CITY OF NEWPORT
MEETING
JANUARY 28, 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 Workshop held December 8, 2025
b. Special Events:
1. Preservation Society of Newport County, @ Rosecliff, d/b/a:
a. Chief Curator’s Choice Lecture; January 29, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
b. MA: Winter Lecture 2, February 12, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
c. MA: Tango Dance Evening, February 13, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
d. MA: Gilded Age Orchestra, February 26, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
e. MA: Winter Panel, March 15, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
f. Newport Flower Show, June 19-21, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
g. MA: Exhibition Opening; June 25, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
2. Cumulus Media Lite 105, d/b/a Lite 105’s Masquerade Ball, Ochre Court; February 14, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
3. Katelyn McSherry, d/b/a 2026 Newport Wedding Show, Rosecliff & The Reef; March 1, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
4. Kelley Coen, d/b/a Newport Yacht Rendezvous, Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard; June 26, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
c. Communication from Meg Dodge, SVP, Head of External Affairs, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc., re: Request to light up the top of city hall on the last day of February 2026 to recognize Rare Disease Day (Approve subject to details being worked out with city administration)
d. Communication from the Energy and Environment Commission, re: Recommending the City Council support a moratorium on new natural gas connections (Receive)
e. Communication from Rosemary O’Brien, re: Resignation from the Historic District Commission (Receive with regret)
f. FY 2027-2031 Recommended Capital Improvement Plan (Receive and order advertised for public hearing on February 11, 2026)
g. Communication from Nicholas Armour, Zoning Officer, re: Proposed Zoning Amendments pursuant to Resolution No. 2025-88 (Receive and refer to the Planning Board for a recommendation and order advertised for public hearing February 25, 2026)
2. Broadway Street Fair, d/b/a Broadway Street Fair, 1-200 Broadway & Washington Sq.; October 10, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Street Closure Request:
Broadway and Washington Sq.
3. 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. (Second Hearing) - Continued from January 14, 2026
4. Annual Entertainment License, Expansion, Class B (outdoor), Fastnet Inc., d/b/a Fastnet Pub, 1-3 Broadway to have outdoor entertainment daily from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on the rear patio (First Hearing)- continued from January 14, 2026
5. Annual Entertainment License, New, Class A (indoor) & Class B (outdoor) Quench Opco, LLC, d/b/a The Quencher Newport, 95 Long Wharf, to have entertainment indoors daily from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and outdoors Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Second Hearing)
Appointments
Historic District Commission
Brooke Richter –– move from Alternate member to Full member - three-year term expiring 3/12/2028
Planning Board
John Greichen - three-year term expiring 1/28/2029
Reappointments
Planning Board
Margaret Polski - three-year term expiring 10/31/2028
Theresa (Soni) Stokes - three-year term expiring 10/31/2028
7. Action Item #6551/26 – RE: Cliff Walk Restroom Expansion Engineering Services (w/accompanying resolution)
8. Action Item #6552/26 – RE: Ordinance Revision – 10.24.010 Parking Prohibited (w/accompanying ordinance)
9. Action Item #6553/26 – RE: Award of Bid #2026-POL-002, One 2025 Harley Davidson FLHTP Electra Glide Solo Law Enforcement Motorcycle (w/accompanying resolution)
10. Action Item #6554/26 – RE: 2025 Aquidneck Island Regional Hazard Mitigation & Flood Management Plan (w/accompanying resolution)
11. Action Item #6555/26 – RE: Amendment of Contract to KCM Group, Owner Project Manager Services for Renovations to the Florence Gray Community Center – Pandemic Recovery Office Capital Projects Fund (PRO-CPF) (w/ accompanying resolution)
12. Action Item #6556/26 – RE: Award of RFP #2026-PS-005 Roof and Soffit Replacement Touro Fire Station (w/accompanying resolution)
13. Action Item #6557/26 – RE: Award of Bid/ Proposal – RFP #2026-MAR-002 – Regatta Economic Impact Study (w/accompanying resolution)
14. Amending Section 4.08.120 A(c)(1), of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Property Tax Classification” (Second Reading)
15. Amending Section 5.12.040 of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Number of Licenses Permitted” to increase the number of BT licenses by one and reduce the number of BL licenses by one (Second Reading)
~Communication from Peter Regan, Esq. requesting to convert the Class BL alcoholic beverage license to a Class BT alcoholic beverage license
16. Supporting the creation of a funded Resiliency and Sustainability Program and requesting enabling legislation for a local conveyance fee- C. Holder, J. Napolitano
ADJOURN AS COUNCIL AND CONVENE AS BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS
1. Communication from 527 Thames Opco, LLC, d/b/a Scales & Shells, 527-537 Thames St., holder of a Class BV alcoholic beverage license, to change the d/b/a to Claw & Hammer, at the same premises (Receive and make part of licensee’s file)
Laura C. Swistak, CMC
City Clerk
Adjourn- January 21, 2026