The Newport City Council will take up a wide-ranging agenda Wednesday, May 13, including a proposal to purchase an automated noise enforcement trailer, dozens of summer event approvals and a show-cause hearing for a Thames Street coffee shop.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 43 Broadway. A Citizens’ Forum will open the session, with speakers limited to three minutes on a single topic of substantive city business. Comments on personnel or job performance are not permitted.
Noise enforcement and a show-cause hearing
Among the city manager’s action items is a request to purchase an automated noise enforcement trailer and equipment through the Sourcewell Mass Purchasing Agreement, a move that would give the city a new tool for monitoring noise complaints.
The council will also hold a show-cause hearing for Kaffeology, Inc., doing business as Kaffeology at 359 Thames St., over an alleged failure to meet conditions set by the council when granting the business’s victualing license.
Restaurant on Broadway
Sitting as the Board of License Commissioners, the council will consider transferring the Class BV alcoholic beverage license at 111 Broadway from Chomp Newport, LLC to SWM Hospitality NPT, LLC, owned equally by Nicole Holden and Tanner Larkin. The new ownership group is seeking victualing, sidewalk café and entertainment licenses at the same address, all under the Chomp Kitchen & Drinks name. The entertainment license requires a public hearing.
The board will also consider a liquor license transfer at 103-105 Bellevue Ave., where Robin Realty, LLC is seeking to transfer its Class BV license to 103 Bellevue Opco, LLC, ultimately owned by Bellevue Capital Partners, LLC. Nicholas Schorsch holds a 90% stake and Edward M. Weil holds 10%.
A summer of events
The consent calendar is heavy with special event approvals stretching from May through October. Highlights include:
The Newport in Bloom Plant Sale at the Elks Lodge on May 17; a Spring Smackdown at the Newport Skatepark on May 23; the Strewing of Flowers Memorial Service at Storer Park on May 25; and a Belmont Stakes Race Day Fundraiser hosted by the Friends of Belmont Chapel and Island Cemetery on June 6.
Summer concert series will fill the calendar, including the Shops at Long Wharf Summer Concert Series running weekly from late May through October, the Friends of the Waterfront Summer Concert series at the King Park Gazebo, NIMFest 2026 at King Park, and the Touro Park Summer Concert Series featuring Navy Band Northeast on June 21.
The Newport Classical Music Festival is also up for approval, with performances scheduled at The Breakers, Rosecliff, The Elms, Castle Hill Mansion & Inn, the Newport Art Museum, the King Park Gazebo and the Redwood Library and Athenaeum throughout July.
Other notable approvals include the Historic Hill Block Party on School Street on June 27, the Rhode Island Society Sons of the Revolution’s Newport Independence Day Celebration around Washington Square on July 4, the Newport Historical Society’s “French in Newport” event on July 11, and the St. Spyridon Hellenic Festival from July 17 to 19.
Grants and infrastructure
The council will consider accepting a $500,000 award from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Outdoor Recreation Grant program and a $100,000 grant from the Rhode Island Department of Health & Human Services.
Other action items include a license agreement with Bike Newport, a lease agreement for a food trailer at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, an architectural services contract for the Edward King House, a contract for Martin Recreation exterior improvements, and a Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank borrowing authorization for primary clarifiers at the wastewater treatment plant.
Communications and resolutions
A communication from Maureen Cronin, chair of the Tree and Open Space Commission, expresses support for naming and dedicating the park on John Street in honor of Newport’s fallen first responders. The communication will be received and referred to the city administration.
The council will also receive an update from Interface Studio on the Comprehensive Plan Update.
Three resolutions are on the agenda: a measure from Councilors David Carlin III and Charles Holder supporting Castle Hill Inn’s Coastal Resources Management Council application for an aquaculture farm; a resolution from Carlin and Councilor Ellen Pinnock supporting Newport Youth Basketball; and a resolution from Carlin requesting that the administration explore options for restoring the Stone Slide at Murphy Field.
The council will also vote on a second reading of an ordinance amending the city’s Classification Plan for supervisory employees represented by the N.E.A.
The full agenda is available through the City Clerk’s office.
