by Michael Florio | Jul 16, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
For over a year I have worked with constituents, various community groups, and our partners in city government here in Providence to bring about an ordinance that will reduce the dependence of single-use plastic bags in our state’s capital. I’m thrilled that Governor Raimondo is taking this bold action to move our state forward and exploring ways we can all lessen our reliance on single-use plastics. It’s imperative to our state’s economy and to future generations that we protect our oceans and waterways from the scourge of plastic pollution, and Governor Raimondo’s Executive Order will help achieve that end. I thank the Governor for her leadership on this important issue.
Jo-Ann Ryan, City Council Majority Whip, Councilwoman-Ward Five
by Michael Florio | Jun 21, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
The Ordinance has been referred to committee where it will
be vetted and open for public comment
Tonight, Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan reintroduced her ordinance to reduce single-use plastic bags in Providence, and it has been referred to committee for review. After meeting with Mayor Elorza, constituents, and community groups, she felt that the time was right to bring the ordinance back before the Council.
Changes to this ordinance include the removal of the $0.10 fee for not having a reusable bag, it requires the City’s Office of Sustainability to present an implementation plan to the City Council no later than 30-days after passage, and calls upon the City to work with the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Center as part of their outreach and implementation plan. This ordinance still addresses significant environmental and economic concerns facing the City and is modeled after those successfully passed in other municipalities and is most similar to the one recently passed in Boston.
Ryan, the lead sponsor of the ordinance, said, “After the Mayor’s veto I embarked on a listening tour, and I heard the concerns of the community and worked to ensure that all voices were heard in the creation of this updated ordinance. This is the beginning of us collectively working together to rid our city, landfills, and oceans of single-use plastics, and I am proud to be leading that effort. I will continue my work with my colleagues, the Mayor’s administration, and community partners to move this forward and will ensure robust community engagement and public discourse. We will hold a public hearing at an upcoming committee meeting to ensure that all voices have an opportunity to share their concerns, questions, and suggestions on how we can make this ordinance work for the people of Providence.”
The ordinance calls for a 1-year implementation period where the City’s Office off Sustainability will work to educate residents and business owners on the single-use plastic bag reduction plan. This plan will be presented to the Council no later than 30-days after the passage of this ordinance. During this 1-year implementation period, we will work with community partners to distribute free or little-to-no cost reusable bags to those that need them. This period also allows businesses to use their remaining stock of single-use plastic bags.
The production, use, and disposal of single-use plastic bags have significant adverse impacts on the environment and are a serious economic burden to the City’s solid waste disposal and single-stream recycling systems. Reducing single-use plastic bags will help to curb litter on our streets and waterways, protect the marine environment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ryan continued, “The economic reasons are also significant as the City will save at least $1 million each year by removing this common contaminant to our recycling system. This initiative will also help to remove 95 million single-use bags annually from our landfill. I recently visited the Rhode Island Resource Recovery recycling center and saw the toll that plastic single-use bags play on their system. Every few hours they have to shut down to pull these bags from the gears that move the recycling along. This slows the process, and is dangerous as employees have to climb into the machine and remove the bags from the gears.”
Highlights of the Ordinance Include:
- No additional fee for non-compliance by consumers.
- All checkout bags must be designed for multiple reuse or be paper. If the checkout bag is plastic, it must be made from 100% recycled plastic. Paper bags must be 100% recyclable and made from at least 40% recycled paper.
- It exempts certain types of plastic bags such as dry cleaning or laundry bags, bags used to wrap or contain frozen foods or prevent or contain moisture, etc.
- It gives 12 months from passage for businesses to become compliant allowing time for education/outreach and for retailers to use existing stock.
- It provides an exemption for retailers who may have a hardship determined by the Director of the Office of Sustainability.
The Ordinance is the product of numerous meetings, over ten months, with the City’s Zero Waste Group the City’s Office of Sustainability, and other stakeholders.
Some facts on the environmental impacts of single-use plastic bags provided by Upstream Policy:
- Single-use plastic bags are used on average for 12 minutes and live for about 1K years.
- Single-use plastic bag production produces over 2.5K metric tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) annually and contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
- Single-use plastic bags end up in the ocean, breaking down into smaller pieces called microplastics, Clean Water Action found that the Providence River had the highest concentration of these microplastics in the Bay.
- It’s estimated that over 95M plastic bags are used annually in Providence.
- Single-use plastic bags account for roughly 60 tons of garbage.
- Single-use plastic bags are NOT recyclable in our single stream RIRRC’s recycling facility.
- Single-use plastic bags are the cause of contamination of our recycling bins and compromise our recycling program.
by Michael Florio | Jun 18, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-12, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-5, Ward-9
Fiscally responsible budget holds the line on taxes, implements public safety enhancement programs, preserves historical assets, improves quality of life in every Providence neighborhood
The Providence City Council Committee on Finance tonight voted approve the recommendation of the FY2019 $748 Million city budget, which is now forwarded to the City Council for passage.
The budget is the result of collaboration between the City Council and City Administration with the ultimate goal of producing a fiscally responsible budget that includes no tax increases; invests in schools, safety and neighborhoods; enhances public safety; preserves significant historical assets; and improves the quality of life in every Providence neighborhood.
“I am pleased to announce that we are holding the line on tax increases, ensuring that our yearly fiduciary responsibility to the pension fund is met in full, and investing in quality of life initiatives to benefit all Providence neighborhoods – like the Council’s initiative to save the Federal Hill fountain located in DePasquale Plaza,” said Committee on Finance Chairman and Council Majority Leader John Igliozzi. “I am grateful for the hard work of the Finance Committee and for the cooperation of every City department that sat before us. The budget process is not easy, sometimes even contentious; but in the end we all want the same thing – a budget that efficiently and effectively utilizes taxpayer dollars and serves the people of Providence – and we believe we have achieved that end.”
“The review and passage of the budget is one of the most important duties of the City Council, and this budget prioritizes spending to support our public schools and enhance safety and quality of life in all city neighborhoods,” stated Council President David A. Salvatore. “Every year the Committee on Finance is tasked with reviewing the budget and ensuring that it serves the constituents of our city. The process is inclusive and I am proud of the way this body has worked to ensure those principles.”
Council-led budget initiatives include:
Holding the line on all tax rates, providing residents and business owners with the certainty they need to prosper.
No less than 35% of the revenue garnered from portable speed camera violations will be used on school safety and other traffic calming measures. The goal of the speed cameras was always to make Providence streets and schools safer, and the City Council has made this a priority.
Restored Neighborhood Infrastructure Fund (NIF) to help ensure that any unexpected brick and mortar projects that arise in FY 2019 can be addressed. This fund has a positive impact on our neighborhoods and helps to improve the quality of life for all residents of Providence.
Enhancing the quality of life in Providence neighborhoods and improving city services through infrastructure improvements, public safety initiatives, and school and parks improvements.
Saving, preserving and maintaining Providence’s beloved historical landmarks, including the fountain in Federal Hill’s DePasquale Plaza, as well as other significant monuments throughout the City.
Bringing the City’s original charter back to City Hall for display to the public, as well as ensuring the preservation of important historical City artifacts.
The City Council will hold special meetings on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, where the budget will receive its first vote from the Council. Once passed, the second and final vote will take place on Friday, June 22, 2018.
The Council’s Committee on Finance is comprised of:
Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi, Chair
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Terrence M. Hassett, Vice Chair
Council President Pro Tempore Sabina Matos
Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan
Councilwoman Carmen Castillo
by Billy Kepner | Apr 19, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
Tonight, I introduced a resolution in support of Senator Miller and Representative Carol Hagan McEntee’s Plastic Waste Reduction Act that has been introduced in the General Assembly. Reducing our dependence on single-use plastic bags is vital to keeping our oceans safe, and our landfills free of single-use bags that are only used for 12 minutes, but last 1000 years.
Single-use plastic bags are not just destroying the environment, but they also cost the cities across the great state of Rhode Island millions annually in recycling contamination fees, and other financial burdens. The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation sees nearly 60 tons of plastic bags in their facility every year. These are just some of the reasons why I’m supporting Senator Miller and Representative Thomas Winfield’s bill and why I introduced legislation to ban single-use plastic bags in Providence.
After much discussion with my colleagues on the City Council, Mayor Elorza, and meetings with stakeholders, and community groups I will be reintroducing the ordinance in the near future. Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but it’s important.
– Jo-Ann Ryan, Majority Whip, Providence City Council
by Michael Florio | Mar 15, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
Tonight, City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan’s (Ward 5) ordinance that calls for a reduction of single-use plastic bags and encourages the use of reusable checkout bags at retail establishments throughout the City has passed its second and final vote. This ordinance addresses significant environmental and economic concerns facing the City and is modeled after those successfully passed in other municipalities and is most similar to the one recently passed in Boston.
Ryan, the lead sponsor of the ordinance said, “I’m excited to begin the education and outreach component of the ordinance. We’ll be partnering with the City’s Zero Waste Group and the City’s Office of Sustainability to educate residents on the impacts that plastic single-use bags have on our environment, and how the ordinance will be implemented over the course of the next year. During this next phase before the ordinance goes into effect we’ll work to ensure that all residents are prepared, and those that need reusable bags will have the opportunity to get them at little or no cost.”
The production, use, and disposal of single-use plastic bags have significant adverse impacts on the environment and are a serious economic burden to the City’s solid waste disposal and single-stream recycling systems. Reducing single-use plastic bags will help to curb litter on our streets and waterways, protect the marine environment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ryan also stated, “The economic reasons are also significant as the City will save at least $1 Million each year by removing this common contaminant to our recycling system. This initiative will also help to remove 95 million single-use bags annually from our landfill.”
Highlights of the Ordinance Include:
- It exempts certain types of plastic bags such as dry cleaning or laundry bags, bags used to wrap or contain frozen foods or prevent or contain moisture, etc.
- It allows retailers to retain the cost of reusable bags sold to customers
(Note: large chain retailers are currently selling reusable bags for as little as .25 cents). Retailers spend over $3.9M on bags annually.)
- Countless studies, beginning with Ireland in 2002, have shown that adding a modest fee for bags reduces the use of single-use bags by more than 90%.
- It gives 12 months from passage to become compliant allowing time for education/outreach and for retailers to use existing stock.
- It provides an exemption for retailers who may have a hardship determined by the Director of the Office of Sustainability.
The Ordinance is the product of numerous meetings with the City’s Zero Waste Group and the City’s Office of Sustainability. This energetic group is working on an implementation plan and is committed to a strong grassroots education and outreach campaign for both consumers and retailers.
Ryan was joined by the following councilors who cosponsored the ordinance; Council President David A. Salvatore, Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Terrance Hassett, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Deputy Majority Leader Wilbur Jennings Jr., Councilman Seth Yurdin, Councilman Luis A. Aponte, Councilman Bryan Principe, Councilman Michael Correia and Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune.
Some facts on the environmental impacts of single-use plastic bags provided by Upstream Policy:
- Single-use plastic bags are used on average for 12 minutes and live for about 1K years.
- Single-use plastic bag production produces over 2.5K metric tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) annually and contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
- Single-use plastic bags end up in the ocean, breaking down into smaller pieces called microplastics, Clean Water Action found that the Providence River had the highest concentration of these microplastics in the Bay.
- It’s estimated that over 95M plastic bags are used annually in Providence.
- Single-use plastic bags account for roughly 60 tons of garbage.
- Single-use plastic bags are NOT recyclable in our single stream RIRRC’s recycling facility.
- Single-use plastic bags are the cause of contamination of our recycling bins and compromise our recycling program.
by Michael Florio | Feb 14, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
The Rhode Island Superior Court on Monday upheld an amendment to the Providence zoning ordinance that limits student housing in residential neighborhoods. In 2015, City Council Majority Whip, Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), introduced an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that placed a limit on the number of students that could live in a non-owner occupied single-family home. The amendment was passed by the Council, signed by the Mayor and later challenged in court. The Plaintiffs who brought the suit were a landlord and several tenants who claimed the law violated their constitutional rights. The Court, in a 20-page decision, rejected the Plaintiffs’ claim that the ordinance discriminated against college students in violation of article 1, section 2 of the R.I. Constitution.
“I am pleased that the Superior Court upheld the City ordinance,” said Ryan. “This ordinance is about preserving the single-family housing stock and about public safety. Single-family homes were not intended by zoning law to be used as mini-dorms. In a city where individuals and families are finding it harder and harder to find safe and affordable homes, it is imperative that we as elected officials work to preserve our housing stock and to protect the residential character of our neighborhoods.”
The ordinance states that in R-1 and R-1A zones, a single-family dwelling, which is not owner-occupied, may not be occupied by more than three college students. A college student is defined as an individual enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at any university or college who commutes to campus.
Ryan introduced the legislation in response to concerns from residents in the Elmhurst and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods she represents, who were frustrated that single-family homes were being purchased by investors and rented to numerous college students. Ryan, whose ward borders the Providence College campus, said “off-campus student housing creates a host of challenges for residents in our City’s neighborhoods. Moreover, the Court held that limiting population density, congestion, noise, and traffic are all valid governmental concerns. This ordinance will help to ensure that our neighborhoods remain safe and will preserve the quality of life for all residents.”
Read the full Court Ruling
