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City Council, April 20, 2022

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at 7:45 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

Present – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

Absent – Councilors Gregor and Mercer.

President Moran presides.

THE COUNCIL RECESSES IMMEDIATELY TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING:

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 3124 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, AMENDING THE 2017 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. CHANGE IN THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP LAND USE MAP AND FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR 94 MOSHASSUCK STREET AND 0 GRENVILLE STREET FROM PUBLIC OPEN (PO) ZONE TO INDUSTRIAL OPEN (MO) ZONE (AP62, L291 & 309 - MORLEY FIELD)

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING”. CHANGE IN OFFICIAL ZONING MAP FOR 94 MOSHASSUCK STREET AND 0 GRENVILLE STREET FROM PUBLIC OPEN (PO) ZONE TO INDUSTRIAL OPEN (MO) ZONE (AP62, L291 & 309 - MORLEY FIELD)

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 7:52 P.M.

The reading of the records of the April 5, 2022 Redistricting Committee/Committee of the Whole meeting and the records of the April 6, 2022 Committee on Claims and Pending Suits meeting, City Property Committee meeting, Committee of the Whole meeting and City Council meeting is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor DaRosa, the *Consent Agenda is APPROVED on a unanimous voice vote:

028 A. Resolution from the Town of Charlestown in Support of H-8055 Relating to Waters and Navigation, Coastal Resources Management Council.

028 B. Resolution from the Town of Burrillville in Opposition to S-2244 and H-7198 Relating to Municipal Employees Arbitration.

028 C. Resolutions from the Town of Tiverton in Opposition to S-2244 and H-7198 Relating to Municipal Employees Arbitration; and in Opposition to H-6638 and S-2340 Relating to Towns and Cities – Zoning Ordinance – Prohibiting Single Family Zones.

028 D. Communication from the Town of Hopkinton to the Honorable Members of the House Municipal Government & Housing Committee. (Opposition to H-6676 Relating to Taxation – Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes)

**028 E. Communication from the Honorable Nellie M. Gorbea, Secretary of State, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien. (Grant Funds – Cybersecurity of Elections)

028 F. Communication from Frederick R. Love, Chair, Pawtucket Historic District Commission, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien. (Resignation from the Pawtucket Historic District Commission)

15 G. Communication from Susan L. Reed, Library Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Library 3rd Quarter Report)

590 H. Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Combined High School Timeline)

I. Communication from Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police and Acting Public Safety Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Councilor DaRosa’s Request) IS POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 11, 2022

J. AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 116 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “ANIMALS” (Maximum Number of Animals Allowed at a Kennel) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.

UPON UNANIMOUS CONSENT OF THE COUNCIL, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS TAKEN UP AT THIS TIME:

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR STACHOWIAK:

Upon recommendation of the Ordinance Committee, Councilor Stachowiak offers the following amendment to the above-entitled ordinance:

Amend the following:

DELETE THE 2^nd WHEREAS:

~~WHEREAS, The City of Pawtucket established a purchase and sale agreement with JK Equities LLC for the subject properties by resolution of the City Council, dated August 8, 2021;~~

REPLACE WITH:

WHEREAS, The City of Pawtucket established a purchase and sale agreement with JK Equities, LLC for the subject properties by resolution of the City Council, dated August 8, 2021. This agreement permits JK Equities, LLC, or an affiliated entity, to pursue permitting and regulatory approvals associated with industrial redevelopment of these properties, including relating to zoning use or zoning district designation. Potential transfer of ownership of these properties is subject to the identification and approval of an alternate property of equal or greater land area and value to that of Morley Field, that is intended to serve as a replacement public recreation facility. This recreation replacement property is subject to approval by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) and the National Park Service (NPS);

Upon motion made by Councilor Stachowiak, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the following amendment is read and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

DELETE THE 2^nd WHEREAS:

~~WHEREAS, The City of Pawtucket established a purchase and sale agreement with JK Equities LLC for the subject properties by resolution of the City Council, dated August 8, 2021;~~

REPLACE WITH:

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PASSED, AS AMENDED, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

UPON UNANIMOUS CONSENT OF THE COUNCIL, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS TAKEN UP AT THIS TIME:

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR STACHOWIAK:

Upon recommendation of the Ordinance Committee, Councilor Stachowiak offers the following amendment to the above-entitled ordinance:

Amend the following:

DELETE THE 6^th WHEREAS:

WHEREAS, the City of Pawtucket established a purchase and sale agreement with JK Equities, LLC for the subject properties by resolution of the City Council dated, August 8, 2021. Potential transfer of ownership of these properties is subject to the identification of an adequate public recreation facility intended to replace Morley Field. This agreement also permits JK Equities, LLC to pursue associated permitting and regulatory approvals including rezoning petitions.

REPLACE WITH:

WHEREAS, the City of Pawtucket established a purchase and sale agreement with JK Equities, LLC for the subject properties by resolution of the City Council, dated August 8, 2021. This agreement permits JK Equities, LLC, or an affiliated entity, to pursue permitting and regulatory approvals associated with industrial redevelopment of these properties, including relating to zoning use or zoning district designation. Potential transfer of ownership of these properties is subject to the identification and approval of an alternate property of equal or greater land area and value to that of Morley Field, that is intended to serve as a replacement public recreation facility. This recreation replacement property is subject to approval by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) and the National Park Service (NPS).

Upon motion made by Councilor Stachowiak, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the following amendment is read and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

DELETE THE 6^th WHEREAS:

REPLACE WITH:

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS AMENDED, AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

588 RESOLUTION DESIGNATING PAWTUCKET CENTRAL FALLS DEVELOPMENT AS THE PREFERRED DEVELOPER FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 160 BEECHWOOD AVE (AP35 L51, L52, & L360) AND AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A PURCHASE AND SALES AGREEMENT.

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

588 RESOLUTION DESIGNATING PAWTUCKET CENTRAL FALLS DEVELOPMENT AS THE PREFERRED DEVELOPER FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 305 OWEN AVENUE (AP49 L756) AND AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A PURCHASE AND SALES AGREEMENT.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ARAUJO.

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Vasquez, the agenda is amended to include the following communication on a unanimous voice vote:

Communication from Anthony J. Bucci, Jr., Esq., representing Narragansett Bay Commission to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting an Easement between the City of Pawtucket and Fortuitous Tidewater OZ LLC to Narragansett Bay Commission for the property at Winter and Taft Streets AP54 L827 and further requesting the perpetual easement between City of Pawtucket and Narragansett Bay Commission for the property between the Seekonk River and School Street, south and west of Bowers Street be Abandoned.

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED and REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE:

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ARAUJO.

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Vasquez, the agenda is amended to include the following communication on a unanimous voice vote:

592 Communication from Jay Rosa, Assistant Director of Planning and Redevelopment, to the Honorable Pawtucket City Council. (Petition to Rezone and Amend City Comprehensive Plan for 94 Moshassuck Street (Morley Field – AP62 L291 & 309)

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor DaRosa, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

Communication from Jay Rosa, Assistant Director of Planning and Redevelopment, to the Honorable Pawtucket City Council. (Petition to Rezone and Amend City Comprehensive Plan for 94 Moshassuck Street (Morley Field – AP62 L291 & 309)

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SEWER EASEMENT WITH BLACKSTONE DISTRIBUTION CENTER LLC FOR UTILITY ACCESS AND MAINTENANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 MOSHASSUCK STREET (AP62, L295)

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO EXPAND THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY AT THE SOUTH-WEST CORNER OF THE MOSHASSUCK/MAIN STREET INTERSECTION (AP62 L337) IN ORDER TO EXECUTE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS

The following ordinance is read for the SECOND time and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

330 AN ORDINANCE REDISTRICTING THE COUNCILMANIC DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET (Plan C)

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by the entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 8:18 p.m.