by Billy Kepner | Jan 30, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15, Ward-7
$20M of the bond will be for upgrades to schools, and $10M will be to improve neighborhood community centers and monies for City Hall roof and interior renovations.
Tonight the Chairman of the Providence City Council Committee on Finance, Majority Whip John J. Igliozzi of Ward Seven, and his colleagues approved the City to seek a $30M bond for school and other neighborhood infrastructure projects. In addition to schools, the bond includes monies for repairs and renovations to City Hall and neighborhood community centers.
“When the Administration put forth a proposal to take out a $20M bond for school infrastructure, I requested an immediate analysis of the cost of borrowing an additional $10M in an attractive rate environment to support other much-needed upgrades to City-owned properties,” stated Majority Whip and Chairman of the Council’s Committee on Finance John J. Igliozzi. “Working together with the Mayor and his finance team we found that the additional funds were a reasonable investment and that the rates today are better than they were when we first began this discussion. For the past year, I have been advocating to not only fix our schools but to fix our own house – City Hall. The $10M addition to the bond proposal will go towards fixing the roof of City Hall and other much-needed renovations to the historic building.”
Much of the bond is subject to the Rhode Island Department of Education Housing Aid Reimbursement program which will refund the city 82% of up to $16M of the $20M bond that is earmarked for school infrastructure improvements.
“The best investment we can make is in our youth,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza. “I am proud that we will be able to invest critical dollars into our school buildings and continue to improve public properties throughout our capital city with this bond. I thank the council members for their continued commitment to our schools and our city.”
City Council President Sabina Matos stated, “Whip Igliozzi has an understanding of the City’s financial health that is unmatched, and I’m grateful that he was able to see how the time was right for us to take this important step to not only secure our schools but to secure our other city-owned properties.”
The resolution will be sent to the full City Council for a vote and passage at their regularly scheduled February 7, 2019 meeting.
by Michael Florio | Nov 1, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5, Ward-7
At tonight’s City Council meeting four Tax Stabilization Agreements (TSAs) were passed for the first time. Each will need to be passed one more time by the Council to formally be approved.
“We are creating jobs and growing businesses here in Providence,” stated City Council Majority Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Finance John J. Igliozzi. “More cranes in the city skyline mean two things – more jobs, and more growth – and that’s a good thing for all of us.”
These TSAs were vetted by the Committee on Finance through a transparent, open, and predictable process, and were sent to the full Council for passage. Three of the projects passed tonight by the City Council are for the rehabilitation and redevelopment of approximately 207,000 square feet of underused space, which will be redeveloped into mixed-use residential and commercial spaces in the North End and the downtown corridor. The fourth project, also in the North End, will develop an empty lot into nearly 111,000 square feet of new commercial space.
“These projects expand our tax base which is a direct benefit for every taxpayer, and will bring greater opportunity for our residents,” stated City Council Majority Whip and Committee on Finance member Jo-Ann Ryan. “Providence continually gets ranked as one of the best cities to live, and development like these only adds to the quality of life for current and future residents who wish to call Providence home.”
The first two TSAs passed tonight are both located in the City’s North End neighborhood. Providence 2017, LLC plans to transform an empty lot at 145 Corliss Street into a self-storage facility which would include 863 storage units. The second is for Wanskuck Mill, located at 725, 726, 715, and 745 Branch Avenue; the development is owned by Branch Holdings, LLC, and currently has 60 apartment units. The project would include an additional 150 apartments with affordable rents ranging from $1,100 to $1,400 per month in rent. The project would also include the addition of commercial space in the property, such as a restaurant, retail and/or office space.
The final two TSAs passed tonight are both located in the downtown corridor. The property located at 185 Westminster Street will include the redevelopment of 50,000 square feet of underused space. The developer will create new mixed-use residential and commercial spaces, which will also include a restaurant. A property located at 170 Westminster Street will be redeveloped into 57,000 square feet of residential and commercial/office space, including a restaurant on the top floor.
Together these projects will create 360 high-paying construction jobs and 140 full-time jobs upon their completion. The developers have also agreed to use minority and/or women-owned businesses when possible, will enter into a First Source agreement with the City, will take part in the “Buy Providence” initiative as much as possible, will make an investment into the City Council Parks and Recreation Trust Account, and will ensure that all contractors and subcontractors have or are affiliated with an apprenticeship program.
Projected total annual tax revenue for these projects at the end of their TSAs is expected to be more than $2M.
by Billy Kepner | Oct 4, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-7
Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi tonight put forth a solution to the school bus driver strike that would eliminate the disruption to our residents and students.
“The current labor dispute between First Student and Teamsters is not about wages, it is not about medical benefits, it is about funding a bus driver’s pension, which amounts to a little over $150,000 per year,” stated Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi. “In speaking to stakeholders, there are 200 bus drivers, a majority of whom are minority females who reside in the City of Providence. The Teamsters are asking that First Student contribute to the Teamster’s pension at $1.00 per hour per employee. On average, bus drivers work 6 hours per day. This amounts to $6.00 per day per bus driver or $1,200.00.”
Leader Igliozzi continues, “First Student currently pays $65,000.00 per year to cover 401K expenses for the bus drivers. The difference of what First Student contributes and what the Teamsters have proposed is $152,200.00, or 1.2% of the $12,500,000 contract between First Student and the City of Providence.”
To keep Providences’ children safe and get them back to school Leader Igliozzi is proposing that First Student and the City each pay 50% of the pension cost increase to provide the hardworking men and women with a pension that they have earned and deserved. The City is projecting an $8,000,000 surplus for FY2018 and is in good financial condition to eliminate the disruption brought to residents and students. This cost to the City and First Student would be approximately $76,100 each (a 0.06% increase to the City’s contract with First Student), an important investment in our children and residents.
Leader Iglozzi finished, “At the end of the day what’s more important, paying a little more for this contract or getting our children to school safely? We need to step up and show leadership.”
by Michael Florio | Sep 25, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5, Ward-7
Last week, during a Committee on Finance meeting, we learned that members of the Mayor’s Administration had unilaterally renegotiated the contract for the City’s school zone speed cameras with the vendor, Conduent Inc. This action bypassed city purchasing laws and circumvented the public process.
As required by the City Charter, the contract should have gone to the Board of Contract and Supply and then before the City Council for public review and ratification.
Therefore, we have requested that the City’s Internal Auditor review the contract and process by which it navigated the system. We have also asked the City Solicitor to review this process as well, and ask that the Administration immediately send the contract to the Board of Contract and Supply and the City Council for a full review and rigorous vetting.
John J. Igliozzi, Majority Leader and Chairman, Committee on Finance
Jo-Ann Ryan, Majority Whip, and Member, Committee on Finance
by Billy Kepner | Sep 12, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-7
Providence City Council Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi, with the help of third graders from Anthony Carnevale Elementary School, will “officially” cut the ribbon on the school’s new playground structure on Friday, September 14 at noon.
“I am thrilled to help bring this playground structure to the community,” stated City Council Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi. “This is a perfect example of the synergies that can happen when the legislative body of city government partners with city departments to maximize community investments. The playground improves the student experience, and provides the whole community with a place to gather and enjoy being outside and most importantly have fun.”
“I am very grateful to Councilman Igliozzi for partnering with us on this improvement to our outdoor play space,” said Christopher Maher, superintendent of Providence Public Schools. “We know that kids perform better in school when they have the opportunity to exercise and play outside, and this creates the ideal environment for both those activities.”
The financing for the playground was a joint investment between the City Council and the School Department with Leader Igliozzi using his Neighborhood Improvement Funds for the project.
by Michael Florio | Jul 30, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14, Ward-7
Tonight the Providence City Council approved a $160 million bond referendum that will realize improvements in school infrastructure. The bond is a joint effort between the Providence City Council and Mayor Jorge O. Elorza.
City Council President David A. Salvatore stated, “As elected officials, we speak a lot about the importance of education in our community, but one of the most important factors of education is place. Our schools, most built in the last century, are in need of basic upgrades and some need even more complicated fixes. This bond will help to make Providence Schools into cutting-edge facilities that will serve a new generation of students.”
After tonight’s passage the bond will be sent to the Board of Canvassers to be placed on the November 6, 2018 ballot for consideration by the people of Providence.
Mayor Jorge O. Elorza stated, “In Providence, we’re prioritizing our school buildings, many that need critical improvements. This bond will allow us to make this investments so that our school facilities support our students learning for generations to come. A long-term investment of this magnitude is necessary and shows that both my administration and the Providence City Council are ‘All In’ for education here in the capital city.”
“I’m proud to support this initiative to help rehabilitate our schools to create a better environment for our students, teachers, and staff,” stated Majority Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Finance John J. Igliozzi. “I also want to ensure our constituents that we are being mindful of how taxpayer dollars are being spent; with that in mind, the Council will require a spending plan to be submitted for review and approval.”
