Oscar Vargas
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 9
- Total speaking time
- 26:58
- Avg per meeting
- 3:00
- Segments
- 428
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Top issues during term (20)
Rebecca Johnson disability retirement waiver
Potential future pension costs for the city, depending on the Retirement Board's decisions.
Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center tax abatement
The city forgoes $18,969.60 on 728 Broad Street and $1,775.36 on 522 Public Street in 2026 tax revenue.
FY2026-2027 city budget with no tax increase
The tax levy ordinance would collect between $419.4 million and $436.2 million, setting property tax rates for FY2026-2027.
FY2026-2027 property tax levy and rates
The tax levy ordinance would collect between $419.4 million and $436.2 million, setting property tax rates for FY2026-2027.
Green Revolving Fund for city buildings
Roughly $54 million net investment in city buildings, offset by up to $12 million in energy savings by 2040.
Providence Build Act — affordable housing tax stabilization rules
Would defer tax revenue from qualifying affordable projects for two years.
Emergency alerting: Code Red, 311, and wireless alerts
PVD 311 development carries a $150,000 contract line in the IT budget.
Providence Rent Stabilization Act — first passage
The administration has estimated costs of $10–17 million; the amendment package adds about $52,000 a year for rent board member pay.
city council ward forum
No direct city spending is attached to the forum itself, but the people onstage will help decide how Ward 1’s share of the budget and services gets spent.
city divestment vote on Israel
The wallet question is whether divestment narrows investment options or adds costs and risk to city funds—possibly pensions—so returns could suffer if it’s done carelessly.
City property transfers to the Redevelopment Agency
Unknown sale or reuse value; losing the drop-off site could add disposal costs for residents.
Salt storage and supply
Cost of salt distribution not specified in the resolution.
Repeal of E2000 Realty tax stabilization agreement
Ending the tax break returns the property to fuller taxation, modestly helping the city's tax base.
Sidewalk snow clearing gap
Any expanded sidewalk program would require new funding; a prior one-year contract for overpass sidewalks was not renewed.
Providence Rent Stabilization Act veto
Ryan argued the ordinance's true fiscal cost to the city was never quantified.
Winter storm preparedness and unified command
After-action reporting on last winter's storms
Snow plow vendor and equipment shortage
Vendor pay rates were raised about two years ago and Providence now pays roughly 20% more than the state — costs that factor into resident conversations about property taxes.
Stormwater flooding on Valley Street
Commemorative marker for Ray Cox, 'The Baseball Girl'
Unknown — the cost of any future marker hasn't been discussed on the record.
Decisions during term (208)
Recorded while Vargas was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Motion to enter Exhibit 1 — Providence Schools Capital Project Update (Downes Construction)
Motion to enter Exhibit 2 — Capital Plan Update (LeftField Project Management)
Motion to enter Exhibit 1 — PEMA Winter Storm Prep Presentation
Motion to enter Exhibit 2 — DPW Snow Ops Presentation
Disability Waiver Ordinance — Rebecca Johnson
Disability Waiver Ordinance — Jessica Nunez
Motion to take Item 4 out of order
Resolution Abating Tax Year 2026 Taxes for the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center
Resolution Abating Taxes for Shiloh Gospel Temple for Tax Year 2026
Ordinance amending Chapter 5, Section 5-121 (flood-hazard building provisions)
Motion to enter Substitute A into the record for Item #2
Ordinance amending Chapter 15 to add Sec. 15-16.1 and amend Sec. 15-2 (crosswalk parking ban)
Water revenue bond ordinance for lead service replacement
Disability waiver ordinance (Rebecca Johnson)
AS220 tax abatement resolution
Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center tax abatement
City deposits at community banks resolution
Receive items 1 and 2 (special meeting call and warrant)
Approval of Thomas Morgan as Purchasing Agent for Providence Public Schools
Divestment ordinance to the ballot
Voting record (23)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
$140 million school bond authorization
PPBA $26.5 million bond authorization
Approval of Journal of Proceedings No. 17 (July 2, 2026)
Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, 'Administration' (Property Alert Notifications)
Zoning Amendment: 349 Killingly Street, R-1 to R-3 (Plat 115, Lot 626)
Zoning Amendment: 149 Governor Street, R-3 to R-P (Plat 14, Lot 128)
Zoning Amendment: Providence College Institutional Zone Expansion (Plat 119, Lots 197, 235, 251, 184, 252)
Zoning Amendment: 163 North Main Street, R-P to C-2 (Plat 10, Lot 41)
Ordinance Adding Article XIX, 'Providence 8 Law Qualifications' (Chapter 21)
Ordinance Adding Article XIX, 'The Providence Build Act' (Chapter 21)
Motion to enter executive session
Motion to reconvene in open session
Passage of budget ordinances 3-7 for the first time
PERA ordinance passes first reading (item 29)
Resolution Creating the Special Committee on Ways and Means
Rent Stabilization Ordinance — first passage (Item 23)
Rent control will not work; the city needs jobs, businesses and revenue instead.