The Newport City Council will meet on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall to address a packed agenda featuring holiday event approvals, infrastructure investments, and traffic planning initiatives. Holiday events dominate consent calendar The council will consider permits for several seasonal celebrations as Newport prepares for the busy holiday season. […]
Newport City Council
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council to consider composting program, harbor patrol vessel contract
The Newport City Council will consider a residential curbside composting service agreement and a contract for a new harbormaster patrol vessel when it meets Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 43 Broadway. The council will vote on a service agreement with Black Earth Compost for residential curbside composting and award a contract […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council approves kite festival permit despite parking concerns, addresses traffic safety measures
The Newport City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday night to approve a permit for the Newport Kite Festival at Brenton Point State Park on July 12-13, despite strong opposition from Third Ward Councilor David Carlin over unresolved parking problems that plagued last year’s event. Carlin cited “dozens and dozens and dozens of complaints” from residents in […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to the Editor: Don’t waste $250,000 on redundant study…fund schools!
At the last City Council meeting, the Superintendent, parents, and some of my Newport School Committee colleagues, made their priorities clear—fully fund our schools and stop wasting money on duplicative studies. Hopefully, the second reading of the budget will reflect that by including the full four percent school budget request plus the additional $250,000 that […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council takes first steps in broadening smoking ban
Newport’s City Council is considering changes to widen the city’s smoking ban, adding marijuana and vaping to the list of prohibited activities in public areas. The council approved on first reading on Wednesday (May 14) amendments that would ban cannabis use and vaping in places where tobacco smoking is already not allowed. Melanie Saunders from […]
Posted inCity & Government
What’s on the Docket: Newport City Council Meeting on May 14
Newport City Council’s upcoming meeting on May 14, 2025, is packed with important items. The agenda covers liquor licenses, budget changes, and various community events. The International Tennis Hall of Fame is seeking approval for three daily liquor licenses for its summer events, including the Hall of Fame Open and Induction Weekend. A public hearing […]
Posted inCity & Government
“We Are Begging for Help,” Newport Teachers’ Union President tells Newport City Council
Jennifer Hole, president of the Teachers Association of Newport (TAN), addressed the Newport City Council on Aug. 28, expressing concerns about recent actions by the school superintendent that she claims violate the teachers’ collective bargaining agreement. Hole spoke during the council’s public forum to highlight what she described as negative impacts on teachers and students […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council approves settlement with RIDOT
The Newport City Council unanimously approved a settlement agreement with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) over a property dispute related to the bridge realignment project. Assistant City Solicitor Girard Galvin presented the settlement recommendation to the council during their Aug. 28 meeting. The agreement will provide Newport with an additional $125,000 on top […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council approves ADU ordinance with parking requirement
The Newport City Council approved a new ordinance amendment allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) with a requirement of one parking space per unit during a council meeting Wednesday night. The ordinance allows for the conversion of existing structures on properties smaller than 20,000 square feet into ADUs, as well as new construction on lots 20,000 […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport residents to vote on $98.5 million Infrastructure Bond in November
Newport City Council has approved a resolution formally identifying the project and allocations for the $98.5 million bond that will be placed on the ballot for the November 2024 General Election, aiming to fund various infrastructure projects across the city. The bond, if passed by voters, would finance improvements including seawall repairs, road upgrades, and […]
Posted inNews
Newport honors Rogers High School Baseball Team for State Championship
The Newport City Council recognized the Rogers High School varsity boys baseball team Wednesday for winning the 2024 Rhode Island Division Three State Baseball Championship, their second title in five years. Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong read a proclamation declaring June 26, 2024, as “Rogers High School Vikings Varsity Boys Baseball Day” in Newport to honor the […]
Posted inNews
Newport City Council debates school funding, adopts Strategic Plan
The Newport City Council held a contentious meeting Wednesday, grappling with funding for the Rogers High School construction project and approving a new strategic plan for the city. The council voted 5-2 to approve $3 million in additional funding for the Rogers High School project, down from an initially proposed $4 million. The funding comes […]
Posted inCity & Government
Fines imposed against Dockside for serving alcohol to 15 underage people
Acting as the city’s Board of License Commissioners, members of Newport City Council on Wednesday night voted to fine Waite’s Wharf Grille, LLC d/b/a/ The Boat Dockside $3,750 for providing alcohol to multiple persons under the legal drinking age. Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy outlined the June 7, 2024 incident in a letter to Acting […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council commits to funding up to an additional $3 million for the Rogers High School building project
Newport City Council spent most of its two-hour and fifty-minute meeting on Wednesday night discussing, amending, and eventually approving a resolution to provide more funding for the Rogers High School Building project. The resolution, which was introduced by my Councilors, Khamsyvoravong and Holder, became contentious at times between Councilors and between members of the community […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council asks City administration to provide recommendations on short-term rentals
Newport City Council unanimously approved a Wednesday night resolution asking the City administration to make recommendations on expanding its past and current work on short-term rentals to include seasonal rentals (rentals of nine months or less but for more than thirty days). Per the resolution, “the city council has effectively focused on policies directed towards […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council to hold interviews for Historic District and Waterfront Commissions
The City of Newport has announced that on February 22, 2023, the City Council will hold interviews for applicants seeking to serve on the Historic District Commission and Waterfront Commission. The interviews will take place in the 2nd Floor Conference Room of City Hall. The Council will interview three applicants, with Deanna Amorello and Frank […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council looks to Accessory Dwelling Units as one way to alleviate housing shortage
The Newport City Council, recognizing that housing is a critical issue in the city, tonight voted to direct various city agencies to develop standards by which the city can expand its housing stock by approving the development of Accessory Dwelling Units. The state legislature, in the last legislative session, enacted enabling legislation that allows cities […]
Posted inCity & Government
New Newport City Council will host its first regular meeting on Dec. 14, here’s what’s on the docket
Just two weeks after being sworn in, the new Newport City Council will host their first Regular City Council Meeting on Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will take place in the Council Chambers at Newport City Hall and is open to the public. Here’s a look at what’s on the docket; Note […]
Posted inCity & Government
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Xay Khamsyvoravong, Newport’s next Mayor
Xaykham Rexford Khamsyvoravong, “Xay” (pronounced “Sigh”) for short, joined What’sUpNewp for a one-on-one live virtual video conversation on Friday. Xay was the top vote-getter for Newport City Council At-Large in last week’s election and was chosen among Newport City Council-elect earlier this week to serve as the Chair/Mayor beginning in December. During the 40-minute conversation, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council-elect informally choose Xay to serve as Mayor, Ceglie to serve as Vice Chair
Newport’s Council-elect met on Tuesday, November 15 for the purpose of informally electing a Chair and Vice Chair for the 2022-24 Council term. The official vote for Mayor and Vice-Chair will take place following the inauguration of the new council on December 1. Council-elect present for the meeting were Angela McCalla, David Carlin, Jeanne Marie […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council’s next Regular Meeting is on July 13, here’s what’s on the docket
Newport City Council returns to the Council Chambers at Newport City Hall for their next Regular Meeting on Wednesday, July 13 at 6:30 pm. Here’s a look at what’s on the docket; CITY OF NEWPORTDOCKET OF THE COUNCIL MEETINGJULY 13, 2022 THE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS43 BROADWAY, NEWPORT, RI 02840 The […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Agenda for Newport City Council’s September 8 meeting is here
The following items of business will go before Newport City Council at their next meeting in the Council Chambers of Newport City Hall on Wednesday, September 8 at 6:30 pm. For those who can’t make it to City Hall, you can watch the meeting live, or anytime afterward, here. CITY OF NEWPORT DOCKET FOR A […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council to host meeting on March 24, here’s what’s on the agenda
Newport City Council will host their next regular council meeting on Wednesday, March 24 at 6:30 pm, here’s what’s on the agenda. CITY OF NEWPORT DOCKET FOR THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 24, 2021 THE MEETING WILL BE HELD REMOTELY IN COMPLIANCE WITH FORMER GOVERNOR RAIMONDO’S EXECUTIVE ORDER 21-10 (2) and 20-46 -1(a) “ SUCH […]
Posted inCity & Government
RECAP: Newport City Council meeting on March 10
Newport City Council hosted a regular council meeting at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, March 10. Here’s What’s Up Newp’s recap of the meeting; Note – Councilor Fuerte was not present for the meeting. PUBLIC HEARING: >>Newport City Council unanimously passed the following (6-0); Capital Improvement Program FY 2022-FY2026 – A copy is available in […]
Posted inCity & Government
Watch Live: Newport City Council meeting (March 10 at 6:30 pm)
Newport City Council will host their next regular meeting on Wednesday, March 10 at 6:30 pm. See what’s on the agenda here. The meeting will be held virtually and is open to the public. If you’d like to participate in the meeting, call 1-888-788-0099 or join by Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/91257975406 (webinar id 912 5797 5406).