2019 -- S 0950

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LC002741

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $300,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND COMMERCE

CORPORATION FOR ALLOCATION TO THE DEFENSE ECONOMY COMMUNITY

REINVESTMENT PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Seveney, Euer, and Felag

     Date Introduced: June 05, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     WHEREAS, The Defense Economy Community Reinvestment Program was established

by § 30-32-5.1 to "assist defense-dependent municipalities to develop and implement alternative

economic diversification strategies that repurpose surplus defense facilities and properties….";

and

     WHEREAS, The three Aquidneck Island communities (Middletown, Newport and

Portsmouth) recently completed an Aquidneck Island Infrastructure Realignment Assessment.

The Realignment Assessment presents opportunities to transfer ownership of selected US Navy

infrastructure to local governments and/or other public and private entities; and

     WHEREAS, The Navy's presence on the island has significantly declined since the

infrastructure was constructed in the 1940s and 1950s. Most of the US Navy properties north of

Greene Lane are inactive and preparing for divestiture. Several are undergoing environmental

assessment and cleanup activities. The infrastructure predominantly serves real estate, some of

which offers attractive development opportunities. Five former tank farms and Navy support

facilities, in particular, present attractive opportunities for development. Over 250 acres have

views of Narragansett Bay; and

     WHEREAS, Consistent with their plan for divestiture of these properties, the Navy has

announced their desire to transfer ownership of the roadway, water, and sewer infrastructure

serving properties north of Greene Lane to local governments and/or other public and private

entities. The Aquidneck Island communities recognize the Navy's presence remains significant

and important to the Island's economy, and they regularly meet with Navy representatives to

cooperatively address island-wide interests and issues; and

     WHEREAS, The communities recognize that the Navy's request to transfer infrastructure

assets provides an opportunity to acquire funding and implement improvements to their own

infrastructure systems. This Assessment summarizes the general goals of the communities and

key stakeholders, documents the assets proposed for transfer, and identifies opportunities for

implementing a transfer of ownership that is amenable to all parties. The assets evaluated consist

of:

     • Portions of three roadways totaling approximately 18,100 LF;

     • Approximately 65,000 LF of water distribution piping along with two booster stations,

an underground reservoir, hydrants, valves, meters, and other appurtenances; and

     • Approximately 28,000 LF of gravity sewer line and 18,000 LF of pressure sewer along

with four pump stations, manholes, and other appurtenances.

     WHEREAS, To that end, three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) is necessary to

pursue a study of legal procedures and to perform hydraulic capacity and condition assessments

of the roadway, water and sewer infrastructure. This infrastructure supports two of three RI's and

Aquidneck Island's critical economic sectors, including military and related activities (such as the

research-and-development sector) and marine related activities and boating; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2019-2020, the sum of three hundred thousand dollars

($300,000) to the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation for allocation to the Defense Economy

Community Reinvestment Program; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to

draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as

may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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LC002741

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