2026-11-09 - Municipal Caucus

0:00Okay. Good evening, everyone. We are on the record. Today is Monday, the ninth day of November, the year 2026. This is the City Council caucus meeting of the

0:09Jersey City Municipal Council. We had a scheduled 4:00 p.m. start. The clock on my cell phone is showing 4:08 p.m. May we have a roll call for the commencement

0:19of this caucus? Council person Brooks is not here yet. Council person Zupa. >> Here. >> Council person Ephross. Council person Little. >> Here. >> Council person Gilmore is not here yet.

0:36Council person Singh. >> Here. >> Council person Griffin. >> Present. >> Council person Labarro. >> Here. >> And Council President Ridley. >> Here. >> We have seven council members in

0:51attendance at Now we have eight council members in attendance at 4:08 p.m. Council person Gilmore is here. On behalf of Council President Ridley and the members of the Municipal

1:08Council, in accordance with New Jersey Public Laws of 1975 Chapter 231, the Open Public Meetings Act, also known as the Sunshine Law, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the

1:18posting on the bulletin board of the first floor of City Hall, the annual notice, which is the schedule of meetings and caucuses of the Municipal Council for the calendar year 2026 and

1:27filed in the office of the City Clerk on Tuesday, November 25th, 2025. In addition, at its time of its preparation, the agenda of this meeting was similarly disseminated

1:37on Wednesday, November 4th, 2026 at 1:28 p.m. to the mayor, Municipal Council, Business Administrator, Corporation Council, and the newspapers and posted on the city's website so I can certify

1:48as to our total compliance with the Sunshine Law. I will now mark Council person Brooks present at 4:10 p.m. So we have all nine council members present. Council I'm going to turn it over to

2:02you. >> Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here for our caucus meeting. Sean, I'm going to ask that we defer to 10.23 and start there this evening. Council 10.23

2:18is a resolution reappointing Judge Rami as a chief judge of Jersey City Municipal Court. He is here. If you have any questions, we'll ask judge to come up.

2:36>> Good afternoon, Council President and members of the Council. I really didn't prepare an opening statement. Just want to say thank you to the mayor for his appointment and I hope I can

2:49get your confidence and your vote to continue what I what I perceive is a really good trajectory and recent success at the municipal court. I'm sure many of you heard we're now the

3:01biggest municipal court in the state of New Jersey, so it's been just a very good several months in terms of accomplishment and success. But having said that, I'm here and I'm also here on

3:12behalf of my colleague Judge Bertram Opa Gosili. I don't think if he's here. >> He's right behind you. >> Oh, he's okay. So I can me as well as Judge Opa Gosili is up for reappointment

3:27as well. He's here to field any questions, so if he has an opening statement, I'm going to defer to him. >> Good afternoon, honorable Council. My name is Bertram C. Opa Gosili.

3:39I'm honored to serve as a judge in the municipal court. I sent each of you letters just to reintroduce myself to you. I'm honored to serve Jersey City and I'm here for any questions.

3:55>> And if I could just add, I see my colleagues from the business administrator's office at at the table there and I I'd like to thank them as well. We've been working We have a great

4:03working relationship, and a lot of the success you're seeing uh is in partnership with the administration, particularly in the business administrator's office. So

4:11I like to note that as well. Thank you. Can I um address any questions from the council? >> As a lawyer, I always want to take a crack at a judge. I'm I'm kidding, your honor. Uh

4:21congratulations on your reappointment. >> Thank you. >> Welcome, Bertram. I know you for 15 years. And uh you know, it's always good. I know you have been involved in the community for years.

4:34>> Yes, thank you. >> looking forward working with you closely. >> Thank you. Thank you very much for having me as well. >> And congratulations, hopefully. >> Thank you, council president.

4:45>> And council, if you have if there are any questions or anything that you think of after this, you can feel free to reach out to them uh before Wednesday. Any other uh questions, comments?

5:00Okay. Thank you, gentlemen. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, council president. Thank you. >> First up, we have our acting director of finance, Kyle Grieves. >> Good afternoon, council. I believe I

5:17have seven resolutions. Uh first one is item 10.1, a resolution authorizing uh special items of revenue and appropriations for the 2020 budget. These are grant awards that the council

5:31has accepted post adoption, and we are just looking to now set up those accounts uh through the budget uh through the current fund budget. Yes. 10.1 >> 10.1, questions?

5:53>> It I did just get a uh a message from the infrastructure director. There was a grant that was accepted by the council on the 21st from DCA. It was for uh Port Liberte, $5.5 million.

6:06Um that was already accepted. I was just want to know if it'd be possible to amend this resolution to include that account setup. There is some time sensitive uh

6:16requirements as far as spend down that has to be done by December 1st. Our next is scheduled to be set up on the next council meeting, but I would just like to add it to this uh

6:27Chapter 159 resolution that >> Okay. So Ara, I guess Laura and BA, are we okay with making that adjustment? >> What what's the adjustment? >> So the the grant was already accepted.

6:40It's just to set up the account for under budget and appropriation side so we can, you know, spend down on that on that funding uh before uh December 1st because if we set it up on the 24th, I

6:51believe, you know, we don't have a a bill list before the before the 1st, so we would just like to get everything in and get as much as as possible um spend down.

7:05>> Yeah, if the council's okay with it, it doesn't change the budget, it doesn't change any of the funds that were coming in. It was already anticipated to receive it this year. We received it

7:13just recently, so it's trying to get the money in and set up an account wise as soon as possible. That way we can begin spending it for the anticipated items through the infrastructure.

7:23>> The deadline to spend is not December 1st, is it? >> The deadline to submit all expenditures is the 1st. We already have quite an extensive list. There are a few

7:32smaller bills that we do want to pay. Um if we don't set it up in the we just have to go through the process of reimbursing the budget, which is just another accounting step that we'd have

7:44to take, so it's not necessary, but it would be provide a much cleaner audit trail uh for us, so it's really up to the council if they're okay with it. >> Been on this.

7:58Is there any reason that that it wasn't included in this one initially? >> So um this is a little bit on us in infrastructure learning the process. We knew that there was a resolution

8:12required to accept the funds and then uh we need to anticipated paying the bills at the next November meeting so that the bills would have been paid and we can submit proof of payment by the

8:22administrative deadline. Uh I just learned today that there's an additional task that finance handles of setting the account up which is also a council. So, in an ideal world we would

8:31have just realized this made the request through our finance officer and it would have been included in this before today but uh we just kind of identified that today. So, I'm learning myself.

8:41>> So Kyle, if you can just education purposes walk us through because you said it would just be another I guess a calendar entry. How does How How would it look if we waited to

8:56the next VN to approve it versus doing it this meeting? >> Right. We would We would have to identify a funding source that has sufficient funding to pay that bill.

9:05I most likely will be in Andy's uh current fund budget and then once the council then sets up the grant, you know, we'll go We'll submit the expenditure and once we get

9:16the funding we'll reimburse the current fund uh for that expense. So, it is just an administrative step that we would just like to avoid. There's no There won't be any financial

9:28implications to this. It's just more of cleaner accounting and getting things done you know in a in a in a simpler fashion rather than back and forth between the the grant

9:38fund and and the current fund. >> Okay. So, you're amending 10.1? >> I would Yeah, I would like to. >> Okay. >> All right. And can you Kyle, can you just send us like a little

9:53write up just explaining that again in writing so we all have it? >> No problem. The next item is 10.2 a resolution requesting a change in title text or amount of appropriations

10:05uh pursuant to budget law. These are matching fund requirements that are already in the budget. This is just reallocating the matching fund from a general account to the associated grant

10:15account. >> Questions 10.2? >> 10.2, yes. >> Next one. >> Next item 10.24, a resolution amending a professional service contract with Wilcotts and Company LLC for providing

10:33accounting and advisory services. >> 10.24 questions? Okay, next one. >> I I'm sorry, I do have a question on 10.24. Are we receiving additional services from Wilcotts or just more of the same

10:59services that we've already been receiving? >> It's an expanding on what was in the original scope. The subject has subject matter has expanded a little bit

11:09including you know the pilot audit and the corrective action plan for 2025 audit findings. So that is you know reasonable amount to get us through the end of the year. So the original

11:21contract was awarded in December of 2025. We obviously did not know what this year would entail and we did have have some additional agreed upon procedures with them

11:33and in the adopted budget we did include the an additional 50,000 which the council amended their contract up to in September. So this amount will really just get us to the end of the year.

11:45And you know we're currently have a open RFQ out for services for 2027. >> I have a question as well. So they were responsible for the pilot audit, is that correct? >> Correct.

12:00>> And what's the status of that at this point? >> So they are very close to being done with the audit and we're actually to reach out to the Council to do a briefing um

12:15to share the findings with you all. So you'll be hearing from me. >> And then my just final question on this is um they're responsible for the annual financial statement?

12:29>> They yeah they provide a substantial amount of help uh to us. Uh this year, you know, those first three months was about $60,000 in in billing. So that ate up a majority of the

12:41original contract award. >> And when is that due again? Is covering that? >> That'll be due in February. >> February. Will this allocation cover that? Are they working that?

12:53>> It'll it'll cover our year end close which you know hopefully by the time we get into January that process can you know go a little smoother and you know they'll they'll help us

13:04make sure that we stay on schedule. They won't they won't be able to do the 26th uh financial statement because that won't be done until 2027. So until we identify a vendor for that

13:17service, that's who would most likely help us. >> Okay. Um are you covering the are you responsible for the best practices questionnaire? >> I'll I'll get I'll get to that one. >> Next one.

13:35>> Oh sorry. Councilwoman Sing, you had a question. >> Can I Oh Um can this contract be split into two or three like routine accounting and audit work and the pilot audit they are undertaking?

13:49So it reflects work that actually being done? >> I next year I think if if that's how we write the the scope for the for the for the services we could do that.

14:00And you so you want to award multiple contracts for multiple projects. Is that correct? Is that what you're asking? >> yeah yeah. >> I don't see any reason why. Um we

14:11already wrote the RFQ and we are getting proposals back for just general accounting and budgetary uh advisement. But if that's something that, you know, council on the administration wanted to

14:23see, I'm sure that's something we could work into next year's budget. >> Thank you. Any other questions? 10.24. Next one, council. >> Uh the next item is 10.26 resolution

14:39authorizing council 2026 appropriation transfers. The total amount of transfers is 3,430,000. I did send uh pretty lengthy memo to council kind of outlining, you know, the statutory

14:55framework that allows for this, uh the finance department's role in the process, uh some potential consequences if if uh some transfers are not executed. And I did provide, you know, as much

15:08supplemental information as possible from from the budget reports. So I I'll open up I assume there's going to be questions, so I'm ready to answer. >> Questions 10.26 appropriation transfers.

15:23Councilman Levar. >> Council, um I I received a response about this, but I just want to get clarification. The funding from quality of quality of life um was for

15:37inspectors unspent monies, I guess, for some inspector positions. Um the memo as I as I read it suggested that those were for new hires that have not been hired,

15:50I guess, and money remains unspent there. Um I I went back to the budget amendment. I didn't see that we had approved new hires for quality of life inspectors.

16:01Um I know our budget amendment, I know I pushed for quality of life inspectors that were laid off um who were part of the uh the uh layoffs on in July. Um so I I just want to verify in fact

16:17this money is coming because my my review of that uh budget says that there were no no additional funds awarded for for new hires for the quality those quality of life inspectors

16:31not new hires. So, uh >> So, there there is a list of vacancies attached to the memo and there are six at the time of the memo there were six open positions

16:43uh and there are some new position two new positions for safety inspectors in the quality of life. And just want to make make it clear what what is happening here right when the

16:53council authorizes the the or adopts the budget they authorize spending for salaries and wages up up to that amount. What we're doing here is simply taking excess that we know we will not

17:05need this year at the current staffing levels plus open positions to get us through the end of the year. That excess funding we're looking to move into areas of need. That does not

17:16necessarily mean that quality of life cannot execute on those hires. We made sure that there's enough funding to get us through you know the final pay cycle of the year

17:24in the event those hires transpire within the next you know within the next pay cycle. >> I'm I'm looking at the the document um from from the budget the CY 2026 Department of Public Safety um

17:44spreadsheet there were five and and by my count safety inspector and new hires that were listed um as salary of $48,000 each. 2026 draft column had zero meaning the

17:58the way I I interpreted that was that the administration not authorize had to be included in the budget. We did not amend it as far as I know to include new hires for safety inspector although

18:10I did request funding to uh restore the funding for the safety inspectors who were laid off I guess um that sense um And then then there was a skip tracer, I believe, as well that

18:30was prorated in the budget for 32,500. Maybe I'm misinterpreting your your your spreadsheet, but look like it was full $65,000 salary. There was also a new hire. >> Okay.

18:49>> But we only approved in the budget 32,500. >> I'm I'm almost certain we did include those two positions in the amendment. I'll be able to verify that for you today.

18:59Wait, you mentioned you were looking at a column that said draft, so it's possible you did not receive a final version of the budget, but I am 100% certain there are six

19:10vacancies funded. Whether they're ones that were funded through the amendment process, I'll have to I'll have to confirm that for you, but I'm I'm pretty certain they were.

19:20>> I'll just my bottom line is just making sure that those quality of life safety inspectors were laid off that the funding is still available to to fund those positions, which I

19:31understand they're now being advertised, so um >> Kyle, speak to the point 3 million between the budget account uh >> Councilman, I can't really hear you. >> Can you speak

19:53There you go. Can you speak to the the 3.43 million between the budget account including the 3 million from employee health insurance to insurance for the funds cost? >> So

20:09another thing I want to preface is like when you see the transfers, right? In this In this instance, they are almost dollar for dollar, right? You see 3 million, 3 million.

20:17The The source of the funding is is combined, right? And where the funding is being transferred to is is also detailed that way, but it's not necessarily $1 to $1. We try to identify

20:28funding sources so it's cleaner. Um we did identify uh a surplus or excess funding in our employee group health insurance account. Uh so at year end, you know, we think we

20:41have sufficient funding. We verified that uh through third party broker. We verified that with the employee benefit office to make sure that if we transferred this funding, we still have

20:52enough to cover your claims and your bills through the end of the year. That answer was yes. So we identified uh a permissible funding source. Then, you know, we obviously had the

21:02need for 3 million in the insurance fund commission, right? That request, you know, came from uh the risk manager. There is a supplemental memo here explaining

21:12what that funding will be utilized for. Um so that was that was the methodology there, identifying a a funding source that has an equal amount just so we don't have to

21:22pull from so many different areas. >> Okay, that that was my main concern as it um you you covered it as it relates to um it being enough for coverage through the end of the year.

21:38>> Yeah, absolutely. >> Um Kyle, I have a question. So these liabilities were known by March 2025. Uh is there any reason they were not in 2026 budget? They were not included in 2026 budget.

21:56>> That's correct. And Councilman, I do not have like a great answer for you to be honest. Uh what I can say is once we adopted the the budget and we started working on,

22:06you know, getting those monthly variance reports, um we could quickly identified one area of need and this was one of them. Uh our fiscal officer in the administration who works

22:18for, you know, HR, FC and and health insurance, she identified with a shortfall as well. Um so we started into the expenses and which what happened throughout the year.

22:30We were able to pinpoint you know an expenditure that was not necessarily accounted for in in the in the final adopted budget. And you know what I'm doing is providing

22:41you know the legal mechanism to address that and to make sure that you know anything that goes through the Insurance Fund Commission from October through December can can get paid. That covers

22:52premiums uh workers comp payments widow payments uh you know and some other various settlements that the city uh agrees to. So guess it should have been accounted for. It was not.

23:08I don't have a great reason for that. And this is the corrective action now and that's pretty much all I can you know add to this. >> Okay Kyle I have a I have a few questions. Other than IFC

23:24which I understand can things can pop up we have we have settlements workers comp cases pop up um payments that have to be made. Everything other everything other else the um

23:37we adopted a budget fairly late in the year. Why are there any shortcomings for salaries wages uh or any other department? >> Yeah and I do say like you you

23:50you do need to look at each individual account independently from the other. Uh there there could be a multitude of reasons why there will be a shortfall.

23:59And there's just as many possibilities that there's a reason there's going to be uh a savings as well. Uh on personnel you know we we do our best to capture all personnel moves up

24:10to that point. That does not necessarily mean there aren't personnel changes after that point. Employees do get transferred from one department to another. Uh employees resign.

24:21Employees get appointed to permanent titles. So there's a multitude of reasons on the personnel front that I think are much easily uh explained. And usually when we identify funding sources

24:34in those areas, it is clear cut employee from this division left moving the funding to this area. Um overtime is a separate issue, right? That is the department head's responsibility to

24:47manage their overtime budget. If there's an overrun, right? We don't have the finance department does not have authorization on on that. But we do have the authority to do or or you know

25:00uh the avenue to do is present a resolution to council explaining, you know, the mechanism to address it. You could still have your concerns about the management of of the

25:09operations, but that is something that needs to be uh you know addressed independently of of a budget transfer. >> Are any of these departments overspending what we budgeted for?

25:19>> Uh on this resolution right now we are addressing uh some immediate HVAC needs which yes are over budget, but there were things that needed to get done. Uh

25:31the transfer for accounts control is uh corresponds directly to that contract amendment. So without this transfer that contract will not be utilized up to that amount.

25:42And the insurance fund, as I already alluded to, is something yes it's over budget that we do need to cover. Um again the the the Wilcox contract is one example of

25:54operational need that changed from January to August to now, right? There there is there is a need to continue working with them. And ultimately if the council decides

26:05not to, then those are hours we won't be able to use and you know work will get done in house, but there is my opinion there is a need for for them to continue with what they've already

26:16started. Um and that's just again that's just one example of why uh some departments may be in need of funding. >> Uh Kyle, I have um a question in regards to um the $400,000 coming from the

26:32Department of Public Works. Do you know what division or divisions that money is coming from? >> Yes yes and they are listed and there are payroll projection uh projections

26:46provided as well. So Public Works is receiving 400,000 under Buildings and Streets uh maintenance other expenses. 200,000 of that is being sourced from Public Works salaries and wages.

27:01Uh the other 200,000 we identified in Public Safety just because there was not another area in Public Works right now that we felt comfortable taking another 200,000 from.

27:13So it's coming from administrative services 50,000 and automotive maintenance 150,000. >> Any other questions? >> Question. This to my my staff um just we asked for year year to date um

27:34expenditure for all the accounts. Do we get that? Uh you and I talked about it if we can get a copy of of the year to date um you ran that for a string budget during the whole budgets.

27:45>> Yeah absolutely. I I did not get that request yet but once I do I'll I'll be sure to answer it. >> If you could um my staff send that over to resend that. Um and and did we did we get a

27:59breakdown of what comprises the 3 million under the Insurance Fund Commission? >> There's a there's a memo attached there. >> Memo for that. There's a memo from uh

28:11this is administrator and also from our risk manager. >> Thank you. >> Okay call the next one. >> Sorry I'm taking up >> That's okay. >> All right the next item is 10.28

28:29Resolution authorizing the cancellation of 250,000 in excess authorizations uh under ordinance 23050. So this was uh funding that was authorized for the acquisition of a property.

28:46Uh the city has executed that purchase. The purchase price was $250,000 less than what was originally authorized. This will cancel uh that unneeded balance and then when the city

29:02eventually permanently finances that uh cost of that project, it will be for lesser amount. >> So um Kyle, you could just speak to the actual money that was earmarked for and

29:15then the actual price that was paid cuz you said um it's it's 250 more than what guess >> Less. >> 250 less. >> What two 250 less than what we were projected to get it for. So what was the

29:29original amount? >> So the original amount was uh $17.2 million and that was authorized under ordinance 23050. >> 64 is that uh >> 6874 6th Avenue was the address

29:47uh on the ordinance. I know the ordinance sites the area as um area of redevelopment. I don't know the exact plans of that. I just know that the acquisition cost was less

30:00and you know this is the corresponding uh resolution that needs to to be approved so we can go ahead and cancel that excess fund. >> This may not be a question for you um Kyle, but

30:15so so this was we issued some notes Well, let me just get the facts first so I understand. So we issued notes in 23 to acquire this property. Is that correct?

30:26>> We issued bond anticipation notes which is just short-term financing. So when you issue uh notes, eventually the city will have to permanently finance that through bonds.

30:37So when we get to that point, the bonds will be reduced by this amount. So we're paying So when you pay when you issue bands, right? You're paying uh you're paying interest and you're

30:49refinancing them on an annual basis for the most part. So when we go ahead and refinance this, it'll be for the lesser amount. >> So so the purpose of it was to acquire this property.

31:01>> Yeah. The Council authorizes the acquisition and capital improvements. Uh it's it's our obligation to then go ahead and and issue the debt to you know cover the cash flow needs. >> Mhm.

31:16>> And that's what we did with the bond anticipation. >> So did we acquire the property? >> Yes. >> Yeah, look Okay. And and I wasn't around for this. So if folks can enlighten me

31:31given this is in 23 the period in fiscal crisis when when we were running up our bills, how how did we decide that we wanted to spend and put a issue bond anticipation notes

31:44in the amount of $17 million? Does anyone have a >> This is back in 2023 prior to this administration or your tenure with it. Uh I believe this is originally

31:57anticipated from the past Council to be part of the Pompadour project. It's a building that's right across from the I think Passaic building on Sip Avenue. I

32:06believe this is the one that County Allots that the city purchased at the time to be in coordination with the whole Pompadour uh redevelopment project. Obviously that's not going forward. Um

32:16I'd have to double check, but I believe this property might be with the JCRA right now as a property that they're looking to redevelop um to basically you

32:22know recoup this so the city is not on the hook for the $17 million >> Is this Is this the Passaic building? >> It It is not the Passaic building. It's across the street from it. >> us.

32:30>> Yeah. >> So you sure it's not On a map it looks >> It's on the other side of the street. >> So >> so this was part of the Pompano Development uh it was envisioned as?

32:44>> Correct. The original envisioned the 2023. >> And so what what's the city's plans for this property now? >> I believe we're looking to potentially redevelop it um but I had to contact the

32:55JCRA to see what the actual future is as far as affordable housing use thing of those natures. >> Was there any discussion about it that how city is planning to use it?

33:06>> There been some very preliminary discussions but there hasn't been any concrete conversation at this time. >> For the for the path building and the one on the adjacent building?

33:15>> Adjacent, the one across the street. I think they were if memory serves me correct so I apologize if this is wrong. When they originally did the purchase for the path

33:22side and the Pompano and everything together, they purchased three lots. There was the the path side building across the street there was a uh lot that is this lot and there are some like

33:32triangle lot that they purchased kind of all in conjunction with one another and the vision was to use two of those properties to develop the Pompano and I don't know what the third lot was. I

33:39think it was potentially affordable housing or parking or something to that condition um but those are obviously properties now that the city has to reenvision and find a more appropriate

33:48use for. >> My my understanding this may be more appropriate for our JCRA colleagues that the uh Fulton administration promised that building to a KRE for development.

33:57I don't know Peter if you if you recall anything about it. >> I'll get the council a write up from JCRA because I think there seems to be some confusion between what's the

34:06the location um that we're referring to in this document whether it's the path side building or it was not the path side building. So, let me get uh a memo

34:15to the council from JCRA with a clear description of uh what exactly what properties we're talking about here. >> Just want to make clear regardless of the real estate uh

34:28redevelopment or whatever is going on that property, this resolution is just to cancel the authorization because the city is not going to need to issue debt up to that original amount.

34:40>> So, we're saving 250 >> in terms of >> Correct. >> Um I know. I know. That's I use that term loosely. Um I mean I guess again the putting aside the resolution just the idea that we have a

35:01So but the 16 point the actual acquisition cost whatever we actually spent on it um to acquire it is that that it's on our books in our in our >> It's currently on the books under bond

35:15anticipation notes. >> Yeah. >> Uh they will mature in July of 2027. City has to make a determination there what's the most feasible option to refinance those notes on a short term or

35:29issue bonds to enter into a permanent financing. >> Or or we could turn around and resell the property to somebody else cuz we had no business acquiring that property. I mean without

35:42knowing all the facts here but it sounds like it was part of the Pompadour. So if we cancel the Pompadour uh project it sounds like we had probably no business

35:52purchasing this property or keeping this property for that purpose. Um so why not just cut our losses and in fact maybe we could turn a profit and I say profit we're not in the profit business

36:04but taxpayers can get uh um get some relief get this off our books >> Yeah I mean I think if >> I just offer that as an idea for the administration to consider.

36:13>> If if if the administration goes that route I I'll check with our you know our advisors but obviously the any proceeds from the uh land sale may have to be

36:22used to pay down the debt. I'm not entirely sure but that's something uh the first pay down the debt but I'll I'll look into that. >> Yeah I I think if we sold it and we got

36:31more than 16.95 million we should pay down that debt get it off our books and just if we can buy it pay it out early I don't know how that works but >> And Council President I do stand

36:42corrected. The old address was 68 74 Sidbury for the past side building. The new address is 25 Dover Square, which is what the confusion was. So this is referring to the past side building.

36:53>> Okay, so it is. Okay. >> So this is Pathside? >> Okay. >> This building is Pathside, correct. It still stands that there is multiple properties involved in this. This one

37:03obviously is just the one property. $250,000 we do not have to spend. But to your point, Council President, we'll work to get you a more detailed analysis of those properties and how

37:13they're being envisioned for the future. >> We bought that from the county, right? >> The purchase at the time I think I said it was three properties altogether that

37:22were purchased from the county. One was the county college, one was the Pathside building, and I think there's a weird triangle lot as well. >> Long closing cuz

37:32it was still on the council in '21 when when that was being talked when we committed to purchasing that, so. >> We're not known for moving fast, councilman. >> Okay, next one.

37:45>> I think there's only two more, so. 10.29 Resolution authorizing the cancellation of improvement authorizations in the aggregate amount of $52,266,000 under Ordinance 18113. Similar to the

38:02previous resolution, this is just canceling an authorized amount that the city can legally issue for the intended use of that project. That project was or that debt was

38:15transferred over to the JCRA back in 2021. So this is a resolution that really should have been done in 2021. There are no notes or bonds issued by the city for this debt. So there's no

38:30impact on any budget of any future budget. All this will do is reduce our our net debt and, you know, accurately reflect accurately reflected on our debt statements. >> Questions?

38:48>> Yeah, these uh this debt was for um just phase >> Bayfront We had Bayfront uh one I believe was the the ordinance. >> You're psychic. I was going to ask what phase. Okay. >> Last one.

39:08>> 10.36 Resolution accepting the 2026 best practices inventory questionnaire. So the city does have to complete this questionnaire on an annual basis. It is the

39:21responsibility of the chief financial officer and the business administrator. I'm presenting it on behalf of our CFO who's who's sitting back here. Uh but if you'd like to reference local

39:32finance notice 2026 uh -14 uh there was a a filing date of October 30th. The city did file in time. We did score um we did meet the the minimum amount to have you know 100% in state aid

39:52uh for 2027 and our score was 38.5 out of 55. >> What was the minimum threshold to >> 34 four scored 37 last year if it's worth anything. So >> Worse yesterday last year?

40:12>> That we're we're up 1.5 from last year. >> Um so so I had raised the question um with regard to the earlier resolution about white cuts. Um so our annual financial statements were late

40:28according to the report I the best practice questionnaire I think uh was that identified as being late? >> Uh yes. >> And then there were a couple of other documents that were considered uh

40:39I don't have it in front of me right now. I'm trying to pull it up but that were also considered late. And >> And there's only there's only so many that have deadlines which are, you know,

40:50the annual budget, the user friendly budget and the audit. So the annual financial statement was not filed by the statutory deadline. The budget was not adopted by the

41:01statutory deadline either. So those answers were no. And we did not gain any points there. >> It was also like the the the budget friendly wasn't posted. >> Correct. >> One of our

41:15constituents were asking about that and >> They are I will say they're both versions of the user friendly budget should be on the website now. At least the adopted is. So.

41:28>> So so are there plans for this this the city's finance department to bring this these numbers up? >> Always there are there are some questions that don't pertain to finance. So

41:41you know we will work with you know the BA's office. We'll look back at what we scored and where we could have done better. And hopefully next year we have a higher

41:48score but you know the most important thing is you know we we met the threshold. We get 100% of our aid next year with no withholdings. That's that's the the most important thing here.

42:00>> I'm sorry this is the score from 2026 or it's the 2020 from 25? >> It's the 2026 score. >> Thank you. I'm just looking at my my notes here. So the financial statements was been late

42:18the last four years every year. The budget adoption late the last four years this year being exception because it was made it I guess. And we still don't have labor contracts posted. Is that

42:40accurate? >> The time of our questionnaire they were not. I'm not sure. I have not followed up yet on that but be a question for the BA's office and HR. >> I'm Look, I'm just bringing this up

42:56because We we have this which we all know. We're we're under state control and in order to get out from under some of the the kind of mandates that they've imposed upon us,

43:13this score needs to get up, right? So I'm not I'm not pinning this on you, Kyle, and previous administration. Good Good to see we got our points up 1.5, but I think the goal here is to get it

43:27up much much higher and we should be striving for that is what I'll say. That we need to aim higher this It's my comment for the record. >> Any other questions? Thank you. >> Thank you.

43:48>> Next up, Director Vincent, Recreation. >> Evening City Council Council members and Council President Ridley. Director Vincent here for Recreation. We are talking about resolution item 10.8.

44:08But before I get into that, I just want to say first thank you to all the Council members that came out this weekend that participated in our adaptive sport programs.

44:17I really appreciate your service and your commitment and you spending that time with the kids. It was an amazing experience. 10.8 resolution of the Municipal Council

44:28of the City of Jersey City authorizing the acceptance of a grant from Hudson County Department of Health and Human Services for the Municipal Alliance for the prevention of substance use

44:38disorder for the grant year July 1 through June 30th, 2027. July 1, 2026, sorry. Any questions? >> Questions 10.8? >> Who is the who comprises the Municipal Alliance today? Do we know?

44:56>> Well, the Are you referring to who is who are the recipients of that of this grant or >> So when I just as background I I served as the chairman of the municipal alliance

45:09when I my first stint around this. So there was the municipal alliance that had members who and then there were the grantees. Um and I believe the grantees were were

45:20separate from the municipal alliance members. That's my recollection. >> Well, I'll I'll be honest our involvement here is probably the equivalent of a third string quarterback right now.

45:29>> Yeah. >> So we we kind of got this a little late and we had to audible. Councilman Zupa, I know you like my sports references. Um we we're we're learning this as we go so I can get you that

45:42information. Um but you know I I did speak to director Ivory Green um post these decisions and we're going to work together closely in the future to make sure that it's a collaborative effort.

45:55>> It was under HHS before, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. So I don't know if this was like a rookie prank or something but I I'm I'm happy to be involved in this. So um we we're we're doing our best.

46:08I'll get you that information. I'm not exactly sure who all the members are right now. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Any Go ahead, councilman. >> Uh director, good to see you this

46:20weekend. Um great programs that grateful to attend. >> Thank you. >> The the match with the match um of $20,000 come from HHS or recreation budget? >> It's going to It's going to come from

46:36recreation right now um in in the um in the match um through Pam's salary. She right now will be like the compliance person and and just the communicator and coordinator with these

46:48four recipients um as it relates to the programming and that information being disseminated out to the public via recreation and HHS. But it will come from her salary match.

47:02>> I see. Already, already budgeted salary match. >> Okay. Okay, thank you. >> Any other questions? 10.8 Thank you, director. >> No problem. Have a good evening. >> Director Dublin.

47:17>> Can you just say one thing? >> One second. >> Just I just want to say no, just the buddy baseball had a great time. Um completely worn out from that day. Still, still today I'm

47:28still recovering. Um that's more on me and showing my age, but >> We have ice packs, but we don't have icy hot. And I'll make sure next time we have some for you. No problem.

47:39>> Coach Delphino almost made us run laps, councilman, but he spared us. >> Director Dublin, DPW. >> Evening. I have resolutions. First one is 10.15 resolution purchasing the sale of 17

48:02the auction of 177 vehicles from the Division of Automotive. >> Questions, 10.15. >> Yes. Um not it's related to this, but not directly to this. Um there's been an incident that happened where

48:19um a young man brought a vehicle from the police auction or the the auction from the pound. Um and then subsequently when he went to try to sell that car, the purchaser went

48:36to try to get insurance and the car turned up stolen out of New York. Um the man have spent X amount of money rehab in the car cuz I believe the car was crashed when he first got it or

48:51whatever. Um so I'm just trying to see how who do he contact to help rectify that situation. I don't even know how it's even possible that a auction, municipal auction car can be stolen.

49:06>> I'm not sure, >> Councilman. >> but I >> Director, if you don't mind I can take that one. It It's happened before, Councilman. It happens occasionally,

49:13unfortunately. The problem is when they impound the vehicles, the staff there runs a search where they contact a national database, they contact similar municipalities to get the information.

49:24Not everyone complies that information quickly. So if New York doesn't have the information to provide to us that it was stolen, we don't always know that. So

49:32eventually they have to sell it. Um we can't have a car sitting there, you know, for too long. We have a lot of turnover. So it gets sold and then it comes up at a later point in time. How

49:41we've handled that traditionally is that individuals should reach out to the law department. Um they do reimburse them as much as they can. Uh I say that because if they've made

49:51significant modifications or spent a lot of their own money on things, there's certain limits that we can, you know, we we can't go to. Um but I Not knowing what happened specifically,

50:00I would have that person reach out to the the law department. We'll review it, um see what we can do to kind of make that person whole for not their mistake. >> So you said uh it can happen

50:12based on how fast a municipality respond for actual sale. >> Yeah, so we contact or that division contacts like New York City or other places if it's an out of state plate to

50:24see if they have the information. If it doesn't come back stolen or they don't provide the information, then sometimes eventually it gets sold thinking that it's an abandoned car and

50:33not registered or whatever else. And we find out later on. Um memory serves me right, happened before where insurance company actually replaced the value the

50:41vehicle. But I can get the more details with you offline and we can discuss it, you know, at that time. >> I have a question. Um Director, do we have a estimate of how much revenue

50:54we're going to bring in from these cars? >> It's an auction. Bring the mic closer to you. I'm sorry. Unfortunately we wouldn't. It's an auction. Um so I wouldn't be able to pinpoint the amount

51:04of money we're going to generate from it. >> Okay, do we know where um the bids would start? Do they Do the bids start at the same at the at the same amount or not?

51:20>> No, I don't believe they start all at the same amount. >> Councilman, if you look at the attachment at the bottom, I know you have to scroll a while to get to it. >> I don't have my

51:28>> I'm sorry, but for the future, they list for the because it comes up quick or a lot with these public auctions. They attach the starting bid amount at the very bottom

51:36of the document. You'll see depending type of vehicle, if it's scrap, if it's new, etc. Um, and we have checked with DPW. Historically, we've always gotten this

51:46at least the value of the vehicle if not more than the vehicle back. So we are not losing money on this program. >> All right, thank you. I'll I'll take a look when I

51:54>> Can you tell us This is like the We've done several of these. Do we have numbers on how much we're getting? >> I don't have the numbers in front of me,

52:03but I can get them for you, Councilman. >> My office can send that via council requests. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> Next one. >> Resolution 10.16 Resolution rejecting

52:23the bid received by the city on September 22nd for a contract for the materials for the sign shop, Department of Public Works, Division of Buildings and Streets.

52:33>> Now this one, the bids came in too high, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. So another RFP went out? >> Another RFP once this is rejected will go out. >> Okay. >> So if if I may ask, um

52:49what are what are the materials needed and how urgent is this need? >> The materials are for the actual producing of signs that the city uses citywide. >> Well, this this is not

53:02This is not to make them. This is just actual materials for the print shop. >> Yes. >> It's like the the aluminum, correct? >> Yes. >> This is unrelated to the parking

53:14enforcement shortage of paper signs that they have. >> Unrelated. >> completely separate? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And and what kind of changes are needed on the RFP to get more substantive bids

53:27next time? Do we Do we have a sense of anything we can do on our end as the city to to get more substantive bids? >> Sorry, I I didn't You came in broken up. I didn't >> Oh, sorry. Um

53:39have we identified any changes that like we should make to the RFP on our end as the city to get more substantive bids next time? >> Yes, it is my understanding that not

53:48only that the bids come up um one one bid it on We received one bid that wasn't covering all of the necessities. Then another bid was completely over the

53:58threshold of what we anticipated. So not only are we going to reject it for that, but also to strengthen the scope of work. >> Thank you. >> Next one. >> Last but not least, 10.18 resolution

54:11authorizing the payment claim submitted by Lombardi Door Doors Sales and Services. >> Questions 10.18? >> Second. >> So this is a claim against so >> Yes. >> What's the um >> The amount?

54:36>> No, what's the reason that it wasn't >> So >> contracted. >> Hold on one second. I'm sorry. I just paper. The resolutions for the Lombardi's Doors was that unfortunately we missed the

54:50mark to renew on time and we were out of um contract service for it, but it's obviously an an actual huge necessity with our doors for the fire department. Um so we continued to uh

55:03provide He continued to provide the service from January I'm sorry, from February to July. >> Yes, I'm wondering is the person who is um doing the purchase realize we were out of contract or?

55:18>> No, sir. She did not. Any other questions? All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next up, uh Lawrence Cyran, Health and Human Services. >> Good evening, Council President, Council

55:50members. My name is Dr. Lawrence Cyran, Jersey City Health Department, Assistant Health Officer, designee for Paul Bellan-Boyer, Health Officer of Jersey City.

56:00I'm here today for resolution 26-725, item number 10.7. This is a resolution authorizing the payment of claims submitted by Hudson Regional Health Commission for providing

56:13a broad range of environmental health services in 2026 pursuant to it to the County Environmental Health Act for the Department of Health and Human Services. Uh

56:25Hudson Regional Health has submitted the municipal assessment. We are one of 12 municipalities for Hudson Regional. Uh there was a total amount of $87,944.

56:37Quarterly payments consisted of $21,986. We have three outstanding invoices from Hudson Regional Health Commission in the totaling amount of $65,958. >> Questions, 10.7? >> Um

57:00thank you. Just want to get this on the public record that this is uh separate from the Hudson Regional Health HRH. Um that's the real estate developers who illegally closed Christ

57:11Hospital. This is um, good work you are doing. That's part of the county, correct? >> Yeah, they they have the county Environmental Health Act, which a little bit of history goes back to 1986.

57:23It's run by the Department of Environmental Protection. Our city must comply with certain state mandated services that are provided. We do that jointly through the county such as

57:36air pollution, noise pollution complaints, hazardous material response, mosquito control, community vaccinations, right to know programs. So we do get quite a bit of services from

57:49Hudson Regional. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? Okay, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Director Burns Health and Human Services. >> Hello, Council President Ridley, members

58:20of the Jersey City Municipal Council. Division of Animal Care and Control has one item for you this evening. It is resolution number 26-724 agenda number 10.6.

58:34It is a resolution authorizing the city of Jersey City to accept a $5,000 grant from Best Friends Animal Society for the Division of Animal Care and Control.

58:45This grant does not require matching funds from the city and it is to benefit and enrich the lives of dogs and cats at risk at the shelter. >> Questions? 10.6

59:06>> So when you say at risk of being sheltered, what what this are we talking about like food supply for owners or um >> The the way they've written it is broadly termed for that so we can

59:20interpret how we would like it. I we would probably use it much more specifically and granular as they said it. At risk animals for us are animals that are under a lot of stress

59:34that are experiencing some some behavior complications. Some of them are from the shelter environment. I I would I would intend on using the funds that way bringing a behaviorist to

59:45make sure my staff completely as at least as well as we can train understands animal language and animal behavior and and take the steps to help them decompress their stay which

59:57then makes them easier to find new homes. >> Any other questions? Thank you director. >> Thank you. >> Council President just um just going back to the previous one

1:00:14is the gentleman still here? The health commission was a >> Dr. Dr. Siren is still here yes. >> Sorry looking at the the term of this contract for this there's a

1:00:31says the assessment is for a one year term effective as of January 1 2026 for December 31 2026. Just wondering assessment is that I mean we're we're in November so that's why I'm wondering

1:00:49>> a quarterly assessment. >> But it's a quarterly assessment? >> Quarterly assessment 87,000 is the total for the whole year. >> So 87's for the entire year? >> Yes. >> Um

1:01:02is this like essentially like a contract like we're paying them right? >> Yes we do. >> So I mean when we get shouldn't we get this November 2025? >> Uh

1:01:14what I understand we had a a temporary budget and we were paying the funds as they became available. >> Can we get the 2027 bill already? And >> I Not yet. Not >> All right. Thank you.

1:01:29>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Irma Gonzalez, Public Safety. Good evening, Council President, Council members. I'm here for resolution 26-732, agenda item 10.14. A resolution authorizing a

1:01:48>> Can you send the mic to you a little bit more? >> Resolution 26-732, agenda item 10.14. A resolution authorizing a lien against the properties listed herein for the

1:02:00cost of removing litter, debris, etc. in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.14 and Jersey City Code section 287-4. >> Questions 10.14. >> I just have a question more for the uh

1:02:18BA. Um how What's the road to get Cuz this is clean and lean. Correct? >> Correct. Yes. >> What's the path to um getting that to happen? >> So So there's no like

1:02:33there's no specific formula where it has to 10 things has to happen and the 11th thing is this. Generally the path is when there's a blighted lot that has issues with litter, etc., it gets

1:02:44reported to the city or the city might notice it as we do our rounds. Uh we generally do a warning or issue a violation to that property to let them know, hey, this lot has overgrown weeds,

1:02:55trash, whatever it might be. Um if those violations are ignored after a certain period of time, whether it be multiple violations or, you know, a length of

1:03:04time that is has not been remediated, then the ultimate option is we can send our own, you know, workers out there to do the clean and lean as you indicated, and then submit for the lien to

1:03:14reimburse city for those expenses. >> Got it. >> So the one of the triggering factors is the property owner ignoring summonses. >> Correct. >> Got it. I can think of a >> A few

1:04:30>> a few properties in Ward B then we're you know always looking at those and appreciate the cooperation of uh you know the courts and the prosecutor when we ask about those

1:04:41specific properties and tracking those Lisa in particular thank you for always being on the ball. Thank you. >> I would encourage the council too if there are lots that you think should be

1:04:50addressed like that reach out to Quality of Life Director Joe Barrow. He'll be happy to kind of put that on his radar and make sure they're followed through properly.

1:04:58>> He's been issuing tickets like no one's business lately. I'm telling you they on a rampage over there. So I'm telling you. >> Can I ask on these these amounts um

1:05:13these are the is this the cost of the cleanup or the services that we city did to um >> Yeah, con condition. I I don't know the There's a statutory calculation for what

1:05:26you can charge for. I believe it's materials, gas, you know, labor, that type of stuff. So I don't know the exact ratios, but yes, it's essentially the

1:05:34cost of the labor and the materials that were necessary to clean up the uh the lots. >> So I don't need this before I'm I'm going to vote yes, but I'm just I'd like to see just kind of what

1:05:44how this number gets calculated because if it is for the cost, it seems some of these seem really low. Like we could be charging them more um for manpower and things like that. That's uh

1:05:54um and not to say um uh I I'm just imagining that if they're you're pulling weeds and cleaning things up I I mean, I've I've spent more on my daughter to do um

1:06:08yard work and stuff like that than than some of these numbers that we're putting out here. >> If she's anything like you, she's probably very diligent councilman. But

1:06:14uh yes, uh I'll get the exact calculation. I know there's a statutory framework for it. So I don't think we can charge We charge with it in that framework, but I'll get the exact

1:06:22calculations. >> Uh I can see In particular, this item I it's like a 10 a 10 address radius and I think that total is 134. There's no There's There's There's going to be nothing that's 134.

1:06:42You're starting with bags is $50. Um so I don't know That's I mean, it's 138 to 148. That's five addresses potentially. So I don't know how they got to that number.

1:07:00Maybe all of it ain't needed. That is something that jumps out, right? >> Yeah, I can I can tell you just looking at these prices, especially some of the properties that I I know personally

1:07:14um how nasty they are um you know, this this this right here I mean, it it's I think it's a disservice to the community because what what what happens is these these property owners they're

1:07:28looking at these summonses like they're cheaper than hiring a landscaper. Right? A landscaper is going to charge at least I I can tell you right now [address]

1:07:40Monticello if I was a landscaper and they called me I want 2,500 to clean that because I mean you got mattresses you got weeds you got I mean these these properties are filthy

1:07:53and um I mean if there's any way we can you know raise the summonses um I I I think you know that'll that'll uh make these um property owners stay stay on top of their

1:08:08their um property's upkeep. >> Sure happy to discuss it more offline. I I will just add that the cleanup also include well does not include the summonses and violations received

1:08:18beforehand. So you might get multiple summonses you have to pay those and be responsible for them and then reimburse the city for whatever you know manpower

1:08:27supplies were were expended. Um and if you have any more questions feel free to email the council request too. We'll make sure we get you know responses back

1:08:34to you um and I have any conversations offline that you want to discuss. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I do have one more question Peter. Um is there like is there anything we can do as it

1:08:49relates to like repeat offenders like historically there's been some people who haven't been doing anything and for them from a financial standpoint it all right they'll do it they'll charge

1:09:02you 4 or 500 right nine times out of 10 they only going to clean it once a summer. Figure I get my whole property maintenance for one summer I get two summonses for about $100 a piece and

1:09:15then the actual cleaning another 4 or 500 that's good business. So is is there anything to say as it relates to repeat offense? >> I I'm sure there is, councilman. I think

1:09:28it's probably going to take a more detailed discussion. Again, happy to sit down with your office so we can have that conversation and figure out what might be done. Then any other council

1:09:35that might want to join. >> Okay. Thank you. Director Webb, finance. >> Good evening, council president and council. I have one resolution for your consideration. This item

1:10:0810.10 resolution 26 -728 is a resolution authorizing the city of Jersey City department of finance division of grants administration to accept public library um NJFY27

1:10:27per capita aid funding for the year of 2027. The amount is $159,323 and this is passed through that we accept. The money comes to the city and then we pass it through to the um Jersey

1:10:46City Library. >> Questions, 10.10? >> Do we know where the library is going to use those funds? >> I have the I have the library here and they can speak to that. >> Thank you.

1:11:11>> Good evening. Good evening, honorable council members. I'm Charles Hatchett, director of finance, Jersey City Free Public Library. Generally, the library has three platforms.

1:11:23One regarding people, the properties, and our basic platforms. Our platforms include uh IT, making computers available for city residents at no charge. Generally, these funds will be matched

1:11:38to what we get from the three mill of operating amounts. And we cover make your pardon, any emergencies that occur. You know, we had five corners, so certainly those funds get looked at to

1:11:52apply for making sure that our buildings are in good share, good state. >> Yeah, I was just looking for a little more specificities specificity, sir, if

1:12:01you could, because you know, as when we had the budget hearings back in July and Five Corners was announced as being closed, there was $0 committed by the library at that time

1:12:11for Five Corners. So can we get a commitment where this money is going to go? >> We we will think that Well, Five Corners is now open based on what we spent on

1:12:20using Peneta that the city helped us get. >> Right. >> That's normally part of our normal maintenance process. We see which building needs the most attention and we apply the funds there.

1:12:32So now we're winterizing our buildings and those monies will probably be used for winterizing and making sure the heat is on in every building. Are there any other repairs with

1:12:41electricity or things like that? Our biggest burden now is our maintaining our facilities because of the new costs of, you know, um energy and repairs because the

1:12:54economy is just the percentage of inflation is just that great. So we anticipate using it somewhere in those areas of maintenance and repair. >> Okay. Thank you. I I mean, selfishly, I

1:13:05would like Five Corners to see that money. Obviously, that yes, it's open now. It's a temporary fix. We're going to need a massive investment to save that building going forward.

1:13:16The library is going to need to set aside money for rental payments for for when those renovations are are made. And I I would love for the city since our relationship with the library board

1:13:26is better than it's ever been. There's communication, there's dialogue, there's collaboration to fix the building. So instead of just passing the money through, I would like to have that

1:13:33conversation between the city and the library about prioritizing some of our buildings that to avoid what happened to Five Corners. >> We'll certainly be happy to make any

1:13:41presentation so we can get your assistance. Thank you. Any other questions? >> Thank you so much. I did have a couple of questions. I And this is not going to affect how I vote,

1:13:53right? I I do obviously plan to vote yes. I think, you know, this money is is probably badly needed and I would love to see the Five Corners branch open again as well as much needed

1:14:04improvements to our other branches. But I was curious Jersey City's per capita state aid award category is $1.25 per resident, but Jersey City as well as every other

1:14:18municipality in the state received only 43.583% of full funding due to quote making any deductions necessary for failure to meet administrative code requirements.

1:14:33It it seems bizarre to me that every municipality would have failed to meet administrative code requirements by exactly 43.583%. So I'm I don't know if you guys know

1:14:46this or if this is a question for the state, but I'm curious what were these administrative code requirement violations and why are all municipalities receiving the same

1:14:55deduction? Is this a case of some towns didn't meet the requirements and now the whole class gets detention or like what what is going on with that? >> In the past, our directors have asked

1:15:06our state representatives to take that up in their caucuses so they could address that percentage inadequacy. So that's something we ask our state senators and state representatives to

1:15:17take up for our causes every year. So it's just a it's just a budget matter that the state I guess wants to shorten their outlays to the cities and these are one of the casualties.

1:15:32>> And and in previous years when our state delegation looked into it, were they ever able to get a solid answer or or not really? >> I think we had a small percentage

1:15:41increase. This is the highest we've gotten in any return in any years in the past. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other question? Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Good evening. >> City Planner.

1:16:10>> Good evening, President and Council. I'm here on two items. Um uh First item is 3.6 Ordinance 26-094 an ordinance authorizing the execution of an easement agreement affecting the

1:16:27property located at 55 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey and designated as block 14505 lot one on the official tax assessment map of the city of Jersey City. This is

1:16:40in reference to 55 Hudson uh Street that is a that is a mixed-use building that is nearing completion um and there are two plaza areas uh that are part of this

1:16:55easement agreement which also includes maintenance and public access um enclosed in this ordinance is the the easement agreement as well as several exhibits. Um this was um was

1:17:11reviewed by the law department and submitted by Mr. Peter Hordon. Um I also have council of the 455 Hudson here should there be any questions. Um I think that there could be I saw one I

1:17:31saw one uh one typo in here so I am going to be submitting or or trying to get a hold of this original document to to fix that typo. Um but if there are any other

1:17:43questions, I'd be happy to answer those. >> Questions 3.6. >> Yeah. Um Matt, I'm not sure why there is a timing to use the outdoor area. It is a public it is for public use and

1:18:00in summertime if I'm walking my dog and I want to sit there for an hour, why do I have to just What's I I'm not able to understand why >> Yeah, I think you're speaking in

1:18:14reference to exhibit E which is um a list of prohibited and or restricted activities. >> Yeah. >> I think you're speaking specifically to the item towards the bottom that says

1:18:31any activity other than walking past 10:00 p.m. or before 8:00 a.m. Um there is some contradiction here and I think that the Council if they want to come up and speak to that particular

1:18:43point that we could address that and and and uh switch that language out. Um but if you look into the easement agreement, it does say 24 hour access seven days a week.

1:18:56Um so we can bring up Mr. Garcia if if you want to ask that question to him. >> Good evening Council President, Council members, George Garcia here from Connell

1:19:09Foley on behalf of the applicant. Just a couple of clarities. These both of these plazas will be open 24 hours a day. Um the preamble of the easement was reciting the redevelopment plan.

1:19:24We're going to clarify that which is a significant to clearly say it's 24 hours. I think the walking as Matt mentioned, I don't think my client will object

1:19:34to having it be a 24 hour pedestrian walkway. The purpose of schedule E is to make sure it's not disruptive to the public in general. But purpose of the

1:19:44easement if you're walking your dog at 11 or if you need to sit down, that's not an issue. There was also one other clarification. We used the word lounge in one of the conditions.

1:19:58I think we're going to tweak that to make sure this is not This is meant for you to sit down, have a sandwich, relax for your kids. That's the purpose of the plaza.

1:20:07So we're going to clarify that. >> Sorry. What I I'm not understanding. What is the use of this if we are not >> Oh, the use is for the Well, it's part of the sidewalk. So the sidewalk would

1:20:20be a 10-ft sidewalk, which would be your normal sidewalk. This extends all the way into the building. There'll be public benches, places for people to walk around. So it's meant to open up

1:20:30the pedestrian walkway to connect it to 99 Hudson, all the other buildings that go down. So the purpose is to have as part of the planning approval condition.

1:20:41We needed to dedicate that bigger portion to the city to be open to the public for 24 hours. That's that's the purpose of this plaza and the smaller plaza on Green Street.

1:20:54>> So this is a a public plaza. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Because I know there's a like a council woman saying was referred to exhibit E. There is a long list of

1:21:04like restrictions. Wouldn't the restrictions and some of them are a little extreme, wouldn't the wouldn't the I guess restrictions fall under regular city laws or laws that currently

1:21:20govern public parks or spaces? >> We yes, >> We we need this list. >> So council president, this exhibit was worked on with Corporation Council over the years.

1:21:32It's included in many of these easement agreements. As you can see for public safety reasons, you don't want gambling activities, don't want intoxicated individuals in the plaza.

1:21:45And because the developers responsible uh with the law department to make sure everyone understands their responsibilities. So that's the reason for the list.

1:22:05Um we're if if this council is inclined to tweak some of them, we have no problem clarifying some issues that have been raised. >> Yeah, I I would like to see lounging

1:22:15removed. I I as right now exhibit E states the developer may remove members of the public for lounging in this space and and frankly I think that's a little

1:22:25ableist. It's it's a privilege to be able to walk through the space um without having to stop and sit. So you know I I and peo people should be allowed to sit down and enjoy the space.

1:22:36It's a public space. So I'm not comfortable voting for it with lounging as a prohibited activity. >> I agree. I I don't think my client will have an objection removing that

1:22:47before it's voted on. >> A few of the other um terms here just again the the timing of 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. um someone wants to go on a 7:00 a.m. run. Is that I mean I I would

1:23:01I would hope that can get clarified. Then also um organized activities without the specific written consent of the developer are prohibited. Um I just worry a little bit about

1:23:14the kind of impact on free expression. Um if it's meant to be used as a public plaza, let's say there are there's an environmental group that wants to make a statement about um

1:23:27yeah environmental issues on the Hudson River and they're at the public plaza. I mean is this is this a kind of demonstration of that kind um within the bounds of

1:23:38the city's own laws, would that be prohibited? And then lastly just a question on how this be Is is this like a issue of the developer landlord calls JCPD to

1:23:50deal with XYZ issue that violates this list or would it be developer private security calling uh being called in? >> This would probably be and I'm not

1:24:02familiar with the operations I get that but it would probably be a de-escalation from the operations folks at the at the building uh not confrontational. And then of course if

1:24:12the situation where uh to escalate we'd have JCPD to come in and and you know do what what what they do a great job at. But it's not the point here to chill

1:24:23anyone's speech um that it it's more of the point to have that plaza open. We can clarify that um before if if the council's okay with it before second reading we could have everything

1:24:36revised to address everyone's comments. Uh lounging language can be removed. The A2 the timing restriction uh can be probably removed uh and uh we'll we'll address the public

1:24:52gathering. I'll run all that by my client tomorrow. >> Thank you. I I mean I do believe corporation counsel correct me if I'm wrong this would need to be tweaked

1:25:01prior to the introduction because any substantial change would mean >> That's exactly what I was just going to say. Yep. So >> We'll be we could be able to tweak it

1:25:11before introduction. You'll have it tomorrow. >> Yes, by Thursday morning. >> Okay. And um can I can I ask just real quick the process of um getting you all these suggestions

1:25:25should should that come through council info request? Should that be directed toward yourself council or or corporation counsel? >> You you can just send it to me and I'll

1:25:35confer with Mr. Garcia and uh revise the document and re-upload it. >> Thank you. I didn't mean to cut you off councilman. >> No, if we can do that that's fine. I was

1:25:45just going to say, you know, there's there's I mean, I understand no drinking, but the area that's you're in, to say that you cannot be intoxicated, like if you're coming from a restaurant

1:25:56or someplace and you need to take a breath and have a seat. I mean, if this is if this is a a a public space, you know, if people need to like get gather

1:26:07themselves, if they need to sit down, gather themselves, I mean, there's restaurants and bars in this area, and then loitering, um, again, that's, you know, um,

1:26:18the Supreme Court already said it's against the law to, um, to make uh, loitering criminal, right? Um, because people have the right to assemble. Um, yeah, there's just some things that

1:26:33need to be taken out. But but I I get you a lot of a lot of this stuff in here, like the councilwoman, uh, council president said, um, it's it's like no brainers, like all of

1:26:45this stuff is already on, um, on record, and um, a lot of people understand this because I mean, even if even if, you know, this is here, right? Like how

1:26:57it's going to be enforced the way it's enforced already. >> And council I think the purpose is to for folks who are disorderly. So I will send corporation counsel something to address

1:27:11>> Sure. Sure. >> comments as well. >> And um, really quickly, I I would also want to see this clause at the um, this clause in exhibit E that says this list is not

1:27:26intended to be all inclusive, and the developer may prohibit or restrict other activities which it, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines interfere with the quiet enjoyment and

1:27:36safety of the residents of the project and the public and the proper use of the plaza. I I would also like to see that struck out um, because it, you know,

1:27:46we can strike lounging, we can strike loitering, and then if if this clause is in there, then the developer can just choose arbitrarily to enforce lounging and loitering and and what have

1:27:58you. So, you know, if these are all concerns, I would also like to see that clause removed. >> Okay. I I will discuss all this with my client. Again, the purpose is

1:28:08for disorderly individuals. This is not meant for people who are peacefully enjoying the space. I will make sure I send something to Corporation Council tomorrow and to Mr. Ward

1:28:19uh with our comments so they can turn it over to you and you can tell us if if they're acceptable or not. But I appreciate the time if there are no other questions. >> Council

1:28:30>> Oh yeah, sure. >> Uh Mr. Garcia >> Hey >> you Um so I just want to get my facts right cuz I'm not familiar with this um So 55 Hudson is um a property that's already been constructed?

1:28:44>> It's a building that has been constructed, yes. And it's in the it's in the process of attaining its final uh TCOs and CFOs. And as part of the approval this site plan approval

1:28:56the easements to the plazas needed to be dedicated as public plazas. And that's why that's why we're here tonight. >> Um and just as a as a public plaza, the one thing I noticed was that um

1:29:08doesn't prohibit um smoking um I didn't see that on the list. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Um but all of our public uh properties, public parks maybe it's smoking, so I'd like to see

1:29:23that included. Um as well as um smoking of all >> smoking of all vaping, I understand. I understand. I will discuss it with my client. I don't see that to be objectionable.

1:29:37>> Is is there commercial space at this building? >> Yes, there is commercial space there. >> Okay. So what are they are they looking to bring a restaurant or like

1:29:48>> So the biggest retailer there, which is public There will be a Trader Joe's going into that site >> Okay. >> on on the site along Green Street. The rest will be smaller retail.

1:30:02So the plazas really aren't impacted by the retail uses. But there will be retail, restaurants, whatever's >> Right. And okay, so that that So then if they're like restaurants, even Trader

1:30:17Joe's if if I'm with people and I say, hey, meet me at 55 Hudson or Trader Joe's, but meet me here at the plaza. Um I mean how do you distinct how will they be how

1:30:33will they distinct um or or figure out who's who's who's um basically supposed to be there, who's not? >> Well, there's no the public plaza is in front of is on the Hudson Street side,

1:30:48which is only for which really pretty much faces a rental the entrance to the building itself for the tenants >> Okay. >> and a small like gym area. Now

1:30:58Trader Joe's is on the back side of the building. >> you. >> So that doesn't have well frontage doesn't have a public plaza. >> Okay. >> There's a small plaza there, but that's

1:31:08the emergency exit. >> Mhm. >> So you wouldn't meet at that plaza cuz the entrance would be on the the corner of the Green and Sussex or I think it's Green and Sussex. >> Okay.

1:31:22>> It's where the entrance to the Trader Joe's There wouldn't be that wouldn't be mistaken for public >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> If I may um

1:31:34just looking at the agreement page eight of 23 um the number eight item number eight in there the final sentence if if the law department could just clarify for me what this the city

1:31:48acknowledges and agrees that pursuant to the plan plazas shall at all times remain private property nothing in agreement shall be construed as a dedication of the plazas for public use.

1:32:02I thought this is a public plaza so I'm trying to just reconcile what that means. >> Mr. Garcia, you can correct me if I'm if I'm incorrect but it just means that

1:32:15there's no transfer of ownership of the plaza to the city. It will remain a public space but the city does not own it. >> Okay. >> That's that's the that's correct. So the

1:32:28city will have the easement over it's just like a sidewalk or so you'll have the easement the developer will be fully responsible for all maintenance all insurance

1:32:38requirements and they'll retain ownership. That's but the city will have a perpetual easement as a public plaza. >> My one other comment here Mr. Garcia is under exhibit E um

1:32:52the prohibitions or restrictions organized activities without the specific written consent of the developer. I I don't know if the agreement can articulate how that's um how such consent is

1:33:08acquired by a member of the public so if somebody wanted to do something there and um what the procedure would be and how they would go about doing that

1:33:15um so it's clearer and not ambiguous as to how >> I think council person Ethos we will address that when we send back to the city council uh to this law department. Um

1:33:27I have a thought on it but I'll I'll I'll send it to attorney attorney she can send it over to you. I think council person there would be a process where you could just like when you have a

1:33:39raid or there's certain I I don't know we might be able to just do something else with it but I will hopefully satisfy >> I want to talk that through with folks

1:33:48figure out what's the best way to get accomplish that. >> Okay. >> Thank you council president >> Thank you. Next one, Matt. >> The other item I'm here on is it's

1:34:04actually a second reading item item. It's item 4.2 This is the amendment to the Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan. Just in case anyone has any questions, I am

1:34:17here on that one. I not expect to have any sort of objection to that. >> I actually have a question for Council Woman Little. The community they're satisfied with the amendments, right?

1:34:39>> Sorry? No, the the president of the Neighborhood Association would like to see 10-ft step backs, but the the developer explained that that was not feasible at this site.

1:34:55And they were willing to do a 5-ft step back at the 9th floor. And I felt 5-ft was better than 0 ft. And so that's where we're here. >> Any other questions? All right. Thanks, Matt.

1:35:14>> Thank you. >> Director Woodson, Commerce. >> Good evening, Council President and Council Members. I have one resolution for your consideration. It's agenda number 10.21 resolution 26-79

1:35:37It's a resolution concerning renewal of local support for the Cannabis Place 420 Corporation to operate class 5 retail cannabis business located at 1542 John F. Kennedy Boulevard.

1:35:51>> Director Woodson, what's the number? 10.21? >> Yes. >> Actually, if I could interrupt you, um I will be updating the council with a memo regarding the considerations you can

1:36:11take into account when voting for this resolution of local support. Um this is in litigation right now, so I can't speak to the specifics, but tomorrow I do have a conference with the

1:36:23federal magistrate and the plaintiff. There may be an order to pull the resolution, but I will update everyone with a full memo post tomorrow's conference. >> Just um

1:36:42with regard to the litigation, who initiated the litigation? >> The cannabis place. They're also suing the state. >> And are they currently in operation or were they suspended?

1:36:56>> They're currently in operation. >> There is a consent order to allow them to continue operation pending the resolution of local support. As well as their state license is also

1:37:09extended pending the litigation. Everything will be outlined in my memo. Any questions? >> Um I don't have any question on the cannabis. I was just going to ask

1:37:26the director to briefly briefly talk about 3.2 which is amending chapter 84 for alcohol beverage and the reason why we're doing it. >> Well although I I wasn't the project

1:37:42manager on this, I think the reason we're doing it >> oh okay okay. >> It's actually just there was been some interest in having possibly some restaurants in the Monte Sello area.

1:37:55>> Thank you. Just wanted to let my colleagues know why we're why we want to move forward with this. Appreciate it. >> Just there's been there's a restriction

1:38:05that doesn't allow consumption licenses, but also keep in mind that the redevelopment plan for that same area does allow it, so we're just going to mirror that. >> Thank you, director.

1:38:17>> You're welcome. Thank you. Good night. >> Alexander Goff Administration >> Good evening. I have one resolution. On resolution 10.17 a resolution authorizing the use of competitive

1:38:41contracting to award a concession contract for audit of the city's utility building billing. >> 10.17 >> What what's the contingency cap? >> We haven't gone out to bid yet, so I

1:39:02haven't we haven't set that as part of the process. >> What will be the look back period for this audit? >> If there is any. >> At the current stage in our draft, which

1:39:14again hasn't been issued, but currently it is 5 years or the maximum amount that PSE&G is willing to entertain appeals, whatever is greatest. >> Can you repeat that? I couldn't hear you.

1:39:27>> Again, it hasn't been published, but the draft is 5 years or the amount that PSE&G is willing to look back for, whatever is greatest. >> We haven't done an audit in 5 years?

1:39:40>> Utility building, no. >> Yeah. We like to get some money. Still and get some money. >> So like what what what are we looking for? I mean are we paying a estimated bill?

1:39:59>> No, so the process for this is currently we've budgeted $9.5 million for electricity, uh, gas, and street light costs. That's about 50% more than last year.

1:40:11Obviously, a big driver of that is our, um, the global instability and rising energy costs. But how this would work is it's on a contingency basis, so the city

1:40:20doesn't pay anything upfront for the vendor that gets selected, but they would go looking through our bills. We have over 1,000 bills every month, so as

1:40:30you can imagine, bills for 12 months for 5 years is a lot of bills, and they'll identify instances in which the city was either charged the wrong electricity tariff. Potentially,

1:40:41uh, somebody said that they looked at a meter, but the meter actually wasn't expected, uh, inspected. Another instance is where the, uh, vendor believes that the city was overcharged,

1:40:51and then what they'll do is they will confer with the administration to confirm that we want to claim this money back, and then they on our behalf will engage with PSE&G

1:41:02to try and get that money back as well as if this is like an ongoing issue of us being charged the wrong energy tariff, for example, making sure that our future billing is reflecting

1:41:13those savings. And so for the money that they recuperate, sorry, for the savings that they successfully get P PSE&G to reimburse us for in the last whatever period it is,

1:41:24typically how this work is they would take a percentage of that as their payment on contingency, and that percentage would be figured out during this RFP proposal.

1:41:37>> What's the timeline for this whole going out to bid and >> Um, we, so if you approve this uh, at your meeting, ideally we'd like to issue the RFP in the next 2 weeks, and so we

1:41:49would get sort of start of next year we would hope to have all the evaluation done and sort of all the paperwork finalized. >> And and do bidders have to be, um, in the

1:42:02certain state qualifications or be certified or >> I'm going to defer to the >> department for if there's any specific qualifications. >> Normally, no. It's not a professional

1:42:12services agreement, but we certainly can include qualifications in the RFP. >> I'm not looking to I'm just looking to see that we get some good I know

1:42:22there's good companies out there that do this work and can recoup us a lot of money. Um so >> I mean you could include a provision say like you know previous experience doing similar work,

1:42:34successful you know recoveries etc. You can include that as like a low scoring criteria, but it's not required. >> Yeah I I think I think it's I think it's best to do that. Um we don't want

1:42:48a company who doesn't have previous experience um nor do we want a company who isn't successful. So I I think um that the the parameters for the bid should

1:43:02definitely um be focused on success and um previous experience um and previous experience in large cities like has it been done in Newark um you know um or or uh

1:43:19Paterson or stuff like that. So I I think um you know that that stuff should be included. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you Alex. I just want to note because I'm sure um

1:43:36she's watching a resident, one of our uh watchdog um and fiscal watchdogs came during the budget hearings and and asked that we go to PSE&G and maybe even renegotiate the

1:43:48rates that we pay. Um so maybe I don't know what the possibility of that is, but pending the results of the audit would would like to see if we're getting you know if we can get more bang

1:44:00for our buck uh and uh I'm sure you're watching. So we're on we're on it like Con Ed. >> Thank you. >> Very much. >> Director Diamond, infrastructure.

1:44:25>> Hi. Good evening, Council President, Council members. I have one resolution today, resolution 26-727, agenda number 10 9. This is a resolution authorizing the city to accept funds

1:44:42from NJDEP for the Urban Community Forestry Stewardship Grant for a young tree training program. Young tree training is a proactive pruning method that corrects

1:44:55or eliminates weak, interfering, or objectional branches in young trees to improve the structure and support healthier long-term growth in an urban environment.

1:45:06The grant is for up to $25,000 and there is a 0% match. >> Questions, 10.9? >> Is there a match here? >> No. No, it's 0%. So, no. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Sal Carlucci.

1:45:38>> Good evening, Council members. I'm here with three ordinances on the agenda. Two first reading, one second reading. The first readings are 3.4 and 3.5. The second reading is 4.1.

1:45:53Starting with the first reading ordinances, I'd like to go out of order if that's okay because I can provide a little bit of a narrative on where the first ordinance originated from.

1:46:043.5 is a simple revision to section 332 Excuse me. I'm at my notes. 332 point dash 31 which is the street sweeping regulations. This just extends the street sweeping regulations to the

1:46:24entire length of Florence Street. For whatever reason, the section of Florence Street between Montgomery and Cornelison was never codified. This extends the

1:46:33existing regulation to that portion of the street. The origin of that was we got a call from a resident who asked us to post street sweeping signs. We were not able to because there was no

1:46:44codification of the rule. So we did so by drafting this ordinance. When I drafted it, Director Trush, the traffic engineering director, pointed out that the section of the code

1:46:58includes only no parking. It doesn't include stopping or standing which are distinct things under Title 39 which is the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Code. So this simply adds that. It's based on

1:47:15some research which showed that Newark has similar language in their ordinance. There's I should stop and say earlier in the day I composed a just a brief memo that I

1:47:27sent to the director's office and sent to the which director Kaplan sent to the BA's office for distribution. So hopefully you got that. The origin of this it doesn't

1:47:38contemplate any change to the way street sweeping is enforced. It's simply to close a possible loophole and to ensure that people cannot avoid a summons for obstructing street sweeping.

1:47:51Does anyone have any questions on those two first reading items? >> Yeah. So often what happens during street sweeping is if you know, if someone is is privileged

1:48:02enough to work from home or or what have you and they're at home during the day when street sweeping occurs and they haven't been able to find a spot on the

1:48:10other side of the road, what they will do is they will go out they They in their car and wait for the street sweeper to come, and then when the street sweeper arrives, they will

1:48:20drive around the block so that they get out of the street sweeper's way, but but they haven't actually moved their car before the street sweeper comes. My question is

1:48:33if we amend this to include stopping and standing, would those people then be in violation of the law even though they're complying with the spirit of the law by moving out of the

1:48:45way of the street sweeper? You know, I I don't think it makes a whole lot of sense to give those people tickets. You know, they're they're getting out of the way of the street

1:48:53sweeper, which is which is what the point is. >> Yeah, no, agreed. They wouldn't be enforced that way. The way the code is currently constructed, you technically can't park

1:49:04at any portion when there's the street sweep prohibition in effect. The city has never enforced it except for people who are actively obstructing the street

1:49:12sweeper, which means the car is parked there when the sweeper is coming by. There's no intent to change that. That's not the origin of this ordinance or the intent of this ordinance.

1:49:23>> And then what is the point in in adding this language? Is Is there going to be any effect whatsoever to adding this language or why why are we adding it if

1:49:33>> Director felt that this was an important clarification because under the Director clarify that part. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah, of all the business before you,

1:49:45this is not the most important, but it is an attempt to kind of clarify and update the code to be accurate. So in theory, what this would do is if someone was preventing the street

1:49:58sweeper from doing its job, they were in their vehicle during that time and they didn't move it, or the vehicle was left idling and they didn't move it, they could fight a

1:50:08ticket under our current ordinance. Does that scenario happen? Not really to my knowledge. But this would clarify. It would also bring our code in alignment with the

1:50:19title 39 definitions, the MUTCD definitions. Um and if we do do streets uh sweeping sign updates in the future, this would I think clarify what should be written

1:50:29onto them um by aligning the code with kind of the best practice. >> And are we so to the last part of your sentence, we would only be updating street sweeping signs

1:50:41in the future if we were updating them anyway, right? We wouldn't be undertaking a costly endeavor to replace all the street sweeping signs in the city just cuz we're making this change

1:50:50in the law. >> Correct. We are not anticipating updating any signs exclusively due to this ordinance. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Next one. >> Any other questions on those two?

1:51:07Uh the other is the second reading which is 4.1 that's the definitions of bus stops, loading zones that um was here on last time. So just to follow up for the second reading if anyone has

1:51:19any questions or concerns. >> Questions? >> Which item? >> 4.1 >> Okay. Thanks, Doug. >> Thank you. Have a good night. >> Director Kaplan. Structure. >> Everybody. Um

1:51:46I will start with uh resolution 10.25 and I have Brian Weller here uh to join me. Um this resolution uh is item 10.25 resolution 26-743. Um this is a resolution authorizing

1:52:05award of professional services contracts to H2M Associates Inc. to provide construction administration inspection for services for the City Hall roof and skylight replacement project.

1:52:17Um so for anyone who doesn't know, I think everyone here in the room probably knows um when it rains it leaks and uh it's been declared an emergency by the Department of Public Works.

1:52:30Um the Department of Public Works is currently in the process of obtaining an emergency roof replacement uh through an emergency contract. To ensure the quality

1:52:42of that construction, the Department of Infrastructure is looking to advance a construction inspection contract and that's what's before you today. Um the the price of the bid um of the

1:52:54knowledgeable respondent was a little bit high, so the Public Works is getting a second bid to just kind of ensure that the price is aligned with you know what what what an appropriate

1:53:02roof costs. Um but we are looking to expediently kind of move that forward and we're looking to have a construction inspection contract in place for that

1:53:11project uh when it becomes uh available to do the work. >> Andy um Andy, you said when it rain outside it leaks in here? >> Correct, Councilman. Are you >> Oh, it rains in here when it rains

1:53:24outside. In our office it rains. >> Yeah, we >> The water literally comes right in. >> It's >> But I guess a bigger bigger question um for the administration um during this roof repair

1:53:37um what is the plan for I guess the day-to-day action or activities for City Hall and then um the scheduling of meetings? >> So this probably be better answered by

1:53:52Brian, but I will say from my understanding there's going to be no disruption to the actual operations that go on in City Hall. They can tarp off and do temporary fixes that would not

1:54:02allow any of the outside elements to come into it. But Brian, please correct me if I'm wrong. >> There's really nothing to correct there. Uh there might be some temporary

1:54:12disturbance when they go to fix and repair the skylights, um but it'd be very temporary when that happens. Otherwise, it's a standard commercial EPDM roof. >> Next. Okay, Andy.

1:54:29>> Thanks, Brian. Um so the next item I'll bring up is uh item 3.2. This is a first reading of an ordinance to supplement chapter 332 article uh nine uh parking for the disabled with

1:54:47reserved parking spaces at various locations throughout the city. Uh this is ordinance 26-091. >> That's 3.3. >> Yes. >> I'm sorry. That's correct, 3.3. >> Thank you um

1:55:00How about to call him JJ Thank you, Sean. >> Thanks, Sean. >> You're welcome. I'm called many things, but >> Any questions about 3.3? No? Next one, Andy.

1:55:18>> All right. Uh the next one is resolution I'm going to double check this time. Uh 10.11 1011 Uh this is a resolution authorizing the city of Jersey City to apply for and accept funding

1:55:31uh from the New Jersey Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program. Uh resolution 26729 Um the Department of Infrastructure is working to advance an application and as part of

1:55:45an application for funding requires council resolution of support and willingness to accept the funding if awarded. Uh so we're hoping to receive this funds.

1:55:55Uh we're The application is to apply for approximately $1 million uh focused on Bergen Avenue between Claremont and Bayview with the goal of improving safety and access for students

1:56:05walking and biking to school uh in the area of Snyder High School and Academy One Middle School. Uh these schools and their surrounding areas were identified through the city's

1:56:14Jersey City School Travel Plan, which evaluated school travel conditions and identified priority locations for safety improvements. As part of the grant application, the

1:56:24city brought two potential project to a meeting with the state DOT and the NJTPA, the grant tours. Um, and Bergen Avenue was identified through that thumbnail review as the

1:56:33stronger candidate for the funding opportunity. It's located on the Vision Zero High Injury Network and it has a documented case of injury crashes. I have more, but I'll pause there if

1:56:44there's any questions. >> Um, I would just like to um ask the administration to encourage um the south district to try their best not to park on the sidewalks.

1:57:01They're up there next to Snyder. And um you know I'm I'm not going to say that has a negative impact impact, but it I'm pretty sure it has some sort of impact with um

1:57:14the kids riding their bikes or walking through that area. >> Any other questions? >> 10.16, right? >> Um, 10.11 >> 10.11 >> I have two questions, director. One, is there a match for this?

1:57:33>> Uh, let me check my notes. I believe there is not. I'll confirm with you after this meeting, but I don't I'm not I don't believe so, but I'll I'll have to confirm that.

1:57:48>> Thank you. And then just want to note that I know this is for Bergen, but there is um significant student but bike traffic on Kennedy Boulevard. Um and uh

1:58:04have gotten some requests for uh and I can talk to Lieutenant Ragland and Director Ambrose um about um crossing guards there, consistent presence. Um yeah. So that may be more of a public

1:58:17safety enforcement issue in terms of the speed limit. Um but so this is this is for Bergen, it's not going to go It's not going to look at Kennedy Boulevard.

1:58:30>> Correct. However, um so Kennedy Boulevard is a county roadway, so we would not advance improvements there. However, the county has applied for a and I believe is successful in receiving

1:58:41a subregional study to look at uh school and school access, pedestrians, bicycles along schools fronting county roads. So I would hope that as that study advances

1:58:51next year in 27 that that would be a conversation for longer-term infrastructure needs with the county. Um and in the short short term uh yeah definitely you can talk to public safety

1:59:01about crossing guards. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions? Rolando. >> Andy. Um councilman, when is the application due? >> Uh I believe Friday.

1:59:13>> What upon completion we'll get a copy of the application submitted? >> Uh yeah. I I we can get that. Uh I believe submit the council requests and we'll make sure that we share that.

1:59:25>> requests to my team. Um it it talks about the high injury network. Um if could get information and it doesn't have to come in time for the council meeting. I'm not voting in

1:59:37support of this, but get information about the um numbers that indicate that within the high injury network and what around that, traffic injuries and fatalities and so forth on that. Um

1:59:53also says it's a priority action area in the city's Jersey City school travel plan. Um if we get a copy of the school travel plan, I'll put this all into council requests.

2:00:06>> Please. That'd be helpful and then we absolutely can share those. >> Any other questions? Okay. Next one, Andy. >> All right. Uh the next two I'll do together. Um and I'll ask for uh Etsa

2:00:19from law join if she's here. >> She's not. What is Etsa? >> Well I'll I'll do what I can and uh these are 10 uh 0.12 10.13. These are both uh resolutions

2:00:35authorizing the execution of a notice in lieu of deed notice um an agreement between PSE&G and the city Jersey City acknowledging restrictions on the property use and the

2:00:46soil remedial action permit application regarding a portion of Forest Street. Uh 10.12 is between Holiday Street and the foot of Forest Street and 10.13 covers a

2:00:57section of uh Holiday Street between Carteret Avenue and Forest Street. These are resolution number 26730 and 26731. >> Questions? >> Yes, uh thank you so much. So

2:01:16this site is also uh PPG site which frequently have um chromium contamination. So what is the path forward if during work it's discovered that there's also chromium contamination

2:01:29here that PSE&G would not be responsible for the because the work plan states that this plan does not address contaminants for which PPG is responsible. Is there is there a plan for that or

2:01:43have we already determined that there is not chromium contamination at this site? >> So um and I'll defer Lisa, if you have any info you can jump in, but my

2:01:53understanding is this is not addressing the full remediation plan. That's a separate document. What this is doing is providing um an alternate to a deed notice about the contaminations from

2:02:05PSE&G. I don't believe to my knowledge that it covers any other contaminations or I believe there's the chromium as you've mentioned um and it's not coordinating

2:02:14or providing information about you know the cleanup plan but this is specific to a notice in lieu of deed notice and I'll let a lawyer explain what notice in lieu of deed notice actually

2:02:25means. >> Just give me a minute so I can re-read the the resolution. I'm sorry. >> At least I was stalling. >> It's okay. It's okay. >> I'll try a little harder.

2:02:38>> In the meantime, Peter, I have a question. Um, do we still receive uh payment from uh PPG? Or is that finished? >> I believe it's finished if memory serves

2:02:50me correct. I can double check with finance. Um, I believe that stopped a couple years ago, not necessarily super recently. Um, they do have certain requirements

2:03:00for maintaining land and oversight of land, but I believe the actual monetary compensation or settlement >> Okay. >> finished. >> So okay, so they still have an

2:03:08obligation to clean up if necessary. >> With certain sites, we have agreements, legal agreements with them where we've capped soil and have to maintain that.

2:03:18There's an insurance involved, there's environmental controls involved. Um, but those agreements currently in place from those projects and there's multiple, I believe throughout the city.

2:03:27Um, we can talk more offline or I can get you more information should you need them. Um, but there's no monetary payments to my understanding and I'll double check that to make sure.

2:03:34>> Okay. Thank you. >> Um, I I also had a follow-up question. Um, so the kind of the contamination plan is is to um cap the contamination and it says uh state law prohibits

2:03:55only pro prohibits single family residences from being constructed. Does that mean multiple dwelling structures could be built here without further remediation?

2:04:03Is that the Is that the plan or the intent? >> Don't have that information. I'd have to get back to you on that. >> Okay. >> Unless uh Lisa happens to know, but now we can get back to you.

2:04:14>> Yeah, I I don't have the specifics on this. It's a Wilson and the governance team works on these um notice in lieu of deeds, but basically this is a

2:04:22requirement of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection site remediation program that basically records a document with the property that runs with the property. So if

2:04:34anyone were to do like a title search on the property, it would show um that's what the notice in lieu of deed means. So that it it basically is a permanent

2:04:43record of the restrictions, monitoring, and maintenance requirements for the site. So these I guess change over time and then you record new notice in lieu

2:04:53of deeds. Um as for the specifics with this property, I would have to get back to you with a memo from Itza who knows more about the substance of the notice. >> Thank you. >> Okay.

2:05:13Next, Andy. >> Uh I think that's it for me. >> Oh you did cuz you did both >> Okay. >> Awesome. Thank you. I think that's everyone. Sean, we can take it from the top. >> Okay.

2:05:29>> Exchange Place Alliance? >> Yeah, but when we >> But yeah, once we get >> You want to defer to them? That's >> Uh we we can go. Let's >> We're going to go through them real

2:05:38quick. I'm sorry, yes. So item uh 3.1 City Ordinance 26-089 is an ordinance amending chapter 260 of the municipal code to amend the period of exempt exemption from rent control on

2:05:53newly constructed multiple multiple dwellings to the time specified New Jersey's newly constructed multiple dwellings law. >> I'll just say if folks have questions, happy to

2:06:08uh talk through and um happy to discuss whether it's now or in the uh next few days about this. Um but this resolution or excuse me ordinance was um it's the same one that we had put

2:06:21forward a couple weeks back. >> We get any information from the administration or HEDC about economic impact? >> Yeah uh combined memo from Law and HEDC,

2:06:34the Division of Housing Preservation was sent my apologies right before the start of the caucus through the council request. And then there's a second document that was sent from the tax

2:06:45assessor, Laura J. Corey, which talks about some numbers with specific properties. So they I don't know the process for I sent them back to the council request email

2:06:58and they should have been distributed to the council. >> Not sure I received those. I I don't I haven't seen them. Um I'll all all say that um just from statewide and nationally we we have

2:07:15not seen um a serious impact in you know a collapse in property values from expansions of rent control. Um and I'm happy to to share with council colleagues uh research uh

2:07:29to that effect um again from New Jersey but also statewide um and uh continue to address some of the concerns that I've I've heard um in in the next days. >> I I would also like to um

2:07:48you know when we when we first brought this up last caucus um it was our understanding that the administration was not considering an abatement um to protect affordability

2:07:59for these tenants. In fact, Mayor Solomon had voted against such an abatement when he was on the council last year. It has since been brought to my attention that since we introduced

2:08:08this and forced the issue that now the administration is considering an abatement. And I was wondering if someone from the administration, if they're still here um

2:08:18might be willing to speak more to that. >> Isaac Isaac said he could speak to it but I don't know if he's still here. >> Isaac While we wait for Isaac, I can speak a

2:08:29little bit to it, councilwoman. Um yeah the administration as the councilman indicated, there was a abatement that was explored for this property previously. Um

2:08:40we can do They had an abatement. The abatement expired. The city can redo abatements for certain terms of rehabilitation, things of that nature, which is what they intended to

2:08:50do for this facility. Uh, usually when they do that rehabilitation, it's a substantial cost to the owners, which is why the abatement provides for it. And we have

2:08:58certain requirements when they do that about affordable housing, preserving and or expanding affordable housing. Um, I believe that is the intent going forward

2:09:07with this property for uh or the property that Councilman identified as Newport. Um, it's not quite there yet. >> is Isaac. Isaac, um Okay, Peter, finish.

2:09:20>> So uh I'll tee up Isaac, but we're not quite there yet, but we are pursuing that avenue to address those concerns for the residents there in order to

2:09:28preserve the existing affordable housing and if possible try to expand some of the affordable housing to extend the original abatement when it came before the last council. >> Peter, they um

2:09:39the the the abatement that's slated to expire or have already expired, that was for 40 or 30 years? >> Believe it was a 30 year abatement. I have to double check that though. Most

2:09:51of them are 30 year abatements. >> Is there any I mean is Can we entertain like 20 year abatements versus 30 or >> Might be a question for law, but off the top of my head it's statutory. So

2:10:06there's usually I think a five year abatement term or a 30 year abatement term, so I don't believe we have flexibility to do in between. >> We could do five, okay.

2:10:15>> The five year abatement is a separate statute and it's significantly different than a project like this, but >> Isaac, um queue him up, Peter. I don't know if you

2:10:22queued him up. He still looks confused. >> I didn't know if you're done, Councilman. I want to make sure you're you're finished with me first, but uh >> I I can repeat

2:10:28>> have no idea what the question was. We're talking about 260. >> I can repeat the question. Um, so when we introduced this um two weeks ago, you know, we we introduced this

2:10:41understanding that the administration was looking at a pilot agreement um under our assumption because Mayor Solomon when he was on the council voted it down. Um but

2:10:52>> Believe that the mayor was actually out. >> Oh, he was out. Oh, okay. >> Not that he he was not in attendance at the council meeting. That was the day of the uh final

2:11:02TB debate and so he asked he wasn't he was not able to attend the a meeting. >> Okay. Um thank you for clarifying and I stand corrected. Um but it is our understanding that now that

2:11:17the issue has been brought to the forefront that the administration is considering revisiting this abatement and putting that before council for a vote. So I was wondering if you could

2:11:25speak a little bit more about where those negotiations stand and um you know I I think I for one would be interested in making sure that any any abatement that we're considering

2:11:38protects all the tenants who are there now. You know I spoke to one individual who makes $800 more a year than the threshold uh which just seems ridiculous

2:11:48for someone to lose their housing over over being that small amount over the threshold. So um you know these are people who have lived in Newport for decades and would like to remain in

2:11:58their homes. So I if if you could speak to where the negotiations are with an abatement when council might be able to see the such an abatement come before us and um

2:12:09how we can push to make sure all that the all of these moderate income tenants remain protected. >> Yeah, we are in active negotiations uh on the idea of of a tax payment. We've received

2:12:20the information from the from Newport and their people. We're having those conversations actively, you know, accelerated after what happened the last council meeting. Um the council should

2:12:30be able to get a briefing pretty shortly on that, especially, you know, the ward council member. So um yes and our number one goal is to preserve the affordability and preserve the

2:12:41presence that are there, deepen the affordability if possible. So So what we're looking at. You'll be getting a briefing on this very shortly. Um our hope is to move this forward as

2:12:50quickly as possible, as quickly as practicable. So you should have something soon. >> I'll just say um what the the owner, the FRAC vent, I I did not see anything that um

2:13:07that spoke to making sure that every single tenant in the affordable program right now and the modern income program right now would be guaranteed um with

2:13:18said pilot to be able to stay in their home. So I I want to second Councilwoman Little's uh note there um that this is like of the utmost importance. Um I also wanted to

2:13:29note that it appeared to me like the um proposal um that was shared uh from the FRAC um mentioned the the the kind of primary purpose to be as as Peter, I think you

2:13:43were alluding to um for rehabilitation, um but rehabilitation of market units. So I'm a little confused as to why a pilot or abatement would be offered for rehabilitation of market units. Um

2:14:01and I mean we have the capital improvement um that are there are ways in which landlords can um yeah get support for capital improvements, especially um I know it would be a separate case uh

2:14:17unless we pass this, but a rent controlled landlord could even get support in um being able to raise rents past a cap if there were capital improvements. So I'm if you could speak

2:14:27to um anything on the primary purpose that was offered by the FRAC in this case. >> Uh not I am not one of the ones who is personally doing the negotiation. So I

2:14:40don't want to speak for HEDC or the JCRA on this matter. Um what I would say is um from the administration's point of view, the most important element is the

2:14:49affordability, and I think that they've drafted, regardless of what they said is their primary purpose or their intent. I'm sure in their minds, whatever, you know,

2:14:57this is the formal reason for the thing, but um the administration's point of view, and it's made it very clear, is affordable housing. And I think their application will represent

2:15:07that fact that they know we not only want to preserve the affordability, but possible deepen it. And I think, you know, we understand that this is a concern about

2:15:15the current people living in the units, and that a concern will be expressed by our team in those conversations with >> Thank you. Um and and yeah, just this this

2:15:28conversation is in addition to the conversation about the um the rent control expansion um and exemptions being struck that are are on the um agenda at the moment. >> Hey Peter, um

2:15:43if you know um because that is one of the things that um that concerns me about certain pilots when it come to rehabilitation um because part of me understand the

2:15:59subsidy and uh and the relief and and the taxes, but also as a part of me is like I just I just want them to do over the affordable units because people who live

2:16:11in market rate and luxury have the financial capacity to do so, hence why they're living in the um the the luxury housing. Um but I I don't know is it like it's it's the totality of the

2:16:26rehab, you can't like it can't be broken down like that? >> So I'm not an expert on this by any means. I'm kind of going off experience and and memory here. I believe when they

2:16:38decided to rehabilitation, it's for the entire structure. Um so it's not just to clarify, it's not like the market rates get new apartments and the affordable

2:16:47are stuck there. I believe they have to do the entire facility over. >> No, they have to do >> the whole I don't want the luxury apartments done. >> I I understand. I'm just making

2:16:55clarification for the record in case of the public here. Um I don't believe they can do just the affordable units. I think it has to be done for everything cuz the idea behind

2:17:03the abatements is that the cost of doing the facility, which is now at least 30 plus years old, is in need of a substantial amount of money to do it. And the only way to make it

2:17:15I guess affordable um or cost effective for them to do that is to rehabilitate the Empire project. A lot of these abatements are pursued because you don't

2:17:24want properties to become dilapidated or, you know, blight on the the public. Um so they're encouraged because benefit you're redoing the whole building

2:17:33benefits the town, the afford the taxes, etc. So that that's the structure behind it. Um again it a lot of this is controlled by the state through NJ FMA loans and

2:17:42things of that nature. So I don't believe there's any mechanism right now where the city or municipality could try to change that for just the affordable

2:17:48units, but something that we can work with our state legislators and see if there is any room to change any of those ideas. >> Um I think you know um neither me nor

2:17:57Peter are housing folk. So I think what makes sense is that when we come to you with the briefing, councilman, make sure we have the explanation and also when that item is an item on the

2:18:06agenda that we have the city's people and the proposed developer everyone there to be able to explain the economics of it. Um it's an economic thing. I'm not I'm not a math person,

2:18:16unfortunately. >> So I guess the the bigger question is what if anything happens with 3.1 if that conversation is that insane? Isn't it? >> My understanding is that um getting rid of

2:18:37the exemptions in code 260 um as per 3.1 um is not mutually exclusive of a conversation around a pilot potential pilot or abatement uh for these properties to do things like

2:18:58expand or preserve certain affordability um or to I mean support rehabilitation of property. That's that's my understanding that these would not be mutually exclusive items. >> But

2:19:18confused in a sense that this came about because of that incident. >> Can I ask a couple clarifying questions? Yeah, I think I see where you're going, councilman. So the so

2:19:33the current owner has submitted an application for a pilot, correct? That this question for BA and law. >> They did previously. I don't know the status of any new application or if it's

2:19:46still active. I'd have to get that information to verify that. >> Okay. >> They've submitted sub I I don't know if it's technically called an application.

2:19:52They've submitted something that's being reviewed by HEDC and the relevant parties. >> Got it. So >> it's been updated. It's no longer what was submitted previously.

2:20:01>> So HEDC is is currently reviewing an application for a pilot for this property, correct? >> Correct. >> Sorry, who answered? >> Yes, that is correct. >> Okay.

2:20:16So that is on a track, right? And then on a parallel track is this change which is it within the council's power to change? And I guess the question your question now,

2:20:35councilman, is if we make this change, would that have an impact on a pilot application? Or is that your I don't want to put words in your mouth. >> I mean basically

2:20:49yes, because I'm trying to figure out if that this 3.1 stems from trying help these residents essentially. Right? Um, if if this suffice it's is it need? I mean, I don't know.

2:21:06That's what I'm asking. >> I I still believe that these exemptions in code 260 regardless of what happens specifically at Newport are are necessary to strike that the exemptions

2:21:19to me do not make sense. Um, New Jersey statewide has a 30-year exemption for new construction for rent. So any building new construction 30 years exempt from rent control. If

2:21:34you're in a redevelopment area, the duration of that redevelopment area and your 25 unit plus building, you're still exempt from rent control as long as that redevelopment area exists on top

2:21:46of the 30 years they already got being exempt. So for me, the exemptions don't don't make sense and I I think bringing it back in line um would would be much more appropriate um because the

2:22:01owners have already gotten to enjoy 30 years without uh local rent control laws applying. >> Question for >> So >> I'm sorry. >> Can I can I jump in for a second?

2:22:11Because I know um we had a lot of concerns from council people um on 3.1 and I know we're still in the process of voting on whether or not we would like

2:22:22to do a finance committee. Um, if we are planning to move forward with that finance committee, my suggestion would be um that I refer 3.1 to the finance

2:22:33committee cuz it seems like a lot of the questions were surrounding um how this is going to impact financially, economically. And we have council people

2:22:42that are willing to lock in and get some real numbers here and do some research um and I think that more people would be comfortable with doing that research uh

2:22:53before jumping out the window on it. Now this is councilman uh Efross's ordinance. So if he would like to move keep it on and move forward with the vote for um Wednesday, Thursday, we will

2:23:06certainly do that. Uh but I wanted to put that suggestion out there of referring it so that council people have more time to look at it. >> So for new port tenants, if this passed,

2:23:21would chapter 260 apply to the new market rent or to the affordable deed restricted rent or does the deed restriction still hold? >> I mean, I don't want to be tied into my

2:23:34answer right now because that was not some of the things I was looking at, but generally speaking, the rent exemption would be for market rate units. Affordability units are different and so

2:23:47they're different like on different tracks. Also, I was not asked to look at this ordinance in comparison to the effect with the pilot. So I can try and update the memo

2:23:58in time for Wednesday, although I mean Thursday, not quite sure how much we'll get to, but in terms of whether it's mutually exclusive or not, that was not

2:24:07part of the analysis whether or not there was a pilot on the table. But generally speaking, rent control is different than affordability. Affordability are usually like part of

2:24:19the deed, what rent control would revert to at the end of a pilot. >> My my questions first for law and then for my colleagues. Um if this ordinance were to pass, would it

2:24:36impact buildings that are currently within the 30-year period? And if so, what what are our anticipated um I won't say repercussions, but the actions that those property owners will

2:24:49take against the city. Have you evaluated that? >> No, nothing within the 30-year period is that's that's at the state level. I I want to change that. I don't you know, I don't think that

2:25:04>> No, what I mean that the what what I mean is if a property is in year 29 right now and this passes next year or or year 30 next year are they paying are

2:25:15their rents going to be frozen for rent control? >> Not frozen, but they would be subject to the >> to rent control as opposed to a a brand new property which is not yet a new

2:25:24development which is not yet built. >> It would be regardless that after year 30 they would be subject to local rent control law. >> Okay, thank you. Uh for the to the law

2:25:34department what what uh have you done an evaluation on what we should anticipate from those property owners should this ordinance pass? >> The Division of Housing Preservation sent their

2:25:47their anticipated impact and Laura Tacorey from the Tax Assessor's Office also ran some numbers for you. Her analysis is quite long, so I don't want to try and synthesize it or summarize it

2:26:00for you, but that's also included in what was sent over today. >> I I was asking about our our legal um exposure. >> The legal exposure is the whether or not

2:26:10that's the ability to manage the the program, whether or not Housing Preservation has the staff to manage the applications for exemption or not and the number of units that would apply.

2:26:26>> I I was asking let me ask it clearer. If I'm a property owner I'm in year 30 and this passes am I going to sue the city and we're going to be bogged down litigation and if so

2:26:37have you done an analysis on whether we're going to win or not? You can tell me privately, but I just want to know if you've done the analysis. >> I'll I'll speak to you offline.

2:26:47>> Uh question to my colleagues then. So obviously Jersey City is market is unique in New Jersey. We're we're one of three class A cities. Paterson is not developing the way we

2:26:57are. Newark is is it gives thousands of tax abatements is a different different situation. Is there any comparable market in the region or country that I can research and look to to to

2:27:07evaluate the impact of of their rent control laws and whether there's a 30-year exemption or not. >> I think um we're seeing a lot of like spillover from the market in New York.

2:27:20Like I think that that we are being treated in even some cases advertised as six boroughs. So I think that um New York is is one possible point of comparison and also like longitudinal

2:27:34studies from 40 years in of rent control across municipalities in New Jersey um I think demonstrate that we do not see like a a catastrophic collapse in in property values um and

2:27:49I I'll I'll just say that I I do believe like the kind of concerns um that are being raised here and and um I appreciate and I'm happy to like walk through and and

2:27:59talk both both here and and offline with folks between now and and Thursday um are concerns that were heard back in the '80s in Jersey City too um when the rent control fights were

2:28:11were just beginning and or not just beginning but when um rent control victories were being made in in Jersey City um and I'm I'm glad that uh tenant organizers went out uh back then to

2:28:23establish a lot of the great rent control laws we have now. So um I'm happy to to discuss more of all this. But yeah, I do think that um a comparable market is a lot of what's

2:28:32happening in in New York because we're seeing so much of that flood into Jersey City. >> Okay. Do we do do do we know who's um slated for the finance committal uh committee? >> So

2:28:51>> Oh, vote on the membership. >> No, we have to vote to do the committee. It's a second reading. >> This is Oh, okay. >> Respectfully um I would suggest that

2:29:02I you know I don't think any of us on the council have like the background to do this specific study and crunch these numbers. I'm interested in seeing what's

2:29:10in the memos that um hopefully we will get soon um that were sent today. Um but I you know I would actually um I I support the creation of a finance committee, but

2:29:22if you know if we're going to be studying this I would actually rather have um HEDC work on it and yeah and and potentially work with a consultant, work

2:29:34with academic institutions um you know I I would rather have them doing the doing the analysis than you know whichever three of us are selected to the committee cuz honestly I think the

2:29:45finance committee is going to have its work cut out for it anyway um just with just with next year's budget. >> I have a clarifying question about the information we're expecting from the

2:29:54administration. Uh none of us got received it in either in council requests or emails. So do do you know Lisa who it was sent to? Peter? >> You not? I just got it myself. So you'll

2:30:08get it right out. You'll be sure to get it right after this meeting if it hasn't already been sent to you. >> Okay. Yeah. So obviously it's already obviously a very

2:30:17momentous policy shift and if there's a memo out there love it before Thursday afternoon. Please. >> Say one thing is that you know this one this is a memo they worked very hard to

2:30:30pull together. It is of course again as the councilman said momentous. So this is a sort of initial memo right with the initial findings. They would of course you know have time to

2:30:42dig deep into something of this size. They wanted to make sure you had something before the council meeting. >> Thank you Isaac and thank you to the staff who's working on this and

2:30:52you know it might be intuitive, but this is an introductory It's you know this is I this is for introduction. So um you know I I hope that if we have more questions

2:31:05uh we can just keep the process moving along on this ordinance. >> Here's what I don't want >> see, though, Councilman. I I mean, I know it's for I know it's for introduction,

2:31:16but I don't I don't, you know, want us to get uh information um that it would seem more um detrimental before the vote for before second reading. Um and again, you know, I think it's

2:31:39important that that um we we look at this and see how it impacts, who it impacts. And and um you know, I mean, if it's if it's if it's not a lot or it's not a big impact, okay, fine.

2:31:57But if it's if it's something substantial, I I mean, I I think it it's something that that needs to be studied more. And And like the Councilman said, um this this is this is a monumental uh

2:32:11step in policy. And um that's it. >> So, Council, we will wait on the information from the administration and then on Thursday. I mean, it is our job to make tough decisions. We need to

2:32:28decide if we're moving forward with introduction or not. >> Mr. President, if I may. Um so everyone, I just just for the record, I want to state for the record, I stepped out

2:32:39when the conversation turned to um the potential tax abatement that's coming before the City Council. Um for the record and for the public, just want them to know that uh

2:32:52the organization I work for um in the during the daytime, the Way of Hudson County, applied for and received a grant award um from La Frac as part of their $2 million

2:33:04um philanthropic initiative to award $2 million to nonprofits here in Jersey City. Um we were one of the recipients. Um we did not get two million dollars. We

2:33:15got an award of fifty thousand dollars. Um and um I stepped out because I'll be abstaining and recusing on the specific tax abatement. Um I've sought out um

2:33:29early on in when I first took the job at the United Way of Hudson County and started it back in March. I sought the law department's advice and have a memo from the law department

2:33:42suggesting that I go for specific instances where I might have conflicts of interest with my job and my role there. I go to through the ethics ethics board and and I'd done that immediately

2:33:55after learning that had received a grant and that was before the issue of um rent control or the tax abatement even came before the city council or was made aware of that. Um

2:34:08and so I informed the ethics board of that um of that potential conflict knowing that I was going to be receiving a grant that the United Way was going to be receiving a grant. And um

2:34:20it was suggested to me to again come back when the specific grant amount was known as well as any specific instances of possible conflicts of interest. So I've alerted the ethics attorney

2:34:32ethics board attorney and he has um is reviewing everything and he's going to come back with um a formal opinion um and and I I'm assuming and just out of and taking out of abundance

2:34:48of caution that I'm going to have to recuse myself again on the tax abatement. But it's my impression that and that but until I get kind of a formal opinion from the ethics board attorney

2:35:01and to the corporation council I'll make sure I forward my request to them for that information to you and your office. Um but it's my understanding that I'll

2:35:10be able to participate in the discussion around rent control in chapter 260 which is a larger issue um citywide um that uh more than impacts residents as well as property owners and

2:35:25developers um citywide. So I'll be participating in that. Um so so that being said I'm that's why I stepped out just to be clear about that and um came back when I understood that the

2:35:36conversation had turned back to uh the ordinance and um wanting to be able to hear what was part of the discussion and um and and I'll just chime in and say that uh very

2:35:47briefly that I'm looking for more information, looking forward to reading the the memos and everything else that's being provided um and looking forward to kind of the

2:35:57continuing conversation on this um with and from from my position as it pertains to the rent control again is uh certainly we want to make sure that uh um we protect um our uh

2:36:12moderate income, low income residents um and be able to make sure that they can have affordable uh housing here in Jersey City. Uh at the same time um I think looking

2:36:23at some of the math and looking at how some of the analysis is done I'd like to see um an independent financial analysis uh working with the administration uh to

2:36:33hire um in addition to working with HEDC which I know is already strained with their resources um to be able to work together with a uh consultant who might be able to help

2:36:44us analyze the impacts of all of this um moving forward. >> I know councilwoman Singh's been waiting a long time to ask her questions. >> Okay. >> Thank

2:36:55Lisa, my question is would 260 bar them from raising formerly affordable rent to market rate? >> I mean with the changes now? With the changes proposed, is that what you're asking?

2:37:14So it would remove the rent control exemption, meaning that they could raise rents outside of the rent control restrictions, but there is always the overriding law under landlord tenant law

2:37:31that says rent increases cannot be unconscionable. Now, what that means is normally looked at on a case-to-case basis by the courts. I always say, and this is like an an

2:37:44exact estimate, but like anything up to 10% would be considered to be reasonable. Anything over 10% you can usually argue that it's excessive and unconscionable. And they can only raise

2:37:59rents at the end of the lease term. They can't raise rents mid-lease either. So there are other state uh statutes that prevent landlords from like, you know, running away with rents

2:38:14from one term to the next, but it would be outside of the cap under rent control. >> Okay. Sean. >> Okay, items 3.2 through 3.6 we touched on earlier. Item 3.7 uh city ordinance 26-0

2:38:4395. I believe Council President, you'd like to uh change the title? >> Yes. So this uh ordinance went through a couple different changes. And at first the

2:38:58focus of the ordinance was on Director Human Resources Resources and Director of Finance. Um but I need to change the title. Um and just to be clear what we're doing

2:39:10in this ordinance is requiring the council is notified of the salaries of all the directors in this ordinance and then removing the HR director from the

2:39:22ordinance since it is no longer its own department and it is under the BA's office so a little cleanup. So in the title I want to strike the salary of the after limit

2:39:38and then strike out director of finance and then that should be fine but I'll give you that clarification Sean so I'll just read it with the strike out so everybody understands.

2:39:48An ordinance amending chapter 53 personnel section 53-11 fixed salaries to remove the title of director department of human resources limit limit director to the first class city

2:40:05maximum and conform related provisions and salaries. So I'll give you that officially Sean so you can have it and we can make that update. Any other questions on this ordinance?

2:40:26>> Okay second readings items 4.1 and two were touched on earlier item 4.3 ordinance 26-088 is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter A 350 rules of the

2:40:38of order of the Jersey City municipal code to establish a standing finance committee of the municipal council. We are going to have a public hearing on the 2026-2027

2:40:52exchange place alliance special improvement district and assessment role which we also have resolutions associated with the assessment role and the budget and we have representatives

2:41:05from the SID here to answer any questions that the council may have. >> Good afternoon oh good evening my name is Michael De Marco I happen to be the president of the exchange place

2:41:14alliance. It's a pleasure >> Thank you Michael. >> Thank you Mike for being here. Um quick question for you. How are donation and sponsorship recipients chosen and will that be opened

2:41:28to a public process? >> It's a public process as you know. What happens is we get solicitations from the public directly. They come in through emails, they call, they write. We review

2:41:39it. We also get council people or city officials who recommend particular charities to us and then board members can recommend something that's brought to their attention for the immediate

2:41:50need. It's a process that's run. When we have a board meeting, we vote on it. It's approved. The public is at the meeting and they discuss it and that's how it goes. Now, just to clarify

2:42:00something, Martha, there's a difference between charity and sponsorship. And we're the only ones that do it in the city and might as well make it very clear. We sponsor events by charities

2:42:11and support of their efforts. Uh, Jersey Bike we give a check to. Um, there are people who do um uh excuse me uh Hudson Cares is something we would do. We do things in

2:42:24those areas. We do the fireworks for the city for several years. And then we do charities that really support a mission for the community which doesn't have a particular event. Um,

2:42:35York Street is a big one for us, right? We believe in that organization. It's in downtown. They help obviously families deal with things and we make a contribution to them. But that's the

2:42:45difference. There are charities we donate to. There's about 10 or 12 and there's about 14 or so sponsorships we do. In total, we do over 25 I would say and it totals a little less than a

2:42:56million dollars which makes us probably the biggest giver in the city for charity or sponsorship. >> Thank you. My a few questions on this. You were saying that

2:43:08the board, Exchange Place Alliance Board will be picking up the charities. The process is open. >> Yeah. >> So you uh have this applications anyone, any charity can apply in. So the

2:43:21criteria is mentioned there. >> The criteria is just you have to bring us a good idea. I mean, we we won't accept any gift that comes in, but if someone comes to us and says,

2:43:30it's an autism foundation, or there's a curious genius, there was a something that the robots had done in the city. Someone comes to us and says, we want to think about this. We look at

2:43:40it, and we make a determination among us whether we have the funds. There's a limit to how much we can give. We total about 5% of our budget for charity and 10%

2:43:49>> Excuse me, Mike. So if they are saying that we are going to do this, how do you check that the work they are promising has been delivered? >> That's a good question. So we have a big

2:44:00problem with that. Sometimes people come to us and ask for the money up front, and we generally tend to at the end of a sponsorship, for example, right? Someone

2:44:08does an event, we pay after the event happens. The charity itself usually recognize charities and and we just assume that they're going to do the mission they did. You have to trust in

2:44:17this world. You have to trust. Otherwise >> we have hundreds of charities in Jersey City. If I choose one over and over again seven times, then there are other charities

2:44:30they are not getting opportunity. >> That's that's a choice, but remember though it's it's the board's money. It's not the city's money. It's not it's not

2:44:38the public's money. It's money we raised on on assessing property owners, and we do charities in the junction. Like I have a hard time. People said to me,

2:44:46should you rotate out of, you know, York Street? We've given for 5 years. I got a hard time walking away from that one. I just think it's one of those charities

2:44:54that tugs on my heart. But others we look and say, 3 years done, we're going to do something else. So we do rotate to answer your question. >> Yes. >> But it is a difficult thing turning

2:45:05someone down. >> But so the money you are collecting from business owners, do they have any say in this? If the >> they elected the board. >> Board is deciding that

2:45:14>> board we elected by the board, and the board makes the decision for them. >> Yeah, so board is deciding. It's board's responsibility to do the right thing. So

2:45:22for example, if it is public process, if it is open, any charity based in Jersey City can apply. I just feel that it should be more transparent. If I'm suggesting someone for five years

2:45:37you know to for the donation, I feel I should have criteria. They should charity should follow the criteria. Charity should deliver the services that has been promised.

2:45:49I that's my suggestion as a new board member that >> I I I I welcome this suggestion, but I I do I do you'll find that it's an interesting process when you tell

2:45:57someone no. It's difficult, right? It goes on and on and and we as the budget have gone it's gone up over the years we've been able to give more. But I'm

2:46:05very proud of the fact that we are the leading giver of charity and sponsorship in Hudson County by far. >> And thank you for that and this should be proud.

2:46:18You know you Exchange Place Alliance is doing great job with the cleaning and off duty officers at Exchange Place over the years we have seen the improvement.

2:46:28This is my suggestion that if we can work on this make it really clear online process, open process. >> We will we will actually update the by the time we have our next board meeting

2:46:38we will update the website and we'll talk to you about it. That's the best way for people to get information, right? This is an internet age. People research, they'll see what the criteria

2:46:47is and can do it. >> Thank you, Mike. >> Thank you, my dear. Any questions we have? Anything you want to talk about? >> Yeah, I I have a question, Mr. Marco. Your brother's actually

2:47:02at Jackson Hill. >> I got three of them by the way. >> Nick. >> My brother Nicholas >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> standing in my brother's shadow. If I'm good, he's great on things. Let's put it

2:47:10that way. >> So my question is are you assessed by linear feet or square footage? >> Oh, we don't do it that way. Most I apologize. Can I give you a little

2:47:23education for a moment? Would you like a few minutes? Sure. There were seven in town, right? There's seven SIDs town To my knowledge, seven special So, there's um six of them do it one way

2:47:36and we do it a different way. So, six do it by retail location, linear footage. We do on the value of the building. We do the whole building value. So, the

2:47:47numerator is our budget. The denominator is what the tax assessors says those collection of buildings are. And that's how we get to our assessment rate.

2:47:57Did I answer your question? Hopefully, we tax basically on So, if someone builds a new apartment building and it's worth $500 million, that's the basis upon which the

2:48:04assessment is levied. Not whether it's 100 by 100 or >> There's There's a percentage. >> Percentage. It's usually less It's usually 1/10 of 1% of your tax bill is

2:48:15the way it comes out. Not exactly, but that's a good good benchmark. >> 1/10 of 1%. >> So, if your tax bill's a million dollars, you might pay $10 $10,000, excuse me.

2:48:26>> $10,000. Yeah, got you. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> for that benefit though, just to to be pedantic, as uh as Marta brought out, we do cleaning, uh landscaping, social work. I mean,

2:48:37excuse me, um a street repair. You know, we built the plaza at Strange Place. That was a $7 million capital improvement. Took us three years to finance that. This year's budget goes

2:48:48to building the Ice House as a community center. And if you notice just as a If you notice outside, someone's been planting trees lately when you came into the building, that's us.

2:48:58We have been doing that. Those Those are elm trees. We'll be doing landscaping in the front. Marta? >> Quickly, we already talked about it last time. Just to give enough notice for public to

2:49:11attend the meetings for our monthly meeting. At one point, I really really want to request if we can do a virtual meeting, a few virtual meetings in a year. I'm

2:49:22not saying every single time, just so that we can meet with each other. I have not >> I'm going to try to work on that, but my board is made up of a bunch of

2:49:32rather wealthy people who look at their time. So I'm I'm available, but they may not be. I got to one or two guys are injured, they're older, but we'll work

2:49:39on it. There's no reason why we can, but I can't speak for them. I just don't speak for other people. >> Yeah, it can be both. >> I will do my best.

2:49:48>> And thank you. I want to give shout out to Deidra. She has been very responsive. She gets back to me. So thank you, Deidra. Thank you, Mike. >> We we like what we do cuz we think we

2:49:59can provide services that the city should could or would, but can't give the budgetary concerns. We're not able to do it. I'd also like one day to come

2:50:06to you and talk about I think we should expand. I think we can do more to downtown. Just one last thing while I've been waiting for hours to speak but La Frax own

2:50:17400 acres, right? That's what they bought. And their acreage is an HOA. So every building in it pays a fee whether they are owned by La Frax or not, and that money is used to run Newport.

2:50:27What we did was try to imitate it across the way. We pick up where their border is. We charge a fee and we try to provide the same services. I think we should provide it throughout. I think

2:50:37when you go across and look at one side of Marin versus the other, the trash is picked up on one side and it's not picked up on the other. Right? And there's a problem and there's I mean I

2:50:46grew up in this town. I'm proud of that as everyone who was who knows me. Right? This is a city I told this to the mayor earlier today that's a combination of

2:50:54cities. There's a wealthy part and there's a poor part. And I grew up in the poor part. So the resources can't always be given just to the wealthy part. So we try to supplement things

2:51:03that the city can't. And I think it's in important that the things get done so that people have the same standard of living throughout. So that's my thought. >> Thank you.

2:51:14>> Thank you. And the also >> No, we're good. >> Great job and thank you so much and I appreciate all the work you've done. And by the way, I really enjoyed the conversation.

2:51:24Definitely all those questions. >> you are welcome to attend all our council and all those questions. I don't like those questions. >> Thanks, Mike. >> Dolph, how you doing? Hi Hi

2:51:34Have a nice day. >> All right, Sean. >> Okay, public speakers, we're at 33. Visions and Communications, any questions or comments on item 6.1 through 6.40.

2:51:48Office Communications, any questions or comments or reported directors? We have our claims and on to our resolutions. So items we just touched on 10 3 and 10

2:52:004, so items 10.1 through 10.4 were touched on earlier. Item 10.5, city resolution 26-723 is a resolution fixing the dates and times for the caucuses and regular

2:52:13meetings of the municipal council for the year 2027. Any questions? >> Um I haven't looked at it, but is the um we're changing this year's right to Tuesday or is this proposed to change

2:52:28>> Yeah, we we we made the change as well for next year. >> For next year. Okay. >> Any other questions? Hearing none, items 10.6 through 7.18 we touched on earlier. 10.19

2:52:47city resolution 26-737 is a resolution commemorating the life, dedicated service, and enduring legacy of the honorable Sandra Bolden Cunningham. Item 10.20 city resolution 26-738

2:53:04is a resolution of the municipal council of the city of Jersey City supporting New Jersey Assembly Bill A 2221 and Senate Bill S 2263 to ensure reproductive healthcare access and

2:53:17referral networks at public institutions of higher education. Items 10.21 through 10.26 were touched on earlier. Item 10.27 city resolution 26-745 is a resolution

2:53:35clarifying reporting timelines of the rent protection special investigation committee described in resolution number 26-067. Items 10.28 and 29 were touched on

2:53:50earlier. Item 10.30 city resolution 26-748 is a resolution amending professional service agreement with the law firm PEM Law LLP to serve as outside counsel to

2:54:03the city of Jersey City on various labor matters. I'm sorry. Want to take the the next one and this one if any if any member of the council has questions on 10.30 or 10.31.

2:54:16>> This is just on 10.30. Uh PEM Laws are are they're negotiating our labor contract, is that right? We're adding to what they're doing in terms of their services? >> They've been

2:54:30doing various litigation matters for us, so yes. >> What she the law department referring to is that they handle the labor negotiations for the contracts. They

2:54:41also handle grievances, things that come out that we might need uh an outside counsel to litigate for us. They also do those in conjunction with the negotiations for the contracts.

2:54:50>> Okay, I just remember when they were first on the agenda um their contract was was going to be static because we were not yet negotiating the labor contracts, but

2:54:59they've been given additional work since then. >> So so they have been given additional work in the sense of the how do I phrase it? So the the the labor negotiations have

2:55:11kind of advanced, so we have done that going forward starting around uh September when I got back. And then in addition to that the entire time they've

2:55:21been handling, you know, different labor adjacent items such as grievances that have been filed, ongoing litigation we're experiencing with the different unions. Um and I believe those are

2:55:31listed in the uh the memo that Lisa provided. >> Okay, thank you. >> There there's a memo about the contract. >> There's two memos on both PEM Whipple. Yes. >> And he we we

2:55:43>> They were sent through council requests. My understanding was the procedure that they come in that way, they go out that way. So I believe Mr. Lyons was out

2:55:53today, so I think he'll be sending them. >> Um maybe this is covered in the memos, but for both 10.30 and 10.31 do these contracts continue to be increased because they are supposed to

2:56:09be incrementally funded or is it that the scope and the time of the service is continuing to push past the original intent? And if the latter or or is is in general, I guess is there

2:56:23a better way to set up these contracts for next year or is this just how they're intended to operate? >> I wish there was a better way. So when we have litigation matters, so Whipple

2:56:34Azzarello is handling four pretty high profile litigation matters for the city which are outlined in the memo. Um it comes in ebbs and flows in terms of workload. So

2:56:48recently there was a heavy period of depositions. There were many individuals who were deposed. They take time to prep the witnesses, sit through the depositions, etc. Then there's motion

2:57:03practice, there's fact discovery. So most recently with the Whipple Azzarello contract, there was a lot of billable hours for the work that was being done

2:57:14in that case. And because of the stakes of the litigation, it requires time for the attorneys to work on the file and work up the case. Um on the PEM contract, the also too there were in uh

2:57:32there were new matters that are employment related but have gone to litigation. For example, like an appeal of an arbitration award. Doing a appellate brief takes many hours, so

2:57:46they're billing for that. So that's why those contracts were increased beyond what we originally thought would be the contract award amount and the amount of

2:57:58hours we were going to delegate to those firms. I also want to remind the council that we are down in the law department. We don't have a supervising litigation

2:58:12attorney. We have three litigators for over 120 cases. There are um job descriptions up on the website. We are actively trying to recruit, but if we don't have the capacity in house, some

2:58:27of the cases we have to send to outside counsel. >> Thank you so much. Um and then I also had a follow-up question on the the labor law um follow-up to Councilman

2:58:40Zupa's questions. Um I understand uh DCI is at the bargaining table uh with with the city. Um so the city cannot unilaterally um sign new union contracts. DCI has a say, right? Um I am

2:58:56not familiar with how they approach bargaining and I am curious if they bring their own counsel and if that reduces the need for um the the amount of work that we will

2:59:12be contracting out to Pemlaw if if we can lean on DCI's counsel or a little bit more for certain things or if there will be no effect. >> So so I can't go into too much detail on

2:59:25the negotiations because they are ongoing, but to answer your specific question, DCI does not bring their own counsel or anyone. Um they are also not going line by line. This was clarified

2:59:35to the unions of their contracts. They are more concerned about the financial impact of the contracts. So they look at that part of it um and they of course

2:59:44have to approve any final offers we would make with the uh the unions. >> Thank you. >> Just for my clarification to corp counsel, so the memo already went out through council request?

3:00:03>> I I responded to the council request email, yes. >> Today or earlier? Cuz my office says they didn't receive it. >> Kevin, the the employee who's in charge

3:00:13of the council request is out sick today. That's what I think the confusion was. I'll make sure I personally send it tonight if I have to, if not tomorrow morning when the employee returns.

3:00:22>> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Okay. Item 10.32 City Resolution 26-750 is a resolution appointing attorneys at law in the state of New Jersey to serve as public defenders in the Jersey City

3:00:41municipal court for calendar year 2026. Next, item 10.33 City Resolution to Tuesday, November 24th, 2026 at 6 p.m. >> I I have a question. How does voting on either resolutions or first

3:01:12reading, second reading ordinances and resolutions work if hypothetically a council member's partner's birthday is that coincides with the date that a council meeting was changed to?

3:01:25How would such a council member register his vote? >> Speaking for a friend, past practice has been if the council person has engagements for whatever

3:01:36reason and would like to come in and try to put their vote on the record in the beginning, we have made accommodations for council members in the past.

3:01:44>> Such said councilman would appreciate said accommodations. >> Duly noted. >> Very unofficial legal advice. Just you should vote no for those. We're changing the date. >> So just um

3:02:01given we're changing the date or considering the change of the date to Tuesday rather than Wednesday. I understand the reason for that, but um that gives us one day between caucus to council

3:02:14if any questions that are raised. Um so I'm just going to ask for administration's um uh cooperation in being able to make sure we get answers before caucus when questions go out.

3:02:30>> Absolutely. We usually try to keep those meetings on the lighter side anyway given the holidays and everyone's schedule can be a bit crazy around there

3:02:36with events. Um so we keep that in mind. So I'm hoping that it'll be a lighter meeting where they won't have any anticipated as many anticipated questions. Um also as you know we

3:02:45publish the council or publish the agenda earlier. So I encourage all the council members to review it as early as possible. If you think you're going to

3:02:52need substantial information, please let us know. We'll try to get to that to you well in advance. Um obviously understanding that caucus can sometimes

3:02:58bring out additional questions and we'll flip those to you as quickly as possible. >> And Sorry. Um one more thing just since it's a late late change in the schedule um

3:03:11we can um publicize it some way on social media through the administration, the mayor's office. You guys have a a much larger audience out there and get that out there to folks.

3:03:23>> Yeah, assuming that it passes uh and the council likes to do it, we'll make sure that it's it's properly notified and publicized. >> Um when would the submission deadline be

3:03:34for items to the council agenda if we were to change it to Tuesday the 24th? >> The submission deadline shouldn't change. Um I believe our internal one is

3:03:47this Friday. Um I forget what day the council is next week, but clarify that with you and make sure I send out a a circulation to everyone. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Sean. Okay, item 10.34

3:04:06City Resolution 26-752 is a resolution of the municipal council responding to a proposed zoning ordinance amendment pursuant to NJSA 40:55D-64 retroactively.

3:04:22Item 10.35 City Resolution 26-753 is a resolution authorizing the expenditure of $20,000 to the Museum of Jersey City History for the purpose of operating a public

3:04:36museum at the Apple Tree House. >> Just just just real quick, that this is because the council, and thank you for doing so, voted to amend our budget to include $20,000 appropriation. I just

3:04:48have a question about the resolution. It says whereas the City Council expressed a desire to add the aid during the budget hearings and amendment process.

3:04:56We did do that, but we also voted on it. It's in the budget. Can you speak to why the language is what it is? >> Yeah, we just wanted to clarify that this was fulfilling the request made

3:05:07during that budgetary process. It's not something new that we just decided spontaneously to do. I don't Even though it was talked about during the council meetings, I don't

3:05:17know if the actual budget line was added like it was supposed to be. So this is clarifying that this is tied to the original discussion to make sure the money's fulfilling that request.

3:05:33>> All right. And 10.36 was touched on earlier. I believe uh >> Sean >> Go ahead. >> She was about to say, Sean. Cut you off. >> I got a handout, so I think you want to address the handout.

3:05:47>> Yes. Um so yeah, we have a late item back I think Was last year? Last year, um we we had a project for the Bless Housing Group on MLK. They're doing I think 18 affordable units

3:06:06um on a vacant lot. Um so they're just looking to get a letter of support for the state. Um yeah 314 316 MLK Drive. 18 affordable units. Resolution and the >> Did we

3:06:29did you discuss that, resol, with planning? Cuz when they made the request, I forwarded it over to planning. So you might just want to make sure they're not already working on

3:06:38something with them. >> I think Okay, I'll follow up with planning and then I'll let you guys know by Thursday. But um I know we we issued uh a resolution back in 25.

3:06:52So I'll follow up with uh >> Similar? Like the same or? >> But it was it was for local it was for local support. This is um Erica, come here, Erica. Come up.

3:07:06So initially in 20 in 25 the first resolution was for >> Yes, it was for it's for the same grant, but they had to rewrite the grant because the city wasn't prepared to

3:07:19distribute the funds. So it's the same grant, same funds, but they have to apply again. It's a new application. So it's the same resolution we did last year, but it is

3:07:29time sensitive. That's why we need to get it on the 12th. >> Can you just double check with planning cuz I forwarded that over to planning a couple weeks ago when Bless first made

3:07:37the request? So I just want to make sure we're not doing double work. >> Cool, cool. Okay. >> We'll do >> Yeah, we'll do that um before Thursday. Hold on, Pete. Oh.

3:07:46>> Actually CC me so we can make sure planning is on top of it. >> Cool. Oh >> Hold on. >> Sorry >> So um if you can if I can just get the title email to me, so then I know which

3:07:59one that is. I have the language. I just need the title. Thanks so much. Appreciate it. >> Motion. >> All right. I have a motion to adjourn at 7:16 p.m.

3:08:12made by Councilperson Gilmore, seconded by Councilperson Singh. On the motion to adjourn at 7:16 p.m., all council members present by acclamation, please say aye.

3:08:25We are out of here at 7:16 p.m. Thank you so much, everyone.