by Billy Kepner | Dec 9, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-6
Today the Providence Police Department announced the outcome of Operation “Bussed Out” which was a four-month-long investigation into drug trafficking in Kennedy Plaza. I was proud to stand with our hard-working Police Officers and their Commanders who worked diligently to make this operation a success. But let it be known, that this is not just a Kennedy Plaza issue, this is a city-wide issue and those wishing to traffic in illegal substances should be on notice that this won’t be tolerated in Kennedy Plaza or anywhere else in our great City. I commend the hard-working men and women of the Providence Police Department’s Narcotics Bureau for their dedication and determination.
Michael Correia, President Pro Tempore
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 6
by Billy Kepner | Dec 6, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-15, Ward-4, Ward-6
This TSA is one of the first that will generate a guaranteed funding source for the City’s Affordable Housing Trust
At last night’s City Council meeting a majority of the council voted in favor of granting the developer of the property located at 203 Westminster Street a 20-year Tax Stabilization Agreement (TSA) which will be the first since the Council passed the Affordable Housing Trust Fund – that requires the City’s Tax Assessor to deposit 10% of their annual tax contributions to the fund.
The Affordable Housing Trust Fund was passed in July of 2019, and requires 10% of TSAs tax payments to go directly to a fund to help support affordable housing projects across the City. This TSA, by end of its terms, will have generated at least $500K for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund based on estimates provided by the Tax Assessor’s office.
Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) stated, “Our City is bustling with new hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Our skyline is rapidly changing. However, some of our most precious historic buildings need a little extra help to get them back online. This building, located directly across the street from City Hall, sticks out as a sore reminder that opportunities to redevelop our most endangered buildings don’t come around often. While there is definitely room for discussion regarding the role and scope of TSA’s, this development meets a specific criteria for me: the condition of the building necessitates it, it would help save one our most storied buildings, and it’d be making a significant contribution towards affordable housing efforts across our city over the course of the agreement.”
The developer of the property located at 203 Westminster Street and the adjacent property, formerly the Providence Journal Building and the former Kresge Department Store, will be turned into a hotel that would create 233 full-time construction jobs, and 154 full-time jobs after the building is completed. The property owner is currently paying over $136K in property taxes per year and by the end of the TSA they will be paying over $516K in property tax per year. Over the twenty years of the agreement, the development will have contributed an additional $3.6 million in tax revenue. This is in addition to sales tax, hotel occupancy tax, and income taxes that will be realized by the completion of this project.
“I have been on record that I am not in favor of 20-year TSAs,” stated City Council Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11). “I pushed to have the Council pass an ordinance that codified monies from our TSAs be directed to support our neighborhoods, and those that needed the support the most. When I see people without roofs over their heads, or living in fear of losing their home, or can’t afford to fix their homes because they are on a fixed income – how can I in good conscience support such projects? By adding this funding source for affordable housing, it begins to chip away at the hard work that we must accomplish to make equity a reality. This project will deposit an estimated $500K into a fund that will have a direct impact on our community’s and that is why I am standing in support of this project. This will have a direct impact on the residents we represent, and that is worthwhile.”
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4) stated, “I have always stood on the side of Unions, and I still do. That said we must look at the bigger picture of economic development for our city and the funding that this project will provide for our Affordable Housing Trust which will have a direct impact on the most vulnerable members of our community. These buildings have stood abandoned and vacant for years. We have a developer that is willing to make a sizeable investment in our City and I believe that we need to support progress, not stand in opposition of it.”
The developers proposed TSA was continued indefinitely by the Committee on Finance, but with a majority of the Council’s support it was discharged from Committee and sent to the full Council for a vote.
“I look at the old ProJo building every day from my office and see its potential,” stated City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6). “I believe in order for our City to continue the trajectory we are on we must embrace development, but with an eye on the greater good. We have multiple buildings in our city center that have been abandoned and are rapidly deteriorating and it is creating a negative narrative about our downtown. After so many of us have worked so hard to redevelop this district to become an economic engine and a great place to shop, eat, and live for our residents and visitors alike.”
Through the TSA the developer is also required to use 10% of the construction cost on women and minority owned businesses; they are required to make a good faith effort buy construction materials from Providence based businesses; they must develop a First Source Agreement with the Director of First Source Providence; 100% of hours worked on the project will be performed by trade construction subcontractors who have or are affiliated with an apprenticeship program; and over the term of the TSA will deposit nearly $138K into the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund that goes to support the City’s parks, pools, waterparks, and recreation centers.
by Billy Kepner | Dec 5, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15
La Presidenta del Consejo Municipal, Sabina Matos (Distrito 15) ha anunciado hoy que va a publicar varias leyes sobre establecimientos y entretenimiento nocturno.
“Hace dos meses, pedí a los miembros de mi equipo de postura políticas que se reunieran con representantes de la Junta de Licencias, la Oficina del Procurador, el Departamento de Planificación, el Departamento de Policía, y líderes de la comunidad nocturna para ayudar a producir un conjunto completo de estrategias para preservar la seguridad pública y el disfrute de los negocios nocturnos de nuestra ciudad,’ declaró la Presidenta del Consejo Municipal, Sabina Matos. “Cada verano, leemos los titulares sobre actos de violencia relacionados con clubes nocturnos que cobran la vida de los jóvenes y perturban la paz de los barrios en los que hacen negocios. Después de una evaluación exhaustiva de lo que se está haciendo y lo que no se está haciendo por la ciudad en nuestra regulación de los establecimientos de la vida nocturna, Estoy proponiendo un amplio conjunto de ordenanzas y resoluciones que establecerán nuevas y claras expectativas para los establecimientos nocturnos, frenarán la violencia y promoverán la tranquilidad en los vecindarios donde duermen nuestros niños.”
La primera ordenanza propuesta es la que prohíbe la emisión de nuevas licencias de licores a las 2:00 AM en las zonas C-1, C-2 y C-3. Estas zonas específicas son corredores comerciales que corren adyacentes a los barrios residenciales (Atwells Avenue, Broad Street, Chalkstone Avenue, etc.) Esto logrará varias cosas:
- Evitará que los nuevos establecimientos de vida nocturna de las 2 AM se instalen al lado de los barrios predominantemente residenciales.
- Estimulará la concentración de 2 AM establecimientos de vida nocturna en el centro de la ciudad y otros lugares principalmente no residenciales, creando un destino local que también es más fácil de vigilar y mantener seguro.
- Cualquier nuevo establecimiento nocturno de 1 AM en las zonas C permitiría a los clientes la oportunidad de visitar cerca de 2 AM establecimientos de alimentos; apoyar a estas empresas de alimentos y permitir a los clientes una oportunidad de sobriedad. Actualmente, las empresas como los camiones de alimentos cierran al mismo tiempo que los clientes salen.
- Cualquier nuevo establecimiento de la 1 AM de vida nocturna en las zonas C se producirá antes de sus contrapartes 2 AM, efectivamente asombroso cuando los clientes salen de clubes nocturnos y bares. Esto disuade el éxodo masivo y las multitudes masivas que a menudo conducen a enfrentamientos.
La segunda ordenanza propuesta exigirá que las empresas de la clase B tengan vigilancia por vídeo tanto en interiores como en exteriores en las entradas y salidas. Las personas se comportan de manera diferente cuando están siendo monitorizadas. A menudo, las cámaras evitan la mayoría de los incidentes de violencia antes de que comiencen. Esta medida también ayudará a los funcionarios de seguridad pública en sus investigaciones de los delitos. Los testigos pueden ser poco cooperativos cuando han consumido demasiado alcohol. La videovigilancia es una pieza importante que falta en nuestro enfoque de seguridad pública de la vida nocturna.
La tercera ordenanza creará un calendario codificado de sanciones para los infractores, y definirá con mayor precisión lo que es un “club nocturno”, sobre la base de la definición de la Ordenanza de zonificación. Actualmente no existe una clara definición codificada de lo que es una discoteca, y varios establecimientos crean un ambiente de discoteca sin respetar las reglas que impone la licencia N. De esta manera se garantizará que las empresas y los gestores dispongan de claridad y previsibilidad en su funcionamiento, y cuando se produzcan infracciones, lo que esperan ver en relación con las multa
Las cinco violaciones que se codifican punitivamente en la tercera ordenanza son las siguientes:
- Entretenimiento sin licencia
- Servicio de botellas prohibidas
- Cumplimiento de las horas de funcionamiento y servicio de bar
- Consumo de alcohol y ventas de menores
- Fumar en lugares públicos
Estas multas codificadas también le proporcionarán al Departamento de Estado de Reglamentos de Negocios (DBR) una orientación progresiva para referirse a sí y cuando una empresa de Providence busca apelar.
Además de estas ordenanzas, la Presidenta Matos está presentando una serie de resoluciones relativas a cambios administrativos en la Junta de Licencias.
Resoluciones de Enmienda de la Ciudad
- La primera resolución requeriría que cualquier solicitud de licencia Clase-B sea aprobada por zonificación antes de que su aplicación sea finalizada. Esto es importante porque en el proceso actual, un solicitante puede terminar su solicitud y más tarde descubrir que están prohibidos por la zonificación para operar en ese corredor.
- La segunda y última resolución consistirá dar a los funcionarios encargados de la concesión de licencias y de la zonificación un entrenamiento en una plataforma universal que recoja las licencias de un establecimiento determinado, sus usos permitidos de zonificación, violaciones pasadas, y está disponible para los oficiales encargados de la zonificación en una aplicación que se descarga fácilmente a los dispositivos móviles.
La Presidenta Matos continuó, “Quiero agradecer al Presidente de la Junta de Licencias, Dylan Conley, Heather Kilkenny la Administradora de la Junta de Licencias, los miembros de la Junta, Mario Martone, Esq. de la Oficina del Procurador, Robert Azar del Departamento de Planificación, el sargento David Tejada del Departamento de Policía de Providence y todos los dueños de negocios nocturnos – especialmente Anthony Santurri – que ofreció su apoyo, orientación y perspectiva sobre cómo podemos apoyar la propiedad responsable de los establecimientos de la vida nocturna al tiempo que se promueve
Las ordenanzas y resoluciones se remitirán al comité donde se examinarán y permitirán que el público formule observaciones y discursos.
by Billy Kepner | Dec 3, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15
City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) announced today that she will be issuing several pieces of legislation around nightlife entertainment and establishments.
“Two months ago, I asked members of my policy team to convene with representatives from the Board of Licenses, the Solicitor’s office, the Department of Planning, the Police Department, and leaders from the nightlife community to help produce a comprehensive set of strategies to preserve public safety and the enjoyment of our City’s nighttime businesses,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “Every summer, we read the headlines about nightclub-related acts of violence claiming young people’s lives and disrupting the peace of the neighborhoods they do business in. After a thorough assessment of what is and isn’t being done by the city in our regulation of nightlife establishments, I am proposing a comprehensive set of ordinances and resolutions that will set new and clear expectations for nightlife establishments, curb violence, and promote tranquility in the neighborhoods our children sleep in.”
The first proposed ordinance is one that prohibits the issuance of any new 2:00 AM liquor licenses in C-1, C-2, and C-3 zones. These specific zones are commercial corridors that run adjacent to residential neighborhoods (Atwells Avenue, Broad Street, Chalkstone Avenue, etc.) This will accomplish several things:
- It will stop new 2 AM nightlife establishments from setting up shop next door to predominantly residential neighborhoods.
- It will spur the concentration of 2 AM nightlife establishments in downtown and other primarily non-residential locations, creating a local destination which is also easier to police and keep safe.
- Any new 1 AM nightlife establishments in C zones would allow patrons the opportunity to visit nearby 2 AM food establishments; supporting these food businesses and allowing patrons an opportunity to sober up. Currently, businesses like food trucks close at the same time patrons are let out.
- Any new 1 AM nightlife establishments in C zones will let out sooner than their 2 AM counterparts, effectively staggering when patrons exit night clubs and bars. This dissuades the mass exodus and massive crowds which often lead to confrontations.
The second proposed ordinance will require B-Class businesses to have video surveillance both indoors and outdoors at entrances and exits. People behave differently when they are being monitored. Often times, cameras preempt most incidents of violence before they begin. This measure will also help public safety officials in their investigations of crimes. Witnesses can be uncooperative when they’ve consumed too much alcohol. Video surveillance is an important missing piece in our nightlife public safety approach.
The third ordinance will create a codified schedule of penalties for violators, and will further define what a “nightclub” is, based upon the definition in the Zoning Ordinance. Currently, there is no clear codified definition of what a nightclub is, and several establishments create a nightclub environment without abiding by the rules that the N-license imposes. This will ensure that businesses and managers are provided clarity and predictability in how they operate, and when violations occur what they will expect to see regarding fines.
The five violations that are punitively codified in the third ordinance are as follows:
- Entertainment without a license
- Prohibited bottle service
- Enforcement of operating hours and bar service
- Underage drinking and sales
- Smoking in public places
These codified fines will also provide the State’s Department of Business Regulations (DBR) a progressive guideline to refer to if and when a Providence business seeks to appeal.
In addition to these ordinances, President Matos is introducing a series of resolutions regarding administrative changes at the Board of Licenses.
City Amendment Resolutions
- The first resolution would require that any Class-B license application be cleared by zoning before their application is finalized. This is important because in the current process, an applicant can finish their application and later find out they are prohibited by zoning to operate in that corridor.
- The second and final resolution will be to give licensing officers and zoning enforcement cross-training on a universal platform that collects a given establishment’s licenses, its permitted zoning uses, past violations, and is available to officers and enforcement on an app that is easily downloaded to mobile devices.
President Matos continued, “I want to thank the Board of Licenses Chairman, Dylan Conley, Heather Kilkenny the Administrator of the Board of Licenses, the Board members, Mario Martone, Esq. from the Solicitor’s office, Robert Azar from the Planning Department, Sergeant David Tejada of the Providence Police Department and all the nightlife business owners – especially Anthony Santurri – that offered their support, guidance, and insight on how we can support responsible ownership of nightlife establishments while also promoting public safety. I believe that these measures establish a new tone moving forward and will also change the negative narrative given to the nightlife culture in our city.”
The ordinances and resolutions will be referred to committee where they will be vetted and allow for public comment and discourse.
by Billy Kepner | Nov 25, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
With the help of the City’s Internal Auditor, Councilman Salvatore discovered that a change to the Code of Ordinances in 2011 was never implemented by the Department of Public Works
Councilman David A. Salvatore (Ward 14) announced that the results of an audit he requested have revealed almost $31,000 in erroneous overcharges to city residents.
In October, Salvatore introduced an amendment to the Code of Ordinances that would help homeowners and tenants be better informed about their responsibilities when it comes to waste and recycle barrel offenses. Concurrently, he requested that the City’s Internal Auditor perform an audit on all fines issued during the period of July 28, 2011 through September 17, 2019.
“I was very surprised to discover such a significant number of erroneous fines imposed on city residents,” stated Councilman David A. Salvatore. “I want to thank the City’s Internal Auditor for her help and hard work on this project. These fines do add up for a homeowner struggling to make ends meet. An unexpected $50 fine is a big expense for some households, and it is not acceptable for the City to charge folks fines that are inaccurate.”
The report compiled by the Internal Auditor can be read on the City Council Website. During the time frame of the audit, 940 violations are eligible for a refund totaling $30,625.00. The report outlines the background and recommendations to the Department of Public Works (DPW), as well as DPW’s responses.
In summary, the Internal Auditor has made the following recommendations to DPW:
- Comply with the City Ordinances.
- Create a separate violation code for late removal of trash receptacles on violation tickets issued to residents.
- Create a database of tickets from issuance to final outcome.
- Create policies and procedures for issuance to final outcome.
- Create routes to physically monitor each neighborhood the day before and after garbage pickup.
- Review each violation to confirm that coding and dates are correct.
- Upon completion, reimburse all late violations, $25, $50, or $75 based on the penalties incurred due to lateness.
- Confirm violations from September 17, 2019 to present have charged correctly.
- Review vendor reports on a monthly basis for accuracy of coding.
- Educate the public on the City’s environmental ordinance.
The amendment to the Code of Ordinances proposed by Councilman Salvatore would change the fine structure as it relates to trash and recycle barrels being left out past the designated curfew. The first offense will be a warning, and all subsequent offenses will be tiered beginning with $25 for the second offense (first after warning), $50 for the third, and $100 for all subsequent fines – not to exceed $1,500.00 per calendar year. If a homeowner or tenant is fined four times or more, they will be considered a chronic violator and will be subject to appear before the Providence Municipal Court.
This Ordinance has been referred to the Committee on Ordinances; Councilman Salvatore hopes that the Committee will review this at their earliest convenience, particularly since this is causing such a burden on many of our residents.
Councilman Salvatore continued, “For too long, residents have not had a clear understanding of their responsibilities when it comes to the storage of their trash and recycle barrels. The fines to date have clearly not been consistent with the ordinance, and the amendment to the code will address that issue. This amendment will also educate residents who might not know the statute. In light of the Internal Auditor’s findings it is imperative that the City and the Committee on Ordinance react swiftly to right this egregious wrong. Further, it is important that each and every resident have clear and predictable knowledge of the workings of our City. Implementing a warning phase will help residents better understand their responsibilities for the storage of their trash and recycle bins.”
Councilman Salvatore and the Internal Auditor will work with the City’s Administration and possibly the General Treasurers Unclaimed Property Division to refund homeowners in the coming weeks.
by Billy Kepner | Nov 7, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-6
At tonight’s City Council meeting council leaders introduced a series of amendments to Chapters 14 and 21 of the Code of Ordinances. Together, these changes will create baseline standards for quality, safety, and workforce development in the construction industry.
Amendments to Chapter 14, introduced by Council President Matos, Councilor Pro Temp Correia, and Councilors Miller and Salvatore create a citywide construction contractor registration process that includes measures to prevent the misclassification of workers as temporary employees.
“Regulating contractors with a registration process protects the physical and economic health of our city residents,” stated Councilor Rachel M. Miller. “By and large, I believe contractors follow the law, but, in an industry that is notoriously hard to regulate, any company that is cutting corners affects the industry and affects the health and well-being of our community. As a community organizer in Providence, I saw three big problems in the industry: workers who had to fight for for their claim to unpaid wages, also known as wage theft; workers who were injured on the job only to find that their employer was illegally classifying their employment as 1099 (or contract work) leaving them with no recourse for workers’ compensation; and workers who worked for a contractor who disregarded health and safety training, not even requiring workers complete the most basic ten hour safety class, OSHA 10.”
The amendments to Chapter 14 require that a contractor who does over $100,000 in construction business per year register with the City’s Board of Licenses every two years. In order to successfully register, an applicant must not have recent wage and hour or health and safety violations. It also must be up to date on its taxes. The $100 fee collected every two years will support enforcement and monitoring of this new statute.
Amendments to Chapter 21, introduced by Council President Matos and Council Pro Tempore Correia strengthen provisions for workforce development through apprenticeship and set a wage standard for work completed with the support of Tax Stabilization Agreements.
“When we put public dollars to work in the form of tax stabilization agreements, we make a commitment to both the private developer and to the residents of the city,” said Council President Sabina Matos. “This is an opportunity to continue to strengthen our TSA policy to ensure that we are getting a return on that investment – in the form of new development and revitalized buildings and also an investment in our workforce. For many years, development tax treaties have required 100% apprenticeship utilization. Apprenticeship is the pathway that turns a one time job into a lifetime career. But, although the ordinance required it, there were still loopholes that allowed that provision to be disregarded. Tonight we’re introducing changes that strengthen apprenticeship requirements. Additionally, we’re setting a standard for competitive wages that will lift up the working women and men in the industry. The City Council believes that there’s always a possibility for a positive ripple effect in our neighborhoods when we pass a TSA, but with these changes, that possibility becomes a promise.”
