2026-10-19 - Municipal Caucus
Summary
Based on auto-generated captions; names, numbers and some item numbers may be misheard.
Time on topic (from transcript timestamps; approximate, includes side talk):
- Monday, October 19, 2026.
- Caucus of the Municipal Council ahead of the Wednesday, October 21 regular meeting.
- Called to order about 4:05 p.m. and adjourned at 7:42 p.m. The recording runs from the roll call to adjournment, so it covers the whole meeting.
- Five members were present at the start; all nine by 4:50 p.m. No votes are taken at a caucus; items were slated for the October 21 meeting.
- Late items need six votes.
Accelerated tax lien sale
2:51-3:31, 12:00-23:26, 25:30-31:23
- Nolan (tax collector) presented the two resolutions. Questions had been answered by email after the prior caucus.
- Timing: for the accelerated sale the council would have to act by about November 11, but the next regular meeting is November 12. Lavarro noted a special meeting can be called by the council president or five members.
- Finance expects about $7 million from the accelerated sale. Revenue counts in the year received, so a later sale would hit the 2027 and then 2028 budgets. Without it the city would need other revenue, short-term notes, or higher 2027 property taxes; no estimates were available.
- How liens work: delinquent balances accrue 18% interest (reduced rates currently apply to quarters three and four). At the sale, bidders bid the rate down from 18%, and nearly all certificates go at 0%. The city's position is that sale lowers the cost to the owner. A councilmember questioned this with an example showing only about 4% accrued on a roughly $4,000 balance.
- About 1,100 liens are open and roughly 1,400 are issued a year across about 60,000 accounts; about half redeem within a couple of months.
- Singh asked why the rainy-day fund is not used; the administration said state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) rules on fund balance would have to be part of that talk, and agreed to look at it. Singh asked for DCA's required balance.
- Lavarro urged the council to reject the resolutions and hold a special meeting around November 10 or 11 if needed, saying the administration lacks the will to set up installment plans (see Property tax installment plans).
- Ridley asked members to take time the next day for a call with Nolan before the vote.
Property tax installment plans
3:31-12:00, 23:26-25:30
- Nolan said each installment plan must be approved by council resolution, one account at a time, and must be requested before the tax sale. An approved plan stays the sale of that lien.
- Legal advised against limiting plans to owner-occupied homes or arrears under $10,000 because the statute does not set those conditions. A residency question could be asked but not used to deny a plan.
- The tax office has no application process and historically no plans. A councilmember said a resident was told in the tax office that a plan was possible but that the lien would still go forward.
- Plans do not count as cash toward the reserve for uncollected taxes.
- Final bills mailed did not mention installment plans; members agreed notices of the tax sale list should say owners can apply.
- Lavarro said even if only about 10% of the roughly 1,400 liens are owner-occupied one- and two-family homes, the city should help them, and urged the administration to build the process.
Pershing Field pool Monday closures
33:27-36:23
- A councilmember gave the recreation director a chance to explain the change, saying residents assumed services were being cut.
- Donahue said it is for maintenance, to keep the only pool open 365 days a year running for years to come. He said it saves money long term and called the closure "permanent" for now.
- Singh and others said they were fielding calls and emails without clear answers and asked that the department director send a memo with details.
Pershing Field ice rink chiller rental
36:23-43:27
- Donahue said the item is late because earlier routes (Sourcewell with Foley, then Riley Mechanical) failed over purchasing rules, and splitting rental from installation raised legal concerns about splitting one contract.
- Funding is from recreation's operating budget: $106,227 transferred for 2026 and $87,284 for 2027. A rental does not qualify as a capital expense.
- A law department official explained that a December change to the local public contracts law bars cooperative purchasing when a public works component is involved.
- Rental is expected to last about four months, through the hockey season. A councilmember asked what the money would otherwise fund; the director would follow up.
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are being sought for the permanent chiller, not for the rental.
Public safety radio MOU with Hudson County
43:29-46:15
- The emergency management director said co-locating on the county building avoids building a new stand-alone tower and electrical facility.
- A councilmember noted that the insurance papers still named a former official as additional insured; the director agreed to have it corrected.
Homeless outreach MOU with Garden State Community Development Corporation
46:26-48:11
- Green (health and human services) said the group will work with the existing outreach bus and later the new buses approved at the last session.
- Little asked for a copy of the MOU and welcomed added stops on Central Avenue and in the Heights.
Acting chief financial officer appointment
49:57-1:10:00
- Staton is the city's comptroller and would also be acting CFO; the assistant finance director would act as finance director. Both would receive acting pay.
- The administration said state law allows an acting CFO for up to a year (extendable to three) when the person is not yet certified, and DCA wants council approval. Staton said she has finished the CFO classes and applied to take the exam next month.
- Council members asked for the salary numbers. They recalled that the council raised the salary cap to about $250,000 for one person filling both roles, and said the promised conversation about future pay did not happen. The administration said the acting increases come to roughly half of the departed official's salary.
- Postings for permanent finance director and CFO are up. One member said internal staff should get a chance before outside posting; the administration said internal candidates can apply.
- Ridley and others reminded the administration to get items on the agenda on time; Nolan noted statutory officers must be in place to sign off.
- Resolution 10.35 depends on 10.34 and would be withdrawn if the appointment failed.
Police internal affairs software grant
1:10:00-1:13:48
- Police said the software centralizes internal affairs, supervisory review, incident documentation and tracking, replacing manual work.
- A councilmember asked how it would relate to CompStat and quality-of-life complaints from SeeClickFix; police said those are entered manually now and the new system would be more streamlined.
Fire truck repair payment
1:14:28-1:16:21, 1:23:06-1:24:31
- Hart (acting deputy director, public safety) said parts delays of three to four months and a six-month delay in payment, plus extra damage found during teardown, drove the long repair.
- The fire department kept a spare apparatus in service throughout.
- A councilmember asked whether the other driver could repay the deductible; the corporation counsel's office said it would look at it and noted a subrogation claim for $100,000 is out.
Community Development Block Grant spend-down deadline
1:16:21-1:18:46, 1:20:12-1:23:06, 1:46:23-1:46:50, 1:52:58-1:55:25, 2:46:57-2:47:25
- The administration is working toward buying two new fire trucks with CDBG funds and seeking funds to renovate a firehouse in poor condition.
- A councilmember said he would ask on almost every capital item whether CDBG could be used, noting about $11 million must be spent by the end of December or future dollars could be lost.
- CDBG could not renew the ADA ramp contract (it would need federal-compliant bidding) and could not fund Arlington Park, because the city committed capital funds in 2023; phase two work could later qualify.
- For the municipal court HVAC project, a councilmember asked about CDBG; the response was that the project would need to be completed, not just spent, by year's end.
Fire Prevention Bureau inspector vehicles
1:18:46-1:20:12
- Hart said the bureau hired more revenue-generating inspectors and lacks vehicles.
- A councilmember asked about the status of the city vehicle audit; the administration will share preliminary findings.
Firefighter protective gear contract
1:24:31-1:26:43
- Hart said this is the same request as the past two years; spending runs close to $1 million a year, now split into six-month contracts.
- No grant funds are available for protective gear; self-contained breathing apparatus is grant funded and due in a few weeks.
Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan amendment (Ord. 26-087)
1:26:43-1:31:27
- Ward said the changes were developed with Little; neighbors had asked for a 10-foot step-back for sunlight, but 5 feet was the maximum the design allowed.
- A nonprofit arts organization would be chosen through a public request for proposals advertised at least on the Office of Cultural Affairs website.
- Harrington (attorney for the developer) said the developer does not want to pick the nonprofit; it prefers a city process involving Cultural Affairs and the redevelopment agency.
Hudson County Plaza redevelopment area designation
1:31:27-1:40:50
- Ward (city planning) said designation is only the first step; affordable housing percentages would come in a later redevelopment plan.
- The Hudson County Improvement Authority wants to build mixed-income social housing on county-owned surface parking lots, with the county itself (not a private developer) hiring a contractor through design-build procurement and then managing the buildings.
- A planner on the project described possible federal subsidies, including HOME funds and project-based vouchers.
- Council members asked who selects developers and suggested involving nonprofit housing developers.
Reserved disabled parking applications
1:41:00-1:42:47
- A councilmember explained the process: applications go to infrastructure, a physician reviews them, then the committee does; the committee meets every two weeks.
- At the last meeting 70 applications had been reviewed by the physician, 20 handled by the committee, 50 to go, and 70 more waiting on the physician.
Multi-way stop intersections
1:42:47-1:45:50
- Binghart said signs would go up after the 20-day period following adoption, likely within a couple of months, with bags on signs until striping is done.
- Kaplan said the contractor's capacity limits work: the mayor committed to over 100 improvements at over 80 locations, plus hardening at 17 more intersections this fall.
ADA curb ramp contract renewal
1:45:50-1:50:50
- About $800,000 has been identified so far from capital funds; the department moved money to avoid a lapse in service and is closing out last year's contract to free more.
- About 100 ramps have been done this year; a breakdown by ward was promised.
- Kaplan explained the city is under a pending ADA compliance obligation requiring a set number of ramps each year; the city handles intersection ramps, while the state and county handle their own roads.
Arlington Park improvements
1:50:50-1:55:25
- Scope: ornamental lighting with PSE&G, grading, electric service for sports court lights, a dog run, splash pad, entrance plaza and landscaping.
- Playground and gazebo were not in the dated design; a phase two could address them.
- CDBG funds cannot be used for this phase because capital funds were committed in 2023.
Loading zone definitions
1:55:25-2:02:46
- Carlucci said the definitions prevent confusion in municipal court over allowed uses; the ordinance changes no hours.
- Council members asked about business notification and about not overloading business districts with loading zones. The administration said it met business improvement district leaders and will use camera data to adjust zones.
- Loading zone violations are to be included in the planned camera-based curb enforcement program (captioned as "CAPE" and "K pilot"; exact name uncertain), with no warning period after launch but advance communication.
CMAQ grant for bike share expansion
2:02:46-2:12:50
- 30 to 40 new stations are planned, filling gaps in the Heights, Journal Square, the West Side and parts of Ward A.
- Locations are to be chosen with data (CitiBike usage, transit demand) and community meetings; planners try to avoid taking parking.
- The federal process means rollout may take about a year.
- Protected bike parking is free to registered users and run by a contractor.
Port Liberty Ferry grant expansion
2:12:50-2:15:10
- The grant (2023 to 2026, COVID-era funds) also paid for Via service and CitiBike expansion serving the south side of the city.
- Funds will reimburse past eligible expenses.
Tenant Right to Counsel contract amendment
2:15:10-2:16:55
- Housing preservation staff said this finishes out 2026; funding from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund begins January 1.
Employee medical examination contract
2:16:55-2:21:30
- Past spending reported: $12,625 (2024, one month), $295,184 (2025), $129,766 (2026 so far).
- Council members asked whether the maximum is oversized; Yusuf said it is a ceiling covering hires and fit-for-duty exams.
Police protective equipment donation
2:23:20-2:29:05
- Woods said the department needs to rebuild its pool equipment stock; officers buy most of their own gear.
- A councilmember asked why donations fund equipment and whether tear gas is held; police said they have never used it in his career and would not expect to.
- Starting pay of $41,000 after the academy was cited.
Downtown Flower cannabis license renewal
2:29:05-2:35:35
- Without a local support resolution the state would not renew the license.
- Commerce staff said they had received no formal employee complaints; Little and Ephros said their offices had received complaints and Little offered to forward them.
- Members noted the public may speak at the council meeting, and the council states its reasons when voting on cannabis items. Staff asked that complaints be forwarded to them.
- Taxes are paid, and the municipal license is being held.
Payroll tax data sharing MOU with the State
2:35:35-2:41:00
- Smith (mayor's office) said collections are in the $70 millions this year, on track to beat last year's $84 million.
- Staff from internal audit moved to the tax collector's office. A contractor-registration ordinance drove many new registrations this year.
- Council members asked for baseline counts of registered businesses and revenue for the past several years.
Snow removal equipment
2:41:10-2:42:28, 2:43:50-2:45:02
- DPW said the salt domes are full for the winter.
- On a refund from a salt supplier, the law department said the supplier agreed in principle to repay and the amount is being finalized.
Municipal court HVAC replacement bids
2:43:31-2:43:50, 2:45:02-2:47:25
- Bids came in well above budget (roughly $1.1 million to $2.3 million; figures garbled in captions) and some scope items were missing.
- A new bid is needed; the city may negotiate only after a second bid round.
Assistant municipal prosecutor appointment
2:47:59-2:51:54
- Kemraj (acting chief prosecutor) said the housing court has the case backlog and more prosecutors would help.
- A councilmember asked whether hiring is consistent with a freeze on non-essential hiring; the administration said the posted jobs are critical, not a freeze.
- The appointee is a New Jersey resident but not a Jersey City resident, which is not required for the position.
Standing Finance Committee (Ord. 26-088)
2:52:00-3:12:40
- Ridley introduced it, citing the city's financial situation and DCA's suggestion. Sauder (legislative advisor) said it would meet regularly with the administration on operating and capital budgets, revenue, cash, grants, fiscal reporting and audit follow-ups.
- Members worried that three members could leave others out; Sauder suggested adding alternates and said bylaws still have to be written. A member objected to wording giving the committee jurisdiction "and no others"; he said individual powers are not reduced.
- Examples: the accelerated tax sale and CDBG questions could be referred to the committee; emergency appropriations would still be handled by the full council.
- Lavarro said he would offer a resolution asking the administration to hold early budget hearings around the end of the year, because temporary budgets and spending patterns repeat otherwise.
Rent control exemption for new construction (Ord. 26-089)
3:12:40-3:32:07
- The state exempts new construction for 30 years; local law currently exempts redevelopment-area buildings indefinitely. The change would apply going forward only, not retroactively.
- The administration was still reviewing; the law department memo was promised the next day. Members asked about the effect on development, affordable-unit tenants after deed restrictions end, and investors who bought recently.
- The sponsors cited a pro-housing advocate's concerns (purchase date vs construction date for the 30 years; a small future tax revenue effect) and an economist's view that new construction would not be much affected.
- Zuppa asked about Journal Square redevelopment plan buildings and for numbers from the administration; Lavarro asked whether landlords must renew leases of affordable tenants after 30 years.
Other business
0:01-2:51, 32:17-33:27, 48:11-49:57, 2:21:40-2:23:20, 2:42:28-2:43:31, 3:33:43-3:34:42, 3:36:34-3:37:37
- Roll call, notice under the Open Public Meetings Act, and the council president's request to stay on topic.
- Pershing Field complex HVAC rooftop unit replacement (item 10.14, resolution 26-696): work to start in 60 to 90 days; the building will again serve as a cooling center.
- Grants: HOPWA and ESG awards to nonprofits (item 10.9, resolution 26-691) and five Chapter 159 grants totaling about $6.5 million (item 10.1, resolution 26-683); no questions.
- Resolution 26-699 (item 10.17): accepting a $3,000 gift for senior outreach events; a councilmember asked how the donor was solicited and noted the donor's construction business.
- Johnson Controls claims of $60,150 for fire alarm and extinguisher inspections done after a contract lapsed (item 10.7).
- Gift of a large soccer ball sculpture to the city (item 10.4, resolution 26-686) to be maintained by a special improvement district.
- Late walk-on: a resolution authorizing a request for proposals for mental health first responders, funded by the $200,000 the council added to the budget; the law department had not yet reviewed it.
- Remaining items (petitions, reports of directors, claims, honorary resolutions for Filipino American History Month, clean energy support, and a typo in item 10.32) drew no discussion. Motion to adjourn at 7:42 p.m.
Sources
Video
Transcript
These are auto-generated captions; names and numbers may be misheard.
Transcript
00:01Okay, good evening everyone. We are on
00:02the record. Today is Monday, the 19th
00:05day of October in the year 2026. This is
00:08a city council caucus meeting of the
00:11Jersey City Municipal Council. We had a
00:13scheduled 4:00 p.m. start. The clock on
00:14my cell phone is showing 4:05
00:18p.m.
00:19May we have a roll call for the
00:20commencement of this meeting?
00:22Councilperson Brooks
00:24is not here yet. Councilperson Zuppa
00:28not here.
00:30Councilperson Afroze
00:33I did see him. Jacket.
00:36Councilperson Little
00:37>> Here.
00:39>> Councilperson Gilmore
00:40>> Present.
00:41>> Councilperson Singh
00:44No, she was here, too.
00:47Councilperson Griffin
00:48>> Here.
00:51>> Councilperson Griffin, are you here?
00:53>> I'm here.
00:54>> Okay.
00:55Councilperson Lavarro
00:57>> Here.
00:58>> Council- and Councilwoman President
00:59Ridley
01:00>> Here.
01:04>> We have five council members in
01:06attendance at 4:05
01:09p.m. On behalf of Council President
01:11Ridley and members of the Municipal
01:12Council in accordance with New Jersey
01:14public laws of 1975, Chapter 231, the
01:17Open Public Meetings Act, also known as
01:19the Sunshine Law, adequate notice of
01:21this meeting has been provided by the
01:23posting on the bulletin board of the
01:24first floor of City Hall, the annual
01:26notice, which is the schedule of
01:27meetings and caucuses of the Municipal
01:29Council for the calendar year 2026, and
01:31filed in the office of the City Clerk on
01:33Tuesday, November 25th, 2025. In
01:36addition at its time of its preparation,
01:38the agenda of this meeting was similarly
01:40disseminated on Wednesday, October 14th,
01:422026 at 10:10 a.m. to the mayor,
01:45municipal council, business
01:47administrator, corporation counsel, and
01:49the local newspapers, and posted on the
01:51city's website, so I can certify as to
01:53our total compliance with the Sunshine
01:55Law.
01:57Council President, I'm going to turn it
01:58over to you.
01:59>> Good afternoon, everyone.
02:02Uh council members, we have a
02:05lengthy agenda um and a lot of directors
02:09and departments here to speak. So, I ask
02:12that we do our best to stay on topic so
02:14that we can
02:15uh get through the list as efficiently
02:18as possible. Uh and with that being
02:20said, we will start with our tax
02:22collector, Sean Nolan.
02:25>> And before he speaks, I just want to
02:27note Councilperson Ethridge present at
02:294:06 p.m. So, we now have six council
02:32members present at 4:06.
02:36Mr. Nolan.
02:51>> Good afternoon, Council.
02:53Uh I am here regarding the two
02:55resolutions for the tax sale.
02:57They're agenda item 10.22 and 10.23.
03:01They were presented at the prior caucus
03:02meeting, so I'm sure to answer any
03:04additional questions.
03:07>> Council members, questions on 10.22
03:11and 10.23.
03:1310.22,
03:15the accelerated tax sale, and 10.23,
03:18electronic tax sale. And I believe we
03:22had all of the questions answered from
03:24the administration, and you should have
03:25received them via email.
03:28Any questions?
03:31>> So, um I don't know that I got
03:34I think you did answer the question
03:35about
03:37uh payment plans.
03:39Um I don't know if my follow-up
03:41question, if there was a response to
03:42that
03:43um to get a resolution on
03:46um is that necessary in order to do a
03:48payment plan
03:50to allow for
03:52taxpayers to have a payment plan,
03:54installment plan rather.
03:56>> Yeah, for payment plans you do have to
03:57have a resolution and I believe that it
03:59is per account basis.
04:01>> To what?
04:02>> Per account, so each individual account
04:03that applied would have to be approved
04:05by resolution to the council.
04:06>> Each individual request for an
04:09installment plan has to be approved by
04:11resolution.
04:11>> That's correct.
04:13>> So how does that process work? It's um
04:16So if you put the property into a lien,
04:19lien sale,
04:20then
04:21if they come forward, they can still
04:23apply for an installment plan?
04:25>> No, they would have to apply in advance
04:26of the tax sale.
04:28>> You have to apply for an advance in
04:29advance.
04:29>> That's correct.
04:30>> Okay.
04:31And
04:33are are taxpayers aware that they can
04:35apply for installment plans?
04:40>> Statutory, so
04:42their right to apply for
04:44an installment plan. Also as requested,
04:47um in terms of only allowing it or the
04:50installment plans for owner-occupied
04:52residences or up to a certain amount,
04:55the legal department would recommend
04:57against that.
04:59As those requirements are not under the
05:01statutory framework.
05:03>> Can you say that repeat that one?
05:05>> So as requested, you had asked for
05:07owner-occupied residences up to $10,000
05:11in arrears. The legal department would
05:13recommend against doing something along
05:16those lines because the statutory
05:17framework does not have those
05:20prerequisites.
05:23>> Does not have the prerequisites, but
05:25does that mean that it can't be done?
05:27>> It means that anyone as of right can
05:29apply for an installment plan. It's not
05:32limited to owner-occupied residences
05:35only up to a certain amount.
05:39>> So
05:39>> In other words, you would be limiting
05:41rights that are granted under the
05:42framework.
05:45>> If they apply, then it comes before this
05:47council for an appro- for a vote.
05:50>> Correct. Correct. Each property.
05:53>> at that point.
05:53>> Yes.
05:55>> And could we put into the application
05:58"Do you live in this property?" If they
06:00were doing for an installment plan?
06:05>> You could possibly put it into the
06:07application, but I would advise against
06:09denying it based on a residency
06:11requirement.
06:15And if you wanted to know if they live
06:16there, fine, but that shouldn't be a
06:18basis for denial.
06:22>> So so pretty much if anyone applies
06:26for an installment plan, the council has
06:28to approve it. Is that
06:29>> Correct.
06:30>> Or de- or deny all of them, you're
06:32saying. Either apply or deny.
06:34>> Yeah, I can give you a memo before
06:36Wednesday on what the statute says.
06:39>> Yeah.
06:40>> It's already in the statutory framework,
06:43the ability to apply for an installment
06:44plan.
06:45>> Yeah.
06:46Did the fourth quarter bills go out?
06:49>> Yes, they the final bills have been
06:50mailed out.
06:51>> What's that?
06:52>> Yes, the final bills were mailed out.
06:54>> Mailed out. Okay.
06:56Um and I assume there was no information
06:58in there suggesting that if you're in
07:00arrears um that you can avail yourself
07:03of an installment plan.
07:05>> No.
07:06>> And again, just to
07:08clarify and for the record if somebody
07:10applies for and is granted an
07:11installment plan
07:13then and it's prior to the lean sale
07:17is their property subject to
07:19to a lean sale at that point?
07:22>> If it's approved by the council, then it
07:24would just they're given a stay of tax
07:25sale, yes.
07:27>> Given a stay of the tax sale.
07:28>> Yes, they don't have a tax sale if they
07:30have an approved installment plan that
07:31they're already in.
07:35>> And
07:36what is the absolute last date that we
07:39have to approve this
07:41uh
07:42lean sale in for you to effectuate it on
07:44December 21st as you've
07:47proposed.
07:48>> This upcoming meeting is the last time
07:50we can do it.
07:52>> What is the language of the law on this?
07:54>> I'll get it to you.
07:56>> Okay.
07:57>> I don't have it memorized.
08:01>> Did you have
08:01>> I will send it to you by email. I can
08:03give you the the statutory like
08:05citation.
08:06>> Right.
08:08>> Yeah, I can pull it and read it into the
08:09record if you like me to.
08:11>> I would. Yeah.
08:12Do you Do you know what the exact date
08:14is?
08:15You're saying this meeting, but
08:17>> For accelerated tax sale, it's it would
08:19be November 11th. We have to generate
08:21the tax sale the following day, which is
08:23the date of the meeting.
08:24So, we wouldn't have time to prep it.
08:27And we're also required to notify people
08:28that they're on the tax sale list, and
08:30we would not have time to notify anyone.
08:36>> And how do you notify them that of their
08:38tax sale?
08:39>> We email it.
08:42>> So, I I think that's the appropriate
08:43time to include some information about
08:48uh that they can avail of an installment
08:50plan.
08:53Folks agree?
08:58>> Council, yeah.
08:59>> Sounds reasonable to me.
09:01Uh let them know that they have that
09:02opportunity to
09:04to apply for an installment plan.
09:06Um and then
09:08uh
09:08we can approve the resolution before the
09:10If we approve a resolution, you bring
09:12those resolutions to us
09:14um before
09:16the December 21st, then that would take
09:18them off the tax lien sale.
09:20Is that accurate?
09:24>> I mean, that's correct, yes, but we
09:26don't have an application process right
09:28now.
09:29>> Time to get one going.
09:31Don't you think?
09:32I mean
09:34you just raised taxes 15%. I think we
09:36would we should prepare ourselves to be
09:38able to
09:39help our residents be able to to weather
09:41this storm as best they can.
09:43Um call me call me crazy. I got
09:47>> Now when you say there's no application
09:49going um there's no standard application
09:53for um
09:53>> Not that I'm aware of no.
09:58>> But but this is law already is what
10:00you're saying, right?
10:01>> It's statutory, yes.
10:03>> Right. So if someone essentially wanted
10:05to do that right now, what would their
10:08process be?
10:10>> I do we don't have a process currently
10:11in place. I'm not aware of one that
10:14anyone that does this or have an
10:16application process in place either.
10:18>> So no one has never done an application
10:20ever?
10:21>> Not that I'm aware of.
10:25>> Well I
10:26I'm just say this. I don't know what
10:28what if there was a formal process or if
10:30it was informal or whatever, but I I
10:32know I had a taxpayer come to me earlier
10:35this year in the in the first or second
10:36quarter
10:38and said that they couldn't pay their
10:39bill.
10:40Um I referred them to the tax office to
10:42someone in the tax office and they said,
10:44"We'll set him up with a tax a payment
10:46plan." That's what they told me. Um the
10:48individual went there and asked them for
10:51applied for the payment plan I I was
10:52informed um or um inquired about the
10:55payment plan, but they also told them
10:57that they were still going to put their
10:58property subject to a lien. So she
11:00decided not to do the payment plan at
11:02that point. Um because
11:05she was trying to avert the the lien. Uh
11:07I didn't know about any of this at that
11:09time and didn't do the research on it.
11:11Uh
11:12so I don't know actually how that all
11:14ended up for her, but uh
11:16um but she did tell me that she just
11:17decided not to do the payment plan. So
11:19somebody in your office thinks that
11:21there's payment plan options available
11:24uh because they suggested to me that
11:26there was a payment plan
11:27um option and uh
11:30uh
11:32I assume this all falls under your
11:35under your authority, right? To
11:36establish payment plans?
11:38>> But historically we never had any
11:40payment plans.
11:41>> I understand, but legally you have the
11:43authority
11:45um to be able to establish payment
11:46plans.
11:47Or do you need something from us to make
11:49sure that that's possible? Or do we need
11:51to force you to do that? That's my
11:53Do we need to compel you to do that?
11:55>> So um let me jump in here. I think we
11:57can certainly take this back and figure
12:00out a process to do installment plans.
12:03The The issue at hand though is still
12:06the concern with revenue for the city
12:10and having a um tax sale to cover that
12:13revenue gap that we're expecting
12:16to come through if we don't approve this
12:18tax sale. So
12:21we can figure out a process to putting
12:22in place, but it does jeopardize our
12:26ability to
12:27manage that revenue gap which we would
12:30expect to happen.
12:32>> Can I quickly ask
12:34quick question actually.
12:36So the revenue from standard tax sale
12:39would count toward 2027, not 2026 2026.
12:44Is that true?
12:48>> Yes.
12:50So I'm I'm going to try to answer this
12:52question
12:54to the best of my ability.
12:56The point of an accelerated tax sale is
12:59to make
12:59>> One second, D.A.
13:00>> Sorry, your mic is going in and
13:01>> The accelerated tax sale is for it to
13:04cover our 2026
13:07um what do you call that? Uncollected
13:10revenue projections, which would impact
13:12our 2027 budget.
13:15If we move the tax sale to 2027,
13:19that would impact our 2028 budget.
13:23Does that help
13:25clarify the timing here.
13:31>> The revenue is counted for the year
13:34that is received.
13:36>> Okay, so you are saying yes.
13:39>> Yes.
13:41>> And uh then
13:42finance department expect about 7
13:44million to be collected through the
13:46accelerated tax sale.
13:48Yes or no?
13:49>> Yes.
13:52>> Um I I have a few questions um but I I
13:56think it's it's
13:58it's becoming of
14:00good government to at the very least
14:02have a process in which residents can
14:05embark on a journey of going into a
14:08payment plan um because what it looks
14:10like from the outside to the people
14:13that's watching
14:14like
14:15what do you mean what do you what do you
14:16mean there's no payment plan? What do
14:17you mean there's no method? What do you
14:19mean there's no systems put in place?
14:22Um but
14:25going past all of that, I want to
14:26specifically focus on
14:28um the interest rate and how the
14:31interest rate work
14:33um
14:33because based on this document we have
14:37from
14:38uh the BA
14:40um
14:41it seems as though residents
14:45will benefit
14:46from a more
14:48a fairer interest rate if it's sold at
14:51third party. Is that accurate assessment
14:53or am I reading something?
14:54>> So when it's when it's bid by the lien
14:56holders at the tax sale, they start at
14:58the statutory maximum and then bid down
15:00from that rate.
15:02Most of the certificates are awarded at
15:040% interest. So normally if we bill them
15:0818% interest,
15:10they're paying 0% so they would be
15:11paying less
15:13than if the city still owned the lien.
15:16>> Can you like in simple with terms
15:19because I mean I'm a legislator and it's
15:22confusing to me. So, if I have a tax
15:26lien that's in default, let's say, I
15:28don't know, $12,000. I didn't pay my
15:30taxes all this year.
15:32Um
15:33at And if that first bill was initiated
15:36in the first quarter, it's now in the
15:38fourth quarter. I didn't pay anything on
15:39that 12,000. What, if any amount, would
15:43the city currently be charging me for
15:45the outstanding balance?
15:47>> The normal statutory rate, which is at
15:4818% interest.
15:52>> 18% the city would be charging?
15:55>> That's right, yeah.
15:56>> That's what they would be charging,
15:57that's what they should be charging.
15:59>> At 18 Well, that's usually what we
16:00charge, yes. Currently, we do have the
16:03third and fourth quarter at a reduced
16:04interest rate.
16:06>> 4 and 9%.
16:08>> Correct.
16:08>> Okay. So, now you're saying, um
16:13the city's charging this 18% the
16:17the council is Let's say the council
16:20that we're all bidding on these tax
16:21liens. Um how does that rate get set at
16:25that juncture? How does that process
16:26look?
16:26>> So, you bid starting at 18% and then bid
16:29down 17, 16, 15, 14, all the way down to
16:31zero.
16:33And once it's zero, they bid up on
16:34premiums, which is money they pay to the
16:36city above what's delinquent.
16:39And if the interest rate is the amount
16:41of interest that's accruing on the
16:42original delinquent balance. So, if a if
16:45a certificate's won by a lien holder at
16:460% interest, then that balance accrues
16:49at 0% interest going forward.
16:54>> And the bidding process is essentially
16:56saying, "Hey, this this this person is
16:59at 7%. Do I hear 6%?" It goes down like
17:02that.
17:02>> Correct, yes.
17:03>> And then whatever that settled amount
17:05is, that's the amount that the third
17:08party
17:09>> accrues for that that particular
17:11certificate.
17:12>> Okay. Um
17:14I just want to say from personal
17:16experience, my family house have a lien
17:18on it. We went to get the redemption
17:20certificate and in big bold print it
17:23says 18%
17:25interest.
17:27That's what the paperwork from the city
17:29shows.
17:30>> The 18% is because the delinquent
17:33balance that was on the account was
17:34accrued at 18%.
17:36That has nothing to do with the
17:37certificate.
17:38>> So that have nothing to do with the lien
17:39holders?
17:40>> No, that's just how that just means
17:42there's a continuing delinquency on the
17:43account. So any delinquent balance
17:44accrued interest at 18% per annum.
17:47>> Outside of that amount?
17:49>> Correct.
17:51>> So it is
17:52the city's position, I guess, that it's
17:55better for third party to
17:58have access to
18:01to the lien one because the city
18:05um collects revenue in a revenue year
18:07and you don't have to go
18:09and appropriate yet next year for it.
18:11And then two, the resident is getting it
18:15at a lower rate. Is that the city's
18:16position?
18:18>> Yes.
18:21>> Mr. President, I do have multiple
18:23questions. Is that okay if I go one by
18:25one? Go ahead.
18:26>> Before you ask, I just wanted to mark
18:28you present, Council Person Singh, at
18:304:07 p.m. So we have seven council
18:33members present.
18:34>> It's on my ghost asking questions.
18:36Um
18:37so
18:39Now my understanding is that if we do
18:41not have that 7 million, we would have
18:44to find another source of revenue to
18:47fill the gap for this year.
18:50Can you say yes or no
18:53on this?
18:54>> Yes, we would have to find other
18:56revenue, otherwise we would have to
18:59>> [clears throat]
19:01>> look at our 2027 budget projections for
19:04property tax increases if we can't find
19:07the revenue somewhere else.
19:09>> And when you say somewhere else, do you
19:12have
19:13some
19:14>> We don't have any estimates at the
19:16moment. This was a
19:18um
19:19uh assumed um revenue that we could put
19:22as a placeholder. There are also other
19:24fluxes in revenue that we have not
19:26accounted for for our 2027 budget. So,
19:29that's would
19:30put a lot of things at risk.
19:33>> Okay. And how about the fund balance or
19:37rainy day fund? Uh
19:40So, what we have learned uh when we were
19:42talking about budget that DCA has uh
19:45some guidelines on that that the amount
19:48we have to maintain in fund balance.
19:52Um do you want to talk more about it
19:55because I personally feel why are we not
19:57using the fund rainy day fund as it is a
20:00rainy day time. So, please start with
20:03>> that's uh you know, appropriate for to
20:05for discussion as we talk about 2027
20:08budget. Um I don't think we're prepared
20:10today to talk about leaning into that
20:13fund. Um
20:15also, I'm sure the DCA has a lot of
20:18thoughts and opinions on what we should
20:20be leaning on, so I can't speak for them
20:22today. Um I can only speak for what we
20:25think will be in jeopardy or at risk if
20:28we don't move forward with this tax.
20:30>> Sure. Uh what is the the balance we are
20:33required to have in a rainy day fund
20:36according to DCA?
20:38>> Um I don't have that information. I can
20:40look that up and send it to
20:41>> Would you be able to share in the next
20:43meeting or council meeting?
20:44>> Yes, or share
20:46the email.
20:47>> Um and
20:50if we have $7 million uh hole, we would
20:54like to have to take a short-term notes
20:56to pay this year's bill or pull it from
20:59the reservations
21:01for uncollected taxes.
21:02Um so, how does that credit card thing
21:05work?
21:07What is administration's understanding?
21:09So, to be clear on that, um
21:12how is it possible to put it on city's
21:14credit card?
21:16Um
21:17let me just read that. Um if we have 7
21:20million hole and we would likely to have
21:23a take on short time short term notes to
21:26pay this year's bills or put it from the
21:29reservation for uncollected taxes.
21:32So, put it on the city's credit card, is
21:34that administration's understanding?
21:37>> Uh to again, I I don't know what you
21:40mean by credit card in that statement.
21:43Um
21:44I I'm happy to answer those questions
21:46also when we have our uh representatives
21:49from the finance department here to
21:50speak to it. Given that, I know Shawn
21:53has to leave um a bit early today, is
21:55there any are there any other questions
21:57about
21:59tax collection that we can
22:01have him help answer?
22:03>> So, is that okay if I send you all these
22:05questions to get the answer and maybe
22:07you can share it with all
22:08>> That'll be great.
22:09>> Yeah,
22:10so I'm just going to submit it to uh
22:12council request and then BHoy will
22:15circulate to everyone.
22:16>> I just wanted to follow up um briefly uh
22:19on a council request on the 14th that I
22:22put out. Um I I didn't see a response
22:24yet and if you need more time, that's
22:26all right. I just wanted to know if
22:27there was a redemption rate, um if we
22:29had a sense of how
22:32the percentage of liens that actually
22:34get redeemed and in in in what kind of
22:36timeline. Most of these liens generally
22:39um get back and paid off in a few
22:43months? Does it take taxpayers a a year
22:45to generally pay off um when their taxes
22:48get sold to lien?
22:49>> So, with accelerated tax sale
22:52probably about half of them are usually
22:54redeemed within the first couple of
22:55months.
22:56Currently, we have a little over 1,100
22:59that are open right now and we issue
23:01about 1,400 per year. So, there's very
23:03very few that are even open anymore.
23:07>> I see. So okay, 1100
23:09that are open over the past
23:11>> Yeah, there's we have 60,000 accounts
23:13that are available for taxes and we
23:15issue about 1400 per year.
23:18So the delinquency rate and the rate of
23:19liens are actually extremely low in the
23:21city.
23:24>> Okay, thank you.
23:26>> I have a follow-up. Did you say the date
23:28was November 11th
23:31to for the council to approve a
23:33resolution for an accelerated tax sale?
23:35Is that accurate?
23:36>> Yes.
23:38>> And our next meeting is November 12th.
23:39>> Correct.
23:40>> So we're out of time.
23:41>> Yes.
23:42>> Except we're not because
23:45council
23:46president can do a special meeting
23:48if necessary to do that. And I think we
23:51should we should use everything in our
23:53toolbox to be able to try to do that.
23:55And
23:56and five members of city council can do
23:58that.
23:59What what we need from you from the
24:01administration is the will to say, let's
24:03do some installment plans and
24:06put the put the process in place. I
24:08brought this up in the last council
24:10meeting. I've asked about this.
24:12There's been little to no action or
24:14movement on this other than to give me
24:16information that suggests it can't be
24:18done.
24:19And yet it seems to me that it can be
24:21done. It's just a matter of will.
24:24I'm going to say it real plain like that
24:25because I'm frankly losing my patience
24:27on this whole thing. Say what you want
24:29about it. You can take whatever shots
24:31you want at me.
24:32Um the people of Jersey City deserve for
24:34us to be able to do something, to do
24:37whatever we can, even if it's of the
24:391400, um if if only 25% of those people,
24:4410%, 140 of them are
24:47um homeowners,
24:49um owner-occupied one and two family
24:51homes, we should be trying to do that,
24:53something to help them out to to get
24:55them to to get them through this this
24:58tough period. Um so I reject the idea
25:00that we can't do this. We just have to
25:02be able to find the will to do it. I'm
25:05urging the administration to put that
25:07process in place to bring it back before
25:10this council. Um and I'd ask the city
25:12council to reject this and if we need to
25:14do this, we'll do it on November 11th
25:17the number November 10th as a special
25:19meeting of the city council to get this
25:21all done. But if you can get it done
25:22before then, then maybe we can adopt
25:25this before then.
25:27That's my final comment on the whole
25:28thing.
25:30>> Mr. I a question I clarify. It
25:33in a hypothetical payment plan, is the
25:36and maybe I I missed this and I'm trying
25:38to follow along here.
25:40The payment plan is paying back to the
25:43city or paying back to the private
25:45holder of the lien that was purchased
25:48>> to the city. It has to be done prior to
25:50the actual tax sale being held.
25:53>> Okay.
25:54>> And and my actually I do have one more
25:55question. If they enter an installment
25:58plan, how does that um
26:00uh
26:01impact uh what's it called the
26:04uncollected taxes uh
26:07Yeah.
26:08>> Reserve for uncollected taxes?
26:09>> Reserve for uncollected taxes.
26:11>> It it doesn't apply towards that at all.
26:12It's not a cash collection if it's an
26:14installment plan. It's still a
26:15delinquency and a liability.
26:18>> That yeah, that's what I was saying
26:20earlier that it won't
26:21be counted towards that uncollected
26:23revenue.
26:25>> So okay, so
26:27just listening to my colleagues, so
26:30we're anticipating $7 million in
26:32uncollected revenue.
26:34And then, you know, we're sitting up
26:36here talking about a payment plan.
26:38So uh Councilwoman um Singh mentioned
26:42the rainy day fund.
26:44So is there any way we can use the $7
26:47million from there and then the
26:49collected revenue from the installment
26:52plans
26:54be used as the money to pay back
26:58the rainy day fund.
27:00So, we don't affect
27:03next year and the year after's budget.
27:11>> I think that we can take back this idea.
27:13The concern I had, which is what I
27:15mentioned to um Councilwoman Singh, is
27:18that
27:19DCA has a lot of requirements on how we
27:22are doing budgeting this year. So, they
27:25would have to be a factor in this
27:26discussion if we are going to
27:29um change the percentage we have in our
27:31rainy day fund, if we're coming up with
27:33other ways to make up for that revenue
27:35gap.
27:36>> Right. Okay, but what the DCA needs to
27:39understand, first of all, DCA stands for
27:42uh uh
27:42Department of Community Affairs. And our
27:45community is going through tough times
27:47right now. So, they should be able to
27:50understand that and maybe work with us
27:51somehow.
27:53Um and and that's something that
27:55we as a council and and you as an
27:58administration, we can, you know, um
28:02like Councilwoman and Lavarro said, have
28:04the will to do so.
28:07>> And I think I want to add that if you
28:09think that we can be on the table to
28:11negotiate as couple of council members
28:13have done it in the past, council
28:15president has been part of the
28:17negotiation, if we have to negotiate
28:19about
28:20uh
28:21the, you know, maintaining rainy day
28:22fund to a a level where they don't they
28:25expect us to do it, but we cannot. Just
28:28so that our people do not leave the
28:30city, something of that sort. Because
28:32when people are reach out to us, we have
28:34to look for the options and
28:36it's not against anyone, it's about, you
28:39know, speaking on their behalf. That's
28:41the reason we are here. So, please
28:42understand whatever is possible. And
28:44again, all of us will be happy to be
28:47there to negotiate.
28:49>> Yeah, and I'm I'm happy to take that
28:51back. I just also want to make sure we
28:53understand the point we're making, which
28:56is when we do a tax sale, it doesn't
28:59have a negative impact on the property
29:02owners.
29:04Want to make sure of that is clear cuz I
29:06know Councilman
29:08Gilmore you had a bunch of questions
29:10about this.
29:11>> You said what was the statement again?
29:13You said
29:13>> that it does not have a negative impact
29:15on property owners. We're talking about
29:18the the um
29:21uh
29:22the the rate that the owners would have
29:24to pay when the city is selling that tax
29:28sale, it for the most part and Sean help
29:31me
29:32if I'm saying this incorrectly, that
29:35they will actually benefit from the fact
29:37that we are selling that lien.
29:40>> Yeah, I mean
29:41I'm looking literally at a property
29:43right now
29:45that haven't paid their taxes all year.
29:48It's at almost 4,000. The interest only
29:52only interest accumulated for the unpaid
29:55taxes $179.05,
29:58which equates to end or around 4%.
30:01That's just on the city. That's before
30:03it went to sale. So, I don't know if
30:06what you're articulating or what's
30:07supposed to be done. I just know what's
30:09on our data base and I just know what's
30:12happening in real time from the city
30:14website in real time. This is what I can
30:16see.
30:18>> Yeah, I mean that's just the interest
30:19rate that's accruing on the delinquency.
30:21That's that's the way it's supposed to
30:23work.
30:24There's always accruing interest on a
30:25per diem
30:26basis.
30:28>> But you your your position earlier was
30:31that
30:32>> The position is regarding the liens.
30:34Once the lien is sold to the third-party
30:36investor, it accrues interest at the
30:38rate that they won the bid by. So, they
30:41can win for at a rate that is below what
30:43the city is charging.
30:45>> Oh, if they can win.
30:47>> They usually always do. They almost
30:48always win at 0% which obviously is less
30:51than what the city would charge on a
30:52delinquency.
30:57>> Are you available tomorrow during
30:59tomorrow?
31:00>> Yes, of course.
31:00>> So, council members, I'd ask that we uh
31:04take advantage of the next day to
31:06possibly set up some time or a phone
31:08call with Shawn to get some more of
31:10these questions addressed so that we
31:11make sure we're understanding the
31:13process correctly. Um and then
31:15Wednesday, we decide if we are voting up
31:18or down 1022 and 1023.
31:22Okay.
31:23>> Thank you.
31:23>> Thank you.
31:25>> Just want to mark Councilperson Zuber
31:26present at 4:30 p.m. so we have eight
31:29council members present.
31:32>> Next up, uh Director Donahue,
31:34recreation.
31:47>> Good evening, uh
31:48good evening Council President, council.
31:50Um Keith Donahue,
31:52Department of Recreation.
31:54I'm here to read um two resolutions. Um
31:57one is actually a walk-on, but I will
31:59get to that one.
32:01>> Tell me the numbers again, please.
32:04>> Well, that one would be um
32:0610.33.
32:09Keith.
32:10>> Is that what 10.33?
32:11>> want to grab an agenda right there for
32:13you.
32:17That's the Herc Rentals.
32:19Yep.
32:29>> All right. Well, first I'm going to do
32:30resolution uh 10.14. Uh it's a
32:33resolution
32:34uh resolution 26-696.
32:38It's a resolution authorizing the award
32:40of a contract for Panetta Industries
32:42Automation LLC for the Pershing Field
32:45Complex HVAC equipment replacement of
32:47the rooftop units for the Department of
32:49Recreation and Youth Development.
32:52>> How soon are we looking to see
32:55work done?
32:56>> Uh
32:5760 to 90 days.
32:59>> Okay.
33:00>> That's when they'll be ordering the
33:01equipment.
33:02>> So we're looking to All right. Is this
33:04the ice skating rink?
33:05>> This is the ice skating Well, actually
33:06it's the front offices where when you
33:09walk in but also the community center.
33:11Good news is we'll be able to become a
33:13cooling center again for the seniors or
33:16pretty much the whole neighborhood.
33:17>> Well, heating center now.
33:18>> A cooling center, yeah. Both, yeah,
33:20really technically.
33:21>> Um okay,
33:23but nothing to do with the ice skating
33:24rink.
33:25>> Uh not yet.
33:26>> Okay.
33:27Director, it's both good to see you and
33:29also see the work being done at Pershing
33:32Field. I'm going to give you an
33:33opportunity if if you can give me 30
33:36seconds to explain why closing the pool
33:38one day a week is a good idea because
33:41another example of something that was
33:42announced and the council eats a lot of
33:45crap for it and there's no information
33:47coming from the administration on it. My
33:48understanding is Pershing Field is one
33:50of the only pools
33:52that's open 24 Well, it is only pool
33:54that's open 24/7 365
33:56and that one day a week will allow
33:59maintenance that will keep it open years
34:01to come.
34:03I gave you a softball so please hit it
34:05out of the park.
34:05>> I will. I'm going to hit it out of the
34:06park but I am I am going to push that
34:08over to the director of the department.
34:10>> Not 24/7 but 365, yeah.
34:12>> I'm going to push that over to the
34:12director of the department to respond to
34:14that email. That way he gives you the
34:15the correct information and work with
34:17the administration for the proper words
34:18to come out. Hear me Mike a little bit?
34:20>> Sorry about that.
34:21>> You hear me now?
34:22>> Thank you.
34:23Cuz cuz what the residents assumed was
34:25that we were cutting services.
34:27>> Yeah, well we're using it for
34:28maintenance Mondays, yes.
34:31Let the director send you the proper
34:33email for that, okay?
34:35>> Do you have an estimated time of when
34:38that work will be completed?
34:39>> Which one are we
34:41talking about?
34:42>> The pool.
34:43>> The pool is going to be a continuous
34:44Monday.
34:45>> Okay, thank you.
34:47>> Sorry
34:48Keith, I did not understand. You are
34:50saying we will continue closing the pool
34:53on Mondays. Why?
34:56>> For maintenance.
34:57>> For maintenance?
34:59Just on Mondays? For how long?
35:01Councilman just asked but I was not
35:03>> Yeah, just on Mondays.
35:04>> For how long?
35:05>> Just one day a week.
35:07You know, we'd like to keep it for as
35:09long as we can to keep the pool running.
35:11>> Are we saving some money like that?
35:13>> Saving money long term for sure, yes.
35:16>> We have couple of calls and emails about
35:19it that why is it happening and again
35:22Councilman just mentioned that
35:24this is something we really want to
35:26provide for families
35:28and there is no time limit six months, a
35:31year, nothing like that?
35:32>> Not at this time. Right now it's it's
35:34permanent.
35:35>> So Keith, can you as you said make sure
35:37that Director Vincent gets the Council
35:40proper memo on the pool situation?
35:43>> Keith, I mean to hit you with I saw
35:44Director Vincent this morning and asked
35:46him the question and again presumably
35:49it'd be a good thing to to have
35:50maintenance ongoing so that we don't run
35:53into a problem with the pool closes
35:55but that was not communicated to the
35:56Council clearly because my colleagues
35:58and I are fielding questions as
36:00Councilwoman Singh referenced.
36:02>> You guys always know that we're
36:03available for you. So just you know,
36:04just come and ask.
36:05>> As much details possible Keith because
36:08when people reach out and when we give
36:10them
36:11no solid answer, obviously
36:13you know how it feels.
36:14>> Yeah, no problem but you guys know that
36:17I pretty much answer an email and
36:19>> You do. You do and thank you so much for
36:21that. Yes.
36:21>> No problem. No problem at all.
36:23I do have one more walk-on that well I
36:26we a walk-on that I have to talk about
36:27now and
36:28>> Go ahead, Ken.
36:30>> What resolution was it?
36:31>> 10.33
36:33>> Perfect. 10.33 uh awarding uh a contract
36:37for Herc Rentals Incorporated for
36:40preventative uh maintenance ice making
36:42installation breakdown of the chiller
36:44system for the Jersey City ice rink
36:46under the state contract uh
36:48um under the state contract for the
36:50Department of Recreation and Youth
36:52Development.
36:54Um I did prepare I have something just
36:55so you guys know what's going on with
36:57this. Um
36:59You have questions or would you like me
37:00to read it?
37:02>> Yeah, it's
37:03I'd love to
37:04to see any more details for this. Thank
37:06you.
37:10>> Is there a urgency to this that we're
37:12adding it late?
37:14>> Yeah, these are late items.
37:14>> Is there an urgency that we're adding
37:16this late?
37:17>> Yes, it's time sensitive.
37:18>> Yeah, it is time sensitive. It's very
37:20time sensitive. The longer we wait, the
37:21less ice time there is uh and uh we're
37:24trying to get as much ice time in um as
37:26we can.
37:27Um but we're requesting approval of
37:29$193,511
37:32uh for the temporary uh rental of the
37:34chiller system at the Pershing Field ice
37:37rink for the up season. I want to
37:39explain why uh we're bringing this to
37:40you so late uh because we were working
37:42on this for a while. Uh we started
37:44purchasing uh we started pursuing the
37:46rental in August using the same general
37:48cooperative purchasing approach we used
37:51last season. Uh what we didn't fully
37:53understand at the time uh were the
37:55purchasing restrictions involving public
37:57works and the service [snorts]
37:59associated with the rental. Renting the
38:01equipment is the one thing is one thing,
38:03installing it, connecting it, making the
38:05ice, and maintaining are another. Those
38:07services are raised uh raise additional
38:09contracting questions.
38:11Uh we originally worked with Foley
38:13through Sourcewell. When that approach
38:15ran into purchasing issues, we explored
38:17Riley Mechanical through a state
38:18contract, but the arrangement couldn't
38:20move forward as presented. Uh we also
38:22looked at separating the rental from
38:24installation, but uh and thankfully law
38:27the law department raised concerns about
38:29splitting what could be considered one
38:31contract. Uh throughout this process,
38:33we've been working with purchasing, law,
38:34finance, and vendors to find a way
38:36forward. We all uh ultimately identified
38:39uh Herc Rentals through an existing New
38:41Jersey state equipment rental contract.
38:44Uh as for funding, we are using
38:45recreation's operation budget. Donna
38:47Ward uh has confirmed that $106,227
38:51has been transferred to cover the
38:53estimated 200 uh 2026 cost with the
38:56remaining of $87,284
38:59to attribute to 2027.
39:02Um I also want to mention that we have
39:04been pursuing a permanent chiller
39:06replacement since the beginning of the
39:07year. Unfortunately, the engineering
39:09requirements, bidding process, and
39:11funding challenges have prevented us
39:12from moving the project forward as
39:14quickly as possible.
39:15Um but um as we have moved forward, uh
39:18we are working with infrastructure who
39:20are creating a RFQ right now uh for the
39:23bid specs and the engineering that has
39:24to go around it. Um
39:26and I know I'm coming to you this late
39:28and I understand your concern, uh but I
39:30want uh counselor know that we didn't
39:32wait until October to start. Uh we've
39:34been actively working through these
39:35issues and our goal remains to get the
39:36rink and our residents continuing in
39:39uh permitted
39:41continuing to pursue a permanent uh
39:43resolution.
39:45Questions?
39:46>> The so the chiller is um
39:49being paid for with operating dollars?
39:51>> We will be, yes.
39:53>> Is this a um considered qualified for a
39:56capital expense or
39:57>> It does not. It does not. It's a rental,
39:59so it does not.
40:00>> Rental.
40:03>> If I may just add something in in
40:06recreation's defense, the law did change
40:08in December and changing the local
40:10public contracts law to disallow the use
40:13of cooperatives when there is a public
40:15works component because of prevailing
40:18wages. Cooperatives are usually national
40:21co-ops and they're not subject
40:22necessarily to New Jersey's laws. So,
40:25that change, I think there was some
40:27confusion with procurement and the
40:29operating departments in terms of when a
40:31co-op can be used. So, we are trying to
40:34get that out to all the departments that
40:37you cannot use a co-op any longer when
40:39there is a construction component, which
40:41is what this would be because it's not
40:43just renting the equipment, it's also
40:46installing and maintaining.
40:48>> And Lisa and John, I appreciate the work
40:50you guys have been doing on it because a
40:52lot of questions about it come back.
40:54It's kind of a final review of it.
40:56>> And did
40:56um
40:57And I thank you. I want to make sure
40:59that um
41:01we're able to get
41:03this winter season up and and ready for
41:05ice skating. I think that's really
41:06important for the community. Um
41:10The the rental contract
41:13this
41:14>> The idea is that we get out of renting
41:16and that we get our own chiller one day,
41:17right?
41:18>> That's that's that's the main idea.
41:20>> Um so, this is
41:22a contract through
41:25How long would the would the expectation
41:27be to rent it?
41:29>> About 4 months.
41:32Don't quote me on that one though.
41:33>> Okay. But but basically by the spring of
41:35next
41:36>> the the hockey season, yes.
41:38>> After the season ends
41:39Yeah, I mean it's
41:41>> [clears throat]
41:43>> Um it it would spending money on this I
41:46mean, what is the kind of impact on
41:48parks and recreation in terms of things
41:50that you you all were hoping that you
41:52could budget for
41:54um with the amounts in um this account
41:57or these
41:58is there just one account or multiple
41:59accounts? Like the What is the cost I
42:01guess? Um what maybe can't we do if we
42:04do budget for this?
42:05>> Uh
42:06you're asking what a new chiller would
42:08cost?
42:09>> If if we're paying the nearly 200,000 um
42:14for this contract, what is the kind of
42:16yeah, cost to things that the Parks and
42:19Rec Department did want to do instead?
42:22Would have would have done with this
42:23money otherwise?
42:26>> I will
42:27I really can't answer that question.
42:28>> Okay.
42:29>> I mean I'd have to take a look, you
42:30know, at the budget and see but
42:32how we're doing that but I don't want to
42:33answer that question.
42:35>> Okay.
42:35>> Let me get back to you on that one.
42:36>> Thank you.
42:37>> I have a question for the uh
42:40for the BA.
42:41Hopefully it can be answered tonight if
42:43not I'll request the
42:46for the answer but would recreation be
42:49able to apply for CDBG funds for
42:52something like that?
42:55>> I am working I'm sorry. I am working
42:57already on CDBG funds for the for the
42:59permanent chiller.
43:00>> Okay.
43:00>> We're we're super close. We just need
43:03the engineering side of it.
43:05>> It couldn't apply to the rental. It that
43:08would need to be for the permanent one.
43:10Okay.
43:14>> Okay.
43:15Thank you.
43:16>> And um
43:18Osman Zuber will get you we'll get those
43:20that question right back to you, okay?
43:22>> Say that again, Keith. I didn't hear
43:23you.
43:23>> I was just saying that we'll get his
43:25question answered right away.
43:26>> Okay. Thank you.
43:27>> and good night.
43:29>> Director Kierce, OEM.
43:38>> Good evening, President Wod
43:40Ridley and members of the council. I'm
43:42here tonight on one item, resolution
43:4526698.
43:4810-16.
43:49Resolution authorizes the execution of a
43:52memo of understanding between the city
43:54of Jersey City and the county of Hudson
43:56for the installation of communi-
43:57communications equipment associated with
44:00the Jersey City Public Safety Digital
44:03Trunk Radio System at at county owned
44:05property located at 110 South Hackensack
44:08Avenue, Kearny, New Jersey, commonly
44:10known as the Juno Building.
44:12During a recent radio coverage testing
44:15was conducted in preparation for the
44:17procurement of the upgraded radio
44:19infrastructure.
44:20Deficiencies in radio signal coverage
44:22were identified in the Kearny and Route
44:2419 areas.
44:26To address this coverage gap and ensure
44:28reliable uninterrupted communications
44:30for Jersey City first responders,
44:32additional radio communications
44:33infrastructure is necessary within this
44:36sector.
44:37The proposed MOU will permit the city to
44:39co-locate its new radio frequency
44:41infrastructure at the existing Hudson
44:43County facility.
44:45This arrangement will provide the city
44:47with necessary radio coverage while
44:48avoiding the substantial costs
44:51associated with constructing a new
44:52stand-alone facility including antenna
44:55towers and supporting electrical utility
44:58infrastructure.
44:59The installation of this equipment is
45:01essential to enhance radio coverage
45:03maintaining reliable communications and
45:05supporting operational needs of the
45:07Jersey City public safety personnel
45:09during routine operations and emergency
45:11response situations.
45:13The proposed agreement will facilitate
45:16intergovernmental cooperation while
45:18providing the infrastructure necessary
45:20to support the city's upgrade public
45:22safety radio communication system.
45:26>> Questions, Mr. Director?
45:29Just we noticed that
45:32on the
45:33insurance papers, it says
45:36Ms. Levine's name.
45:38So, I just
45:41the agreement name heard as an
45:43additional insured.
45:44So, Ms. Levine's name was not corrected
45:46when we saw last time. So, please
45:48correct that.
45:49>> Regarding the insurance?
45:51>> Yes.
45:51>> That's part of the MOU.
45:53It's a memorandum of understanding what
45:54the requirements are.
45:58>> Just that's what
46:00I don't just
46:01>> I'll look at it and have it corrected.
46:03It's probably just her name being like
46:05the point of contact. I'll have it
46:08changed. Thank you.
46:11Any other questions?
46:14Thank you, Director.
46:17>> Council President, just want to mark
46:19Councilperson Brooks present at 4:50
46:21p.m. So, we have all nine council
46:23members present.
46:26>> HHS Director Ivory Green.
46:33Good afternoon, Council President and
46:35Council members.
46:37I am presenting today on agenda item
46:4010.29.
46:47This is a resolution
46:49authorizing a memorandum of
46:51understanding with Garden State
46:52Community Development Corporation for
46:55the provision of outreach and other
46:57social services. So, this is uh part of
47:00our expanding our outreach to the
47:03unhoused population.
47:07Questions? 10.29?
47:10>> Will this interact with the what we
47:12passed last session um to get
47:16new Ruby buses um up and running? Uh
47:20will Garden State uh
47:22folks be working with those those
47:24vehicles?
47:25>> Wait, well, right, when this is passed,
47:27Garden State will be working with our
47:29old Ruby bus, our red Ruby bus.
47:31>> Right.
47:32>> Right. So, and then when the new ones
47:34come aboard, then we will continue.
47:37>> Great. I I look forward to seeing Ruby
47:40on Central Ave and around the Heights.
47:42That's really needed.
47:43>> We've added We've added Ruby to the
47:45schedule. We've added Central Avenue to
47:46the schedule.
47:47>> Fantastic. Thank you.
47:48>> Mhm.
47:50>> Thank you, Director. I I know we
47:52discussed this at the last council
47:53meeting when the little came up with the
47:55uh bus and appreciate you acting on it
47:58and so quickly. Um
48:00to have this MOU in place with Garden
48:02State. Um if I could just get a copy of
48:04the MOU.
48:05>> Yes, I saw that just before I left out.
48:07So, you will get that.
48:08>> Thank you.
48:11>> Thank you, Director.
48:15Director Diaz, Community Development.
48:26>> Good afternoon, Council. I'm here for
48:28agenda number 10.9, Resolution 26
48:31{slash}
48:32691, a resolution awarding our HOPWA
48:36ESG grants to nonprofits.
48:42>> Questions, 10.9.
48:48>> Seems like a long time coming, so really
48:50really grateful for the leadership
48:52making this happen. Thank you, Sal.
48:57>> Thank you, Director.
48:58>> Thank you.
49:03>> Uh Finance, our Comptroller, Waquedia
49:06Staton.
49:12>> Good afternoon, Council President,
49:13Council members. I'm here for item 10.1,
49:17Resolution 26 {slash} 683, an additional
49:21five grants for Chapter 159.
49:24Grant revenue total
49:266 million
49:27Sorry. My glass.
49:316,507,148
49:35uh matching funds of 28,487
49:40dollars, and in a total appropriation of
49:426,535,635.
49:47>> Questions, Council, 10.1.
49:53Okay, thank you.
49:57Sorry, can I use this opportunity while
50:00Wakiti is still here
50:02to talk about our two late items?
50:05Is that all right?
50:07>> Yeah, go ahead.
50:07>> Okay.
50:09Um okay, so uh as you may know, um
50:13Bill's last day was Friday and we need
50:18to appoint an acting chief financial
50:20officer. So, the administration has
50:22submitted a resolution for approving the
50:24appointment of Wakiti as that is
50:27to be our acting CFO. So, that's um
50:3010.34.
50:34>> Can I just ask um
50:35to appoint as an acting CFO, does it
50:37require
50:39um
50:40council resolution?
50:41Um cuz I might as well say as acting for
50:44some certain positions
50:46do not require
50:48council resolution and can be done
50:50by
50:51by mayor's edict.
50:54>> Yes, so um we looked into that. I think
50:56there's a bit of um
50:59there's conflicting uh statute. Uh uh
51:02let Lisa look it up, but I think to be
51:05conservative, we wanted to make sure we
51:07had both a letter
51:08uh from the mayor, which is
51:10uh attached if not already into the
51:12resolution,
51:13um but also to get the approval of the
51:16council. Um we've been in conversation
51:18with DCA as well and they're looking to
51:20ensure the council approves this acting
51:22appointment.
51:24>> Yeah, do you mind? As it relates to do
51:26you guys
51:28um first and foremost
51:30I hope she would if she's good enough to
51:32be considered as acting, I hope she have
51:35a fair opportunity be considered as as
51:38permanent. I don't like the idea of us,
51:41you know, having people filling and
51:43then, you know, they're not really
51:45afforded or
51:47>> just um we
51:48>> If she wants. I don't know if she wants
51:50any of them. I'm just saying.
51:52>> Um one thing I want to clarify though it
51:54is very specific to the rules around an
51:56acting CFO um is that they are in the
52:00process of becoming a CFO, taking
52:02certification classes. They are not yet
52:05certified.
52:06>> So we're going to hold out until she's
52:08certified. What you're saying.
52:11>> Um again, I think that depends
52:13on a lot of things but I maybe Lisa you
52:15can clarify the
52:17the specific statute here.
52:19>> Yeah, sure. So there's two statutes that
52:21govern the appointment of a chief
52:23financial officer in a municipality. The
52:26first one is if you appoint an acting
52:28CFO, it's up to 1 year commencing on the
52:31day of the vacancy and the acting CFO
52:34cannot hold the certification.
52:37Um and it can be extended for two
52:39additional 1-year terms not to exceed a
52:41total of three consecutive years. Mind
52:44you all of this statutory framework is
52:46also goes to tenure because CFOs are
52:50entitled to tenure after they've served
52:52a certain number of time. If you appoint
52:54a CFO with a license, it runs for a
52:574-year term. It's retroactive to January
53:001st of the year of the appointment. So
53:04that's for calculating tenure. They
53:05wouldn't be paid retroactively but their
53:08date of appointment is considered
53:09retroactive. And then the third option
53:12is you can contract with a third party
53:14or as part of a shared service agreement
53:17with another municipality to have a
53:20chief financial officer.
53:22So
53:23her appointment would be for 1 year with
53:25the possibility to extend based on
53:28I guess performance as well as her
53:32successful completion of the
53:33certification requirement.
53:35>> So I just want to make sure I'm
53:37understanding this correctly.
53:39If the appointment is voted and approved
53:41on Friday, she would effectively have I
53:44I mean, excuse me, Wednesday.
53:47She it would be for 1 year or up to 1
53:50year.
53:51>> It's for up to 1 year.
53:53>> So, we don't so
53:55for all intensive purposes, there's no
53:56specific deadline associated with the
53:59Because it's up to 1 year, so it could
54:01be 6 months, it could be 3 months, it
54:03could be 30 days. And so, it's up to
54:05>> Yeah, in theory, but it would be
54:08believe for 1 year, and then at the end
54:10of that year, based on whatever the
54:12situation is, you can either like extend
54:15it or appoint someone as the
54:19permanent CFO.
54:21>> So, um I have a couple couple of
54:23questions for Ms. Stem. Um can you tell
54:25the council how long you've worked for
54:26the city and also in finance?
54:29>> I've been
54:30I've been with the city since 2023. I
54:32came in as the chief accountant, then
54:34promoted to comptroller, and that's when
54:36I started taking the classes for the
54:38CFO, which I've completed, and I
54:40submitted my application last week to
54:42take the test next month.
54:44>> Okay.
54:46Thank you.
54:47>> I'm
54:49Thank you.
54:50Um
54:51So,
54:53when Director Vacarro was here, um
54:55council was asked
54:58that to to raise the salary um
55:02for him
55:03um to be 250k,
55:06and we were told that
55:08actually, we were saving money because
55:11he was filling both roles of CFO and
55:15finance director.
55:17And um my understanding is um
55:21is you will be appointed
55:24as um acting CFO, and we will and and
55:27Kyle Greaves will be
55:29um acting financial director. Um so, so
55:32we are
55:33no longer saving money, or or or or will
55:37you also be still in your role as
55:39comptroller while you are acting CFO?
55:42>> That is correct.
55:44I'll still be the the comptroller.
55:46>> Hold the mic. Hold the mic up.
55:48>> I'm still serving as the comptroller
55:49during that time.
55:50>> Okay, thank you so much. And and this is
55:52a question um
55:54uh Ruby, I
55:56is
55:57So, are are either of these individuals
56:00uh Lakisha or Kyle getting a
56:04a temporary raise in their acting
56:06capacity?
56:07>> That's correct. They're both um both
56:10were acting CFO and acting finance
56:12director. They are getting acting pay.
56:15Um to answer your question, which I
56:17think you're getting at, which is the
56:18savings piece of this, is that the
56:20acting is intended to be a temporary um
56:24uh
56:26situation, right? We don't want them to
56:28be playing multiple roles. Um uh to be
56:31fair, Bill was not, you know, CFO and
56:34comptroller, um which is what we're
56:36asking Lakisha to do. So, over ti- once
56:39we um make the acting appointments, we
56:42do have a posting up for finance
56:44director and CFO. So, we hope to find
56:47someone who would take over that
56:49position, and then that will um from a
56:52finance perspective be transferred over
56:54to that position's salary, and the
56:58acting um
56:59staff would go back to their previous
57:01roles if they are not assuming the new
57:03role.
57:03>> Okay, so
57:05>> I'm so
57:05>> Go ahead.
57:06>> Sorry. Um
57:08So, the amount that they each are
57:10getting a raise for, is that
57:13equivalent to the amount that Bill was
57:16getting paid combined?
57:20>> It is less because they are
57:22receiving their current salary and then
57:24a bump on top of that in acting. Um we
57:27can discuss the the salary um
57:30compensation for the both both of those
57:32roles separately.
57:33>> Yeah, actually um
57:36when we were asked to raise
57:38um the salary for CFO and acting CFO and
57:42and finance director, uh we were told
57:45that this was specifically,
57:47you know, to to attract the best of the
57:50brightest and it was it was specifically
57:52to attract someone for this position to
57:54to bring this higher in and um
57:58we were also told that in the future
58:02if if we if we raised the limit um we
58:05were told that um you know, before
58:08others were offered this amount that the
58:10administration would come back to
58:11council and that we would be transparent
58:13about this. And so
58:16you know, I I'm I understand um we're
58:19asking um these two individuals to take
58:21on additional responsibilities and I'm
58:23not opposed to them getting paid for the
58:25additional work that they're doing. Um
58:27but you know, that that conversation was
58:29not had with council and
58:32um
58:34and I don't know that we would have
58:36chosen to raise it
58:38to that at you know, at this point in
58:40time. I don't know could because we
58:41haven't had that conversation.
58:42>> Yeah, I would say the urgency here is
58:44that we need to have a a acting CFO at
58:47minimum because there are accounts that
58:51need to be checked. Even resolutions
58:53that are coming forward to you today has
58:56to be reviewed by someone who is in the
58:58role of acting CFO and that is why
59:01there's an urgency here for us to
59:03appoint someone. Um
59:06yeah, I think the timing here is
59:09unfortunate. I wish we could have come
59:10forward, but this is the soonest. Sorry
59:12to
59:13>> Do not worry. Is that the reason we need
59:15transition time, I believe?
59:17To the person who is leaving should be
59:20able to give enough transition time so
59:22we can have new person taking the role,
59:25taking the download.
59:27and
59:28we are taken care of, right?
59:30>> Yeah. I mean, to be fair, we are
59:33>> And nothing again by the way,
59:34congratulations, best wishes because
59:37this is a tough job. And we have seen
59:40you here
59:41you know, doing really really
59:44hard work. So, it's not
59:46>> No, I don't I don't think it personally
59:48>> Congratulations.
59:48>> And to your question, I believe that
59:51the combination of the increases from
59:53myself and Kyle equate to about half of
59:56what Bill's salary is.
59:58>> Well, we haven't seen those numbers. Can
59:59we Can we have those numbers? I I I
1:00:01I think the age of
1:00:03we need to do this by the end of the
1:00:04week is over. No no no offense to you.
1:00:06It has nothing to do with you, ma'am. I
1:00:07I I just we have to The urgency is that
1:00:10that's that's out. That Those those days
1:00:12are gone. So, um I would like to I'll
1:00:14make the council request on on email,
1:00:16but we need to see the salary numbers
1:00:18and uh
1:00:19I I think this council should consider
1:00:22amending the ordinance we passed earlier
1:00:24in the year uh
1:00:26increasing the salaries and giving the
1:00:27administration leeway.
1:00:30>> And And thank you and and you know, that
1:00:32was what I was trying to get at. So, I
1:00:34would like to also see those numbers
1:00:36because you're saying it's about half of
1:00:38what Bill was making and and Ruby, you
1:00:41said it was
1:00:42100% of what Bill was making. So, I
1:00:44would like to see the actual numbers.
1:00:45>> say it was 100%.
1:00:47>> Okay.
1:00:47>> We're happy to share it. It it obviously
1:00:50is not finalized because we are
1:00:51presenting the resolution for your
1:00:53approval, but we can definitely send it
1:00:55to you
1:00:56all um what we're proposing.
1:00:58>> And um
1:01:00also
1:01:02I have a
1:01:03So, you said that the postings went out
1:01:05for these jobs.
1:01:07Um however, you know,
1:01:10um
1:01:11we have city employees who've worked
1:01:13with us for years.
1:01:15Um and and by putting those postings out
1:01:17to me, I feel like we're not getting
1:01:19giving them a a to do the job.
1:01:22Um only because the postings are out,
1:01:24people are going to, you know, apply,
1:01:27right? We we basically know what
1:01:31our people can do.
1:01:33Right? And and and to me in my opinion,
1:01:35these are people
1:01:37who will
1:01:38um
1:01:40have Jersey City in the front of their
1:01:41minds, right? And and not look at it as
1:01:44as a 9-to-5.
1:01:46Right? Because they understand that, you
1:01:48know, people's lives
1:01:50um are in their hands, especially when
1:01:52we're talking about um finances.
1:01:55Right? A CFO, a finance director. So, I
1:01:59I believe that a posting should not be
1:02:02out. I I think we need to give them the
1:02:04opportunity to prove themselves
1:02:06before
1:02:08you know, we we um
1:02:10we do that. I don't know if that's
1:02:11something we have to do as a city to put
1:02:13the posting out because we have an
1:02:15acting.
1:02:16However, I I think that um we need to we
1:02:19need to give our people a chance
1:02:21before we put a posting out.
1:02:23>> So, to councilman's uh point, do we have
1:02:26anyone with the certification to be CFO
1:02:29in the city right now?
1:02:32>> So, I I I I don't think I'm
1:02:33understanding the different questions
1:02:35I'm getting, um quite frankly.
1:02:38We had a CFO and finance director. His
1:02:42last day was Friday.
1:02:44It is very hard for us to recruit
1:02:47someone into this role today
1:02:50today
1:02:52or as soon as we can, we need to appoint
1:02:54an acting, right? So, we are trying to
1:02:57do our due diligence here in submitting
1:03:00an acting finance uh chief financial
1:03:04officer
1:03:05role so that we can
1:03:07do what we need to do as a city.
1:03:11We have to posting up. If there are
1:03:13internal candidates who would like to
1:03:15take on this role, who has
1:03:16certifications, they can apply. We'll go
1:03:19through the interview process.
1:03:22I don't think they are mutually
1:03:24exclusive here. Um
1:03:27I'm happy to answer the questions about
1:03:29something
1:03:29>> Councilman Director Joy, what we are
1:03:31trying to say that if someone has the
1:03:34certification currently working in the
1:03:36city hall and Councilman is saying that
1:03:38maybe the job posting can be internal
1:03:41first before we are posting for outside
1:03:45of the city hall, right Councilman?
1:03:46>> No. What I'm saying is we're appointing
1:03:50people working for the city
1:03:52already here and to post that job, I
1:03:56think to me it's it's
1:03:59I don't want to say disrespectful, but
1:04:00it's not giving them the opportunity to
1:04:02show their worth.
1:04:04You know what I'm saying? So, instead of
1:04:06like rushing into posting the job
1:04:09position let's let let's have Sean and
1:04:13and
1:04:17Kyle, I'm sorry. Kyle
1:04:18Sean is and Waqi
1:04:21>> I have 10 years on the job.
1:04:23>> We're not going to replace you, Sean.
1:04:24>> I was appointed a couple of times.
1:04:27>> and and Waqi to the opportunity
1:04:30to to to prove their worth
1:04:33before we do any postings.
1:04:36Um
1:04:37because, you know, she's already um
1:04:39she applied for the classes to take her
1:04:42to get a certificate, correct? And so we
1:04:44we should we should honor that and um
1:04:48you know, and and ensure that we're
1:04:50showing them that we're giving them um
1:04:53all the encouragement we can before we
1:04:57move forward with trying to bring
1:04:58someone else in.
1:05:00>> And and again, my earlier point, again,
1:05:02I'll make the request, but if I just
1:05:03give you the heads-up to our BA is how
1:05:05much money's being allocated for Kyle
1:05:07and and and for both roles uh I'm not
1:05:10going to vote on that until I until I
1:05:12know what the salary is.
1:05:15>> Yes, so if we got that tomorrow, that
1:05:16>> I mean by sheer math, you would you
1:05:18would think we be we saving money
1:05:20because if they
1:05:23they're already on the payroll, so
1:05:26essentially their acting titles will be
1:05:28giving them additional money. They're
1:05:30not getting with the previous Yeah,
1:05:33they're not split
1:05:34>> which they they ought to begin with
1:05:35anyway. Um, but to your point, we still
1:05:37need to see that.
1:05:38>> I would say presumably you'd be correct,
1:05:39but I I I
1:05:40I'd like to see it.
1:05:41>> The the presumption is that they they're
1:05:44as they move into the acting roles, that
1:05:46their existing roles will not be filled.
1:05:48That's a presumption. We don't know that
1:05:50that's actually the case or what the
1:05:52administration's intent is. So, Kyle is
1:05:55the assistant finance director. Is he
1:05:58going to look to bring in another
1:05:59assistant finance director or elevate
1:06:01someone from below? You're you're you're
1:06:04the
1:06:05controller.
1:06:06Um,
1:06:08you're saying right now that you're
1:06:09assuming both roles. I don't know if
1:06:11that's the long-term plan to for you to
1:06:13be in both roles
1:06:15for the next year or if you're looking
1:06:17to to
1:06:19bring in another person and then if it's
1:06:21somebody internal, then that'll be just
1:06:23kind of domino effect bringing somebody
1:06:25else in and eventually bringing up
1:06:26someone else.
1:06:27I don't know what the answer is there
1:06:29and I don't know what your your plan is
1:06:30there. Um, but um, all of that kind of
1:06:33factors into the idea of again, we're in
1:06:34the in the fiscal crisis and and getting
1:06:37a better sense of that. Um, I I
1:06:39appreciate the idea that you need to
1:06:41have somebody now
1:06:42to sign off on things and do things
1:06:44appropriately and so,
1:06:46um,
1:06:48knowing what the numbers are makes a
1:06:49difference.
1:06:51>> Okay, so we
1:06:52>> That's all understood, council members.
1:06:54I I just want to reiterate the
1:06:56importance of a statutorily required
1:06:58officer like myself. So, if I was to,
1:07:02um, let Ruby know I'm going to put in my
1:07:05papers and I'm going to retire and, you
1:07:07know, they couldn't even appoint one of
1:07:09my deputies because both of them have
1:07:10their certifications. However, you do
1:07:13need a clerk, you need a CFO. CFO has to
1:07:17sign off on all the financial
1:07:19documents, and this is why they're
1:07:22making this a late item because we need
1:07:24somebody in the acting position at this
1:07:26point. I understand about the salaries,
1:07:29but when Bill was first appointed, we
1:07:31did it the same way. We had to do it by
1:07:33resolution cuz that's what the state
1:07:34wanted us to do.
1:07:38>> Thank you, Shawn.
1:07:39>> Thanks, Shawn.
1:07:39>> Thank you for that.
1:07:41>> Me not replacing Shawn, he's
1:07:43telling y'all now.
1:07:45>> So, we will uh
1:07:46>> Let's just using myself as an example.
1:07:48>> We will take this uh the any other
1:07:51questions uh offline. I don't want to
1:07:53get
1:07:54deep into personnel issues um
1:07:57on the public record. And um
1:08:00BA, I think you have some other requests
1:08:02that they will put them in council
1:08:03requests, but they definitely want to
1:08:05know about the pay. And I just want to
1:08:07reiterate, you know, as Shawn said, yes,
1:08:09we we definitely need a CFO and someone
1:08:12to sign off on things. So, um
1:08:15as we discussed previously, let's be
1:08:18mindful of
1:08:21>> time
1:08:21>> making sure timing and making sure we're
1:08:23getting things on the agenda on time
1:08:25because we knew at the time of this
1:08:27agenda that we needed a CFO. So, but I
1:08:29understand it is not the easiest thing
1:08:31to um
1:08:34find someone to do and then to appoint,
1:08:36but as stated, we do have to find
1:08:38someone to cover the city's finances, so
1:08:40this is very important.
1:08:42>> Yeah, and I'll just say I'm I'm happy to
1:08:44send the information about the salaries
1:08:45right right now proactively. Um and then
1:08:48the second item late item is tied to
1:08:50this, which is 10.35
1:08:53designating official signatories. So,
1:08:56this is related to having a acting CFO.
1:08:58So, that's why those two items are
1:09:00introduced at the same time.
1:09:03>> One one affects the other actually, so
1:09:05it's like, you know, if we were still
1:09:07getting hard copies of our paycheck, you
1:09:10know, you have to have the mayor's
1:09:11signature and you have to have the CFO
1:09:13signature on those items. So, since
1:09:16Waqidi is going to be in an acting
1:09:18position, hopefully, she gets that
1:09:20approved 9-0.
1:09:22I'm cheering for you.
1:09:23Um
1:09:25then that's what would trigger that
1:09:26other resolution that's a late item as
1:09:28well.
1:09:34Um if you were to vote in a negative for
1:09:39Waqidi, the other one would have to be
1:09:41withdrawn.
1:09:42Wouldn't make sense.
1:09:44That's why That's why the resos are
1:09:46listed the way they are. So, it's first
1:09:48it's acting CFO and then next is and
1:09:51last is the official signatories.
1:10:00>> Hey, any other questions?
1:10:01>> Of young lady.
1:10:03>> Thank you.
1:10:09Next up,
1:10:11uh Police Department, Alisha Gibbs.
1:10:19Good afternoon, Council President and
1:10:21Council members.
1:10:23On behalf of the Department of Public
1:10:25Safety Police, I am presenting
1:10:26Resolution number 260-690,
1:10:31agenda item 10.8.
1:10:33Um this resolution requests uh to accept
1:10:36and approve fiscal year 2025 Edward
1:10:39Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
1:10:41award
1:10:42in the amount of 91,326.
1:10:46Um these funds will be used to support
1:10:48the acquisition and implementation of
1:10:50Blue Team NextGen.
1:10:52Um this is a centralized system designed
1:10:55to improve internal affairs supervisory
1:10:58review, um, incident documentation and
1:11:01administrative tracking.
1:11:03Um, this investment will strengthen the
1:11:05accountability and streamline reporting
1:11:08and support effective oversight of
1:11:10police operations.
1:11:12Um, upon approval of this resolution, we
1:11:16will be establishing a grant account so
1:11:19that we can proceed in procurement of
1:11:21the software.
1:11:23>> Questions, 10.8.
1:11:27>> I have a question. Um,
1:11:30what, um, could you talk a little bit
1:11:32about the, um,
1:11:35Blue Team NextGen equipment?
1:11:38>> So, um, currently we we are in the
1:11:41the police department is in a antiquated
1:11:43system of, um, tracking this this
1:11:47information and documentation and these
1:11:49are reviews manually, right? So, they're
1:11:51looking to add software to the system so
1:11:54that they can actually track, um,
1:11:57incidents, reporting, um, and that's
1:12:00what this software would do. Allow them
1:12:02to be able to do that where they can
1:12:04have something that's computerized and
1:12:06then technology-based.
1:12:08Be able to better track,
1:12:10um, what they have going on in the
1:12:12internal affairs department.
1:12:14>> Okay, and that would that that will be
1:12:15working with CompStat or
1:12:17>> Um, that's something separate from
1:12:19CompStat, but yes, it probably would
1:12:21replace CompStat.
1:12:22>> Okay. Okay. Okay.
1:12:24Okay. So, this is
1:12:27um, including quality of life
1:12:29enforcement, but not limited to quality
1:12:31of life enforcement tracking. This this
1:12:33particular
1:12:34>> That That is correct.
1:12:36>> Okay. So, for instance,
1:12:39if someone does a C-Click-Fix,
1:12:42um, and then that gets referred to
1:12:44quality of life, it would go to this
1:12:46system?
1:12:47>> That is correct.
1:12:49They put the input the data in there.
1:12:52>> Got it. And currently
1:12:54it that's manual, you said?
1:12:59Oh, you put the microphone down when you
1:13:00>> Everything in the police department
1:13:02[laughter] is manual these days. Um so,
1:13:04we're just, you know, we're trying to
1:13:05we're trying to push us forward
1:13:07um technology-based.
1:13:09>> Got it. Okay. Go ahead. I mean, on on
1:13:12that note,
1:13:14what happens now if there's a quality of
1:13:16life issue that comes through
1:13:17SeeClickFix? It's sent to
1:13:20quality of life. Like, how does
1:13:22the It goes from the digital SeeClickFix
1:13:24system to a man- manual
1:13:27>> Um they have to upload that data
1:13:28manually.
1:13:30Right now. They they would have to put
1:13:31it in the system with NextGen also, but
1:13:33I think it's a better streamlined
1:13:35process.
1:13:36>> Okay.
1:13:39insight into some of the enforcement
1:13:42gaps in our in our system. Thank you for
1:13:44clarifying.
1:13:47>> [clears throat]
1:13:48>> Okay. Thank you.
1:13:49>> Okay. Thank you. Have a good evening.
1:13:55>> Deputy Director Hart,
1:13:58public safety.
1:14:06>> Good afternoon, Council President,
1:14:07council members. Acting Deputy Director
1:14:09Lauren Hart, public safety.
1:14:11Here to speak on three agenda items for
1:14:13consideration. First one being 10
1:14:16.5, Resolution 26-687.
1:14:24>> Questions?
1:14:26>> Resolution authorizing the Insurance
1:14:28Fund Commission to pay Elizabeth Truck
1:14:29Center
1:14:30$222,992,996.45
1:14:38for the repair of the city's 2023 E-One
1:14:40fire truck with $122,996
1:14:4545 cents covered by the insurance
1:14:47settlement proceeds and the remaining
1:14:49100,000 funded by the city's insurance
1:14:52deductible.
1:14:53>> So, I'm sorry. What is
1:14:54>> 10.5
1:14:56>> Director Hurd
1:14:57>> Which
1:14:59>> This is
1:14:59>> Yeah, one second.
1:15:01>> This is for repairs for one vehicle?
1:15:04>> It was involved in a
1:15:05large-scale accident. Yes.
1:15:07>> For one fire truck?
1:15:09>> Fire trucks cost about a million
1:15:11dollars.
1:15:12>> So, no, no, I know I'm just
1:15:13>> It was near totaled.
1:15:15>> No, I'm just asking.
1:15:16>> Yes.
1:15:16>> Oh, okay.
1:15:17>> 100%
1:15:18>> Um
1:15:18>> I was surprised, too, when I saw the
1:15:19price.
1:15:22>> That's a Bentley.
1:15:22>> Director Hurd
1:15:23>> My question is why did it take a year
1:15:26and a half to repair the fire truck?
1:15:28>> So, um parts are a challenge, especially
1:15:32due to the extent of the damage that
1:15:33occurred. So, sometimes it could take 3
1:15:35to 4 months for the parts to come in.
1:15:37Then once the parts are in, they have to
1:15:39take the whole front of the truck out. I
1:15:40believe in this case I had to take the
1:15:42engine out, do the necessary repairs.
1:15:44So, it's probably about 3 to months 2 to
1:15:454 months of actual
1:15:47repair time. And there was a delay in
1:15:50issuing the payment to the vendor, and
1:15:52that was an additional 6 months.
1:15:54So, there was issues with the
1:15:57deductible, how it was initially
1:15:58calculated. And then once they started
1:16:01taking the apparatus apart, they
1:16:02realized it was going to be additional
1:16:03money, which is why there's two
1:16:05different prices for this repair.
1:16:07>> So, what Did we have extra fire truck to
1:16:11>> Yes.
1:16:12>> We did.
1:16:12>> So, so we we carry a spare fleet of
1:16:16approximately, I think right now we're
1:16:17at four engines and three trucks.
1:16:21So, whenever we have a front-line piece
1:16:23of apparatus damaged in an accident or
1:16:26if there's any major repairs, we utilize
1:16:29the spare apparatus to fill in the gaps.
1:16:32So, squad That squad company had a spare
1:16:35apparatus this entire time.
1:16:39>> Director, in in reading about CDBG
1:16:41funding, I've learned that we can use
1:16:43that money to purchase apparatus for our
1:16:45public safety. Is that your
1:16:47understanding as well?
1:16:48>> That is correct and I just heard over
1:16:49the weekend that after some repeated
1:16:52requests, we're working with the
1:16:53administration looking to purchase two
1:16:56new fire trucks with CDBG money.
1:16:59>> That's wonderful news.
1:17:01>> Yes. Thank you to Salo and the HEDC.
1:17:05>> I think also director
1:17:07um
1:17:10I I I ain't trying to shame no one or
1:17:13anything but
1:17:15it's for me it was it was mind-boggling
1:17:18to see the conditions of one of our
1:17:20firehouses.
1:17:22Um
1:17:24where where those individuals were
1:17:27housed at, the conditions of that
1:17:29firehouse. Um so I hope we can find
1:17:34funds. Um
1:17:36I don't know CDBG funds or funds
1:17:39somewhere to to have that place up to
1:17:42par. That that should not That's not
1:17:45Jersey City.
1:17:46>> Which one?
1:17:49>> But we can find funds to to rectify
1:17:52that.
1:17:52>> That's right. We are working with the
1:17:53administration right now working
1:17:55additionally to seek CDBG money
1:17:57hopefully for next year.
1:17:58>> Yes.
1:17:59>> To renovate the house you're speaking
1:18:00about.
1:18:00>> All right and and and since um
1:18:04public safety as a whole
1:18:06um I can tell you the South District
1:18:07Police Department um my chief of staff
1:18:11went there to visit and the captain who
1:18:13just retired asked her
1:18:16did she need a pair of boots when they
1:18:18were walking downstairs.
1:18:20So I I think you know we need to bring
1:18:23the firehouses, the police departments
1:18:25up to standard so we can bring morale up
1:18:29um and and and show that
1:18:32you know, we care.
1:18:35>> Agreed 1,000%. Thank you.
1:18:38>> Okay, next one, Director.
1:18:41>> Agenda item 10.6, resolution 26-688.
1:18:46This is a resolution authorizing an
1:18:48award of a contract for a national auto
1:18:51fleet group for the purchase and
1:18:52delivery of six
1:18:54Chevy Trax vehicles through the
1:18:56Sourcewell purchasing co-op.
1:18:58The Department of Public Safety Division
1:19:00of Fire Fire Prevention Bureau.
1:19:02Fire Prevention Bureau recently hired
1:19:04additional revenue generating fire
1:19:07prevention inspectors.
1:19:09Um resulting in an insufficient number
1:19:11of vehicles available for inspector use.
1:19:13The vehicles are needed for inspectors
1:19:16to traverse the city to conduct
1:19:18inspections.
1:19:19There are sufficient funds
1:19:21in the trust account to cover the cost
1:19:22of the vehicles.
1:19:24And 24-hour LLC,
1:19:26uh the National Auto Fleet Group is a
1:19:29current city vendor.
1:19:31>> Director, what kind of car is this?
1:19:33Chevy Trax?
1:19:34>> I would say it's a smaller size SUV. I
1:19:36think it's currently being used by the
1:19:38Parking Authority as well.
1:19:40>> Is it Is it not a specialized vehicle
1:19:42for for
1:19:43>> No, no, it's a very basic. There's
1:19:45nothing nothing nothing uh extraordinary
1:19:47about it.
1:19:48>> All right, that brings me my one of my
1:19:49favorite topics for the administration.
1:19:51Uh
1:19:52what is the status of our vehicle audit?
1:19:54A couple months ago, the mayor was
1:19:55reviewing it. I'd love to see a copy of
1:19:57it.
1:19:58>> We can share it. We can share with you
1:20:00our preliminary findings.
1:20:01>> Okay.
1:20:02>> I I I understand there's some other
1:20:03vehicles that are were made available by
1:20:05some recent departures, too. So,
1:20:07uh
1:20:09We'll get you what we can.
1:20:10>> Thank you.
1:20:12A question to the administration, can
1:20:15CDBG dollars be used for this
1:20:17purchase?
1:20:19The money that we need to spend down.
1:20:22>> Um Director Hart, do you want to talk
1:20:23about the Fire Prevention Trust Fund?
1:20:26>> Sure. So, so the Fire Prevention Trust
1:20:28Fund allows for expenditures for
1:20:30firefighting equipment um as well as as
1:20:33vehicles to be used by the fire
1:20:34prevention bureau. Right now, we don't
1:20:36have sufficient amount of money
1:20:38in the fire prevention trust to purchase
1:20:41fire trucks. However, we do have a
1:20:43sufficient amount of money in the trust
1:20:45to purchase
1:20:46vehicles that would be used exclusively
1:20:48by fire prevention. That money is there
1:20:50for that
1:20:51>> I appreciate the answer. My question is
1:20:53and no disrespect.
1:20:56Um deputy director.
1:20:57Um my question is just whether we can
1:20:59use EBG dollars. We have a deadline to
1:21:02expend these dollars and um unless we
1:21:06have other answers and if if whether we
1:21:09have other answers, just let me know and
1:21:10but I'm not aware of any other answers.
1:21:13If you'd like
1:21:13>> This is this is a
1:21:15an active discussion, right? Director
1:21:17Hart mentioned that um over the weekend
1:21:20we have discussed using CDBG funds to
1:21:22purchase fire trucks. He has been a very
1:21:26strong advocate for all things um that
1:21:28we need to purchase for the fire
1:21:30department. So, he has been in
1:21:31conversations with Sal and team on all
1:21:34things that could possibly qualify using
1:21:37CDBG funds.
1:21:38>> Is this Was this among the the
1:21:40discussions to be
1:21:42as qualified for CDBG expenditures?
1:21:46I I know we have fire prevention trust
1:21:47dollars. Fire prevention trust fund
1:21:49dollars don't have any expiration date
1:21:51unless you tell me otherwise.
1:21:52Um but CDBG dollars do.
1:21:55And if we don't spend them, use them or
1:21:57lose them and potentially use future
1:21:59dollars or lose I mean, spend now or
1:22:01lose future dollars as well. So,
1:22:04um I'm going to be a broken
1:22:06record on this uh
1:22:07as we go through the entire agenda on
1:22:10almost literally every capital
1:22:11expenditure that we're going to have.
1:22:13I'm going to ask whether we're going to
1:22:14use CDBG dollars and why not.
1:22:18So,
1:22:19>> We need more than two fire trucks right
1:22:21now. So, if there's any additional CDBG
1:22:24money that's available, I can spend it.
1:22:26>> Okay. Well, there's there's
1:22:28There is to my my understanding $11
1:22:30million that needs to be spent uh by
1:22:33December, end of December.
1:22:35Um so, yeah. We We have money money to
1:22:37spend.
1:22:37>> So, let me know.
1:22:39>> Not for me to tell.
1:22:41I'm trying to get it spent. I'm trying
1:22:42to say, let's spend it.
1:22:43>> Not a problem, believe me.
1:22:44>> Exactly.
1:22:47>> I remember there was something that was
1:22:48up for sale for 1.2 million. But, um I
1:22:51have a quick question. Um doubling back
1:22:54to item 10.5.
1:22:56Um this
1:22:59uh
1:23:00isn't a This is in excess of a
1:23:02settlement that we received.
1:23:04>> I would defer to the BA. That's above my
1:23:06pay grade.
1:23:07>> Sure.
1:23:08>> Yeah. No, this was It was a vehicle
1:23:11motor vehicle accident. Got sent to
1:23:13Elizabeth Center for repair. We
1:23:16submitted an insurance claim. Our
1:23:18deductible under our insurance policy is
1:23:21$100,000.
1:23:23The difference is $122,000
1:23:26and change. So, even though Elizabeth
1:23:29Truck Center got paid $222,000
1:23:32and change, the actual cost to the city
1:23:34is $100,000, which is the equivalent of
1:23:37our insurance deductible. It was
1:23:40submitted under a claim because it was
1:23:44out of contract. So.
1:23:48>> Thank you.
1:23:51So, on that note, was the other party I
1:23:54mean, can we say whether the other party
1:23:56in the collision was responsible and
1:23:58whether they
1:24:00it maybe it's in in court or something
1:24:02and we can't speak to it, but is it
1:24:03possible that they could pay back the
1:24:05deductible eventually?
1:24:09>> I can certainly look into it. Um
1:24:12It's probably too late because it was
1:24:14settled as under the insurance, which
1:24:16predates
1:24:18me being here, but I can look at it and
1:24:21let you know.
1:24:22>> Thank you.
1:24:23>> It's probably too late, but
1:24:25>> Insurance carriers when they settle with
1:24:26each other usually don't cover the
1:24:27deductible.
1:24:31Still hoping to get the deductible back
1:24:32for my car that was totaled, so
1:24:34it's on my mind.
1:24:38>> Director, do you have another one?
1:24:39>> Final agenda item 10.27
1:24:43Resolution 26-709.
1:24:45This is a resolution authorizing the
1:24:47award of an open-ended contract to
1:24:49turnout and fire safety
1:24:52for the purchase of personal protective
1:24:54gear for firefighters under the New
1:24:55Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Alliance,
1:24:58the Bergen County Co-op for the
1:24:59Department of Public Safety Division of
1:25:01Fire. This contract to turnout will be
1:25:03used to purchase station wear uniform
1:25:05items such as shirts, pants, jackets,
1:25:07boots, turnout gear, helmets, gloves,
1:25:10and pass devices for all members of the
1:25:12Jersey City Fire Department. This is
1:25:14paid through the OSHA line 215 and is
1:25:17the same request as it's been for the
1:25:19past 2 years. Turnout Fire and Safety is
1:25:21a current vendor of the city.
1:25:23>> Questions 10.27?
1:25:27>> 2. 10.27
1:25:36>> I'm going to pull a
1:25:38Councilman Levero. Is this a grant fund?
1:25:42>> Is this granted?
1:25:42>> No, we don't have any grant funding
1:25:44right now for PPE. We just have it for
1:25:46the SCBAs which hopefully you'll be
1:25:48getting in the next few weeks.
1:25:51>> You said it's the same amount as in
1:25:52previous years.
1:25:53>> Um so it's odd. Uh we usually we get a
1:25:55million a year in the OSHA account, but
1:25:57for some reason last year they started
1:25:59breaking it up into 6-month rather than
1:26:02um fiscal year increments. So this is
1:26:05for $500,000
1:26:07for 6 months which should have began
1:26:09July 1st, but because of the budget
1:26:11we're kind of a little bit late to
1:26:13getting to uh
1:26:14getting to this item.
1:26:16>> This is 10.27, right?
1:26:19>> Um so it's a open-ended contract.
1:26:21>> Correct.
1:26:22>> Um
1:26:23can we get the uh
1:26:25the amount expended over the last 3
1:26:27years?
1:26:29>> Yes.
1:26:29>> Yeah.
1:26:30>> We requested that during the the budget
1:26:32hearings, but it's it's very close to 1
1:26:34million a year.
1:26:37For the past 3 years.
1:26:42>> I actually just looked through my files.
1:26:43Excuse me for interrupting. We do have a
1:26:45subrogation claim out on that for the
1:26:47$100,000.
1:26:50I will follow up.
1:26:51>> Thank you so much, Corporation Counsel.
1:26:57>> Okay. Thank you, Director.
1:26:58>> Thank you, Counsel.
1:27:01>> Matt Ward, City Planning.
1:27:11>> Good morning, Council President and uh
1:27:13Municipal Council. I'm here on two
1:27:15items. The first being agenda item 3.2,
1:27:19ordinance uh
1:27:20excuse me, ordinance [clears throat]
1:27:2126-087.
1:27:24Uh the title of it should be familiar.
1:27:27This is to replace
1:27:29a tabled item
1:27:31uh 11.5 on the agenda.
1:27:34Uh this has
1:27:36uh some new updates
1:27:39uh in coordination with uh Councilperson
1:27:41Little. Uh
1:27:42specifically a a step-back or a
1:27:45step-back above the ground floor. Um
1:27:48this is an item that we think will
1:27:50strengthen the project that's uh being
1:27:52considered by Council in this this
1:27:54redevelopment plan amendment. Um
1:27:57and uh that is the reason why it's back
1:27:59at first reading.
1:28:01>> Um Director.
1:28:03>> Yeah, you said set back from the ground
1:28:05floor, so we're looking to set the whole
1:28:06building back?
1:28:07>> No, above the ground floor. So
1:28:09>> Like okay, so you got the ground floor,
1:28:10right?
1:28:11So like from the second floor up?
1:28:14>> Uh no, even further than
1:28:16>> Okay, cuz okay, cuz my assumption was
1:28:19Oh, I was thinking the setback would be
1:28:20at
1:28:2120 stories.
1:28:23>> Um well, I can reference the language
1:28:25specifically. One moment.
1:28:30>> I I think it's supposed to be at nine
1:28:32stories, right?
1:28:34Um
1:28:34>> Nine?
1:28:35>> It's at the ninth floor there would be a
1:28:375-ft
1:28:39setback or step back on the Morgan
1:28:41Street side. Um this was a request from
1:28:44the community
1:28:46who were concerned about um
1:28:49light sunlight. Um they requested 10 ft,
1:28:53but the maximum that was possible to do
1:28:56with the design of the building was 5
1:28:57ft.
1:28:58>> Okay.
1:29:00Okay.
1:29:02Okay.
1:29:03>> Um I'm sorry. Yes.
1:29:05If you can talk about um our nonprofit
1:29:09art organization, how are we choosing
1:29:12them through RFP, right?
1:29:14>> That's right.
1:29:15>> More about it.
1:29:16>> That is actually other language that's
1:29:18being strengthened in this uh this
1:29:20version of this ordinance. Um it is
1:29:24it is uh s-
1:29:26strengthening that language that's on
1:29:28page 10 of this ordinance.
1:29:30And it says there's going to be a formal
1:29:32request
1:29:33for proposal and publicly advertise its
1:29:36search at minimum on the Jersey City of
1:29:38Office of Cultural Affairs website.
1:29:41>> Thank you. I just for the purposes I
1:29:43want to couple of organizations were
1:29:45reaching out that if you have already
1:29:47decided and who is going to decide, so I
1:29:50just wanted to make sure that everybody
1:29:52understand that it will be through RFP.
1:29:54>> Yeah, there will be a formal one.
1:29:56Correct.
1:29:56>> Okay. Thank you.
1:29:57>> So, so now with
1:29:59with that being said, um
1:30:02is it ultimately up to
1:30:05the developer to go through the RFPs and
1:30:07and and and pick someone or
1:30:10cultural affairs.
1:30:11>> Um I can bring up the the petitioner
1:30:15council to answer that specific question
1:30:18more specifically.
1:30:20Um but it could be a provision that's
1:30:24further detailed in a redeveloper's
1:30:25agreement with the Jersey City
1:30:27Redevelopment Agency.
1:30:29Um it the language is before you doesn't
1:30:32necessarily specify that down to the T
1:30:35and I wouldn't suggest that we should.
1:30:37Um but
1:30:39but that could be further specified in a
1:30:42redeveloper's agreement or RDA.
1:30:48>> Okay.
1:30:51>> Chuck. Chuck.
1:30:56>> Yes, uh yeah, for the record, uh Charles
1:30:58Harrington of Connell Foley. I can uh
1:31:01yeah, address that quickly. Yeah, the
1:31:03the developer uh has has no interest in
1:31:06in being the the person who picks this
1:31:09non-profit. We would prefer that that
1:31:12it's a um a process that's reviewed by
1:31:15the city, the cultural arts department,
1:31:18and and and people within the JCRA so
1:31:21that they they make that that uh that
1:31:24choice. Um my client really wants to
1:31:27provide the space, but I think it's more
1:31:28appropriate for the city and the
1:31:31appropriate representatives to make that
1:31:32choice.
1:31:34>> Thank you.
1:31:34>> Thanks, Chuck.
1:31:36Any other questions on 3.2?
1:31:40All right, next one, Matt.
1:31:42>> Agenda item 10.25,
1:31:45resolution 26-7.
1:31:48A resolution of the Municipal Council of
1:31:50the City of Jersey City designating the
1:31:52Hudson County Plaza Study Area as an
1:31:55area in need of redevelopment, and more
1:31:58specifically as a non-condemnation
1:32:00redevelopment area. Uh this uh,
1:32:03initially started by resolution at the
1:32:05end of 2025.
1:32:07Um, the council uh, authorized us the
1:32:11the planning board to uh,
1:32:15conduct a study.
1:32:16Uh, this was an effort brought to uh,
1:32:19the council in the city by the Hudson
1:32:21County Improvement Authority. In
1:32:23September, the uh, study was presented
1:32:27to the planning board and a
1:32:29recommendation was made at that meeting
1:32:32to designate this area as an area need
1:32:35of redevelopment. Um, and more
1:32:37specifically as a non-condemnation
1:32:39redevelopment area. The vision here, um,
1:32:42should the the council
1:32:44um, vote to approve this designation
1:32:46would be to uh,
1:32:49appear back before the council with an
1:32:51ordinance to adopt a redevelopment plan
1:32:54with the uh,
1:32:56I believe the goal and objective to
1:32:57increase affordable housing um, on this
1:33:00uh,
1:33:01these public properties
1:33:03as well as
1:33:04uh,
1:33:05provides open space, public open space.
1:33:08>> What's the percentage of affordable
1:33:09housing?
1:33:11>> Say that again, Councilwoman.
1:33:12>> What's the percentage of affordable
1:33:14housing?
1:33:15>> So, this is not that. This is only a
1:33:18resolution to designate it as an area
1:33:21need of redevelopment. So, this
1:33:24uh, any of those types of uh,
1:33:27policies or requirements would be part
1:33:30of a subsequent uh, effort or ordinance.
1:33:33>> So,
1:33:33>> What just to know more about it, what
1:33:36are we trying to do it?
1:33:37>> They're trying to develop the is the
1:33:39county owned land.
1:33:40>> Yeah, we
1:33:41>> I was trying to develop their parking
1:33:42lots to build affordable housing. So,
1:33:45uh, what next step is the county's going
1:33:46to come back with a redevelopment plan
1:33:48giving us an idea of what percentage of
1:33:50affordable housing is possible. We can
1:33:52push back, we can negotiate with them. I
1:33:55can tell you that Mr. Metsakoudis who's
1:33:57here from HCIA and I have met and we're
1:33:59running this out of my office which I
1:34:01appreciate the county's partnership on
1:34:03that.
1:34:04Um
1:34:05next step is we're going to have a
1:34:06community meeting to show the community
1:34:08what potential options are, get feedback
1:34:10on open space and community give back,
1:34:12and then we'll talk more about
1:34:13affordable housing.
1:34:15Um what
1:34:16That was the timeline for the
1:34:17redevelopment plan. To answer the
1:34:19councilwoman's questions about when we
1:34:21can hear about how much affordable
1:34:23housing we're going to have.
1:34:24>> So, who is going to decide about the
1:34:26developers? City going to choose
1:34:28developer?
1:34:29Or how would it work?
1:34:32>> It's the county.
1:34:33>> So, the city has no role to choose the
1:34:35developer, right?
1:34:37>> Bill, if
1:34:38Bill, can you Yes, if you can
1:34:41>> We need you now, Bill.
1:34:43>> Is that Jeff Wenger with you?
1:34:46>> It is.
1:34:46>> Hey Jeff, you can come up here.
1:34:48Jeff
1:34:50is the planner working on this
1:34:53for Hudson County Improvement Authority
1:34:55and a team architect team and
1:34:58another planner from there.
1:35:00Jeff did the
1:35:01area needed redevelopment study.
1:35:04Used to call it the blight study. So,
1:35:05that's the first step. I mean, so all
1:35:08those other things are a little bit down
1:35:09the road. We I spoken about this
1:35:12when I came to speak about another
1:35:14property because there's four different
1:35:15Basically, there's four different
1:35:16parcels of land that the county owned
1:35:18that are underutilized
1:35:21and that the county is seeking to
1:35:23develop as mixed-income properties with
1:35:25a significant amount of affordable
1:35:26housing,
1:35:27permanent affordable housing, which is
1:35:29not something you frequently see. So,
1:35:32and then on this particular piece of
1:35:34land, County Plaza, we're talking
1:35:36sprawling
1:35:37uh acres of surface parking lots that
1:35:40does nothing but flood the surrounding
1:35:41community, that creates a heat island
1:35:43effect that exacerbates global warming,
1:35:45etc. and then the heat the heat in the
1:35:47city. So, as Matt said, you know, we've
1:35:50been working and as the Councilman Zuppa
1:35:52said with the community and Jeff and a
1:35:56a team to come up with a plan to develop
1:35:59this land and the concept here is what
1:36:02we're calling social housing. What does
1:36:04that mean?
1:36:05Government financed, government owned,
1:36:07hopefully
1:36:08we're looking for subsidies from variety
1:36:10of sources,
1:36:12mixed income housing of a high quality
1:36:14that will have a number of different
1:36:16amenities and services
1:36:18that will include a robust amount of
1:36:20income capped rent restricted
1:36:24otherwise known as affordable housing
1:36:25with a small a, some of it with a
1:36:27capital a pursuant to state law in
1:36:28perpetuity. So the developer here our
1:36:32concept is it's the county itself
1:36:35building this like the county has built
1:36:37other buildings like the Hudson County
1:36:38Schools of Technology. When I say the
1:36:40county really the Hudson County
1:36:41Improvement Authority which is overseen
1:36:44through a design build procurement
1:36:45strategy which is allowed by the state
1:36:47of New Jersey. Some extremely
1:36:49complicated buildings that have been
1:36:51built on time and on budget except this
1:36:53time we're actually going to build
1:36:54housing parks and some other facilities.
1:36:57And
1:36:59uh
1:37:00yeah, that's
1:37:02I hope that answers your question.
1:37:03>> You did and thank you for walking
1:37:06through the project.
1:37:08You're not selling the land to the
1:37:09developer or just
1:37:12I just want
1:37:12>> Correct. So it's a little bit different
1:37:14than we've seen in
1:37:15or significantly different perhaps
1:37:17than what we've seen in some other
1:37:20scenarios. Maybe some of the other
1:37:22parcels so there's four different
1:37:24parcels that the county owns. That may
1:37:26be something we do which the city has
1:37:28done for example at Bayfront where it's
1:37:30sold to a developer and the developer
1:37:31builds it
1:37:33with
1:37:34the agreement that there be a certain
1:37:35amount of affordable housing. So no,
1:37:36there is no developer here. There's
1:37:37going to be a contractor just like when
1:37:39we built the school or we built the
1:37:41courthouse
1:37:42you know have a general contractor
1:37:44right? So
1:37:45we'll we'll go out through a procurement
1:37:47process to pay someone to build the
1:37:49building. And then ultimately we're
1:37:50going to have someone manage the
1:37:51building like a lot of private private
1:37:53developers, even the Jersey City Housing
1:37:54Authority does now.
1:37:56So
1:37:57there's been a lot
1:37:59If you Google some of this stuff, you
1:38:00might see there's some interesting
1:38:01articles, op-eds written about it.
1:38:03Um so then
1:38:04>> That is the reason it's important to
1:38:07have the this cleared out, like how
1:38:09would it work? If we are not selling to
1:38:11the developer, then we'll have
1:38:12contractor building. And then county's
1:38:15involvement, talking about affordability
1:38:18and that. So thank you. Do you have
1:38:20>> So um
1:38:24Okay, so you're going to bring in a
1:38:27uh
1:38:28contractor or project manager.
1:38:31Um
1:38:32I don't know how it works, but I would I
1:38:35would
1:38:36ask or suggest that maybe you look into
1:38:40um
1:38:40nonprofit developers that build
1:38:43affordable housing that maybe you could
1:38:45help out with like aspire funds and
1:38:47things like that. Um are you looking to
1:38:50work with HUD
1:38:52um on on this
1:38:54project?
1:38:55>> So I mean we have a there's a we have a
1:38:58really great team of different
1:38:59disciplines. Obviously requires a lot of
1:39:01different disciplines to put this type
1:39:03of thing together and you know, we're in
1:39:05the relatively initial stages, but as
1:39:07far as HUD goes, I mean there's a few
1:39:09different streams of
1:39:11subsidy that we're hoping to get that
1:39:13are federally oriented. Some of them are
1:39:15home funds, some are
1:39:16uh hopefully project-based
1:39:19Section 8 vouchers that would enable us
1:39:22to obtain rents that are above the
1:39:24affordable level, even though the income
1:39:27of the people living there
1:39:28would be
1:39:29within those
1:39:31uh affordable uh or you know,
1:39:33low-income, moderate-income brackets.
1:39:35>> Okay.
1:39:36>> And And those originated at HUD.
1:39:38>> Okay. And with HUD, they still do like
1:39:40the star awards like similar to
1:39:43um the funding that was used for uh
1:39:46Montgomery, which is right basically
1:39:48across the street, around the corner.
1:39:50Um
1:39:52some sort of
1:39:53deal like that. Like we looking
1:39:56>> We're not we're not we're not looking as
1:39:58far as I know anything into STAR
1:40:00funding, so I'm not I'm frankly not
1:40:02familiar with that. We can look into
1:40:04should look into it, but uh
1:40:06yeah, the these project-based vouchers
1:40:08are more, you know,
1:40:10orchestrated through the housing
1:40:11authority where they have a a number of
1:40:13vouchers that could utilize now to
1:40:16assist in these types of developments
1:40:17where
1:40:19again, someone could come in and say,
1:40:20"Oh, they're only making 30% of the
1:40:22AMI."
1:40:23So, that's very low income. And then
1:40:25they And then they'll only pay 30% of
1:40:27their income toward rent pursuant to law
1:40:29and regulation. But, what the county
1:40:32would get is higher than that because
1:40:34they're going to be subsidized by this
1:40:36HUD project-based voucher.
1:40:39To make it more viable.
1:40:41>> Okay.
1:40:45>> Okay.
1:40:46>> Any other questions?
1:40:47>> Nope.
1:40:47>> Thank you.
1:40:52>> That was your last one, Matt.
1:40:53>> Sorry.
1:40:55Thank you.
1:41:00>> Director Binghart, infrastructure.
1:41:15>> Good evening, Council President, Council
1:41:16members. Drew Binghart from the
1:41:18Department of Infrastructure.
1:41:20I have three items this evening.
1:41:23The first one is agenda number 4.2.
1:41:28Ordinance 26 - 082.
1:41:32This is
1:41:34uh
1:41:35an ordinance supplementing chapter 332
1:41:37for reserved parking for the disabled.
1:41:40Uh second reading ordinance.
1:41:44>> Any questions for 4.2?
1:41:47>> No, but just for my other for our
1:41:48colleagues here, um
1:41:50the um disabled park reserve parking
1:41:53committee is meeting bi-weekly. We're
1:41:55trying to clear um
1:41:58out all of the up the applications,
1:42:00basically, so everyone understands the
1:42:02process. The application is received by
1:42:04infrastructure. It goes to um our
1:42:07medical
1:42:08um provider, who's a physician, who
1:42:10first reviews the applications, and then
1:42:12the committee reviews the applications
1:42:14after the doctor has. So, we're in the
1:42:16process of going through. Um as of last
1:42:19meeting, there were 70 applications that
1:42:21have been that had been reviewed by the
1:42:24physician. Um we got through 20 of them.
1:42:27We have 50 more to go. I think we um
1:42:30can get through those in the next couple
1:42:32of meetings, and then there are 70
1:42:34applications as of last meeting in at
1:42:37the physician has to review. So, uh just
1:42:40for
1:42:41my colleagues, when you get calls from
1:42:44constituents about that, that's the
1:42:45process.
1:42:48>> Okay.
1:42:49Next one.
1:42:51>> Uh next one is agenda number 4.3.
1:42:57Ordinance 26-083.
1:43:01This is a second reading ordinance
1:43:03supplementing chapter 332
1:43:06uh designating new multi-way stop
1:43:09intersections.
1:43:12>> Any questions for 4.3?
1:43:14>> Just When are the signs going up for
1:43:17this one?
1:43:18>> Uh
1:43:19so, upon approval, I think there is the
1:43:2320-day period um non-stoppable period
1:43:26that we need to wait. Uh
1:43:28my department will then work on the work
1:43:29orders, work with DPW to get the stop
1:43:32signs up. In conjunction with that, we
1:43:36usually have bags on those signs until
1:43:38we can get the proper striping in place
1:43:40as well.
1:43:43No
1:43:45concrete date that I could give, but
1:43:47you know, hopefully within a couple
1:43:49months of the adoption of the ordinance.
1:43:51>> Yeah, as long as we are giving enough
1:43:52time
1:43:54to have these signs out there.
1:43:56Right?
1:43:57>> Yep.
1:43:57>> And do you want to talk about some
1:43:59Vision Zero and daylight
1:44:01how how are we
1:44:03trying to make sure that we are
1:44:06you know, working on our mission of
1:44:08Vision Zero on this.
1:44:10>> I don't know if I want to expand too
1:44:13much, but
1:44:14Department Director is here as well.
1:44:17We are, you know, moving forward with a
1:44:19lot of new striping. Quick build
1:44:21initiatives
1:44:23they have started and will continue to
1:44:26be installed as long as the weather
1:44:28cooperates.
1:44:32>> Thank you. Director Kaplan, if you want
1:44:34to add anything.
1:44:35>> Sure, I can add Andy Kaplan, Department
1:44:37of Infrastructure. So,
1:44:39right now we are a little bit limited by
1:44:40our contractor's capacity to and we've
1:44:43made a commitment, the mayor's made a
1:44:44commitment to a hundred plus
1:44:45improvements at over 80 locations. So,
1:44:48we're focused on fulfilling that. We're
1:44:49also focused on our striper installing
1:44:52the striping whenever we pave a road. We
1:44:54can't leave the road without pavement
1:44:55markings.
1:44:57And actually during this meeting it was
1:44:58just announced we're also doing a turn
1:45:00hardening program.
1:45:02So, you know, we're going to be doing
1:45:04hardening for safety improvements at an
1:45:06additional 17 intersections that we're
1:45:08starting this fall. But based on our
1:45:11contractor's just ability to get the
1:45:13work done and depending on exactly if
1:45:14it's a warm winter, we have a little bit
1:45:16more time. Some of the improvements may
1:45:19bleed in the seven, but we're still
1:45:20committed
1:45:22to the repaving program and a hundred
1:45:24plus locations at over hundred plus
1:45:26improvements at over 80 locations.
1:45:29So, the all way stops are part of those
1:45:31improvements.
1:45:33So, uh by pass if this ordinance passes
1:45:35on Wednesday, we already have DPW lined
1:45:37up to install the signs and we should be
1:45:39able to get for the winter the pavement
1:45:41markings in.
1:45:42>> Thank you, Director.
1:45:58Good.
1:45:59Okay. Director, next one.
1:46:04>> And my final item is agenda number
1:46:0810.13.
1:46:10Resolution 26-695.
1:46:15This is a resolution
1:46:17ratifying the first renewal of an
1:46:19open-end contract for
1:46:21ADA ramps and concrete sidewalks for the
1:46:23city.
1:46:27>> And we use CDBG dollars for this?
1:46:30>> Not Not to renew this contract. It's not
1:46:33eligible. It would need to be bid out um
1:46:36with the proper federal guidelines.
1:46:40>> Wait, um you the
1:46:43I don't know if it's a misprint, but the
1:46:45the max the maximum contract value is
1:46:492.27.
1:46:53>> Correct.
1:46:55>> Um
1:46:58but we've identified 800,000 so far.
1:47:02>> So, it's
1:47:03partially funded by capital. We've had
1:47:05to move some money around and
1:47:09the department wanted to move this
1:47:11contract renewal forward so it's not a
1:47:13lapse in service. This ADA on-call
1:47:17concrete contract helps
1:47:19um reconstruct ramps ahead of
1:47:22asphalt pavement programs, so you know,
1:47:24it's kind of like cart before the horse
1:47:26type scenario. You want to make sure the
1:47:28the concrete work is done before the
1:47:30asphalt pavement is completed.
1:47:32Um, I'll continue to work with the
1:47:35administration to identify more funding.
1:47:37I do have more funding available. I just
1:47:39need to close out um, last year's
1:47:42contract with this vendor and apply it
1:47:44to this new one.
1:47:45>> Okay.
1:47:46>> Sorry, what was the number? How many um,
1:47:49sidewalks and um,
1:47:52ramps were completed? What was the
1:47:54number?
1:47:55>> Um, so this this year how many have we
1:47:58done? Uh,
1:48:00that's off the top of my head.
1:48:01>> Okay.
1:48:02>> Right around, I think 100 ramps have
1:48:04been done this year.
1:48:06And I could get back to you with more
1:48:07definite information if you
1:48:09>> That would be wonderful. And do you have
1:48:11any idea about the specific wards?
1:48:14>> Um, yeah, I can have that broken out by
1:48:16ward.
1:48:16>> Okay, perfect. Thank you.
1:48:20>> Any other questions?
1:48:22>> Thank you.
1:48:22>> So, when it when it when when it when it
1:48:24concerns the ramps, right? Um,
1:48:28so is it just the city responsible or
1:48:32uh,
1:48:33the board of education, like schools, do
1:48:35they have to like
1:48:37uh, uh, pay for any of this stuff as
1:48:39well, like near their school or anything
1:48:41like that or is it 100%
1:48:44infrastructure?
1:48:46>> So, typically the ADA ramps at the
1:48:48intersections are handled 100% by the
1:48:51city. Um, it's in an area that's a gray
1:48:54area, if I'm going to be honest, where
1:48:57you know, by ordinance we have the
1:48:59adjacent property owners responsible.
1:49:02This is kind of at a an intersection of
1:49:06you know, that gray area and it kind of
1:49:08gives us license to do safety
1:49:10improvements as well. So, I think
1:49:12there's
1:49:13you know, a strategy that we use to be
1:49:14able to
1:49:15>> Okay.
1:49:16>> do those do the work ourselves, but also
1:49:18add in an aspect of safety that
1:49:20you know, we wouldn't have full control
1:49:22over if we weren't constructing them
1:49:24ourselves.
1:49:24>> Okay. And And what about county county
1:49:27roads?
1:49:27>> So, just to to elaborate, ADA is a
1:49:31requirement for equitable access for
1:49:33all, regardless of abilities.
1:49:35Um so, if someone is unable to step over
1:49:38a curb, that would be an inequitable
1:49:40access. So, if there's a deficiency
1:49:42where an ADA ramp is not equitable, the
1:49:45city is responsible for ensuring that
1:49:46there's not a barrier since the curb
1:49:48would be our responsibility, right? It's
1:49:50our curb, it's our street. So, under the
1:49:52ADA law that was passed forever ago,
1:49:54there was a transition plan um
1:49:57where there was a set amount of time. It
1:49:58was an unfunded mandate,
1:50:00but all cities needed to make all of
1:50:01their corners
1:50:03compliant.
1:50:04Um the
1:50:06penalty for not doing that was a civil
1:50:08action. So, we were kind of sued.
1:50:09There's there's a lawsuit pending where
1:50:11we have to do a certain number of ADA
1:50:13ramps each year to be compliant with
1:50:15that consent decree um until the entire
1:50:17city is compliant. So, that's kind of
1:50:20the legal aspect where we're responsible
1:50:22and and under the federal law.
1:50:23>> So, we're responsible for everything,
1:50:24county roads, everything.
1:50:27>> So, the roadway owner is responsible.
1:50:28So, the state is responsible for state
1:50:30highways, the count will county will be
1:50:32responsible for the boulevard, but we're
1:50:34responsible for the majority of the
1:50:36roadways outside of those.
1:50:37>> Thank you.
1:50:41>> Thank you, Director.
1:50:43>> Thank you.
1:50:46>> Director Weller, architecture.
1:50:54>> Good afternoon, Council President,
1:50:55Council members.
1:50:57Uh for your consideration, I have two
1:50:59agenda items.
1:51:00First one would be 10.12.
1:51:03Uh and this is a resolution authorizing
1:51:05an amendment to ratify a no-cost
1:51:07extension of a contract professional
1:51:09services contract with MKW Associates.
1:51:12This is in connection um with the
1:51:16inspection and construction construction
1:51:19administration services
1:51:21for Arlington Park.
1:51:26>> Any questions 10.12?
1:51:29>> Which leads me right into 20 10.28. This
1:51:33is a resolution authorizing award of
1:51:34contract to Adamo Brothers Construction
1:51:37uh for Arlington Park improvements
1:51:38project in the amount of
1:51:41$1,575,700.
1:51:45Uh Arlington Park improvements include
1:51:48uh new site ornamental lighting in
1:51:50coordination with PSE&G.
1:51:52Uh site grading for improved site
1:51:54accessibility.
1:51:56Uh new electric service for the uh
1:51:59sports courts lighting in addition to
1:52:01and in conjunction with PSE&G lighting.
1:52:05Uh it's going to include a dog run
1:52:07splash pad improvements, multi-use uh
1:52:10entrance plaza
1:52:12uh and various landscaping and tree
1:52:14improvements.
1:52:18>> Um I know we've been at this project for
1:52:21so so long. Um is is improvements slated
1:52:25for the actual playground area?
1:52:28>> Actually, unfortunately, no. The actual
1:52:30play structures didn't make didn't make
1:52:32it in the original design work
1:52:35which is a little dated about 4 years
1:52:37ago. So, uh similar to other parks um
1:52:41I would recommend in this situation that
1:52:43we kind of plan for a phase two
1:52:46and make other improvements that may be
1:52:47necessary.
1:52:49>> And what about the gazebo?
1:52:51>> The gazebo didn't make this either. We
1:52:53were given by the previous
1:52:54administration a $1.5 million budget and
1:52:58after the public meetings, we were
1:52:59determined and kind of uh funneled down
1:53:02to the improvements that you see right
1:53:04now.
1:53:04>> Okay. Well, I just want to say I grew up
1:53:06playing in that park, so
1:53:08any improvements is it's it's due. Yeah,
1:53:12over much due.
1:53:13>> Thank you.
1:53:16>> CDBG dollars?
1:53:18>> Unfortunately, this park predates that,
1:53:21but I think moving forward, that's a
1:53:22great opportunity to look into.
1:53:25>> Not eligible?
1:53:26>> I don't believe so, no. Although
1:53:29Andy might have
1:53:30>> I can handle this. I was actually
1:53:31talking to Solo. I believe you asked the
1:53:33question the counselor passes her. One
1:53:35of the esteemed council members did.
1:53:38This project would have been eligible if
1:53:40it applied for block grants before the
1:53:42city took any actions to advance it as a
1:53:44project otherwise. So, in 2023, the city
1:53:48allocated capital funds for this project
1:53:50in order to advance it on, you know, a
1:53:52known and a more expedient timeline to
1:53:54bring us to construction today. Because
1:53:56those actions were taken in 2023
1:53:58followed by other actions such as
1:54:00procuring a design firm, paying for the
1:54:01design firm, putting out an RFP for the
1:54:03contract, that disqualifies the use of
1:54:06block grants at this point in time for
1:54:07the improvements in this grant.
1:54:09Arlington Park is in a a lower middle
1:54:12income
1:54:13census block, so other improvements
1:54:15could be eligible as long as there's not
1:54:17funding or other initiatives have been
1:54:19taken towards advancing those projects
1:54:21currently, but those would not be able
1:54:23to be advanced before the end of the
1:54:25calendar year. So, it's certainly
1:54:27something we're talking about future
1:54:29improvements for with future dollars,
1:54:32but not for this project.
1:54:33>> Thank you, Andy.
1:54:34>> That was so clear. Thank you.
1:54:36>> I do my best.
1:54:37>> So, so phase two will be eligible
1:54:41potentially.
1:54:42>> We The first step would be for us to
1:54:44submit a request for the funds with a
1:54:46clear project plan, and they would do an
1:54:48environmental assessment to confirm
1:54:49that. But, I don't believe I we'd have
1:54:52to confirm if there's no city capital
1:54:54funds allocated, um it could potentially
1:54:57be eligible.
1:54:58>> Okay.
1:54:59Okay, cuz it's at the basketball court,
1:55:02playground, and gazebo.
1:55:04That can potentially be phase two.
1:55:06>> Right. But not for 26 funds. You sure
1:55:08future years.
1:55:08>> Okay.
1:55:09>> Yep.
1:55:11>> Okay. Thank you, Director.
1:55:15Doug Carlucci, traffic and engineering.
1:55:25>> Hello, Council members. I'm here for
1:55:28uh agenda number 3.1, ordinance 26086.
1:55:34Uh this simply amends part of our code
1:55:38to clarify some language and provide
1:55:41formal definitions for loading zones,
1:55:43bus stops, and taxi stands.
1:55:46Uh the state law and our current
1:55:48ordinance doesn't actually define those
1:55:50things.
1:55:51So, the thought was that we should have
1:55:54a formal definition in case anyone who
1:55:56receives a summons for
1:55:58misusing one gets it, there's no
1:56:00confusion at the municipal court level
1:56:02about what the allowable uses are.
1:56:05>> Questions 3.1.
1:56:07>> Sorry, what's the number like?
1:56:09>> 3.1.
1:56:11>> I have a question. Um
1:56:12>> Question number?
1:56:14>> Is there any standardized
1:56:17um painting
1:56:18protocol or convention for a loading
1:56:20zone versus taxis or versus
1:56:24um any other no parking zones?
1:56:28>> Taxi
1:56:30>> So, we're working to formalize that. You
1:56:32know, legally it's the signs that
1:56:34establish the enforceability uh well
1:56:37beyond the ordinances um or or
1:56:39resolutions.
1:56:41Um but we're committed as part of the
1:56:43Cape rollout to kind of do updates um to
1:56:46make it clear to the driver, and we're
1:56:47in the process of trying to develop some
1:56:49standards
1:56:50um to roll out as we mark things in the
1:56:52future.
1:56:55>> Director, how are we um notifying the
1:56:57businesses about this?
1:57:00Like, what are the hours? How are we
1:57:02communicating with them? Are we
1:57:03communicating if we are communicating,
1:57:06how are we telling them these are the
1:57:07hours?
1:57:09Like, how are we progressing here?
1:57:11>> So, this ordinance itself is not
1:57:13proposing to change any of the hours or
1:57:15specifics. It's really defining what you
1:57:18know, philosophically, what is a loading
1:57:19zone? What is a bus stop, right? That's
1:57:21the intent of this ordinance. Uh but to
1:57:23answer, I think the the more important
1:57:25question, as we were developing like the
1:57:27CAP program especially, uh we were we
1:57:29met with both um the the McGinley Square
1:57:32and the Journal Square SID leadership,
1:57:34um as well as the Historic Downtown SID,
1:57:36uh both their leadership and their
1:57:37membership. Um so, we're trying to be as
1:57:40proactive in terms of coordinating and
1:57:42receiving input from the business
1:57:44community uh as it relates to the areas
1:57:46that we've changed uh under past
1:57:48ordinances for the CAP rollout. Um
1:57:52in addition to that,
1:57:54um we've actually gotten some feedback
1:57:57and we're going to be anticipate using
1:57:58the cameras and the data collected
1:58:01through the technology to understand um
1:58:04for example, if we have loading zones,
1:58:05but they're fully occupied, that means
1:58:07we don't have enough loading zones. So,
1:58:09we'll be able to kind of make data and
1:58:10react to kind of understanding what's
1:58:12happening. Um so, so that's part of the
1:58:15decision-making and then we're committed
1:58:16to continuing to work with the SIDs to
1:58:18reach the business communities.
1:58:22>> I just um
1:58:23want to say something about the loading
1:58:25zones. Um
1:58:27let's just try to make sure we don't
1:58:30put too many in um and and and take away
1:58:33from parking
1:58:34because, you know, we add these loading
1:58:36zones and and and to these business
1:58:40districts, then people that are driving,
1:58:42where they you know, where they going to
1:58:43park to go shopping?
1:58:45Um because a lot of people, you know, I
1:58:48mean, you have people taking public
1:58:49transportation, but you have a lot of
1:58:50people that may be disabled
1:58:52um
1:58:53or have kids or you know, they
1:58:56just don't want to travel on public
1:58:58transportation. So, let's just make sure
1:59:00that
1:59:01um we're not
1:59:04overloading
1:59:05the business districts with with with
1:59:07loading zones.
1:59:08Just you know, just be more strate- we
1:59:10can be more strategic with it.
1:59:12>> Yeah, completely agree and um we also
1:59:14have as part of the Vision Zero SS4A
1:59:17grant um data-driven analysis of
1:59:20curbside management because we you know,
1:59:23to a business they want quick turnover
1:59:25parking so someone can come to a
1:59:26restaurant and park for 2 hours. Um but
1:59:29you know, to a resident you may want to
1:59:30park a couple days between street
1:59:31sweeping. So, there's definitely a lot
1:59:33of competing demands on our curb and
1:59:36using data to kind of make proactive
1:59:38affirmative decisions on how we manage
1:59:40that space is is important.
1:59:43>> So, so just to confirm um loading zone
1:59:46violations will be programmed into the K
1:59:50pilot in both of wards E and ward C.
1:59:54>> Correct. We're working on some of the
1:59:57deployment logistics. Um exactly, you
2:00:00know, en- ensuring exact coverages and
2:00:02whatnot, but these programs when fully
2:00:04rolled out will absolutely include
2:00:07um enforcement of loading zones.
2:00:10As and as a way to kind of get people to
2:00:13not double park by being able to
2:00:14appropriately use the loading zones or
2:00:15park on the corners and crosswalks
2:00:17because there'll be a place to load. You
2:00:19know, I think the example I gave when I
2:00:20spoke to the community is you know, if
2:00:22I'm picking up my kid from daycare
2:00:24the daycare kicks them out at 5:00,
2:00:26right? I can't I have to pick them up.
2:00:28And if I don't have a a way to do that
2:00:30for a quick transaction because there is
2:00:32no loading zone available, I'm just
2:00:33going to double park, right? Even if it
2:00:35messes up traffic. So, we want to give
2:00:37people the option to make the right
2:00:38decisions and that means proactively
2:00:40managing the loading zones that we have.
2:00:43>> So, director, you're saying you'll be
2:00:45giving them a grace period, let's say
2:00:47one or two warnings before they get the
2:00:50ticket.
2:00:51>> So, the loading zone So, again, this is
2:00:54regarding Cape, not necessarily this
2:00:56ordinance, but happy to clarify.
2:00:58Um we're not going to be intending on
2:01:00giving warnings in the sense of of
2:01:02mailing a warning outside of the initial
2:01:04startup period, um but we're going to be
2:01:06providing, you know, when there's a
2:01:07loading zone, people will have a certain
2:01:09period of time to be able to to to park
2:01:12in that loading zone before they have to
2:01:13leave it, right? It's not a parking
2:01:15spot, but it's not like you pull in and
2:01:17pull out, right? It's not like you have
2:01:18to duck and roll, right? So, um
2:01:21we definitely are working on what we
2:01:23call business rules um with the police
2:01:25department to ensure that we're
2:01:26addressing the appropriate transaction
2:01:28times.
2:01:30>> But, it's just that 100% what you said,
2:01:32I agree that but then what I'm trying to
2:01:34and I'm sure you're already thinking
2:01:36about it, then letting them know,
2:01:38communicating with them, leaving the
2:01:40signs that the these are the hours for
2:01:42loading zone to be used. Just because
2:01:45sometimes I have seen that a lot of them
2:01:48just even if they are done,
2:01:51the truck is still there.
2:01:52So,
2:01:53you must have experienced the same
2:01:55thing. So, I think letting businesses
2:01:57know and giving
2:01:58giving them warnings that we have seen
2:02:00your truck has been parked for multiple
2:02:02hours, maybe you do not need, so the
2:02:03other business can use it.
2:02:05Communicating this with the businesses,
2:02:07I feel this that you are going to do,
2:02:09talking to said and um businesses in the
2:02:14let's say downtown, it will be
2:02:15wonderful.
2:02:16>> Yeah, absolutely. Now, we'll just
2:02:17clarify we're not intending to give out
2:02:19warnings once the We're looking to
2:02:20communicate about the program ahead of
2:02:22time so that everybody's aware of when
2:02:23they'll get a ticket. And as of the
2:02:25launch date, once that's set, the
2:02:27business communities will know that if
2:02:28they violate the rules, a ticket will be
2:02:30issued. And we're proactively
2:02:32communicating because someone who
2:02:34doesn't
2:02:36overstay their welcome or park illegally
2:02:38because they heard about it is just as
2:02:39beneficial as a who got a ticket. So,
2:02:42you know, we definitely are
2:02:44overly communicating.
2:02:46>> Thank you. We need that.
2:02:47>> I appreciate that. We tell them to do
2:02:49that.
2:02:51>> Okay. Thank you.
2:02:53>> Thank you.
2:02:58>> Transportation planning, Eli.
2:03:09>> Good evening, uh Council and Council
2:03:10President. Um I'm here to speak about
2:03:12agenda item 10.11,
2:03:15Resolution 26693.
2:03:18The purpose of this resolution is to
2:03:20authorize the uh authorize Jersey City
2:03:22to accept $1,741,000
2:03:25in congestion mitigation and air quality
2:03:27improvement funding from the North
2:03:29Jersey Transportation Planning
2:03:31Authority.
2:03:32The funding will be used to expand our
2:03:34protected bike parking network,
2:03:37uh as well as our bike share system,
2:03:39as well as provide $200,000 for planning
2:03:41and design activities uh provided by
2:03:44consultant support.
2:03:46Uh there will be no local match for this
2:03:47program. The intention of the expansion
2:03:50uh is to expand the areas that are
2:03:51currently underserved, such as the
2:03:53Heights, Journal Square, and the West
2:03:55Side, where there currently are few or
2:03:57no
2:03:58uh bike share stations uh or protected
2:04:00bike parking options.
2:04:03>> Any questions?
2:04:06>> Is
2:04:06>> [clears throat]
2:04:06>> Garfield Garfield not on the list?
2:04:09>> So, we did recently add 25 stations in
2:04:12Ward A and Ward F, uh many along that
2:04:15area. So, we have not formalized the
2:04:19exact locations where these stations
2:04:20will be going. So, the intention is to
2:04:21fill in the large gaps, mainly in the
2:04:23Heights and Journal Square, uh but we
2:04:26will also be adding in stations where
2:04:28currently areas are underserved or there
2:04:30the station density is not high enough.
2:04:31So, if we find that areas uh such as
2:04:33like Bergen-Lafayette or in Ward A need
2:04:35additional stations, there's the
2:04:36flexibility to place them there as well.
2:04:39Um the intention is to use a data-driven
2:04:40process to identify where should these
2:04:42stations go. Uh we have allocated
2:04:44between 30 to 40 stations potentially to
2:04:46add uh you know, all over the city.
2:04:49And we'll also be factoring in community
2:04:51feedback.
2:04:52>> Okay, and okay, that that was the one
2:04:53thing cuz we're talking about Citybike,
2:04:55correct?
2:04:56>> So, it would be potentially Citybike
2:04:58could be one of the vendors. Uh but Bike
2:05:00Share
2:05:00>> But Bike Share because um
2:05:04you know,
2:05:05I haven't seen it recently, but
2:05:07over the past few years, these bike
2:05:09shares are popping up without anyone
2:05:11knowing.
2:05:13Um like I remember there was one
2:05:16it popped up and it was put in the
2:05:17street, but there was enough space where
2:05:21it could have been on a sidewalk.
2:05:23Um because the the sidewalk was huge.
2:05:26And and I think um
2:05:28you know, that that's things we have to
2:05:29look at because if we don't have to take
2:05:32away parking and still have the bike
2:05:34shares,
2:05:36um that's that's something that should
2:05:37be considered and and not just put them
2:05:40in the street.
2:05:41>> Agreed. And with this past expansion,
2:05:43that was definitely an emphasis that was
2:05:45relayed to us and we made sure. So, the
2:05:46great thing with the new equipment is we
2:05:48can split it into smaller stations. So,
2:05:49we made sure that we were not taking
2:05:51legal parking or we were, you know,
2:05:52putting some of it, you know, in the
2:05:53curb extension area and on the sidewalk
2:05:55to really minimize parking impact while
2:05:57still uh you know, offering access to
2:05:59the stations.
2:06:00>> Did you
2:06:00>> that feedback.
2:06:02>> You mentioned that you are taking
2:06:04community input to decide the location
2:06:07for the stations.
2:06:09>> Yeah, um so that'll be
2:06:11part of this process. We've already
2:06:12received quite a bit of feedback
2:06:13definitely uh in the heights of
2:06:15locations we want to hear.
2:06:17Um
2:06:17but we'll be going out and really
2:06:19vetting these locations to make sure,
2:06:20you know, this is the right location uh
2:06:22because
2:06:23there's a certain level of number of
2:06:25stations we want to have in a certain
2:06:26geographic area, but the exact location
2:06:28of the station can be, you know, uh uh,
2:06:30twist or, you know, uh modified plus or
2:06:32minus a block. So, we want to make sure
2:06:33the community, you know, thinks that's a
2:06:35good, you know, applicable location. So,
2:06:37we did this with the previous expansion,
2:06:38too. We went out, we had community
2:06:39meetings, we posted information online,
2:06:41we had open houses, and we intend to do
2:06:42the same process to make sure it's very
2:06:44forthright that, you know, this is where
2:06:45it's going, and we want to make sure
2:06:46that the community's going to use it as
2:06:47well.
2:06:48>> Thank you. I think it is very important
2:06:49concern. Sorry, you were asking
2:06:51something.
2:06:51>> No, no, I just want to say, um,
2:06:54you guys did a good job. Like, um,
2:06:57I mean, some when when when we initially
2:07:00start placing them,
2:07:02um, and then we had concerns from the
2:07:04residents, and then we took a different
2:07:06course, and we were able to get them. We
2:07:08start put some on sideways, then we
2:07:11convinced some where they wasn't taking
2:07:13up the whole, um,
2:07:14the whole corner.
2:07:16Um,
2:07:17so, I just say we did a good job, or you
2:07:19guys did a good job. All respect to
2:07:20that. I just think now that we have all
2:07:23that information at our disposal to do
2:07:25it all on the front end now, so we we're
2:07:28not going back.
2:07:30>> Certainly.
2:07:32>> Any other questions?
2:07:33>> Yeah. Hi, Elias.
2:07:34>> Hi.
2:07:35>> Sorry. Did you have something?
2:07:36>> I just last question. Is there any time
2:07:39limit for the installation or
2:07:42>> So, um, this this grant is federally
2:07:45funded, so it's going to be a little bit
2:07:46of a longer process. So, do we have to
2:07:49So, that's why we're going to actually
2:07:50consult and support to help us go
2:07:51through the federal guidelines and
2:07:53requirements.
2:07:54Um, so, we're hoping that we can maybe
2:07:55roll them out in about a year, um,
2:07:57because there's going to be a pretty
2:07:58lengthy process uh, up going through all
2:08:00the federal requirements. Essentially,
2:08:01it's going to slow it down, and
2:08:02obviously, we want to make sure we're
2:08:03taking our time and not rushing where
2:08:04they should be going in the community,
2:08:05as well.
2:08:06>> Thank you.
2:08:08>> Elias, um,
2:08:09so, as I understand it, there are three
2:08:11components, right?
2:08:13>> That's correct.
2:08:13>> The the bike parking expansion. Mhm. Um,
2:08:16so, those are the boxes that we see at
2:08:18the like, Grove Street bus station or
2:08:21that at the Danforth Avenue light rail,
2:08:23things like that.
2:08:24>> That's correct.
2:08:25>> Okay. Um, do people I have I don't know
2:08:27how they work. So, if you can just
2:08:28explain to me, do they people pay to
2:08:30park there or how's that work?
2:08:32>> The program is entirely free um for any
2:08:35user. You just have to register ahead of
2:08:36time.
2:08:37Um we want to make sure there's no, you
2:08:39know, barriers to access to protected
2:08:40bike parking facilities. Um so, we have
2:08:43a few different types. As you mentioned,
2:08:44there's like smaller containers such as
2:08:46down at Danforth Light Rail Station or
2:08:47we have the larger stations like at
2:08:49Newport, Grove Street, or in Journal
2:08:51Square PATH Station. Um
2:08:53and yeah, those are access controlled so
2:08:55you have to have like a key card or you
2:08:56have to use the app to get into them.
2:08:57It's entirely free for users.
2:08:59>> Do people register and everything like
2:09:01that to to get access to it?
2:09:03>> That's correct. So, you can register So,
2:09:04you register your bike or your device so
2:09:07that way the company knows uh what your
2:09:08device is. That's how you gain access to
2:09:10it and then they also have an insurance
2:09:11policy. So, say something happens to
2:09:13your device,
2:09:15um it is then insured.
2:09:17>> And who gets to register that? Is it
2:09:19Jersey City residents or it residents
2:09:21required or not not at all?
2:09:23>> It's open to anyone who wants to
2:09:24register.
2:09:25>> And somebody can just do it the day of
2:09:26or they have to be like I think so ride
2:09:29on up and say
2:09:30open up an app and just register on spot
2:09:32and put the bike in there?
2:09:34>> I don't believe you can do it on the
2:09:35spot because it does have to go into
2:09:37their system and they have to approve
2:09:38it, but it is a pretty quick turnaround.
2:09:40>> Okay.
2:09:41And who's responsible for the
2:09:42maintenance of these
2:09:44spaces, these facilities?
2:09:46>> So, currently for those facilities, we
2:09:48have a contract with Oonee.
2:09:50They're our provider who maintain,
2:09:51operate, build, and facilitate those uh
2:09:54um
2:09:55those uh facilities.
2:09:58>> And then and if you could speak to and I
2:09:59apologize if you mentioned it earlier, I
2:10:01was trying to find the resolution. Um
2:10:04the the bike share expansion project,
2:10:06the 1.1 million.
2:10:07>> Mhm.
2:10:07>> And then you just explain that
2:10:09to me. Like what we're doing there.
2:10:12>> Uh so, the intention is to really fill
2:10:14in the gaps in network. Um so, currently
2:10:15there's uh in the Heights, Journal
2:10:17Square, the West Side, and parts of Ward
2:10:19A are underserved. So, we did recently
2:10:20do an expansion so this would be the
2:10:22next phase of that.
2:10:23So the intention is to make sure that
2:10:25everyone has equal access to bike share
2:10:26stations within the city. So
2:10:28we'll go through a rigorous data
2:10:31driven process to identify where these
2:10:32stations should be going and also
2:10:34communicating with the or working with
2:10:35the community to identify the ideal
2:10:37locations for these stations.
2:10:40>> The expansion is the expansion of bike
2:10:41shares stations.
2:10:43>> Bike share stations, that's correct.
2:10:45>> Okay. And you have usage data about all
2:10:48the different areas and so forth around
2:10:49that.
2:10:50>> Yep, so we do have a robust data set
2:10:52from City Bike, who is our current
2:10:54operator.
2:10:55>> And if we could share that with the
2:10:56council to
2:10:57and then you're how are you selecting
2:10:58these stations? I think you were
2:11:00mentioning it already, but if you could
2:11:02just explain it to me.
2:11:03>> Of course.
2:11:04So we use kind of a variety of options.
2:11:06So we want to make sure that we're
2:11:07connecting people to the highest impact,
2:11:10highest desirable locations. So a lot of
2:11:12those tend to be like transit stations,
2:11:14commercial hubs,
2:11:15places where there's, you know, medical
2:11:16offices and things like that. So we
2:11:18kind of identify those as like priority
2:11:21locations and then we make sure there's
2:11:22a certain density of stations. You want
2:11:23to make sure there's always a station
2:11:25within like a 5-minute walk
2:11:27of another station. So that way, if you
2:11:29get to the station and it's empty, you
2:11:30have one that's a 5-minute walk away. Or
2:11:32it's full, you have one that's 5 minutes
2:11:33away. So
2:11:34there's certain areas of the city where
2:11:35we have stations, but there's not
2:11:37enough. So that's where we want to
2:11:38infill and then there's other areas
2:11:39where there's no stations. We want to
2:11:40make sure that we're having that
2:11:42required density so that the system
2:11:43could be as
2:11:45performant as possible.
2:11:47>> Now, are you using Via data to inform
2:11:50where there might be demand for for some
2:11:52of these?
2:11:53Cuz Via has prepared data for us, right?
2:11:55So
2:11:56you know, I'm just thinking about
2:11:59the part of Ward E, the northern part of
2:12:00Ward E,
2:12:03right on the border with Ward D, that
2:12:05Lackawanna area where there's all these
2:12:06new developments popping up. That is
2:12:09considered a transit desert on Via. So I
2:12:12know a lot of people there use Via, but
2:12:14if there was a City Bike station nearby,
2:12:16they might choose to use CitiBike
2:12:17instead.
2:12:19>> 100% Yeah, that's a great data source
2:12:20and we also see that the bike share
2:12:22station in the northwest corner there or
2:12:26corner in downtown actually going to
2:12:28Hoboken Terminal is one of our most
2:12:29popular. So, we can use the CitiBike
2:12:31data and Via data and just, you know,
2:12:32feedback received from the community to
2:12:33make those informed decisions.
2:12:36>> Thank you.
2:12:36>> Mhm.
2:12:37>> Okay. Next one.
2:12:43Thanks, Council President. Um
2:12:45>> I'll take the last one from
2:12:46infrastructure and that is item 10.24,
2:12:49resolution 26706.
2:12:52Um that is uh a resolution to accept an
2:12:55award uh of an expansion of the New York
2:12:58Waterway grant.
2:12:59Um so, for background here, uh the city
2:13:03received a grant to fund and support the
2:13:07Port Liberty ferry service.
2:13:09Um this grant was awarded in 2023
2:13:13um
2:13:14and ran through 2026 through the end of
2:13:16this year using uh COVID dollars um
2:13:19through the DCA. Uh we previously came
2:13:21before the council to get additional
2:13:23funds for this grant to operate uh
2:13:26through the end of the calendar year. Um
2:13:28however, in speaking with DCA, uh they
2:13:30also uh well, I'm sorry. So, the grant,
2:13:32in addition to running the ferry itself,
2:13:34included
2:13:35um operating Via as well as CitiBike
2:13:38expansion to support more people uh
2:13:41being able to access the ferry and
2:13:42transportation services overall from the
2:13:44south side of the city which does not
2:13:46have the historically has not had the
2:13:48same quality of transportation options
2:13:49as other parts of the city.
2:13:51Um so, in speaking with DCA, uh they've
2:13:53advised that there's an additional $5
2:13:56million available that would cover
2:13:58reimbursement for expenses related to
2:14:01Via during the '23 to '26 uh grant
2:14:05period that we'll be able to submit for.
2:14:07Um and so, we actually during this
2:14:09council meeting just got confirmation
2:14:11um from from DCA uh as to all of that.
2:14:15So, that's why this resolution is uh
2:14:17before you to be able to accept those
2:14:18funds.
2:14:19>> Questions.
2:14:21>> The funding will will provide funds for
2:14:23VIA?
2:14:25>> So, this will be reimbursement,
2:14:27additional funds to the existing grant
2:14:29uh for reimbursements of eligible
2:14:31expenses, including past VIA expenses
2:14:34during that period.
2:14:37>> Okay.
2:14:39I look at the right one, 10.24.
2:14:41>> That is 10.24, resolution 26706.
2:14:48Uh the the title of the grant is Port
2:14:50Liberty Ferry, but that grant also
2:14:52included VIA service
2:14:54as it relates to accessing that ferry.
2:14:56>> So, all of the funds will be used for
2:14:57VIA services.
2:14:59>> So, the funds will be used to reimburse
2:15:01the city for past expenses um related to
2:15:04eligible items of that grant, which
2:15:06include the ferry as well as uh VIA
2:15:10service.
2:15:11>> Just to
2:15:15>> Okay. Thank you, Director.
2:15:17>> Thank you.
2:15:21>> Director Smith, HEDC.
2:15:40Good evening, everybody. Um my name's
2:15:43Colleen. I'm the director of uh housing
2:15:45preservation in HEDC,
2:15:47and I'm here to talk about item 10.30,
2:15:50resolution 26712.
2:15:52We are looking to amend the 2026
2:15:56contract with the Waterfront Project um
2:16:00for the Tenant Right to Counsel program,
2:16:02adding $36,757
2:16:06to the awards ceiling.
2:16:10>> Questions 10.30?
2:16:14>> Does that bring their total funding to?
2:16:15>> Um 364,757.
2:16:27>> Questions 10.30?
2:16:32>> This is separate from the funding from
2:16:34the is funding from the Affordable
2:16:36Housing Trust Fund?
2:16:37>> No, no, no. So this is for 2026.
2:16:40Um and so this is funding to kind of
2:16:42finish out this year and then the
2:16:44funding that was secured for the
2:16:45Affordable Housing Trust Fund will begin
2:16:46January 1st.
2:16:48>> Okay, thank you. Yes.
2:16:52>> Okay, thank you.
2:16:53>> Thank you.
2:16:59>> Director Mobin.
2:17:16>> Good evening, Council President and
2:17:17Council members. My name is Mobin Yusuf.
2:17:20I'm the office director of employee
2:17:22relations and workforce management.
2:17:24I'm here to present item number 10.31,
2:17:27resolution 26-713.
2:17:31It is seeking the renewal of our
2:17:32one-year contract with Jersey City
2:17:34Medical Center to perform medical
2:17:36examinations for employees and
2:17:37applicants.
2:17:39The contract amount is $472,924.
2:17:46>> Questions 10.31?
2:17:49>> I could just get the
2:17:51amount of the contract
2:17:53for the past 3 years and the amount
2:17:55expended.
2:17:57>> This is for the year that we're renewing
2:17:59the contract for. The amount is 472,924
2:18:04dollars.
2:18:06>> I don't think you understood the
2:18:08question. He's asking for the
2:18:11previous years as well.
2:18:12>> Got it. Okay.
2:18:14For 2024, we spent 12,625
2:18:18dollars. For 2025, it was 295,184.
2:18:24For 2026, it was 129,766.
2:18:32>> Thank you.
2:18:33This year you're asking for 328.
2:18:37This year you're asking for 328.
2:18:39>> 472,924.
2:18:41>> 4
2:18:43Yeah, 4
2:18:49So
2:18:50Right. So in previous years you may have
2:18:52asked for let's say 500,000 but only
2:18:54spent 250. Is that something like okay?
2:18:57>> All right.
2:18:59>> I'm just going to ask have we are we
2:19:01still in the process of right-sizing
2:19:03contracts or
2:19:04are we
2:19:06at the
2:19:08to the BA.
2:19:12>> So
2:19:13just to be clear, this contract is both
2:19:16to
2:19:17>> [clears throat]
2:19:18>> be able to provide exams, medical exams
2:19:21for people coming into the city, but
2:19:23also fit for duty. So this is a an
2:19:27estimate that we
2:19:29determined may be needed assuming you
2:19:32know historical numbers of folks being
2:19:34hired as well needing to do a fit for
2:19:36duty
2:19:38exam.
2:19:40>> So
2:19:41the the the past expenditure rate
2:19:44doesn't exceed over 280,000 in the last
2:19:473 years. Is that
2:19:49>> The highest we've spent is 295,180
2:19:52>> 95. Excuse me.
2:19:54It was in 300.
2:19:55One year of 12,000 I think you said.
2:19:58>> Yes, but that was only for 1 month since
2:20:00the contract started in November of that
2:20:02year.
2:20:02>> Okay.
2:20:03And then the other year was how much?
2:20:05120?
2:20:07>> For 2025, since it was a full year, it
2:20:10was 295, 184. For 2026, it has [snorts]
2:20:14been 129, 766.
2:20:18>> Yeah.
2:20:18That also went down.
2:20:20>> Correct.
2:20:22So, that would be the contract max. We
2:20:24don't anticipate spending up to that
2:20:27amount, but we are
2:20:29you know, making our best judgment on
2:20:32what that amount would be.
2:20:35>> I have a question as to process. Um, so
2:20:38this contract runs
2:20:40basically, um
2:20:42quarter four plus one month of this
2:20:44year.
2:20:45Um, and so for next year's budget, um,
2:20:49are we
2:20:51we're prorating the cost as of January
2:20:541st, 2027? Would that be a line item
2:20:56within
2:20:58um, HR?
2:21:00>> So, costs are
2:21:02are paid on a whatever basis that we are
2:21:05getting invoices for. So, it's it's
2:21:08budgeted item every year. Um, the
2:21:11contract that we're talking about, that
2:21:13dollar amount is a contract max.
2:21:16So, it doesn't mean that we're going to
2:21:19spend that total amount. It will depend
2:21:21on the invoices and the payments, you
2:21:23know, that we actually use that contract
2:21:25for.
2:21:26>> Got it, but there still has to be this
2:21:27has to be part of a line item for 2027
2:21:31as well, correct?
2:21:33>> Yes, and that wasn't line item for 2026,
2:21:35too. So, we haven't
2:21:37>> Got it.
2:21:38>> gone into the 2027 budget conversation.
2:21:41>> Thank you.
2:21:45>> Okay.
2:21:46>> Thank you.
2:21:50>> Sergeant Woods, Police Department.
2:22:00>> Good evening, Council President and
2:22:02Council members. My name is Jim Woods.
2:22:04I'm here to present on behalf of Public
2:22:05Safety. We have two resolutions. The
2:22:08first one is going to be item number
2:22:1010-17, resolution 26-699.
2:22:15This is a resolution authorizing the
2:22:16City of Jersey City Department of Public
2:22:18Safety to accept a gift from Mr. Joseph
2:22:21Caulfield uh for the City of Jersey City
2:22:23Department of Public Safety uh community
2:22:25outreach. This is $3,000 donation, and
2:22:28this is going to be used to pay back the
2:22:31money that was spent for these senior
2:22:33events. I believe those took place in
2:22:35June of this year.
2:22:38>> How How did we solicit this particular
2:22:39donor?
2:22:41I'm The donor, how did we How did we get
2:22:43his money?
2:22:44>> How we got it via check.
2:22:45>> No, no, I meant why? Why?
2:22:47>> I am not familiar with the the exact
2:22:49circumstances on how either of these two
2:22:51donors came, but they both wanted to
2:22:53make donations. This one and the other
2:22:56one I'm going to speak to uh were
2:22:57earmarked for exactly what they were put
2:22:59towards.
2:23:00>> Have these Is this for the Rockin' with
2:23:03the Seniors?
2:23:04>> Yes, it is.
2:23:04>> Have they These These uh donors have
2:23:07always been the donors for this event?
2:23:09>> I believe they're pretty consistent.
2:23:12>> Is this Joseph Caulfield from K&L
2:23:14Masters Fields Construction?
2:23:16>> I believe it is.
2:23:18>> Building Scholars Village, which
2:23:21Save my comments for Wednesday.
2:23:24>> Second item is going to be agenda item
2:23:2710-18, resolution 26700.
2:23:30This is a resolution authorizing the
2:23:32City of Jersey City to accept a donation
2:23:34of $40,000 from Lord Abbott and Company
2:23:36for the purchase of protective equipment
2:23:38for the Department of Public Safety
2:23:40Police Department. Specifically, this is
2:23:42going to be earmarked for safety
2:23:44equipment, helmets, shields, and vests.
2:23:47And that is in the sum of $40,000.
2:23:51>> Any questions? 10:18.
2:23:54>> Um yes, I I put out a thank you. Um
2:23:58I put out a council information request.
2:24:00Um it was only around noon today, so I
2:24:03understand that um administration will
2:24:06like we need more time, but just wanted
2:24:07to ask here um with this $40,000
2:24:11donation from Lord Abbott, um
2:24:13what what equipment exactly is is going
2:24:16to be purchased? Um and then why is this
2:24:18equipment necessary for the police
2:24:20department? How's it going to be
2:24:21employed? And um I mean, how has similar
2:24:24equipment been used in the past by the
2:24:27department? Um and then without this
2:24:30donation coming in, would JCPD seeking
2:24:33to purchase this kind of equipment
2:24:35anyway?
2:24:36>> Um
2:24:38this is the donation resolution. I'll be
2:24:40back hopefully next meeting with the
2:24:41actual purchase of this, but just to
2:24:43answer the question as you asked.
2:24:45Uh we need to rebuild a lot of our
2:24:48equipment stores. This is just one of
2:24:49our concerns that was put at the top of
2:24:51the list by the chief in the director's
2:24:53office. Um we
2:24:55really do not have a lot of gear to hand
2:24:57out should there be an emergency.
2:24:59Um and this is being used to fill that
2:25:00gap. If we did not get this donation, we
2:25:03would have to put it towards an
2:25:04operational or capital item.
2:25:06>> And um what type of gear are we talking
2:25:08about?
2:25:09>> Uh
2:25:11I wrote here was specifically helmets,
2:25:12shields, although I do believe when I
2:25:14come back for the purchase purchase,
2:25:15it's going to be helmets, shields, and
2:25:17gas masks. Gas masks uh only last a
2:25:20couple of years, and the filters have to
2:25:21be replaced quite frequently, so that's
2:25:23going to be on that purchase order.
2:25:28>> Okay.
2:25:29>> Thank you.
2:25:30>> If I can ask the administration,
2:25:33that they're they're short on equipment,
2:25:35um how are
2:25:37and we're seeking donations for that?
2:25:39Like in terms of our budgeting process
2:25:41for this
2:25:43um
2:25:44are we
2:25:46cutting back in these areas and and or
2:25:49have we reduced our expenditures in
2:25:50these areas or what's the
2:25:54what why are we seeking outside funding
2:25:56for
2:26:00have our number has our supply amount
2:26:03changed increased decreased that our our
2:26:05numbers are decreasing in JCPD so the
2:26:08number of shields vests helmets I would
2:26:12assume would be commensurate with that
2:26:13but
2:26:15>> Um I'm happy to take this question back
2:26:17in terms of how I think what you're
2:26:19getting at is how do we do normal every
2:26:21year budgeting for equipment within
2:26:23public safety is that right? I can go
2:26:26back and ask um or sergeant would come
2:26:28back in
2:26:29>> Just just to clarify so police officers
2:26:31in the Jersey City Police Department
2:26:32required to purchase the majority of all
2:26:34their own equipment that includes their
2:26:35firearm.
2:26:36Uh the police department should be
2:26:38providing some pool equipment that's
2:26:39equipment that's used very sparingly or
2:26:42very expensive like the gas masks that
2:26:44would be used in a disaster riot um
2:26:47public issue those are the pieces of
2:26:49equipment that we're talking about here
2:26:51that is not something that we've
2:26:52required our officers to purchase when
2:26:54they're hired. So the majority of
2:26:56equipment is funded solely by the police
2:26:58officers this equipment is the stuff
2:27:00that we should have on hand for them
2:27:02should the the need arise.
2:27:04>> Okay I have a question how okay what
2:27:08what is the starting rate for police
2:27:10officer?
2:27:11>> $41,000
2:27:13>> So 41?
2:27:14>> Once you graduate the academy and are
2:27:16sworn in $41,000.
2:27:18>> And they have to buy their own
2:27:19equipment.
2:27:19>> That's correct.
2:27:24>> Okay can I ask a question about the gas
2:27:27masks? Um I I understand you know
2:27:29obviously if there were some sort of
2:27:31disaster God forbid you know another
2:27:349/11 or anything like that. Um
2:27:37I understand the need for gas masks, but
2:27:39um I've I've also seen gas masks being
2:27:41used um
2:27:43when tear gas is being deployed, and I
2:27:46just was curious whether Jersey City
2:27:48Police Department um has tear gas and
2:27:52whether they and and when was the last
2:27:54time they used tear gas.
2:27:56>> To my knowledge, we have never used it
2:27:58during my career here. If we ever used
2:28:00it, uh
2:28:01it would take several layers of approval
2:28:03to get that
2:28:05approval. Um
2:28:07we're not expecting to use it.
2:28:09But even if we don't do anything in a
2:28:11riot type situation, the gas mask is
2:28:13there to protect our officers who they
2:28:15have things thrown at them,
2:28:17or the crowd could do something. So,
2:28:18it's not just to preempt our deployment
2:28:21of something, it's just to protect us.
2:28:24>> Okay. Um I'm glad to hear that JCPD
2:28:26doesn't or has never used tear gas. And
2:28:29And so, you you probably don't even have
2:28:31any. You would have to like
2:28:33>> I'd have to check with some people. It's
2:28:34not something that we stock regularly.
2:28:37>> Okay. That's That's a relief to hear cuz
2:28:38I I remember earlier this year there
2:28:40were, you know, people exercising their
2:28:42their constitutional rights at at in
2:28:44protesting at the LaDainian Hall, and
2:28:46they were quite brutally tear gassed.
2:28:48And I just wanted to make sure that that
2:28:49was not something JCPD was planning on
2:28:51doing here.
2:28:53Awesome. Thank you so much.
2:28:54>> Thank you.
2:28:55>> Thank you, Sergeant. Uh Director Woods,
2:28:57thank Commerce.
2:29:07>> Good evening, Council. I have one item
2:29:09for your consideration.
2:29:11It's uh item number 10.10, resolution
2:29:1426-692.
2:29:17It's a resolution concerning renewal of
2:29:19local support for Downtown Flower
2:29:22LLC to operate a Class 5 retail cannabis
2:29:25business located at 141 Newark Avenue.
2:29:29It was the the renewal resolution was
2:29:31approved by the CCB on June 22nd, 2026.
2:29:38>> And it's what you call it
2:29:39>> about the ties of the owner, right? Do
2:29:40we ever get answers to those questions?
2:29:43>> There is the ties to the owner, but also
2:29:45the I mean labor concerns, number of
2:29:48workers,
2:29:49um spoke to spoke at reached out to our
2:29:52council offices about um some pretty
2:29:54egregious labor concerns at Downtown
2:29:57Flower.
2:29:58Um and my recollection is that that's
2:30:00why this was voted down last time. This
2:30:03was voted down
2:30:04or was it just pulled before?
2:30:06>> This was not voted voted down. It was
2:30:08never voted on at all.
2:30:09>> It was just pulled from
2:30:10>> It was pulled.
2:30:11>> agenda.
2:30:11>> And just so the council knows, the uh
2:30:13one of the owners is present tonight
2:30:15along with council.
2:30:16>> Yeah, some specific questions.
2:30:18>> Can I ask legal, what happens in case
2:30:22we
2:30:24if the the
2:30:26dispensary lose their license, what
2:30:29happens?
2:30:30>> Or they close.
2:30:31>> to go to the state?
2:30:35How does it work?
2:30:37>> Yeah, if we don't give a resolution of
2:30:39local support, the state would not renew
2:30:41their license.
2:30:42>> State would not do because Okay.
2:30:45But
2:30:47do you think we can ask community to
2:30:49come and talk in favor or against so we
2:30:51know, like last time what happened?
2:30:54Uh my understanding was I think one
2:30:56person one worker came out and shared
2:31:00that
2:31:01you certain things we did not
2:31:04you were not comfortable of
2:31:05>> This must be there We've We've never
2:31:08received any formal complaints from any
2:31:10employees. And CCB actually approved
2:31:13this
2:31:14>> So
2:31:14>> resolution unanimously.
2:31:16>> And just so we're clear, council, I mean
2:31:18the the public is they do have an
2:31:20opportunity to speak at the council
2:31:22meeting. That's That's their forum.
2:31:24>> to Thank you. That's what I wanted to
2:31:25say. I think we should give opportunity
2:31:27to public to come out to speak against
2:31:31or for the dispensary so that we know
2:31:33that what's going on.
2:31:35>> Um so this is something that I I believe
2:31:38um I I
2:31:40I you know, I'm hearing that your office
2:31:42has not received community complaints,
2:31:45but um my office and Councilman Efros
2:31:47has
2:31:48received community complaints. So
2:31:51um
2:31:53you know, I I think
2:31:55sometimes people don't know, you know,
2:31:57whether to reach out to to the
2:31:59department or the agency or their
2:32:01council members. So I just
2:32:04I I think I would I would be happy to
2:32:06forward the emails to any any of my
2:32:08council colleagues if if that's
2:32:11um if you would like to see them with
2:32:12your own eyes.
2:32:14>> So I'll ask the council people who have
2:32:16received those complaints to as
2:32:18Councilwoman Little said, forward those
2:32:20to the council. The council uh the
2:32:24public does have a public forum as is
2:32:26every council meeting. If they would
2:32:28like to come out um and speak for or
2:32:30against
2:32:31um this resolution and the council as
2:32:36with the other cannabis resolutions,
2:32:39um Lisa correct me if I'm wrong, needs
2:32:41to give their opinion of why they're
2:32:42voting up or down at that meeting. And
2:32:45you can feel free to base it off of what
2:32:47you received or
2:32:50you know, etc.
2:32:52>> That is correct. I just want to clarify
2:32:54for the council that this is not the
2:32:56same establishment that was pulled from
2:32:58the last agenda. That was a cannabis
2:33:01place. This is Downtown Flower. So the
2:33:05one that was pulled after some uh public
2:33:10comments by one of the union members,
2:33:12this is not the same establishment. Just
2:33:15just for clarification.
2:33:16>> This was pulled at an earlier meeting.
2:33:18>> Correct.
2:33:20>> Not the last meeting, but this is pulled
2:33:21out in an early meeting.
2:33:23>> Right.
2:33:26>> And we'll be taking that vote
2:33:27individually.
2:33:29>> Outside of the comments or complaints
2:33:32that may have come in to the other
2:33:34council members,
2:33:35is the applicant in compliance with
2:33:38all other
2:33:40>> Yes.
2:33:40>> items?
2:33:41>> All their taxes have been paid.
2:33:43Even the renewal fee has been paid, but
2:33:45we're holding the municipal license at
2:33:47this time.
2:33:48>> Are all taxes
2:33:50>> Renewal taxes are not something that we
2:33:52look at directly.
2:33:54>> Is that something we can look at just to
2:33:55see if
2:33:57>> Sure.
2:33:57>> compliance there. Thanks.
2:33:59>> You know, um, if you do know, I guess to
2:34:02the BIA, what is the proper chain to
2:34:06levy a complaint as it relates to
2:34:09an establishment like, I mean, is it
2:34:11like
2:34:14Does I mean, I hear the concerns of the
2:34:16council people, um, but then I also in
2:34:20hearing that the Commerce Department is
2:34:22not privy to this, is this something
2:34:25that they need to be privy to? Like, how
2:34:27does those complaints get levied?
2:34:30Is what what is the process? Do we have
2:34:32a process?
2:34:33>> It was actually communicated after, um,
2:34:36it the application for an old went in
2:34:39front of the CCB. So, there was a
2:34:41already a renewal resolution approved by
2:34:43the CCB, and I believe the licensee
2:34:45submitted that to the state.
2:34:48We don't have a copy of the state's uh,
2:34:50license, but
2:34:51>> No, no, um, I'm
2:34:52>> No, I I think your question is how do
2:34:54you we field complaints from the
2:34:56community of our cannabis businesses?
2:34:59>> That would have been presented to the
2:35:01CCB at the time, but we weren't aware of
2:35:03that.
2:35:04>> No, even for the renewals?
2:35:06>> At the time of renewal, cuz normally,
2:35:09uh, it goes in front of the CCB
2:35:11approximately 3 months before the
2:35:13renewal renewal date. Um,
2:35:15so, at that time, we were not aware.
2:35:17>> So, Director, if we do get a constituent
2:35:20complaint about a about a specific
2:35:22cannabis establishment, would you like
2:35:24us to forward it to you just so you have
2:35:25it?
2:35:25>> Absolutely.
2:35:26>> Okay.
2:35:27>> That's based on where able to
2:35:28communicate when they're going in front
2:35:29of the CCB.
2:35:31>> Yes. Okay.
2:35:34>> Okay.
2:35:35Thank you, Director.
2:35:36>> Thank you.
2:35:38>> Isaac Smith, Mayor's Office.
2:35:48>> Hello, Council. Council President. Um
2:35:50I'm here to talk about um 10. 10.2 10.2
2:35:54which is the um
2:35:55I spoke to you all about it. A um
2:35:57MOU the city has come to come to with
2:36:00the Department of the Treasury Division
2:36:02of Taxation at the state level for
2:36:04information sharing regarding payroll
2:36:06tax data.
2:36:08Basically
2:36:10even though the state gave us the
2:36:11ability to collect payroll tax in 2018,
2:36:13they did not give us the information
2:36:15necessary to do so. The state does not
2:36:17collect
2:36:18employer employer employee or any
2:36:20payroll data or information.
2:36:22This early this year
2:36:25we had gotten a
2:36:26state law change allowing the Division
2:36:28of Taxation to give us that information.
2:36:30We then worked on an MOU with them and
2:36:32the AG's office going through a lot of
2:36:34details where they will basically share
2:36:36with us payroll and employee data
2:36:39quarterly on the active businesses in
2:36:41the city. So, they'll have a real list
2:36:42of the active businesses, a general idea
2:36:44of you know their actual uh numbers so
2:36:47that we regardless of LLCs or different
2:36:50titles, we'll know the actual name of
2:36:51the business and the actual
2:36:52identification of the business, number
2:36:54of employees, etc. So, that we can
2:36:55actually compare what information we get
2:36:57in versus the actual data that the state
2:36:59has.
2:37:01>> Questions? 10.2?
2:37:04>> Yes.
2:37:04>> So, how much uh city has collected as of
2:37:07now?
2:37:08>> I believe we've collected 70 We're in
2:37:11it's in the 70s. 70 It's in the 70s. 74,
2:37:1375, 76 It's in that we can't remember.
2:37:15>> million
2:37:16>> Millions, of course, for this year. Yes.
2:37:18No, we have not collected $75. That'd be
2:37:20a slight
2:37:22So,
2:37:22>> What what's what is the estimate? How
2:37:24much we are going to collect this year?
2:37:27>> It's very hard to know because these
2:37:28things fluctuate. Last year we collected
2:37:3084, so we're on track to collect more
2:37:31than that. We'll have to see. It depends
2:37:34on the people's payrolls change, the
2:37:35economy changes, so that's the number
2:37:37that really affects the number that we
2:37:38collect. So, we'll have to see.
2:37:39>> Can you help him on the mic?
2:37:40>> Isaac.
2:37:41>> Yes. We are on track to collect more.
2:37:43We're at 70 We're in the 70s. Last year
2:37:45we collected 84 by the end of the year.
2:37:48It's just an issue of payroll changes,
2:37:50the economy changes, number of employees
2:37:52in the city change, people, you know,
2:37:54businesses open, businesses close. So,
2:37:56we're it's very hard to track exactly.
2:37:58>> Okay.
2:37:58>> We are aiming We are on track to collect
2:38:00higher this year.
2:38:02>> Are we involving more city employees or
2:38:05what is the strategy?
2:38:06>> moved
2:38:07um employees into the tax collector's
2:38:09office specific to work on this matter.
2:38:10I mean, issued from other divisions,
2:38:12yes. Uh notably, some of the
2:38:15the staff that were directly involved in
2:38:17this from the internal audit division
2:38:20have been moved into the tax collector's
2:38:21office where they're more They actually
2:38:23have the proper equipment and the proper
2:38:25uh information to really do their job on
2:38:27this issue.
2:38:29>> Good, Isaac.
2:38:31>> So, Isaac um
2:38:33the administration recently announced
2:38:35that
2:38:36they're collecting more money with the
2:38:37the and registered more businesses. Um I
2:38:40assume that's pre this
2:38:43this information?
2:38:44>> Yes. A lot of that came from the the
2:38:46ordinance that was passed by the last
2:38:48council, Councilman Solomon's ordinance
2:38:50that basically required contractors to
2:38:53be registered with the payroll tax
2:38:54before they can get their permits. So, a
2:38:56lot of the businesses that registered
2:38:57this year were actually contractors
2:38:58based off of that. This would allow us
2:39:01to even more effectively compare
2:39:03basically give us a real idea of who is
2:39:05not registered and compare and audit
2:39:08what people give us.
2:39:10>> You said you have you don't have an idea
2:39:12or estimate of how many more new
2:39:13businesses you'll register as a result.
2:39:16>> It's hard to know because we don't
2:39:17actually know how many businesses exist
2:39:18in the city of Oakland.
2:39:20>> Then you estimated or the administration
2:39:23estimated that it was something like
2:39:24$690,000
2:39:26more collected and over 2,000 some
2:39:29businesses um
2:39:32is that over a certain period of time?
2:39:35That that
2:39:36>> That's throughout this whole year,
2:39:37Councilman. So some people registered in
2:39:39September, some people registered in
2:39:40January, different amounts, different
2:39:42It's all over the place, but that's
2:39:44since January.
2:39:45>> Okay. If we could get um and not time
2:39:48sensitive for this
2:39:50this vote um you got the vote. It's
2:39:52fine. Um I just want to know what the
2:39:55what the number of businesses are
2:39:57registered um as a baseline as we could
2:40:00look at the past
2:40:023 years.
2:40:03Uh so 2 4 years 26 and then 3 years
2:40:06previous.
2:40:07Um and then uh and the amount of money
2:40:10uh payroll tax revenue we've collected
2:40:12over that time.
2:40:13The
2:40:14>> I will try to get that information. The
2:40:16second question is a lot easier than the
2:40:17first just because of the systems and a
2:40:19lot of businesses. So for example, a
2:40:21simple thing
2:40:23the problems we currently have That's
2:40:24where we need the FEI numbers. Is a
2:40:26business
2:40:27apply uh
2:40:28registered in 2022 with a name and they
2:40:31registered in 2023 with a slightly
2:40:33different version of the same name or
2:40:34abbreviation. Got to cure and go through
2:40:36those things and make sure they're
2:40:37correct. So
2:40:39>> And one last question for me. How often
2:40:41do we collect uh
2:40:43like property taxes are quarterly? How
2:40:44often do we do payroll? Payroll taxes
2:40:47>> Let me I believe they are also
2:40:49quarterly. Let me confirm that, but I
2:40:50believe they are also quarterly.
2:40:52>> Confirm it with Shawn as he He's the
2:40:53head of all this or
2:40:54>> Shawn, but Ernie Borja has been more um
2:40:57because he's head of special tax. So
2:40:59he's So Shawn should know, but I can
2:41:00talk to Ernie. He be able to get me that
2:41:02answer. Okay.
2:41:03Thanks.
2:41:06>> Thank you.
2:41:08>> Just for the record, they mean Shawn the
2:41:10tax collector, not Shawn the clerk.
2:41:13>> I I think we got that, Shawn.
2:41:15>> [laughter]
2:41:17>> Uh Director Dublin, DPW.
2:41:24Good evening, Council President and
2:41:26Council members. I have three items.
2:41:28Ordinance 26-085,
2:41:32the final adoption of the $200,000
2:41:35um
2:41:36to buy
2:41:37snow removal equipment.
2:41:39>> Oh, the unit ordinance.
2:41:41>> Item number 4.5.
2:41:43I'm sorry.
2:41:44>> Any questions?
2:41:46>> You uh you said that's for smaller
2:41:48>> That yes, that's for the small um snow
2:41:50removal equipment that will be able to
2:41:51do narrow streets, um places that have
2:41:54the outdoor dining as well as bike
2:41:56lanes.
2:41:58>> Thank you.
2:41:58I had asked for the balance for the
2:42:00capital fund balance.
2:42:02I don't know if we we got that ready.
2:42:04Did we get that?
2:42:08>> Sorry, say that one more time.
2:42:10>> Balance of the capital fund balance.
2:42:12>> The surplus.
2:42:13Um
2:42:14Did that come through council info
2:42:15request?
2:42:17We can we can address that. Yeah.
2:42:19>> Thanks.
2:42:22>> Next one, Director.
2:42:24>> The resolution 10.7, resolution
2:42:26authorizing the payment of claims
2:42:28submitted by Johnson Control Fire
2:42:31providing inspections, contracts for
2:42:33fire protection at our city buildings.
2:42:36>> Questions, 10.7.
2:42:41Next is
2:42:42>> Excuse me.
2:42:43Why was the work performed without the
2:42:45contract?
2:42:48>> For Johnson Controls?
2:42:49>> Yeah.
2:42:49>> This was for April of 2024 through, I'm
2:42:53sorry, April 24th, 2025 through July
2:42:5622nd, 2026.
2:42:58Um, fiscal reviewed all of the invoices
2:43:02and at this point that was when the
2:43:05contract had expired and we did not
2:43:06renew. So, these items still had to be
2:43:08inspected, which is our fire alarms,
2:43:11um,
2:43:12as well as,
2:43:14uh,
2:43:16ex- uh, fire extinguishers for all of
2:43:18our city buildings.
2:43:20>> Thank you, Director Dublin.
2:43:21>> We're in the process of renewing, but we
2:43:23had gaps.
2:43:24And the total amount is $60,150.02.
2:43:31>> Next one.
2:43:31>> Yep. The next one is resolution
2:43:35Sorry.
2:43:36>> 10.15
2:43:38>> 10.15 [clears throat]
2:43:39and that is a resolution rejecting all
2:43:40bids received for the municipal court
2:43:43HVAC replacement, um, project.
2:43:48>> Questions on 10.15?
2:43:51>> All right, just a question. Go back to,
2:43:53uh, 4.5. When what, um,
2:43:56Director, what when do we start buying
2:43:57salt for the winter?
2:44:00>> We are We are, um, all of our salt domes
2:44:02are at this moment filled to the top.
2:44:04We're at capacity.
2:44:05>> Okay.
2:44:06>> So, we're we're good with salt to start
2:44:08this, um, winter. Um, once they get to a
2:44:11certain level, I'm not quite sure the
2:44:13exact level that is and we will reorder
2:44:15again. But, we are completely capped.
2:44:17>> And thank you. And, uh, Lisa, um, one of
2:44:20the questions I had asked over the
2:44:21several months ago was the status of our
2:44:24um, refund from
2:44:26Let me get it wrong. Was it Morton Salt
2:44:27or Atlantic Salt? Whichever one we're
2:44:29suing, I
2:44:30the other one I I I don't mean to impugn
2:44:31your your work. Uh, Morton Salt. Do do
2:44:34we have an update on on the refund?
2:44:35>> I do not have an update as of yet, um,
2:44:38but if you put in your request, I'm
2:44:39pretty sure Director Libby can respond
2:44:41to you, um, as soon as we got it.
2:44:43>> so, she's on it.
2:44:45>> We've been in active discussions with
2:44:47Morton Salt and they have agreed in
2:44:50principle to repaying the city. We are
2:44:53just finalizing the amount through our
2:44:55invoices, but that should get resolved.
2:44:59Hopefully soon, but they we have had
2:45:02active discussions with them.
2:45:03>> Thank you.
2:45:04>> Thank you. We do not want to be paid in
2:45:06salt.
2:45:08What we're talking about 10.15, right?
2:45:12>> Sorry, say that again.
2:45:12>> Yeah, you can go to 10.15.
2:45:15>> Um so so why are we rejecting? I'm
2:45:17sorry, I missed it.
2:45:18>> And now we are working with the
2:45:20Department of Infrastructure to shorten
2:45:21the um scope of work.
2:45:25>> The scope of work that was
2:45:26>> Yes, they needed to re they needed to re
2:45:29um redo the scope of work. There were
2:45:31some missing items on there once we got
2:45:33received the bids and now we're working
2:45:35with Director Kaplan and his team to uh
2:45:38go over the entire
2:45:40uh RFP for HVAC.
2:45:42For the municipal court.
2:45:44>> Yeah.
2:45:46>> Higher. It came in a lot higher all the
2:45:48bids than we had budgeted for. So, we
2:45:51are taking a look at the specs again,
2:45:53putting out the proposal to ensure that
2:45:55we have it accurately specked out so we
2:45:58can match what we had budgeted for for
2:46:01that project.
2:46:03>> How much do we budget for?
2:46:05>> Um I can double-check. Do you have that?
2:46:08>> No, I don't have the budgeted for. I
2:46:09have what we received in bids. The range
2:46:11was between 1.1 and 2. Um I'm sorry, 100
2:46:15100
2:46:17157 and 200 200 265.
2:46:20>> I think it was below a million.
2:46:23It's what we budgeted, but I can I can
2:46:24circle back on it. It was capital
2:46:27project that we
2:46:28>> Capital, yeah.
2:46:29>> Yeah.
2:46:29>> Do we have the authority rather than
2:46:32reject a bid to to re- negotiate with
2:46:34the lowest bidder
2:46:36in these instances? We have legal
2:46:37authority to
2:46:41>> If we have to go back and take a look
2:46:42>> so, um Councilman. I believe this is the
2:46:44first bid that's gone out and we have to
2:46:46reject the bid, go back out to bid. I
2:46:48believe once you go back out to bid a
2:46:50second time then you can come back and
2:46:52then you can enter into negotiation. As
2:46:54of right now, we must go back out to
2:46:55bid.
2:46:57>> If it's if it's
2:46:59like to know what the
2:47:01amount budgeted for.
2:47:03And
2:47:04>> I can I can go back and ask for that if
2:47:07you put it in through the
2:47:08request. I'm sure we can provide you
2:47:10that.
2:47:11I'll make a note of it as well.
2:47:14>> And just a thought is that um
2:47:17um
2:47:18can we use
2:47:20CDBG funds?
2:47:22>> [laughter]
2:47:25>> um
2:47:26here and and even though it may come in
2:47:29over bid if it wasn't tremendously over
2:47:30bid, um we do again need to expend these
2:47:33dollars.
2:47:34>> This project would need to be completed
2:47:36by the end of the year.
2:47:38>> Completed.
2:47:39Not not spent.
2:47:42>> Spending would be completing the
2:47:43project.
2:47:48>> Okay.
2:47:52>> Okay. Thank you, Director.
2:47:54>> Thank you very much. Good evening.
2:47:59>> Uh Vishnu
2:48:02Kemraj acting uh Chief Prosecutor.
2:48:08>> Good afternoon Council President and
2:48:09Council members. Um on here on
2:48:13agenda item 10.21 resolution 26703.
2:48:19It's a resolution approving the
2:48:20appointment of Sung Hun Cho
2:48:23uh as an assistant municipal prosecutor
2:48:26for the municipal prosecutor's office.
2:48:30>> Questions?
2:48:31>> Uh in what capacity will this this
2:48:33individual be serving? Which courtroom?
2:48:36>> It it will be fluid. We don't
2:48:39We regularly change our assignments.
2:48:43Um we want everyone to be skilled and
2:48:44adept at handling any
2:48:47court session. So right now
2:48:50we have a fluid schedule.
2:48:52>> I'm told that from the courts that the
2:48:54only backlog is in housing though. Do
2:48:56you do you have an answer to to respond
2:48:58to the housing case backlogs case
2:49:00backlogs?
2:49:01>> Yes, that's my understanding based on my
2:49:05discussions with the chief judge.
2:49:09We have made some suggestions to the
2:49:11court administration on attacking that.
2:49:14Obviously we're limited on some
2:49:15personnel
2:49:17and one of them hopefully will be hiring
2:49:20of additional prosecutors to aid in that
2:49:22backlog.
2:49:23>> All right, this question for the
2:49:24administration. I know when during the
2:49:26budget process Mayor Solomon
2:49:28referenced a no non-essential hiring
2:49:32of new employees.
2:49:34Also given the
2:49:38analysis we received from our outgoing
2:49:40corporation council on the law
2:49:43department
2:49:46was there any consideration given to
2:49:49the allocation of resources and and our
2:49:51hiring? I thought that the municipal
2:49:53prosecutor doesn't need more staff. I
2:49:54understand he does and the office does.
2:49:57But but it it looks to be that our law
2:49:59department is woefully understaffed as
2:50:01well.
2:50:05>> I can't speak to the hiring of the
2:50:07assistant municipal prosecutor, but I do
2:50:09know that there are several job postings
2:50:12currently on the website to recruit and
2:50:15hire additional attorneys for the law
2:50:18department.
2:50:19>> And I'm also aware of other job listings
2:50:22for city
2:50:24employment.
2:50:26Should we understand then that there is
2:50:30not a hiring freeze on non-essential
2:50:32employees?
2:50:37>> All of those positions are critical
2:50:39positions. That is why we put them up
2:50:41for posting.
2:50:43This includes the um folks that council
2:50:47uh put back in our budget. And that is
2:50:50why we had to you know, put up new
2:50:53postings and also recent staff who have
2:50:56left that are critical positions.
2:51:00>> And critical but not essential, right?
2:51:03So we we we had this conversation during
2:51:05the budget hearings. I just want to make
2:51:06sure we're on the same page.
2:51:07Critical staff mean they're important to
2:51:09the city's functioning, but they're not
2:51:10essential employees under the law.
2:51:14>> Correct.
2:51:15>> And uh the salary would be for the Would
2:51:18this was Was this the $120,000 that was
2:51:20listed in the budget for your office?
2:51:22>> No, this hire was actually it's going to
2:51:24be the minimal.
2:51:25Uh
2:51:2688,000.
2:51:27>> I'm sorry?
2:51:28>> 88,000.
2:51:31>> Okay.
2:51:33>> Um my question is just the residency of
2:51:35this individual.
2:51:36>> Uh he's a New Jersey resident.
2:51:38>> He's a what?
2:51:39>> New Jersey resident.
2:51:40>> Not a Jersey City resident.
2:51:42>> He's not a Jersey City resident.
2:51:44It's not a requirement for uh assistant
2:51:46municipal prosecutors. Those uh Those
2:51:48are generally, I think, uh in chapter 53
2:51:52of the municipal ordinance designated to
2:51:54specific personnel.
2:51:58>> Any other questions?
2:52:01Thank you.
2:52:02>> Thank you.
2:52:06>> Okay, Sean. Take it from the top.
2:52:11>> I see Laura out there. Are you listed?
2:52:16>> No.
2:52:16>> Oh, okay.
2:52:21Nice.
2:52:23I guess she wants to see her clerk at
2:52:25what? All right.
2:52:27Uh first reading ordinances item 3.1 and
2:52:293.2 were touched on earlier. Item 3.3
2:52:32City Ordinance 26-088
2:52:35is an ordinance amending and
2:52:36supplementing chapter A350 A350
2:52:40rules of order of the Jersey City
2:52:42Municipal Code to establish a standing
2:52:44finance committee for the Municipal
2:52:45Council.
2:52:47>> Okay, Shawn, I submitted that one. Um I
2:52:49don't have my laptop right in front of
2:52:51me. I'm going to ask our Council
2:52:53Legislative Advisor to back me up in
2:52:56case we have any questions, but um
2:52:59the
2:53:01establishing a finance committee is
2:53:02something that the Council
2:53:04um has discussed, especially given the
2:53:06recent
2:53:08affairs of our financial standing in the
2:53:10city. Uh we believe it'll be a good
2:53:12idea. In addition to that, it is a
2:53:15suggestion coming from the state DCA
2:53:18that we establish one uh to make
2:53:20processes smoother with our budgets for
2:53:24next year. Um it is also something that
2:53:28other councils have throughout the
2:53:30state. So, they suggested that we uh
2:53:33move forward with that, and I'll uh turn
2:53:35it over to our
2:53:37legislative advisor for the Council,
2:53:40Calvin.
2:53:42>> Thank you uh Chairwoman. Uh my name is
2:53:44Calvin Sauder, your legislative advisor.
2:53:46Um
2:53:47the the finance committee was put
2:53:50together so that we could
2:53:53one, be more efficient in these
2:53:55meetings, but to ensure that the City
2:53:57Council as a whole is able to ask the
2:53:59questions in a timely manner,
2:54:01uh and move things forward with the
2:54:03transparency
2:54:05uh that you all require and desire. So,
2:54:08what has happened here is we put
2:54:10together an ordinance where
2:54:13we would have a regular forum to examine
2:54:16the city's finances. Uh this is not
2:54:19in reference to redevelopment agreements
2:54:21or pilots, but this is more associated
2:54:24with the budget directly. So, many of
2:54:26the questions that were asked tonight
2:54:29would be answered in those committees
2:54:32and hopefully we would be able to get
2:54:33you more information from the
2:54:35administration prior to you coming to a
2:54:38caucus meeting or to a council meeting.
2:54:41The
2:54:43The finance committee would be limited
2:54:45to operating in capital budgets,
2:54:49revenue forecast that city's cash
2:54:52position grants, revenue forecast,
2:54:56fiscal reporting and audit follow-ups.
2:54:59So
2:55:01A good question was asked earlier about
2:55:03the use of CDBG funding. That would be
2:55:06something that the finance committee
2:55:08would be looking at whether or not those
2:55:10funds would be appropriately spent on a
2:55:13particular item or some other item. What
2:55:16the finance committee really allows us
2:55:18to do is to make those timely decisions
2:55:21as well as get answers to questions such
2:55:24that the public knows that you have all
2:55:27of the information prior to being asked
2:55:29for approval.
2:55:31>> As it as it relates to the committee,
2:55:35how many council members will be able to
2:55:38sit on a committee?
2:55:40>> Three council members. We recommended a
2:55:42council committee of three.
2:55:45>> Oh.
2:55:46So
2:55:47Okay, so
2:55:49with that being said, can subcommittees
2:55:51be
2:55:53created under this resolution?
2:55:55Like for instance
2:55:58public safety and
2:56:00DPW or
2:56:02you know
2:56:04like these subcommittees.
2:56:06>> I think we will lose specific
2:56:08departments.
2:56:09Different committees.
2:56:11On this committee it would be focused
2:56:13specifically on the budget. So some of
2:56:14those things would come up. So the
2:56:17police budget, that might be something
2:56:19that would come up uh in in terms of the
2:56:22overall city budget.
2:56:25>> Right.
2:56:25>> No no, right right, but I'm saying like
2:56:27under the budget can
2:56:29We have the finance committee, right?
2:56:31>> Right.
2:56:32>> Which is overall, but then under it we
2:56:34have three more council people
2:56:37with a subcommittee with like two or
2:56:39three departments.
2:56:40And then the chair of the subcommittee
2:56:45would
2:56:46speak with and and and and
2:56:49give suggestions to the chair of the
2:56:51finance committee to where they can talk
2:56:52about it. Because the thing is every
2:56:55count every council person is is vested
2:56:58um in the budget.
2:57:00Um and and and we're we're vested in
2:57:03transparency. So, you know, with with
2:57:05just three
2:57:08I think with just three council people
2:57:10um
2:57:13I just don't want anything to get lost
2:57:14in translation.
2:57:16>> I I understood.
2:57:17>> The the council is still responsible for
2:57:19the budget. Having the finance committee
2:57:21doesn't take any uh responsibilities
2:57:23away from any council person. Uh but
2:57:26what it helps us do is kind of narrow
2:57:28the scope for the budget.
2:57:30Um
2:57:31which is what we really needed to do
2:57:33this year. So, as you all know, we all
2:57:37can't be on the committee or we all
2:57:39can't meet together
2:57:41um as it's against the rules um unless
2:57:45it's a additional standard meeting. So,
2:57:48I my suggestion, and we can take this
2:57:51back and discuss it, would be to also
2:57:53have a alternates possibly. So, have the
2:57:56three standing committee members and
2:57:58have maybe two other
2:58:00um council members that can serve as
2:58:01alternates cuz I know there's a lot of
2:58:03council people interested in getting
2:58:05involved in the finances, but the
2:58:07finance committee would not be a
2:58:11committee that um
2:58:13oversteps the council as a whole. It
2:58:15doesn't supersede your rights as a the
2:58:17council person.
2:58:18>> So it would just So the committee would
2:58:20just be made up of council members. Is
2:58:23there anybody from the administration or
2:58:25anything else? So there'd just be three
2:58:27council members.
2:58:28>> Not as currently situated. I will note,
2:58:32however, that this being a new committee
2:58:34the committee would still be charged
2:58:36with creating bylaws. So the functioning
2:58:38and how you communicate to the rest of
2:58:40the council and things of that nature
2:58:42still need to be established. Right now
2:58:44we're asking to establish just a
2:58:46committee which would be responsible for
2:58:48the ongoing dialogue in reference to the
2:58:50budget. So rather than having a
2:58:53conversation once a year around and in a
2:58:56very constrained amount of time, this
2:58:58would allow you from council meeting to
2:59:01council meeting ask the questions of how
2:59:03a particular item may affect the fund
2:59:06balance. Would ask the question around
2:59:08You know, we had a very long
2:59:09conversation
2:59:11several over months about CDBG funding
2:59:15and trying to understand CDBG funding.
2:59:17This would be a forum for the council
2:59:19members to be able to ask those
2:59:20questions, get all of the information
2:59:22they need and it'd be an ongoing
2:59:23conversation and not limited to one
2:59:25meeting.
2:59:26>> Okay. I just think in light of
2:59:29council person Skillmore
2:59:31expertise from Rutgers University, I
2:59:33think he should
2:59:35on that committee.
2:59:37I nominate
2:59:38>> That is not under my purview.
2:59:40I believe that would be with
2:59:42>> But I'm going to request council resumes
2:59:44at this point.
2:59:46>> Okay. Fair enough.
2:59:47>> Question.
2:59:48Um
2:59:49Question on this. I I appreciate Yeah,
2:59:52wanting to make sure that we are like
2:59:54well equipped as a city council to
2:59:55tackle next year's budget and all those
2:59:58after.
2:59:59Um
3:00:00Just a question on the jurisdiction.
3:00:04The very first part is Finance Committee
3:00:06shall have jurisdiction over the
3:00:07following matters and no others. Number
3:00:08one is the annual operating budget and
3:00:11any amendments.
3:00:13Um
3:00:14If in the budget process
3:00:17council person who does not sit on the
3:00:18finance committee has an amendment
3:00:22the amendment would then need to be
3:00:23approved by the finance committee to be
3:00:26able to be introduced or to be able to
3:00:28go on the agenda for a
3:00:30>> No, not at all. So, the finance
3:00:32committee does not seek to in any which
3:00:35way limit the powers of any individual
3:00:37or collective group of council members.
3:00:40You will still have every power that the
3:00:42law
3:00:43provides to you.
3:00:45Uh this is just a forum to be able to to
3:00:47provide information, have uh
3:00:51elongated dialogue on a particular issue
3:00:54or issues. Right? So, the CDBG funding,
3:00:57it came up again tonight on how it can
3:00:59be used. So, I know there was a a memo
3:01:02circulated around that, but in
3:01:03practicality, there's going to need to
3:01:05be more discussion around how those
3:01:07funds are deployed. And I think from the
3:01:09council's perspective to have a small
3:01:11group to be able to to speak to who is
3:01:14speaking directly to the administration
3:01:16and saying, "How did you come to the the
3:01:19way in which you're using your CDBG CDBG
3:01:22dollars? Or why is this coming from the
3:01:26the capital budget versus CDBG dollars?"
3:01:30You can have that conversation. It could
3:01:31be a fluid conversation and not one that
3:01:34necessarily needs to be on the record at
3:01:36a council meeting or a caucus meeting.
3:01:38Not that it takes away from your ability
3:01:40to have the the conversation on the
3:01:42record. It just adds additional dialogue
3:01:45so that you are well prepared and
3:01:46equipped to make decisions.
3:01:49>> I I appreciate that. Yeah, I think the
3:01:51language of shall have jurisdiction over
3:01:54was kind of tripped me up cuz I that as
3:01:56>> Legally, we we we can play with it and
3:01:59and make it more comfortable for you,
3:02:01but the intention is to ensure that
3:02:03everyone realizes that your individual
3:02:05powers as a council member
3:02:07are not usurped by this committee.
3:02:10>> And I think it also assists with what we
3:02:12ran into this year with the budget where
3:02:14we had multiple amendments and then had
3:02:16to kind of regroup. So, at least we have
3:02:19a set group now that
3:02:21can assist in that regrouping of taking
3:02:23everyone's ideas, looking at it a little
3:02:26further
3:02:27because next year we're going to have to
3:02:28do the same thing in submitting one
3:02:30united amendment.
3:02:32>> I will just note in addition that you
3:02:35are responsible given the DCA's
3:02:38requirements with the loan to have some
3:02:41review, some some oversight that takes
3:02:43place.
3:02:44So, you want to make sure that the audit
3:02:47that come up and things you know what is
3:02:48happening and as DCA looks they know
3:02:51that you're having an ongoing dialogue.
3:02:53So, it doesn't necessarily need to
3:02:54happen on the record, but you want to be
3:02:56able to tell DCA that there's an ongoing
3:02:58dialogue with the city council or I
3:03:00should say between the city council and
3:03:02the administration on how funds are
3:03:04being spent to ensure that everything is
3:03:07the way it should.
3:03:09>> Will this committee have the authority
3:03:11and if not does the full council have
3:03:12the authority to call in
3:03:15members of the administration for budget
3:03:17hearings earlier than
3:03:19the routine hearings we would have
3:03:21towards the middle or end of
3:03:23tail end of next year. It's been The
3:03:26reason I ask is because it's been
3:03:27suggested that our budget deficit next
3:03:29year is
3:03:31larger than any of us are comfortable
3:03:32with.
3:03:33And if we don't start budgeting budget
3:03:35practices now for early next year
3:03:38it's going to be too late. So, so I
3:03:40envision this committee or at least this
3:03:41council getting more involved early on
3:03:44and if not I'll either either for this
3:03:46I'll walk try to walk on a reso or for
3:03:48the next meeting encourage the
3:03:49administration to do budget hearings at
3:03:51the end of this year
3:03:52or the beginning of next year.
3:03:55>> So, the the committee doesn't require
3:04:00the administration to have someone
3:04:01available to you
3:04:03all the time. You would still do your
3:04:05your typical request to the
3:04:08administration, but the thought process
3:04:10is that the administration will
3:04:12hopefully willingly give provide someone
3:04:16to you because you have the authority to
3:04:18ask the questions as is. This would be a
3:04:20forum for the administration to provide
3:04:22it to you
3:04:24in a more organized fashion
3:04:27in a way for folks to be able to do
3:04:28their homework, provide you with the
3:04:30information before you sit here today.
3:04:32So in theory,
3:04:34the administration should be encouraged
3:04:36to have those conversations with you
3:04:38prior to any budget meetings. And
3:04:41we really want an ongoing dialogue. So
3:04:43it shouldn't be
3:04:45just we're going into budget hearings.
3:04:47There will be budget hearings, but along
3:04:49the way there are going to be dollars
3:04:51spent, dollars
3:04:53moved around, emergency appropriations
3:04:55and things of that nature. This
3:04:57committee will allow for you to have an
3:04:59ongoing dialogue. So you would know
3:05:02there is a surplus that's available for
3:05:04a particular action. You don't
3:05:05necessarily need to wait until the
3:05:07caucus meeting to get that information.
3:05:12>> I just asked the administration. I I
3:05:15would
3:05:16so you're not surprised whether this
3:05:17meeting walk on or next meeting to have
3:05:19a resolution encouraging the
3:05:20administration hold end of year budget
3:05:22mirrors meetings for the beginning of
3:05:23next year similar to what we do at the
3:05:25end we did in July this year because in
3:05:29January we're going to see a temporary
3:05:31budget in March and February March we'll
3:05:32see temporary budgets and if
3:05:36I don't want to see what have it happen
3:05:37again where
3:05:39spending is almost identical
3:05:41until the budget hearings as it was last
3:05:43year
3:05:44the year prior. So if it's something
3:05:46that the administration is willingly
3:05:47willing to do I'm happy to to support
3:05:49that but the resolution is going to be
3:05:51coming for that because
3:05:52um
3:05:54the spending from 25 to 20 the beginning
3:05:56of 26 was was the same and that's going
3:05:59to be problematic for our our residents.
3:06:03>> Alvin, um
3:06:05I'll just share what I Thank you for
3:06:07answering my questions. I've sent some
3:06:08some questions via email. It was very
3:06:10clear
3:06:11So,
3:06:13I'm not going to repeat those questions.
3:06:14If anyone wants to know what it was
3:06:16mostly about timing and issues of when
3:06:18questions would be responded to or when
3:06:20referrals had to be had to be um
3:06:23uh recommendations for the committee had
3:06:25to be done. Um
3:06:27the my reading of this and if you'll
3:06:29just clarify for me um and for the
3:06:31public as well is that uh
3:06:33um
3:06:34this does not supplant kind of the
3:06:36budget
3:06:37um hearing process or anything like
3:06:39that. Um that
3:06:42it it it this committee is reacting to
3:06:45referrals that come before this council
3:06:47at our meetings um and that's the
3:06:50purview of where this committee is. Is
3:06:52that
3:06:54Does that encompass all of it or is that
3:06:56uh am I misreading it?
3:06:57>> In In In essence, um I I I think there
3:07:00was a concern or I shouldn't say I
3:07:02think, I know there was a concern that
3:07:04things came to the council and it was we
3:07:06need to act now
3:07:08uh without prolonged dialogue or
3:07:10dialogue at least that the council would
3:07:12like to have to feel comfortable making
3:07:15decisions. So, with the finance
3:07:17committee, there would be an ongoing
3:07:19dialogue or a group of council members
3:07:22that
3:07:23will be meeting with the administration
3:07:24regularly specifically to talk about the
3:07:26budget and how the budget is affected by
3:07:28the decisions that the council will be
3:07:30making. So,
3:07:31many of the decisions that were made
3:07:33tonight were were budget items.
3:07:36Um and some of those questions, although
3:07:39great questions, can be asked in many
3:07:41forums. So, we wanted to just give the
3:07:43opportunity for the city council to ask
3:07:45as many questions as they would like,
3:07:48get the information that they would like
3:07:49with enough time for the a response to
3:07:53to be had and if there's a another
3:07:55question from there that we can ask that
3:07:56question and then you're well well
3:07:58prepared to
3:08:00to vote.
3:08:02>> So I'll I'll just use some examples. So
3:08:05the accelerated tax sale which is
3:08:07in last meeting if we had come before a
3:08:11finance committee at that time that item
3:08:14would have been could have been referred
3:08:16by the council president to the finance
3:08:18committee and then we would have
3:08:20in theory two meetings
3:08:22although
3:08:23the deadline would be November 11th to
3:08:26get an accelerated tax sale on the
3:08:28agenda. So the actual second meeting
3:08:30would fall on November 12th.
3:08:33I got
3:08:35>> [laughter]
3:08:35>> listening to me.
3:08:36>> Siri's always listen.
3:08:38>> Um please silence all your cell phones.
3:08:40Thank you.
3:08:41>> [laughter]
3:08:43>> So
3:08:44but but in theory it it would be till
3:08:46November 12th if if if the if it
3:08:48comported with the deadlines.
3:08:50Um and so that particular item would
3:08:52then go to a finance committee to be
3:08:54able to
3:08:55ask all of the questions we've been
3:08:56asking about accelerated tax sale and be
3:08:59able to kind of come to some
3:09:01recommendation for the council at large
3:09:03at the broad council.
3:09:05>> Correct.
3:09:06>> Yeah. Okay. And then if it weren't in
3:09:08the agenda and it was something else how
3:09:10does the referral happen? So I can't
3:09:13even think of an example off the top of
3:09:14my head but um
3:09:17>> There's referrals that would happen for
3:09:19particular agenda items that I would
3:09:22assume that between the BA and the law
3:09:24department etc. that they would have on
3:09:26the agenda but I'm sure
3:09:30you know the CDBG funding is one of the
3:09:32easier ones given the ongoing dialogue
3:09:35in reference to that and how many ways
3:09:36you can use those funds. That committee
3:09:39would also be able to have ongoing
3:09:41dialogue on any financial topic that's
3:09:44related to the budget. So
3:09:48let's say there's a project in each ward
3:09:51that everyone may want to put before the
3:09:54administration. I think the finance
3:09:56committee would be a great place to say,
3:09:58"We have We now understand CDBG funding.
3:10:01Um there are a group of projects that we
3:10:03would like to recommend
3:10:05to the administration." And you could do
3:10:08it that way, and that would be a part of
3:10:09a larger budget discussion, but the
3:10:12finance committee would be the place to
3:10:13have an in-depth discussion about how
3:10:16you would attack those items.
3:10:21>> Okay, I I guess my my question is when
3:10:23it comes to the finance committee, um
3:10:25let's just talk about emergency
3:10:27appropriations for a second, right? Um
3:10:29you know, we get these pop up on a
3:10:31resolution. So, now
3:10:35the finance committee, um
3:10:39in question,
3:10:40we'll be able to get answers to
3:10:42we'll look at it, all right.
3:10:44What was it spent on? How much money do
3:10:46we have left?
3:10:48Um to ensure that we're not spending
3:10:51over
3:10:52budget and things like that, right?
3:10:54>> Right.
3:10:54>> Um
3:10:56yeah, I guess that's my question.
3:10:57>> Just so that you're aware, so with the
3:11:00finance committee, the goal is is that
3:11:02some of those emergency appropriations
3:11:04will be known long before
3:11:07you know, you you would see them at a
3:11:08council meeting. It it is set up in a
3:11:11way that if, let's say there is an
3:11:13emergency,
3:11:15God forbid we have another Sandy or
3:11:16something like that, and there did there
3:11:18was a true emergency where there needed
3:11:20to be an appropriation,
3:11:22the council would still be able to act
3:11:23under its original powers.
3:11:28>> Okay, but I'm just
3:11:30talking about like
3:11:33spending money
3:11:37from a budget that we didn't approve
3:11:39yet.
3:11:39>> Correct.
3:11:40>> Right? Um not necessarily like, you
3:11:43know, Annie and stuff like that, which
3:11:44were
3:11:45um, good examples, but you know, just
3:11:47spending money on
3:11:49uh, in DPW or in
3:11:52um,
3:11:54finance and
3:11:56uh,
3:11:58OEM, things like that.
3:11:59Like when they say, "Oh, we need this.
3:12:01We we got to spend money on this."
3:12:03Right.
3:12:04>> That that is In theory, that would come
3:12:07to the finance committee. If there was a
3:12:08capital expenditure affecting the
3:12:10budget,
3:12:11the finance committee should see that.
3:12:14>> Okay.
3:12:18>> Okay.
3:12:20I think we're good. All right. Thank
3:12:22you, Calvin.
3:12:22>> Thank you.
3:12:23>> Um, Councilman uh, um, Councilman Effros
3:12:28has a um, first reading he wants to
3:12:30discuss.
3:12:47>> What agenda item is this?
3:12:49>> So, now he's Now, Councilman's doing my
3:12:51job. Okay.
3:12:56It's nice to sit here and gather
3:12:58something and look at it.
3:13:00Thank you, colleagues. Um, my office uh,
3:13:03last week, I think, should have gotten
3:13:05everyone
3:13:06uh, kind of heads-up about this. Um,
3:13:10Councilwoman Little and I are putting
3:13:11forward an ordinance amending chapter
3:13:14260, rent control, of the municipal code
3:13:18to amend the period of exemption from
3:13:19rent control in newly constructed
3:13:21multiple dwellings to the time specified
3:13:23in New Jersey's new constructed multiple
3:13:25dwelling law. Um,
3:13:27so
3:13:34So, it made sure This is It's it it's
3:13:36the same that's uploaded to to I Compass
3:13:39um
3:13:40for the for the records. Um
3:13:43So, just the
3:13:44long story short is that
3:13:47in the state of New Jersey, new
3:13:49construction exempted from rent control
3:13:51for 30 years. That's statutory.
3:13:55Um
3:13:59>> Did not print enough.
3:14:00>> Yeah, I'll make sure to print more next
3:14:02time. Excuse me.
3:14:03Um
3:14:04There's already a 30-year exemption from
3:14:06rent control in the state of New Jersey
3:14:08for new development. Um in our local
3:14:12laws, there's an indefinite um
3:14:15actually forever exemption uh from rent
3:14:17control for
3:14:19uh
3:14:20the redevelopment areas, of which there
3:14:23are many in uh Jersey City. And
3:14:27>> Practically all city.
3:14:29>> Yeah. So, we we intend to uh put forward
3:14:32this exemption in in effort to expand
3:14:35rent control to more tenants who are in
3:14:37desperate need of having um
3:14:41Yeah, making sure
3:14:42affordability is preserved and that um
3:14:46this council I think believes in
3:14:47affordable housing and rent control is
3:14:49one of the ways to achieve that. Um I
3:14:51don't Councilwoman Little, if you want
3:14:52to speak to anything about the
3:14:55vision behind this.
3:14:56>> Yeah, I I I think part of
3:15:00part of the thought process behind this
3:15:02is that it doesn't really make a whole
3:15:05ton of sense to have
3:15:07two classes of buildings, right?
3:15:08Buildings that um got zoning board
3:15:11approval and are not in a redevelopment
3:15:14plan um such as Portside Towers that
3:15:17would traditionally fall under rent
3:15:18control after 30 years. Um and then
3:15:21projects that
3:15:23buildings that are built in a
3:15:24redevelopment plan area, which are
3:15:26exempt in perpetuity. Um the idea of the
3:15:2930 years, which again is dictated by the
3:15:32state, that's not something that we're
3:15:33looking to change. Um
3:15:35is to allow investors time to make back
3:15:38their investment and then some.
3:15:40Um and the idea being that after 30
3:15:42years, these buildings are no longer new
3:15:44buildings.
3:15:45Um and and so it just
3:15:48I think to us it didn't make a whole ton
3:15:50of sense to have these two separate
3:15:52classes of buildings based on whether or
3:15:54not it has traditional zoning or
3:15:56redevelopment.
3:15:58>> Did the
3:15:59law department have an opportunity
3:16:00>> opportunity
3:16:01>> to draft a memo for this?
3:16:03>> Yeah, I I will hope to get something by
3:16:05tomorrow.
3:16:06>> You I was saying you have you you think
3:16:08you'll have a memo by tomorrow?
3:16:09>> Yeah, someone on my staff is working on
3:16:12it in the morning, so I'm hoping by the
3:16:14end of day.
3:16:15>> Okay, the only reason I ask in all
3:16:16transparency is um
3:16:18generally I I'd vote to introduce
3:16:20ordinances, but this seems um
3:16:22something we want to take a look at in
3:16:24depth.
3:16:25Um
3:16:26Let me ask you a question either either
3:16:28of my council colleagues. So in a
3:16:30redevelopment plan, Journal Square has
3:16:32one for example,
3:16:33uh building goes down,
3:16:35is demolished,
3:16:37uh
3:16:38it's rent controlled, new building goes
3:16:41up, it's 30 years without rent control
3:16:42currently?
3:16:46>> If it's in a redevelopment plan
3:16:47currently, um it will never be rent
3:16:49controlled.
3:16:51>> Okay, and this ordinance says after 30
3:16:53years the building would be rent
3:16:54controlled?
3:16:55>> Yeah. Yeah, it's it's it would be
3:16:56changing it so redevelopment plans match
3:16:59traditional zoning, which would be that
3:17:01after 30 years it would it could rent
3:17:03control.
3:17:04>> Okay, not the first 30 years, but after
3:17:07>> After 30 years.
3:17:08>> Okay.
3:17:08>> Yeah.
3:17:09And and this would not be um
3:17:12this would only be going forward. So for
3:17:14buildings that are over 30 years old, I
3:17:16know this was a concern for some folks.
3:17:18Um buildings that are over 30 years old,
3:17:20we would not be this would not lower
3:17:22rents to what they were at the 30-year
3:17:25mark. It would just be going forward, um
3:17:28they would fall under rent control. So,
3:17:29it's not um it's not retroactive um cuz
3:17:32that would not make any sense because
3:17:34that you know, when those buildings
3:17:36turned 30 years old, they were complying
3:17:38with the law
3:17:39at the time and this this would only
3:17:42affect things going forward.
3:17:44>> What what would the impact be on again
3:17:46in Journal Square? We have the re-
3:17:48redevelopment plan.
3:17:50Uh we fought very hard to get mandatory
3:17:52affordable units in several of the
3:17:54zones.
3:17:55Uh what what would the impact on those
3:17:57buildings be?
3:17:59>> Just that once those buildings reach
3:18:01their maturity of 30 years um for which
3:18:05they have exemptions from rent control
3:18:07and and whatever other um rules have
3:18:09been baked into that redevelopment area,
3:18:11there should be no additional exemption
3:18:13from rent control after three decades of
3:18:16having that exemption um which is
3:18:18already again at the state level. So,
3:18:21this is just saying that
3:18:23redevelopment areas in Jersey City
3:18:25should have no additional
3:18:28exemption
3:18:29um than what any other rules
3:18:32uh
3:18:32would would apply.
3:18:34Any other rules that would apply to it.
3:18:36>> Last question. I'm I'm asking them off
3:18:37the dome as the young kids would say cuz
3:18:39uh I was I was just reading this now. Um
3:18:43I appreciate you guys answering me so
3:18:45quickly. Uh
3:18:47Did you consult with any of the
3:18:48pro-housing advocates who I know are
3:18:50often come to our meetings and or or any
3:18:53of the pro-housing groups to talk about
3:18:55uh the impact if any on on development
3:18:58building new units.
3:19:02>> I mean I'm I'm happy to talk to any of
3:19:04those advocates. We haven't started um
3:19:06those conversations. We feel a sense of
3:19:08urgency in moving this forward and and
3:19:09just to talk speak to the process a
3:19:11little bit. Our office submitted this um
3:19:15not last week but the week before um
3:19:18just prior to the uh deadline for the
3:19:20agenda. Um we know that administration
3:19:24uh is
3:19:25understaffed as we've been saying and
3:19:26and has a lot on their plate. So, I I
3:19:28appreciate that um, it's been a lot to
3:19:31to get through, but we do feel a sense
3:19:33of urgency and there was at least one
3:19:35round of of legal review to my
3:19:37understanding. Um, and I'm happy to to
3:19:39talk more and receive a memo tomorrow
3:19:41and um, to have those discussions.
3:19:43>> I just want to say in addition to um,
3:19:46Lisa's team working on it. I know you've
3:19:48reached out to AGDC as well as our tax
3:19:51assessor.
3:19:52We have been trying to prioritize
3:19:55reviewing it. We do have
3:19:57we need to have more discussions before
3:20:00we are ready with a um,
3:20:03you know, response in terms of the
3:20:05impact. So, I
3:20:09again, we're happy to continue to
3:20:11discuss it with you, but I just think we
3:20:14the one week that we had is not enough
3:20:16time for us to give you a substantial
3:20:18response from the administration side.
3:20:21So,
3:20:24>> I'd I'd like to answer uh, Councilman
3:20:25Zepeda's question. Um,
3:20:27so, I I did speak to uh, one of the
3:20:30members of um, what or one of our
3:20:32pro-housing advocate friends. Um, you
3:20:34know, he he did express some concerns
3:20:37about um, you know,
3:20:39these buildings yes, they they make most
3:20:43of their or or or they they make their
3:20:47they make back their investment and they
3:20:48make their profit, you know, that is
3:20:50what the 30 years is for, but there is
3:20:51some still tail value. And so, I think
3:20:55the concerns were
3:20:57um,
3:20:58he brought up a couple of things. What
3:21:00happens if
3:21:02um,
3:21:03what happens if an investor bought this
3:21:05property just 5 years ago thinking that
3:21:07there was still this tail value. Um,
3:21:11would that investor then be exempt for
3:21:1330 years from the purchase date or is it
3:21:1530 years from the point of construction.
3:21:17And that was something that was brought
3:21:19up, uh which I think we need to look
3:21:21more closely at.
3:21:22And
3:21:24the second was um
3:21:27there will be a
3:21:29lost opportunity gap in terms of
3:21:34as these buildings are reassessed
3:21:38potentially in the future, we would not
3:21:40be generating
3:21:42So, it's not that we would be generating
3:21:44less tax revenue because again the rents
3:21:46aren't going down, they're just capped
3:21:47at how how much they can increase rent
3:21:49each year.
3:21:51Um
3:21:52but
3:21:53you know, there would be a small
3:21:54opportunity cost in in future tax
3:21:56revenue, which could potentially be
3:21:57offset by
3:21:59um more new development. Um you know,
3:22:02and and I personally have been thinking
3:22:05about how to potentially pair this with
3:22:08other policies to cut red tape, and um
3:22:13you know, make it so that you know
3:22:19make it so that any any marginal impacts
3:22:22here can be counteracted in other ways.
3:22:24So, if there are if there's red tape, if
3:22:28there's parking minimums, things like
3:22:30that that um you know, maybe don't need
3:22:32to be there in certain places, you know,
3:22:35maybe
3:22:36um
3:22:37and and this is still very early. Um you
3:22:39know, we we felt a sense of urgency
3:22:41because of all the new port tenants who
3:22:43were coming to speak to us um in wards D
3:22:45and E, but you know, I I think pairing
3:22:48this with more
3:22:51um
3:22:52with other policies that make it easier
3:22:54to build would potentially counteract
3:22:56some of it.
3:22:57I also spoke with another friend um who
3:22:59works for the Fiscal Policy Institute,
3:23:02and um she's an economist, and um
3:23:05and she did not feel that this would
3:23:07have a substantial impact on new
3:23:09construction one way or the other.
3:23:10>> I I would I would really appreciate
3:23:12being able to see that. Obviously, I'm
3:23:13looking forward to HEDC's opinion.
3:23:16Sometimes they're a little too much in
3:23:17in in going into well, whatever the
3:23:19market dictates, let the developer
3:23:20build. I'm not sure that's the proper
3:23:22course either.
3:23:25The the core the core value of rent
3:23:28control is actually having a an
3:23:29apartment that can be rent controlled.
3:23:31So, I don't want to
3:23:32depress the development and the growth
3:23:34we're seeing.
3:23:36I mean other than Journal Square, I'm
3:23:38not sure the rest of the city is
3:23:40leading. It's
3:23:41I'm not sure the rest of the city is
3:23:42doing its part to meet the housing
3:23:44shortage.
3:23:45And so, our residents are are certainly
3:23:46suffering because of not suffering. Our
3:23:48Our residents have certainly experienced
3:23:50the
3:23:51detriments of a lot of construction
3:23:53going on in the
3:23:54the the roads, etc.
3:23:55>> I think there's a lot going on downtown,
3:23:57too.
3:23:59>> Yeah.
3:24:00>> Point taken.
3:24:01>> Yeah.
3:24:02So, so I'm just curious to see again,
3:24:03I'm not
3:24:04I'm not saying this is great. I'm very
3:24:06happy you guys are working on it. The
3:24:08two two of you are working on this. But
3:24:10I want I I would love to see the numbers
3:24:11from the administration and an opinion
3:24:13on it from the administration on on
3:24:16if we're going to see a lack of growth
3:24:20because of this, but
3:24:25>> Can I jump in? No.
3:24:26>> It's Jersey City. I don't I don't I
3:24:27don't I don't I don't think that
3:24:30I think they'll be like, oh.
3:24:31I mean, this you know, this is Jersey
3:24:33City.
3:24:35People will be hard-pressed not to want
3:24:37to develop.
3:24:38>> Journal Square had a lot of a lot of
3:24:39empty lots for a long time, so.
3:24:42>> Yeah, but I mean, this is
3:24:44Jersey City now.
3:24:45And I I think, you know, people are
3:24:49everybody's looking to take a
3:24:52a bite out of it.
3:24:54But I definitely hear what you're
3:24:56saying. No, we don't want to stop
3:24:57growth.
3:25:00>> So, that's a concern for me as well. I I
3:25:02definitely know I don't I don't want to
3:25:04stop growth because we need to grow the
3:25:05tax base. Otherwise, future tax
3:25:07increases are just going to be even
3:25:08worse for folks. So,
3:25:10um you know,
3:25:13I think
3:25:15this is important an important
3:25:16protection for tenants, but I would also
3:25:19not want to just stop the conversation
3:25:21after passing this. I would want to
3:25:24and take a look at how we can cut red
3:25:26tape and and make it so that, you know,
3:25:30we're not hindering development,
3:25:31particularly near transit.
3:25:34>> And certainly I wasn't suggesting that
3:25:36you were in favor of that, just that
3:25:38I was wondering whether it's a
3:25:39collateral consequence. I just want to I
3:25:41just want to look at the numbers on
3:25:42that.
3:25:43>> I forwarded you the um the study from my
3:25:46friend at the Fiscal Policy Institute
3:25:47which she sent.
3:25:49>> To everybody?
3:25:50>> Oops.
3:25:51>> Um if I if I may jump in, um this
3:25:54question's more to the Corporation
3:25:55Counsel's office. Um
3:25:58so using the example that uh Councilman
3:26:00Zuppa
3:26:01uh used with
3:26:03Journal Square,
3:26:04for this development that has affordable
3:26:06housing,
3:26:08say
3:26:0920% 10% whatever the number is,
3:26:1230 years expires,
3:26:14uh the 30-year affordability expires,
3:26:16this ordinance is in effect,
3:26:20um
3:26:21and if the
3:26:24property owner developer decides
3:26:28what what what what is what can the
3:26:31develop does the developer have to renew
3:26:34the leases
3:26:36of affordable housing tenants if the
3:26:38leases expire at the end of the 30-year,
3:26:41whether they were there for 30 years or
3:26:43just the final year, whatever the the
3:26:45case might be at the time of the
3:26:46expiration, um or
3:26:49um are they under any obligation to
3:26:51continue renewing leases?
3:26:54>> I'll cut in here. I mean, I this is this
3:26:56is the point I was trying to make. We we
3:26:58have to do more work
3:27:00>> do analysis. I'm I'm putting that into
3:27:01the
3:27:01>> Yeah, and I I'm just afraid that we
3:27:04won't be able to do this in time for
3:27:06Wednesday.
3:27:07>> No, no, I'm not expecting that by any
3:27:09means. So, I would say that very
3:27:11clearly. I apologize. I didn't want to
3:27:13give
3:27:13just
3:27:15concern you. We'll put that through
3:27:16council requests as it pertains to this
3:27:19once we have a
3:27:21number attached to it and
3:27:24my team will send that over. But, I I'd
3:27:26like to know if that
3:27:28whether the the landlord or the property
3:27:30owner at that time will be of any
3:27:32obligation to renew affordable tenants
3:27:36or if they can just end the
3:27:39end the lease at that point regardless
3:27:41of whether it's rent controlled or I
3:27:42mean affordable or not, right?
3:27:46>> If I could interject, I mean what that
3:27:47would partly depend on
3:27:49if there's a deed restriction, too,
3:27:51right? So, you may have some properties
3:27:53that have deed restrictions and some
3:27:55that that don't.
3:27:56Um
3:27:57I don't want to misspeak, but I believe
3:28:01100 Montgomery
3:28:03has some units that are deed restricted.
3:28:05Does that sound familiar?
3:28:07>> Mhm.
3:28:09>> Yeah. So, there there may be two at
3:28:11least two different types of of
3:28:13buildings that age in to rent control.
3:28:16Um
3:28:18Looks like Isaac's getting ready to
3:28:19>> Yeah, just wanted to jump in. So, yes, I
3:28:22mean the point that Councilman Navarro
3:28:23is making is that generally buildings
3:28:25that have affordable a pilot or whatever
3:28:27they have a 30-year
3:28:29affordability and when that ends there
3:28:31is no That is the deed restriction
3:28:32ending. 100 Montgomery was HUD either
3:28:35HUD or HFA funded and so their deed
3:28:37restriction was different. There's
3:28:38certain buildings that have those like
3:28:39state subsidies. Those are separate.
3:28:42Then you've got the buildings that are
3:28:43affordable for certain period due a
3:28:44pilot or whatever and then that ends and
3:28:46he's The question is being asked is what
3:28:47happens when those end regarding this
3:28:49sort of thing.
3:28:52>> So, then yeah, I know that, right? So,
3:28:55and they don't have to be affordable any
3:28:57longer, um but the question is what
3:29:00happens to the perhaps the affordable
3:29:01tenant who lives in that that unit?
3:29:03>> Yeah, that's well, you know, the
3:29:05this is something we haven't had time to
3:29:07dig into yet, unfortunately.
3:29:09>> So, so then if if a building is built
3:29:12in a redevelopment area with a
3:29:14redevelopment plan requires 20%
3:29:17affordable housing
3:29:19and
3:29:21the 30 years is up if there was a tax
3:29:24abatement or whatever
3:29:27wouldn't they be out of
3:29:29compliance with the redevelopment plan?
3:29:33If they remove the the affordability?
3:29:37>> I'm sorry. I I just we're not prepared
3:29:40to answer these
3:29:41>> Okay, okay, okay.
3:29:42>> And I I I I've said this many times. We
3:29:45we we are very much willing to work with
3:29:47the council in this ordinance, but
3:29:51>> Hm.
3:29:51>> It's it was introduced late. We are
3:29:55still working with our partners in EDC
3:29:57tax assessor came actually to to try to
3:30:00speak if if there's something
3:30:02that we could say, but I really would
3:30:04like us to have more time to respond
3:30:07back um sufficiently to all your
3:30:10questions about the impact.
3:30:12>> So, I think council members, it seems
3:30:14like we have a lot of questions.
3:30:16I would ask that we um submit those
3:30:20questions, I guess both to councilor
3:30:22Quest and to the council members that
3:30:24are um sponsoring this ordinance and uh
3:30:29decide if we would like to move forward
3:30:31or not move forward with this on
3:30:34Wednesday.
3:30:35>> Thank you. Yeah, I'm happy to talk to
3:30:37everyone throughout the next two days
3:30:39and I appreciate the administration
3:30:41wanting to work together on this. Happy
3:30:42to talk with you all throughout the next
3:30:44two days um to explain more of the
3:30:46reasoning outside of this caucus time,
3:30:47too.
3:30:49>> I I a question um, on
3:30:53chapter 260, uh, state law allows for a
3:30:56rolling 30-year kind of age age out of
3:30:59or age into rent control. Is that
3:31:02correct?
3:31:05>> I'd have to ask it.
3:31:07Council.
3:31:08>> Like Ruby said, I I haven't I haven't
3:31:10>> I'm not prepared to answer.
3:31:12>> Pop quiz.
3:31:15>> [laughter]
3:31:15>> Maybe clerk can answer what was a
3:31:18ordinance contemplated either last year
3:31:20or the year before that
3:31:22um, uh,
3:31:24I guess
3:31:25um,
3:31:27updated 260 to for for kind of a rolling
3:31:3030-year age in.
3:31:32Does that sound familiar?
3:31:34>> Off the top of my head, um,
3:31:38I'm not able to answer that. I can look
3:31:39it up for you.
3:31:41Um,
3:31:41>> You're typically encyclopedic,
3:31:44but well
3:31:45>> Yeah.
3:31:46Um, yeah, well, I'm I'm
3:31:47>> We we go through a lot of resolutions
3:31:50ordinances here. So, let's let's make
3:31:52sure that we submit that question so we
3:31:54can make sure we have the valid
3:31:56information.
3:31:57>> Motion.
3:31:59I wish.
3:32:01Um,
3:32:03Okay.
3:32:03>> Okay, sure.
3:32:04>> On to our second reading ordinances, um,
3:32:07item 4.1, any questions
3:32:10on the, uh, franchise ordinance?
3:32:134.2 and 3 were touched on earlier. 4.4,
3:32:17any questions or comments on the
3:32:20uh, amending chapter 160?
3:32:234.5 was touched on earlier. We have our
3:32:26request for public hearing,
3:32:2970 speakers and counting.
3:32:32Any questions or comments on petitions
3:32:34and communications 6.1
3:32:37through 6.6?
3:32:40Hearing none, they're
3:32:42Did somebody say something?
3:32:44>> No.
3:32:44>> No. No, keep going.
3:32:46>> Uh, first
3:32:477.1. Any questions or comments?
3:32:50Report of directors, 8.1. Any questions
3:32:52or comments?
3:32:53>> my office may have asked for these, but
3:32:55>> And they were sent.
3:32:57>> Thank you.
3:32:58>> Yep.
3:33:01>> [laughter]
3:33:01>> Um, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be
3:33:03short. I was just
3:33:05>> Just
3:33:06>> They were sent.
3:33:09>> Well, they were.
3:33:11Clerk's office is the best. Anyway, um,
3:33:13claims and addendum number one. Any
3:33:15questions or comments?
3:33:18On to our resolutions, items 10.1 and
3:33:20two were touched on earlier. 10.3,
3:33:23resolution 26-685
3:33:25is a resolution honoring Elder Edward
3:33:28Barfield for lifetime of exemplary
3:33:30service.
3:33:32Item 10.4, city resolution 26-686.
3:33:36It's a resolution authorizing the city
3:33:37of Jersey City to accept a gift of a
3:33:40statue from ARCS 14C.
3:33:43Items 10.5 through
3:33:46>> Can I can I ask a question about 10.4,
3:33:49please?
3:33:49>> Sure.
3:33:51>> Sorry, Sean.
3:33:52>> Okay.
3:33:52>> Uh
3:33:53>> I heard a motion before.
3:33:54>> A coin
3:33:55do
3:33:56Uh,
3:33:57uh, Director Choi, who will be
3:33:58maintaining it? Who will be paying to
3:34:00maintain this?
3:34:01>> Yes.
3:34:02>> I think
3:34:03>> So, Councilman, um, we're going to be
3:34:04giving it to one of the SIDs. I think
3:34:06it's I forget if it's McGinley Square or
3:34:08Journal Square, but we're taking the
3:34:09ownership and they're going to maintain
3:34:11it. They want it. We're just because
3:34:13they're a city entity, we're the
3:34:14middleman here.
3:34:15>> Who is the Who is they? What What is the
3:34:17statue of?
3:34:18>> It's the um, it's the big football in
3:34:21front of City Hall, the soccer ball as
3:34:23Councilman Lavarro corrected me multiple
3:34:25>> I thought it was a statue of the clerk.
3:34:27>> We're [laughter]
3:34:28We're already have one. We don't want
3:34:29another one.
3:34:30>> It's a football. It's a
3:34:31>> Yes, it's a big soccer ball in front of
3:34:33City Hall.
3:34:34>> Journal Square. It's ironic Journal
3:34:35Square is going to get a second soccer
3:34:36ball when we have no green space yet to
3:34:38to play on.
3:34:39>> [laughter]
3:34:40>> Yes.
3:34:42>> At least we can find in a very long
3:34:44caucus meeting.
3:34:45>> So we will not be spending money
3:34:47maintaining a councilwoman.
3:34:49>> Thank you, Isaac.
3:34:51>> Okay, items 10.5 through 10.18 were
3:34:55touched on earlier. 10.19 26-
3:35:00701 is a resolution requesting a change
3:35:03in title text or amount of appropriation
3:35:05pursuant to NJSA 40A colon 4-85.
3:35:1210.20 City Resolution 26-702
3:35:15is a resolution recognizing October as
3:35:18Filipino American History Month.
3:35:23>> I'm good for this one.
3:35:27>> Items 10.21 through 10.25 were touched
3:35:31on earlier. Item 10.26 City Resolution
3:35:3426-708
3:35:36is a resolution of the Municipal Council
3:35:38of the City of Jersey City supporting
3:35:40the transition to clean energy
3:35:42initiatives and urging the state and
3:35:43federal policy makers to invest in
3:35:46renewable energy infrastructure.
3:35:50Items 10.27
3:35:53through 10.31
3:35:56were approved earlier. Item 10.32
3:35:59Assistant Corp, would you like to take
3:36:00that?
3:36:03Lisa.
3:36:0510.32.
3:36:07>> Yeah, I thank you for the flag. That was
3:36:09a typo. I will confirm tomorrow with our
3:36:11fiscal officer the amount of the
3:36:13original agreement, the amount of the
3:36:15amendment, and correct the total
3:36:17contract amount.
3:36:20>> Okay.
3:36:22And the late items
3:36:25were touched on earlier and just note
3:36:28that any late item being added to the
3:36:30agenda requires six votes from the
3:36:33council.
3:36:34And with that being said, motion to
3:36:36adjourn at 7:41.
3:36:38>> I'm so sorry. Uh There's
3:36:41another item that we're going to be
3:36:43working on. We just worked today with
3:36:45the law department for the language.
3:36:46It's just going It's a resolution
3:36:49and it's going to authorize
3:36:51health and human services to put out an
3:36:53RFP for mental health first responders,
3:36:56which if if you recall council amended
3:36:58the administration's budget to allocate
3:37:00$200,000 to
3:37:02fulfill to begin fulfilling our promise
3:37:05that we the city made to Jersey City
3:37:08Together and the Washington family.
3:37:10>> And the law department has reviewed this
3:37:12already?
3:37:14>> It just came in today, so that would be
3:37:16no.
3:37:18Tom prepared all of this.
3:37:20>> So Sean, when we do these um
3:37:23the vote on Wednesday.
3:37:26Cuz I don't know what what the what the
3:37:27status is going to be of of each one. I
3:37:31know we usually do a compound to add to
3:37:33the
3:37:34um agenda, but um
3:37:37I'll talk to you about breaking some of
3:37:39this up. Maybe we do the ordinance as
3:37:42resolutions as another,
3:37:44but we can discuss. It seems like some
3:37:46of this has not been confirmed yet with
3:37:48the law department and I don't know, you
3:37:51know, where people are landing with all
3:37:53of it. So, we'll discuss.
3:37:54>> Well, we can we can always take them
3:37:57take them individually, Council
3:37:58President. There's not many.
3:38:00>> Right. I was trying to save you from
3:38:02having to do
3:38:02>> It's okay.
3:38:03>> five, but
3:38:05>> I'll go fast.
3:38:06>> Okay.
3:38:07>> Um motion to adjourn at 7:42 p.m.
3:38:11Motion made by Councilperson Gilmore,
3:38:14seconded by Council I couldn't hear. Was
3:38:17it Councilperson Griffin?
3:38:19I'll take it.
3:38:21On the motion to adjourn at 7:42 p.m.
3:38:23all council members present by
3:38:24acclamation, please say I.
3:38:26>> I.
3:38:27>> All right, you're out of here at 7:42
3:38:28p.m. Thank you so much.