by Council Staff | Nov 20, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Press Release, Rachel Miller
Providence, RI – At tonight’s regular City Council meeting, the body unveiled a series of technologies to improve accessibility in the chamber. Six monitors have been installed throughout the room: two on the walls flanking the Council President’s dais, two on rolling carts just inside the banisters, and two mounted in the gallery. The monitors display livestreamed video of the councilor speaking, along with live-captioned transcription. An electronic voting system now records votes, which are then displayed on the monitors in real time.
This modernization is part of a larger effort to respond to community concerns about sound and acoustics in the chamber. There have been considerable improvements in the past year, in addition to the new visuals. Two large rugs have been added for sound dampening, longer microphones now better capture councilors’ remarks when they stand, improved audio connections are available for TV reporters, and a contracted sound evaluation led to new speakers being installed and existing speakers being repositioned.
“Fixing problems that have existed since 1878 is no small task, but this Council doesn’t shy away from hard work,” said Chief of Staff June Rose. “For generations, residents have struggled to fully hear or follow what happens in this chamber. Thanks to this Council’s deep commitment to transparency and accessibility, we’re changing that. Better sound, clearer visuals, and real-time captions make the chamber more welcoming, allowing people to participate more fully in the work of their government.”
In response to concerns regarding the enforcement of the noise ordinance, councilors approved a resolution, introduced by Council President Rachel Miller, establishing a working group to review how ordinances related to nightlife are enforced. The working group’s members will be Council President Miller, Councilor Justin Roias, representatives from city departments, and appointees from the council and the mayor’s administration. Together, the working group will review the city’s current enforcement practices of nightlife regulations and share their findings and recommendations in a written report by April 1, 2026.
“I’m looking forward to bringing together a working group with a broad range of perspectives to review nightlife enforcement practices,” said Council President Rachel Miller. “As the Creative Capital, Providence is home to a vibrant nightlife landscape, with vast cultural and economic contributions to our city. City government can support that vibrancy, while finding the appropriate balance that considers daily quality of life for city residents. Our nightlife environment can be fostered to support economic and quality of life well-being that is greater than the sum of its parts, creating new opportunities for artists and occasions for residents and visitors to connect meaningfully.”
At this point Council no longer had quorum and adjourned the meeting.
by Council Staff | Nov 19, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Press Release, Rachel Miller
Tomorrow, November 20 at 6 p.m., Providence City Council will convene for a full meeting in the Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall. Press and the public are invited to attend.
After being voted out of the Committee on Finance with a recommendation to pass earlier this month, councilors will vote on the City’s lease of the WaterFire Arts Center back to WaterFire Providence and an ordinance supporting the Mile of History project, which authorizes financing to restore sidewalks along and adjacent to Benefit Street.
Councilors will also vote on a resolution, introduced by Council President Rachel Miller, establishing a working group to review how ordinances related to nightlife are enforced and offer recommendations.
At Thursday’s meeting, City Council members will also debut a host of upgrades to the Council Chamber to make meetings more transparent and accessible.
by Council Staff | Nov 6, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Press Release, Rachel Miller, Sue AnderBois
Tonight, the Providence City Council unanimously passed proposed changes to the immigration sections of the Community-Police Relations Act and passed a citywide ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers by the year 2033 with a vote of 9-3-1-1.
Councilors passed into law a series of amendments to the immigration section of the Community Police Relations Act (CPRA) that were introduced by Councilor Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6). After extensive research and support from local and national experts, the amendments focus on five key areas: further limiting PPD officers from voluntarily helping federal immigration enforcement; clarifying prohibited collaboration without a signed judicial warrant; establishing protected spaces; limiting collection and disclosure of sensitive personal data; and giving the community the tools they need to hold the city accountable.
“Providence thrives when every resident can live without fear,” said Council President Rachel Miller. “With Donald Trump’s cruel targeting of immigrant communities, that sense of safety feels out of reach for too many of our undocumented neighbors. What we can control, as a city, is how our police interact with federal agents operating outside of the bounds of due process—and with these amendments, we make clear: they will not. Providence Police will not be used as tools in Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda. And if violations occur, the community will have accountability and recourse. These reforms are about safety, dignity, and trust—and I’m grateful to every advocate, councilor, and community member who made them possible.”
With these protections now in place, councilors sent a clear message that the safety of our neighbors is the highest priority. Read more about the changes here, or view the amendments in full here.
In response to environmental and noise concerns, councilors passed into law an ordinance introduced by Councilor Sue AnderBois (Ward 3) that bans the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Providence completely by 2033. Crafted with extensive vetting and stakeholder feedback, this policy reflects a commitment to addressing the polluting emissions from gas-powered leaf blowers improving the safety of residents and landscapers from dangerously loud sound levels, and the needs of small businesses.
“Our neighborhoods deserve a future without toxic gases and excessive noise. This policy is a win for the health and well-being of our environment and our neighbors, while mitigating impacts on small business” said Councilor Sue AnderBois, the ordinance’s lead sponsor and chair of the Special Committee on the Environment and Resiliency. “I am grateful for the thoughtful conversations with landscapers and concerned residents and the Administration who all helped shape this final legislation.”
A seasonal ban will limit use of this equipment by city departments and members of the public between October 1 and December 15, from 2030 through 2032. As of January 1, 2033, all use within the city limits would be permanently prohibited.
After hearing public comment in the Committee on Ordinances, the entertainment ordinance is being referred back to committee for further study.
Other notable items on tonight’s agenda include:
- An ordinance introduced by President Pro Tempore Juan M. Pichardo (Ward 9) mandating that property owners be alerted when deeds are altered in light of scams seen nationally. The item was referred to the HOPE Committee.
- An ordinance amendment, introduced by Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), that updates design standards for new developments guided by the Comprehensive Plan and input from an ad hoc design review committee s referred to the Committee on Ordinances.
- Unanimous passage of a resolution introduced by Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) honoring community leader Eugenio Fernandez for his service to healthcare in Providence.
- A resolution introduced by Councilman Oscar Vargas (Ward 15) requesting improved access to overnight parking passes was referred to the Committee on Public Works.
- A resolution, introduced by Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14), requesting a review of curb cuts for city-created accessible street parking was referred to the Committee on Public Works.
by Council Staff | Nov 4, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Press Release, Rachel Miller
Tonight, the Providence City Council Committee on Ordinances approved proposed updates to the city’s entertainment regulations to expand opportunities for local businesses, artists, and neighborhoods to thrive. The updates ensure the law reflects the current needs and realities of Providence’s vibrant entertainment landscape so that businesses, residents, and the city have transparent and fair rules to follow. The amendments were advanced to the full city council with a recommendation to pass.
Informed by extensive engagement with stakeholders over a year and a half, the amendments clarify and expand the definition of incidental entertainment, improve regulation of entertainment activities and events, and continue to require compliance with the city’s noise ordinance.
“Providence’s food, beverage, music, and hospitality landscapes have evolved, but the rules have not kept pace, creating confusion for business owners and frustrations for residents,” said Council President Rachel Miller, “Taken together, these changes add structure and predictability for everyone and provide a balanced solution that supports local artists and establishments while maintaining calm and quiet at a reasonable hour for our neighborhoods. We are the Creative Capital – our nightlife should have a chance to flourish, to support musicians, create more access to live music, and opportunities to connect with one another in our neighborhoods throughout the city, while respecting residents living alongside commercial corridors.”
The amendments expand what’s allowed under the category of “incidental entertainment,” which is meant to account for entertainment that isn’t the main event (e.g. no tickets are sold). This could be a jazz brunch, or a small band playing mood-setting music meant to accompany dinner or a glass of wine. The amendments lift the restrictions on dancing or having multiple band members and allow for instruments to be plugged into speakers. Through these updates, establishments that incorporate music as part of the ambiance will be brought into compliance.
The amendments also introduce more straightforward regulations and management mechanisms. Indoor music has a firm end time of 9 PM on weeknights and 11 PM on weekends while outdoor music must cease by 9 PM on any night. Another proposed amendment addresses temporary entertainment events. Events like these will now require a temporary entertainment license from the Board of Licenses, rather than a temporary use permit from the Department of Inspections and Standards. Temporary entertainment licenses will be issued a maximum of nine times per year per license holder.
The city’s noise ordinance will be in full effect for these and all occasions. Music heard beyond the walls of the establishment or at excessive levels (10 decibels above ambient noise and/or outside of 200 feet from the source) is out of compliance with the noise ordinance and should face enforcement action.
by Council Staff | Oct 16, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Miguel Sanchez, Press Release, Rachel Miller
At tonight’s meeting of the Providence City Council, councilors granted first passage unanimously with a vote of 13-0-0 to proposed changes to the immigration sections of the Community-Police Relations Act. The changes aim to better protect Providence residents by allowing the law to function as intended and strengthening accountability measures. The amendments now require one more passage through the full council, with a vote scheduled for November 6. The council also passed a resolution and made a significant announcement relative to virtual court hearings.
“In Providence, we take pride in being a welcoming city where every neighbor deserves to feel safe,” said Councilor Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6), the prime sponsor of the amendments. “Across the country, we’ve seen federal immigration agents bring chaos and trauma into local communities. These amendments make clear that here in Providence, our police will not be part of that harm. Our immigrant neighbors are the backbone of this city, and they deserve safety, dignity, and accountability.”
On Monday, October 6, the City Council’s Committee on Ordinances recommended the CPRA amendments. Following that meeting, the Council office communicated the changes as follows, in five major categories:
Expanding types of prohibited contact between PPD and federal immigration authorities, including ICE
By broadening the legal definition of federal immigration enforcement agencies to include any federal entity tasked with carrying out such activities, the prohibition on cooperation by PPD will include agencies not normally tasked with immigration who have recently been deputized by the Trump administration in order to expand capacity and meet their stated goal of 3,000 arrests per day. The list of prohibited activities will be expanded to include identification verification and translation services, further limiting interactions between municipal and federal law enforcement that could be exploited to harm Providence residents.
The changes would prohibit the Police Department from exercising authority under 287(g) or 103(a)(10) of the Immigration and National Act, which allows municipal law enforcement agencies to be formally deputized and authorized to conduct federal immigration enforcement.
Clarifying prohibited collaboration with federal authorities without a signed judicial warrant
Under the proposed changes, Providence Police will continue to comply with all federally required and lawfully directed actions, as they always have – as long as those directives are accompanied by a valid, signed, criminal judicial warrant. The proposed CPRA changes prohibit police involvement based on civil immigration warrants, an intimidation tool used by federal immigration authorities that carries no legal requirement for compliance by local law enforcement. The amended ordinance clearly lists what exactly is prohibited, including but not limited to:
- Providing information to ICE about arrestees that is not available to the public
- Using any city money, personnel, or resources to assist in the investigation, interrogation, detention, detection, or arrest of anyone for immigration enforcement
- Establishing traffic perimeters or otherwise controlling public areas to assist immigration enforcement
The amendments also allow for student IDs or any other valid photo IDs to be used as acceptable forms of identification.
Establishing protected spaces within the city
The changes expand the CPRA’s definition of “schools” to include charter schools, city-run preschool and early-learning programs, and daycare and after-school facilities. The ordinance then requires those schools, as well as the courts and non-public parts of the public department, to deny access to their premises if immigration enforcement requests entry without presenting a valid judicial warrant. Defining these protected spaces allows families, and especially youth, to have more confidence about their safety while at school or accessing city services. Providence Police, courthouses, prisons, and jails would also be required to designate a person who can independently verify judicial warrants that are presented by federal authorities.
Limiting collection and disclosure of sensitive personal data
To meet their presidentially directed quotas of resident arrests, federal immigration authorities have been demanding more frequent and more specific private personal data from municipal law enforcement. To limit the harm disclosing this data would cause to Providence communities, the proposed changes would prohibit Providence police from collecting demographic data, such as race or ethnicity, via city-operated surveillance technologies such as Flock cameras and services such as the Real Time Crime Center. They would then require that all current and future partner agencies accessing city-owned data agree via formal written agreement to all of the restrictions set forth in the ordinance, including not sharing any data with federal immigration enforcement absent a judicial warrant.
Allowing organizations to hold the city accountable by suing after alleged violations
The proposed changes establish organizational standing in the private right of action. This would allow certain types of non-government organizations, such as civil rights, human rights, and youth organizations, to file civil action against the city, the department, or an officer if they allege CPRA violations by Providence Police. By intentionally broadening the city’s accountability in cases of alleged violation, councilors are sending a clear message that every Providence resident deserves to have their rights protected – and that violations must be accompanied by consequences.
Read the full draft of the proposed changes here.
At the October 6 committee meeting, community members repeatedly requested accommodations for remote court hearings, reflecting concerns in a widely circulated change.org petition. Responding to these concerns, councilors unanimously approved a resolution introduced by Council President Rachel Miller calling on state courts to provide these accommodations. This follows reports of increased ICE presence and detentions in and around state and federal courthouses. Along with the non-binding resolution, the Council President announced that the Providence Municipal Court and Probate Court, which fall under the oversight of the city council, will offer the same accommodation for virtual hearings by request beginning November 1.
“Residents must be able to attend court appointments without fear,” said Council President Rachel Miller. “Providence will lead by example—offering accommodations for remote hearings beginning November 1st at municipal court and probate court so that court remains accessible and safe. I urge our state partners to do the same, especially at the Garrahy Judicial Complex.”
Other notable items from tonight’s agenda include:
- Introduction of a resolution authorizing Mayor Smiley to enter into a lease with WaterFire Providence for the WaterFire Arts Center at 475 Valley Street. The resolution was referred to the Finance Committee.
- Unanimous passage of a resolution introduced by Council President Rachel Miller celebrating Italian Heritage Month.
- Unanimous passage of a resolution introduced by President Pro Tempore Juan M. Pichardo (Ward 9) honoring the Indigenous peoples of Providence and Rhode Island.
by Council Staff | Sep 18, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Althea Graves, Council News, Jim Taylor, Jo-Ann Ryan, Mary Kay Harris, Press Release, Rachel Miller, Shelley Peterson
At tonight’s meeting of the Providence City Council, councilors formally received the Housing Crisis Task Force 2025 Report, a deeply-researched legislative blueprint for addressing the city’s housing affordability crisis. Also at tonight’s meeting, councilors granted the first of two required passages to an ordinance which would authorize the financing, purchase, and distribution of new residential trash and recycling bins for the entire city.
The Housing Crisis Task Force (HCTF) has worked for the past two years to develop and recommend a wide range of legislative solutions available to the city council to take on the city’s worsening housing challenges from every possible angle: by expanding housing supply, better regulating an out-of-control rental market, strengthening tenant protections, and expanding emergency shelters and homelessness support services.
“The Housing Crisis Task Force, under the leadership of Chairwoman Mary Kay Harris, has shown real courage where others have been unwilling or unable to commit to action,” said City Council President Rachel Miller. “This council will be prioritizing consideration of the recommendations contained in this report – many of which we have already begun to address, with more to come. Our city’s residents, and our renters in particular, have been demanding relief. Now we have our playbook, and we are ready to act.”
Since the beginning of this city council’s term in January 2023, Council President Miller and members of the city council have repeatedly named housing as their highest priority policy area, with a particular emphasis on increasing protections for the city’s renters.
From banning predatory, price-fixing rental algorithms and limiting the bulk purchase of property throughout the city by out-of-state corporate interests, to expanding support for emergency warming centers and investing millions into the affordable housing trust, this city council has led the way with creative and urgently needed solutions. The HCTF report gives councilors the tools they need to continue that leadership in the months ahead.
In a statement following the panel’s vote to finalize the report earlier this week, Chairwoman Harris expressed gratitude for her fellow Task Force members and urged immediate action:
“This report lays out a bold vision for housing in our city, which is exactly what this moment demands. I could not be prouder of my colleagues on the Task Force and our incredible staff who have spent countless hours listening to residents, researching solutions, and determining the best ways for this council to address the overlapping crises of homelessness and housing affordability that we all see and feel each day. The time to act is right now.”
Also at tonight’s meeting, councilors granted first passage to an ordinance introduced by Councilman James Taylor (Ward 8) that, if granted second and final passage, would approve the financing of $5.5 million to purchase new trash and recycling bins across the city. Replacing bins citywide with new, more modern, and larger receptacles will support public health and safety by reducing overflow and minimizing recycling contamination. The new bins will also save personnel hours and resources currently being spent on repair and replacement of the current, aging bins, saving the city money over the longer term and ensuring smoother curbside pick-up across all 15 wards. The idea for this ordinance was first proposed by the Special Commission on Waste Management chaired by Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5).
Other notable items from tonight’s meeting include:
- Introduction of an ordinance by Councilwoman Althea Graves (Ward 12) which would allow councilmembers to more effectively address hazardous trees across the city.
- Unanimous passage of a resolution introduced by Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14) congratulating the faculty, staff, students, and families of E-Cubed Academy for placing in the top five high schools statewide for reductions in chronic absenteeism.
- Unanimous passage of a resolution introduced by Councilwoman Peterson recognizing Ward 14 resident Laura Afonso for her contributions to the Providence small business community.
