One's all right. I would like to advise all those present that notice of this meeting has been provided to the open public meetings act and the notice published in the city website. Copies were provided in the Bergen record and also placed on the bulletin board and lobby of city hall. Written. Objections,
if any, shall be made to the city clerk. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America >> and to the republic for which it stands. >> One nation under God,
>> indivisible indivisible, >> liberty liberty and justice for all. Justice for all. >> All right, we will take roll call. >> Council Cohen >> here. >> Councilman Firestone >> here. >> Councilwoman Fischer >> here.
>> Councilwoman Imus >> here. Councilwoman Le >> here. >> Councilman Preszano, >> present. >> Councilman Cano, >> present. >> Councilman Russo, >> present. >> Council President Ramos, >> present.
>> Full quorum. >> Yep. And Jerry, let's start with the housekeeping item. Jerry, uh, the items that are removed from the agenda tonight, we have three items off the agenda. >> That's correct. Uh, the three items that are off is CA1, the professional service
contract to Dotus. Patrick in the amount of 15,000 to serve as a public utilities utilities council for calendar year 2026. Another contract to COD is for 15,000 for water utility council board this year funded by the water utility. And last but not least, a resolution amending a professional service contract
with tester and Cohen for construction council for maritime park improvement projects increasing amount of 5,000 for a new total of 15,000. Those are the three items that are going to be off for this meeting. Council President. >> Yeah. Thank you. So, yep, everyone
update their agendas and we'll start with items for a second reading. Hey, >> sorry. >> Anyone in the public, Jerry? >> Yep. Let me see if anyone is raising their hand for second reading. The
second reading for J11 is an ordinance amending chapter 58-23 entitled permits to modify the personnel fees associated with the event permits. And we have two so far. I'm going to promote Manny Rivera Solair.
>> You good? Manny, >> he's joining shortly. >> He's in. >> He's in. Just unmute, Manny. >> Now he's muted. He was unmuted. >> You have to unmute yourself, Manny. >> Okay. I'm sorry, Council President. My bad. I'm a little rusty. Good evening,
Council President, members of the council, members of the public. Council President, just very quickly because I don't want to take up too much of our time tonight, but I have questions. Um, in the caucus meeting, I believe it was in the caucus meeting or maybe at the first reading, um, can you help members of the public understand, um, what were
the actual changes that were presented? Um, what was there? What were the fees before? Pardon me for that noise. Um, what were the fees there before and what are they going to be now? And I think someone had mentioned or maybe it was me um in regards to nonprofits and uh other
organizations uh such as this charities um has anything changed in their fees? Will their fees also increased? Uh council president that would be um if you could help members of the public understand that or anyone um that would basically be the question. Thank you. Council President Gonzalez, you want to >> I go back.
>> Thank you. Uh yes. And and uh council president if you if you don't mind just before I answer um Jerry I believe Arlene's having trouble getting in if you don't mind uh assisting. Thank you. Um so hi Manny to answer uh your your question.
So um the ordinance is proposing an increase of $5 for fees associated with emergency management personnel and sanitation personnel. Um this is to cover the current costs of the city providing those services to permites for
private events. Um in addition, it also pro uh proposes adding a a fee for um traffic and signal personnel and department of transportation and parking. Um we currently don't charge for their uh services. However, um last
year alone they expended about $57,000 on um uh event related uh overtime and um they do do a lot of work on events. Um so we're simply looking to uh provide an hourly rate that covers the cost of
um providing these services to the applicants um recoups the city's cost. So the cost was $30 an hour and now it will be $35 an hour if this ordinance is approved by council. Yep. Thank you. Motion to close public hearing. >> Motion.
>> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Members of the council. All right. Call a vote. I >> think uh Pat Waiters just raised her hand. One second. >> I think you said there were two people,
didn't you say, Jerry? >> That's correct. Yeah. So, Patricia Waiters uh is here. Pat, if you can unmute your phone. >> It's unmuted. >> Thank you. Thank you, city clerk Jerry. And thank you, Miss Gonzalez, for recognizing me. First of all, let me say
I've been on here since 6:45 and I was until you said it, Miss Gonzalez, acknowledge me. It's you having issues, Jerry, because it's not going through. Just to let you know to place that on the record. And with respect to the uh increase in the fees, I don't think it's fair for residents that live here to
give their little private events or whatever, we should have to pay. Everything lately in this city became about money. And even when that young man Ruben came to you, uh, how Hoboken sounds like those fees you are charging them are crazy. And I want to know where do the money go.
Thank you. And I'm holding on for the public portion. Second. Motion to close again. >> Motion. >> Second. >> I >> I >> Let's call vote. >> Okay. For ordinance J1.
Councilman Cohen. >> I. >> Councilman Firestone. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Fischer. >> No. >> Councilwoman Immus. >> Yes. >> Councilman L. >> Yes. Councilman President,
>> nay. No. >> Councilman Cano, >> I. >> Councilman Russo, >> no. >> Council President Ramos, >> I. >> It has passed. Uh, next one is Ordinance J12, an ordinance amending
chapter 190-11 entitled loading zones to relocate a loading zone on Hudson Street between Third and Second Street. >> Any members of the public, Jerry? Let me see. I have no hands raised. >> Motion to close.
>> Motion. >> Second. >> Favor. >> I I >> I members of the council. Loting zone. >> Call the vote. Mr. Clerk. >> Borins. J12. Councilman Cohen. >> I. >> Councilman Firestone.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Fischer. Yes, >> Councilman Immus. >> Yes, >> Councilman Leon. >> Yes, >> Councilman Preszano. >> Hi, >> Councilman Gantero. >> Hi, >> Councilman Russo. >> I,
>> Council President Ramos, >> I. >> J12 has passed. J13, ordinance amending the city of Hoboken organization to add the Department of Community Services. Uh, >> any members of the public? >> Let me take a look.
Um, >> just want to speak just hit the raise your hand uh button. We used to do we're out of practice with the zooms. >> Uh, Councilman Russo has raised his hand and no one from the public yet. Yep. So, you know, >> motion to close public portion.
>> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Council Russo. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, not that I have a problem doing this. Uh, I have a problem doing this without uh any information on our budget. I was hoping we would get some answers in our closed
session today. Uh, but due to the storm that being postponed, I would hope that maybe we could just move this to our next meeting so we understand the budget a little bit better. I don't know if anybody else has any uh strong feelings about it, but I would hope that we could
do that. Council President Zano, >> I'm kind of in the >> Can you hear me? >> Yeah. Go ahead. Sorry. >> Okay. Uh I'm kind of in the same boat as Councilman Russo. Uh I think in the caucus I did ask that in any plan or
reorganization. there should be some financial implications or not implications a financial plan as well that goes along with this so that we can see things because the problem I don't want to I am concerned about is that we get into budget talks and we suddenly
now realize that things are worse than we thought like in Jersey City and we have to make some amendments to uh the structure of city hall. So we vote for something two weeks before and then suddenly we realize we have to start uh
eliminating some things. So without seeing uh any kind of financial numbers uh it's a struggle for me to push forward while I want to be uh while I want to see this administration succeed. It's just that when
when you present something, there should be finances along with it and especially heading into budget season knowing that we will have some crunches there. >> Councilwoman Imus. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> Hi. Um, yes. So, I kind of feel like in
the caucus we discussed that this was um a headcount neutral proposal. Uh but it it it appears to me that we have another director that's being sourced from uh they're doing a nationwide search. This is a big salary. Um, I am not opposed to
this this structure whatsoever, but like Councilman Rizzo and like Councilman President said, I have concerns with where we're headed with budget and finances. And I feel like it's a little bit I would feel more comfortable
holding back just for two weeks until we had a better sense of where your budget was headed. >> Thank you, Councilman Immus. Councilman Quintterero. Uh thank you, council president. Uh color me the cynical one
in the bunch here. Um but look, this is a my view is an attempt from uh the administration to reorganize as they see fit uh as they see best. Um looking for efficiencies. They've
committed to being budget neutral and I think we should give them the grace that they will uh work to do that uh in that way. Um it is difficult for us as a council to start to micromanage the administration. So I I think we should kind of give them the benefit of the
doubt. We still have control uh over the budget. It will be our budget when it's proposed. Once once it's proposed, it will be in our hands completely. Uh to think that we will have some idea or some concrete steps that'll move uh us in one way or another in two weeks, I
think is not necessarily uh accurate. So, um, from my position, let's give the administration the tools they need, uh, to organize themselves in the best way possible to be nimble, uh, to be, um, agile, to be able to respond to the
things that we need in town in Hoboken, which I think they have done. So, uh, from the past, uh, month or so, we've had two major stom snowstorms, and we've seen them, we've seen what they can do uh, with what they have now. So, let's give them the tools they need to
reorganize themselves in a better way and continue to execute for us. So, I'm voting yes. >> Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Cohen. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh, you know, Mayor Jabbor announced this
reorganization in a press release. She put out the goal of restructuring municipal departments to improve efficiencies, strengthen coordination across city services, improve transparency, and enhance quality of life. But you also said, as Councilman Cano uh
said, that it's going to be revenue neutral. So there will certainly be an opportunity for us, I'm sorry, budget neutral, not revenue neutral, budget neutral. Uh so that's been the commitment of the mayor. Uh we're going to have an opportunity to see a budget
and and review it at some point. Uh but this is clearly a major priority for the new administration and I think that we should uh let the mayor proceed with this and you know we'll we'll have to see what the way the numbers shake out but the commitment is that this is supposed to be a a budget neutral
pathway to maintain the city's existing organization structure while addressing areas of needed improvement. And uh again, as council councilman Cano mentioned, we had several crises in the first few weeks of the administration and I think clearly the folks are
working hard uh in in this new structure as envisioned by the mayor and uh you know, we should see how it plays out. So yeah, I'm I'm supportive as well. Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you, Councilman. Uh Councilman Council Fischer. >> Yeah. Um
it looks like it's going to have the votes to pass. Um, but what I would say is, you know, when when the mayor announced her plan, um, and said it was budget neutral, I
think what we've seen here is we're bringing back, you know, a director that left, went to the private sector, and came back. We don't know what his salary is, and we've seen a director um, move into an assistant BA. Um so we don't
know if that salary is going to be um changed to reflect uh the new role which has been paid less in the past. So I think um you know I don't believe that this is budget
neutral and and I think um the community is not looking for budget neutral notwithstanding what she said. I think the community is looking for budget reductions and less headcount at the top. So, I just I just want to put it
out there publicly that although this is going to pass tonight, um you know, there's it's up to us, the city council, to completely scrutinize and make sure that we are spending appropriately for the city at a time when, you know, she came out and indicated that we are uh on
negative outlook. And I know we are looking for additional revenue opportunities, but I think there's a lot of us on the city council that are going to be expecting significant cuts on the expense side. And so seeing a continued topheavy, you know, um administration as
well as it seems to be an expanded um expanded mayor's office. I think that there's going to be a lot of explaining to do when the budget comes and there's dollars attached to all of that and it's going to be up to us to, you know, hold her feet to the fire. Um, re in costs
and if that makes means making changes to what she's proposing today, we all have to be disciplined enough to consider that at the time and not just, you know, give the mayor what she wants just because she's asking. So, >> thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman
Firestone. >> Thank you, uh, Council President. Um, I was just looking at this and I I agree with, uh, Council Member Cano and and Cohen. Um, I think that if anything has demonstrated in the last few weeks, it's
that we really need to get moving in terms of city council or I'm sorry, city hall organization rather. Um, I know that people might have concerns regarding budget. I thought that we had approved mins and maxes for each position uh not that long ago. So I
don't think anything that should come in as a budget item should necessarily be a surprise depending on the level of experience. Um I've also heard a lot of council folks reflect on the fact that we need people with more experience in some of these roles in city council and
that they would appreciate nationwide searches for things. So um we don't get really talented people without paying them the appropriate amount of salary. Um we cannot simply attract the best and brightest if we don't do that. Uh people
don't work for free uh as as much as we like them to. And maybe they shovel snow for free sometimes, but they don't necessarily come to a job for free. Um so I'm in favor of allowing the mayor this this latitude. I do believe it's going to be budget neutral. uh members
of the budget committee uh have all seen, you know, some preliminary information regarding the budget, so I don't think anything should be a surprise tonight. >> Thank you, Councilman. Anyone else? No, I I I think that you know for for me
personally I think affording any administration the the latitude to set the parameters which is how city hall organization is structured uh up to the individual mayor. They're there. They they are there on a day-to-day basis. And essentially, this is really just
reshuffling the furniture within city hall uh and reshuffling or organizations within city hall to where they deem uh a more efficient way to run a day-to-day operation. So, I'll be in favor of this tonight. And Mr. Clerk, call a vote. >> President, I just want to let you know that Manuel Rivera Solair
did raise his hand while you guys were talking. >> Call a vote. >> Okay. for ordinance J13. Councilman Cohen, >> I. >> Councilman Firestone, >> yes.
>> Councilman Fischer, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Immus, >> yes. >> Counciloman Le, >> yes. >> Councilman Panzano, >> no. >> Councilman Cano, >> I.
>> Council Russo, >> no. Council President Ramos I. >> It has passed J13. Next one is ordinance J14. Ordinance authorizing an amendment to the execution of a lease agreement between the city of Hoboken and
Community Investment Strategies Inc. as to property located at 259 11th Street, also known as 1033 Willow A, block 172, lot 17. Manuel Rivera Solair would like to
comment on this. Okay. Mrs. Solair, is he in the room, Jerry? >> Yes, he just joined us. >> There you go. Hey, Mr. Solair, how are you? You're on the clock. Five minutes, sir.
Man, you unmute yourself. There's something um fishy here, Mr. uh president of the council. I keep getting thrown off and then uh muted and all this stuff. But anyway, uh not to eat up my minutes, I I do also appreciate you holding to the rules in the prior um
vote, not allowing anyone to come in after you close the the uh uh public portion. I hope that holds for everyone. Secondly, council president, in this one, I would just like to see if if council uh can give members of the public an understanding. I know again it
was spoken on the caucus, but is this the um 11th Street um senior building that you're going to um allegedly is going to be um started um work on in the end of March or the middle of March? And
does this um ordinance um also have um any impact or does it have anything to do with J17 which is further down the line here as well as the esttopple in the consent agenda? Can you explain that for members of the public as to why is
all of this moving here and you have a start date is that start date for this project going to still hold? Um that would be my question and I yield back and again I appreciate you uh allowing me to speak. Thank you.
>> Yes is the answer to the question. Uh it is being J17 is being being held for planning board review. I don't think that happened yet. So that that won't be voted on till the next uh meeting Manny. So yes, it's related to that project and yes they have to have it done uh in the
ground by the end of March. Any other members of the public? >> Motion to close public hearing. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I
>> Okay, we're going to vote on ordinance J14. Councilman Cohen. >> I. >> Councilman Firestone. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Fischer. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Immus. >> Yes. Councilman Leon, >> yes.
>> Councilman President, >> I. >> Councilman Cano, >> I. >> Councilman Russo, >> hi. >> Council President Ramos, >> I. >> J14 has passed. Uh J15 is uh moved back to first reading. It's an ordinance
adopting the amendment to a non-disturbance disturbance agreement between the city of Hoboken, Heritage Village at Hoboken LLC, and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. Also J17, an ordinance amending the north end redevelopment plan for the
north end rehab area is going to be carried to the next meeting which is March 4th. We're waiting on planning board review. The next ordinance is J16 ordinance amending chapter 192 entitled parking for persons with disabilities to establish a reserve space on Adam Street
between 7th and 8th Street. There is no public council president uh to speak on this ordinance. Thank you. >> Public hearing. >> All in favor? >> All in favor? >> I. >> One. The funny members of the council. >> Call the vote. Mr. Clark.
>> On ordinance J16. Councilman Cohen. >> I. >> Councilman Firestone. >> Yes. >> Councilman Fischer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Immus. >> Yes. >> Councilman Leon. >> Yes. >> Councilman Preszano. >> I.
>> Councilman Cano. >> Hi. Councilman Russo. >> Hi. >> Council President Ramos, I just want to let everyone know that Tony Sorz did raise his hand. I don't know if you want to reopen up public portion. Okay, no problem. >> We move. Okay.
>> Um >> I >> public portion on agenda items, resolutions. We have so far Tony Sorz and Manny. So far I'm going to put promote Tony. >> This is for uh this is for resolutions.
>> That's correct. >> Mr. Sorz and members of the public. >> I just wanted to speak in the general portion not not in I just raised general >> general public portion not any. >> Okay. So after this we'll put you back in the >> problem. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Manny is uh next one. Manny has joined us. If you can unmute, Manny. >> Once again, good evening, Council President Manuel Rivera Soer. I do appreciate you holding to the rules. Uh
Council President, um I just want to ask a few questions. Again, this is all in matters of um reiterating stuff that was said in the caucus meeting only because um a lot of council uh members uh asked a few questions and I have concerns as to whether those questions were fully um
answered to their satisfaction or to all of your satisfaction so that members of the public could understand a little better. Um I'm looking at administration obviously uh there were some questions and even in the prior um uh ordinance about the appointments. So, I'm assuming
the those are going through um which is um A1 through A5, I believe. And in climate action, um there were some questions asked as to Ca, but since that was taken out, I'm assuming that that was not
resolved. Um CA4, there was another question on that one. Um was it fully resolved? have the members of the council can give color uh as to members of the public on how you're going to vote on that one. Um there was one serious one which was
actually two CA and C CA7 and CA88. There was talk very a lot of questions on those. Um and can members of the public understand a little better on that one in regards to especially CA88? What was the outcome? what was the agreement upon the hours and which
streets were going to be um having the extra noise in the construction? I think that was council member Russo and others. Um as well as um obviously on corporate council that there was C3
all the way to CC9. That was just a technicality. It would be great if members of the public were here today cuz there were only 41 um uh who watched the the caucus meeting. if you can give a little color just quickly briefly that this is whatever it was a reertification
or a certification of the funds so that members of the public would be um completely satisfied with that and um again council president in in the clerk CL2 um the appointments for the rent leveling board congratulations to the
members but um there was no listing when the meeting was posted so there was really no way to know the names until somebody published them on social media if that could be um clarified for the future. Um again, I'm going to try to be brief, but um parks and recreation, I'm
just going to give you the numbers. Someone asked a question on P3, P4, the amounts of the snow removal. Are we going to go through that again in this snow removal because that's a lot for the budget to handle? And I believe also uh council member Russo asked a question
on T2 um as well. And I am very interested in also knowing which is on the agenda. I don't have the number for it, but um council member um presano asked or said he was going to let members of the council know what he
discussed in the meeting for the city bikes. That is truly something that should be discussed and told to members of the public as to what benefits what are we getting in negotiation because we should always negotiate with by strength. Um, I always say that in all
the meetings and we give away too much and I hope that this administration starts doing this negotiations from straight. It's our property. They should be giving more benefits to the city or more revenue. And council president uh with that I yield back and I hope that
some questions could be answered. I know not all of them but as much as they can. Thank you council president. I yel back. >> Thank you. >> Any members of the public? Mr. Lore? >> Nope. Motion to close the public hearing. >> Motion. >> Second. All in favor?
>> I I >> wonderful members of the council. Council president on um just a couple points to clarify. I know we changed the um
the Saturday work uh to just one uh one area rather than both on seventh street rather than fifth and seventh. Uh just make sure that that was done. >> Yeah, I believe so. Right. >> The public understand that >> T2 direct councilman
>> that change was made I believe director Gonzalez right when >> the noise waiver you mean and that that's CA yes uh yeah seventh and I believe seventh in Monroe and It references the intersection now, >> correct? >> Yes. >> Yep. So, you don't have to pull it then. I just wanted to make sure.
>> Any other items, >> members of the council? >> If we could actually uh pull uh T2 uh for discussion, >> you got it. Any other items, members of the council?
See, Mr. Clerk, call a vote. >> We're consent agenda. We're only rem pulling T2. Councilman Cohen. >> I. >> Councilman Firestone. >> Yes. >> Councilman Fischer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Immus. >> Yes. >> Councilman Lac.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Preszano. >> I. >> Councilman Cano. >> I. >> Councilman Russo. >> I. >> Council President Ramos. >> I. Councilman Russo. To you too, my friend. >> Yeah. And and I think the member of the
public hit on it uh quickly. Uh have we had any further discussions about any other changes in that contract or do we go forward as was uh prior to the meeting uh >> we have not changed this temporary
contract. Um obviously discussions are underway as regards the procurement of the new contract. Um but for this temporary contract it is a 60-day extension of um you know the existing contract amount. So we have not changed that. No. Are are there any um have we
made any headway as far as the terms of the uh new contract? Are those uh anything that you could share right now? >> Uh no, no proposals were were just received. Um we're not in a in a position to say anything yet about that. But um that will be discussed I believe
in the subcommittee meeting which is >> tomorrow already. >> We they can they actually cancelled the one tomorrow and they're >> okay. Yeah. So that and that is is quite possible because we don't have more information to share yet, but it will be discussed at the next subcommittee meeting. I we don't have any further
information at this time though. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other members of the council? >> Mr. Clerk, call vote >> on T2. Councilman Cohen, >> I. >> Councilman Firestone, >> yes. >> Councilman Fischer,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Imus, >> yes. >> Counciloman Lac, >> yes. Councilman Prenzano. >> Hi. >> Councilman Cano. >> Hi. >> Councilman Russo. >> Hi. >> And council president Ramos.
>> I. >> Okay. We have an item for first reading. >> It is an ordinance adopting an amendment to a non-disturbance agreement between the city of Hoboken Heritage Village at Hoboken LLC
and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. Clar call a vote. >> Councilman Cohen, >> I. >> Councilman Firestone, >> yes. >> Councilman Fischer, >> yes. >> Councilman Lehus, my apologies.
>> Councilman Leon, >> yes. >> Councilman Prrenzano, >> I. >> Councilman Cano, >> I. >> Councilman Russo, >> I. >> And Council President Ramos, >> I. That is all the business.
>> We have public comments, Mr. Clerk. Yes, >> Tony. >> Tony Sorz. Uh, hold on one second. Let me see where Tony is. Okay, Tony, if you can unmute your phone. >> Yes, I'm unmuted. Can you hear me? >> Yep. >> Okay. I want to talk about something
because I've been coming to these council meetings for years and as a person with a disability, I am sickened by the abuse of handicap parking spots being given away like their gifts. I am sorry. I know some of
the the cars that have recently gotten them. These are people that ride bikes around town. They could do somersaults down Washington Street. I think a USA hockey team member could probably get a handicap parking spot on Washington Street these days. What's happening?
>> Jack. >> What's what? >> Only if that name's Jack. >> Oh yeah. Well, losing your teeth is not losing your legs. But um but anyway, my and I'm not passing judgment on these people, but what's happening is the doctors that they go to are confusing
giving a handicap permit versus a handicap spot. I was on that committee. Hoboken is giving out for its sizes disproportionate amount of on street permits and and they're clustered in certain areas like Clinton Street from
the high school all the way along Columbus Park that entire side of the street. It's just it just statistically there's not that many people that have that that you know I was on the committee and I we rejected a lot of people that were not entitled. I'm not
naming names or locations, but now it's gotten to abuse and doctors that review it don't want to be sued. That's why it was very hard to retain these doctors that that that get contracted because they don't want to be sued for being
denied. what should be done starting now total moratorum right now on individual spots and then go back to the state the the federal classification of like I think it's two spots for every hundred or something like that and those should
be open spots because what's also happening is we have people who are abusing the system by getting a handicap spot leaving it empty parking their car in another spot when a family member or friend comes to town they move their car into the handicap spot and give the
other person that spot or the I mean it's happening. I know it's happening. I see it happening. I'm not trying to pick on anybody, but I have a handicap plate and a tag. I know what it's like. But I will say I'm fortunate enough I can park in my own garage that I pay rent in. But
I I just want to say like it's getting to the point when people start seeing the abuse, it starts to become a problem for people who really need the need it. And everyone starts getting questioned. I mean, I I've been questioned why I have a handicap tag by by someone who
was applying for a license for a park uh a spot on Willow Avenue. I I don't even park on the street. So anyway, that really should be looked at because I don't see this in any other town. It's just funny how it's happening here at
such a huge huge disproportionate amount. When they did it on redid Washington Street, they did it really nicely. There's a certain percentage and only in extreme circumstances are there and there's very few like dedicated spots. But what's happening now is
there's people getting them when they have parking in their building. >> 15 seconds, Tony. >> Okay. So, I think it has to be reviewed. I think we should reestablish some type of a community accessibility committee um that that over that looks at all the ADA compliance in town because we're not
doing it and ADA is federal law. Thank you. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you, buddy. Appreciate it. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Manny is going to is next. >> Hey, Manny, if you can unmute.
>> Hey, Manny. >> Am I on mute, M. Council President? >> You're good, buddy. Thank you. >> Thank you so much once again. Good evening. Man, good evening to everyone and members of the public. Um, council president, um, before I even continue, there's a member of the public who can't get back in or can't make a phone call.
Her name is Patricia Waiters. Oh, >> I don't I don't know. I just >> That wasn't us. >> Sorry, mute yourself. Or or Jerry, move. >> Anyway, council president, I want to continue with more serious matters. Um,
again, uh, you know how I am, the unofficial official, but I just wanted to say I hope we can unite together this evening. uh you, president of the council, members of the council, members of the public in wishing um not wishing um joining um in condolences um with
council, pardon me, Assemblywoman Anette Chaparro and her family on her loss of her father, her beloved father, Anel Luis Chaparro. Um he he passed on February 17th. Um and he was a great Hobokenite and we just want to hopefully
um send them our support and our love. another Hoboken night gone too soon. Uh, just wanted to make sure I said that. And council president, also last week when I was speaking in regards to your expression of solidarity, I um misspoke the name of the gentleman and nobody
corrected me, but I guess it was a gesture of uh of um uh I don't know, kindness or whatever, but the name I meant to say was Alex Jeffrey Pretty. So, it was not uh the one I said before. this gentleman um may again his family
find condolences and and uh rest in peace. Mr. President, I also want to say um uh I'm also in in in unity in regards to the um uh what was said earlier by a member of the public in regards to the um you know persons with disability
parkings. Although we all agree upon that certain people who have disabilities should have priority and should get their their um their spots. But um again, just like once we were saying they were too tight uh restrictions, now it seems like they
might be a little too loose. But we just need to to keep an eye on it, make sure it's fair for everyone. Of course, um we want a fairness in our city. Um, also, Council President, um, I just want to say, um, regards to this situation, in regards to, uh, the snow conditions we
are in now, I hope that, um, you as council president and council members in their respective ways, cuz, um, many of you send, um, emails and such, if you could please remind the owners and landlords and managers of properties to
please remove their snow appropriately, not just a little alleyway. remove the snow properly from the sidewalk. So, persons with disabilities and seniors and parents and guardians with carriages cannot go through those little little uh alleyways that they're making. They're
not appropriate and they're a danger not only for city liability for them as well. So, um if the administration can do something as well, it would be greatly appreciated for those of us that um uh have to rely on walking on the streets uh the sidewalks, pardon me, of
Hoboken. And um again, a big thank you to everyone who who was working really hard to to keep us safe. Um thank you to the people uh Councilwoman Fischer and others who sent emails keeping us uh the members of the public appraised. I thank you for that. Council President, um I
also want to say, which I forgot to mention before, as you and I and others who love music and who are of uh Puerto Rican heritage, we also mourn the loss of a great musician, uh uh Willie Kalong, whom hopefully he may rest in peace and condolences again out to his
family and to all who loved him. Cuz president, with that, I say um uh you know, thank you and I appreciate you listening. Uh I'm a little emotional. Um again I have a note here anyway says
congratulate the US Olympic team. So congratulate to all the Olympians and with that council president um God bless you God bless you all. God bless Hoboken and let's be safe and take care of one another. Thank you and I yield back >> council president.
>> Ukraine Manny. >> Oh thank you so very much for reminding me. Lava Ukrainy, glory to Ukraine and Hero Slava. Glory to the heroes and God bless them all. Thank you, sir. >> Council President, Council
>> Council Officer, Y. >> Yeah, there there's another participant with her hand up that says user. >> We got her. >> Yep, we got her. >> Cheryl, >> we got her. Just, you know, they're saying that the chat is disabled and I actually went to go into the chat and type something and it wouldn't let me
chat. Um, it wouldn't let me send something as well. So maybe it is disabled. >> Anyway, go ahead. It's Cheryl. >> That's you, right, Mike? >> I just got a chat from Councilman Russo. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It looks like they changed it like a minute ago. It wasn't.
>> Miss Phallic. How are you? >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. Welcome. How are you? >> Pretty good. Um, yeah, it's still showing disabled here. Um anyway, um it it I think it's a ways away from showing
up on the agenda, but at the last council meeting, the very end, council president, you mentioned some discussion about taxing Airbnb. Obviously, I have some trepidation about the concept of that, but that's beside the point because
we're not there yet. Um, the reason I'm um commenting is I think it's such a hot button issue that it might be something that you have public meetings on before you propose anything. That's just my
suggestion. Um, I've done a lot of research on how to make Airbnb, you know, back to what it used to be when it wasn't this like secondary business thing that people use to
circumvent rent control or whatever. Um, so that that's just my thoughts. I I feel like maybe we're a ways away, but then the next thing you know is it's here and it's on the agenda and it's it's just one of those things that needs
full vetting. I hope you agree and understand with that. I have a lot of trepidation when I hear that the idea is to bring in more revenue on the backs of rental units which are already
problematic for people to actually secure in Hoboken. And that's it. Thank you very much. And thank you the uh council president for letting me in when I couldn't get in. >> No problem. Thank you. Anyone else, Mr. Clerk? Oh, Council
President, I don't see anyone else raising their hands from the public. >> All right. Motion to close the public hearing. >> Wait. Uh, Councilman Russo just raised his hand. >> No, no. He first. >> Yep. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All >> in favor? >> I.
>> Councilman Russo. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh, just a couple things. Uh, one, I can't agree more with uh, former Councilman Sorz about uh, ADA compliance across the city of Hoboken. I've said this a number of times. I think we really need to change
the way we're evaluating those those spaces. I'd love to work on that with uh with members of the council to to really set some type of standard across the city. Uh even if that's something where those individuals have to come in for a specific interview. I know we did that
as a secondary level in years past. Uh I don't know if we're doing that now since we've we've outsourced it, but I would most certainly like to really address this because it is getting out of hand. Uh and in addition to that, I think we need to do that across the city as far as the compliance for uh ADA uh
accessibility across um not not just on our streets, but our buildings and even our uh private uh businesses in town. So uh that's first. Uh second, um Director Gonzalez, I brought it up at the uh caucus as well as far as our insurance
commission. Uh where are we with um with plans for saving our employees and the city of Hoboken money uh when it comes to our insurance uh making sure that we keep that as a self-insured funded uh insurance policy for our for our uh
employees? Um have we made any decisions? Are you are you at a point where uh you have anything to share with the council? >> Uh no. As with the caucus meeting a few days ago, um we are still awaiting those plan design plan redesign options from our actuary. Um in fact, we're we're
awaiting our our actuary recommendations and then plan design options which will come in mid-March. Um we did follow up with him on uh on Friday and he said um you know he still needs another few weeks to provide those but um we're working on them and um as I expressed previously our our goal is cost savings
for both employees and the city as a whole. So we are um actively working towards that and um and I I certainly respect your your expertise in this area. We'll be reaching out as soon as um as soon as we have something to discuss. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. Is that actuary from our third party administrator or is
that uh through our >> No, no, no, it's um uh Michael Frank. >> Okay. All right. Uh and then uh finally, I know we were supposed to have a closed session. Uh can we get into a little bit of budget and talk about what this looks like and how we're moving forward?
>> We will be discussing that in the administration and finance subcommittee tomorrow and you're welcome to join. I can I guess I would defer to the to the chair there, but that's where we've been discussing the budget. >> Yeah. Um if there's room if um if
there's room and and that works, I would love to sit in uh to to listen. >> Sure. >> Thank you. It's all I had muted. I'm sorry. Uh, Director Gonzalez will
email you the information tomorrow. Councilman Rouso for the meeting. Uh, Councilman Cano, then Councilman President Zano. >> Uh, thank you, Council President. Just wanted to give a big head, uh, shout out to the entire staff, uh, Director Gonzalez, Director Rilez, um, for your
performance over the past few days. Uh, it's not over. It's the be end of the beginning, uh, with more cleanout to come. So, uh, so we recognize the herculean tasks of you and and the DPW team, the public safety team, everyone who's working to keep us safe. Everybody
be careful out there. There's a lot of danger still. Uh, and then let's all have just a reminder for everyone who lives in town to have patience with each other as we navigate the next couple of weeks. As we saw after the first snowstorm, this snow is going to stay and we're going to have to figure out
how to live with it, how to store our cars, how to navigate uh if we can all give each other a little bit of a break, a little grace as we try to figure out uh how to navigate the whole situation while we deal with the melt. Um let's do
that. So, thank you for uh all the hard work that you guys have done and it is uh truly appreciated and we recognize it. That's it. Thank you, Councilman President Zano. >> Thank you. Uh I guess a couple things
here. One, uh I haven't seen any communications on and while the everybody's been focused on the snow on the dog attack that took place at Shopright. I haven't seen any communications come across. I know that there was some confiscation of the
animals, uh fines and things of that nature. uh as anytime we have a big issue, uh the public tends to speak up a little bit more about issues they're seeing. I am getting some phone calls about seeing dogs off leashes. Uh I have
seen a lot of dog excrement emails as well being that it's very visible with the snow. Uh I understand dogs are family members and things of that nature. However, it seems like the increased attention of this due to the attack uh has the administration
uh have is going to give any communication or is this going to be discussed in subcommittee on what can be done to for safety of the animals in the town and the um dog dropping issues that we are
it seems to be uh a bigger concern here now with with the snow. Uh that's number one. Um number two, I am still waiting. It's been almost a month exactly for the list of uh
a list. I don't know if I can say it due to just a list from the administration on salaries and and employees. Uh I still not received that. It's been a year that is or sorry a month. That has also been some of the reason why I did not vote for the reorganization because
I did not get that in a month. I think that's ample time. Uh and then the last part will be uh I wanted to echo what Councilman Russo said, the budget process. And you know, I understand uh council president that we quickly
discussed that you thought that close session would be a great way because then this movie could all be there. I'd love to join the meeting too, but unfortunately I know sunshine laws so it's a little difficult. So, if there is something where we could have a a a special meeting, I don't know what we
can do but to get us all in the room to get us on the same page because >> I think if we're if we're broken up into groups for uh you know or however we do it, some things are going to be lost in translation because we might hear something and then we might tell a
colleague something different and I'd rather have everything kind of on the table that we're all together, especially being that is going to be a difficult ult process and discussion. So I would ask of you that I think that that it's very important that if we need to schedule a meeting to do this a zoom
call or something uh I would like I would be totally for that uh to make sure that everything is as transparent as uh as we've been promised. >> I'm good. Thank you, Councilman. Appreciate it. Uh, Councilman Cohen.
>> Thank you, Council President. Uh, first, uh, the chat is working and I just wanted to mention I wanted to follow Yeah, I wanted to follow up on what Councilman Can said. Uh, an individual by the name of Mr. Gordon sent a note to us saying he wanted to thank city hall for >> sending a volunteer over to my home to
clear a snow path my front steps of snow. That was a wonderful surprise. Uh, there have been so many people working around the clock. I just want to call out the fire department. There was a down tree uh on my block today. Uh by the time I called it in, engine number
two was out there on it. Uh everyone in city hall has been inc I think I've been incredibly responsive. Volunteers coming out to help shoveling. It's really a great example of the community coming together. I just want to thank everyone who's been volunteering to help with the shovel program. I want to thank the
people who've been working around the clock in city hall and all of our public safety folks who've been out there just uh keeping us safe and uh you know it's been an extraordinary snowfall event and uh people are are meeting the moment. So I just want to acknowledge them and thank them for that and thank the mayor
and and the team in city hall for their leadership on this. That's all. Thanks Council President. >> Thank you Councilman Cohen. Uh Director Gonzalez, real quick, the the tree removes that fell today. Who's going to be responsible for that removal of those trees now? Is that that would fall upon
us to remove those trees? >> So, for if something that happened during the emergency, yes, typically we will take care of that. And actually, because this was a declared emergency, we'll be submitting uh expenses to um the state. Uh you know, but generally a property owner is responsible for tree
maintenance and and pruning, right? But this is an emergency circumstance. Um, I would also I mean certainly thank you all for for thanking our personnel. They've been working around the clock and everybody is incredibly um driven and dedicated to making sure that we can
resume business as usual. Um, you know, I would just ask a little bit of patience too. Um, you know, with things like the tree removal, you know, they're they're cutting them down. They're in some cases leaving them to the side. You know, we'll come back, we'll get them. Um our priority is to get the emergency uh situation safe and clear as soon as
possible and then we will um come back to clean it up as they say later. >> Yep. That was the question I received. Is the property owner responsible or like how it's emergency but you answer asked the question so I'll let them know those individuals. Uh we have the Black
History Month event uh this city hall three to five hopefully. >> Did I freeze up there? >> Yeah, you broke up a little bit there. What was >> say again? >> The Black History Month event on Wednesday. Uh yeah 3 to 5 in city hall. Hopefully that that will be happening this Wednesday
>> as of now. Yes. But uh again, city hall is currently uh closed tomorrow, but um our whole goal is is to so hopefully that event will still be scheduled for 3 to 5 within city hall and everyone have the opportunity >> to attend our Black History Month event within city hall. And uh lastly, we was
just the US hockey team winning gold medal, men's and women's team winning Olympic gold medal. Uh the Hoboken High girls, the Hoboken Ween Caucus combined team won the girls hockey championship as well in their division. They're first year team. They're division champs as
well. So, congratulations to them and their parents uh as well. Congratulations, young ladies. Uh motion to close. >> Motion. >> Motion. Second. All >> in favor? I. Good night, everybody. Stay safe. Appreciate everybody.