Newport City Council’s upcoming meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26, covers a wide range of topics from liquor licenses to short-term rental rules.
The council meets at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers to tackle several important issues.
A show cause hearing for the Pyramid Club, which has been operating without a valid Class D liquor license, is at the top of the agenda. This item was pushed back from the Jan. 22 meeting.
They’ll also look at a new food service license for Get the Scoop, LLC, at 489 Thames St., and renew several mobile food licenses for carts and trucks.
Short-term rentals, also called transient guest facilities, are up for discussion as the council reviews a proposed change to the ordinance.
The agenda includes approving a new contract with the International Association of Firefighters, Local 1080, running from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027.
The council will consider extending the work of the Ad Hoc Property Bridge Realignment Commission and take another look at the speed camera on Ruggles Avenue.
They’ll also discuss a resolution supporting the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns 2025 Legislative Priorities.
The meeting kicks off with a Citizens’ Forum, giving residents a chance to speak to the council about city matters for up to three minutes each, with the forum lasting 15 minutes total.
Here’s a look at the docket in its entirety;
CITY OF NEWPORT
DOCKET FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING
FEBRUARY 26, 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 February 26, 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 License, Rhode Island Brewers Guild, d/b/a Newport Beer Festival, Fort Adams State Park; April 19, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2. Communication from Chad Hoffer and Tyler Burnley, re: Notification of change of d/b/a for Pickled and Cured, Inc. holder of a Class BV alcoholic beverage license, 505-509 Thames St., from Chanterelle Restaurant and Thames Street Kitchen to Audette and Thames Street Kitchen (Receive and make part of licensee’s file)
LICENSES AND PERMITS
3. Action Item #6374/25 – RE: Show Cause Hearing: Pyramid Club, d/b/a Pyramid Club – Operating Without a Valid Class D Alcoholic Beverage License (Continued from January 22, 2025)
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. Minutes of the Council Workshops held January 29, 2025 and February 6, 2025 (Approve)
b. Special Events:
1. Puddingstone Events, d/b/a Tres Doux, Belmont Chapel; March 9, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2. Rhode Island Brewers Guild, d/b/a Newport Beer Festival, Fort Adams State Park; April 19, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
3. Newport/Fall River Star Kids Scholarship Program, d/b/a Star Kids Annual Fundraiser, Ochre Court; May 10, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
4. Matthew Gray, Gray Matter Marketing, d/b/a Amica Newport Marathon and Half-Marathon, Easton’s Beach (route attached); October 12, 2025 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
5. Matthew Gray, Gray Matter Marketing, d/b/a Newport Beer Run, Fort Adams State Park; July 19, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
c. Banner License, Elise Felker, d/b/a Newport Classical (Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport), to hang a banner between the Red Parrot Restaurant and Midtown Oyster Bar from July 1, 2025 through July 22, 2025 advertising Newport Classical
d. Communication from Federico Santi, Chair, re: Withdrawal of Vanderbilt Memorial statue resolution (Receive)
e. FY2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program (Receive and order advertised for public hearing March 12, 2025) https://www.cityofnewport.com/FinanceReports
LICENSES AND PERMITS
2. Victualing License, New, Get the Scoop, LLC, d/b/a Get the Scoop, 489 Thames St.
3. Mobile Food License Cart, Renewals:
a. Newport Lobster Shack Group Cooperative, d/b/a The Newport Lobster Shack, 150 Long Wharf
b. WW Newport, LLC, d/b/a Wally’s Hot Dog Cart, 252 Oliphant Lane, Middletown, RI
4. Mobile Food License Truck, Renewals:
a. Cluck Truck, LLC, d/b/a Cluck Truck, 256 Maple Ave., Newport, RI
b. 1899, LLC, d/b/a La Costa Lobster & Tacos, 186 Bellevue Ave.
c. Wiener Wagon, LLC, d/b/a Wiener Wagon, 250 West Main Rd., Middletown, RI
d. Amano, LLC, d/b/a A Mano Pizza & Gelato, 181 Bellevue Ave., #315
5. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Appointments:
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission– Council Liaison- Ellen Pinnock
Tree and Open Space Commission – Tanya Kelly– three year term, expires 2-26-2028
Reappointments:
Tree and Open Space Commission– Stephanie Szneke three-year term, expires 3/27/2027
Henderson Home for Aged Men Commission – William Serth- one year term, expires 2/26/2026
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER
6. Action Item #6386/25 – RE Show Cause Hearing – Harvest Inc., d/b/a Harvest, Inc., 7 Carroll Avenue – Violation of the General Laws of Rhode Island and Codified Ordinances of the City of Newport – Failure to Meet the Conditions of the City Council in Granting of Victualing License (Continued to February 26, 2025)
7. Action Item #6387/25 – RE: Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Newport and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 1080, for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027 (w/accompanying resolution)
8. Action Item #6388/25 – RE: Ordinance Amendment – Short Term Rentals a/k/a Transient Guest Facilities (w/accompanying ordinance)
ORDINANCES
9. Amending Chapter 2.120 of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “General Fee Schedule” (Second Reading)
10. Amending Chapter 10.32.110 of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Designated residential parking streets” (Second Reading)
RESOLUTIONS
11. Requesting to extend the Ad Hoc Property Bridge Realignment Commissions work from June 30, 2025 to September 30, 2025 – C. Holder, X. Khamsyvoravong, E. Pinnock, J. Napolitano
12. Requesting to reconsider the speed camera on Ruggles Avenue- C. Holder, L. Ceglie, J. Napolitano
13. Supporting the R. I. League of Cities and Towns 2025 Legislative Priorities- X. Khamsyvoravong, C. Holder, L. Ceglie, J. Napolitano, S. Smyth
14. Easton’s Pond – Station 1 – X. Khamsyvoravong, D. Carlin, J. Napolitano, L. Ceglie, E. Pinnock
Laura C. Swistak, CMC
City Clerk
ADJOURN – February 19, 2025