by Council Staff | Oct 16, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Miguel Sanchez, Press Release
Providence, RI – In preparation for the winter season, councilors have scheduled committee meetings with City departments to ensure that Providence is fully prepared for any extreme winter weather events.
Officials from the Department of Public Works and Providence Emergency Management Agency have been asked to present to the Special Committee on Ways & Means on the third floor of City Hall at 5:30 p.m. on October 20th. Other departments will share their snow emergency preparedness plans in follow-up meetings on November 17th and December 15th.
“Providence was hit by two historic winter storms last winter, and the City was not adequately prepared to meet the challenge. Our neighbors felt the consequences,” said Ways & Means Chair Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6). “Ahead of this upcoming winter, the Council will receive a comprehensive briefing on the City’s winter weather plans to ensure every department is prepared to respond quickly and effectively when the next major snowstorm hits.”
The current agenda:
October 20th
- PEMA: Snow preparation planning; winter weather unified command
- DPW: Snow operations planning, including public right of way, staffing status, equipment, and material status
November 17th
- Public Property: Snow operations planning for municipal buildings
- Parks: Snow operations planning for parks and public right of way
- Housing and Human Services: Warming center and shelter status
December 15th
Councilors said they are looking to see before, during, and after-action plans for extreme winter weather, including items like the City’s inventory of snow removal equipment, the protection of the homeless community, parking ban enforcement and notifications, protocols for clearing sidewalks and streets in all wards, bus stop accessibility, cooperation with state agencies, and pothole and flood mitigation after heavy snowfall.
Visit the Public Meetings Portal as committee meeting agenda items are subject to change.
by Council Staff | Oct 16, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Press Release, Rachel Miller, Shelley Peterson, Sue AnderBois
Providence, RI – Today Providence City Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13) introduced an ordinance to eliminate what sponsors call a favorite, unsanctioned tool of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – automated license plate readers.
The proposed ordinance would prohibit the City from either using ALPR technology in the future or entering into contracts with companies that use similar vehicle-location technologies. Ordinance sponsors say ALPRs infringe on civil liberties, and they cannot ignore rampant reports of misuse of these technologies by agencies like ICE to surveil and harass residents without their knowledge or consent.
As reported this week in the Providence Eye, this spring, Rhode Island College students studying privacy rights reviewed audits of data collected by automated license plate readers (ALPR) on RIC’s campus and in the City of Providence. Ordinance co-sponsor Councilor Sue AnderBois (Ward 3) said their findings were disturbing.
“Flock and other license plate reader technologies are not keeping us safer. Data from Providence’s Flock cameras has been accessed millions of times — including by many organizations that do not have the required formal sharing agreements with the Providence Police Department,” said Councilor AnderBois. “This type of surveillance data is being weaponized across the country, and constant monitoring is an invasion of our civil liberties. Big corporations should not be allowed access to this type of data, and we will no longer permit monitoring people driving in and through Providence in this way.”
The ordinance was referred to committee.
Councilors also passed a resolution that will support the local economy by encouraging the City Treasurer to deposit City funds in banks that provide the best services and products whenever possible. This initial partnership will yield a higher rate on CDs exclusive to Providence residents who open or have savings accounts with the participating banks.
“We’re incentivizing local banks to invest further in our community and offering families opportunities to consider putting some dollars into an interest-bearing savings account,” said Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14). “It’s a win-win for both Providence residents and Providence businesses.”
Councilors also voted for the first time on a pedestrian safety measure that sponsors say is overdue.
The proposed ordinance would prohibit parking, stopping, or standing a vehicle within 20 feet of a marked crosswalk at an intersection and establish a $100 penalty for violations, allowing Providence parking enforcement officers to enforce crosswalk daylighting requirements through the municipal parking code.
The ordinance requires second passage before becoming law.
Finally, councilors unanimously passed a resolution honoring the Providence Grays’ historic contributions to baseball, including their 1884 championship, notable players, and Providence’s broader baseball legacy. The baseball team’s legacy and achievements will be celebrated at an upcoming plaque installation and ceremony.
The next full City Council meeting will be held on November 5, 2026.
by Council Staff | Jul 16, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Housing, Jill Davidson, Juan M. Pichardo, Juan Pichardo, Press Release, Rachel Miller
Providence, RI – At tonight’s City Council meeting, councilors passed several major ordinances before recessing for the summer. The next regular City Council meeting will convene on September 17, 2026.
The first ordinance, the Providence 8 Law Qualifications, governs how Providence grants the 8% tax treatment within the city. The 8 Law ordinance will stop the misuse of the low-income tax treatment by wealthy developers who do not substantively build the affordable housing that the state’s 8 Law was meant for. The state’s 8 Law designates the tax treatment for low-income housing, but does not give a definition of low-income, nor specify affordability levels, nor address whether it should be applied to the units themselves or the entirety of the building. This ambiguity creates space for municipalities to administer the program as they deem appropriate and beneficial.
In April 2024, the City Council passed by a 13-2 vote an 8 Law ordinance that would have applied the low-income tax treatment only to the restricted units themselves. The ordinance was then vetoed by Mayor Brett Smiley. Rather than just applying to individual units, the new version passed for the second and final time tonight sets affordability thresholds that work with other low-income housing programs. After taking into consideration feedback from affordable housing developers, the sponsors created an ordinance that will fulfill the intended purpose of the state 8 Law while aligning eligibility with the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and other affordability programs, together ensuring that the tax treatment is only used for properties with meaningful low-income housing.
“After years of work, tonight we put into law that a tax treatment intended for low-income housing must actually be used for low-income housing,” said Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13). “Wealthy developers have been taking advantage of the City’s most generous tax treatment without providing units affordable to low-income residents. Take 68 Dorrance, for example: a 44-unit market-rate building where only 9 units are income-restricted, and none are restricted for low-income households. Tonight, the Council said clearly: that is not what 8 Law is for. This ordinance protects affordable housing and city revenue by making sure luxury developers pay their fair share.”
Passage of this ordinance is considered to be a major legislative success for the majority of the City Council that has worked on 8 Law reform for the entirety of this term. Besides legislating to end the abuse of the low-income tax treatment, the City Council has pursued a judicial route to properly applying 8 Law. The Council currently has a case before the Rhode Island Supreme Court regarding Buff Chase’s firm Cornish Associates, who have a deal to receive the low-income tax treatment on10 buildings, including commercial portions, without meaningful affordability restrictions.
Councilors also passed for a second and final time an ordinance modernizing procurement procedures for the Providence Public School District (PPSD).
The ordinance, introduced by Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2), will establish a tiered procurement framework for PPSD following the district’s return to local control. Currently, purchases above $10,000 for supplies and $20,000 for construction are required to go before the Board of Contract and Supply (BOCS). Under the new system, routine purchases, which constitute the majority of procurement activity, would be handled by the schools themselves, and only multi-year, sole-source, or $500K+ contracts would be subject to City review.
“Sometimes multiple levels of review are essential to ensure good governance and financial oversight, but for most routine purchases it just isn’t a good use of taxpayer dollars or city time to have so many levels of red tape,” said Councilor Davidson. “The City is committed to setting our schools up for success this fall, and making sure they get the supplies they need in a timely fashion is a great start.”
The ordinance came via agreement between Councilor Davidson, Mayor Smiley, and School Board President Ty’Relle Stephens, announced in June.
Councilors also passed for the second and final time the BUILD Act, which will eliminate taxation during the construction period of qualifying affordable housing development, in a move that sponsors say will reduce a barrier to increasing the supply of affordable housing in Providence.
Currently, 8 Law only goes into effect upon the occupancy of rental units since the tax treatment is determined by rental income. In between the start of construction and occupancy, properties are taxed at the regular rate.
The BUILD Act will change that by providing a two-year tax stabilization period for eligible affordable development projects before tenants move in and are taxed at 8% of scheduled rental income. By removing the tax burden from the start, the BUILD Act will clear a difficult barrier to the construction of more affordable housing, especially the deeply affordable housing needed by the lowest income households.
Finally, councilors granted second and final passage to an ordinance on deed protections. The ordinance creates a de facto fraud alert system that will notify enrolled property owners whenever a document affecting their deed or title is submitted for recording.
“Protecting Providence homeowners from the devastating impact of home deed fraud has been a personal mission of mine since my time in the State Senate,” said City Council President Pro Tempore and lead ordinance sponsor Juan M. Pichardo (Ward 9). “This ordinance establishes a crucial line of defense, ensuring homeowners are no longer left in the dark about unauthorized changes to their property records that could impact their most important lifetime asset. We are delivering peace of mind and proactive security directly to our neighborhoods.”
In June 2026, Governor Dan McKee signed House Bill 7551aa and Senate Bill 2715A into law, establishing real estate title fraud as a criminal offence and allowing municipalities to refuse to record suspicious documents from unauthorized submitters. Providence’s ordinance will become effective a year ahead of the state law.
The ordinances will now be transmitted to Mayor Smiley for his signature.
by Council Staff | Jul 2, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Housing, Jill Davidson, Miguel Sanchez, Press Release, Shelley Peterson
Providence, RI – At tonight’s city council meeting, councilors unanimously passed juvenile hearing board reforms that will fundamentally transform how the justice system treats young people by creating a clearer, fairer path to diversion for Providence youth.
The Juvenile Hearing Board (JHB), Providence’s community-based alternative to Family Court for eligible young people, connects youth with accountability, support services, and non-carceral responses to non-violent crimes. Instead of pushing children unnecessarily into the traditional court system, the JHB provides real opportunities to make amends, learn from mistakes, and move forward.
“Tonight’s vote answered a fundamental question for city government: what do we owe our children?” said Councilor Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6). “We owe them fairness, opportunity, consistency, forgiveness, and help. Every young person deserves a real chance to get on the right path—not to be pushed unnecessarily into the endless cycle known as the school-to-prison pipeline. The Juvenile Hearing Board can change a kid’s life, and under this ordinance, so many more Providence youth will have access to that chance, regardless of timing, luck, or which officer happens to be on duty.”
Under the current system, when an eligible young person is arrested, referral to the Juvenile Hearing Board is entirely at the discretion of the detective on duty. Over the course of three years, officers only referred 108 of the 508 young people eligible for the JHB to the Board. Additionally, not a single referral occurred during the evening shift, suggesting a child’s access to diversion was based not on the nature of their actions, but on circumstantial factors outside the child’s control. The new reforms will ensure fuller and more appropriate use of the JHB by making referrals automatic for eligible youth arrested for most first or second nonviolent offenses.
“Investment in schools, renovation of our parks, and reform of the Juvenile Hearing Board are all a part of the same system that wants to give our kids happy, healthy, safe childhoods while also setting them up for successful adulthoods,” said Luisa Sarante, the Juvenile Hearing Board Coordinator. “The JHB is there to make sure that setbacks don’t result in ruined childhoods or adulthoods that fail before they’ve even begun. These reforms mean more second chances, more opportunities to grow and learn from mistakes, and a more compassionate and socially responsible Providence.”
The ordinance will now be transmitted to Mayor Brett Smiley for his signature and will go into effect in 90 days.
Councilors also considered for the first time both an ordinance that would reduce exploitation of 8 Law in Providence and an ordinance that would remove a cost barrier to affordable housing development and construction in Providence.
The first ordinance, the Providence 8 Law Qualifications, establishes local rules for how Providence grants the 8% tax treatment within the city. According to sponsors, the 8 Law ordinance would end misuse of a low-income tax treatment by wealthy developers, who often use it for market rate or luxury properties.
In April 2024, the City Council passed by a 13-2 vote an 8 Law ordinance that would have applied the low-income tax treatment only to the restricted units themselves. The ordinance was then vetoed by Mayor Brett Smiley. Rather than just applying to individual units, the new version considered tonight sets affordability thresholds that work with other low-income housing programs. Working closely with affordable housing developers, the sponsors put forth an ordinance that aligns eligibility with the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and other affordability programs, while ensuring that tax treatment is only used for properties with meaningful low-income housing.
Councilors also considered the BUILD Act, which would eliminate taxation during the construction period of affordable housing development, in a move that sponsors say will reduce a barrier to increasing the supply of affordable housing in Providence.
Currently, 8 Law only goes into effect upon the occupancy of rental units since the tax treatment is determined by rental income. In between the start of construction and occupancy, properties are taxed at the regular rate.
The BUILD Act will change that by providing a two-year tax stabilization period for eligible affordable development projects before tenants move in and are taxed at 8% of scheduled rental income. By removing the tax burden from the start, the BUILD Act would clear a difficult barrier to the construction of more affordable housing, especially the deeply affordable housing needed by the lowest income households.
Both the 8 Law ordinance and the BUILD Act require a second passage before becoming law.
Last week, the Working Group on Providence City Council’s Role in PPSD Governance concluded its work with an agreement among city leaders to advance an ordinance modernizing procurement procedures for the Providence Public School District (PPSD).
The ordinance, which Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2) introduced at tonight’s meeting, would establish a tiered procurement framework for PPSD following the district’s return to local control. Currently, purchases above $10,000 for supplies and $20,000 for construction are required to go before the Board of Contract and Supply (BOCS). Under the new system, routine purchases, which constitute the vast majority of procurement activity, would be handled by the schools themselves, and only multi-year, sole-source, or $500K+ contracts would be subject to City review.
Councilors voted in favor of the ordinance for the first time this evening. Per Sec. 1007 (c) of the Providence Home Rule Charter, this ordinance requires a two-thirds vote to become law. A public hearing will be held on the proposal on July 13th at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber before it returns to the full City Council for a final vote.
Finally, councilors passed a resolution to change the name of the street that is home to Rhode Island’s School for the Deaf from Corliss Park to Jeanie Lippitt Circle. The request for the name change, which honors Lippitt’s role in inspiring advocacy for Deaf and hard-of-hearing education, came from students at the school, whose thorough research and presentation to Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14) and other local leaders led to the name change.
“I’m so proud of these students,” said Councilwoman Peterson. “They recognized a problem – that their school’s address was too often confused with nearby Corliss Park – and came up with a solution that was both practical and meaningful.”
The next regular City Council meeting will convene on July 16, 2026.
by Council Staff | Jun 24, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Jill Davidson, Press Release
Proposed ordinance would help schools get what they need faster while preserving oversight for major contracts
Providence, RI – The Working Group on Providence City Council’s Role in PPSD Governance has concluded its work with an agreement among Working Group Chair Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2), Mayor Brett P. Smiley, and Providence School Board President Ty’Relle Stephens to advance an ordinance modernizing procurement procedures for the Providence Public School District (PPSD).
The ordinance, which Councilor Davidson intends to introduce at the July 2nd City Council meeting, would establish a tiered procurement framework for PPSD following the district’s return to local control. It directly addresses a problem identified in the 2019 Johns Hopkins review: a duplicative procurement process that often slowed the district’s ability to secure the materials, services, and supports students and educators need.
Currently, purchases above $10,000 for supplies and $20,000 for construction are required to go before the Board of Contract and Supply (BOCS). Under the agreement, routine school purchases would move through a faster school-side approval process, while BOCS review would remain required for multi-year contracts, sole-source contracts, and contracts of $500,000 or more. The new framework is designed to help schools obtain what they need more efficiently while preserving City oversight for contracts with significant fiscal exposure.
“Returning Providence schools to local control can’t mean returning to the same systems that weren’t working,” said Councilor Davidson. “This agreement gives us a clear path forward: routine school purchases can move faster, major contracts will still receive appropriate City oversight, and competitive bidding requirements remain fully intact. I am grateful to the School Board, Mayor’s Office, PPSD, RIDE, and every member of the working group for helping us land on a practical solution that protects students, schools, and taxpayers as we build on our strengths to ensure that the Providence Public Schools serve each and every student as effectively as possible.”
“Since taking office, my administration has been working to ensure that procurement is easier and more efficient in preparation for return to local management of the Providence School District,” said Mayor Smiley. “The framework we have developed alongside our partners at the School Board and City Council makes this process more seamless and ensures our students, educators, and faculty will more easily and more quickly have access to the tools and resources they need.”
“Local control has to come with systems that work for our schools and, most importantly, for our students,” said President Stephens. “This agreement recognizes PPSD’s responsibility to govern its own procurement while maintaining appropriate oversight and accountability. This is a practical agreement that reflects local leaders coming together, putting students first, and doing what is right. Most importantly, it will help ensure that our students and educators get what they need to succeed without unnecessary delays.”
The working group was established to examine the City Council’s responsibilities as PPSD returns from state control to local governance. Members quickly identified procurement as the central issue requiring immediate reform, with procurement delays and duplicative review processes identified prior to state intervention as barriers to effective district operations.
Under the proposed framework, the City would separate two questions that are currently treated as one: whether a procurement must go through a competitive bidding process, and whether that procurement requires review by BOCS.
Competitive procurement requirements would remain unchanged. Purchases above the applicable threshold would still be required to follow state and local procurement laws. The ordinance would instead change the review and approval pathway for school procurements, allowing routine purchases to proceed through a faster school-side process while reserving BOCS review for contracts with greater financial significance.
Fiscal Year 2025 procurement data reviewed by the working group demonstrated the impact of this approach. PPSD executed 459 procurements valued at more than $10,000, including 220 in July alone, as schools prepared for the start of the academic year. Under the new proposed framework, only 19 contracts would have been referred to BOCS.
The working group’s final report recommends adoption of the ordinance as a practical and durable step toward a smoother return to local control. The framework preserves transparency, competitive procurement, and fiscal safeguards while reducing duplicative review for routine school purchases.
The proposed ordinance is expected to be introduced at the July 2nd meeting of the Providence City Council. Per the Providence Home Rule Charter, the ordinance will require a public hearing and a two-thirds vote of the City Council and would apply to school department contracts only.
