Newport City Council is gearing up for its Regular Council Meeting on Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The agenda covers a lot of ground, from liquor licenses to environmental consulting services.
The Board of License Commissioners will tackle several items, including Class F Daily Liquor Licenses for events at the Newport Art Museum.
The council will look at Stone Soup, LLC’s application (doing business as Caleb & Broad) to transfer ownership of its Class BV alcoholic beverage license to Caleb Opco, LLC.
Three show cause hearings are on the docket for businesses allegedly operating without valid alcoholic beverage licenses: Radish Patch, LLC (Vieste Vino Hooked), Bloody Bull, LLC (Gardiner House), and Pyramid Club.
Special events up for approval include the Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival in May and the Newport International Boat Show in September.
The council will consider appointments to various boards and commissions, such as the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, Waterfront Commission, and Historic District Commission.
A proposed contract award to SAGE Environmental for consulting services related to Florence Gray Center renovations is also on the agenda.
The meeting will include second readings of several ordinance amendments, focusing on parking regulations and fees for permits and licenses.
The full meeting docket is available for public review below and here.
Docket for Newport City Council’s January 22 Meeting
CITY OF NEWPORT
DOCKET FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING
JANUARY 22, 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 on January 22, 2025 at 6:30 p.m., 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.
BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Class F Daily Liquor Licenses, Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Ave., d/b/a:
a. Donna Bassin Opening, January 29, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
b. Mike Franco House Talk, February 27, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
c. Keith Stokes/Note Speaker, March 13, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
LICENSES AND PERMITS
2. Application of Stone Soup, LLC, d/b/a Caleb & Broad, 162 Broadway, holder of a Class BV alcoholic beverage license to transfer ownership to Caleb Opco, LLC (Thames Capital Ventures-51%(Nicholas Schorsch)/Aquidneck Holdings, LLC-49% (Nicholas Schorsch), d/b/a Caleb & Broad, at the same premises (Hearing)
3. Action Item #6372/25 – RE: Show Cause Hearing: Radish Patch, LLC, d/b/a Vieste Vino Hooked – Operating Without a Valid Class BV Alcoholic Beverage License
4. Action Item #6373/25 – RE: Show Cause Hearing: Bloody Bull, LLC, d/b/a Gardiner House – Operating Without a Valid Class BT Alcoholic Beverage License
5. Action Item #6374/25 – RE: Show Cause Hearing: Pyramid Club, d/b/a Pyramid Club – Operating Without a Valid Class D Alcoholic Beverage License
Adjourn as Board of License Commissioners and convene as Council
1. CONSENT CALENDAR (THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS APPROVED IN ITS ENTIRETY UNLESS THE COUNCIL REMOVES AN ITEM FOR DISCUSSION. ALL LICENSES ARE GRANTED SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE WITH ORDINANCES (#31-80 AND #98-40).
a. Special Events:
1. Newport Art Museum, d/b/a Donna Bassin Opening, Newport Art Museum; January 29, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
2. Puddingstone Events, d/b/a Piano a Deux, Newport Art Museum; February 2, 2025 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
3. Clann Lir Academy, d/b/a Irish Step Competition, Newport Harbor Island Resort; February 22 & 23, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
4. Katelyn McSherry, d/b/a 2025 Newport Wedding Show, Rosecliff Mansion and Hotel Viking; February 23, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
5. Newport Art Museum, d/b/a Mike Franco House Talk, February 27, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
6. Newport Art Museum, d/b/a Keith Stokes/Note Speaker, Newport Art Museum; March 13, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
7. Bowen’s Wharf Company, d/b/a Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival, Bowen’s Wharf; May 17 & 18, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
8. Gray Matter Marketing, d/b/a BankNewport 10 Miler, Fort Adams State Park; June 1, 2025 from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
9. Yachting Promotions, Inc./Lisa Knowles, d/b/a Newport International Boat Show, locations attached; September 11-14, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday
b. 2024 Annual Reports (Receive)
c. Communication from Robert Anton, re: Resignation from the Waterfront Commission (Receive with regret)
d. Communication from John Laramee, re: Resignation from the Historic District Commission (Receive with regret)
e. Communication from Adam Moore, re: Resignation from the Planning Board and Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (Receive with regret)
f. Communication from James Dring, Chair, Newport School Committee, re: Requesting the City Council support keeping the Newport Area Career and Technical Center (Receive)
LICENSES AND PERMITS
2. Special Event License, Newport Festivals Foundation, d/b/a Newport Festival Softball, Cardines Field, July 24, 2025 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
3. Sound Variance, Newport Festivals Foundation, Cardines Field, July 24, 2025 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Hearing)
4. Pedicab Business License, Renewal, Justin Richardson, d/b/a Lone Star Bikecab (change in d/b/a), 46 Barber Ave., Warwick, RI- (2 pedicabs valid May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2027)
5. Victualing License, New, Caleb Opco, LLC, d/b/a Caleb & Broad, 162 Broadway
6. Sidewalk Café License, New, Caleb Opco, LLC, d/b/a Caleb & Broad, 162 Broadway
7. Entertainment License, New, Class A Indoors, Caleb Opco, LLC, d/b/a Caleb & Broad, 162 Broadway, daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. (Hearing)
8. Entertainment License, New, Vanderbilt Opco, LLC, d/b/a The Vanderbilt, 41 Mary St., indoors daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and outdoors limited to the terrace Thursday through Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Hearing)
9. Victualing License, Expansion, 95 Broadway, LLC, d/b/a Market on Broadway, 95 Broadway to add 4 tables with 4 chairs each
10. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Appointments:
Aquidneck Island Planning Commission
Hugo DeAscentis, 3- year term expiring 1/22/2028
Waterfront Commission
Timothy Parker Ives, 3-year term expiring 1/22/2028
Whitney “Ned” Jones, 3-year term expiring 1/22/2028
Patrick O’Connor, 3-year term expiring 1/22/2028
Historic District Commission
William Finlay –– move from Alternate to Full member, 3 -year term expiring 10/09/2027
Reappointments:
Tree and Open Space Commission
Maureen Cronin Marosits –– Request for term extension as Chair
COMMUNICATIONS
11. Memorandum from the City Solicitor RE: Newport Tourism Market District (with accompanying resolution)
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER
12. Memorandum re: Transportation for large events
13. Action Item #6356/25 – RE: Harbor Management Plan Amendment (w/accompanying resolution)- continued from January 8, 2025
14. Action Item #6375/25 – RE: Extension of Agreement – State Government Relations and Advocacy Services (w/accompanying resolution)
15. Action Item #6376/25 – RE: Contract Award, SAGE Environmental, Environmental Consulting Services for Renovations to the Florence Gray Center-Pandemic Recovery Office CPF-C (w/accompanying resolution)
ORDINANCES
16. Amending Section 2.120.010, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Fees for permits and licenses” (Second Reading)
17. Amending Section 10.24.010, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Parking prohibited at all times in designated places” (Second Reading)
18. Amending Section 10.24.050, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Two, three and four-hour parking limits” (Second Reading)
19. Amending Section 10.28.080, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Easton’s Beach parking lot” (Second Reading)
20. Amending Section 10.44.010, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Multi-way stop signs- Designated” (Second Reading)
RESOLUTIONS
21. Martin Luther King Jr. Center Liaison- C. Holder, S. Smyth, J. Napolitano, E. Pinnock
22. Requesting the city support moving the Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Memorial Statue from Broadway to Bellevue Avenue- D. Carlin, III
Laura C. Swistak, CMC
City Clerk
ADJOURN – January 15, 2025
The Council will meet at 6:20 p.m. to discuss docket items in the second-floor conference room. The public is invited to attend. City Hall meets ADA requirements. INDIVIDUALS REQUIRING AN INTERPRETER OR OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS MUST NOTIFY THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE (845-5351) OR CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE (845-5429) ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING
