The City Council meets Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, with second readings on a package of bicycle and traffic ordinances and two pieces of resident opposition landing on the consent calendar.
The ordinance package covers amendments to the city’s bicycle chapter along with definitions, traffic signal rules, flashing signals and parking prohibitions. Police Chief Ryan Duffy has submitted an amendment to the bicycle equipment section, responding to public comment at the first reading that urged requiring bicycle lights during daylight. Duffy’s version would extend the existing nighttime lighting requirement to cover limited visibility conditions, and would recommend rather than require front and rear lights in daylight. He wrote that a daytime mandate would raise questions of equipment access, would be difficult to apply to the many visitors riding in Newport, and would strain enforcement capacity.
The Castle Hill Neighborhood Association has written to oppose the stormwater rate structure the city is considering — the proposal, aired at a public workshop on Sept. 17, would shift stormwater costs off the sewer rate and charge properties based on paved area. Separately, residents Jairo Moura and Patricia Stuckert have asked the city to reconsider plans to build a harbormaster building at Perrotti Park.
Also on the consent calendar: two resignations from the Standing Charter Review Commission, from Jane LeBoeuf and Elise McCaffrey; a request from the Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission to form a district alliance among the city, Island Cemetery and St. Mary’s Cemetery; the city’s hazard mitigation progress report; a request to light City Hall teal for OCD Awareness Week Oct. 11-17; and a change to the rain date for the Cardines Classic, moving it from Oct. 9 to Oct. 6.
City staff is asking for authorization to pursue grants and philanthropic funding to replace the Newport Fire Department’s training structure.
The council will take a second hearing on an annual indoor entertainment license for the Tavern on Broadway, and will consider a victualing license and liquor license transfer for El Tapatio Newport at 140-142 Broadway, the former Pivotal Brewing space.
Special event permits on the calendar include the Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Luncheon at the Breakers stable, the Newport Public Education Foundation’s An Evening for Education at Innovate Newport, a sickle cell awareness event at the Edward King House, IYRS’s holiday party and artisan fair, and a Newport String Project concert at the Newport Art Museum.
Supporting documents are at clerkshq.com/newport-ri.
