*https://www.clerkshq.com/newport-ri- link to supporting documents on the agenda.
CITY OF NEWPORT
DOCKET FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING
AUGUST 26, 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 July 22, 2026 (Approve)
b. Special Events:
1. IYRS School of Technology & Trades, d/b/a 47th Annual Newport Classic Yacht Regatta Awards Party, 449 Thames St.; September 6, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
2. Susan Battle, d/b/a Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards, 680 Bellevue Ave.; September 11, 2026 from5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
3. Puddingstone Events, d/b/a Quasi una Fantasia, Rough Point; September 12, 2026 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
4. Sail Newport, d/b/a Sail Newport’s Annual Fundraiser, 72 Fort Adams Drive; September 12, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
5. Overlap Art Space, d/b/a Incite: Insight Art Opening, 112 Van Zandt Ave.; September 19, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
6. Newport String Project, d/b/a Newport String Project presents Pocket Concerts, Vernon House & Newport Art Museum; September 20, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
7. Rhode Island Center for the Book, d/b/a Back to School Book Bash, Ochre Court, 100 Ochre Point Ave.; September 23, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
8. Newport Volleyball Club, d/b/a Cardines Classic- Newport Volleyball Club Tournament, Cardines Field; September 27, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
9. Puddingstone Events, d/b/a Romanticism and Musical Poetry, Rough Point; September 29, 2026 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
10. Elks Lodge, d/b/a Corvette Car Show, 141 Pelham St.; October 3, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
11. Bowen’s Wharf Company, d/b/a Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival, Bowen’s Wharf Company, Bowen’s Wharf; October 17 & 18, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and requesting permission to have food trucks within 250 feet of an existing restaurant
Street Closure Request- Market Square
c. Banner License, Yachting Promotions Inc., d/b/a Newport International Boat Show, to hang a banner between the Red Parrot and Midtown Oyster Bar from September 8 through September 22, 2026 advertising the Newport International Boat Show
d. Communication from the Newport Beach Commission, re: Easton’s Beach Project (Receive)
e. Communication from the R.I. Department of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources, re: Application of Waites Wharf Marina Expansion for a Water Quality Certification, Plat 32 Lot 155 (Receive)
f. Communication from Patricia Reynolds, Director of Planning and Development, re: Waterfront Campus- Innovation Hub Zoning Amendments (Receive and refer to the Planning Board for a recommendation and order advertised for public hearing)
2. Sidewalk Café License, Temporary, Newport Community School, d/b/a Community Cookery, 18 Market Sq. for a temporary sidewalk café from September 17-20, 2026 during the Newport International Boat Show
3. Sidewalk Café License, Renewal, Broadway Tavern, LTD, d/b/a Tavern on Broadway, 16 Broadway
4. Entertainment License, New, Gardiner House, LP, d/b/a Gardiner House, 24 Lee’s Wharf to have indoor entertainment Monday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 pm. And outdoors Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of a holiday weekend (Second Hearing)
5. Entertainment License, New, Midtown Race Club LLC, d/b/a Midtown Race Club, 255 Thames St. to have indoor entertainment daily from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and outdoors from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and until Midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays before holidays (Second Hearing)
6. Entertainment License, Expansion, 24 Memorial Opco, LLC, d/b/a Jo’s American Bistro, 24 Memorial Blvd. West to expand indoor entertainment by increasing the hours on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Second Hearing)
APPOINTMENTS
Juvenile Hearing Board- Sophia Domingoes -– three-year term, expires 8/26/2029
REAPPOINTMENTS
Juvenile Hearing Board - Christopher (Chris) Lewia –– three-year term, expires 11/1/2028
Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission - Robert (Bob) Conway –– three-year term, expires 10/14/2029
8. Communication from the Stathis Manousos, Superintendent of Parking, re: Park Newport, A Unified Public Parking System
9. Communication from Heidi Mahoney, Manager of Government Affairs, GoNetspeed, re: Broadband Installation Project Briefing - GoNetspeed Newport Fiber Deployment
10. Action Item #6668/26 – RE: Authorization to Pursue Grants and Philanthropic Funding for the Restoration of the Historic Fire Watch Tower at Fire Station No. 5 (w/accompanying resolution)
11. Action Item #6669/26 – RE: Authorization to Accept Additional FY-2025 FHWA Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Funds (w/accompanying resolution)
12. Action Item #6670/26 – RE: Authorization to Adopt New Grant Award Acceptance & Authorization Policy (w/accompanying resolution)
13. Action Item #6671/26 – RE: Award of Contract, Easton’s Beach Resilience Plan, Phase 3 Schematic Design -RIMPA#494A and MPA#494B (w/accompanying resolution)
14. Amending Sections, 13.08, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Sewer Service System” (Second Reading)
15. Amending Section 13.10, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Industrial Pretreatment” (Second Reading)
16. Amending Section 13.12, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Sewer Service Charges” (Second Reading)
17. Requesting School Zone Designation, Improved Traffic Signage and an additional stop sign at the Newport Head Start Center.- E. Pinnock, S. Smyth
18. Requesting improvements to Toppa Athletic Field to support Newport Youth- L. Ceglie, J. Napolitano, S. Smyth
ADJOURN AS COUNCIL AND CONVENE AS BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS
1. Class F-1 Daily Liquor License, International Tennis Hall of Fame, d/b/a Induction Celebration, 194 Bellevue Ave.; 8/28/2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 8/29/2026 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
2. Class F-1 Daily Liquor License, Sail Newport, d/b/a Sail Newport’s Annual Fundraiser, 72 Fort Adams Drive; September 12, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
3. Class F Daily Liquor License, Puddingstone Events, d/b/a Quasi una Fantasia, Rough Point; September 12, 2026 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
4. Class F Daily Liquor License, Puddingstone Events, d/b/a Romanticism and Musical Poetry, Rough Point; September 29, 2026 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
5. Class F-1 Daily Liquor License, Bowen’s Wharf Company, d/b/a Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival, Bowen’s Wharf Company, Bowen’s Wharf; October 17 & 18, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and requesting
Laura C. Swistak, CMC
City Clerk
Adjourn- August 19, 2026