Beginning in 2026, all businesses utilizing a city mooring in Newport Harbor will be required to carry liability insurance.

The second reading of the ordinance change requiring insurance for commercial moorings was unanimously approved by the city council on Nov. 13. Under the new ordinance, proof of insurance must be provided to the city annually during the permit renewal process and liability limits must be a minimum of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.

With permit renewals due on Nov. 14, harbormaster Stephen Land said the city wanted to give enough time for businesses to familiarize themselves with and adjust to the change.

“They can shop around; the insurance is cheap,” he said. “They can add it on to other business insurance they may have as well, but there’s still a whole season where they can technically operate without insurance.”

The requirement will take effect for the 2026 season. Renewals are due next November. By that time, businesses will need to provide proof of insurance along with their annual permit renewal application. No proof of insurance is required for 2025 mooring rentals, the renewal process for which is happening now.

Additionally, the council unanimously approved a string of expenditures related to infrastructure repairs, vehicles and more. A $42,000 contract was awarded to Structural Preservation Systems of Connecticut to “repoint” a brick wall above the gymnasium roof at Innovate Newport, and $190,000 was approved for A&M Sheet Metal and Roofing of Riverside to replace three lower roofs on the Martin Recreation Center. Water penetration and failure of the rubber roof system caused damage to the roofs.

The work at the Recreation Center includes replacement of the flat roof system over the locker rooms, hallway and office space, with new insulation and rubber membrane.

“The rubber membrane over the office space has failed and shrunk, causing it to pull away from the building, allowing water to enter the structure,” said City Manager Colin Kennedy in a memo to the council. “The locker room and connecting hallway roofs have come to their end of useful lives, requiring replacement before any major problems arise.”

The roof of the gymnasium will also need to be replaced, according to the city, though further funding is required, and the replacement is not yet being pursued.

A tracked atrium lift was purchased from All Access Equipment of Massachusetts for $121,000. The lift will be used by various departments to complete maintenance on buildings, mechanical systems and landscapes.

The city will also pay $62,500 to VHB of Providence for grant support to allow the city to seek federal infrastructure grant funding. The city said the on-call contract with VHB will only be utilized “if specific grant programs present favorable eligibility requirements for the city to advance capital infrastructure projects.”

The city is hoping to secure such federal funding through a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RISE) grant to assist with the reconstruction of Bellevue Avenue.

The city’s recent spending also extends to the Utilities Department. An additional $15,000 will be expended out of the city’s water fund capital account for phragmites control and herbicide application at Easton’s Pond over a three-year period. The contract was awarded to The Pond and Lake Connection of Connecticut.

Hoping to curb flooding in the North End, the council also committed $1.2 million from the water pollution control division’s capital improvement program for a matching share of a federal resilience grant program. If the city is successful in applying for the grant, the funding will allow the city to improve drainage in the North End and advance equity in the neighborhood’s flood mitigation and climate-resilient infrastructure.

“The proposed project will increase the resiliency and capability of the city’s stormwater infrastructure and will have direct benefits for residents and businesses,” said Kennedy. “The drainage infrastructure improvements align with [the North End Urban Plan].”

The improvements were proposed by Jacobs Engineering, a consultant hired by the city to study flooding in the North End. Jacobs has been working with North End residents, who have reported “repetitive loss and fear for their safety” over flooding, according to the city.

In other matters:

A resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a settlement agreement between the city and parties related to the appeals of Salve Regina University’s planned construction of dormitories was unanimously approved. Under the settlement, the university and objecting neighbors have agreed to allowing Salve to build one dormitory, among other provisions.

The council received the resignation of Dennis Bristow from the Tree and Open Space Commission. The city is hoping to fill vacancies on multiple boards and commissions, including the Affirmative Action Commission, the Historic District Commission, the Beach Commission and the Tree and Open Space Commission.

The Juneteenth National Freedom Day (June 19) and Veterans Day (Nov. 11) holidays were codified into local ordinances.