2026-10-05 - Municipal Caucus

00:02My watch is showing 4:05

00:06p.m. May we have a roll call for the

00:08commencement of this meeting? Council

00:10person Brooks,

00:12not here. Council person Zupa,

00:15>> no. Council person Ephro,

00:17>> present.

00:18>> Council person Little,

00:19>> present.

00:20>> Council person Gilmore,

00:22no. Council person Singh,

00:24>> here.

00:25>> Council person Griffin,

00:27>> here. Council person Lavaro

00:29>> here

00:30>> and council president Ridley

00:32>> here.

00:33>> We have six council members present.

00:36Okay. Council person Gilmore is here. We

00:38have seven council members present at

00:404:05 p.m. On behalf of Council President

00:44Ridley and the members of the municipal

00:46council, in accordance with New Jersey

00:48Public Laws of 1975, chapter 231, the

00:52Open Public Meetings Act, also known as

00:54the Sunshine Law, adequate notice of

00:56this meeting has been provided by

00:58posting on the bulletin board of the

00:59first floor of city hall this annual

01:01notice, which upon it is printed the

01:04schedule of meetings and caucuses for

01:05the council for the calendar year 2026.

01:08and it was also filed in the office of

01:10the city clerk on Tuesday, November

01:1225th, 2025. In addition, at the time of

01:16its preparation, the agenda of this

01:18meeting was disseminated on Tuesday,

01:20September 29th, 2026 at 11:22 a.m. to

01:24the mayor, municipal council, business

01:26administrator, corporation council, and

01:28to the local newspapers, as well as

01:30posted on the city's website so I can

01:33certify as to our total compliance with

01:35the sunshine law.

01:38Council President, you wish to take it

01:39from here?

01:40>> All right. Good afternoon everyone.

01:44Today we will start with OEM director

01:48Kierce.

01:53>> Good afternoon, President Ridley and

01:55members of the city council here to

01:58speak on ordinance 26-084.

02:04Um, I had to send you all a memo based

02:05on some questions that were asked. I'll

02:07read the memo into the record and then

02:09I'll stand for any questions you may

02:11have. Dear President Ridley and council,

02:14city council members, please see the

02:15below response to the questions raised

02:17by council members regarding this

02:18subject. The fees for use of the

02:21training facility are established by

02:22city ordinance. However, there is

02:24nothing that prevents us from modifying

02:26those fees when necessary. Our research

02:29indicates that the associated fees are

02:31not otherwise limited by law. Prior to

02:34the opening of the training facility,

02:36extensive research was conducted

02:38regarding fees charged by governmental

02:40organizations with similar indoor

02:41facilities. Two examples are provided

02:44below. One is Mars County. Mars County

02:47Police Academy provides full use of its

02:49facility to all departments within the

02:51county at no charge. The second was

02:54Howell Township. The average cost is

02:56approximately $200 per day. Based on the

03:00franchise proposed fees outlined in the

03:02ordinance, our rates are generally

03:04comparable or exceed those charged by

03:07other governmental entities operating

03:08similar indoor facilities. With the

03:11addition of the port authority, which

03:12primarily utilizes the facility outside

03:15of the normal business hours, we

03:17reviewed the costs associated with

03:19having a range instructor work overtime.

03:21Based on those costs, an additional $500

03:24fee was established for use of the

03:26facility outside of the normal business

03:28hours. It is also important to clarify

03:31that the instructors assigned to the

03:32training facility are civilian employees

03:35and not sworn police officers. The

03:37proposed fee schedule is also intended

03:40to cover the associated maintenance

03:41course related to the range operations.

03:44Please let me know if additional

03:45information or clarification is needed.

03:49So, director um basically what it's it's

03:52almost like um like good like good faith

03:55working with other law enforcement to

03:57keep these fees minimal.

03:59>> That's correct. Um what we've done when

04:02uh we found out shortly after opening

04:04arrange councilman that many of the

04:06departments are seeking like an alocart

04:09setup where they may not use the

04:11simulator. They may not need classrooms.

04:13They may not either other areas that we

04:16use for training at the facility. It's

04:17strictly there to use the facility for

04:19the firearms qualifications.

04:21>> Okay. And and we're talking about mult

04:25probably multiple municipalities.

04:27>> Yeah. We have approximately between 8

04:29and 10 now. Uh the port authority coming

04:32on board. Uh that'll be we'll be

04:34utilizing the facility um when it was in

04:37the evening shift. So potentially when

04:39we get into full operation with them

04:41that will result probably close to

04:43$200,000 a year in rental fees.

04:46>> Oh, okay. Well, hey, that works.

04:49director as it relates to this um

04:53this fee of that include 500 after 300

04:57PM. Um so typically what are some

05:01instance where some people may be in

05:03there after 3 p.m. and how many staff

05:05will be allocated? Right now we have

05:08just the there's nobody in the facility

05:10after 3 p.m. presently. However, we have

05:14proposed to hire an additional range

05:16instructor to deal specifically with the

05:18port authority folks. They will be

05:20pretty much protecting our assets. Uh

05:23they will not be qualifying them. The

05:25port authority will be bringing their

05:26own uh police range instructors when

05:29they do the qualifications.

05:30>> So, this would only this it would only

05:32be one individual on Jersey City salary

05:36looking over I guess

05:39>> to watch our Yeah. to make sure all of

05:41our facility is covered and our back is

05:43covered so to speak.

05:45>> Um,

05:45>> and will we be using the um the overtime

05:49uh program for that?

05:51>> Uh, right now we are limit basically the

05:55person who was to be hired is in quue.

05:57Uh there's some issues back at far the

05:59budgeting issues which I know director

06:02Ambrose's office is working on. Um we

06:04are doing tour exchanges now. Um, so

06:08when they come on board full-time, we

06:10hopefully will have that instructor

06:11there. This way we'll have no overtime.

06:14>> Okay.

06:15>> As a follow-up question, um,

06:19we are hiring an additional person so

06:21that the port authority can use our

06:23facilities after regular hours. Um would

06:27this indiv do we anticipate that this

06:30fee that we're proposing will be enough

06:33to cover not just this individual's

06:35salary but also their benefits?

06:38>> The person's a retired police sergeant

06:40for the port authority will not require

06:41benefits.

06:44>> Okay. So there there it's a part-time

06:46position. There's no health benefits.

06:48There's no no nothing. No, it'll be

06:51he'll be paid as a full-time employee,

06:52but he's not requiring, but not asking

06:54require asking or requiring benefits. He

06:57has benefits from his previous employer.

07:00>> Okay. Um and so then we expect that this

07:06amount that we're charging will cover

07:09his salary and it will be a a

07:13Yeah, the proposed salary for the

07:15position is approximately $41,500

07:18a year. And as I mentioned earlier, when

07:21they go fully operational after January,

07:24um potentially it'll be about a $200,000

07:27um income towards the city.

07:31>> Okay. So, this will be a revenue

07:32generator for the city.

07:35>> This will generate revenue for the city

07:37and and the revenue generated will be

07:39greater than the individual sales.

07:41>> Yes, absolutely.

07:43>> Wonderful. I'm I'm happy to hear that.

07:44Thank you.

07:47>> Any other questions? 3.4.

07:50>> Just a a a question. Um

07:53the the whereas points to the um

07:56facility's name being updated uh from

07:59deescalation center to public safety

08:02training facility. Is this a is this

08:04accompanying a kind of commensurate

08:06change in the kind of use of the actual

08:09space or has it always been or has it

08:12long been used for more than just

08:14deescalation training? It's the

08:16escalation was is part of the ongoing

08:18training councilman. I think basically

08:20they wanted the law department had

08:21wanted clarity when it comes to

08:23documents with outside agency. This way

08:25there's one name of the facility which

08:28will be on all the associated documents.

08:31>> Right. Thank you.

08:35>> Thank you director.

08:36>> Thank you. Have a nice evening.

08:39Next, director Dublin, DPW.

08:48Good evening, council and council

08:49president. I have three resolutions for

08:51your consideration. First resolution is

08:54authorizing the payment and claims

08:56submitted by United sales providing

08:59janitorial custodial supplies and

09:02through for our city- owned buildings.

09:05>> What's the number? Oh, the amount is

09:0734,000.

09:08>> No, the the item number, the agenda

09:10number

09:11>> 10.34.

09:14>> 10.34.

09:17>> Any questions? 10.34.

09:26Next one. Next one is 10.35. resolution

09:30authorizing the award of a competitive

09:32bid contract to Sims Metal for our

09:36disposal of our recycling. That's the

09:37coal mingle, glass, aluminum, um, and

09:39plastics.

09:41>> Questions 10.35.

09:45>> Next one, director.

09:46>> Next one is 10.36. Resolution

09:49authorizing a memorandum of

09:51understanding between the city of Jury

09:53City and the public library for

09:54equipment to be transferred for our sign

09:57making um, shop.

10:00And then that is

10:03we're getting

10:04>> we're going to get

10:04>> we're getting machines library.

10:06>> Yes. So it's a printer, ink, um rolls

10:09and laser cutter.

10:11>> Questions 10.36.

10:13>> Yeah. What what which library is this

10:15equipment coming from?

10:17>> Um that would be from the main library.

10:20>> From from the main library.

10:21>> Yes, the main. Okay.

10:22>> I believe that's the one on Jersey.

10:25>> Mhm. So, they got new equipment or

10:28>> I'm not quite sure if they have new

10:29equipment, but this equipment was the

10:30one that they were offering um to our

10:32sign shop and we can definitely put good

10:34use to it.

10:35>> Okay.

10:37Um my only my only recommendation is

10:41just with regards to um just the naming

10:46of the

10:48um referring to the naming of the

10:51different locations because like some of

10:53these people were very instrumental um

10:56and their names are placed on these

10:58buildings. Um so that would be my only

11:00recommendation.

11:01>> Absolutely. My apologies. The Priscilla

11:02Gardner Library

11:07Okay. And then you wanted to speak on

11:091010, right?

11:10>> So the next one is uh resolution 1010. I

11:14wanted to take this time to thank

11:15council president and the council for

11:17honoring the life and legacy of Shella

11:19Lane through this resolution on behalf

11:22of her DPW family. It means so much to

11:24us to see her dedication and service

11:26recognized. Shella was a valued member

11:28of our DPW family with whose resilience

11:31touched everyone around her through her

11:33long battle of cancer. She showed

11:36extraordinary strength coming to work

11:38after receiving even chemotherapy. Still

11:40determining to contribute and help

11:42others. Her worth went far beyond the

11:45work she did and it was in her heart in

11:48her kindness and the care she showed um

11:50to others around her. Shella worked hard

11:53to rebuild her life and used her

11:55strength to uplift uplift others. This

11:57resolution honors a woman who persevered

12:00through so much and left a longl lasting

12:03um memory in our hearts and in our city.

12:06I want to thank you from the bottom of

12:07our hearts for helping us keep her

12:09memory alive. Shell will be greatly

12:11missed and will always be a part of the

12:13DPW family. And with that, I thank you

12:15once again from the bottom of our hearts

12:16on behalf of the entire department of

12:18public works.

12:20Uh, director, um, do you have a a date

12:23and time for the memorial?

12:25>> That has not been shared with us as of

12:26yet, but the moment that we, um, have

12:28it, I'll make sure to share it.

12:30>> Okay. Um, I did know people who knew her

12:33and um, you know, I just want to say

12:36that that she she had a a great story of

12:40triumph and and and overcoming a lot of

12:43battles and um,

12:44>> has me speaks volumes of being able to

12:49>> build yourself back up and Shell great

12:51honor and not only being able to face

12:54those problems head on before being

12:56diagnosed with her cancer treatment, but

12:58to also help others that were in her

13:00same path. have rebuild their lives.

13:02>> Right.

13:04>> Thank you. Thank you, director. Please

13:06keep us posted.

13:07>> I absolutely will. Thank you so much.

13:10>> I do want to note the arrival of council

13:13members Brooks and Zupa at 4:08 p.m.

13:19>> Next, uh, finance Vivian

13:30Good. Good afternoon, Coun President and

13:33Council. I have one resolution for your

13:36consideration. Agenda 10.1, resolution

13:4026-616.

13:43It's a resolution authorizing the

13:44insertion of a special item of revenue

13:47and appropriation for the 2026 municipal

13:50budget. And that's the insertion of

13:54five grants. Um the FIFA World Cup grant

13:58which is a reimbursement

14:00YASI for 2026

14:03CDBG

14:05um KIPP

14:09and there was a small additional amount

14:11that was awarded to WIC for 2026

14:16totaling $3.3 million.

14:20questions on 10.1.

14:23>> Just a comment. I think um there might

14:26be a typo with

14:28CDBG

14:30grant line and then below

14:33listed as CSBG.

14:35>> This is CD

14:36>> H.

14:37>> This is the CDBG. They get CS and CD,

14:41>> right? So on the top side,

14:43>> okay, I'm sorry. I do Okay. I do see

14:46where you

14:47>> Yes.

14:47>> Yes. Okay.

14:49We will correct that.

14:53>> Any other questions for Director Web?

14:56>> Um, director. Well, I guess this is

14:58probably more of a question for the

15:00administration. So, the the 816,000

15:05for this childhoodled exposure, this

15:08lead remediation program. Um, do we have

15:12a plan? because I know at one point uh

15:15this money's been sitting

15:18um and we weren't able to use it. So, do

15:21we have a a plan for this this trout

15:24money to make sure one residents know?

15:29Um or we can partner with some nonprofit

15:32organizations that do work centered

15:35around this. Um, I know this probably

15:37more of a question for

15:42uh health and human services

15:49may housing. Yes, it should be uh I

15:51think well they work in conjunction with

15:53them.

15:55>> Good afternoon. I am director Charles

15:57Mays Jr. I am the director of

15:59environmental health and we have a clip

16:02grant for $816,000.

16:04We we pay salaries. We pay everything is

16:07self-sufficient with the club grant as

16:09far as our healthy homes is concerned.

16:13>> I'm speaking um

16:16is does this grant incumbent or include

16:20the child uh the childled safety

16:24program?

16:25>> Yes, it does. CPP

16:27>> and I remember when director Richardson

16:30was over there um with this lead grant

16:34that we were having trouble getting the

16:36money spent. Are you familiar with that?

16:38>> Those are two different grants that we

16:41do deal with strictly children. So

16:43that's we are reactive that's proactive.

16:46So two different grants.

16:48>> So it's a it's a separate grant.

16:50>> Two separate things. So is this the

16:51grant once lead is flagged they can

16:54reach out for the services

16:57>> as far as for children

16:58>> for children. Yes. Okay.

17:00>> Yes. That's the one we have all the MRUs

17:02with the county.

17:03>> Yeah. That's the one.

17:04>> All right.

17:07>> Any other questions?

17:08>> Yeah. So okay. Um so then if this is

17:13reactionary so is this something like

17:15are we paying like medical bills with

17:17this for children or like what what

17:19>> everything is encompassed in that one

17:21grant everything including salaries

17:23bills equipment

17:26supplies everything is covered even

17:28theus

17:30>> yes

17:31if I'm wrong director if there's an

17:33instance where the health department

17:36goes out to someone house and it's

17:38determined that it's lead there and a

17:39shower is there there's a process they

17:42fill out the application and the

17:43mediation

17:44>> and the abatement is done by the owner

17:46there's nothing done with us

17:47>> yes

17:49but they have to have individuals on

17:51salary

17:52>> right

17:53>> right everything is covered

17:54>> salary

17:55>> partial salary

17:56>> partial salary

17:57>> well the only one that's partial is

17:59maybe three people and everything else

18:00is 100%

18:01>> every okay

18:08>> okay so with this grant Right. We go

18:10out, lead is found and everything. Now,

18:13if a child tests positive for for lead,

18:16>> I can explain the whole process if you

18:18want me to.

18:18>> Okay. We can do that offline.

18:20>> Okay. You want me to now? It's quick.

18:23>> Okay.

18:23>> Just make it quick. All right. Child

18:26goes to the pediatrician, gets a blood

18:28test, it's flagged. Once it's flagged,

18:32it goes to the state. The state

18:33distributes it to us where it is, Jersey

18:35City. Although our two nurses cover the

18:38whole entire county, they go out, they

18:41do home home visits or whatever. We

18:43determine

18:45if you know if it's high enough, do we

18:47do education or do we make a case out of

18:49this? Once it's a case, we have an lead

18:52inspectors that go out, investigate the

18:54house, find out where the lead is, make

18:57sure the environment is safe. Once it

18:59comes back, we write up uh whatever

19:02violations we find, sometimes tickets or

19:05whatever. We give them enough 90 days to

19:07fix the problem. They get their own

19:09letter abatement person to come in. We

19:11verify. We do a clearance check. If it's

19:14good, we we close the case. If it's not,

19:17we go further.

19:19Just that simple.

19:20>> Okay.

19:22>> And if it's not found at the home, do

19:24you guys go out to like the kids school?

19:26>> The nurses do. We can't we can't really

19:29uh inspect their schools as this is a

19:32private home.

19:33>> Okay.

19:34>> The county would do that. Hutchin

19:35Regional would take care of that.

19:37>> Okay.

19:39>> Okay. Thank you, director.

19:42>> Oh,

19:48we can't hear you. You can come. Thank

19:50you.

19:53Under purpose on the fact sheet the

19:56first line says the insertion of

19:592,574,545.

20:03I'm not sure if that's supposed to be

20:053,391,000.

20:14>> Director, get the mic.

20:17Yes, it looks that was we added the KIPP

20:20grant because it came after we did the

20:22original resolution. So that was a typo

20:24on my error where

20:28>> but it was the 3.3 total.

20:32>> Okay, any other questions? 10.1.

20:36Thank you.

20:40Director Diaz, community development.

20:51Good afternoon, council. I have uh five

20:53uh mortgage discharges for you today. Uh

20:56first one is agenda number 10.19

21:00resolution 26-634.

21:03This is discharging a mortgage on

21:0690-90.5

21:08Woodward at uh Street. Sorry.

21:10>> So, director, it looks like you have a

21:12lot of discharge of mortgages today,

21:14right? Yes.

21:15>> I guess give us the uh item numbers and

21:17the address associated with each of

21:20those so you don't have to go through

21:21one by one.

21:22>> Gotcha. Okay. Uh the next one would be

21:24agenda item 10.20 resolution 26-

21:29635. This is to discharge 460-462

21:35Pacific Avenue.

21:37Um agenda item 10.21 21 resolution

21:4026-636

21:43discharging a mortgage on 468-470

21:48Pacific Avenue. Um I also have agenda

21:51number 10.23 resolution 26-638

21:57uh discharging for 476-476.5

22:03Pacific Avenue.

22:05Uh

22:08last one is agenda number

22:1110.24 resolution 26-

22:16639 and this is discharging a mortgage

22:18for 478-478.5

22:22Pacific Avenue.

22:24>> Do you have 10.22?

22:32That's uh 472 through 474 Pacific

22:36Avenue.

22:42>> Oh, yes. I'm sorry. So, resolution of

22:44the municipal council again uh to

22:46discharge

22:48uh 472-474

22:51Pacific Avenue.

22:53>> Questions on these mortgages?

22:55>> Are these 955 homes?

22:57>> Yes, these Well, I don't know. Uh, good.

23:00>> Let's let the director answer.

23:02>> Um, I don't believe so. I have uh home

23:05mortgages on all of them here,

23:10>> but I can double check and get

23:12>> So, are is the is the expir is the um

23:17what they call it the period have the

23:19period expired on all of these here?

23:22>> Yes, they're all been expired.

23:25run recently or

23:26>> um so some of these go back as to as

23:29late as 1999. So they would have

23:32anywhere from 10 to 15 years. So I think

23:34they're way over the amount of their

23:36affordability period

23:38>> and these and you said they are not 955.

23:41>> Um I don't believe so. I'm going to

23:43double check and get back to you. I have

23:45them all as home properties here.

23:48>> Yeah, because I I don't

23:50>> You're talking about the grant. The home

23:52grant?

23:53>> Yes. That's the whole granch.

23:55>> I believe I believe the city used those

23:57for 955, right? The home grants

24:00>> because that's the whole block.

24:01>> That's the whole block.

24:05>> That's from ash to

24:09So how do So if

24:12I'm just

24:15So the init the initial expiration you

24:18said was 99 or that's when they were put

24:20on? uh that were put on in 1995.

24:23>> Oh, these are the 95.

24:24>> Yeah, these got to be 95.

24:26>> By the date, you can you can tell. Um

24:29>> I could make sure for you and let you

24:31know if there was any kind of uh

24:32payments that were

24:33>> So, I guess the the bigger question is

24:36if we're releasing restriction on 955,

24:41are we releasing all of them? Some of

24:43them? Because this was the problem we've

24:45had for like the last five or six years.

24:49Some people that was on the list wasn't

24:51on the list. Some people sold their

24:52house. The title company didn't find it.

24:55Some people transferred that. It just

24:56was all over the place. So, if we're

24:59going to have a universal protocol for

25:01all of the establishments,

25:04then we need to be privy to that. Um,

25:07we're releasing some. Why not the other

25:09ones? All of them were in or around the

25:11same period. What does this release do?

25:14Do it push them back into the uh

25:17original tax bracket because once they

25:19come out of the subsidy, part of that is

25:23paying traditional tax. Are these

25:26homeowners privy to like what exactly is

25:28going on?

25:28>> I would have to review their home

25:30mortgage to just find out exactly um

25:34what the basis in on them being

25:35discharged and if uh the affordability

25:37agreement continues separate from us on

25:40their mortgage. But who who brought

25:41forth this is what I'm trying to

25:43>> um usually we get these from the

25:44homeowner themselves. When they're ready

25:46to sell, they come approach us and they

25:48ask us for a discharge.

25:49>> So

25:51I just want to make sure I get this

25:52straight. All of these homeowners in the

25:55same exact corridor reached out to your

25:57office asking for the mortgage to be

25:59discharged.

26:00>> Uh that is the process. I could confirm.

26:02Yeah.

26:03>> No, no, I'm I'm very aware of the

26:05process. I just want to know in this

26:06particular instant what took place. Um,

26:09I could speak to the parallegal just to

26:11make sure that's uh she's the one that

26:12overviews our discharges. I could speak

26:14to her just to see how we came about

26:16these

26:17>> because I'm I'm extremely concerned like

26:20these are properties all in the same

26:22exact area.

26:24>> Yeah,

26:25>> literally the whole that whole same

26:27strip.

26:27>> Yeah, I see that.

26:32>> All right. So, director, if we can work

26:34on that offline with the councilman so

26:36we can get some clarity by uh Wednesday,

26:39that would be

26:40>> Yes, I will do.

26:41>> Any other questions?

26:43>> Yeah. Any of these? Um,

26:46so we only discharge

26:49city mortgages, the mortgages that that

26:52the city provided, right? Because I know

26:53these 955s,

26:55some of their contracts through the

26:57city, some were through the state.

26:59>> Correct. Yeah. So, we're only

27:01discharging us the city from their

27:03mortgage.

27:04>> Okay. And with the state, were we was

27:08was there involvement or we're not sure

27:11like

27:11>> um No, the state has its own process.

27:13>> They have their own process. So, we

27:15don't have any control authority or

27:18anything over their mortgage.

27:19>> No, that would be LITC. Yeah.

27:21>> Okay. Thank you.

27:23>> Can I ask a question related to CDBG? Go

27:26ahead.

27:26>> Sure.

27:27>> Just a quick question. Um, thank you for

27:29your information and replies on this um

27:32on the CDBG public facilities, the whole

27:35whole pot of money. You indicated to me

27:38that if we if HUD requires us to accept

27:42the 2026 funds in December of I guess

27:46that's approximately 6.5 million or

27:48they're about 6 million.

27:50>> Um the 2026 award would be around four

27:53million at the moment. Yeah.

27:56>> Okay. So then an additional four million

27:58we would have to accept and then how

28:00when do we have to spend that buy and

28:02how much of it again to be in compliance

28:05with the

28:06>> um so we still have to hit that 6.5 mark

28:08at the end of January um with all our

28:11years combined that would include 2026

28:15>> with the additional four we'd

28:17>> yes

28:19>> we would still have to spend five

28:20million only

28:22>> an additional four yes some of that on

28:24nonprofits some of that on public

28:26facilities. Yes.

28:27>> Say it again. So,

28:29>> some on uh nonprofits and then some on

28:31public facilities.

28:34>> Okay. Thank you.

28:37>> Thank you, director.

28:38>> Thank you.

28:39>> Uh I am going to call Director Dublin

28:42back because it looks like we missed

28:43one.

28:48>> My sincere apologies. Um, ordinance 3.5,

28:52an ordinance authorizing the acquisition

28:55of various snow removal equipment by

28:59and for the city appropriating therefore

29:01a sum of $200,000 and providing that

29:04such sum to be appropriated shall be

29:07raised by the city's capital fund.

29:10>> Sorry, which number was this?

29:12>> 3.5.

29:14>> So,

29:17okay. Um,

29:19>> so I'll give you a little bit of

29:21background for it. So, we're um in the

29:22process of identifying a small piece of

29:24equipment that will support snow

29:26operations for our roads to equip to be

29:29um able to assist us in plowing narrow

29:32streets that have dining structures, our

29:34deadends so we won't have to back out

29:36and be able to plow them safely as well

29:39as assisting with the bike lanes.

29:41>> So,

29:44>> turn your mic on. Uh, councilwoman,

29:45>> I can't hear you. Council,

29:46>> Councilwoman saying,

29:47>> turn on your mic.

29:48>> Your mic.

30:01Yes. Sorry about that. Director Dublin,

30:04is it going to be um is it going to work

30:07for uh bike lanes? Yes. And sidewalks?

30:12It would be on our small narrow streets

30:14um such as small streets that have

30:16dining structures, our dead-end streets

30:18as well as the bike lanes.

30:20>> And you said sidewalks. Sorry, I missed

30:22that.

30:22>> Not wouldn't be for sidewalks.

30:24>> No.

30:24>> No.

30:25>> But bike lanes. Yes. Okay. Thank you,

30:27director. So we going I know because I

30:30know the last storm we had issue in

30:34particular ward F side streets all it's

30:38Randolph the trucks just couldn't get

30:40through without compromising

30:42>> that would help assist in those narrow

30:44areas we would be able to go down safely

30:46and not have to back up.

30:50>> So um just just to clarify this is one

30:53piece of equipment.

30:55>> Yes. Um and

30:58um given that this is the this once we

31:01acquire it, it will be the only piece of

31:03equipment that is small enough to fit in

31:05the one way protected by CL. We have

31:07other pieces of equipment that can fit

31:08through other ones, but this will

31:10definitely identify the areas that we

31:11struggled with in the last snowstorm by

31:13having very narrow streets

31:16and narrow obviously due to um our bike

31:19lanes, our dining structures, our

31:22deadend streets that we've had issues

31:24with in the past and that are imperative

31:27to get to.

31:28>> Thank you. Yeah, I I remember um this

31:31past winter we were told that um we we

31:34were able to get equipment into the

31:36two-way bike lanes like the one outside

31:37city hall, but the oneway bike lanes um

31:40were were too narrow and and we really

31:42struggled with them. So, this this piece

31:44of equipment will be able to do that.

31:46But my I guess my concern is that if

31:49we're just getting one piece of

31:50equipment and we're going to need it for

31:52all the one-way bike lanes, right? um

31:55the smaller bike lanes or the more

31:58narrow I should say, not not smaller in

32:00terms of usage necessarily and then also

32:02a lot of the side streets and dead ends.

32:05Um is is one piece of equipment going to

32:07be sufficient if we get a if we get a

32:09storm similar in size ones we got this

32:11year?

32:11>> I believe it will be just because we

32:13have this will be concentrated solely on

32:15those narrow streets. So it's not going

32:17to be used for anything wider than that.

32:19we would be able to um address those at

32:21come and as you know with the budget

32:22crisis we would want to buy one piece of

32:24equipment at least to address those

32:25issues that we had at the last

32:27snowstorm.

32:28>> Okay, great. Thank you so much.

32:30>> I'm sorry just just to clarify the

32:32purpose of on this does say to purchase

32:35various snow removal equipment. Um but

32:38>> it that obviously that depending um snow

32:40equipment like you know many equipment

32:42is pretty expensive. If we're able to

32:44get more than one piece of equipment,

32:45I'm sure that that's what the director

32:46is going to do, but it's to identify

32:48smaller pieces of equipment that can

32:50that can assist in these narrow streets.

32:52>> Great. We we have high hopes for this

32:54winner then. Thank you, director.

32:59>> Um, actually, I think this might be

33:02directed more to your the administration

33:04and BA's office, but the money is coming

33:07from the capital fund balance. How how

33:09does that differ from like a capital

33:11bond ordinance where we would have it?

33:14>> So this is um not funding that was

33:17appropriated to any capital budget um

33:20capital project. This is surplus

33:22capital. You may remember a couple of

33:24months back we had um proposed a use for

33:28capital surplus because this money in

33:31our capital budget has acred interests.

33:35There's surplus capital. It's always

33:38very small amounts which is this this

33:40amount here 200k. It's not ideal to

33:43spend all of it but this is what the

33:46finance department was able to identify

33:48as capital that we can spend on this

33:50urgent um piece of equipment.

33:54Um, so can I get the and I'll have my

33:56office send a council request the

33:59balance on the capital fund balance and

34:02>> it's just not clear to me just how does

34:04this balance get replenished like is it

34:08>> it it doesn't get rep replenished it

34:11acrews over time when there are capital

34:13funds that sit in the account and not

34:15being used like I'm not a finance person

34:19someone finance um my understanding is

34:22is similar to a bank account where you

34:24have money in that occurs over time

34:26because you you haven't spent it.

34:30>> Okay.

34:34>> Okay. Thank you, Director.

34:36>> Thank you so much. I apologize.

34:40>> Paul Bellumer, HHS.

34:46>> Good afternoon, Council President,

34:48council members. I am here on agenda

34:50item 10.33

34:52resolution 26-648

34:56to authorize the award of a contract uh

34:59for the purchase of a mobile outreach uh

35:02essentially a bus.

35:07>> So the the mobile outreach bus um what

35:12what does it entail? So, you may be

35:15familiar now with Ruby, not our BA, but

35:18our outreach buses. Um, uh, these are

35:22two, um, I'll say vehicles which are

35:27close to the end of their usefulness.

35:29They're large, they're difficult to

35:31maneuver. We were able to get them using

35:34COVID funding during the pandemic. Uh,

35:36this is a smaller bus, which carries

35:39certain advantages. First of all, it's

35:41brand new. It will be built to spec. It

35:44comes as a result of a successful

35:46bidding process and I'd like to thank

35:47the division of purchasing and uh Jim

35:50Lavaro in DPW for helping us get that

35:53done. Uh it's easier easier to maneuver,

35:57will be easier to maintain, and uh has

36:00an additional advantage is in that it

36:02does not require a a commercial driver's

36:05license to operate.

36:08>> Correct. Um Paul, I know Ruby I mean

36:11Ruby's old but Rubies served a good

36:13purpose. Um will individuals still be

36:16able to shower?

36:18>> Oh. Oh yes. We're well we're replacing

36:21the services which we found most useful

36:23which is uh the shower the the bathroom.

36:26Um uh we found that uh we were a little

36:30surprised but uh not many people took

36:32advantage of the laundry facilities

36:34which are on the bus. So instead, we

36:36refer them to local to local businesses

36:39that can help uh with the with laundry.

36:44>> What do you guys is there any way we can

36:47um I guess have Ruby stationary

36:50somewhere because I would imagine most

36:52of the problems come from mobility

36:54getting from point A to point B.

36:57Well, um um that's a good question,

37:00Councilman. And uh since I am coming to

37:04this project late, it was transferred to

37:06me as I took over the division of injury

37:09prevention. Again, I don't know of the

37:12plans for that. I'll certainly inquire

37:14and get the response back to you through

37:16the director's hand gesturing. So, she

37:19may have some intel for us.

37:24Afternoon,

37:27council members. Let me speak to the

37:29fact of having Ruby in one location. Um,

37:32because we're expanding on our unhoused

37:35program and outreach, it's important

37:37that we have the ability to be mobile

37:40and to work go throughout the city where

37:42we're seeing um higher incidences of of

37:45a greater density of of the unhoused. So

37:48the program is actually expanding um and

37:51we're reaching more of the unhoused in

37:53throughout Jersey City, throughout the

37:55city. Yeah. So having her stationary um

37:59would sort of defeat the purpose, but

38:01we're having we're looking at locations.

38:04Um and thank you all of you for sending

38:06us information about the various

38:08locations where you are seeing uh an

38:11increase in the unhoused. So for that

38:14reason alone, we want to ensure that the

38:16city is getting the best of our

38:17services. So by addressing those areas

38:20where there's the greatest need, I think

38:22it does does so.

38:23>> Director, I'm I'm I'm speaking because

38:26once this new vehicle come in, this

38:29vehicle will be making the rounds. You

38:32guys pitch to us basically is that

38:35Ruby's pretty much running her course.

38:37We've had it for a while. It was a older

38:39van. So, I'm saying instead of just

38:41getting rid of it, if the problems are

38:43not that major, why don't we have that

38:46one just stationary and it can

38:48>> and then utilize the others. Okay. Yeah.

38:51>> Well, did you want to speak to that?

38:52Also,

38:53>> Councilman, what we would normally do

38:55with uh equipment that we no longer need

38:58is go through a process to dispose of

39:00it. These could be offered for a nominal

39:03uh $1 to nonprofits that would wish to

39:06assume them. Uh obviously a location is

39:09needed as is staff and maintenance and

39:11those are not things that our department

39:13can support uh going forward. We we like

39:16the new solution.

39:19>> Do uh do you anticipate a schedule of

39:22the new bus? Um

39:25>> we're we're go we're going to continue

39:27the existing schedule

39:29>> and uh with increased locations and more

39:32flexibility.

39:34And how many is it? One bus or two that

39:36we're getting

39:37>> it. It is one bus.

39:39>> One. Okay. And it's smaller and more

39:41mobile.

39:42>> Correct.

39:42>> Okay.

39:43>> Uh I will also say director Diaz from uh

39:47uh DCD uh passed a question coming to

39:51coming uh about coordination with the

39:54continuum of care. That is something

39:55that we do now and will of course

39:57continue in in our new and expanded

40:00program. So, let me ask this. Um, and

40:03maybe um, Director Webb can answer this,

40:06but are there any grants out there where

40:09we can um, hire people to to stay in a

40:14stationary place with Ruby

40:18if it's run its course versus, you know,

40:20selling it off

40:22um maybe we can find salaries through

40:25through through um, grants

40:29um and and and try to keep it stationary

40:32because there there are um I mean there

40:35are multiple places where it can stay

40:37for like weeks at a time. Um, and I

40:40think it's important that, you know, we

40:43we

40:44keep it out on the street and and try to

40:47um, you know, help help as many people

40:49as we can, like the hub, Journal Square,

40:54the the Plaza, right? Um, in the

40:57Heights, there there are many places

40:59where it can it can stay for weeks at a

41:02time.

41:04I would think that could be um CSVG

41:06money where they would be able to use

41:09service money to operate the vehicle.

41:13>> Okay.

41:15Well, I I would ask the

41:17>> that would be able to cover salary.

41:18>> So, I would ask the administration to,

41:20you know, look into that so we can, you

41:23know, keep Ruby on the streets.

41:26>> But, um don't we don't we have 11

41:29million and a half to be spent?

41:30>> I was just going to say that.

41:31>> Yeah. is eligible for public facilities.

41:34>> I mean, we have a we have we that's why

41:37he's saying

41:37>> you guys miss Salo. He left the building

41:39already. We can't speak to it.

41:42>> Call Sal back and and then we have the

41:44$2 million that we um

41:47>> So, I I'll just I'll just say I'll take

41:49it back and speak with uh the folks in

41:51the administration. There's, as you guys

41:53understand, specific requirements and

41:55meet meeting every type of grant. I

41:58think this one in particular is a

41:59different grant. And Paul, I don't know

42:02if you spoke to it, that we want to use

42:04to buy this new vehicle. So that is

42:07what's being asked to vote on, but we

42:09can certainly take back what we can do

42:11of the

42:12>> for the vehicle that we're going to that

42:14we're going to keep retire. Yes.

42:16>> Right. Hash Ruby #save Ruby. There we

42:20go.

42:20>> What's What's the source of funds for

42:22this?

42:23>> This is the division of community

42:25development. It is uh um I believe it is

42:28CDBG COVID money. And um the original

42:32amount was allocated was a slightly over

42:36was 509,000.

42:38The bid came in much lower than that.

42:40And DCD has already uh repurposed the

42:43excess for uh to ensure that it is uh

42:46used in Jersey City before the end of

42:50year or before the deadline.

42:53>> What's the deadline?

42:54>> I think this this is this money is a

42:57December deadline, I think.

42:59Okay.

43:00>> If we could get verification on that.

43:04>> All right. Thank you.

43:06>> Thank you very much. And

43:07>> I'm sorry. I'm just going to ask um you

43:09briefly addressed it.

43:11Can you speak to the coordination with

43:13the continuum of care like what's the

43:15level of coordination there that we do

43:17around this?

43:18>> So, our level of coordination

43:21in at the program level, as as you know,

43:24the county gets most of HUD's homeless

43:27dollars. um for for the whole county but

43:31also for Jersey City. Uh at the program

43:34level, our coordination is uh

43:37principally through other agencies which

43:39are chartered since we are doing

43:41outreach and that is exclusively what

43:43we're doing. We work closely with the

43:45count with Garden State who is all the

43:48county funded organization for outreach.

43:51Uh we used to sit on the continuum of

43:53care um uh uh committee. I don't believe

43:58we currently have an active member

43:59there, but that's certainly possible.

44:02>> We don't have an active member because

44:04we're not Is it an appointment process?

44:07What's the

44:07>> It's an appointment process and actually

44:10I I think that fell away during the last

44:13directorship in this division. Um I will

44:16check with the continuum to see what

44:18they're what they are. They're always

44:19looking for cooperative uh uh partners

44:22and Jersey City has been a a good one

44:24over the years.

44:26Yeah, I mean I would just encourage the

44:28administration that's folks know the

44:30continuum of care um is coalition of

44:34organizations that are and you have a d

44:37a point of entry for that goes through

44:40garden state. Um so a lot of those HUD

44:42dollars flow through that continuum of

44:44care. And so if we want to be effective

44:46in really addressing um the homeless

44:49problem, which the unhoused problem um

44:51here in Jersey City and leveraging our

44:54dollars um here um we need to align with

44:58the continuum of care. It's it's

44:59literally every county in the state of

45:02New Jersey and I think throughout the

45:03nation where there's a continuum of care

45:05and if we're not aligning our efforts

45:07there then we're really um doing a not

45:11utilizing our dollars effectively and

45:13we're doing a disservice.

45:15>> Councilman I um we we will certainly

45:18take that back and work with the

45:19administration on that. I think also

45:22since DCD is is a significant partner in

45:26that work um I will reach out to

45:28director Diaz tomorrow and make sure

45:29that uh he understands your question and

45:32is part of the answer.

45:35Thank you.

45:37Thank you.

45:41Okay.

45:45uh tax collector Sean Nolan.

45:55>> Hi and good afternoon.

45:57Um I just have five resolutions on

46:01three are for

46:03issuance of duplicate tax sale

46:05certificates which is just an

46:07administrative thing so that we can

46:08issue the refunds to the lean holders.

46:12And then I also have an resolution to

46:13authorize accelerated tax sale and

46:15resolution to authorize electronics tax

46:17sale.

46:17>> Okay. Can you give us the uh give us the

46:20uh agenda item numbers?

46:22>> Sure. The agenda items are 10.2, 10.3,

46:25and 10.4 for the loss certificates.

46:29>> Okay. So, let's let's stop there. Those

46:32are all similar, right? All of those are

46:34loss third party tax sales.

46:36>> Yes. they misplaced the certificate and

46:38we need them to be authorized or is

46:41redeemed to issue the refunds to them.

46:44>> Any questions on 10.2 through 10.4?

46:48>> Director. Um quick question just as it

46:51relates to processes. Um so if if

46:55someone purchase purchase a tax lean

47:00um and then subsequently that property

47:05sells and there's an outstanding tax

47:10lean the money comes back to the city

47:12for the tax for the pe for the person

47:15who purchased the tax lean to receive

47:17it. How does that process work?

47:19>> So when it's issued

47:21then the lean holder gets it. It's

47:22recorded against the title for the

47:24property.

47:24>> So when the property is sold, it has to

47:27be redeemed at that point. It can also

47:28be redeemed prior to that as well.

47:30>> After it's redeemed, the lean holder

47:32signs off on the back of it redeeming it

47:35and returns it to us and then we give

47:37the money back to the lean holder.

47:39>> What happens if the lean holder either

47:44doesn't rece how long does a lean holder

47:47have to capture those funds? How long

47:50does the city stay involved in that

47:52process?

47:53>> I mean, the city's involved until it's

47:54foreclosed on or until it's redeemed.

47:57Um, they don't usually stand out for

47:59that long, though. Usually, they're

48:00redeemed pretty quickly afterwards.

48:02>> No, but I'm What happens when they do?

48:05>> It just sits on the title until either

48:07the the property sold and you can either

48:09go through the courts and get it expuned

48:11that way or it's redeemed and we give

48:12you the search back and cancel the

48:14record on the county.

48:15>> I think hold on, let me see if I can be

48:16a little clearer. If the house have a

48:20lean on it, right? It's renting in a t

48:23it's in a county. So they know when they

48:26transfer that to lean on the property.

48:28That money is then subsequently taken

48:30held in escrow and then is it dispersed?

48:34Well, it was dispersed to the city. Now

48:36the lean holder have to redeem the money

48:38through the city. Correct.

48:39>> The lean holder has to give the

48:41certificate back saying that it was

48:42redeemed and then we cut them the check

48:45>> for the same amount.

48:46>> For the same amount. Yes. the the the

48:50well the seller is the one that redeems

48:52the certificate. They give the money to

48:54the city. The city's the pass through.

48:56When the lean holder gives us the

48:58certificate back, then we cut them the

49:00check the money.

49:02>> That's that's the process I want to

49:03focus.

49:03>> Okay.

49:04>> So, how long does the lean holder have

49:08to prove to the city that they have the

49:11tax lean?

49:12>> Well, the leanholder continues to pay

49:13the delinquent taxes and the the

49:16certificates recorded against the title.

49:17So they don't have to prove, we already

49:19know that they have it.

49:20>> The money is dispersed after the sale of

49:23a property.

49:25>> If I have a $10,000 lean on my house,

49:27right,

49:28>> and Mike buys my house, the $10,000

49:31sale, the $10,000 lean is held in escrow

49:34and then dispersed to the city for him

49:37to claim it. Right.

49:39>> If you have the outstanding debt against

49:42the the property, right?

49:44>> Yes.

49:44>> He's the lean holder. He brought it at

49:46public auction.

49:48>> Yeah. And you and you sell your

49:49property.

49:50>> Yes.

49:50>> Then the funds to redeem it come out of

49:52the sale proceeds.

49:53>> Now, where does the funds go? That's

49:56>> it comes to the city.

49:57>> All right. Now, and it's in the city's

49:58jurisdiction. How long does Mike have to

50:02come to the city and say, "Hey, where's

50:03my money?"

50:04>> He has to tell it's been five years. We

50:07We notify him immediately. He has five

50:09years to come and collect it.

50:11>> Yeah. Five years. So, the city will hold

50:13the money up to five years

50:14>> after it's redeemed. Yeah. after this.

50:16>> Okay.

50:20>> We doing 10.5 and six?

50:22>> No, not not right now.

50:24>> We're just focusing on 10.2 to 10.4. I

50:27think Councilman Effort, you had a

50:29question. You're good.

50:30>> It was on 105. Okay. Thank you.

50:32>> All right. If everybody's good on those,

50:34let's jump down to 10.5.

50:40>> I may Thank you. Uh

50:43I mean there's been a number of concerns

50:45at from constituents about uh the

50:48accelerated tax sale and I know that

50:50this is standard practice and has been

50:53standard practice for the city for years

50:56and years. Um but nonetheless I mean we

50:59are in a position where we are shopping

51:02out uh tax leans to third parties many

51:07of whom may be uh pretty unsavory

51:09predatory lenders in cases. and um you

51:12know we can't control that once these

51:13leans go out to the private market um is

51:16is my understanding and so I'm just

51:18wondering if there's a way uh that we

51:20could try and keep this debt a little

51:24bit more insulated from these kinds of

51:26actors um in you know you've worked with

51:29other cities are there other

51:30arrangements where we could for instance

51:32have the JC EDC or the JC

51:37um take this on I mean if this is going

51:39to be around maybe $10 million

51:43um of of debt. Can an autonomous agency

51:49buy that uh for the time being? So, at a

51:51lower interest rate perhaps than would

51:53go out onto the private market um and we

51:57could insulate uh property owners from

52:00the kind of most egregious of these

52:03these debt uh debt buyers.

52:06>> Councilman, they're not really predatory

52:08lean holders.

52:09They're picking up the tax certificates

52:11at the rate that the city collects on

52:13the delinquencies or less. Many times

52:16it's they bid zero interest and they're

52:18collecting nothing on the delinquency at

52:19all.

52:21There the their interest is in picking

52:23up subsequent payments because they're

52:24allowed to continue to pay delinquencies

52:26that happen after the tax sale as well.

52:29And it's just about making the city

52:30whole that we have cash to operate.

52:33There are you can authorize other

52:36biders, but like you'd have to have

52:38funds set aside for that and when

52:41they're redeemed by the parties, then it

52:42just goes right back into the fund that

52:43it came out of. Anyway,

52:47the the market for the tax leans is open

52:50to anyone who's willing to especially

52:53with the electronic sale, right? It's

52:54open to anyone who's willing to put up

52:57that that debt.

52:58>> That's correct. Yeah. Anyone who can put

52:59up the money to invest and just make the

53:01city whole. Right.

53:04>> So, I just want to be clear because I'm

53:09I I don't

53:11I'm not going to say these people are

53:13predatory, but the practice in itself is

53:15predatory. Um, that's my position. It's

53:19up to 18%. In fact, I haven't seen many

53:21instance where people were able to

53:23redeem their deans for less than 18%.

53:27So, you're saying that it's 0%? The

53:31original certificate amount is usually

53:32bid at 0%. Yes.

53:35Then they pay then they're able to pay

53:37delinquent balances that happen after

53:39that and acrew it into their lean.

53:41>> Can you explain that? You said the

53:42initial amount.

53:43>> So if if for example you had an

53:45accelerated tax sale, we would sell the

53:46current year charges. Then let's say you

53:49still don't pay in February and May, the

53:51lean holder has the right to come in

53:52after it's delinquent and pay that and

53:55then they acrew the interest instead of

53:56the city acrewing the interest on the

53:57delinquency. No, that's one that's what

54:00that's what makes it predatory is that

54:02once the city is out of it, once the

54:05lean is sold, that's when an interest

54:07rate

54:08>> interest rates are the same as the city

54:10collects.

54:11>> Is the same as the city?

54:12>> It's exactly the same interest rate the

54:13city collects in the delinquency. Yes.

54:16>> I beg to differ.

54:18>> I don't I mean those are the

54:20>> So you're saying that

54:22>> interest at the exact same rate the city

54:24collects on the delinquency. It doesn't

54:26go up at all,

54:27>> which we said at 4% and 9%.

54:30>> Or third and fourth. Yes.

54:31>> Yeah. So, where does 18% come into play?

54:35>> The 18 is just the statutory maximum,

54:37and that's historically been the rate

54:38that the city charges on those

54:39delinquencies.

54:43>> Got a I shouldn't be saying this, but I

54:45got a tax bill that I didn't pay yet,

54:46and there's no 18% interest on the bill.

54:50There's if if it's passed due if it's

54:52for third and fourth quarter per the

54:54resolution that was passed it's acrewing

54:56at four and 9% which is half the

54:58statutory maximum prior to that it was

55:01always acrewing at 8 and 18%.

55:06>> So I'd like to jump in here if I may. I

55:08I I know the accelerated tax sale has

55:10been um routine in the past, but I'm

55:14just going to start by saying nothing is

55:16routine about this year, right? We've uh

55:19increased taxes by 15.15%.

55:22And the idea of inflicting a lean on

55:24people who may be struggling to pay um

55:27and with interest rates of 18%. Um, I

55:32want to thank the administration for

55:33sharing information, but but my count by

55:35the open leans. Um, in 2023 there were

55:3970 open leans. 2024 257 open leans. In

55:442025, 604 open leans. Um, that number is

55:48just growing dramatically. And

55:52not necessarily

55:54100% accurate here, but uh um as opposed

55:57to LLC's or corporations or whoever is

55:59owning it. Um those numbers are 10 in

56:022023. Um I mean in individual it looks

56:05like resident owned properties 10 in

56:082023, 45 in 2024, 126 at the could be

56:132025. Um and

56:17it was suggested in a response that our

56:20collection rate is around 72%.

56:23at this point. So that means like 28%

56:26are potentially subject to a lean of

56:29property owners. Is that fair to say?

56:31>> That's not really accurate. No.

56:33>> Okay. So I don't know what the

56:35collection rate has been in previous

56:37years. Um but but I will say and I asked

56:41for this information as well what our

56:43cash flow issues is. So I know there's a

56:45need to sometimes do the accelerated tax

56:47sale because of cash flow issues. Um but

56:51um if we don't if we aren't having cash

56:54flow issues um I'm not personally I'm

56:56just going to speak my mind which is

56:57that I'm not inclined to do um a tax

57:00sale accelerated tax sale. I'd rather

57:02just do the standard traditional and do

57:04it in 2027. Give people more time and

57:07opportunity even if they're subject to

57:09interest rates around that um rather

57:11than having the pressure of a of a lean

57:13being placed on their homes um for

57:15individual uh property owners. Um

57:20my my question that I'll ask if this

57:22ends up moving forward is that uh um is

57:26there some way for us to as a council

57:28and maybe this is more for corporation

57:30council is that uh for us to be able to

57:33set if we were to approve this for

57:36example we say if your balance is over

57:40$20,000

57:42um then we will impose a lean uh with

57:46interest rates at 9 18% or whatever as

57:50opposed to a balance underneath of 5,000

57:53or less. I'm not sure exactly. I'm just

57:56throwing numbers out randomly. Um that

57:58we could set the interest rates at a

58:00much lower rate

58:02>> as I sit here today hearing this

58:04question for the very first time. I

58:06don't know, but I would be happy to look

58:08into it for you.

58:10I guess um so historically well uh Sean

58:16based on the law typically when should

58:19Jersey City be doing a um tax lane

58:21sales?

58:22>> If you do accelerated it has to happen

58:24within the same year and you sell

58:25current year charges. You do a standard

58:27sale it can be any time of year and you

58:29sell the prior year's charges.

58:33So we can theoretically do a tax sale in

58:3727 for 26 in January.

58:40>> Yeah, that would be a standard sale.

58:41Yes.

58:42>> Now we're you're looking to accelerate

58:47it to have it paid when December.

58:50>> Yes. It has to be before the end of the

58:51year. So it's usually held in December.

58:53>> Oh December. So I guess it's really a

58:57into around a 30-day differential.

59:00What warrants us like doing it right

59:03away now? What's the what's the dire

59:05need to do it this year versus doing it

59:08the traditional way?

59:10>> It's it's more just for cash flow and

59:12just to ensure that we have the cash

59:13that we said we would have in the

59:15budget.

59:16>> So it's just a due diligence, a matter

59:19of due diligence to make sure we have

59:21that cla cash flow.

59:23>> I mean it's it's a lot of typically we

59:26collect around $7 million worth of cash.

59:28So that would be a shortfall then.

59:31>> I understand that. But what what I'm

59:33saying is do this 7 million do we need

59:36this immediately to disperse to pay a

59:38bill to do something with

59:40>> bill

59:48councilman. We don't have a forecast for

59:51cash flow that I can say with precision

59:53is within you know a million $10

59:56million. I can say $7 million is

59:58essentially

1:00:00it's like being $7 million short in cash

1:00:03in any other revenue whether it's tax

1:00:06revenue, local revenues, any other $7

1:00:08million is a very significant shortfall.

1:00:12Uh since the budget is balanced based on

1:00:14a certain collection rate, $7 million

1:00:17tax shortfall or shortfall in revenue

1:00:20would also likely result in a deferred

1:00:23charge which would impact a 27 budget.

1:00:26So the it is a significant amount of

1:00:28money for us to not have $7 million at

1:00:31the end of this year. Um I could not

1:00:33tell you right now would that uh force

1:00:36us to have to delay uh payments? Yeah,

1:00:39it could. So

1:00:42all right. Um

1:00:46as governments work, I know that

1:00:48governments work slow. Um and delayed

1:00:52payments come with that. So

1:00:55what are we looking at when it comes to

1:00:58repercussions to that

1:01:01paying the late bill

1:01:04>> if we don't get the $7 million?

1:01:05>> If we don't have the $7 million, so one

1:01:07would be not paying bills, right? So

1:01:09that would be the first thing I do in

1:01:11order to compensate for that. Uh the

1:01:13other would be it would likely impact

1:01:15the 27 budget by some amount. Um it's

1:01:18essentially treated as a shortfall in

1:01:20any other revenue. So the 26 budget

1:01:24would result in a $7 million shortfall

1:01:27that gets accounted for in 27 defer

1:01:30charge.

1:01:31>> But with that shortfall and we're we're

1:01:33not we're not looking to not do the

1:01:36sale. We're looking to delay it, right?

1:01:39Or not accelerate it because I mean, you

1:01:42know, bottom line is like,

1:01:45you know, we got a lot of residents that

1:01:47fall under this category

1:01:50um who are not paying a mortgage most

1:01:54and those are seniors, right? And then

1:01:57we're looking to accelerate it during a

1:01:59during the holiday season. And that is

1:02:01that's that's pressure, right? Because

1:02:03now

1:02:05people are like, "Well,

1:02:07I got to I got to

1:02:11I got to pay this, right?" Which I mean,

1:02:14you have to pay your your your taxes,

1:02:16but at the same time, if if people can

1:02:20get time, I mean, again, this is an

1:02:22extraordinary year, right? Um, we're

1:02:25talking a 15.15%

1:02:28tax increase. We're talking about

1:02:31borrowing $105 million from the state,

1:02:34getting a $15 million loan, I mean, uh,

1:02:36grant. Um, everybody's all sorts of in

1:02:42in disarray, right? And and I don't I

1:02:44don't want it to look like we are

1:02:50um taking advantage of people's

1:02:52tribulations

1:02:54to get our bills paid when they're

1:02:58trying to get theirs paid. right? We we

1:03:00we had the we had the capability to to

1:03:02to to

1:03:04borrow money and and and and get grants

1:03:06to fill uh the budget and a lot of these

1:03:11people don't have that. They they have

1:03:12to scrape and and and they're delayed

1:03:17with, you know, getting their their

1:03:20taxes to us. And um

1:03:24you know, I mean, it it just if if I was

1:03:27in that if I was in that situation, I

1:03:29would feel like

1:03:31I'm being treated unfairly if I saw this

1:03:34acceleration of a tax lean sale. Um and

1:03:39I understand, you know, what the tax

1:03:41lean sale is for and and what it does,

1:03:44but at the same time, you know, we we

1:03:47were also elected to think of the

1:03:48people. And that's why, you know, we

1:03:51have these questions.

1:03:52>> Understood, Councilman. So, one, I I I

1:03:55don't have the ability to borrow for the

1:03:57shortfall. So, the the fall back for me

1:03:59would be to not pay bills, right? I also

1:04:02>> Oh, hold on. I'm I'm not saying that to

1:04:04borrow for the shortfall. I'm talking

1:04:07about the money we already borrow

1:04:09for the shortfall, right? We have the

1:04:12ability to do that.

1:04:13>> That's that's all I'm saying. And also,

1:04:15you know, if it's delayed and we, you

1:04:18know, we're able to collect the money

1:04:20next year, if it's written into the

1:04:22budget, that would be written into the

1:04:24budget,

1:04:25>> right? So, from the standpoint of the

1:04:28homeowner, the the the tax lean that is

1:04:30sold, I think, and councilman to your

1:04:33point earlier as well, it acrus interest

1:04:34at the same rate whether we sell it to a

1:04:36third party or we hold it ourselves,

1:04:38right? That interest is require is

1:04:41right. We set it at 9 and four for a Q3

1:04:44and Q4. It had been statutory maximums

1:04:46of 189 before that. Whether we sell that

1:04:49to a third party or we hold the lean

1:04:51ourselves, it acrus interest at the same

1:04:54rate. What differs is the third party

1:04:56investor chooses what interest rate are

1:05:00they interested in buying that lean. So

1:05:02they may choose to buy the lean and

1:05:06acrue 15% interest, 10% interest. That's

1:05:09why you want a competitive bid, right?

1:05:10So that cash comes back to the city, but

1:05:13from the homeowner standpoint, the

1:05:15interest occurs at the same rate.

1:05:18>> Yeah. But the likelihood of the city

1:05:22foreclosing

1:05:23in that window

1:05:25is not as high as those third party tax

1:05:29lane holders. Soon as that, what is it

1:05:3218 months, whatever that period is,

1:05:35they're they filing that paperwork

1:05:37immediately. Um, but the bigger question

1:05:39is if

1:05:42normally we do it in January to cover

1:05:47the previous year, what's No, we don't.

1:05:51So, normally we do it in December. And I

1:05:53think there has been some confusion over

1:05:55the word accelerated. Accelerated is not

1:05:57a term we chose to use. It is what it's

1:05:59actually factually called, but you know,

1:06:01by statute. Accelerate just means it's a

1:06:03sale of the tax lean in the same year.

1:06:06The city has sold tax leans in December

1:06:09for every year for the past decade other

1:06:11than one where apparently the resolution

1:06:12was not passed on.

1:06:14>> So for the last 10 years, the city have

1:06:17sold it during the same tax year. Right.

1:06:19>> In December in the same tax year.

1:06:20Exactly.

1:06:22>> That what did they do before that?

1:06:24>> I don't know.

1:06:25>> We don't know what they did 11 years

1:06:26ago.

1:06:27>> No, I do not.

1:06:30just think regardless of what it was

1:06:33back then, I just think given the

1:06:34circumstance, the city have witnessed a

1:06:38unprecedented tax height. At the very

1:06:41very least, this administration should

1:06:44be willing to go 30 days beyond the

1:06:48whether it's accelerated, normal,

1:06:50whatever it is. I just don't understand,

1:06:53and correct me if I'm wrong, how

1:06:55detrimental

1:06:57it can be from a financial standpoint to

1:07:00not collect it in December and collect

1:07:02it in January.

1:07:03>> How is it beneficial for the city to pay

1:07:06its bills late and incur interest and

1:07:08other penalties for paying bills late?

1:07:10That that and those penalties ultimately

1:07:11are born by taxpayers. So, we're talking

1:07:14about we're talk, you know, the

1:07:16likelihood of individuals redeeming

1:07:19deemed redeeming leans once these things

1:07:22go into foreclosure. That's where I'm

1:07:25at. So, how from a financial standpoint,

1:07:28right? How like what's what's the what's

1:07:32the damage

1:07:34versus collecting it in December and

1:07:36January? What's what's what's the

1:07:37damage?

1:07:40>> Goes back to not paying bills.

1:07:43paying or having to pay bills late. It's

1:07:44a cash flow issue.

1:07:46>> Notorious for not paying bills on time.

1:07:48>> That's right. A problem we've been

1:07:50trying to correct. Right. We talk about

1:07:51our findings for our problems with

1:07:54controls and fixing our financial uh

1:07:56control.

1:07:57>> I think I think the residents would care

1:07:59more. We got the tax burden under

1:08:01control versus paying bills on time.

1:08:03>> They are related.

1:08:06>> There's a cost to paying late. the the

1:08:08idea that we're not paying

1:08:09>> so just asking curious to know if city

1:08:13has to pay interest for late payment

1:08:16who's going to get the burden then

1:08:18>> ultimately the any financial burden

1:08:20falls back on taxpayers this taxpayers

1:08:22fund the city to the extent we incur

1:08:25unnecessary expenses it falls on the

1:08:27taxpayers

1:08:28>> can can we how before council on

1:08:32Wednesday can we have an estimate of you

1:08:34know if if we were to delay this from

1:08:37December nomber to January. Um what

1:08:39bills might go unpaid and about and and

1:08:42about how much in um interest or late

1:08:45fees we might acrew in that one month

1:08:47period.

1:08:47>> I don't have the ability to do that. No,

1:08:49>> I don't have that level of precision to

1:08:51>> you. You could tell us how much cash on

1:08:52hand is available. Um and based on the

1:08:56collection rate, we could estimate the

1:08:58amount of revenue that we would collect

1:09:01um with the fourth quarter taxes. Um and

1:09:03then uh we can take the the expenditure

1:09:07budget and divide it by 12.

1:09:09>> I think you can assume the city has

1:09:11collected about 7 million in in tax

1:09:13sales for several years that we will be

1:09:15short $7 million. I think that's a

1:09:17reasonable

1:09:18>> you think it's incumbent upon the

1:09:19administration to to prove that there is

1:09:21a cash flow issue. Not just say we can't

1:09:24pay the bills be able to pay the bills

1:09:26in time.

1:09:26>> I don't have the ability to forecast

1:09:28cash flow between now and January to

1:09:29that level of precision. But the the

1:09:31budget is balanced assuming we collect

1:09:34taxes. If we that that assumption

1:09:37assumes our collection rate consistent

1:09:39with previous years. Should we decide to

1:09:41not do that, that's approximately $7

1:09:44million. That's the best I can tell you.

1:09:46>> Well, I I can also recall and I and I'm

1:09:48sure I have it in writing that um Mr.

1:09:51Thomas came to us and said, "There's a

1:09:54cash flow issue because we didn't pass

1:09:57the third quarter tax resolution. Um, we

1:10:00won't be able to pay the bills at the

1:10:02end of August." Somebody calculated it

1:10:04then. They can calculate it again. And

1:10:07frankly, this is this is the kind of

1:10:09game that gets played um and trying to

1:10:11pull the wool over our eyes on this for

1:10:13the city council. And personally, I'm

1:10:15I'm going to tell you, I'm not I I say

1:10:18to everybody here, th this can be

1:10:20figured out. We can understand whether

1:10:22or not we're truly in danger of being

1:10:24able to pay our bills or not. And it's a

1:10:27million administration to this governor.

1:10:30I'm equally insulted at the thought that

1:10:32I'm pulling wool over anybody's eyes.

1:10:34I'm answering your questions to the best

1:10:36of my ability. The decision you can make

1:10:39is we will be $7 million shorter than we

1:10:42otherwise would be. We will deal with it

1:10:44if that's the decision you make. But I

1:10:47don't appreciate being told I mean

1:10:49pulling the wall over anybody's eyes.

1:10:51>> So I think uh council

1:10:55I think we have to um I just want to be

1:10:58clear for the public because I know that

1:11:00this can be complicated. Um,

1:11:04and I know that the word accelerated has

1:11:06brought a lot of attention to this

1:11:08resolution. The tax sale is taking place

1:11:11the same time that it normally takes

1:11:13place in December. As long as I've been

1:11:15paying attention and been in this seat,

1:11:17it's been taking place in December. Now,

1:11:19I also understand the council's feelings

1:11:21towards if we have the ability to wait

1:11:24since this is a unique year where we

1:11:26just raise the taxes, they would like to

1:11:28wait. And I think that um if we have any

1:11:31other questions that we need to get from

1:11:33the administration in order to make that

1:11:35decision, then we need to make sure we

1:11:37get those and submit those in council

1:11:39request and anything we need. But I

1:11:41think ultimately it's up to the council

1:11:43to decide which way we want to go on

1:11:45this. Are we willing to um take the

1:11:49possibly $7 million short uh in order to

1:11:52give residents 30 more days or do we

1:11:55want to keep the standard tax sale date

1:11:57that we've had uh for at least the last

1:12:00decade? Hey Bill, can you understand

1:12:04you're saying you can't estimate that

1:12:06with position, but can you let us know

1:12:09if like would it be financial

1:12:11ramifications as it relates to if you

1:12:14don't get the 70 million now and they go

1:12:17make these deferred interest? I mean

1:12:20deferred payment, accumulate interest.

1:12:22>> I'll do my best to lay that out and as

1:12:24as clearly as I can for you. Sure.

1:12:27>> Yeah. Cuz I mean for that it's going to

1:12:29it's going to make a world of

1:12:30difference. I just think I mean I don't

1:12:34we don't the homeowners don't

1:12:36necessarily necessarily care who for it

1:12:38is that they tax rate or what they are.

1:12:41They're just looking for some form of

1:12:44compassion, some form of release, some

1:12:47form of see me, understand me. Um again,

1:12:51this is it's unprecedented. We haven't

1:12:53really seen an increase of this

1:12:54magnitude um far as I've been following

1:12:57this stuff. I don't know what happened

1:12:59before me. Um so I just want to do

1:13:02everything I can do to you know assure

1:13:05that we're trying to give some form of

1:13:08release um relief and then we have to

1:13:11know if there's a financial number

1:13:13associated with that and I don't know

1:13:16that

1:13:19>> um

1:13:19>> director you sent we asked you this

1:13:22question and you sent an email to my

1:13:24office have you sent it to everyone or

1:13:27>> believe the council everybody two emails

1:13:30on on this topic from uh from our

1:13:32office.

1:13:33>> Okay. Thank you. I

1:13:33>> I just have one quick question and then

1:13:35I see you councilman. Um so in terms of

1:13:39the mechanics of the the tax lean sale

1:13:43um if it occurs in December that

1:13:47basically gives us the um the necessary

1:13:52revenue to pay our projected costs as of

1:13:56December 31st.

1:13:58we sell in uh the tax lans in December

1:14:00accounts as revenue in the current

1:14:03fiscal year 2026.

1:14:06Since that was budgeted,

1:14:08I would recommend we stay with that. If

1:14:11we don't,

1:14:13essentially it's like any other revenue

1:14:15line item being $7 million short. The

1:14:17consequences are the same.

1:14:19>> Got it. And then also I mean you know we

1:14:22we will be paying claims in 2027

1:14:26out of 2026 accounts

1:14:30right because we won't re we may not

1:14:32receive bills for 2026 expenses until

1:14:37you know first quarter 2027 I would

1:14:39imagine especially our employee health

1:14:41insurance. Does that sound right?

1:14:44>> Certainly. Uh December invoices would

1:14:46typically be paid in January, January,

1:14:48February.

1:14:49Okay. And with our health insurance um

1:14:52claims thus far and I I'm not I'm going

1:14:55to do a written request on this but um

1:14:57if you are able to answer now are we

1:14:59playing paying our claims um on a

1:15:02monthly basis? I know there's there's a

1:15:04lag time with claims health insurance

1:15:08claims specifically

1:15:09>> typically right now with meritane paying

1:15:11say a month in a rears that's the

1:15:13arrangement we have with them that they

1:15:15bill us. But we have made a point of uh

1:15:18staying on time with payments to

1:15:20meritane as opposed to where the city

1:15:22had been with Horizon in the past.

1:15:24>> Got it. Thank you,

1:15:27>> director. Go ahead.

1:15:28>> Thank Thank you, director. I I

1:15:30appreciate you answering um questions

1:15:33and I know many of my questions are on

1:15:35the fly right here and um didn't get

1:15:38things to you ahead of caucus today. Um,

1:15:42and thanks for elucidating some of the

1:15:44um, yeah, some of the questions I had on

1:15:46my mind before. Just on this interest

1:15:48rate bit, if a private lender is putting

1:15:54their own interest rate of 15%, who is

1:15:58paying that interest if no interest rate

1:16:00changes for the taxpayer? I guess I

1:16:02think that's this is where I'm

1:16:04>> sure. So, and Sean can correct me if I'm

1:16:06wrong, but I think so. Think about it

1:16:08this way. If you're you bid $100

1:16:11expecting to get a 15% return on

1:16:16an investment security,

1:16:18I could bid $110 on the same security

1:16:22and it reduces my rate of return. The

1:16:25underlying security could pay the same

1:16:28amount of money but I pay a higher price

1:16:31reduces my return. So the the original

1:16:35cash flows are exactly the same. What

1:16:38changes the rate of return to the

1:16:39investor is what price they bid.

1:16:42Does that make make sense? I'll take

1:16:45another shot at if it doesn't.

1:16:47>> Yeah. What the part

1:16:50>> I'm really cool on because I've been

1:16:52hearing this 18% number and and everyone

1:16:55I've been pretty much helping with this

1:16:57situation have been right

1:16:58>> around that number.

1:17:00>> So the the the property owner is still

1:17:03going to pay that same 18% interest

1:17:05rate. Now, if I buy the lean, for me to

1:17:09get the 18%, I basically have to buy it

1:17:11at par.

1:17:14If it's in a competitive market, you may

1:17:17decide 15% is sufficient return for you.

1:17:21You would pay a higher price. You get

1:17:2315% on your return, but the original

1:17:26cash flows are exactly the same. Third

1:17:28person might come and say, I'm I'm fine

1:17:30with 10%. Pay an even higher price. I

1:17:33get 10% return on the same exact cash

1:17:36flows.

1:17:38The the property owner is paying the

1:17:40same exact amount in all those

1:17:42instances.

1:17:44>> The and the property owner I'm sorry,

1:17:46the property owner pays the same

1:17:48interest that they regardless of

1:17:50whatever the private lender their

1:17:53interest rate that they're bidding with.

1:17:55Right.

1:17:55>> Correct. The property owners what they

1:17:57owe it doesn't change. So, we pay a

1:18:00certain amount to the

1:18:03um we pay a certain amount to the

1:18:05private lender

1:18:07once that those taxes have come back to

1:18:10us.

1:18:12>> They pay it in the price up front when

1:18:13they buy the lean.

1:18:14>> Yes. Yes. Yeah. Okay.

1:18:17Okay. I think I'm getting there. Thank

1:18:18you.

1:18:20>> So, okay. All right. I think Okay. So,

1:18:23no matter what, right? If I'm late and

1:18:26my tax lean was bought

1:18:30to pay my taxes, I I still come to the

1:18:32city,

1:18:34pay that tax, right?

1:18:38And I still get charged 18% no matter

1:18:41what.

1:18:41>> So the way it works is basically when

1:18:43it's initially goes to tax sale, they

1:18:46pay the principal balance. They start at

1:18:4818% and then bid down on the interest

1:18:50rates. So they can go all the way down

1:18:53to zero on any subsequent acrals. They

1:18:56the lean holder pays the 18% interest

1:18:59and then the property owner pays to

1:19:01redeem it. They pay the 18% back to the

1:19:04lean holder.

1:19:05>> So now that So now that we're at

1:19:109%

1:19:13for this

1:19:15third and fourth quarter,

1:19:18we're starting at 9% not 18% correct.

1:19:21would still be 18%. Because that's the

1:19:23that's the amount in the tax law is 18%.

1:19:26Realistically though, none of none of

1:19:28our certificates really go for more than

1:19:300%.

1:19:32Most of the principal balances are just

1:19:34paid as 0%. They don't acrew any

1:19:36interest on it. So realistically, most

1:19:38of the properties would be paying less

1:19:39to redeem the lean than they would be

1:19:41paying the city to pay it off.

1:19:43Is it possible

1:19:49the council as an example? Each of us

1:19:51have houses that go into tax leans.

1:19:54Theoretically, each of our leans can be

1:19:56purchased at a different rate up to 18%.

1:19:59>> 18% down to zero. Yes.

1:20:03>> Okay. Okay.

1:20:08and and the land can be for two years

1:20:12before it goes into foreclosure.

1:20:16So, so to be clear, the benefit of

1:20:19postponing it a month, first it would it

1:20:23would give homeowners the extra time to

1:20:27to scrape together the money, but

1:20:29second, if if they were unable to scrape

1:20:32together the money, it would and

1:20:34ultimately were facing foreclosure, it

1:20:36would delay that by one month. that

1:20:39would because it it's a two years after

1:20:43>> well from from when this starts issued

1:20:45they have two years to file foreclosure

1:20:46proceedings. Foreclosure proceedings

1:20:48usually take over 300 days. So they

1:20:50usually have really like over 3 years.

1:20:53Then once final judgments actually

1:20:54issued they have another year on top of

1:20:56that to dispute it.

1:21:01No, for the homeowner, there's no

1:21:02difference.

1:21:10There's no difference for the

1:21:10homeowner's perspective. No,

1:21:12>> there's Say that again.

1:21:13>> There's no there's no difference if the

1:21:15tax is held in December or January from

1:21:17the homeowner's perspective. Well, I

1:21:20don't understand how that can be no

1:21:21different. Then it's just you could say

1:21:24it's a negligible difference because

1:21:25it's a one-mon difference, but

1:21:29the the the

1:21:31sale is the first step, right? And then

1:21:34from that point, foreclosure proceedings

1:21:37cannot begin for another two years.

1:21:38>> Correct.

1:21:44>> C. Um, Bill, I I want to publicly

1:21:47apologize. You've always been um very uh

1:21:52helpful and honest in sharing

1:21:54information, so I was out of line. I'm

1:21:56sorry about that. Um, thank you,

1:21:59Councilman. Appreciate it.

1:22:01>> The um what I do want to say though is

1:22:04um I do think uh

1:22:09if you can provide us a better more

1:22:11accurate picture of kind of cash flow

1:22:13that would be helpful. And the other

1:22:15thing I'll just add is that uh if if

1:22:17there's a $7 million projected

1:22:19shortfall, I am not the councilman who's

1:22:21saying we should I'm not suggesting

1:22:23anyone's wrong for doing that, but I

1:22:26think we should pay our bills. So, um I

1:22:29will say that. Um the other thing I'll

1:22:31add is just I think if we can have more

1:22:34time on this to work through some of

1:22:36these specifics, again, this is not a

1:22:40usual year. Um I did look at past

1:22:43accelerated tax sale resolutions. Some

1:22:45of them were adopted by the council in

1:22:47November uh of that tax year um that

1:22:52calendar year budget. So if we could

1:22:55have more time to do that. Um I did

1:22:57remit my questions um initially uh last

1:23:01week and then uh um additional questions

1:23:04on Saturday after I got some responses

1:23:06to that. So, um it would be helpful to

1:23:08me to be able to have answers to some of

1:23:11these questions to be able to better

1:23:12assess um whether an accelerated tax

1:23:15sale versus a standard tax sale um is is

1:23:19necessary at this time.

1:23:21>> Yeah, I I agree. I mean, I I hear I hear

1:23:23what you're saying. Um and and you know,

1:23:27also um Council President Ridley um

1:23:30saying that you know, this is not

1:23:33unusual to do. Um but again it is a

1:23:36unusual year. Um yeah so if we could

1:23:40have more time and get more information

1:23:42and then you know we could take it from

1:23:44there.

1:23:46>> Well I'll get back to I think I think

1:23:48postponing it uh would not impact the

1:23:50timing of the the actual sale. So if it

1:23:53were helpful to delay it for a meeting

1:23:55or two I would I don't think it impacts

1:23:58the ability to still do it in December.

1:24:00>> What was the date though? What would be

1:24:01the date we would do it in December?

1:24:04>> 21st of December.

1:24:06>> Oh, December 21st.

1:24:08>> Oh, cuz it was usually the first, right?

1:24:10>> It was the first

1:24:13December 21st.

1:24:15>> And And as a followup to that,

1:24:19statutoily, when would be the earliest

1:24:20that the city could could hold it in

1:24:23January?

1:24:26Could be

1:24:26>> anytime. Anytime. Yeah, we have to have

1:24:2850 days.

1:24:31So, okay. So, you're we're closed on

1:24:34January 1st because it's it's New Year's

1:24:36Day, right? But, um, and then the 2nd

1:24:40and the 3rd are Saturday and Sunday, but

1:24:43hypothetically, we're talking about a

1:24:44difference between December 21st and

1:24:46January 4th. Is that accurate?

1:24:50>> Potentially. Yeah, we could have it that

1:24:52early.

1:24:52>> What?

1:24:53>> We could have it that early. Yes.

1:24:54>> You

1:24:55>> We just have to have 50 days with a

1:24:56standard sale. So,

1:24:59okay. So, we pass it and then we have to

1:25:03wait 50 days to sell

1:25:05>> you. So, if we're going to set the date,

1:25:07we have to give at least 50 days notice.

1:25:09>> 50 days notice.

1:25:10>> Yeah.

1:25:12>> To the homeowner.

1:25:13>> The homeowner.

1:25:16>> Okay.

1:25:18So, let me ask you this. people like

1:25:20what so what is the process

1:25:24um

1:25:25when you know people are late and and

1:25:28and the the sale is potentially coming

1:25:33that that's the process there they just

1:25:34get that warning.

1:25:36>> Yes. Usually we mail out a notice to

1:25:37them when the sale's generated.

1:25:39>> Uhhuh.

1:25:40>> And then it has to be advertised. It

1:25:42used to have to be advertised in the

1:25:43newspaper. Now it has to be posted to

1:25:45the website for four weeks prior to

1:25:46that. And we mailed two notices

1:25:48additional to the first one to the

1:25:50homeowners.

1:25:52>> Okay.

1:25:54So the list is not even generated yet.

1:25:56>> No,

1:25:56>> we have to generate the list once

1:25:58>> if it's Yeah. If it's accelerated, it's

1:25:59generated after November 11th.

1:26:02>> Okay.

1:26:07>> Okay.

1:26:10>> Uh 10.6.

1:26:12>> Hold on, Bill. Oh, good.

1:26:15Oh, Bill, you had something else. I

1:26:17>> just want to make sure we didn't like uh

1:26:20neglect that we have the online tax sale

1:26:22resolution as well.

1:26:23>> Yes, 10.6.

1:26:26>> Any questions on 10.6?

1:26:29>> This would be the first time the city's

1:26:31conducting an electronic.

1:26:32>> That's correct.

1:26:34>> Um who who has the um who have the right

1:26:38is do you need like is any

1:26:39certifications for people to um buy tax

1:26:42lanes? Well, it's so the tax collector

1:26:45has to have it. You have to be a

1:26:46licensed by the state of New Jersey.

1:26:49>> A license. You need a license.

1:26:51>> There there's a tax collector license.

1:26:52Yeah. And that's what you have to have

1:26:54to hold the tax sale. And then you're

1:26:56allowed to use certain specific vendors

1:26:57because the state of New Jersey

1:26:59authorized electronic tax sale.

1:27:02>> There's like four or five tax

1:27:06institutions

1:27:07or individuals that I see on like all of

1:27:10the tax lanes. on all of our leans.

1:27:12There's there's a lot of big money

1:27:14investors that win most of our

1:27:15certificates. Yeah.

1:27:17>> This guy is a monopolist.

1:27:20>> They own a lot. Yeah.

1:27:25>> By my reading of the resolution, we're

1:27:27going to pay $50,000.

1:27:29>> That's the estimate based on the prior

1:27:31number of line items that we've had in

1:27:33the sale. Yeah.

1:27:34>> It's a flat fee, right?

1:27:35>> No, it's per certificate. So, it's $12

1:27:37per certificate.

1:27:40$12 per certificate estimated as

1:27:43>> when we when we advertise the list. So

1:27:45when it goes online onto their website

1:27:46for people to bid on it, that's the

1:27:48amount that we pay based on the amount

1:27:50that we've had at that time period. We

1:27:52base that $50,000 amount.

1:27:58>> And who what who what what source of

1:27:59funds is paying for this?

1:28:01>> Sorry,

1:28:02>> what is the source of funds that will

1:28:04pay for this?

1:28:04>> It's just the tax collector operating

1:28:06account

1:28:07>> to what? It's just a normal tax

1:28:09collector budget account.

1:28:11>> Would you line Do you I don't recall

1:28:15this coming up during our budget

1:28:16hearings to to pay for this uh service.

1:28:19>> My understanding was it was budgeted for

1:28:21by the prior tax collector.

1:28:25>> Um I will go back to the records and

1:28:28check. I don't fairly certain I don't

1:28:30recall electronic tax sale being there,

1:28:33but I could be wrong. Um,

1:28:37I I'd like to know what the I mean, I

1:28:40know we're not contracting with this

1:28:42resolution. Are we already contracted

1:28:45with them?

1:28:45>> No, this is a word in the the contract

1:28:47to them in the resolution.

1:28:50>> I'd like to know what what the specific

1:28:52account if it's line item 312, which I

1:28:55think is like the professional services.

1:28:56>> Yeah, it's professional services for the

1:28:58tax collector office. what the balance

1:28:59is there on that account um for your

1:29:02office and um and what your expenditures

1:29:05are year to date.

1:29:06>> Okay, I can send it to you.

1:29:08>> Yeah, I mean what was budgeted and what

1:29:09the expenditures are year to date?

1:29:11>> Yeah, I can send you that information.

1:29:14>> Have you ever conducted a

1:29:16uh a tax lean sale manually yourself in

1:29:20>> person? Yes.

1:29:25>> Any other questions? 10.6 Six.

1:29:29Okay. Thank you.

1:29:36Director Green HHS

1:29:45before you uh agenda item 10.31

1:29:50and 10.32.

1:29:53We'll start with 10.31

1:29:55resolution authorizing the cancellation

1:29:58of grant receivable balances and or

1:30:00grant reserve appropriation balances the

1:30:03department of health and human services.

1:30:06These are grants that have been closed

1:30:07out and now we are just closing out the

1:30:10keeping side of it.

1:30:15>> The green mic you can address the Thank

1:30:18you.

1:30:18>> Okay, that's better, right?

1:30:19>> Yes.

1:30:22questions for director.

1:30:26>> One quick question, director. Um,

1:30:29why would a grant um be considered

1:30:32invalid? I guess there's one for

1:30:34$63,737.66.

1:30:41>> The 63,000 that you're referring to is

1:30:45um the receivables. So if on that

1:30:48particular one you can see that the

1:30:50receivables are a little higher than the

1:30:52appropriations but the reason why that

1:30:5563 thou it should really match the 67193

1:31:01the reason it doesn't is because the

1:31:03city received two garnish garnishments

1:31:06from the federal government and that was

1:31:08the difference and so they just take it

1:31:11from wherever they can locate it.

1:31:21Okay. All right. Next one.

1:31:24>> Next one is 10.32.

1:31:26A resolution of the m municipal council

1:31:29of the city of Jersey City authorizing

1:31:31the acceptance of additional grant

1:31:34funding from the county of Hudson

1:31:36department of health and human services

1:31:38office on aging.

1:31:43question.

1:31:46>> These are going toward more meals for

1:31:49seniors. Is that correct?

1:31:51>> These are all going for food cost for

1:31:52meals on wheels. The entire amount.

1:31:54>> All meals on wheels. Okay.

1:31:57Thank you.

1:32:01>> Thank you,

1:32:05>> Director Vincent Recreation.

1:32:15Good evening, city council. City Council

1:32:17President Ridley. Uh, I'm here to

1:32:20discuss a coun a resolution authorizing

1:32:22the city of Jersey City to accept the

1:32:25donation of fitness equipment from

1:32:26Fitness Superstore LLC.

1:32:30>> Questions 10.14.

1:32:36>> The equipment is defective in any way.

1:32:38>> It is not. It was all serviced and

1:32:40inspected prior to delivery.

1:32:42>> You would assume the liability if there

1:32:44was any problems?

1:32:46>> Yes. All of these items are floor models

1:32:50and demo equipment that was very used

1:32:52very limitedly uh and has to be rolled

1:32:55over every 12 to 24 months. And we just

1:32:58happy to be the lucky recipient of the

1:33:00next cycle of donations from this

1:33:02company. I understand some of this

1:33:04equipment is is donated from a um family

1:33:06of Jerseyy's next big boxing star. It's

1:33:10in excellent condition.

1:33:11>> Yes. Hope so.

1:33:15>> Director, is there any um where would

1:33:18the I guess fitness fitness equipment

1:33:21go? Is it like various locations? Are we

1:33:24set up a new gym with all this stuff?

1:33:25How much stuff are we getting?

1:33:26>> Yeah, it's about 16 pieces. If you want,

1:33:28I can go through the list or I can just

1:33:30send it to you. uh majority of it will

1:33:33go to our boxing location. However, I am

1:33:35looking for some of it to go to the

1:33:36Bthoon Center uh to roll over some of

1:33:39the older equipment they have in there

1:33:40right now. And I'm not sure if you guys

1:33:42are aware we do adult fitness there

1:33:44three nights a week from about 5 to 9:00

1:33:46p.m. Um and we're looking to add some

1:33:48equipment there.

1:33:49>> Okay, great. Any other questions? 10.14.

1:33:55>> Thank you.

1:33:55>> Right. Have a good evening.

1:33:58Matt Ward, planning

1:34:13on two items. Uh the first being

1:34:16resolution 26-631,

1:34:19agenda item 1016,

1:34:23a resolution of the municipal council of

1:34:26the city of Jersey City authorizing the

1:34:29planning board to study and prepare an

1:34:31amendment to the Green Villa

1:34:32redevelopment plan. Uh this is a

1:34:36authorizing resolution asking for

1:34:38permission to study an amendment. Uh the

1:34:42focus of it would be to look at the

1:34:45zoning at the Collier Center. It's a

1:34:48senior center on Bergen Avenue for the

1:34:51potential redevelopment of it as a 100%

1:34:54senior affordable housing project and uh

1:34:58to maintain and keep the senior center

1:35:00in place and provide services in a new

1:35:02facility.

1:35:05>> Questions 10.16.

1:35:07>> Yes. So, um Matt with Green Villa. Um I

1:35:11recall when we were having the um

1:35:16meetings for um the Jackson Hill

1:35:19redevelopment plan

1:35:22>> that uh Monaceel

1:35:24MLK

1:35:27and in Green Villa

1:35:29was all

1:35:32uh put into the Jackson Hill. So, is

1:35:36this like

1:35:37>> uh that's a good memory. So, there is

1:35:40one portion of the Green Villa um

1:35:43redevelopment plan, the former

1:35:45boundaries

1:35:46>> that were incorporated into the Jackson

1:35:49Hill redevelopment plan,

1:35:50>> but not that far up,

1:35:51>> but not but not all of it. Uh so, it was

1:35:54the area right at the light rail

1:35:56station,

1:35:57>> the the vacant lot that is owned by

1:35:59this, I believe, Development Authority,

1:36:02New Jersey. But yeah, so it's that block

1:36:05um of there's also homes on that as well

1:36:08as like a small one-story industrial or

1:36:12commercial building, a garage. Um that

1:36:16whole block was brought into the Jackson

1:36:19Hill redevelopment plan.

1:36:20>> Okay. And then also, you may not have

1:36:23the answer to this, um but

1:36:29is this getting bid out to a developer?

1:36:32um who's going to is the city still

1:36:34going to own the the the property like

1:36:36what

1:36:38>> uh it's my understanding that um

1:36:42answered some of these questions

1:36:45uh I have a I have a response from my

1:36:47director Tanya Marion uh that a

1:36:51developer has not yet been designated

1:36:54um there is so far one uh one developer

1:36:58that isn't has uh provided interest wind

1:37:03development and has a preliminary

1:37:05concept for the site. Um believe that we

1:37:08were I think we being the JC was

1:37:12soliciting

1:37:14um if there was any sort of interest in

1:37:17doing a a proposal such as this

1:37:20um before for uh getting invol uh

1:37:23getting city planning involved. Um, and

1:37:26I believe that this pursuant to this

1:37:29response from my director Marion, uh,

1:37:32that a ground lease would be sought.

1:37:36>> So, we'll be looking to put out an RFP.

1:37:39>> That's my understanding. Yeah.

1:37:42>> Through the JC.

1:37:44>> That's my understanding. Yes.

1:37:47>> And Matt, can you send us the um the

1:37:51entire plan? I know here we have a a

1:37:54fact sheet, but can you send us the

1:37:55green villa redevelopment plan?

1:37:57>> Sure.

1:38:00>> Any other questions? 10 points.

1:38:02>> I want to say that um we can share this

1:38:04with all of the council, but it was sent

1:38:07through council requests.

1:38:09>> Yeah.

1:38:09>> Um so we can look it up.

1:38:11>> It's in um

1:38:11>> it's in the folder.

1:38:12>> In the shared folder.

1:38:13>> Okay.

1:38:14>> Number 244.

1:38:15>> Yep. Redevelopment plan. It's in the

1:38:17shared folder.

1:38:19Um

1:38:21thank you for the answers to the

1:38:23questions. Um so wind development

1:38:26did did is wind developer did wind

1:38:28development

1:38:30um has shown a concept proposal are they

1:38:32the ones who who applied to reopen the

1:38:35plan?

1:38:37>> Um I am not entirely certain about about

1:38:41if it came from the administration

1:38:43from JC. I'd have to get back to you on

1:38:46that particular

1:38:48answer.

1:38:49>> Yeah, my my office will put in a request

1:38:51via council requests just to know if he

1:38:54if there was he was specifically the

1:38:57entity that that reopened the plan and

1:38:59whether they paid an application fee. Um

1:39:02uh no fee has been collected. Uh that

1:39:05would come only after from from city

1:39:09planning would only come after an

1:39:10authorization such as this. um if there

1:39:13was a petitioner at all.

1:39:16Oh, that that's not information I have

1:39:17right now.

1:39:19>> That's not what

1:39:20>> that's not information I have right now

1:39:21or an answer I have right now. It came

1:39:25from the administration or it came from

1:39:26wind development. I do not know.

1:39:29>> But we we know definitively they did not

1:39:30pay a fee. Is that

1:39:32>> I have not issued a fee. Um, on other

1:39:36redevelopment plan amendments, if

1:39:37they're once authorized, if there's a

1:39:39petitioner, the fee is usually invoiced

1:39:42by myself. I know that hasn't been

1:39:45invoiced.

1:39:47>> We would invoice the city plan. Yeah.

1:39:50>> Yeah.

1:39:51>> Um, but but that's not the case here.

1:39:54>> I'm just trying to understand. I'm not

1:39:57>> No, they did not.

1:39:59>> That comes down though. That's not right

1:40:01now in the timeline of of considerating

1:40:04considering an amendment to a

1:40:06redevelopment plan versus being

1:40:08authorized and then work actually

1:40:10commences.

1:40:13>> So an amendment to the redevelopment

1:40:14plan

1:40:16we don't charge fees. I'm I'm really

1:40:18confused now. So um

1:40:20>> we do but no work has been done.

1:40:25Um but that's also only if there's a

1:40:27petitioner. If it comes from the

1:40:28administration or from the city

1:40:30>> Yeah, that's what I'm trying to find out

1:40:31here. Who's the petitioner here? You're

1:40:33saying it's

1:40:34>> I do not have that information right

1:40:35now.

1:40:36>> Okay. So, we'll make the request and is

1:40:39that information available through some

1:40:41>> I will I will I will ask.

1:40:44>> Okay.

1:40:44>> Yeah.

1:40:46>> Um and and then I'll just say for the

1:40:49record for myself and to my colleagues

1:40:50that uh um it sounds like a great idea

1:40:54um personally um but I also am of the

1:40:57mindset that uh um we should not be

1:40:59selling our assets. So, if there's a

1:41:02ground lease, um, that would be the way

1:41:04to go there, I think. Um, uh, but

1:41:06certainly got to figure out the

1:41:07financials and fiscal. We could

1:41:09definitely use a senior senior housing.

1:41:11Um, one last question. It's more for the

1:41:14administration. Um would a transaction

1:41:17like this going down the road? Would

1:41:21Division of Local Government Services

1:41:24um have to approve any sort of sale or

1:41:28ground lease that might be involved in

1:41:31something like this if we were to get

1:41:32down that down that path?

1:41:36>> I don't know the answer to that, but I

1:41:38can follow up with Bill.

1:41:39>> We'll put it in on council requests.

1:41:42Thank you.

1:41:45Uh I have one more question, Matt, if

1:41:48you don't mind. Um so with 100%

1:41:51senior affordable housing,

1:41:54does that qualify for

1:41:57HUD funds?

1:42:01>> Um I do not h I do not. That's not

1:42:03something I'm very familiar with. So I

1:42:05don't have an answer for you.

1:42:12>> Any other questions? 10.16.

1:42:16>> Okay. Matt, you said you had another

1:42:18one.

1:42:18>> Yes. Um I I realize that maybe there'd

1:42:21be some questions on this and I might

1:42:23have some information on it. Uh agenda

1:42:25item 3.1. It's a first reading

1:42:28ordinance. Um I didn't print it out, so

1:42:30let me just bring it up on my phone.

1:42:35It is a a franchise ordinance granting

1:42:38permission to the Barrow Street LLC, its

1:42:41accessors, and assigns to construct

1:42:43private improvements within 60 uh within

1:42:4660 square ft of Newark Avenue Public

1:42:49Rightway

1:42:51adjacent to lot 2.02, block 11405

1:42:56on the official tax assessment map of

1:42:58the city of Jersey City, 157 Newark

1:43:02Avenue. Uh this is in relationship in

1:43:05relation to a

1:43:07preliminary final major site plan

1:43:09approval. Um there was a building at

1:43:12this location that's been demolished.

1:43:14Um and uh it currently or it did line up

1:43:20with the buildings on either side and

1:43:23when demolished and um

1:43:26uh they realized that there's there was

1:43:28an encroachment historically that

1:43:31matched them up with the buildings on

1:43:32either side. So the the request for the

1:43:35franchise is to simply build the

1:43:37building at at that prior location so

1:43:42that the buildings all match and align.

1:43:45Um and so that is the that's the purpose

1:43:47of the franchise uh is to get permission

1:43:51from city council to allow them to match

1:43:54the other buildings on either side. Um

1:43:57otherwise they would have to amend amend

1:43:59the uh the application.

1:44:02So, so wait, so are you saying that like

1:44:04the buildings they're looking to match

1:44:05with, are they like

1:44:08protruding like the

1:44:09>> Yeah. So, historically in many of our

1:44:12historic districts, um, there's many

1:44:15encroachments into the right of way. Um,

1:44:18just kind of

1:44:20>> harder to measure things back in the

1:44:22day. I'm not sure. Right.

1:44:23>> Uh, but, uh, almost every stoop goes

1:44:26into the right of way in our historic

1:44:28districts. And it's not not uncommon for

1:44:31something like such as this to also

1:44:32occur.

1:44:33>> So he wants the building to come out to

1:44:34match the stoops.

1:44:36>> No, to match the facades either side.

1:44:39Yeah, we're talking about Newark Avenue.

1:44:40So they are like mixeduse buildings on

1:44:42either side.

1:44:46>> Any other questions? 3.1.

1:44:50>> The franchise fee for this is $1,

1:44:53correct?

1:44:55>> That I do not know. Um, I just knew the

1:44:58the background on the the franchise when

1:45:00I was looking through the agenda

1:45:05>> and I guess so once once they put the I

1:45:08guess the building

1:45:11to the one on either side is the is when

1:45:14the door open is going to be infringing

1:45:16in the public right away. Correct.

1:45:19>> Uh, I would have to consult the the site

1:45:21plan. uh that they could certainly set

1:45:24the glass of and doors inbound from from

1:45:30swinging open. It might also depend on

1:45:32whether or not um how big the commercial

1:45:36area is. Uh they could swing indoor or

1:45:40in

1:45:40>> inside the property. Yeah. Depends on

1:45:42how large the commercial space is. Um

1:45:45building code over a certain threshold,

1:45:47they'd have to open up into the street.

1:45:50But if it's set back a little bit, then

1:45:51that's obviously that door swing would

1:45:54be reduced

1:45:55>> and we don't

1:45:55>> wouldn't impact the sidewalk.

1:45:57>> That's what So we don't know exactly

1:45:59where what is where it's going to be.

1:46:01>> Um I don't have that information in

1:46:03front of me.

1:46:04>> If you if you can get that uh

1:46:07that's it's going to be huge whether you

1:46:10know it it infringe upon the public

1:46:12right away versus going inside.

1:46:17>> Okay. I I'll take a look at the plans

1:46:18and I can get that information.

1:46:20>> Thank you.

1:46:25>> So, thisin

1:46:29is within the plaza.

1:46:31>> That's right.

1:46:37Is this this the uh is that that

1:46:40partially demo building that they

1:46:43partially

1:46:45is

1:46:47Um it is uh pretty much at the end of or

1:46:50it's at the kink of where uh Eerie is.

1:46:54>> Bring the mic a little closer to you,

1:46:56Matt.

1:46:56>> Uh Molly's right across the street from

1:46:58Molly.

1:46:58>> Yeah, it's across this.

1:46:59>> Yes, right there. That arts where it

1:47:00used to be the arts in the arcade and

1:47:02all that stuff.

1:47:07>> Any other questions? 3.1.

1:47:11>> Thanks, Matt.

1:47:12>> Good evening.

1:47:15Director Kaplan, Infrastructure.

1:47:19Director's not here.

1:47:22Drew, Peter, Lindsay, and Amanda.

1:47:27>> Hi. Good evening, council. Council

1:47:29President, I signed us all up together.

1:47:32Um, so I have I have one resolution

1:47:36today. 26-640,

1:47:40agenda number 1025.

1:47:43Uh this is a resolution authorizing the

1:47:45city to accept reimbursement grant from

1:47:48the College of New Jersey sustainable

1:47:50Jersey uh program for the municipal

1:47:54climate resilience officer program

1:47:57uh position, excuse me. Uh so this

1:48:00position would be for uh this would be a

1:48:02staff position for 2.5 to three years.

1:48:06It's a reimbursement grant administered

1:48:09through a subawward from the College of

1:48:11New Jersey Sustainable Institutees

1:48:13Jersey City program. Uh the CRO would

1:48:17serve um cross departmental

1:48:19coordination, strategic leadership on

1:48:22climate resilience planning and

1:48:24implementation for the city. The re

1:48:26reimbursement covers the cost of the

1:48:29salary, state fringe rate for benefits

1:48:31and instate travel expenses.

1:48:34Um, are there any questions?

1:48:36>> Questions? 10.25.

1:48:42>> Thank you. Thank you.

1:48:48>> Good afternoon, Council President,

1:48:50council members. Drew Bangard on behalf

1:48:52of the Department of Infrastructure. I

1:48:53have four items tonight. Um, the first

1:48:57one being

1:48:58agenda item number 3.2, 2 ordinance

1:49:0226-082.

1:49:05This is an ordinance supplementing

1:49:06chapter 332 of our code for um ADA

1:49:11parking spaces or parking for the

1:49:13disabled. Um these are result of

1:49:16approved spaces from the September 17th

1:49:19committee meeting.

1:49:20>> Questions 3.2.

1:49:23Next one. Yeah,

1:49:27>> next one is a a resolution agenda 10.28

1:49:32resolution 26-643.

1:49:35This is a resolution authorizing the

1:49:37award of a professional services

1:49:39contract to Kier's engineering design

1:49:42engineering and design for the

1:49:44implementation of operations and

1:49:47maintenance at the PJP landfill which

1:49:49the city owns.

1:49:52This is a

1:49:54to carry out what's kind of statutoily

1:49:57required by the city as owner of the

1:49:59property as when we took it over as a

1:50:01capped landfill. There is certain

1:50:03operations and maintenance that needs to

1:50:05happen every year along with reporting

1:50:09>> 10.28 questions.

1:50:11>> Actually, did we do 26 and 27?

1:50:15>> No.

1:50:16>> Oh, okay. Sorry.

1:50:19is to is this the uh

1:50:23the PJ PJP site, right?

1:50:27>> Yep. PJP landfill um Marian Greenway

1:50:31Park is sometimes it's known as right at

1:50:33the the foot of SIP Avenue and uh 109.

1:50:37>> How um maybe this is a question for the

1:50:40administrator. Do we know how much we've

1:50:42expended upon cleaning this site?

1:50:50>> I don't have that information, but I we

1:50:52can follow up.

1:50:53>> What was the question? Sorry.

1:50:55>> Um, how much money have the city spent

1:50:57on f or cleaning it site?

1:51:00>> I know it's been some time now. The

1:51:03>> we took the city took it over as a cap

1:51:05landfill. We we did not spend any fun

1:51:08the cleanup or the capping of it. That

1:51:10was the responsible party who owned the

1:51:12site prior.

1:51:12>> Oh, and they've they've done that

1:51:14before. They relinquished it back over.

1:51:16>> Yeah, they did the cleanup. They did the

1:51:18capping. There are requirements every

1:51:20year to make sure the the cap that's

1:51:22there is protective of, you know, human

1:51:24health and environment.

1:51:26>> There's environmental testing done every

1:51:28year.

1:51:29>> Yeah. There's as part of the on andm

1:51:31process, there's um monitoring wells

1:51:34that are tested. There are uh gas vents

1:51:38out there for, you know, methane gas to

1:51:40treat that as it as it comes out of the

1:51:42landfill. Um annual reporting that needs

1:51:45to get done. Vegetation removal just to

1:51:47make sure that there's no vegetation

1:51:49growing that could disrupt the cap and

1:51:51release anything from from what's still

1:51:53in the ground under the landfill.

1:51:55>> Okay. Thank you, Drew.

1:51:59>> So So these funds come from general

1:52:02operating funds. Uh yes these this year

1:52:05we have um put them into the operating

1:52:08for the division of engineering

1:52:12>> and previously it was through capital or

1:52:15grant

1:52:15>> previously it was through capital yes

1:52:18>> and the shift here is because it's been

1:52:22determined that capital is no longer a a

1:52:26appropriate source is that or not

1:52:31>> uh is my understanding yes that you

1:52:33know, it's operations and maintenance of

1:52:35of the landfill site. So, it's more

1:52:37appropriate as an operating expense.

1:52:40>> What is the what what is this

1:52:42engineering firm doing for us?

1:52:44>> Can you just explain that?

1:52:46Um yes, they'll so they will be

1:52:49conducting there's um monthly

1:52:51inspections that they do out there to

1:52:54look for anything like if a groundhog

1:52:57digs a hole that needs to be filled in

1:52:59and cleaned up um just because it could

1:53:02expose the the cap liner that's

1:53:04underneath um about 18 in under the soil

1:53:06is where the cap liner is. There's

1:53:08monitoring wells where they will extract

1:53:11water samples and send them out to the

1:53:13laboratory. Um there are are carbon gas

1:53:16vents. So as methane gas um is

1:53:21it passively exits through these uh

1:53:24carbon canisters and then that cleans it

1:53:26and releases it into the atmosphere in a

1:53:28safe manner. So it's all prescribed in

1:53:31um the on andm manual that DP and EPA

1:53:34approved.

1:53:37So,

1:53:39>> and then every year we have to file a

1:53:41report with them with all the different

1:53:44um testing results showing that the

1:53:48everything is either stabilized or or

1:53:50decreasing.

1:53:52>> This is an annual cost for us

1:53:54year-over-year.

1:53:56>> Yeah, this is an annual cost every year

1:53:58for the operations and maintenance.

1:54:01>> And this goes on how long? Indefinitely

1:54:03or? Uh yeah, in perpetuity, um we have

1:54:07been trying to work with the D and EPA

1:54:10to amend the uh frequency of certain

1:54:14samplings. So that would bring down the

1:54:16cost of what's being done. A lot of I

1:54:18would say at least 50% of this is is

1:54:20just lab fees. So it doesn't really

1:54:22matter who goes out there. It's you're

1:54:24sending samples out to the lab for

1:54:26testing. Um which gets very expensive,

1:54:29especially when you're doing it at the

1:54:30frequency that's prescribed right now.

1:54:33um the the introduction of PAS um into

1:54:38the equation of this site along with

1:54:40that whole river corridor has has

1:54:42complicated our negotiations and we're

1:54:44kind of kind of a holding pattern to do

1:54:47that but uh we have been trying every

1:54:50year to make an effort to to downgrade

1:54:52the sampling that we need to do out

1:54:54there.

1:54:54>> I'm sorry if you already answered this I

1:54:56apologize but is this Skyway Park

1:54:58>> correct? Yes.

1:54:59>> Yes.

1:55:01And what

1:55:04what's over there? What contaminants is

1:55:06it? Hexavalant 6 chromium or

1:55:10No, I I don't think any of that has been

1:55:12identified out there and I can't can

1:55:14recall off the top of my head. It's a uh

1:55:17POS like I said, which is

1:55:21I forget. I'm not a chemist. It's you

1:55:24know your your coatings on non-stick

1:55:28teflon. Um, it was also used as a fire

1:55:31retardant when the landfill caught on

1:55:34fire, you know, decades ago. That was

1:55:36that was used to extinguish the fires

1:55:38and now has been identified as actually

1:55:40a forever chemical that POS is. And um I

1:55:44I know there were tires and drums of

1:55:46material. I don't I don't know exactly

1:55:48was identified out there as

1:55:50>> and okay,

1:55:51>> well before my time.

1:55:52>> Is it able to go airborne?

1:55:55Uh,

1:55:58I don't know. I don't want to I don't

1:56:00want to speak on something that I don't

1:56:01know about. There is methane gas that is

1:56:03produced that goes through the carbon

1:56:04canisters.

1:56:05>> Um, the the carbon canisters treat that

1:56:09methane gas in a passive manner. So, as

1:56:12it's slowly released, it's clean enough

1:56:14to be released.

1:56:18>> I just want to say if Steve Krinsky is

1:56:20watching this, he probably has a lot of

1:56:22answers to our questions. Um he offers

1:56:25tours of this site. Um and it is

1:56:28partially open, right? Um the there's a

1:56:32like a driveway

1:56:34around the um it's on the side of the

1:56:37the logistics warehouse where there is

1:56:40public access to the park. Um but it's,

1:56:44you know, not someplace you want to

1:56:46really have a picnic yet.

1:56:48>> Correct. um I'll call it the

1:56:50prologologist building that's um just

1:56:53south of the Sip Avenue intersection has

1:56:56public access through their driveway.

1:56:57There's a small parking lot where you

1:56:59can park your vehicle and walk along the

1:57:01waterfront. Um that's part of the the

1:57:04vision of that corridor is to have a

1:57:05riverfront walkway similar to Society

1:57:08Hill down in the south end of of that

1:57:10west side where you can walk that whole

1:57:12river corridor

1:57:16>> is so excuse my ignorance and So Skyway

1:57:19Park is not an active open park at this

1:57:21point.

1:57:22>> Not at the moment.

1:57:25Not the city-owned property. The Pro

1:57:27Lodge site is is a separate separate

1:57:29parcel.

1:57:30>> Is it a Green Acre site for us as well?

1:57:33>> I do not believe so. I'd have to check

1:57:35on that.

1:57:37>> Thank you.

1:57:41>> All right. Next one.

1:57:43The next two resolution resolutions are

1:57:47um go kind of hand in hand. They're for

1:57:51DOT grant

1:57:53uh award extensions. This is for or I'm

1:57:56sorry, let me give you the item numbers.

1:57:58It's a agenda item number 10.29,

1:58:02resolution 26-644

1:58:06and resolution or agenda number 10.30 30

1:58:10resolution 26-645.

1:58:14These are DOT grants awarded um in the

1:58:18DOT's fiscal year 2023 and 2024.

1:58:22Um city has been working on designs.

1:58:26During the process, it was identified

1:58:28that um the JCMUA has a large project in

1:58:32the same corridor of Columbus Drive to

1:58:35repair sewer and water infrastructure.

1:58:38Um, so we've we've had to delay our our

1:58:42roll out of the project a little bit

1:58:43just so we don't build something above

1:58:45ground that's going to have to get

1:58:46ripped out in order to make those those

1:58:48improvements to the water and sewer

1:58:50system. So, we've worked with the DOT on

1:58:53a timeline. They've seen um plans that

1:58:57are

1:58:59pretty far along, I would say 90%.

1:59:02Um, so they see that we're making

1:59:03progress on the design. We're just

1:59:05waiting to put this out to bid in a

1:59:08manner that aligns with the I bank

1:59:11funding that the JCMUA is receiving for

1:59:13their project. And we anticipate needing

1:59:16another six months to do so. So we would

1:59:20we're asking for this week at the

1:59:22meeting is um for the one grant to

1:59:26instead of having an October deadline to

1:59:28move that to April and the next next one

1:59:30is would be um November into May. So,

1:59:34six more months for each.

1:59:38>> Is it accurate to say that um

1:59:43>> so I I believe we've already been

1:59:45granted extensions for this, right? Um

1:59:48>> multiple times, unfortunately.

1:59:50>> Yes. Um and I I understand the desire to

1:59:53coordinate with the JCMUA. I think that

1:59:55is, you know, what we should be doing.

1:59:57But it would it be accurate to say that

1:59:59we are unlikely to be granted a

2:00:01subsequent six-month extension for

2:00:02either of these and and that this is

2:00:05probably the last six-month extension we

2:00:07can apply for.

2:00:08>> I I would venture I guess that you know

2:00:11if if we can't get this done by the

2:00:14spring of next year, we'd be in a a

2:00:16position where we have a to have a very

2:00:19good explanation to get another

2:00:20six-month extension.

2:00:21>> Okay. Thank you. and and in in your

2:00:24estimation um do we have a plan in place

2:00:27to um complete all the work that needs

2:00:30to be done within these six months and

2:00:34um even even allowing for contingencies

2:00:36in case we get another blizzard like we

2:00:38did last year.

2:00:39>> Uh yes. So the so the way the DOT runs

2:00:43the grant is the award of a contract. So

2:00:45we don't have to have the project built

2:00:47in the next 6 months. It's we have to

2:00:49put it out to public bid, receive those

2:00:51bids, and then award a contract to the

2:00:53successful bidder to build the pro the

2:00:56contract. We don't have to have uh we

2:00:59don't even have to have shovels in the

2:01:00ground at that point. Just as long as we

2:01:02have, you know, a resolution in front of

2:01:04you guys to award a construction

2:01:06contract in place and pass before that

2:01:08deadline, that then that will uh

2:01:11suffice.

2:01:13>> Okay, great. Thank you. Um, you know, I

2:01:16just as the board e councsil member, I

2:01:18get

2:01:20constituents reaching out to me

2:01:21basically every day um talking about

2:01:23Columbus Drive and uh with concerns

2:01:25about safety in particular and um so the

2:01:29sooner we can get this done the better.

2:01:31>> Yeah, certainly. And I I anticipate

2:01:33we'll be talking to your office, you

2:01:35know, in the coming months with the

2:01:37final design. And I know this project

2:01:39has kind of spanned a couple

2:01:40administrations and it could be new for

2:01:43a lot of people that, you know, never

2:01:45even knew it existed.

2:01:47>> Thank you very much for for making this

2:01:49a priority.

2:01:52>> So, um I'm sorry, I'm looking through

2:01:54it. What What type of improvements

2:01:58we we looking to make on Christopher

2:02:00Columbus? And and the reason why I'm

2:02:02asking is because um

2:02:06a young man several years ago

2:02:09um Jerry was was um struck by a car and

2:02:15killed on Christopher Columbus and um

2:02:20you know I would love to know what what

2:02:21what type of improvements because it's

2:02:23it's not I don't see it here. So,

2:02:26>> um, yes, I I I know the unfortunate

2:02:29incident you're speaking about. Um,

2:02:32these improvements would be some, uh,

2:02:35curb extensions to shorten those

2:02:37crosswalk distances. I They may not

2:02:40impact Columbus Drive as much as we

2:02:43would want um, just because of the lane

2:02:45configurations, but uh, certainly

2:02:48intersection improvements for safety. um

2:02:52some some more bike lane improvements on

2:02:55the west end of the of the stretch where

2:02:57it turns the corner by the turnpike and

2:03:00uh the addition of more sidewalk

2:03:02infrastructure on that west end. I know

2:03:04if you walk down there and you're on

2:03:06like the north side of the street,

2:03:07you're there's really no sidewalk.

2:03:09You're right up against the old train,

2:03:11>> right? The embankment

2:03:12>> train walls. Yeah, the embankment. So,

2:03:14we would be introducing, you know,

2:03:16sidewalk there and, uh, you know,

2:03:19basically connecting around the corner

2:03:21into the existing sidewalk, uh, milling

2:03:23and paving of the roadway. So, you'd

2:03:25have a new asphalt roadway. And we're

2:03:27going to look at, you know, some other

2:03:28striping improvements as well to make

2:03:31that corridor a lot safer,

2:03:33>> right? Yeah. Like if you go further

2:03:34east, like especially by the um,

2:03:38Grove Street station, it's in serious

2:03:41need of traffic calming.

2:03:43Um people are running lights. Um

2:03:48it's

2:03:50it's terrible over there.

2:03:52>> We'll certainly have a safety aspect as

2:03:55part of the this grant design as well as

2:03:58even outside of this grant. We we look

2:04:00to improve safety, you know, even even

2:04:02in anything we could do, you know, in

2:04:04the short term.

2:04:06>> Thank you.

2:04:09>> Next one, Drew. Uh that's it for me.

2:04:13>> Okay.

2:04:20>> Evening, council president. Uh councel I

2:04:24am here to speak on item 3.3

2:04:28which is in the first reading of

2:04:30ordinance 26-083

2:04:33or

2:04:35amendment to the traffic regulations to

2:04:38include uh multi-way stops at several

2:04:42locations across the city. This was part

2:04:45of the quick build program that I

2:04:48believe council was introduced to

2:04:49earlier this year. And this is just

2:04:51formalizing the results of

2:04:55uh the particular

2:04:57intersections that were warranted

2:05:00or allway stop. There's 12 of them on

2:05:03the list in total. And the other ones

2:05:06that aren't on the list are going to go

2:05:08back into the bin for further evaluation

2:05:10later this year for different types of

2:05:13traffic caling measures.

2:05:15We'll open the floor up to any

2:05:16questions.

2:05:18>> Questions? 3.3.

2:05:21>> I don't think we've met. Uh Peter, are

2:05:23you new with the division?

2:05:24>> Uh sorry. Uh I'm the division of traffic

2:05:26engineering with department of

2:05:28infrastructure.

2:05:29>> You you're new on the new position for

2:05:32you.

2:05:33>> Where have you been with us? Well, I've

2:05:34been I've been here about two months

2:05:36now.

2:05:36>> Okay.

2:05:37>> Budget hearing was your first day,

2:05:39right?

2:05:39>> That's right.

2:05:41>> Fun day to walk into. Fun day to walk.

2:05:44>> Welcome.

2:05:44>> Thank you. You

2:05:46>> I just want to say thanks. This is I

2:05:47mean and no, we're not getting stops at

2:05:50every single location that we made

2:05:52requests for, but this is a really great

2:05:54start. So, I appreciate the work.

2:06:01>> Thank you. And keep them coming. a

2:06:02question. He's looking like don't look

2:06:05for a question. They will come. Next

2:06:07one.

2:06:12>> I know there are questions on this one.

2:06:14Um, hi everyone. Hi, Council President,

2:06:17members of council. Lindseay Scoffield,

2:06:19director of transportation planning. Uh,

2:06:22I will address two items, uh, 10.26 and

2:06:2610.27.

2:06:28This is resolution 26-641

2:06:31and resolution 26-642.

2:06:35Um these are both uh awards to

2:06:39contractors um under the professional

2:06:42services line item of the transportation

2:06:44planning operating budget uh that had

2:06:47been approved earlier this year. Uh so

2:06:49the first is a resolution authorizing an

2:06:52award to Tara Daodell Group to provide

2:06:55on call community engagement on various

2:06:58projects. Uh the second is a resolution

2:07:01off authorizing an award for a

2:07:04professional services contract agreement

2:07:06with Mercer planning associates to

2:07:09provide on call community engagement and

2:07:11planning on various projects.

2:07:14um slight difference in the scopes of

2:07:16work that these two firms would engage

2:07:18on. One more specialized on community

2:07:23engagement, communications, marketing,

2:07:26PR, uh educational campaigns, um but

2:07:29also very skilled in community

2:07:31engagement. And then the other Mercer

2:07:34Planning Associates, they are licensed

2:07:36and professional uh planners. Um, so

2:07:40they're also going to supplement some of

2:07:41the planning work that goes along with

2:07:43these projects, uh, while also

2:07:45supporting on those community engagement

2:07:47and outreach tasks. Um, so we're really

2:07:50looking to engage with these firms. Um,

2:07:54they're both locally based in Jersey

2:07:56City. Uh, we solicited proposals and

2:07:59received four proposals for these

2:08:02services and, uh, determined that these

2:08:04two would be, uh, the best ones to serve

2:08:07the city.

2:08:09um they're both small businesses, so we

2:08:11want to have two on call um because we

2:08:15have a lot of projects that have kind of

2:08:17um been in the backlog um and we have a

2:08:19lot of engagement and initiatives that

2:08:22we uh we know we want to do surveys and

2:08:25focus groups and get out in the

2:08:27community, do walks, be at more of those

2:08:29pop-up events. Um and so these contracts

2:08:33will allow us to be able to be much more

2:08:35responsive um and transparent and really

2:08:38listen and engage with the community. Um

2:08:41so I will pause there um and ask if

2:08:44there are any questions.

2:08:46>> Questions 10 point 26 and 27.

2:08:50I still feel that the hourly um rates

2:08:54are really really high

2:08:57especially local small businesses. Uh is

2:09:01there any specific reason and thank you

2:09:02for sending us email with answers but is

2:09:05is there anything you want to mention

2:09:07here? Uh, one thing I know the firm did

2:09:10mention is that, you know, as a small

2:09:12business, they they really take pride in

2:09:16um being able to, you know, have

2:09:17coverage, you know, health coverage for

2:09:19their full-time employees and benefits

2:09:22and things that um are incorporated into

2:09:25their hourly rate. They have a high

2:09:27level of expertise and um and are going

2:09:30to per we're expecting them to perform

2:09:32at a very high level. Um they've also um

2:09:37in this particular firm um mentioned

2:09:40part of their model is to really engage

2:09:43directly with uh community- based

2:09:45organizations who um can help uh

2:09:49supplement the on the ground outreach in

2:09:51particular. And those folks would be um

2:09:54paid at a lower uh hourly rate that's

2:09:57more similar to the other um firms that

2:10:00we received responses from. And that

2:10:02would be done without any markup. It

2:10:04would just go right to the local

2:10:06residents who are going to help with

2:10:08like canvasing businesses or, you know,

2:10:11staffing a table at uh a community

2:10:14barbecue or hanging up flyers and

2:10:16helping distribute. Um, and so I think

2:10:20part of what they'll be able to deliver

2:10:21is supplementing the higher rate staff

2:10:24who's involved at the more strategic

2:10:27messaging planning level with um people

2:10:31on the ground that are local to Jersey

2:10:33City that can carry out a lot of that

2:10:35work.

2:10:38Is it imagined that for example

2:10:41if there was a major infrastructure

2:10:43change plan for a neighborhood this

2:10:44group would put together the PowerPoint

2:10:46the presentation and do the community

2:10:48outreach?

2:10:49>> Exactly. Yeah. There would be oversight

2:10:51of the city of course. Um but yes a lot

2:10:54of what goes into outreach is all of

2:10:56that extra preparation preparing meeting

2:11:00boards or you know drafting the flyers.

2:11:03a lot of our um projects we you know

2:11:06we're trying to both do the planning

2:11:08work and and try to you know design a

2:11:10survey and analyze survey results and

2:11:13there's just a couple of us in the

2:11:14department so we just need that extra

2:11:17support to be able to do all of the

2:11:19levels of engagement we're trying to do.

2:11:22Um there's a lot of projects. Um, some

2:11:25examples are things like uh the Morris

2:11:28Canal Greenway that's going into

2:11:30construction on a couple of sections

2:11:32next year. Uh, it's been years since we

2:11:34did a public meeting. So, we don't have

2:11:36a consultant that can help us. We're we

2:11:39would be tapping into these contracts to

2:11:42help us re-engage with the community and

2:11:44share like what's happening and what's

2:11:46next on that project. And there's just a

2:11:48whole lot of um projects like that that

2:11:51are kind of in the queue. My concern

2:11:53though is having a project that that

2:11:54would require the presenter to have

2:11:58the nuanced information that your your

2:12:00office has. So, so how do you address

2:12:03how would you address that situation?

2:12:05>> Yeah, that's a great question. So, we

2:12:07would still be very much involved in the

2:12:09community engagement. It would be

2:12:10similar to uh like for examp I'll use

2:12:13the master plan update as an example. So

2:12:16with a transportation master plan, we

2:12:18had a consultant team working on the

2:12:20plan and they actually had a subcontract

2:12:22with Mercer Planning Associates, which

2:12:24is one of these firms who did all of the

2:12:27outreach. But what they did, they

2:12:29prepare the presentation slides and they

2:12:32helped supplement us at the popup

2:12:34meetings or they were at the public

2:12:36meetings and maybe staffed one of the

2:12:38boards, but our staff is still at those

2:12:40public meetings. Um, so we're still able

2:12:43to present information, answer questions

2:12:46more directly, um, particularly about

2:12:48the details and maybe other projects

2:12:50that are going on. So we wouldn't take

2:12:52ourselves out of the equation. It would

2:12:54be more so spreading our being able to

2:12:57spread um, ourselves uh, to prepare for

2:13:00these meetings and also execute without

2:13:02as much um, overtime and things like

2:13:05that. uh that are staff right now

2:13:07requires to be able to you know staff

2:13:09evening and weekends and have multiple

2:13:11people for these larger meetings

2:13:14>> because what I'm trying to avoid is

2:13:16several years ago Mayor F presented on

2:13:19some issue that never some project never

2:13:21came to fruition in Journal Square I

2:13:22forgot what it was now uh and there was

2:13:25some there's a group similar to this

2:13:26that did all the presentations they even

2:13:27had a 3D design they took feedback but

2:13:30couldn't answer questions and build the

2:13:33city but didn't really provide anything

2:13:34of substance So, I would like to to help

2:13:37me as much as possible avoid, you know,

2:13:39feel better about avoiding that

2:13:40situation.

2:13:41>> Absolutely. Yeah, we were we're not

2:13:43looking to um Yeah, like I said, take

2:13:46ourselves out of the equation. It's more

2:13:47so all of the support that goes into

2:13:50these engagement processes. And, you

2:13:52know, right now, say we have a big

2:13:54public meeting, we want someone at the

2:13:57door who's, you know, signing people in.

2:13:59we have maybe five boards and maybe

2:14:01there's two of us from the city staff

2:14:02and two people from one of these firms

2:14:05or or one of the community uh residents

2:14:07that they're going to hire to help. Um

2:14:10but yeah, wouldn't wouldn't look to just

2:14:12completely take ourselves out of the

2:14:13project equation.

2:14:15>> And you mentioned that they have worked

2:14:17with the infrastructure in the past.

2:14:21>> Yes. So, um, Mercer Planning Associates

2:14:24in particular, um, they were the

2:14:26subconsultant, um, responsible for

2:14:29community engagement and some planning

2:14:31work on the master plan. Um, they've

2:14:33also supported the city on past projects

2:14:35like the vision zero action plan. Um,

2:14:38some other projects like Hudson County's

2:14:40vision zero action plan update. They're

2:14:43um, very well-versed in a lot of the

2:14:45projects and initiatives going on in the

2:14:47city. So, we'll kind of come with more

2:14:49of that background. And then Tara Daal

2:14:51group, we haven't worked with them

2:14:53directly. We've interfaced with them on

2:14:55other projects that they're working on.

2:14:57I've also run into them when I'm

2:14:59tableabling at events. Um they're at the

2:15:01I love Greenville barbecue and you know

2:15:04just seeing them embedded in the

2:15:05community and seeing a lot of good work

2:15:07that they've done. They've done a lot of

2:15:09um work with state agencies and other

2:15:12municipalities. Um but they are also

2:15:14locally based in Jersey City. um one of

2:15:18their members previously was a SID

2:15:20director. Um so there's just a lot of

2:15:22embeddedness I think within both of

2:15:24these firms in the local community that

2:15:26will be an asset.

2:15:28>> And one more question uh do you guys

2:15:30work with interns?

2:15:32>> With interns we do. Um, so we actually

2:15:35the mayor's office has actually uh um

2:15:38provided us with a couple of interns for

2:15:41this fall and they're uh helping us with

2:15:44um a number of uh analyses and

2:15:46initiatives. Um they're also available

2:15:48to help with uh some of these outreach

2:15:51tasks. Um and we're also looking um

2:15:55specifically to have a transportation

2:15:57planning intern. We've been interviewing

2:15:59some uh students for that role as well.

2:16:02Um, and that certainly helps expand our

2:16:04staff, but we right now use them on a

2:16:08variety of things. So, we're using them

2:16:09for like mapping and um, you know,

2:16:12inventorying things in the city, doing

2:16:14research. Um, but they'll also help out

2:16:16with some of this as well.

2:16:18>> Yeah. And I feel they can be used for

2:16:20community outreach especially they can

2:16:22be in farmers markets community meetings

2:16:24spreading

2:16:26you know the gathering the data sharing

2:16:30the map and sharing the new projects so

2:16:34they can be helpful.

2:16:35>> Yeah absolutely thank you. Uh thanks. Um

2:16:40just a kind of blunt question about the

2:16:44um yeah the assessment for these

2:16:47organizations or or these um companies

2:16:49to work on deescalation in some of these

2:16:52meetings because some of the meetings um

2:16:55the public have become like really

2:16:58really intense with a lot of shouting.

2:17:00Um I mean just the uh yeah the February

2:17:04meeting this year um is a recent

2:17:06example. So just curious your thoughts

2:17:09on the preparedness of these different

2:17:11um consultants and groups to be able to

2:17:14respond to those kinds of situations.

2:17:16>> Absolutely. Yes. I think both of these

2:17:18um have worked on projects that have had

2:17:21a lot of uh emotion coming into the

2:17:24meetings and you know opinions on what

2:17:27the right um direction for projects are

2:17:30and I've seen both of them um really

2:17:32tackle it uh in in a multiple ways. So

2:17:36part of it is in the meeting design

2:17:37itself. Um so some of it is uh providing

2:17:41the space to have smaller group

2:17:44conversations as opposed to the sort of

2:17:46one person shouting and shouting back

2:17:48kind of dynamic that happens in some

2:17:51types of sort of public hearing type uh

2:17:54projects. So, some of it's the the

2:17:56format, and I've seen both of them uh

2:17:59design and execute on a format that's

2:18:02much more collaborative and productive.

2:18:04And I think part of it is uh getting uh

2:18:08into the community faster and earlier on

2:18:10projects um and that's on the city and

2:18:13to to really work that into the

2:18:15timeline. And that's part of the

2:18:17bandwidth that we're hoping to expand

2:18:19with this is having uh not just one

2:18:23meeting when the project already has

2:18:25some plans in place, but really having

2:18:27multiple touch points. So you're, you

2:18:29know, first sharing maybe the existing

2:18:31conditions and soliciting feedback on

2:18:33what the major pain points are and then

2:18:36coming back with here's what we heard,

2:18:39here's some ideas, let's work through

2:18:42the the items that, you know, we still

2:18:44need direction on and then come back

2:18:47with, you know, the final plans. And I

2:18:49think that process itself can help as a

2:18:52deescalation from feeling like the city

2:18:56has gotten so far down a path and now

2:18:58we're just, you know, presenting one

2:19:00thing and people don't feel heard.

2:19:02>> Thank you for that. And just my one

2:19:04other question is whether these

2:19:06contracts um would be locked in for the

2:19:09department of infrastructure only or if

2:19:11there were for some reason or another a

2:19:14different kind of community engagement

2:19:16project that was housed primarily within

2:19:18a different department. Um if hey we

2:19:21have this money we haven't spent down

2:19:23the entire encumbrance um it's not

2:19:26incumbrance excuse me but we haven't

2:19:27spent down the entire amount of the

2:19:29contract could it be used for another

2:19:31department? That is a question I'm not

2:19:34100% sure we've explored. I don't know

2:19:36if um BA or law. So, we solicited these,

2:19:40you know, through our department. I

2:19:41don't know if there's offhand a reason

2:19:43that another department couldn't tap

2:19:45into it if we worked on.

2:19:49I'm sure it's related to the scope of

2:19:51work. So, if it is this similar scope of

2:19:54work that it needs to be leveraged, um

2:19:57it could be possible. I think the

2:19:58agreement is with the city, not the

2:20:00particular department. Um, but we can

2:20:02look into it.

2:20:04>> You can follow up.

2:20:06>> I appreciate that. I can put a council

2:20:09request in as well. VA, that's helpful.

2:20:15>> I may. No.

2:20:16>> Hi, Lindsay.

2:20:18>> Um, so the uh funding for this is

2:20:22operating dollars.

2:20:24>> It would be operating dollars. That's

2:20:25correct.

2:20:26>> Okay. Um, and this is our first time

2:20:28utilizing this these services?

2:20:31Yes, we historically we have had

2:20:34professional services on call. It was

2:20:37purely transportation planning and it

2:20:40was paid out of the capital budget. So

2:20:42in this year's budget, it was moved to

2:20:45operating. So the total dollar amount

2:20:47has stayed the same. We're just looking

2:20:49to partition it instead of just

2:20:51transportation planning. also having um

2:20:54some firms that are on call that

2:20:56specialize more in the community

2:20:57engagement and outreach side of things.

2:21:00>> The the outreach firm that used

2:21:02previously

2:21:04um

2:21:06when was that period?

2:21:08>> Uh so Mercer Planning most recently um

2:21:11just wrapped up the master plan, the

2:21:12transportation master plan. So that was

2:21:15uh earlier this year that that was

2:21:16wrapped up.

2:21:19Um and have you used other firms besides

2:21:22these two for

2:21:23>> We have. Yes. Um so we actually uh one

2:21:27of the firms uh that submitted a

2:21:29proposal connect the dots. Um that was a

2:21:32firm that worked on the uh trafficcoming

2:21:35toolkit. I believe they also worked on

2:21:37the let's move JC plan. Um they're based

2:21:40in Philadelphia. They also do great

2:21:42work. We'd be happy to work with them.

2:21:44Um but we ended up for variety of

2:21:46reasons in terms of the four proposals

2:21:48that we received um part of I think one

2:21:51of the the values that we saw was these

2:21:54locally based Jersey City firms um and

2:21:56also just uh the you know the level of

2:21:59attention to detail um they wouldn't

2:22:01have travel costs um things like that

2:22:03and then the other firm that proposed um

2:22:07I don't know if they've done work for

2:22:08the city specifically but they did work

2:22:10on other Hudson County and NJSA

2:22:14projects. So, we've interacted with them

2:22:16and they've also done good work. Um,

2:22:18again, not uh not based in Jersey City.

2:22:22It's not a criteria, but it was one

2:22:24thing that factored into our evaluation.

2:22:27>> Which group was that? The last one you

2:22:28just

2:22:29>> um that was Melissa Johnson Associates.

2:22:31>> She was on the list of

2:22:33>> Yeah, that was one of the list of

2:22:34proposals.

2:22:36>> Um so, so if if it wasn't these two

2:22:40firms, you were using other firms in the

2:22:41past. And how do you think that

2:22:45how successful has that been with regard

2:22:47to um outreaching and and I just want to

2:22:50read from the resolution. ES

2:22:53um to outreach and engagement strategies

2:22:57that will strengthen community capacity.

2:23:00Uh gather input and raise awareness of

2:23:02city initiatives while centering equity

2:23:04and reaching historically underserved

2:23:07communities by offering community

2:23:08outreach and engagement services that

2:23:10are accessible, culturally responsive

2:23:13and linguistically appropriate. So how

2:23:15do you feel whether it was the one of

2:23:18these Mercer and Associates as well as

2:23:22other past uh vendors who've done this

2:23:26service?

2:23:28Have they have they in your estimation

2:23:31achieved that uh that outreach to those

2:23:37historically underserved communities?

2:23:39Yes, I I do think that they have helped

2:23:42us to achieve more of those goals. Um,

2:23:45some examples on the master plan. Um, so

2:23:48Mercer Planning, for example, has on

2:23:50staff uh bilingual staff in Spanish and

2:23:54Hindi. So they're able to do at a much

2:23:57lower cost than going out to a

2:23:58translator. um they're just able to

2:24:01translate project materials and when

2:24:04they're present at the events they can

2:24:06you know conversate in other languages

2:24:09um they also uh used professional

2:24:11translation services for the languages

2:24:14that they didn't have on staff uh teral

2:24:17group I'm forgetting which languages

2:24:19that they have on staff but they also

2:24:20have I think two or three uh bilingual

2:24:23staff who would be available for those

2:24:25translations and presence at meetings

2:24:27where those languages um are we see that

2:24:30in the census data for the areas that

2:24:32we're doing outreach in um and also have

2:24:34experience translating materials

2:24:37providing translation services uh in

2:24:40quite a lot of uh different languages.

2:24:42Um the other piece is really uh engaging

2:24:46with um community- based organizations

2:24:48which is something we've been trying to

2:24:50achieve through our our community

2:24:52engagement consultants and through our

2:24:54own work. Um and and both both firms um

2:24:58have helped us. I think even the design

2:25:00of some of the materials used like you

2:25:02might have uh remembered from the master

2:25:04plan we had the stack of cubes that had

2:25:07information and also opportunities to

2:25:09provide input that we found drew people

2:25:12into our our table at the events we were

2:25:15at where in the past um it was sometimes

2:25:18hard to get people to actually come to

2:25:20our table because it wasn't visually

2:25:21interesting. And so they bring, you

2:25:23know, some of those techniques and

2:25:25tactics. Um, and then, uh, you know, in

2:25:28the past where we've we've had funding

2:25:31through our, um, grants that often

2:25:34involve a community engagement

2:25:36consultant. Um, and so on those

2:25:38projects, we're able to do really great

2:25:40engagement. And it's these local

2:25:42projects that we don't have that uh,

2:25:44funding for that we, you know, we don't

2:25:48have the staff bandwidth to do as high

2:25:50quality of that engagement. So that's

2:25:52what we're hoping to be able to get with

2:25:54this extra support.

2:25:56>> Do you have um any information about

2:25:59participation rates in these outreach

2:26:02activities in the past with uh these uh

2:26:05with underserved communities?

2:26:07>> We do. Yes. Um, I know specifically for

2:26:10the master plan, this was one of the

2:26:12again the benefits of having the

2:26:14consultant was that like as we were

2:26:16getting survey responses, they were

2:26:18comparing the demographics to the census

2:26:21information and seeing like, hey, we're

2:26:23still low on this income group or this

2:26:26race or this ethnicity. And they would

2:26:29then uh help us get the word out and try

2:26:32to like focus more attention to bring

2:26:35those numbers up. Um so uh we we do plan

2:26:38to use data for that.

2:26:39>> That master plan process was like in

2:26:412020 2021.

2:26:43>> Uh no just uh the sorry the not the

2:26:46city's master overall master plan um the

2:26:48transportation master plan. So that one

2:26:50was the one that was conducted over 2025

2:26:53and 2026

2:26:55>> if you could provide we'll make the

2:26:57request via council requests some data

2:27:01points as to participation.

2:27:04uh it doesn't have to necessarily be

2:27:05with these two groups but other similar

2:27:08groups in the past.

2:27:09>> Okay.

2:27:09>> And then um and I'll just ask via

2:27:13council request so not to keep you here

2:27:15as well as the rest of my colleagues but

2:27:16uh going to ask about um what kind of

2:27:19metrics you're looking for with the

2:27:20their their role in participation and um

2:27:23and how do we know that they're doing a

2:27:26successful job uh with outreach.

2:27:31>> Yeah, happy to follow up with that.

2:27:32Yeah. and also take I you know feedback

2:27:34on that because we you know we haven't

2:27:36had these engagement contracts before.

2:27:39Um so we have some you know project

2:27:41level data on that but um definitely

2:27:45look forward to feedback on what we

2:27:47could do to improve and and even what

2:27:48you'd be interested in regularly

2:27:51receiving updates on. We're kind of

2:27:52building out you know some dashboards

2:27:54and things um so we could work that into

2:27:57what we report.

2:27:59>> Thank you. Any

2:28:03other ones?

2:28:05Oh, no other resolutions. No. Thank you.

2:28:08>> Thank you.

2:28:11>> Tax Assessa Laura.

2:28:24Good evening, Council President and

2:28:26Council members. I'm Laura from the Tax

2:28:28Assessor Office. I'm here for resolution

2:28:30number 26-622

2:28:34item number 10.7

2:28:36a resolution to grant veterans

2:28:38exemptions for the local property

2:28:39taxation pursuant to the statute NJSA

2:28:43544-3

2:28:46for six properties which are the

2:28:49following

2:28:50the first one is uh 3527 street unit 6

2:28:55uh for beacon way unit 1206

2:28:5899 Hudson unit 3908,

2:29:0112 um Autobon Avenue, unit 305,

2:29:0519 Easter unit 1, and 189 Coaster

2:29:10Avenue.

2:29:12Properties owned by 100% disabled

2:29:14veterans are eligible for 100% tax

2:29:17exemption on their primary residents.

2:29:20Therefore, I'm requesting the municipal

2:29:21council to authorize the tax collector

2:29:23to refund or cancel the taxes in the

2:29:26amount of 28,000 $44745,

2:29:33questions.

2:29:38Thank you. Have a good night.

2:29:40>> Laura, can I just ask um not related to

2:29:42this, how's the hiring going for

2:29:44assessing aids? They posted jobs two

2:29:47weeks ago, so we waiting for people to

2:29:49apply. Thank you for all your help.

2:29:51>> Yep.

2:29:52>> Thank you.

2:29:54>> Thank you,

2:29:56Director Woodson.

2:30:05Evening, council president and council

2:30:07members. I have eight resolutions for

2:30:09your consideration.

2:30:10Starting with agenda number 10 10.37, a

2:30:16resolution 26-652.

2:30:20It's a resolution of local support for

2:30:23Grass House Company LLC to operate a

2:30:26class 2 manufacturing, class three

2:30:28wholesale, and class 4 distribution

2:30:31cannabis business at 523 Tunnel Avenue

2:30:34was approved by the CCB on December 8th,

2:30:382025, and the planning board on May

2:30:4127th, 2025.

2:30:46>> Questions?

2:30:51Yeah, I I just want to say it looked

2:30:53like there's a

2:30:55a lot a lot of a lot of marijuana.

2:31:00Um, and you know, I know in the past we

2:31:03discussed the um oversaturation of of um

2:31:09you know, Jersey City and and the U

2:31:11businesses. So, I guess my question is

2:31:13are any of these renewals or these are

2:31:15all new?

2:31:16>> I have six renewals. Six renewals.

2:31:19>> This is not a renewal.

2:31:20>> Okay, great. Six renewals.

2:31:22>> Six renewals.

2:31:23>> And the new ones are not dispensaries.

2:31:26They're cultivators, manufacturers.

2:31:28>> Correct.

2:31:29>> These are cultivators. Okay. Thank you.

2:31:32>> So, just for clarity and so the uh

2:31:36council knows that they're looking at

2:31:37the right ones. Can you give us the

2:31:39numbers of the renewals? Sure. The item

2:31:43numbers.

2:31:45Renewal item numbers are 10.38,

2:31:4910.40,

2:31:5110.41,

2:31:5310.42,

2:31:5510.43, and 10.44.

2:31:59>> Um, quick question. Uh, 10.39 you did

2:32:03not list as a renewal, but the title

2:32:05says a resolution concerning renewing

2:32:07local support.

2:32:08>> There was a typo on that one. It's

2:32:10actually not a um resolution. It's it's

2:32:13a resolution for revoking uh support

2:32:16because the the business owner lost the

2:32:19lease.

2:32:23>> Okay. Thank you. Is the business owner

2:32:26currently trying to open elsewhere or

2:32:30>> Yes, but he was advised he would have to

2:32:31start a new application.

2:32:34>> Interesting. Okay.

2:32:35>> Okay.

2:32:36>> Um if that's if that's the procedure,

2:32:38then that that makes sense. Um, thank

2:32:42you for clarifying,

2:32:46>> director. Uh, the one in Jerus Square is

2:32:50a cultivator, right? And this is a new

2:32:53>> Which item are you?

2:32:54>> Uh, 10:45.

2:32:57>> 10:45. Yes.

2:32:59>> This is

2:32:59>> That's a class one cultivator.

2:33:01>> Cultivator. Okay.

2:33:02>> 155. Van Wagman.

2:33:05>> Yeah.

2:33:10school.

2:33:14>> No, it's on the other side right over

2:33:15the train tracks. Yeah. So, it's um it's

2:33:18a warehouse building,

2:33:19>> right?

2:33:20>> It's going to have security and um no

2:33:22advertisement that they're cultivating

2:33:24weed there. Yeah.

2:33:26>> I I met with the the owners.

2:33:29Just a a question on um

2:33:33Grass House Company uh for the class 2

2:33:36manufacturing

2:33:38um there's no there are no limitations

2:33:40in what kind of products can be

2:33:42manufactured with that class 2 license

2:33:44or um is there a is there a specific

2:33:48list of which kind of products?

2:33:51I I don't believe there is any control,

2:33:53but I mean I know you had expressed some

2:33:55concerns about odor mitigation and they

2:33:58are required to pretty much have a

2:34:01certain filtration system so none of the

2:34:03odors actually leave the building.

2:34:06>> Thank you. And then um yeah, I I'm going

2:34:09to talk to the owner about this as well.

2:34:11reached out. Um, but just, you know, it

2:34:14seems like there's a big difference

2:34:15between if they're manufacturing,

2:34:18um, the pre-rolls versus manufacturing,

2:34:22um, the gummies. There's like not just

2:34:25odor concerns, but chemical pollutants

2:34:28that can come out of that. So, I'm going

2:34:29to just talk to the owner about those

2:34:31manufacturing um, plans. And, uh,

2:34:34>> this was being presented to the CCB.

2:34:36They only they're starting out with only

2:34:38pre-rolls.

2:34:39>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

2:34:40>> And they're not cultivators. So,

2:34:42>> yeah. And thanks for getting that

2:34:43ordinance on the odor to office.

2:34:46Appreciate it, director.

2:34:49>> Any other questions for Director

2:34:51Woodson?

2:34:54>> All right. Thank you.

2:35:01>> Mike Mlean, HHS.

2:35:07>> Good evening, esteemed council members.

2:35:09My name is Mike Mlan. I'm the senior

2:35:11immigration assistant at Health and

2:35:13Human Services Division of Immigrant

2:35:15Affairs. I'm presenting tonight item

2:35:1810.13, resolution 26-

2:35:22628.

2:35:24Um the resolution is entitled Protecting

2:35:26Jersey City's immigrants from

2:35:28Immigration Services Fraud and

2:35:30Unauthorized Practice of Immigration

2:35:31Law. This resolution is the result of a

2:35:35lot of conversations from the immigrant

2:35:37affairs committee. Um it was introduced

2:35:40thank thankfully um councilwoman Singh

2:35:43introduced it. Um uh this resolution is

2:35:47also a product of information sharing

2:35:49between the division of immigrant

2:35:51affairs legal services program and the

2:35:54community leaders and experts that sit

2:35:56on the immigrant affairs advisory

2:35:57committee. Um

2:36:00thankfully it's a proactive initiative

2:36:03on immigration. uh it seeks to address

2:36:06the issue of misrepresentation of

2:36:10service providers who are unlicensed to

2:36:13provide immigration legal services. Uh

2:36:15it's a problem that we see across the

2:36:18country and certainly here in Jersey

2:36:19City. Uh wherein unsuspecting

2:36:23immigration benefit seekers go to a

2:36:26provider who is not a licensed attorney

2:36:29or an accredited representative. And

2:36:32very unfortunately these applications

2:36:35that are completed are frivolous or

2:36:38meritless uh fraught with errors and uh

2:36:41the consequences that our residents see

2:36:44are can be pretty devastating. Uh we

2:36:46certainly have some examples locally. Um

2:36:49the resolution really seeks to engage

2:36:53three different areas of our municipal

2:36:54government. Primarily the department of

2:36:56public safety um orienting an officer

2:37:00about uh reporting fraud uh receiving

2:37:04reports and then coordinating with the

2:37:07state uh division of consumer affairs.

2:37:10Uh the immigrant affairs committee has

2:37:12already engaged Lieutenant Raglin from

2:37:14the department of public safety and also

2:37:17uh Vishnu Kamraj from the municipal

2:37:19prosecutor's office who also sits on the

2:37:22immigrant affairs committee. Uh the

2:37:24third department would be HHS immigrant

2:37:27affairs. um asked to educate the

2:37:30community about immigration services

2:37:33fraud, report referrals, and expand

2:37:36lawful immigration services that we're

2:37:38very proud to already offer for free of

2:37:41charge to our residents. And then the

2:37:43third area would be the RRC and the

2:37:46communication departments to make sure

2:37:47that uh any calls are routed in the

2:37:50right way and that we can advertise the

2:37:53uh preventative measures here uh to make

2:37:56sure that uh our immigrant residents

2:37:58know uh what license to look for, what

2:38:01to ask for, and also outreach to our

2:38:03business owners uh to make sure that uh

2:38:06legitimate businesses don't make the

2:38:08mistake of committing unauthorized

2:38:10practice of immigration law. So, I'd be

2:38:13happy to answer any of your questions.

2:38:15Uh, but I'm really happy that uh the

2:38:18immigrant affairs committee has put this

2:38:19resolution together for your

2:38:20consideration. We think that this is a

2:38:22proactive way to protect our immigrants,

2:38:24especially given um the many changes in

2:38:28not in immigration laws, but in

2:38:30immigration rules. Um, with every new

2:38:33rule, we see that uh there are people

2:38:35falling victim to inappropriate filings,

2:38:38services from unlicensed providers, and

2:38:40all of the other dangers that come with

2:38:42it. So, thank you so much for

2:38:43considering this. I'd be happy to answer

2:38:44your questions.

2:38:46>> Questions,

2:38:48>> thank you so much.

2:38:49>> Oh, no. Go ahead, Councilwoman.

2:38:52>> That's okay. Go ahead.

2:38:53>> Thank you so much for all the hard work,

2:38:55the research work behind the scene. you

2:38:59have been investing a lot of time in

2:39:01this and I think it is a good initiative

2:39:03not just for our city I'm hoping other

2:39:06cities will be able to adopt it and uh

2:39:09this is a scam and uh people do not

2:39:12realize so we are uh happy to take it

2:39:15forward and um you know I think we'll

2:39:19talk more about in council meeting uh

2:39:22but Michael is here to answer question

2:39:25I've been also part of the process so I

2:39:27would love to answer questions

2:39:30Just want to say thank you,

2:39:31Councilwoman. Thank you, Michael. I

2:39:33think this is a really great initiative.

2:39:35>> Thank you.

2:39:37>> Yeah. Thank you so much. Thanks,

2:39:39Councilwoman. Thanks, Mike, for your

2:39:40work on this.

2:39:42>> Thank you. I really appreciate it. We

2:39:43have the potential not just to prevent

2:39:45fraud, but really strengthen our

2:39:47community of lawful providers. Um, more

2:39:50outreach to prevent fraud really is

2:39:53conjoined with more outreach to offer

2:39:56free licensed and accredited services.

2:39:58Um, as I mentioned, we're proud to

2:40:00provide that, but uh, with this

2:40:02resolution, uh, it it it certainly

2:40:05encourages the Division of Immigrant

2:40:07Affairs and other community partners to

2:40:09work together to provide services.

2:40:11>> Mike, from a law enforcement

2:40:13perspective, how do you see the

2:40:14investigations going?

2:40:16>> Great. Um so really according to this

2:40:20resolution it's creating a referral

2:40:22mechanism to county and mainly state

2:40:25enforcement agencies which are the most

2:40:28the more appropriate enforcement arm

2:40:29here. The division of of consumer

2:40:32affairs is really uh aligned more with

2:40:35compliance. Um so that uh that workflow

2:40:40would include referrals to Jersey City

2:40:43Public Safety. um they would be doing

2:40:45their usual report receiving for fraud

2:40:48and evidence gathering and um they would

2:40:51then be forwarding to DCA, Division of

2:40:55Consumer Affairs. Um very unfortunately

2:40:58the state uh hasn't done any very large

2:41:01enforcement initiatives. Um the last

2:41:04public one that we were able to find was

2:41:06in 2018

2:41:08um wherein a whole group of of uh

2:41:12unlawful providers um were were were

2:41:15found to be providing um to be

2:41:17committing immigration legal services

2:41:19fraud. Three were in Jersey City. Um

2:41:22this was a very uh positive impact. Uh

2:41:25we saw that those providers then took

2:41:27the word immigration off of their

2:41:29storefronts, excuse me. Um, and it

2:41:32really uh helped businesses align with

2:41:35what they can and can't do and helped

2:41:38unsuspecting uh uh immigrants avoid

2:41:40fraud. So, uh, in this regard, it's not

2:41:43creating a local ordinance. Um, it's not

2:41:45creating a new enforcement mechanism

2:41:48that we need to create and have

2:41:50inspectors for. uh it's using existing

2:41:52fraud statutes and just creating uh a

2:41:56well-defined pathway to referrals to uh

2:41:58state DCA and perhaps uh the AG at the

2:42:02state level and perhaps at the county.

2:42:04>> I think one of the issues, this is a

2:42:05great or great resolution. I just think

2:42:06one of the issues you're going to run

2:42:07into is is we don't criminalize enough

2:42:09the unlawful practice of law. I'd love

2:42:12to see bad lawyering or fake lawyering

2:42:14uh prosecuted to the fullest extent.

2:42:15It's just it's just that the the

2:42:17penalties are so low compared to to

2:42:19that. So I I I I I whatever you need in

2:42:22terms of support, I'm there for it. I

2:42:23just uh it's unfortunate at the state

2:42:25level that we don't have the um

2:42:27punishment that's that's required.

2:42:30>> Well, this is your chance to make Jersey

2:42:31City be the leader in that. So, thank

2:42:33you so much.

2:42:34>> If I may,

2:42:36>> hi.

2:42:37>> Hi.

2:42:37>> Um so, uh I just wanted to congrat Thank

2:42:41you to our council me woman Singh and

2:42:43everyone who was involved and and I'm

2:42:45glad to see the immigrant affairs

2:42:46commission is uh doing some good work.

2:42:49Um I just wanted to ask about the third

2:42:54in the then the final resolve. It says

2:42:57um resolves to designate an appropriate

2:43:00investigative leaison to coordinate

2:43:02referrals and escalations to applicable

2:43:06agencies. Uh that's your office.

2:43:10>> Uh I believe that falls under the

2:43:13department of public safety. assist

2:43:15residents in reporting suspected fraud,

2:43:17appropriate uh liaison to coordinate

2:43:20referrals and escalations. Yeah, that

2:43:21would be at at public safety. So, um

2:43:23there's a precedent for this. Um uh to

2:43:26give you an example, it has to do with

2:43:28applicants for victims visas, UT and

2:43:31VAWA visas. They require a um a law

2:43:35enforcement certification and that was

2:43:37actually um part of our uh 2017

2:43:41executive order. And then uh after that

2:43:45the the immigrant trust directive at the

2:43:47state level enforced it. Um we made sure

2:43:50that we had a point person at public

2:43:51safety who could handle those requests

2:43:54for law enforcement certifications for

2:43:55that particular visa. In this case we

2:43:58would be doing the same thing. A point

2:43:59person at public safety who can uh take

2:44:03fraud reports review them uh from their

2:44:06expertise as as a law enforcement

2:44:08professional and then coordinate

2:44:10referrals to the state agencies. Is

2:44:12there someone designated or it's not yet

2:44:14been designated?

2:44:16>> Uh, no, it hasn't yet been designated.

2:44:18We certainly wanted to get this

2:44:19resolution approved before we put it

2:44:21into action.

2:44:22>> And and you had conversation with um

2:44:25Lieutenant Ragland.

2:44:26>> Yes, sir.

2:44:27>> Um, and

2:44:29the chief prosecutor

2:44:32uh

2:44:33>> uh Chem.

2:44:34>> Yes, I Yes. I believe he's assistant

2:44:37municipal prosecutor.

2:44:38>> Oh, he's no longer chief. Acting chief.

2:44:40Uh I apologize if I'm unaware.

2:44:42>> Yes. Okay. Um and so they they they un

2:44:48they are going to ensure that there's

2:44:52designated liaison. Um you're nodding

2:44:57affirmatively. So I'll take that as a

2:44:58yes.

2:44:59>> Yes.

2:44:59>> All right. Um, the last thing I just

2:45:02want to ask is, um, with regard to I'm

2:45:05glad that we're cracking down on

2:45:08immigration services fraud. Um,

2:45:12will this apply towards uh um any um any

2:45:18detentions of uh our undocumented

2:45:21neighbors here in Jur City, anyone who

2:45:23has needs for assistance and support,

2:45:25will that that person be a liazison in

2:45:27that regard as well or

2:45:30>> um if they were the victim of fraud?

2:45:32Absolutely. But I should say that um

2:45:34this type of initiative to both

2:45:37discourage fraudulent providers and

2:45:39encourage legitimate providers is so

2:45:42important because the trend in

2:45:44immigration rules and regulations and

2:45:47practices right now is to close lawful

2:45:50avenues to immigration status and uh

2:45:54really make a lot of immigration legal

2:45:56services turn into removal defense. uh

2:46:00for example, the regulations for green

2:46:02card applications get stricter. Um

2:46:05therefore, those people who would be

2:46:07applying for that now find themselves in

2:46:10a potential removal proceedings. Um

2:46:14uh every time we see a shift in these

2:46:16rules, we see people who are desperate

2:46:20to get help. And what we're trying to do

2:46:22with this resolution is say the the

2:46:25wrong type of help can really hurt you.

2:46:28And if you are someone who is providing

2:46:30the wrong type of help and you know that

2:46:32you are not licensed um the applicable

2:46:35laws, we will be assisting to apply that

2:46:37th those law enforcement agents. Uh I'm

2:46:39sorry to to refer to those law

2:46:41enforcement agents. So yeah, in this

2:46:43regard uh we're seeing a huge trend

2:46:46towards removal defense. Um uh and

2:46:49there's a huge need for for detainees to

2:46:51make uh their either defensive or

2:46:54affirmative asylum petitions. Um, most

2:46:57of the cases that I've seen in which

2:46:59people have been victimized by notario

2:47:01fraud, which is a a shorthand for um,

2:47:04unlawful service providers have to do

2:47:07with asylum petitions. Um, or they have

2:47:10to do with victim's visas applications

2:47:13in which a provider uh, will put things

2:47:16on that application that are meritless

2:47:17and frivolous. So, absolutely uh, we

2:47:20want to prevent people from being

2:47:21detained. We want to make sure that the

2:47:23families of detained individuals are

2:47:25getting the right kind of help.

2:47:27>> Does, and I'm getting off topic here

2:47:29with the resolution, but does your

2:47:31office um help folks who've or their

2:47:34families with uh Jersey City residents

2:47:38who've been detained by ICE?

2:47:40So, um, to give a kind of a a groundwork

2:47:44of of the the different types of

2:47:46specialties in immigration legal

2:47:48services, I usually use a comparison to

2:47:51doctors, nurse practitioners, and

2:47:53registered nurses. Uh, our accreditation

2:47:56permits our staff people to practice

2:47:58immigration law only before the

2:48:00Department of Homeland Security but not

2:48:03before the Executive Office of

2:48:05Immigration Review, which is at the

2:48:06Department of Justice, otherwise known

2:48:08as the Immigration Courts. Because of

2:48:10that distinction, uh we don't we aren't

2:48:13authorized to practice law before

2:48:14immigration courts, only before the

2:48:17administrative parts of DHS. So, uh, a

2:48:20large part of removal defense is

2:48:22something that we can't provide. Um, not

2:48:26only because we don't have authorization

2:48:28to do so, but the level of expertise to

2:48:31do removal defense before an immigration

2:48:33judge is just much higher than our staff

2:48:35can provide. Uh, therefore, even if we

2:48:37were authorized, we probably wouldn't do

2:48:39it because we want to make sure that our

2:48:40residents are in the best hands.

2:48:42However, um we do our best to maintain

2:48:46warm referral networks with proono provo

2:48:51providers. And in that regard, uh we

2:48:54really do want to use this resolution to

2:48:56consolidate those authorized providers

2:48:59um into a family of providers that does

2:49:02regular events, sharing referrals, and

2:49:04we think that this resolution is going

2:49:06to bring us closer to that. Um, I should

2:49:08point out as a caveat, there just aren't

2:49:11enough providers for the demand right

2:49:13now. Um, very very tragically, uh, our

2:49:18residents, as we're seeing across the

2:49:21country, are seeing, um, uh, a very

2:49:24unprecedented,

2:49:26um, and, uh, quite frankly catastrophic

2:49:29enforcement, uh, initiative coming from

2:49:31the federal government. And uh we want

2:49:33to do all we can to help, but we also

2:49:35want to do all we can to prevent that

2:49:37the wrong help doesn't cause more more

2:49:39harm.

2:49:41>> Thank you.

2:49:42>> Thank you.

2:49:44>> Thank you.

2:49:46>> Thank you again, Michael and Councilman.

2:49:48We would love to have your help for

2:49:50community outreach.

2:49:53>> You again?

2:49:53>> Yeah, absolutely. Anything I can do,

2:49:56too.

2:49:57>> Thank you so much for your

2:49:58consideration.

2:50:00Okay, John, take it from the top.

2:50:15Council has heard from members of the

2:50:17administration regarding all first

2:50:20reading ordinances, items 3.1 through

2:50:223.5. There is one second reading

2:50:25ordinance on the agenda for Wednesday

2:50:28that is 4.1 ordinance 26-079

2:50:32and ordinance of the municipal council

2:50:33of the city of Jersey City adopting an

2:50:36amendment to the powerhouse arts

2:50:38district redevelopment plan. There is an

2:50:40agenda item uh agenda item 10.15 which

2:50:44will bear upon this and I will get to

2:50:45that once we get to the resolutions.

2:50:48There will be a public hearing on the

2:50:502026 2027 Exchange Place alliance

2:50:54special improvement assessment role and

2:50:56budget.

2:50:57>> John,

2:50:57>> yes.

2:50:58>> Sorry. Uh the administration is going to

2:51:02be pulling both this hearing and the two

2:51:04related resolutions, the special

2:51:07assessment role and the budget because

2:51:09there is a legal defect in them. There

2:51:11has been a legal development uh in

2:51:13recent months that has changed the

2:51:15permissible boundaries of that SID and

2:51:17the resolutions that are on the agenda

2:51:19tonight improperly include some

2:51:21properties that should not be included

2:51:23on the assessment role. We're working on

2:51:25it. It should be corrected quickly and

2:51:27we should expect to see that on an

2:51:28agenda very soon, but unfortunately it

2:51:30can't go forward on Wednesday.

2:51:31>> So that would be agenda items 10.17 and

2:51:3410.18.

2:51:36>> That's correct. Okay.

2:51:37>> Those will be withdrawn. Correct.

2:51:38>> Yes. Thank you. Oh, I'm sorry. Speaking

2:51:42about um withdrawing

2:51:45um stuff, what what what are we doing

2:51:47with the accelerated tax lane sale?

2:51:51>> I think they were supposed to get back.

2:51:54Bill was supposed to get back.

2:51:56>> He said he was

2:51:59>> Yeah, he said

2:52:01>> okay.

2:52:05>> Okay. Are we moving on? Yeah.

2:52:07>> Okay. John. John.

2:52:10>> Okay. Uh, we have 26 speakers signed up

2:52:14as of today or at least as of 4 p.m. Of

2:52:17course, that will change between now and

2:52:19Wednesday. Uh, petitions and

2:52:21communications. We have

2:52:25me. We have 6.1 through 6.17. Are there

2:52:29any questions on the petitions and

2:52:31communications?

2:52:34Hearing none. There are no officer

2:52:36communications on the agenda. nor are

2:52:38there any reports of directors. Item

2:52:4110.1, the claims have been attached.

2:52:44They are the link is provided

2:52:47unless there are any questions on that.

2:52:49Shall we move on to the resolutions?

2:52:52>> No, no question on that. But since we're

2:52:54about to pass uh 10.5 and 10.6, um I

2:52:58just wanted to comment on that. I made a

2:53:02comment about Mr. Thomas

2:53:06um providing us some information. Um I

2:53:08intended that to illustrate that um the

2:53:12information he provided uh

2:53:16was

2:53:18providing us the information we we

2:53:20needed at the time um regarding

2:53:24uh cash flow issues. Um, but after re

2:53:28reviewing my my words and how it may be

2:53:31perceived, um, I could see that it might

2:53:33be perceived otherwise and that uh, in

2:53:36no way do I want to suggest that Mr.

2:53:37Thomas was attempting to uh, uh, be

2:53:41anything but um, genuine in his and the

2:53:45information he presented was intended to

2:53:47be uh, forthright and and honest.

2:53:52So, I apologize, Mr. Thomas, if you're

2:53:55watching,

2:53:57that concludes my remarks.

2:54:02>> I'm sure he appreciates that. Thank you.

2:54:04Uh, resolution 10.1 through 10.7

2:54:08have already been discussed. Agenda item

2:54:1010.8, 8 resolution 26-623

2:54:15a resolution of the municipal council of

2:54:17the city of Jersey City honoring Gang

2:54:21Jangar Taekwondo school on its 36th

2:54:24anniversary and Grandma Master Sun Kil

2:54:28Jang on his 9th Dan achievement.

2:54:33Agenda item 10.9, resolution 26-624,

2:54:39a resolution to commemorate the 100th

2:54:42anniversary of the Church of God in

2:54:44Christ Temple. Agenda item 10.1 10.10

2:54:48was already discussed. Agenda item

2:54:5110.11,

2:54:53resolution 26-626,

2:54:56a resolution recognizing the Korea Desk,

2:55:00a KCED Foundation Incorporated program

2:55:04as a community language access model and

2:55:07partner of the city of Jersey City.

2:55:10I just want to take an opportunity to

2:55:12invite there won't be a presentation at

2:55:14council um but on um October 17th

2:55:18uh the Korea desk will be uh launching

2:55:23um and invite the entire council to uh

2:55:26to the that event which will be here at

2:55:28city hall.

2:55:28>> Thanks for that invite.

2:55:30>> Wait what? Okay, I'll wait.

2:55:33>> Yeah.

2:55:35Agenda item 10.12, resolution 26-627,

2:55:40a resolution honoring former fire

2:55:42director Armando Roman in recognition of

2:55:45his distinguished career of public

2:55:47service, leadership, courage, and

2:55:49dedication of to the people of Jersey

2:55:51City during Hispanic Heritage Month.

2:55:55>> Council, I'll be presenting that

2:55:57resolution at

2:55:58>> Thank you. next meeting. Thank you.

2:56:00Agenda items 10.13 and 10.14 were

2:56:04already discussed. Agenda item

2:56:07uh 10.15, resolution 26-62

2:56:12630 is a resolution of the municipal

2:56:14council of the city of Jersey City

2:56:16adopting reasons for an amendment to the

2:56:19powerhouse arts district redevelopment

2:56:22plan, specifically the site at 127

2:56:25Morgan Street that is not consistent

2:56:28with the planning board recommendation

2:56:30that is of course linked to agenda item

2:56:334.1.

2:56:35Agenda item 10.16 was already discussed.

2:56:39Agenda items 10.17 and 10.18 will be

2:56:43withdrawn. Agenda items 10.19

2:56:47through 10.25

2:56:50have already been discussed. Agenda

2:56:52items 10.26

2:56:55through 10.36 have already been

2:56:57discussed. Agenda items 10.37

2:57:01to 10.45 45 have already been discussed.

2:57:06Resolution 10.46,

2:57:08resolution 26-661,

2:57:11a resolution amending a professional.

2:57:20Okay,

2:57:21I'll address that in a second. Uh,

2:57:25agenda item 10.46, 46 resolution 26-661

2:57:30a resolution amending a professional

2:57:32services agreement with the law firm of

2:57:34Hunt Hamlin and Ridley to serve as

2:57:37outside council to the city of Jersey

2:57:39City on various labor matters.

2:57:42>> John, if I could cut in for a second,

2:57:44I'll flag for the council that this has

2:57:46been updated on the electronic agenda,

2:57:48but it wasn't republished at the time

2:57:50some of these agendas were printed.

2:57:52There are five uh contract amendments

2:57:56from the law department on the agenda

2:57:58and three claims resolutions. The five

2:58:01contract amendments are not for labor

2:58:03matters. They are for litigation

2:58:04matters. And that's correct in the

2:58:06currently live agenda, but if you're

2:58:08looking at a few days old agenda, it

2:58:10might be out of date. All of these

2:58:12contract amendments and all of these

2:58:14claims resolutions reflect that the

2:58:16budget has now been adopted. So when we

2:58:18awarded contracts at the outset of the

2:58:20year, we were conservative and how much

2:58:21we thought we might be able to spend. We

2:58:23didn't know what would be allocated to

2:58:24the law department. Now that we have a

2:58:26better sense of how much we actually

2:58:28have to spend for the year and also what

2:58:30cases have come in this year that needed

2:58:32to be assigned out, we're in a position

2:58:34to amend those contracts and increase

2:58:36the wards in some cases where we think

2:58:37that's necessary. So that's what the

2:58:39five contract amendments reflect. The

2:58:42three claims resolutions are all for

2:58:44claims for work that was done out of

2:58:47contract prior to 2026. So, you heard me

2:58:50speak over the summer about the process

2:58:52that the law department went through to

2:58:53review all outstanding bills from prior

2:58:56years, make sure that we agree that the

2:58:58services were actually rendered, that we

2:59:00were being build fairly, make sure that

2:59:02we weren't double paying any invoices.

2:59:05We completed that review some time ago,

2:59:06but we needed to wait for the budget

2:59:08process to conclude so that we would

2:59:10actually have the money allocated in the

2:59:11right places to pay those bills. So,

2:59:13this is part of the process that we've

2:59:15been involved in all along of just

2:59:16cleaning up and making sure that our

2:59:17house is in order. I will bump to the

2:59:19council the latest list of which firms

2:59:22are handling which cases. It has not

2:59:24changed meaningfully since I last sent

2:59:26it around the time of the law department

2:59:28budget hearing because there just

2:59:29haven't been that many new matters that

2:59:31have come in since then. But I'll just

2:59:32make sure you have it in front of you in

2:59:34anticipation of Wednesday.

2:59:40Moving on to agenda item 10.47,

2:59:43resolution 26-662,

2:59:46a resolution amending a professional

2:59:49services agreement with the law firm of

2:59:51Otul Scrie LLC to provide services at

2:59:55outside council to the city of Jersey

2:59:56City on various labor matters.

3:00:01Agenda item 10.48, resolution 26-663,

3:00:06a resolution amending a professional

3:00:08services agreement with the law firm of

3:00:11an Antoine law with the Antoine Law Firm

3:00:15to provide services outside council to

3:00:17the city of Jersey City on various labor

3:00:19matters. Agenda item 10.49, 49.

3:00:23Resolution 26-664,

3:00:26a resolution amending a professional

3:00:28services agreement with the law firm of

3:00:30Whipple Azerella

3:00:33to serve as outside council to the city

3:00:35of Jersey City on various labor matters.

3:00:39Agenda item 1050, resolution 26-665,

3:00:45a resolution authorizing the payment of

3:00:47a claim submitted by Renown Coughlin

3:00:50Menchello for providing professional

3:00:52services to the city of Jersey City at

3:00:55all in regard to various litigation

3:00:57matters for the city of Jersey City at

3:00:59all. If

3:01:01>> I may. Hi, sir. Um, how many more are we

3:01:05looking at in terms of claims?

3:01:08Are we coming to the end of this?

3:01:10>> We are approaching the end. We are not

3:01:12at the end. If you want an update, I can

3:01:14give you an estimate before Wednesday.

3:01:17>> Sure, that'd be great. Thanks.

3:01:22Agenda item 10.51, resolution 26-666,

3:01:28a resolution authorizing the payment of

3:01:30a claim submitted by Anteneelli Caner

3:01:33Riviera for providing professional

3:01:36services to the city representing the

3:01:38city at all in regard to various

3:01:40litigation matters for the city at all.

3:01:44Agenda item 10.52, resolution 26-667,

3:01:49a resolution authorizing the payment of

3:01:51a claim submitted by Hunt, Hamlin, and

3:01:54Ridley for providing professional

3:01:56services to the city representing the

3:01:59city at all in regard to the matter of

3:02:01Kelly Chesler at all versus city of

3:02:04Jersey City at all.

3:02:06Agenda item 10.53, resolution 26-668,

3:02:12a resolution amending a professional

3:02:14services agreement with the law firm of

3:02:17Florio Kenny Raval to serve as outside

3:02:20council to the city of Jersey City on

3:02:22various labor matters.

3:02:25Agenda item 10.54,

3:02:27resolution 26-669,

3:02:31a resolution reappointing Arjamand Jera

3:02:34to the Women's Advisory Board of the

3:02:36City of Jersey City.

3:02:39Agenda item 10.55 resolution 26-670

3:02:44a resolution appointing Bishnu Maya Pri

3:02:49um sorry Par to the women's advisory

3:02:52board of the city of Jersey City.

3:02:55Agenda item 10.56 resolution 26-671

3:03:01a resolution appointing Sher Singh to

3:03:03the women's advisory board of the city

3:03:05of Jersey City.

3:03:07Agenda item 10.57,

3:03:10resolution 26-672,

3:03:13a resolution reappointing M Singh to the

3:03:16Women's Advisory Board of the City of

3:03:18Jersey City.

3:03:20Agenda item 10.58, resolution 26-673,

3:03:26a resolution reappointing Terara Fox to

3:03:29the Women's Advisory Board of the City

3:03:31of Jersey City. Agenda item 10.59,

3:03:35resolution 26-674,

3:03:38a resolution reappointing Ieko Laboria

3:03:42to the Women's Advisory Board of the

3:03:44City of Jersey City.

3:03:47>> Uh, one second, John. I think uh 59 and

3:03:5161 are going to be withdrawn by the

3:03:54administration.

3:03:55>> That's correct. I was going to jump in

3:03:57to say that. I don't think they're no

3:03:59longer part of the board.

3:04:00>> Correct. they they uh are no longer

3:04:02board members and they're not looking to

3:04:04be reappointed.

3:04:05>> Okay. So 10.59 and 10.60 will be

3:04:08withdrawn. Correct.

3:04:09>> 61.

3:04:10>> Oh, and 61. Okay. Sorry. 60 remains.

3:04:13Correct.

3:04:15>> Just 61 and 59. Correct.

3:04:18>> Correct.

3:04:18>> Okay. So, in that case, agenda item

3:04:2010.60,

3:04:22a resolution reappointing Ashley

3:04:24Sullivan to the women's advisory board

3:04:26of the city of Jersey City. 10.61 61 has

3:04:30been withdrawn. 10.62, a resolution

3:04:33reappointing Tammy Weaver Henry to the

3:04:36Women's Advisory Board of the City of

3:04:38Jersey City.

3:04:40Agenda item 10.63, resolution 26-678,

3:04:46a resolution reappointing Chelsea S.

3:04:48Duffy to the Women's Advisory Board of

3:04:51the City of Jersey City.

3:04:53Agenda item 10.64, 64. Resolution

3:04:5626-679,

3:04:59a resolution reappointing Tama Riley

3:05:02Mcrenolds to the Women's Advisory Board

3:05:04of the City of Jersey City.

3:05:07Agenda item 10.65, resolution 26-680,

3:05:12a resolution of the Municipal Council of

3:05:14the City of Jersey City to recognize and

3:05:16designate October of each year as Hindu

3:05:19Heritage Month.

3:05:22And finally, agenda item 10.66. 66.

3:05:25Resolution 26-681,

3:05:28a resolution authorizing the award of a

3:05:31contract to Claims Resolution

3:05:33Corporation, Inc. to act as a third

3:05:35party administrator for workers

3:05:37compensation and liabil liability claims

3:05:40for the city of Jersey City.

3:05:42>> And hold on one second. I I was uh

3:05:45handed

3:05:46>> That's from uh Councilman Ephro.

3:05:48>> Yes.

3:05:49>> Okay. Yes. Uh, I was handed a resolution

3:05:53of the city of Jersey City in the county

3:05:55of Hudson honoring the civic

3:05:57contributions of the Riverhood Riverview

3:05:59Neighborhood Association for over 40

3:06:02years with postumous tribute to Doris

3:06:04Brown and Cliff Steinberg. Uh, I presume

3:06:08this is to be off offered at uh for

3:06:12introduction or offered for

3:06:13consideration at the October 7th

3:06:16meeting. Is that correct, Council?

3:06:17>> That's correct. Apologies to my

3:06:19colleagues for um getting this in late.

3:06:20We uploaded it to I Compass last week,

3:06:23but after the deadline. So, apologies.

3:06:26Um it's I think it's really important

3:06:28that we honor the decades and decades of

3:06:30work of the RNA um and hope to have your

3:06:34support in um bring this on as a late

3:06:36item um and if possible moving it to the

3:06:39front. I won't read the entire thing. Uh

3:06:41just the title and I'll just ask for one

3:06:43speaker for um a two-minut speech and no

3:06:52>> it'll take about two and a half minutes.

3:06:56>> So council members I would ask that you

3:06:59uh have your honores to come to the

3:07:02meeting by 5:30 so we can get pictures

3:07:04at the beginning. Um and as councilman

3:07:07Efro said one speaker for they're

3:07:10allotted there three minutes like the

3:07:12general public

3:07:13>> also that

3:07:14>> the photos before the meeting start

3:07:17>> 5:30.

3:07:18>> Uh council president don't we have a

3:07:20closed session this Wednesday is

3:07:22>> yes so as soon as we leave close session

3:07:24we need to come in here and take photos.

3:07:26>> Okay.

3:07:27>> Just one speaker three minutes.

3:07:29>> Yes.

3:07:32>> Motion. Okay. So

3:07:34>> the young resident who was questioned by

3:07:36several of my colleagues about his

3:07:37reading acumen will be present for your

3:07:39review Wednesday as well.

3:07:41>> Does he have a threeminut speech

3:07:42prepared?

3:07:43>> He's speaking. He's reading. He's taking

3:07:44pictures.

3:07:45>> I I I did hear a motion made by council

3:07:48person Gilmore

3:07:50>> to to adjourn the meeting at 7:12. Uh

3:07:54second by I believe I heard a lot of

3:07:56voices, but I think Griffin was the

3:07:58loudest. Um on the motion to adjourn at

3:08:027:13, how do you vote? Council members,

3:08:05>> I by acclamation,

3:08:08please vote I.

3:08:09>> I.

3:08:10>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Okay, the

3:08:13meeting is adjourned at 7:13. We'll see

3:08:15everyone back same time. Well, same

3:08:18place, different time, 6 pm on Wednesday

3:08:20the 7th. Be well.