nicole Shevory |
| Frederick Huntsberry | Heather Strout |
| Hank Kniskern | Stephanie Szneke |
| Andrew (Sandy) Kristiansson | Shannon Walker |
| | |
| Alternates | |
| Robert Bestoso | |
| Karla McCoin | |
| Rebecca Noon | |
| Nicole Ray | |
| Jeff Weldon | |
Reappointments:
Henderson Home Commission
JoAnne Ritchie – One-year term, expires 12/11/2026
Mary Currier – One-year term expires, 12/11/2026
Donald DeLuca – One-year term expires, 12/11/2026
William Serth – One-year term expires, 2/26/2027
10. Action Item #6575/26 – RE: Title Five of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Business Licenses and Regulations Generally”, Section 5.04.030, entitled, “Registration fee.” (w/accompanying ordinance)
11. Action Item #6576/26 – RE: Ordinance Revision- 10.24.010. – Parking Prohibited at all Times in Designated Places – William Street, North Side, Beginning 156 Feet West of Thomas Street and Proceeding a Distance West for 23 Feet (w/accompanying ordinance)
12. Action Item #6577/26 – RE: Award of Contract - RFP #2026-MAR-004 – Expansion of Ann Street Pier (w/accompanying resolution)
13. Action Item #6578/26 – RE: Award of Contract – RIMPA - Ann Street Pier Extension - Construction Oversight & Administrative Services (w/accompanying resolution)
14. Action Item #6579/26 – RE: Authorization to accept $25k Grant Award from the Rhode Island Historic Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC)-Study of the Naval Hospital Site and Associated Buildings and Approval of the Associated Subrecipient Agreement (w/accompanying resolution)
15. Action Item #6580/26 – RE: Award of Contract - RFP 2026-PS-009 - Ocean Avenue Seawall Repairs Professional Services (w/accompanying resolution)
16. Action Item #6581/26 – RE: Award of Contract - Bid # 2026-PS-008 – Road Improvement Program 2026 (w/accompanying resolution)
17. Action Item #6582/26 – RE: Exercise of Option Year 1 - Bid # 2025-REC-002 - Construction Equipment and Operator at Easton’s Beach (w/accompanying resolution)
18. Action Item #6583/26 – RE: Award of Contract - RFP #2026-REC-002 - Watersports Concessions at Easton’s Beach (w/accompanying resolution)
19. Action Item #6584/26 – RE: Award of Contract - RFP #2026-REC-001 - Umbrella and Chair Concessions at Easton’s Beach (w/accompanying resolution)
20. Action Item #6585/26 – RE: Exercise of Option Year 2 - RFP # 24-049 - Mobile Food and Beverage Service Provider at Easton’s Beach (w/accompanying resolution)
21. Exploring the possibility for the City to legally maintain The Jonathan Easton Cemetery- L. Ceglie, D. Carlin, J. Napolitano, E. Pinnock
ADJOURN AS COUNCIL AND CONVENE AS BOARD OF LICENSE
COMMISSIONERS
1. Class F Daily Liquor License, St. Augustin Church, d/b/a Blarney, Balogna and Beyond- Comedy Night, St. Augustin Church Hall; April 17, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
2. Class F Daily Liquor License, Emmanuel Church Newport, d/b/a Swing Into Spring, Emmanuel Church Newport; May 15, 2026 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
3. Sunday Selling License, Renewal, KRG Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Bridge Liquors, 23 Connell Highway
4. Application of HTLVI Newport TRS, LLC, d/b/a Hotel Viking, One Bellevue Ave., holder of a Class BT alcoholic beverage license to expand the licensed premises by adding a portable bar measuring 15'6" x 6'9" x 9'2" to the patio area and the addition of expanded service into Spa Fjor (Hearing)
Laura C. Swistak, CMC
City Clerk
Adjourn- April 1, 2026
(Rev.4.2.26)