The Newport City Council will consider five resolutions at its upcoming meeting on March 26. The resolutions address issues ranging from youth civic engagement to transportation challenges and historic preservation.
The meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Newport City Hall, includes resolutions that could significantly impact the city’s governance structure, transportation network, and historic assets.
Among the most notable proposals is the establishment of a Youth Commission, which would create formal opportunities for young residents to participate in local government.
The resolution, sponsored by six council members, including Mayor Charles Holder, aims to “engage, educate, and empower the youth of our city by providing them with opportunities to learn about local government, participate in civic processes, and contribute to the development of youth-focused initiatives.”
If approved, the commission will include five Newport residents from grades 8 through 12, along with two adult advisors. Members would serve one-year terms and meet at least monthly.
The commission would create bylaws, submit annual reports to the council, and participate in a mentoring program pairing students with council members. Upon completion of service, members would receive certification recognizing their participation.
Another significant resolution addresses traffic congestion by focusing on the newly constructed park and ride lot created as part of the Pell Bridge ramp realignment project.
The resolution notes that while the 200-space lot and accompanying multimodal path are “functionally complete,” they have not been officially opened to the public. With Newport’s peak tourist season approaching, the council seeks to leverage this infrastructure to reduce downtown congestion.
The resolution requests that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) officially open the lot and that the city manager work with state agencies to promote its use through signage and communications.
It also asks the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) to modify bus and trolley routes to include stops at the lot, particularly RIPTA Trolley Route 68, which currently bypasses the area.
The council will also consider a resolution supporting Senate Bill S0678, the Parking Services Taxation Act, which would authorize municipalities to implement a tax of up to 7% on parking services.
Sponsored by Senators Bissaillon and Mack, the bill would allow cities and towns to pass ordinances taxing parking services, with revenue exempt from calculations of a municipality’s maximum levy increase.
The resolution, introduced by Councilor Holder, notes that “there are many privately owned parking lots throughout the City of Newport, and the possibility of a parking lot tax could have such a positive impact on increasing revenues.”
Historic preservation is addressed in another resolution supporting increased state funding for Fort Adams, described as “a national historic landmark and an iconic cultural and recreational asset within the City of Newport and the State of Rhode Island.”
The resolution states that “state funding for Fort Adams has not kept pace with the needs of this historically significant site,” limiting preservation projects, public access, and educational initiatives.
If approved, the city clerk would forward copies to the governor, General Assembly members, the Department of Environmental Management, and the Fort Adams Trust.
The final resolution would establish a Standing Charter Commission to regularly review Newport’s City Charter. Unlike the mandated Charter Review Commission that operates no more than every 10 years, this standing commission would provide ongoing oversight.
The resolution, sponsored by Councilors Stephanie Smyth and Ellen Pinnock, notes that “the most substantive changes to the charter occurred in 1953” and that “issues, questions, and concerns have arisen from time to time” necessitating more regular review.
The proposed commission would consist of seven appointed citizens serving staggered terms, with the city solicitor potentially serving in an advisory capacity. It would hold at least three public hearings annually and provide yearly findings and recommendations to the council.
The March 26 meeting agenda also includes numerous license applications, ordinance amendments, and communications from city officials. The council will meet at 6:20 p.m. in the second-floor conference room to discuss docket items before the public meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
