Meeting call to order. Council member Bezerson >> here. >> Council member Chapman >> here. >> Council member Clayton >> here. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn >> here. >> Mayor Moore >> here. >> Please stand for a silent prayer. Moment of reflection. >> I pledge to the flag of the United States of America. and to the republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> As complied with the open public meetings act, chapter 231 PL1 1975, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the following manner. The own notes is forward to the Asbury Park Press, the coaster, and the Star Ledger
on January 15, 2026, and posted on the bulletin board the same date. All notes are on file with the city clerk. Now on special event applications from recreation director Alicia Floyd. >> Good evening Mayor and council. Of the seven applications before you, there are
two new applications. The first one is for a plus one, which is an art installation that would take place on St. John's Island on September 26th and 27th. And the second uh new request is from
the um Asbury Park High School to do the 100 years of Asbury Park High School, which will be a short parade in the vicinity of the school. Are there any questions? >> No. Thank you. All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Alicia. We are now on to
Marish from City Council. Council Member Baz Anderson. >> Uh, nothing from me. >> Thank you, Council Meer Chapman. >> I just want to remind everyone that Music Mondays is taking place in Springwood Park every Monday night from 6:00 to 8. >> Thank you, Council Member Clayton. Uh, I just want to say thank you to everybody
that worked so hard on sponsoring the program for the World Games in and closing down the streets and letting people come out and oh, and this Friday there is a movie, free movies at
and free popcorn, sodas, and we also help you with parking and it's for children. And so you need to register. Call Cassandra Dickerson. And I think this week is Finding Nemo. >> Rio.
>> Rio. >> Rio. Rio. >> Finding Rio. >> No, just Rio. >> Just Rio. >> It's Rio. >> Come on out and enjoy yourself >> at the showroom. >> At the showroom. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor Quinn. >> Sure. >> And Mayor Moore.
>> Nothing. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mayor. City Manager. >> Hi. Good afternoon, council. Good evening. Nothing to report. >> Thank you. Anderson city attorney. >> Nothing this evening. >> Thank you. We're now on to a presentation by Director of Transportation James Banano for a seasonal city bus service.
Okay. >> Okay. >> Um, good evening, council. So, I just wanted to update you all on a a pilot circulator shuttle that I've been working on to navigate the city and help out with some uh of our transportation initiatives and health initiatives in
town. Um, so we received funding from uh New Jersey legislature. Uh we were appropriated some funds to run a paratransit service. Paratransit being for uh ADA compliant wheelchair accessible service around the city for shuttle services. We are using that uh
to make use of our senior shuttle, our senior bus shuttle, which is a 24 seat bus that we typically use for the senior center uh on on larger trips, but it does sit idle a little bit. So, we're finding a way to kind of get that a little more used. Uh this is going to circulate the city and kind of help out
with, you know, um one safety people, you know, gets people off the off the off the roads, fewer congestion, a little less parking concerns, get people moving around between our business areas and kind of helping our businesses out as well. We are going to try and and have the
service available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. from uh hopefully as soon as possible through the end of September. This is meant to be a seasonal bus shuttle service. We are going to have shuttle stops. People can wait and we have our a shuttle stop sign up there
kind of displaying the information to potential riders. We are going to um have a little bit of a a complication with some some Fridays. The shuttle is used for some trips to the senior center. So, we may have to work around that and find an alternate solution for
I think three days of the next two months. But otherwise, I think we can I think we can manage this service uh adequately with the funding we provided and the services we or materials and supplies we currently have on hand here at the city. >> Yeah. >> Uh so this shuttle is um you know by
definition paratransit. It is fully ADA compliant. It has a wheelchair lift. Uh and one of our big goals here is we want to make sure we're hitting at least as many of our >> uh senior centers and senior buildings as possible uh on our route which I will share with you in a moment. Uh we are
will be hitting Adbury towers, Philips CV towers as well as the senior center and our train station. So, this is a a good way to kind of get people moving around town that might have difficulties getting around in other ways. On top of it being available to basically anyone in the city, visitors or residents, uh
just to kind of access different business areas, different utilities or different services around the city. The route we're going to be taking u since we only have one shuttle, this is a one directional service. We will start at the Azard Park train station and
we'll operate east along Cookman Avenue to the ocean, north along Ocean Avenue, west along Delet Drive, uh south along Main Street, and then west to Springwood Park and back east to the train station. That will be one loop
of the service. It should take about 25 minutes, 20 25 minutes as a shuttle to complete that with stops. Uh so it should be a relatively quick service. Um, no one should be stuck waiting too long. There are a number of bus stops that I've called out on the map and this is a draft map that I would make
available for the public to to review and use when they are using this service. The stops that we are calling out are most likely to be um obviously the transportation center in Springwood Park, but also Press Plaza and Cookman Avenue and Bangs Avenue in the central
business district. In the waterfront, we'll stop at the carousel and the stone pony as well as convention hall. Uh, and of course, as Towers and then Main Street will hit some of our more business area, busy areas on Main Street, Main Street and Fifth, Main Street and Second, Main Street Monroe
Avenue, and finally, City Hall. These will be the designated bus stops, but it's not the only way you can use the service. This is the most logistically safe and easy way for a bus to operate. If someone's at the stop, easy for the bus driver to acknowledge, to see, to stop and pick them up. But we are trying
to make this um a service that you can hail if you are walking along the route and you see this shuttle coming your way. We're in the hopes and we were trying to make so that you can weigh the bus driver down, stop once you board. Um I don't know actually I might not have mentioned this is a free shuttle. So this would not be any charge for the
users. Um this would be fully funded by this appropriated funding and be available to anyone to access uh the shuttle and other areas of the city free of charge. Um, just example of some of our signage. Uh, on the left of the screen, you'll see the signs for our bus stops. This
will be a 30 inch by 30 inch square sign, uh, probably 10 feet off the ground with a kind of like an 8 and a half by 14 sign showing the map hours and kind of where you can find more information. I will be making a little city website to go along with this that people can access too. But that will be
kind of user height. Um, so you'll see the bus stop up high and when you get to the bus stop, you'll have a sign around your height to actually read and see, okay, I'm on the route. This is the route goes. This is what the stops are and where I can find more information. The shuttle itself, uh, you know, while it's currently branded as our senior
shuttle. Uh, we are going to buy magnets to cover up those uh those senior center labels. So, kind of help understand what this really is. U, a really vibrant red color with free shuttle on it. Um, this should cover up the sides, front and back of the shuttle. Uh, so that people
can kind of see it coming down the street because the shuttle being white will blend in a little bit, but hopefully this red should really pop. People should be able to see it and recognize, okay, that's that's the shuttle. Uh, yeah. So, just the I I wanted to kind of go into this how to use shuttle.
Um, while I do want this to be kind of as easy as possible to use, I want this to be as accessible as possible. I have to acknowledge that the driver while he is managing a bus, it may be difficult for him to spot someone on the side of waving at him. So I think that's why this approach of the bus stops as well
as the kind of hail service is our best option. Um as much as I would like this to be available to anyone anywhere any time, it's for everyone else's safety and for the bus driver's safety that he's operating this bus and country on the road as much as possible and focus on the bus stops as the main points of
access and eress from the shuttle itself. Uh no fairs and no tips will be accepted on the shuttle bus. Uh is entirely free for all users. Um and we are hopeful that this will be something that we'll find useful and accessible to get around the city and hopefully
especially for our par transit uh our older residents as well as our handicap residents can kind of use this to get to local everyday services as well as hit some businesses and some recreational services as well. That's all I have for you. If you have any questions or ideas for the shuttle, I'm happy to hear them.
incorporate them in any way I can. I'm hopeful this we can get this running uh soon. We are currently working with ND Transit to get the funds to the city. Um I've designed signs. I am looking for staff now to shuttle to drive the shuttle. We hopefully have a few on staff here at the city that we can we'll
be willing to uh take some extra hours to run it a little bit themselves. So that's where we are right now. >> Do you have a projected start date? >> No. It is a little hinged upon staffing and and receiving the funding from transit. I think we can start a little
early, but it is uh staffing is the the biggest hurdle we have at the moment. >> Thank you. I think this sounds absolutely wonderful. This is going to be such an asset for the city and for tourists and for people getting off the train and looking for like how do I get to the waterfront? Congratulations.
>> Thank you. How are we getting the word out to people about the shuttle? And are there going to be like shuttle stop signs? How do people know where to pick it up and how and how it even why it even exists and how it exists? >> Sure. So on the screen on the left, I'm actually going to place these signs are
going to be out on the street at those bus stops. That'll be 10 feet in the air. It's a 30 by30 sign. Uh I'm going to have a website on the city website page for this shuttle. I'm going to be connecting with hopefully the Chamber of Commerce. Math is always very helpful because get information out. I also want to send a flyer out to business owners.
Um other we have some lists in town that are kind of all the business owners that they were usually helpful about getting stuff to their patrons. Um and I I I'm looking for other ways to kind of get it out. Um hoping maybe I can I don't want to say too much, but like talk to some other things going on in town and get
the word out through their events or services. But, uh, I that's kind of my plan so far is really just to kind of get it out through our normal channels of business owners, city media, and, uh, hopefully Chamber of Commerce. >> Can we also get some flyers out to our senior buildings? >> Yeah.
>> You know, because a lot of them may not be on, you know, on social media. >> Of course. >> But if we could have some flyers to make them aware. >> Absolutely. We can definitely connect with one the senior center and two I mean I regularly work with both of those senior c Philip C view towers and as
towers and other things as well. So I have contact with those buildings. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And are we still doing the radio broadcast from the boardwalk >> because maybe you can get on to the radio show and announce that from the >> kind of what I was thinking but I didn't want to say too much because I don't I don't have talked to them yet.
>> Okay. So two things I think I want to acknowledge Senator Gop Paul who gave us who you know provided us with a little bit of seed money to make this work. So you know extremely grateful to him. And then James there w I didn't see a stop on Deal Lake and the only reason I was
thinking maybe and obviously you'll assess that for safety is because of the amount of large apartment buildings there that I saw it I saw stops on like Ocean Main Street but I don't actually see one on De Lake unless I'm missing it.
>> No, I I didn't designate one deal but I can. It's >> Think about it. I'm not saying you have to. It is a residential area and it's perfect for what we want to grab to come downtown because I mean that means people will be driving less to downtown shuttle. So yeah, I can definitely find a place to put a stop somewhere along
the drive. >> You might also want to utilize APV. >> Oh, definitely. >> You know, so speak with um Andy and uh >> Nate, thank you. >> Absolutely. Okay. >> Thanks, James. >> Love it.
>> I love it. Thank you. And yeah, but if you're going downtown or or Springwood Park, >> great, James. Love it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> We're now on to public participation. May I have a motion open the meeting to the public? >> Move to open.
>> Second. >> All in favor? >> Public participation is now open. A member of the public wish to speak, please use the microphone. State your name and address for the record. There'll be a threeminut time limit. Dan Shao, 615 Asbury Avenue. Great work, James. You might consider bisecting the
city, adding a, you know, do two loops. Go down third or fourth avenue, too. Make two loops. Uh, I will make a comment followed by questions on two separate topics. Please wait to answer my questions after I exhaust my three minutes. Firstly, I'd like to reiterate that I consider all of you to be honest
people who have the best intentions of the city at heart. I disagree with some of your actions, but not your intentions. And I am saddened by what I have seen as an attack on some of you personally in connection with the ongoing issue of the casino. That is not right. Attack the message, not the
messenger. If any of my words have led others to attack you personally, I apologize for that. Uh to do so does not advance the cause that we want for the casino. While I understand that your hesitancy on the casino issue is based on what you think is the best for the
city, I disagree with you because the proof in the pudding is in the tasting. Whatever you've been doing is clearly not working. We are worse off than we have been with regards to the casino. Now to my questions. The Solomon press release. Who the name penned the news
release on the Solomon reports? Who approved it as written? Who authorized its release? Why has not a retraction or a correction been issued now that you know the truth of the matter? Or are each of you uh still maintaining that
the press release is correct? Now for the firehouse, I heard that additional cost for a new floor was recently approved. It was my understanding that the floor was to be sliproof by the Zen design, but it was discovered it was not when it was wet and thus needed to be replaced. So was the floor not correctly
specified in the design or not correctly installed? If either, why are we paying for it, not the parties responsible for the error? I also understand that during the inspection of the premises, uh, the inspection company set off the sprinkle system causing damage to the kitchen. Who was paying for the repairs to the
kitchen? The party responsible for setting off the sprinkler system, insurance, or the city. Lastly, I understand that the design of the building required the incorporation of a sophisticated emergency communication system that interfaces with Mammoth County. Reportedly, this was to be
integrated during the construction of the building. However, the council objected to the cost. Reportedly, only two firms in the state can install this type of system. And they were supposed to rebid the project. I'm told it was never rebid until well after the building was built. And now the building
has to be modified to accept the system which is uh from the original bidding firm and now at a much higher cost. Is this true? And how did it occur? Wow, I made it. Time to spare. Let me let me start off on the firehouse
and I hope I'm correct. So the floor the floor when we were using it in the wintertime to get the ambulance in and out,
the snow was making people fall. So it was tested. uh it was still slippery. So there was a change order to correct it. So it's been corrected. Who's going to pay for that
down the road? Right now we paid for it. We're still holding a lot of money in retainage that you know we can recover that down the road. But you know this this place should have been open six months ago. So >> yeah. But was it not designed correctly
or was it not installed correctly? So it should have been slip proof with snow or water or anything. Right. I mean, as >> everybody's doing this at this point in time. >> Okay. >> So, the city is saying >> said, "Well, everybody's pointing the fingers at each other. We got to get
this firehouse open." Number one, that placement was condemned many years ago. It could fall down. >> And number two, you know, while everybody's pointing fingers is doing us no good. >> So, we'll pay for it and then we'll proceed to see if somebody will reimburse us.
>> Correct. >> Okay. And then what was the other >> sprinkler system that ruined the kitchen? I heard >> during inspection. >> I heard the same question. I don't know the answer to that. I heard I heard the
same story. I don't know the answer to that. So Adam, if you know the answer. >> I mean, we should have insurance or the person. >> Kevin, I'm sorry. I didn't see you. >> You were talking specifically about a suppression system in the kitchen. >> I heard that something a sprinkler system or something went off in the kitchen and >> it's suppression system. cooking
equipment. Yeah. >> Building this size requires a commercial grade hood with the suppression system. >> There's an emergency button to activate if the if there's a fire. Activate the emergency button. The agent, it's not
water, it's a chemical agent, like a dry chemical fire. >> I understand >> the agent is costic. So, um it pitted brand new equipment. Uh it was set off accidentally by one of the contractors. The contractor called
in a cleanup company. They cleaned it as best they could, not to our satisfaction. That particular contractor went through their insurance and they are completely replacing all of the equipment. The problem is it's on it's on back order at Johnson Restaurant
Supply. The original provider of the equipment will be installed as soon as it gets delivered. >> Okay. So, they're going to they're going to cover the cost. That's great. That's great. >> Contractors insurance. >> Okay. What about the communication system? >> Yeah. >> What is the third one? >> The third one was the communication
system that I understand was supposed to be, you know, installed while the building, you know, integrated into the building. And someone I I heard it was the council, I don't know if that's true, did not like the original bid. Thought it was too expensive. It was supposed to
be rebid out. It wasn't until much later. And now it's like after the building is built. So now it's got to be not as it originally was and it's at a much higher than the original cost. Is that true? How did it happen? It's we bid it out. >> I'm going to give you a general answer
and then Kevin if you want to expand on it, no problem. The firehouse the way it was designed to be built to me was the world's worst. And if anybody ever does this, any city ever thinks
about doing this again, don't do it. Instead of putting everything in the contract and making the whoever got the contract do all the work, people in the city decided, "Oh, we can do that cheaper or we can do this cheaper or we can do this cheaper or we can do that
cheaper." And none of it was cheaper and it dragged the project on. As far as the alarm system, there was conversations with the county sheriff and the under sheriffs with the fire department with two
council people who were there and saying you really didn't need to do this put in the system because but there was some disagreement uh from the fire department saying the countyy's slow but the county says we're
not. So Kevin, if you want to take it from there and explain it better, go ahead. >> So just to summarize, and I know my time's up, but you're answering my questions. So it was like instead of outside contractors, we were having
city employees do some of the work on the communication system >> on on not just communication, on a lot of different things, okay? Where we were going to save money and save time >> and and we wound up not saving money on the communication system. >> Not saving money. forget communications
numerous items. We didn't save money and we lost time. >> So we didn't have a ZAR that was in charge of building the firehouse. >> There was a project manager. There is a project manager. Right now there I believe and Kevin correct me. The only
reason it's not open now is because the traffic lights aren't up. Now, if we gave out the contract four years ago and you knew you had to put up traffic lights, why did you wait till 2 months ago to order them and they're backwards? >> I mean, it's just like what could go
wrong did go wrong. >> Okay. All right. I mean, I won't comment on that. So, could you go on to the Solomon questions? Do you need me to repeat? >> I want to see if Kevin wants to expand on the alarm system. I there's not much more I can add to that except that we uh installed a state-of-the-art alerting
system to reduce response time. We built a new building. We wanted to do everything right and install a state-of-the-art automated alerting system for emergency. >> Okay. Thank you. I I app Listen, I've been in your ambulance three times, so thank you.
>> But but hold on one second. But that did not cause opening up walls, slowing down the project or anything. Once okay, that was very easily installed. >> Once approved, it went seamlessly. >> So, what was the original budget and
what have we spent thus far? >> I can't I can't tell you that off the top. Okay. We bonded a certain amount of money. The bid came and this is a general >> general statement. I think the accepted bid was 185 and I don't
I somebody told me 45 million. Is that >> No, no, no, no, no. All right. You know, >> it's not it's not even 20. >> Oh, okay. All right. So, I said I wouldn't make a comment, but I will. You know, I ran my own company for 40 years and >> you you just there somebody got to watch. You know, this is our money and
we got to watch it. But, okay, if we could go on to the Solomon questions and I don't know if you need me to repeat them one by one. Uh, okay. So, I I'll do Who physically wrote the news release that went out? questions. His time is up. >> No, no, he asked these questions.
>> I asked these questions already. >> He's just repeating because it's been a while. Yes, you did. You can repeat them. >> Okay. Who penned the news release that went out on the Solomon decision? I assume we don't have a public
relations department, do we? Or person. >> Mayor, we had we had Nick Mallister actually our u our press person actually put the draft together. It was reviewed by the attorneys and then he was put out. >> We have a communications director that
got the information put >> they physically wrote it and it was approved by Mr. Sty put together a draft and it was reviewed and put out >> and he approved it. Okay. He authorized its release. >> Okay. Uh so as now the other question
then go there. Why wasn't a retraction or a correction been issued now that you know it's not that press release was not correct? And the followup to that is or do you still do each of you still think that the press release was correct?
>> Well, I'll start off saying like at this point in time I'm not ready to have a retraction. >> Okay. Other council members want to answer about that? You don't want to You're shaking your head, Miss Clayton. Does that mean you don't want to answer or you don't want to put out a retraction?
>> No. I don't have an answer. I'm not an attorney. I did not make the decision. I listened to what our attorney said and that's what I abided by. >> Oh, so you you agree at this moment you're taking counsel's advice. Okay. >> Point. No, I am not agreeing. >> Miss Chapman >> sending out a retraction.
>> Dan, I don't have um I right now don't have an opinion one way or the other. So Quinn, >> I'm just not ready to cut you. I'm just not ready to say there should be a retraction or should not have a retraction. >> Uh, Miss Anderson, >> I'm not ready to
uh make a retraction just now. >> Miss Quinn, >> the press release is a problem. >> Thank you. So, one says it's a problem and the other four saying you're not there yet. Thank you very much for your candidates. If it was one I'm going to
say if it was one single issue, maybe the four of us might have a different opinion, but everything there's multiple pieces to this jigsaw puzzle. They're all intertwined
and that's why I said at this point of time I'm not ready for a retraction. >> I understand and I and I appreciate that and I respect your opinion. >> Okay. Thank you. Hi, Stephen Dante. Um, 300 Emory in Asbury Park.
So, following last month's council meeting at the high school, I think I'd like to propose a commemorative site marker. >> I'm sorry. >> A commemor commemorative site marker.
You see those all over New York City citing buildings that are not there anymore. So I would propose sorry okay sorry on this site stood Asbury
Park's convention hall designed by the prominent architectural firm Warren and Wetmore who also famously designed New York's Grand Central Terminal. Designed in a nautically inspired boart style connecting Convention Hall, the
arcade and the Parammont Theater, Convention Hall featured concerts, sporting events, and trade shows for over 90 years. The building was demolished in 2027
to make way for an exclusive waterfront condominium complex with a private beach. The Asbury Park Council gave its blessing to the craven interests of developer Madison Marquette to demolish this one-of-a-kind treasure with the
explanation, you can't live in it. I think regardless of what else this council may accomplish, the neglect of our historic buildings
will be your legacy. They're there. That's what makes this town. They are so special. They're not just buildings. They're not. They're history. They're symbols. You can't quantify everything. There are
symbols that matter more than bricks and mortar. So, an example, the Jefferson Memorial in Washington. You can't live in it. There's a housing crisis. Shall we tear
it down and put up a condominium? The flag, it's a symbol. It means something. Those buildings mean something. Not just because they're public spaces, but also because they tell of us. They
tell us of a time in which public space mattered. For the average person, even for the person who had nothing, they could walk into that building, >> finish your paragraph, >> and be impressed. >> Okay, finish your one paragraph, please.
>> I just urge you to reconsider your priorities. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I don't think I'm the oldest in the room, but I'm probably pretty close to it. And a building means, and no
disrespect to you. I don't know how long you've been here. I don't know if you know the history of the building. >> I do. >> Who ran the dart game? >> Excuse me. >> The dart. Throw the dart and broke break the balloons.
>> Okay. Well, it was the two Fanrano brothers, Lee's Arcade. I can go I can tell you every place in and out and then the VFW every year. This is when I was a kid. Kid 14 to 18 working on the
boardwalk. Every year the VFW put a car in the center of the Grand Arcade and raffled it off. Now, not even then, in the late 90s, early before and then
up until it was sold, I ran the building for the city as far as maintenance. That building means more to me than most people in the city. And again, I I could go through like store by
store. Gary Anderson's Pizza Place. I mean, the old days, all the shows I saw there, they played The Sound of Music in the Paramount for like two years straight. Whenever like you wanted to like hide, just go up into the Paramount, watch the Sound of Music and
fall asleep. So, that's to me that's like the big that's the big picture and that's one of the big pieces of this jigsaw puzzle. And we got some good news where there
was no EDA meeting scheduled for August. So, as much as Madison Marquette is trying to get the $80 million in grants, it wasn't going to happen in August. Now, they've scheduled a meeting for August. We're hoping it's to give us that grant
for $80 million. this 70 and eight or whatever it is, whatever the combined total is to put that building back into shape. And to do that, Madison Marquette is going to have to step to the plate.
That's what I said. I think everybody up here has said, I think the attorney has said, I think the administration has said, as much as this Madison Marquette, we still want them to see them to get this $80 million in tax credits. If not, that building is going to fall into the
ocean because they're just going to walk away from it. And Mr. Jacobson's right. Since the building has been built, it's never turned a profit. So, there's nobody in their right mind that would come in and take it over for
Massive Marquette and say, "Let me put my own money into it and bring it back." Not going to happen. So very happy to see the EDA is having a special meeting in August, hoping that the reason for that meeting is to give the tax credits
needed to start the process. But Master Marquette has to be listening. I'm sure Mr. Jacobson will do an article, but it can't be a three-year wait. Well, it's going to take us three years to sell the tax credits. H we don't want to put any
of our own money into it. So, we still got to raise another $60 million. Come on, guys. If the state gives you $80 million and you don't start working on this immediately, something is wrong. So, believe me, everybody up here, that building means as much to us as it does
to you. And that's why I said, you know, I'm I'm sure Ivonne went to the Catillion there. I'm sure she probably graduated from there because back in the Ivonne >> I saw the Mottown review there. >> Right. So I mean we all have special
memories of it and that's the big goal right now and everything else fits together with that. So that's why a lawsuit or some right now if we if we filed a lawsuit do you think the governor would give us $80 million to p to fix a
uh convention on Well Dan like you said you have your opinion I have mine I don't think they would and that's why we're there. Okay thank you >> all due respect though they have owned the building
so it's pretty obvious that how they feel and their attitude. >> Well, maybe >> a lawsuit necessarily alienates. >> Okay. Well, again, everybody's different. >> Okay. Thank you, sir, and appreciate
your comments. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Uh, good evening. Chris Olith from Save Our Structures, Asbury Park, SOSAP. Um, you can find our website at, uh, sosap.org or if you're interested in being involved in historic preservation here
in Asbury Park and cultural preservation as well. So, um really, you know, um just following up on a couple weeks ago the meeting at the high school. Um really appreciate the effort to try to, you know, get more transparency and information to the public. That's one of
the things where, you know, we've really been trying to focus on. And um to that end, um there's a a new website that's been launched. Um, it's called Asbury Park Ootr, Asbury Park on there.org, and really is a comprehensive catalog of all
the development documents all the way back to 2002. So, we encourage the public to take a look at it. Um, if you're interested in looking up documents or querying anything, you can just go right to that website. And, uh, we appreciate, um, Mr. Cruz, you're, you
know, the the website you put to the city, but we just want to add some, you know, real more context and history to that. So, that's been launched. Um, you know, just in that interest of additional public participation and transparency to that end and to the
question that, um, or the comments from Steve, uh, you made comments at the meeting two weeks ago about kind of something that is that you're working on that you weren't able to comment much on a couple weeks ago. Just curious if that could be uh you
know an SDA for the casino or some other you know a construction SDA since I think we agree that the one does not exist only a maintenance SDA um or you know some other type of of vehicle uh for attention to the casino building or if you can speak to anything regarding
you know developments to that. >> Right. So what I commented on two weeks ago and I know what everybody else said uh there are other things going on behind the scenes and it's been told to us in total
confidentiality and again that's another piece of the puzzle. So, I'm not at liberty to violate my word when somebody tells me, "Hey, look, we're proposing this, but it's going to say completely confidential." And I don't know if it
was completely confidential because I thought I read part of it in the Tri City News, which ticked me off. So, uh, >> I'll talk to Dan about it later. >> So, there there are other things going on with other people involved. Okay. Um
I guess I just wanted to, you know, um you know, particularly as there's transition on the council and and the mayor's seat, uh you know, really just encouraged there to be some transparency around the vision for historic preservation. I feel like we hear a lot about what we can't do as a city, but
really proposing a potential vision for what we can do and a pathway to get there, I think, would be really helpful. Thank you. >> I thank you. And I'm going to say something even before he gets up. At the meeting on the 8th, uh William Asaveido
said, "How about forming a committee?" And with they say two council people and several people from the audiences spoke and I have no problem with that. I don't think the
council would have a problem with that. And the thing I would ask though is like the people from since it was Williams idea, he can choose the people but they have to be Asbury Park residents because at that meeting 40% of the people that spoke did
not live in Asbury Park. So I mean if people are going to give us ideas, I want them to come from Asbury Park residents, not people that do not live in this city, even though they care, which I deeply appreciate. I think it should be Asbury Park residents. I would
also hope and that would be up to the committee and since Williams idea if he wants to do this I would hope Madison Marquette would bring somebody to the table because I think they should be part of the process also and it I'm just throwing that out there as an idea and
William if you want to start it the city says we will work together with you two council members will meet you pick like three people that live in the city and we'll send an invite to Master Marquette and tried to sit down and see what can
be done. So, I just want throw that in. >> Oh, yeah. You I didn't take any of your time. >> Oh, no, no, just you can go for >> I'm William Asavdo. Um, good evening. I'm sorry that I'm late. It is not um
out of disrespect for the proceedings that happened beforehand. I traveled today from the Caribbean and it was a real difficult thing to sort of get here on time. Good evening everyone. >> You didn't leave I'll give you 20 extra seconds. You didn't leave just to make
this meeting did you? Um, no I did not. But but I I I I raised to make this meeting because I would um say that your point is well taken that if we are going to be serious about governance, we have
to show up and we have to show up when the meetings are mundane and unsexy as much as we show up when the meetings have potential for lots of likes and lots of clicks and lots of sort of dramatic
um and emotional statements. Um a couple things. Um the first is we're going into an election cycle. Um, and I think it's an incredible moment to really kind of
um, be as open as possible as candidates about the issues at hand. Um, and really make sure that the electorate in general is aware and informed. Um, and if my
data is correct, and I'm always doubtful about that, so if I'm wrong, don't throw tomatoes. just gently correct me. Um, about 50% of the Asbury Park residents became residents of Asbury Park within the last 10 years. So, the mix of the
new and the mix of the multi-generation legacy is a pretty interesting mix right now. And I think both parts of that mix need to understand the issues and need to hear from the candidates about the
issues in a sidebyside way. Right? And I would like to be pointed in whatever direction I need to be pointed to sort of begin to think about and bring to life a series of town hall meetings that let the residents of Aspbury Park side
by side meet the candidates, understand where the candidates stand on the most pressing issues and then go from there and develop a scorecard if you will so that we can have an informed electorate. So that's one piece. The second piece on
the blue ribbon commission that I proposed, I do not have an ownership of that idea. I just put it forth. I'd be happy to take ownership of it, but I do not own it. I brought it forth because I felt
like we needed a way to move forward rather than just to fling mud at each other. So, that is why I brought it up. Um, but um I don't own it. I would be happy to own it and put together with an
appropriate charter and mission what the goals and objectives of that commission are and what is is what is its output? What is it intended to sort of finish as? Is it a series of recommendations or is it just a series of observations? Um,
but this is an exciting time for Asbury Park, but it can go in many ways if we don't harness that sort of moment and that energy. And I think that the upcoming election cycle is probably going to be among one of the most important.
>> Okay. Thank you very much. Uh, I'm not involved in elections, so that's not my forte tonight for in the next 172 days. Uh but as far as you taking ownership,
please do shoot me an email tomorrow. We'll figure out how to start it. And I say there'll be two council people on it. One of them will not be me because I don't think I should be on it if I
only got the short term left. I think it should be somebody that's going to be on the next council over because I don't see us. Hopefully we could solve everything in 30 seconds, but that's not going to happen. So, but William, thank you so very, very much and thank you for
coming to tonight's meeting. >> Hi, my name is Laura Pascal. I'm at 527 Bangs Avenue in Asbury. Thank you for allowing me to speak. It's my first meeting here. I really appreciate all the information. And I'm going to go back to my building and talk to everybody about the shuttle service idea
and also what all the other people are talking about about the buildings. I myself am here to talk about something very different. It's about handicap parking. I myself am a handicap placard user and I live in a building that has a handicap parking available to me. However, I have to pay an exorbitant amount of money like the rest of the
residents in the building of $200 a month. I called the parking authority to find out what options might exist and apparently right now there is no options given that there's an ordinance in town that if you live in a building that offers parking then you must park there.
So my one question is are there any other options for someone who's handicapped to have a permit parking as a resident on the street or do I have to pay the $200 a month to have the handicap parking that's accessible to me? I don't appear maybe as someone who is handicapped, but that's one of the
difficulties I have. Um, extreme weather, hot and cold, is difficult for me to to think and maneuver in. And I do carry in packages. I work off on military bases around the area, so I do commute daily. So, having a parking space to come back to is important, but
I cannot any longer afford the cost. So, my question is to see if there's any um options for someone who's handicapped to receive permit parking on the street or in the municipal lot. >> Is that it? >> That is it.
>> Hey, James, do you want to answer or get in touch with the young lady tomorrow and explain? >> We at the moment we don't have any other options. We will make any guest spaces at residences who don't have parking available to them. But as it stand, we do expect to use parking they have
available to them at their locations first, >> right? But at this present time, it's not I can't afford to have that parking space that it's delegated to me right now. So I moved into a building brand new and I and I had that >> hear a lot. The thing is we we only have
limited space on the street and we just are not able to accommodate every single person who wants to park there which is why this rule is in place. Um but I don't know if there's any um like a adjustment to someone who's handicapped to be looking for permit parking or at
the municipal lot if they can't afford especially the high cost of having the parking in their building. Um, I've been living here and I really enjoy the residential neighborhood and visiting all the shops in the area and communicating with them, but it is very difficult for me to um decide my
livelihood about buying groceries and having parking. And so, it's really been an issue and I did reach out and so they were just telling me to come to the meeting tonight to voice my questions. But I do love that shuttle service idea. And can you bring beach chairs and other bags with you on that shuttle service? >> Yes, you can.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. >> Hello, Matthew Ellen, 10-11 Main Street, Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce. Uh, I'm here to echo Councilwoman Clayton's sentiments earlier about uh the FIFA
World Cup events that happened this past weekend and to thank the council, the city manager, our police department, our fire department, everyone who worked together with the chamber to make this happen, especially Sylvia, Sylvia, and the UEZ who got the initial grant to get the screen for the event. It was a
wonderful event, a free event for a bunch of people to come to town. Um, I don't have the total count, but we think it was well over a thousand people that came to town specifically for that event. So, it was a great event and I just want to say thank you to all of you and also love the shuttle service. Happy to help in any way we can to get the
word out. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Matt. Great job, you and the Chamber of Commerce putting that event on. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. You just get up and go to the microphone. My name is Paul Wyman. I'm a human
being. I'm an immigrant from Scotland since 1974 and I'm honored to be voting in Asbury Park for the mayor on November 3rd, 2026, God willing, in the name of Jesus. I've been sober now 17 years and in seven months, no drugs, no alcohol,
no cigarettes, no vapes. I'm at the uh mission. They're helping me. They're nice people. They give us food and they help the homeless. Are you the mayor right now? >> Excuse me. Are you the mayor right now? The mayor of Asbury Park right now. John B. Moore the mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you, dude. Are you You're not
running no more? >> They said you're not running again. >> No. Well, I've been mayor for 11 and a half years, and I think uh I think somebody said I was too old, so I should get out. >> I don't think so, young man.
>> Thank you. I mean, I I'm honored to be a citizen of the United States of America, man. I support the troops and I support the police, too. They got a tough job. Just don't taser me. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. And it was just a very nice compliment and I deeply appreciate it.
>> Anybody else like to be heard? >> Motion to close. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Public participation is now closed. On to the minutes. I have the executive and regular meeting minutes from July 8th, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> Move it. >> Second.
>> Council Bezerson? Yes. >> Council Chapman? Yes. >> Council Clayton? >> Yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn. >> Yes. >> Mayor Moore. >> Yes. >> Moving on to the consent agenda resolution. All matters listed on consent are presented collectively to city council and be considered for approval with one vote. These matters are considered to be routine in nature and there'll be no individual discussion
of these items unless discussion is desired by one or more council members. Tonight I have 2026 317 through 2026 325. Do I have a motion? >> Move it. >> Second. >> Council member Bezerson. >> Yes. >> Council Chapman. Yes. >> Council Clayton. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn. >> Yes.
>> Mayor Morton. Yes. >> Individual resolutions. I have uh resolution 2026 326. Resolution authorizing payment of bills. >> Move it. >> Second. >> Council member Bazar. Yes. >> Council Chapman. Yes. Council >> Clayton. Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn. >> Yes. >> Mayor Moore. >> Yes.
>> Resolution 2026 327 resolution authorizing change order number one for Main Streetscape improvement project. >> Move it. >> Second. >> Council Bazar. Yes. >> Council Chapman. Yes. Council Clayton. Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn. >> Yes. >> Mayor Moore. >> Yes. Resolution 2026 328 resolution of
the city of Asbury Park identifying the sources of funding as required in the RCA agreement with the Asbury Park Housing Authority. >> Move it. >> Second. >> Council member Bazar. Council Mayor Chapman. Yes. >> Council member Clayton. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn. >> Yes. >> Mayor Moore. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026 329. Resolution of the
mayor and city council of the city of Asbury Park to enter into a stop recognition agreement for the benefit of 1201 Ocean Avenue N1 LLC. 121 Ocean A and2 LLC, CWR SSF Shore Capital LP and CW Shore Capital Management LLC and the
respective lender and agent capac uh capacities in connection with the development of property located at block 4105 lot 1.01. >> Move second. >> Council member Bezerson, >> no. >> Council member Chapman, >> yes. >> Council member Clayton, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn,
>> no. >> Mayor Moore, >> yes. >> Resolution 2026 330. Resolution authorizing agreement between the city of Asbury Park and New Jersey Transit Corporation allotting funding for the operation of paratransit shuttle services. >> Move it.
>> Council Oh, do I have a second? >> Council member Bazar. >> Yes. >> Council member Chapman. Yes. >> Council member Clayton. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn? Yes. >> Mayor Moore? >> Yes. >> All right. Resolution 2026 331 resolution amending rules and regulations for kayak rack rentals.
Move it. >> Second. >> Council member Bezerson, yes. Council Chapman, >> yes. >> Council Member Clayton, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn, >> yes. >> Mayor Moore, >> yes. >> Resolution 2026 332, resolution authorizing appointments to the zoning board of adjustments. Uh the
appointments the appointees are Carrie Dim, Keith Johnson, and Jennifer Snodgress. >> Well, Carrie's getting moved up. >> Yeah, Carrie will be moved to a full-time member from alternate one position. >> Move it. >> Second. Council member Bezerson, yes. Council member Chapman, yes. Council
member Clayton, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn, yes. >> Mayor Moore, >> yes. >> Moving on to ordinances for introduction, I have 202616, ordinance establishing a restricted parking space for use by handicapped person at the property located at 3016th Avenue in the city of Asbury Park amending and
supplementing section 7-36 entitled handicap parking of chapter 7 traffic, the revised general ordinances of the city of Asbury Park, New Jersey with a public hearing date of August 19th, 2026. Move it. >> Second. >> Council member Bezerson, >> yes. >> Council Chapman, yes. >> Council member Clayton, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn,
>> yes. >> Mayor Moore, >> yes. >> Ordinance 202617, ordinance establishing a restricted parking space for use by handicapped person at the property located 808 Emory Street in the city of Asbury Park and amending and suppling section 7-36 title handicap parking of chapter 7 traffic of revised general
ordinances of the city of Asbury Park, New Jersey with the public hearing date of August 19th, 2026. Move it. >> Second. Council member Bazerson. Council Member Chapman, >> yes. >> Council member Clayton, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn, >> yes. >> Mayor Moore, >> yes. >> Ordinance 202618, ordinance establishing
a restricted parking space for use by handicapped person at the property located 1211 Grand Avenue in the city of Asbury Park amending and supplementing section 7-36 entitled handicap parking of chapter 7 traffic of the revised general ordinances of the city of Asbury Park, New Jersey with a public hearing
date of August 19th, 2026. >> Second. >> Council member Anderson. Council Chapman. Yes. Council >> Mayor Clayton. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Quinn. >> Yes. >> Mayor Moore. >> Yes. >> If that is all for tonight, do we have a motion to adjurnn? >> Move to adjurnn. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you everyone. Have a good night.
>> You too.