Meeting call to order. Council Mayor Bezerson here. Council Mayor Chapman here. Council Mayor Clayton here. Deputy Mayor Quinn here. Mayor Moore here. Please stand for a silent prayer, a moment of reflection. We will now salute the flag. I aliance to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. As complied with the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 231 PL 1975. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the following manner. The
annual notice was forward to the Asbury Park Press, the coaster, and the Star Ledger on January 16th, 2025. Post on the bulletin board at the same date. All notices are on file with the city clerk. We're now on special event applications from recreation director Alicia Floyd. No, it's not here. Not yet. All right.
She said she was coming. Move on. Move on. All right, I'll fill in for Alicia. So, we have a event for at the fire department memorial day service. We have a beach cleanup on May 30th. We have the Jersey Devil Fable F.
Keep on going. Keep on going. you know, we have Panzer wedding on September 28th and a beach cleanup for June 12th. Are there any questions for Alicia? Good job, Alicia. Who's doing the beach cleanups? Do you
know? Um, it's a school from All right. Both of them. No, the other one is a nonprofit that's having an event at the Berkeley and they just want to do um sustainability outings. So, and they
just want to do one beach in front of the Osbury Hotel. Correct. Just one block. Okay. Okay. Just wanted to make sure I read that correctly. All right. Thank you. All right. Moving on. We are now on to mayors in the city council. Uh Council Member Bez Anderson.
Oh, hi. Well, good evening everyone. I'm very excited because I have um a nice little announcement. We have a wonderful young lady here in the audience with us today. Her name is Desani Clark. She's a
graduate of Asbury Park High School and just last week she graduated from Mammoth University. Would you please stand up? She has a degree. She has a degree in communications and journalism and uh
I met this beautiful young lady when she was in the 10th grade and it's been an honor and a privilege to know you and I am so so proud of you. So just wanted you all to see her and recognize her. And now oh thank you one more thing
if I may. Uh the city will host a uh senior freeze along with the Veno pal uh assembly women Luan uh Peter Paul and Dr. Margie Donalan. It's the senior freeze workshop in and stay in New Jersey. So if you're 65 and older and
you need assistance, you know, get a refund on um some some money that you've been paying to the state in taxes on June 13th here at the council chambers from 1 to 4. they will assist you with your application and then again in July.
So, hope to see you and spread the word. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Chapman. And the city will also host a workshop on pilots to explain what pilots are in the city, what they mean to everyone, and just give everyone a
little bit of background. Um, it'll be uh hosted by Eric Aguar, and um it will be on June 12th from 6:00 to 8. Thank you, Council Member Clayton. I have nothing at this time. Thank you very much. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Quinn. Nothing. Thank you, Mayor Moore.
Nothing. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, matters from the acting city manager. Nothing. Thank you. And matters from our city attorney. Uh, nothing. Thank you. Thank you. We're now on to public participation. May I have a motion to open the meeting to the public? Move it. Second. All in favor? I. Public
participation portion of the meeting is now open. Any member of the public who wishes to speak, please use the microphone, state your name and address for the record, and there'll be a threeminut time limit for each speaker. Guess it's just me today. Matthew Whan, executive director, Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, 1011 Main
Street. Uh just a quick plug for Asbury Fest, which is coming up next week, uh June 6th, 7th, and 8th. I hope to see you all there. It's going to be a great time. We've got a lot of new food vendors, uh, some great crafters, a lot of Asbury Park businesses are participating this year. So, it's it's going to be a great time. We've got a
full music lineup. Um, so again, as Aspbury Fest in Bradley Park in front of Convention Hall June 6th, 7th, and 8th. So, thank you very much. Can we have your flyer? It's over on and we're putting it out on the news. Yep. Okay.
Thank you. Thanks, Matt. Motion to close. Second. All in favor? I. Public participation is now closed. Moving on to the minutes. I have the executive meeting and regular meeting minutes for May 14th, 2025. Do we have a motion? Move it. Second.
Council Mayor Bezerson? Yes. Council Mayor Chapman? Yes. Council Mayor Clayton? Yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn? Yes. Mayor Moore? Yes. We are now on to the consent agenda resolutions. All matters listed on the consent agenda are presented collectively to the city council and will be considered for approval with one vote. These matters
are considered to be routine in nature and there will be no individual discussion of these items. If discussion is desired by one or more council members as to any particular items and set items shall be removed from the consent agenda considered separately. On consent agenda tonight we have resolutions 2025 240 through 2025 244
and 2025 253. Move it. Second. Council member Bezerson. Yes. Council Mayor Chapman. Yes. Councilor Clayton. Yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn. Yes. Mayor Moore. Yes. We're now on to individual resolutions. Resolution
2025245, resolution approving payment of bills. Move it. Second. Council Baz Anderson. Yes. Council Mayor Chapman. Yes. Council Mayor Clayton? Yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn? Yes. Mayor Moore? Yes. Resolution 2025 246, resolution authorizing the purchase of two new Yamaha ATVs for the beach department. Do
a motion. Move it. Second. Council Bzerson? Yes. Council Chapman? Yes. Council Clayton? Yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn. No. Mayor Moore, yes. Resolution 2025247, resolution authorizing the purchase of a new sanitation truck for DPW. Move it. Second. Council memberson.
Yes. Council Chapman. Yes. Council Clayton. Yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn. Yes. Mayor Moore. Yes. Resolution 2025248, resolution authorizing the purchase of early warning lightning detection system for the beach department. Move it. Second. Councilor Bezerson. Yes. Council Chapman. Yes.
Council Clayton. Yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn. Yes. Mayor Moore. Yes. Resolution 2025249, resolution authorizing NPP gov purchasing cooperative membership. Move it. Second. Council Mayor Bezerson. Yes. Council Chapman. Yes. Council Clayton.
Yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn. Yes. Mayor Moore. Yes. Resolution 2025 250 resol resolution authorizing execution of commodities commodity resale agreement with Neptune Township. Move it. Second. Council Bzerson. Yes. Council Chapman. Yes. Council Clayton. Yes. Deputy Mayor
Quinn. Yes. Mayor Moore. Yes. Resolution 2025251, resolution authorizing the execution of a boardwalk seasonal broadcasting agreement with Town Square Media for the operation of a mobile broadcasting unit on the boardwalk during the 2025 summer season. Move it second. Council member Bezerson, yes.
Council Chapman, yes. Council Mayor Clayton, yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn, yes. Mayor Moore, yes. We have an addition to the agenda tonight. I have resolution 2025254, resolution authorizing the appointment of a municipal manager for the city of Asbury Park and authorizing the execution of an appointment
agreement relating there too. Move it. Second. Council Bzerson, yes. Council Mayor Chapman, yes. Council Mayor Clayton, yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn, yes. Mayor Moore, yes. Did you read the name? Uh, and the appointee is Adam Cruz. Thank you. Thank you.
Moving on to ordinances for introduction, we have ordinance 202514, amendment to the main street redevelopment plan with a public hearing date of June 11th, 2025. Move it. Second. Council member Bezerson, yes. Council Chapman, yes. Council member Clayton, yes. Deputy
Mayor Quinn, yes. Mayor Moore, yes. Moving on to second reading and public hearing ordinances. I have ordinance 2025-10, 2025 cap rate ordinance. And with that, we'll have a brief overview from our CFO, Joanne Boos. Good evening. Good evening, Joanne.
Uh, cap rate ordinance. You guys should know this. We do this every year. Um, by state law, we're allowed to increase our operating budget by 2 and a.5%. By doing this ordinance, we're allowed to increase it by another 1%. So, our total increase for the operating budget is
$1.7 million. So, our operating budget um is 27584127 under cap. So, we're good. We had to manipulate some stuff just to get down there, but that's what this is
about. All right. All right. Thank you, Joanne. Good job. Might as well stay, right? Yeah. Stay there. You might as well stay if you want. James will be there. James will be next. Yeah, but I mean there could be a question because we have to open it to the public. Yeah. Okay. Don't go far,
Joan. Come on. I move to open it to the public. Second. All in favor? I. Public comment ordinance 202510 is now open. Any member of the public who wish to speak, please use a microphone, state your name and address for the record. Your comments may only be about ordinance 2025-10.
Motion to close. Second. All in favor? I. Do I have a motion to adopt ordinance 2025-10? Move to adopt. Second. Council Bzerson. Yes. Council Chapman. Yes. Council Clayton, yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn, yes. Mayor Moore, yes. Ordinance 202511, capital ordinance
providing for the Cookman Avenue and Bond Street intersection improvements and appropriate $640,000. Therefore, authorized in and by the city of Asbury Park in the county of Mammoth, New Jersey. With that, we have a brief overview from our director of planning and transportation. Apologies parking and transportation James Bano. Good
evening. This uh project is being funded by the safe routes to transit grant that we received a few years back. It is for the upgrading of the traffic signal at the Cookman Avenue and Bonree intersection. It includes uh the addition of pedestrian signaling, select bumpouts at corners, um new pedestrian
ramps, new pavement in the intersection, and green infrastructure in one of the bumpouts. We received $456,000 from the state for this project. It cost the city 532,000. Uh so we fit within that bond ordinance. Okay. When's the work going to be done?
We're going out to bid now. Uh so it should be done probably five or six months. Okay. Great. Thanks, James. Do I have a motion to open the meeting for public comment? Move it. Second. All in favor? Public comment ordinance 202511 is now open. Any member of the public
who wish to speak, please use the microphone, state your name and address for the record. Your comments may only be about ordinance 2025-11. Motion closed. Second. All in favor? I. Do I have a motion to adopt ordinance 202511? Move it. Second. Council member Bezerson. Yes. Council Chapman. Yes.
Council Clayton. Yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn. Yes. Mayor Moore. Yes. Ordinance 202512. bond ordinance providing for the various sewer system repairs appropriating $5 million therefore and authorizing the issuance of $5 million bonds and notes to finance a portion of the cost thereof authorized
in and by the city of Asbury Park in the county of Mammoth, New Jersey. Okay. The reason we're doing this ordinance is some of the problems we've been having with the sewer with roof collapses, that type of um thing, or anything within the sore plant,
equipment failures. This way we have a mechanism in place to fund it instead of having to worry about where are we getting the money. This way it's all set up. Okay. Do I have a motion? Sorry. Do I have a motion to open the meeting to the
public? Open. Second. All in favor? I. Public comment ordinance 202512 is now open. Any member of the public who wishes to speak, please use the microphone. State your name and address for the record. Your comments may only be about ordinance 2025-12. One person. Uh, yes. Michelle Gladen,
Second Avenue. Um, this is a proactive thing. This isn't in to address. Correct. It's proactive just in case. It doesn't mean we're going to spend any money, but with some of the problems we've been having, we want to make sure we can get on top of them right away and
not have to worry about funding. And where's this funding coming from? transportation that's not used within three years or No, this would be bonded like we'd have to sell bonds if we needed it. I'm hoping I'm hoping that we do this and we won't have any issues. I
knew that. I just like to cl that alternative thinking, you know, motion and close. Move to close. Second. All right. Do I have a motion to adopt ordinance 2025-12? Motion to adopt. Move
it. Council Paz Anderson, yes. Council Chapman, yes. Council Mayor Clayton, yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn, yes. Mayor Moore, yes. Ordinance 202513, Ordinance of the City of Asbury Park, amending and supplementing chapter 2 entitled administration and establishing the position of director of police and
prescribing the duties of said position. Move it. Second. Second. So there's a motion to open for public comment. All in favor? I public comment is now open on ordinance 202513. Any member of the public who wish to speak, please use the microphone. State your name and address
for the record. Your comments may only be about ordinance 202513. Motion to close. Second. All in favor? I. Do I have a motion to adopt ordinance 202513? Move it. Second. Council member Bezerson? Yes. Council Chapman? Yes. Council member Clayton? Yes. Deputy
Mayor Quinn? Yes. Mayor Moore? Yes. We're now moving on to the introduction of the 2025 municipal budget. City CFO Julian Booze will give a brief overview. [Applause] Oh. Okay. Um, let me go to the next page. Okay. Uh, the budget overview. Um,
the first line is what I just said about the cap rate. We're under, which is good. Otherwise, we'd be having a big problem. We're maintaining all programs. Nothing's getting cut. Um, one of the problems, state aid has stayed level for us for many years. The state's not being
generous in any way. The one thing we did lose was municipal relief aid, which we got in 23 and 24, $1.4 million of revenue that they did not come back and give us again. This is a problem for all municipalities. Um, and they don't give
a reason for it either, right John? That's what you said to me. They gave it to us with no reason and they took it away with no reason. Um, the total proposed budget is 61,9852. Next page. The challenges, insurance costs have a
23% increase. State health benefits went up 14.7%. PFRS pension costs increased 14%. Trash removal went up 58% from the prior year. And there's always the continued
pressure from inflation. You know, we go to get cost and then we're finding out that, oh, the price has increased. So the vendors are having a hard time maintaining costs for us. Also, next page. This is a a general
summary of the revenues. 25 is our current budget appropriation. 24 is what was appropriated. If you see something where the 25 is higher, it means we were we received more than we budgeted in 24
because we can only a anticipate what we collected. So that's a good thing. We had money increases in court went up, construction code went up a lot, the UCCC revenue, and I think this year we're going to have another
good year with them because of some of these big projects that are going up, especially Somerset. So, that should be good for next year. Also, um state aid with the loss of the $1.4 million again. um the public and private grants. The
change in that was because of the $20 million boardwalk grant we got. That was a onetime deal. We got that in 24. We don't get it yet. So that's what that difference is. Okay. Um on this you can see the
majority of our budget is employees compensation, pensions, insurance, salaries and wages. Um they all have gone up. They only about 27 $2.7 million it increased from
the prior year. Um other expenses are OE for departments. Um other insuranceances, utilities and utilities have all gone up also. Um interlocal services are our 911 services with the
county. Debt service went down, which that's a good thing. Um the reserve for uncollected taxes is a is sort of a catchall for tax in case for people that we don't collect everything at the end of the year. It makes us
whole so that we're still collecting that money through this. And again, the grant was a $20 million grant that we didn't get this year because state's not giving out anything anymore. Okay.
This over the course from 2016 to this year shows the increase the average increase on the assessed value of a home from 2016 to 2025. It's a negative it was down. If it's positive it was a tax
increase. Now this totals $504 which means over 10 years municipal taxes have gone on average up $500 over course of 10 years. And then this shows 2020 our tax made up
51% of the total tax we collect for the county, library, and school. In 2024, we only made up 34% of that tax. The rest was the other three groups. And that's it.
Leave that on for a sec. Just what? No. Excuse me. Number one, I want to thank you and John for doing an excellent job getting through this budget. Believe me, at one point the $150 increase was much,
much higher. And go to the year with 10 years. 2016 and 2017 were we were still under transitional aid. So those numbers with the $150 and $91, they were basically forced upon us
by the state. So if you take those two years out and you look at the past eight years when we controlled our own budget, it was uh $2626. So 2626 over the past eight years. So as
much as it's 504 the majority of it was the 2016 2017 when the statements still telling us what we had to raise the taxes but soon as we got off of state aid you can see in 18 it reduced by $43
19 20 21 and you know less and we have been cognizant and knew that the board of education was going to get clobbered with her taxes. So, we've been the last couple years trying to keep ours as flat as possible. And Joanne rightfully so says, "John, it's going to catch up to
you one day." And it caught up to us a little, but again, any town that can say that they had a $26 increase for the past eight years, I think, would be very happy. So, again, Joanne, you did a great job. Your you, your staff, and John, you did a great job. And I want to thank both of you.
Thank you. Thank you. All right. I have resolution 2025252, introduction of 2025 municipal budget with a public hearing date of June 25th. Do I have a motion? Move it. Second. Council member Bezerson, yes. Council member Chapman, yes. Council member Clayton, yes. Deputy Mayor Quinn,
yes. Mayor Moore, yes. That is all for tonight. Do I have a motion to adjourn the meeting? All in favor? Thank you everyone. Have a good night. Thank you.