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From YouTube: March 31, 2023, Special City Council Meeting
Description
March 31, 2023
Special City Council Meeting
A
Present
and
this
evening
this
meeting
is
being
called
in
accordance
with
the
charter
section
3.07
and
all
council
members
have
been
properly
notified.
This
evening.
We
will
hear
from
the
mayor
who
we
welcome
in
our
Chambers
this
evening.
Welcome
Mayor,
Hopkins
and
the
mayor
will
have
the
privilege
this
evening,
pursuant
to
the
Charter
6.03
to
present
his
budget
this
evening
and
and
mayor,
you
may
have
the
floor.
Thank
you.
C
That
progress
is
with
is
witnessed
in
the
face
of
millions
of
dollars
in
Lost,
state
revenue
and
historic
inflation
pressures
from
a
roller
coaster
of
National
Economic
uncertainty
with
diligence
and
careful
management
of
tax
dollars
and
City
spending.
My
message
tonight
is
encouraging
for
our
city.
C
C
I
am
committed
to
staying
the
course
with
your
assistance,
even
in
the
face
of
reduced
state
aid
in
this
uncertain
National
economy.
Last
year
we
implemented
significant
steps
to
reduce
the
size
of
cranston's.
Government.
I
will
continue
to
make
the
difficult
decisions
as
necessary
for
our
long-term
Financial
Health.
C
C
Trash
collection,
snow,
plowing,
Paving
of
roads
with
clean
parks
and
playgrounds
for
families
to
enjoy
in
their
neighborhood
about
55
percent
of
this
budget
will
also
fund
the
Cranston
schools.
That
residents
expect
will
meet
all
the
learning
needs
of
students
from
our
Early
Education
children
through
secondary
students
in
their
high
school
years.
C
While
we
have
no
direct
say
in
their
spending,
our
residents
want
Blue
Ribbon
Schools
that
meet
the
challenges
of
a
21st
century
education
with
this
budget,
Cranston
taxpayers
are
also
doing
their
part.
The
present
Year's
total
budget
that
took
effect
last
July
was
in
round
numbers
a
330
million
dollar
budget
tonight.
I
present
a
city
budget,
approximately
5
million
dollars
less
or
a
total
of
325
million
dollars.
C
Let
me
underscore
that
point.
This
budget
is
five
million
dollars
less
than
the
current
budget.
Most
of
our
neighboring
communities
cannot
offer
that
same
financial
news
in
Cranston.
We
are
getting
the
job
done
for
less
money
before
outlining
the
specifics.
I
would
like
to
summarize
where
we
are
in
this
budget
year,
the
overall
success
and
some
challenges
that
we
have
faced
in
operating
city
government.
C
C
They
requires
good
management,
careful
monitoring
of
spending
in
the
diligent
collection
of
Revenue
to
fund
all
local
services
and
programs,
while
we
have
had
a
relatively
calm
winter
and
saved
money
on
plowing
and
sanding
the
biggest
trigger
to
this
year's
savings.
With
the
steps
initiated
by
my
team
in
July
of
last
year,
a
series
of
Workforce
reductions
in
other
cost-cutting
initiatives
helped
to
reduce
the
size
of
our
government.
C
C
C
Recent
stories
of
major
projects
around
Rhode
Island,
hitting
the
pause
button
impacted
by
inflation
in
market
conditions,
is
concerning
because
any
delays
in
construction
slow,
the
expansion
of
our
commercial
and
Industrial
tax
bases
along
Route
37.
We
watched
the
construction
Rising
for
Topgolf
and
look
forward
when
we
all
can
attend
their
grand
opening
in
the
fall.
C
Next
week,
the
Planning
Commission
will
review
the
master
plan
for
the
Redevelopment
of
the
Cranston
Printworks
the
following
month.
The
initial
plans
for
the
knights
Corner
development
on
Cranston
Street
that
we
previewed
last
month
will
formally
be
advanced
projects
like
the
Lisa
Legion
Bowl,
Redevelopment,
The,
Comstock
industrial
Warehouse
project
and
the
approved
plans
for
the
closed
medium
security
prison
will
all
help
with
the
pressure
on
residential
homeowners
and
taxpayers.
C
C
C
The
budget
being
offered
tonight
for
your
review
reaffirms
my
commitment
to
Public
Safety
in
our
police
in
fire
ranks.
We
want
to
make
sure
items
like
the
flock
License
Plate
Reader
Program
continues
as
an
essential
tool
to
crime.
Fighting
I
will
join
in
opposition
to
those
at
the
State
House
who
are
trying
to
detract
from
the
ability
of
the
police
to
do
their
job
more
effectively.
C
C
C
With
all
that
encouraging
developments,
we
had
to
assemble
a
budget
in
a
very
challenging
environment
of
less
Revenue
expanding
costs
in
finance,
Financial
Obligations
that
must
be
met.
I
underscore
my
concerns
for
all
taxpayers
who,
like
their
city
government,
are
challenged
with
their
own
Financial
Obligations
in
cost
of
living.
C
C
C
C
But
please
note
in
this
next
fiscal
year,
Debt
Service.
We
have
scheduled
Bond
payments
of
one
million
five
hundred
and
forty
five
thousand
dollars,
I
caution,
the
council
and
the
public
that
we
will
see
a
significant
increase
to
the
next
few
years
for
the
course
of
new
schools
being
built
in
other
school
projects.
C
C
Every
day
we
read
of
a
different
municipality
reevaluating
their
plans
for
major
school
projects.
As
we
all
know,
the
mayor
in
Council
have
no
formal
role
in
this
design,
construction
or
actual
plans
for
our
schools,
Beyond
funding
them
I
had
requests
from
several
departments
for
some
new
positions.
C
C
Under
this
proposed
budget,
Cranston
taxpayers
will
pay
98.5
million
dollars
towards
overall
school
budget
of
approximately
178
million
dollars.
That
fundings
include
the
additional
2.5
million
dollars.
I
gave
the
schools
in
the
last
two
years
now
built
into
the
city's
required
maintenance
of
effort.
C
Last
year,
when
the
new
teacher
contract
before
the
council
for
ratification
I
initially
had
some
concern
about
the
overall
cost.
I
was
criticized
But,
ultimately
lowered.
My
comments
upon
assurances
that
the
schools
had
the
ability
to
fund
the
contracts
without
impairing
student
services
or
extracurricular
activities
and
in
the
silly
months
I
have
advised
the
school
leadership
that
City
budget
challenges
would
limit
my
ability
to
extend
another
year
or
of
extra
money,
as
I
had
in
my
first
two
years.
C
I
remain
confident
that
our
school
leaders
can
work
with
available
resources
to
meet
the
needs
of
our
students
without
affecting
programs
and
services
between
increased
state
aid,
local
tax
dollars,
their
Elementary
and
secondary
school
emergency
relief
fund
and
a
reserve
fund
balance.
They
can
keep
our
schools
adequately.
Funded.
C
C
That
will
also
include
funding
to
launch
the
Demolition
and
construction
for
Gladstone
Elementary
School.
Earlier
this
week,
I
Advanced
the
plans
for
the
new
bloodlong
pool
with
Council
approval
of
some
APA
funds.
We
will
get
it
formally
designed
and
out
to
bid
the
capital
budget
includes
up
to
four
million
dollars
for
the
pool's
Construction
in
modernization
next
year.
C
C
The
police
department
had
proposed
using
Capital
funds
towards
improvements
at
our
police
range.
Unfortunately,
when
the
Planning
Commission
weighed
various
priorities,
they
did
not
see
the
merits
of
allocating
any
funding
for
that
project.
I
am
committed
to
working
with
Colonel
windquist
to
explore
other
options
for
the
surrounding
neighborhood,
as
I
laid
out
in
the
budget
plan.
I
looked
at
all
forms
of
Revenue
to
help
pay
for
these
services.
C
I
have
met
with
the
governor
to
ask
for
help
from
the
state's
multi-million
dollar
Surplus.
As
a
fairness
issue
for
the
drain
on
Cranston
services
to
the
state's
Howard,
complex
I
employ
members
of
the
general
assembly
to
use
their
considerable
seniority
and
influence
to
help
Cranston
taxpayers.
With
more
direct
Aid
to
the
city,
we
looked
at
possible
grants
as
a
source
of
funding.
Before
looking
to
the
taxpayers.
C
C
C
We
will
retain
the
balance
of
available
funds
for
identified.
Community
needs.
The
overall
budget
I
am
submitting
tonight.
As
stated
for
the
fiscal
year,
2024
is
approximately
325
million
dollars.
In
order
to
balance
this
budget,
it
will
include
a
small
proposed
tax
increase
to
pay
for
the
increased
costs
of
our
government
obligations
of
misreductions
in
state
funding.
C
C
C
C
C
At
the
outset
tonight,
I
said,
the
primary
goal
of
this
budget
is
to
continue
to
protect
our
long-term
Financial
well-being
and
keep
Cranston
affordable
for
all
residents
in
families.
We
have
met
that
test.
I,
look
forward
to
your
favorable
consideration
and,
as
always,
one
Cranston
one
heartbeat.
Thank
you
and
good
night.
A
A
Please
refer
to
the
city's
calendar
for
those
times
and
dates.
The
actual
hearings
will
take
place
on
Tuesday
April
4th
Thursday
April,
6th
Monday,
April
10th
and
Tuesday
April
11th,
finally,
Tuesday
April
18th,
with
amendments
to
be
heard
on
Thursday,
April,
20th
and
full
budget
adoption
to
be
heard
on
April
27th
and
finally,
if
there
are
any
mayoral
vetoes
that
we
reserve
May
9th
for
the
final
adoption
and
overrides
at
this
time,
I
would
like
to
hear
a
motion
to
adjourn
so.