One second. Rod, you ready? Is it utilities? under I would like to advise all those present that notice of this meeting has been provided to the public in accordance with the provisions of the open public meeting act and that notice was published city website copies provided
in the Bergen record Alice special the northstar ledger jersey journal also placed on a bulletin board in the lobby of city hall okay written objections if any should be made to the city clerk Mark alsisible with liberty and justice for all.
Roll call. Mr. Con here. Fisher here. Mr. Jabor here. President present. Mr. Cano present. Mr. Ramos present. Mr. Russo present. President Doyle present.
Uh I think first up we have we have to open a hearing. Thank you. Open a hearing with regard to the presentation of the Hoboken Business Alliance budget for 2026. Um do we have
Thank you. I'm sorry. I I we're moving quickly. Um, so we'll go through the presentation and then we'll go through council questions, public comments and questions, uh, and then close the hearing.
Thank you much. All right. Hi, I'm I'm Patrick Conlin. I'm an attorney represent the Sorry, sorry, took a week off. Uh, Patrick Conlin. I'm with the firm uh, Sprincy and Hollandbeck. We represent the Hoboken Business Alliance.
Um, I've got James here who's the president of the uh of the board and he's going to walk you through a little presentation just of what we've done last year, what we're hoping to do next year. Absolutely. Thanks so much for your time. Uh, just to walk through uh overall we are seeing some great numbers
this past year. We um up 6% of our survey respons uh survey respondents have noticed the cleaner streets. Our business approval rating has increased over this past year. Uh and we like to say that we are champion for all of Hoboken's businesses with our services,
our data, and our support. Uh we love this slide. This shows what areas of town as you know we are unique. Uh most SIDs are would just be just Washington Street or just the path. We are the entire Mal Square city. So this represents where our services and budget uh impact in every neighborhood, every
area. Uh this is kind of the real meat of the presentation. We have a very short one today. Uh we are working very hard to um decrease our costs and while at the same time some things are going up. That's our increase we're asking for this year.
Uh which is basic cost of living increases. Um we have a staff member who went to full-time. Uh some healthcare costs are rising and some of our annual contract costs especially with our supplemental cleaning are going up uh this fiscal year. On the other side we
are working very hard to tighten this budget uh cutting discretionary spending. uh we are conducting a lot of research in-house instead of going outside to vendors and we're also delaying some new capital purchasing for the office uh as well. So as you can see our uh public realm spending is going
down this year. Our economic and community development also going down. Uh marketing is staying the same and those administrative costs uh that's actually just the only thing that's increasing this year. And we have a couple slides we can go through quickly but really want to get into kind of question and answer period
as well. Uh this is what we are very very proud of this past year and what we will continue into the new year collaborations with local towns to help spread our budget even wider and faster and more effectively. Uh we work very hard in our events and we have a new data system called datafy. Uh we love
data so we know things exactly uh for example for the car show uh about 12,000 people came into town for the car show that happened a couple a couple weeks ago couple days ago. uh that was like a 158% increase in visitors and we know that every person who comes into town spends about $75.
So that is math I'm not prepared to do off the top of my head but we have that out but that is a big influx uh into business and support for our communities. And of course we amplify our marketing. A lot of our public art also comes through uh in marketing. We get a lot of
tourism. to get a lot of national and statewide attention as well uh to drive tourism and into our town into our businesses. Just a second. Yes. Officer Chief Chief, could you guys could you
get an officer in here to quiet down the the two officers? Thank you. Sorry, Jim. Go ahead. No, absolutely. We are just wrapping up. Uh so just wanted to also last thing mention our public art and placemaking which is a word we love to use in SIDS. It just means that
when you walk around down the block there's a planter there's a place you feel like you live here people want to live here. Uh as you can see we've really expanded the reach uh through our reach. We've attracted through our events and our tourism uh 21 million visits. That was an increase of 20%
visits over the past 3 years. Uh and we have 32% of the visits come and stay for over 2 and 1/2 hours, meaning they have lunch, they shop, they buy, and most importantly, they reconnect to Hoboken. So they come back to celebrate those big life moments. Uh our visitors went up
again by uh 1 million this year, and we have a 12% increase in visitors again over the past 3 years. So the work we're putting in uh the foundation we're laying is working and will continue to work. And with our budget for FY26, we will continue to to do the work and we'd
love to answer any questions or so could you just real quick for the benefit of the council, could you just compare your budget, you know, talk us to what went up and could you compare your budget to small organizations um you know how much you're spending, how much it's increasing um just so they can get a sense of why it's going and how it
compares to similar organizations. Absolutely. Thank you. Yes, we are um similarly or actually under budget to uh similar nonprofit organizations especially when it comes to the special improvement district world. Uh we represent the M square miles square which is larger than most. Uh we have fewer staff members uh than is um than
the average nonprofit as well as um a tighter budget. We work very hard at that. Council, do you have any questions? Thank you, Council Russo. Thank you. Public realm. Could you define that?
What What is that exactly? Uh, absolutely. Public realm is well, this is anything that happens out in the public. Uh, any placemaking events, any capital improvements, uh, the uh, economic and community development. Could you define that? Uh, yes. Those
are more into the um events and tourism and anything that attracts people to either come out of their home or come to Hoboken. And that's going down. Yes. Marketing and promotions. That's pretty self-explanatory and there's no change there. Correct. But then this last one,
administration, that's just staff and how we administer everything uh in house. Correct. Increased healthcare costs. Yes. And that one's going up, right? 4%. So it's going up, right? That's what Yeah.
Right. Yep. So all the things all the public facing things that we're talking about is either staying stagnant or going down as far as those things that is the core mission of the business alliance but the administration of everything is going up
because we have more expenses in terms of uh what is it there healthcare costs labor and annual contracts and growth in staff. So, we're doing less. We're increasing staff. We're increasing our cost for contracts and healthcare. I'll give you
that one's that one's increasing regardless. But for some reason, that doesn't jive for me. If we're doing less for the community, why are we increasing our costs for all these other things when it comes to the non-public facing
uh not adding more staff with the same uh four staff members as we have there. So, that is just healthcare costs. Um, with that comes uh just the benefits as well. So, is that bullet is that bullet point wrong? Growth in staff. Uh, oh no, sorry. Over the that was over
the uh the H staff member went from Okay. Uh, I just want to make sure I'm I'm I'm reading correctly. Yep. And James, we were talking earlier that some of the I'm sorry. Could you go back one slide? This one right here.
In all those headings up top, which one would you say is the third ward? Probably the hybrid. A hybrid, right? Yes. Yes. Yes. Sorry. That would be the one with the
least amount of benefits. Correct. Fewest. Fewest. Correct. No. US amount benefit north. Is that an accurate statement? Uh uh. Yes. Yes. Year over year since we
started this, I've been asking why and how this benefits the third ward. And year over year, I get the same generic answer. Everything rises, tide rises, all ships, right? But I don't see anything for the third ward increasing. As a matter of fact, I
see everything across the city decreasing according to your own slide. Do you have numbers specific to the increase of business in the city of Hobok? And when I say business, I mean the actual revenue to those businesses, not the number of visits, the actual
revenue to the businesses. Uh we can I do not have it off the top of my head, but we do have that. um our nail, our data person can absolutely pull that uh based on the we know who's in town, where they went and uh and what money they spent on their cards. So, we can pull that for you. Absolutely. Please. Yep. Could you go I think it's two two
slides forward here. Yeah. This one right here. Supporting Hoboken small businesses year round. It's um that's a great picture by the way of Albini's pharmacy which is in the third ward. However, I know factually someone was just let go there
because their revenue is down. How are we helping that business? Uh, specifically, that's a great question, but I was very specific, but yeah, just overall helping all businesses across the state. I appreciate you, Mr. President.
Yeah, just to follow up on one thing I I think maybe people don't understand. If you go back to the slide that has all bubbles. Yeah. Do you have the the rates across these are different? So, for
example, were you let's say Washington Street Washington Street top to bottom it it we've always known that they would get the most um benefits, right? It's our main commercial corridor. So, how much what is their rate that they're charged per assessed value? Do you guys
have it? Uh I do have it. I will have to get back to you on the exact rate. I would be afraid to miss. Would you say it's uh so but let's for argument sake say it's 3%. Right. Something like it would be between 0.02 and 0.15
per subdist but that's the SID tax rate for the eight subd districts ranges.15%. Right. So that one's going to be% and the hybrid level% and this is set up for the exact thing that you're seeing and it's not perfect
but for everyone's benefit not every commercial property is being charged the same rates they really were charging a lot more for the properties that get more of the direct services. So if you know when when uh Armando Luis was on the um board like he always talked about
how he was sparrow liquor like he was Maine and Maine he was getting the highest rate. He was he felt he should pay the highest rate it should be a lot more and the hybrid was really meant to be what you see the dots on there. you know, kind of providing support for
local commercial properties and businesses kind of throughout that area, but not um not charging them, you know, uh charging them significantly a lot less money. So, it's it's probably helpful to get those numbers%. Um so, for example, on something like Albini,
my guess is what are they paying? $100, $50, $60 a year, something like that. Yes. Right. whereas someone like um uh Sparrow Liquor is paying 3,000 a year. The staff is watching this and frantically email me right now. Say here's the numbers. I'll send
Absolutely. When when you when you do that breakdown also include how much service, right? Is is one thing that they received it, but I don't know that those on Washington Street receive a service only once in comparison to receiving a
service only once in the hybrid district. So, if we're going to talk all those numbers, I think it's important that we talk about all those numbers. Like graffiti removal, how many times in the third ward was graffiti removed? Was it once as opposed to maybe somewhere
else 25 times? I don't know that. This doesn't show me that. But I think if we're going to talk about the dollars, we should also talk about the service and the frequency of those services. Sure. We can ask our vendor for that. Sure. I appreciate it. Absolutely. And the the only other thing I would say
for purposes not of this year but for next year and I've said it the last couple years you know when we did the HBA initially a few years ago whenever we we put it together in 2019 and rolled it out into 2020 right before co so
we're 5 years in um you know it was always contemplated that like Gateway North and Gateway South would grow into a higher rate and it's growing into a higher rate so it's worth I don't think you've changed the allocations over um the last five years and I think the
thing that you should think about next year is changing those allocations and if it means lowering the hybrid a little to benefit the gateway north gateway south and even the north waterfront which is filling in as well it it may be time to rebalance them we've started
those discussions with that board yes thank you actually Councilman President Zano was thank you council president. Um, being that my word seems to benefit a lot from this, uh,
I'm struggling with some of your presentation here. You have three things up there that jumped out at me. Um, 68% clean streets, dog waist stations, and tree maintenance. I just walked up and down Washington
Street today, and the tree pits look like garbage. Those nice potted plants look great, but the tree pits look like garbage. Uh, we have everybody in town complaining about dog waste all over the place. And I know the stations are emptied. And I talked
to um your leadership, past leadership that there was something there was crosswires between the city and the HBA and I had offered to actually go out and buy the dog bags to put into the stations. And then there was another problem. But we
have an outcry from the community in certain hotspots and the health department is doing a very good job of going out and policing that. However, anytime I look near a dog station, the things are empty. Now, I do know that people are supposedly looking after those and you do it as a
you're a sponsor. However, I never got a straight answer on that and the problem's gotten worse. Okay. Um, and if we're going to say dog stations, okay, you guys are going to tell me you're doing it. I don't think you're doing it. 68% cleaner streets. I will argue to you
I it's not cleaner. The power washing job that was done last year was garbage. I could have did a better job. You could have paid me 100 bucks. I would have did the whole street. It was horrible. They skipped over things. Nobody on Washington Street was alerted. I walked
up and down from my ward and through the sixth ward and alerted all of the businesses. They had no clue it was happening. Then they prepared and they were calling me. Is it coming? Is it coming? It was Oh, yeah. They came, they passed by you. They did spot checking.
They moved stuff. Nothing happened there. um I've run into some problems where um World Cup back in February of I believe 2024, I sent a letter to the director uh
uh of the HBA and included the old B business administrator and they said, "Don't worry, we're taking care of it." Well, you and I have had some conversations. What are we doing? Mhm. Jersey City's already got their things set up and ready to rock and we're having conversations.
We missed the Super Bowl. We failed on the Super Bowl last time it was here. Um, when I walk into ribbon cutings, do you know who the HBA is? No. I'm That's my job. Yes. Is for outreach, but that's what we should be doing for
brand new businesses. And we're not doing that. So, I struggle here when I look at this presentation. I I just we can walk out the door and look at the tree pits. If instead of putting those nice little things on the corner,
why don't we fix the tree pits? Why don't we tell the businesses that you're responsible for getting the grease where the garbage sits because I do not want to go tax my businesses because they put their garbage bags out there. That's something that I believe the business alliance should be alerting
them, telling what good measures are. Um, and my one last final question I'm going to wrap this up with. How much of this can be done by city employees? How much of this work up here could be handled by the the town? Because it looks like there's some redundancies
there that that exist. That would be my question. If you if you either have it or you can get back to me. Um, oh yeah, I would I guess I would refer to the folks who would be doing the work and allocating the budget from city hall. Well, I mean, uh, maybe I don't
understand the question. The canmen, uh, the watering, which they do a very good, uh, whoever you hump and finanel, I think they bought a nice little tiny little matchbox truck, I call it, that waters the plants every day. You do a good job at that. Um, however, some of the other things on Washington Street
just I don't think it's as rosy as this is being painted. That's my personal opinion. Um, I'm I've expressed some concerns to you. Uh, I'd love to see the Christmas event or a holiday event held near city hall. I have a an older
community here with several senior buildings that can't get down to that area. Maybe we think about having two. Yes, we have a Christmas tree on on a Christmas tree on on the waterfront, but it should be somewhere closer to city hall. I'm going to fight tooth and nail for that. We finally got beautiful
flowers in front of uh city hall. We have some other holiday um uh decorations from different um uh religious things. I would like to see a Christmas tree at city hall and I think that's something the HBA should be helping facilitate because that's
helping bring business to town and if we have if we can have a a glit drop lighting of the neurora monora um we can have a lighting of a Christmas tree in front of city hall. So that's my my couple uh comments.
Councilman Cohen. Thank you very much. Thanks, President. Uh, you know, one thing I'd just say in response to what Councilwoman President Zano said is that Director Gonzalez is a trustee on the business alliance where I served for two years. And I know that the city and the
HBA coordinate with respect to the cleanup issues. Uh, and that they mic I think I'm working. Yeah. uh that they coordinate with each other and that they uh they try not to have uh redundancy. Is that the right word?
Absolutely. So that so that that is done by design. So I I know that that's something on a board level. You know, again, I spent two years as a trustee on the board. That's something that they tried to do. How could one complement the other? We have limitations with respect to our polling contracts. How
can the HBA fill those gaps to manage things? And I think that people are probably used to seeing uh individuals in the HBA vests with garbage cans and sweepers. They're sort of omnipresent. I don't know if that's the right word, but but but they're part of
the landscape of Washington Street in our business district and we see them and sort of pick up also where you left off. I do think that the floral arrangements that hang the planters are beautiful. They're wellmaintained. They add a lot to the business district. The
beastro lighting I think really is something that the business alliance started the year that my last year on the board which I think is adds a lot to the nightife and the feeling of a vibrant uh business district. Uh which I think is consistent with the idea that we're getting more visitors coming to
our community. Uh and I do think that this that they've done a very good the holiday displays are outstanding. I know again Councilman President was critical of I think not that he doesn't like it on 11 Street. think he just would like it more closer to his ward. Uh which I
understand. But I can tell you that having gone to the tree lighting pretty much every year. Uh there are hundreds and hundreds of people who come out with families. Kids are participating and it's a very joyous and great experience.
And I think this year was probably the he most heavily attended one that they've ever had. So uh it's not to say that the business alliance is doing everything perfectly. I don't think so. But I do think that they have made a significantly positive impact. The organization has been in existence for I
think four years now. Uh 3 four years. It's it's a relatively five years if you don't count co years where Yeah. So it's a relatively new organization but I think that it's established in a way that uh I do think that the business community is aware that it's there. I do
think that I I know during COVID we were very active in terms of helping get uh grant information to businesses to help get them through this and we were actively involved with that. So I do think the business community is aware of it. Maybe that maybe not every ribbon cutting, you know, that they they they
are aware of what's out there, but I can tell you that I have attended ribbon cutings where I've told them if you haven't been in touch with the business alliance, you should because they have resources that can help you attract customers and get support and they appreciate knowing that that is there.
So maybe again I think to council president's point, maybe there could be better coordination with the new businesses opening. I know that we get notices from city hall when there's new uh businesses having openings. I don't know if you're getting them, if if you should, if you're not. And that's I'm
sure that's something the mayor's office could coordinate with you. Yep. But again, I think that the overall picture for our business community, I see I mean we have new businesses coming regularly. Hoboken is extremely attractive for businesses. Uh I think that people are
uh proud of having business locations here. franchises like to have a location here as part of their profile and uh to serve our community. So I I I in general I'm supportive of of the work. Um proud of the two years that I spent as a trustee and uh and say keep up the good
work. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. So James, if I Oh, Councilman Ramos, go ahead. No, that's fine. Thank you. Yeah, the as the council rep uh I'm not going to repeat what uh council Russo
Fisher President Zano or Cohen said because obviously we're supportive of a lot of the initiatives that are happening. Uh obviously some can be done much better. I think Councilman Co, President Zanna pointed out some inefficiencies there. But uh one I think
frustration on my on my behalf and other board members behalf, HBA board members has been and I think council members as well is how long it takes for many of our small businesses to open up. And one thing that was requested last year, and
we're hoping that was done this year, was uh some of a document of what we could do, adop zoning, a new zoning law that would help small businesses open up a lot faster, a lot sooner. And that
document hasn't hasn't come up yet. And I know the director is leaving now, but it was always it's coming, it's happening, it's coming. I think that was a frustration not just for myself but for other members as well uh of of the of the HBA. So I think we could do a much better job of that this year uh
coming up. I think another area we could try and focus on this year as well. I know I hear uh a lot of businesses close up early, especially along Washington Street specifically, and you have businesses and residents and residents and they're taking their garbage out a
little bit earlier and those residents are being fined for businesses having their garbage out a lot earlier. So, if there's like a specific uh garbage bag that we could give out to delineate business garbage from residential garbage or residents aren't getting
fined, whether it's a an orange bag, a blue bag, something that said you you are a small business in Hoboken. Here's a garbage bag you should be using and that way residents do not get fined because that is happening uh quite often right now. Yeah. Yeah. what whatever whatever
whatever we could do that or that was uh discussed a little bit this year so we'd like to see uh that happen I think uh also my frustration been like the lack of a signature event that we're hoping to happen I think and next year is a huge signature event with the World Cup
and we know teams are going to be staying here be staying in Jersey City uh visitors to the games are going to be staying here and I I think that we are way behind as far as preparation for that aspect is for events and planning for next year. There's a lot of
competition in the area. Everyone's going to try and uh attract those visitors to the municipalities and although I think like we have an upper hand just because our logistics where we are location, the businesses that we do have, but if no
one from Ireland that's going to see Ireland play in Metife Stadium or no one from Bolivia is going to see Metife, they don't know where to come. we're not going to be that option for them to come to spend their dollars next year. So, I think that was uh a real flash point I
think at one of our HBA meetings. I think that's been frustration. If we could do better with the signature event and definitely planning long-term event, we know the World Cup was happening for a number of years now. Y uh so if we could get a better grasp on that and take advantage of what we have, especially let's go back reiterate the
garbage again and I won't repeat what uh everyone else said, but zoning the zoning changes as well. That's it shouldn't take seven, eight months for a business to open up in town and we asked for those recommendations and that hasn't come to fruition yet that I to my knowledge anyway. Okay. Thank you. Thank
you. Just one quick question, James. How are you guys measuring the number of visitors? I think you said it was 21 million over the last three years. There's a uh slightly a little creepy software that tracks uh via cell phone tracking. It's called datafy and it's uh we have a software subscription to that
and so we can know who's in town, all their demographics, anything that's available publicly about them. So we can track all of that. But you so you're you're just looking at the total number of visitors to the city. It's not specific to the programming of the HBA.
Uh it's we can we track specific to the event itself. So if so we track uh increases basically like who was here on Sunday for a car show versus who was here last Sunday. So we do comparative. Okay. Yep. Appreciate
it. Absolutely. Council President. Oh, so uh James, I I think I saw somewhere in the materials that you're anticipating you're hoping to get a $100,000 grant this year, which may Am I
correct on that or no? I I thought I saw that you were in the transmitter of the budget. Yeah. Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you very much for this. That so that trying to memorize everything. Thank you. And if the if
that grant did not necess did not come through, you might re-evaluate what's going to happen. In other words, the the budget might be different if it didn't come through. So as far as the impact on the our community, uh by that I mean the
businesses um the impact will be less than the increase. That's what I'm asking you. Uh yes and with any adjustments to budget everything uh goes through our board discussions. So we would have to have the discussions about maybe which budget lines would be adjusted accordingly. Okay. Yep. Thank
you. Thank you. I think open to the public. Thanks so much. Just one uh observation on some of the things that people have mentioned tonight. Um you know, we're
we're asking the HBA to like take a lead on something, whether it's the the zoning um changes. I can tell you cuz we're on that board that I've spoken I' had spoken with Roxanne and I'm not you know I think it may be beneficial if we
were to schedule a meeting with the city the committee and the HBA and get everyone in a room because I'm not sure they're always working on the same on the same timeline. Um, and something like the, you know, the World Cup, you
know, I don't know, Caleb's got a lot on his plate right now, but we're not hearing anything coming out of the mayor's office on the World Cup, right? It shouldn't be the HBA that's leading it. Um, but it should be the HBA, the city council, the administration. Like, we should have a World Cup committee and
and I would hope that the HBA would take, you know, a lead in that as well. But just thinking through like how can we kind of embrace you know and bring the resources to them if we you know sometimes have schisms between our own you know our own groups even something
like uh ribbon cutings you know we're we're getting in invites for ribbon cutings now but it was like three years where none of us got invites for ribbon cutings nor did the HBA so I think there's a way that we should just acknowledge working maybe a little bit all of us together to get the most out
of it on some of these important initiatives. Thank you, Councilwoman. Turning to the public, I don't we don't have to close. This is not our portion. We could always chime back in. Uh Rosemary Markle,
you're on your game again. Joe, just Good evening, everybody. Um, I'm here to talk about the business alliance and I think everyone should reread their guidelines because this is the sixth year in and they have supposed to be started to be self-funding within the second year. To date, they've raised
zero dollars. I'm here to talk about the portion that I have to pay as an apartment building. Even though I've been told several times by Councilwoman Fischer that I am a business, if I'm a business, then maybe the lawyer can take me out of rent control because I don't see how we get two bites of the apple.
One quarter of the properties that are forced to pay this tax that receive absolutely no benefits are a quarter of them are 4C apartment buildings. I don't how how any of you justify that, but according to the SID, we're supposed to get a direct benefit. I haven't
gotten anything in six years. Um, so far as the cost going up, I was at the last meeting and there's six directors that are now employed in the business alliance. That's 29% of the budget totaling $714,000 in salaries, $128,000 in benefits. I I feel like I'm
supporting two city halls. In the last meeting, they hired a law a law firm because somehow or other, I guess there's another lawsuit. Some things never end in Hoboken. There's no proof that art project and murals have people shopping. I heard Mr. Wrl say that everybody spent $75. I wish
he could explain that to all of us. They follow everyone in the store and check their credit cards. Um, the business alliance is handing out $5,000 in grants right now to businesses that have uh suffered loss during the water main break. Yet, apartment
buildings get what? Nothing. We just get to pay. The cost of rent and utilities has gone up $25,000 in one year. 70,000 of that for rent, which is paid to a board member. You really can't make this up now, can we? $8,000 in travel expenses. I'd like to
know where, but alas, these documents are really not for the public eye, even though it's tax money. Um, in the backup document, it says one property owner applied for a hardship case and it was denied in six years. I don't think anyone even knows that you can apply for it. And why would they? If you want the
details, you can call me. I was the owner that applied. And because I had a little bit of money in my checking account, I I was denied that hardship case. Since this tax is now just rolled into your property tax bill, most of people don't even know what they're paying for
it. It's this little figure on the side that you have to start reading into your tax bill on the first the first quarter taxes. All this money vacant storefronts all over town. I'm I'm here to ask again that the 4C apartment buildings be taken
out of this, but I'm sure I'm standing here just blowing air in the into the wind because you're all going to say no. And in closing, I'd like to say the hypocrisy of the council members and mayor mayor and candidates crying we need affordable housing and stop these
atrocious rent increases yet will gladly approve another tax is mind-blowing. You have one property paying $153,000 to the HBA. Do you think that they're going to just swallow that? No. They're going to pass it along. But again, the 4C poor small landlords, we're not even allowed
to pass it along. And I understand it's only 05% but I don't care if it's $20. I should get something for for you extorting my money. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Markle. Uh, no other members of the public have
signed up to speak. Motion close public portion. Second. All those in favor? I um I should point out I think we might want to suspend the agenda even though it's pretty much the next thing on the agenda
other than uh the municipal budget. Uh going to A1 now and and voting on the resolution adopting this budget. Council President. Yes. Can we hear number one first on the changes to the
improvement district here? Oh, uh second I don't think we can that one that one looks like it's on. Yes. Is that that's the one that was properly noticed or
timely noticed I should say. Um yeah, that's fine. Then then we'll go to um a resolution authorizing admissible budget to be read by title only if we're if we're not going to go out. I
appreciate it. Thank you. Mr. Fina, excuse me. F1 Mr. Con. Hi. Well, yeah. No one has signed up for this, right? Or no. Okay. What are we Mr. Fer? Just by title that we could read it by title and you don't have to read the entire budget
word for word. We already did that. Didn't we already? Yes. Thought we did it. Mrs. Jabore. Yes. President Zano. Yes. It's just Yes.
That sounds like a Yes. Ye. Yes. Yes. Mr. Cano. I Mr. Ramos. Hi. Mr. Russo I President Doyle I public hearing uh for the CY 2025 budget
do we have any looks like there's uh any members no one has signed up what are what are we doing speak just we're here there's a hearing on the budget and that's and it's blank so no members of the
public have signed up to speak motion to close public portion second all those in favor I Okay, maybe uh maybe this would be a good time to discuss the efficacy of a special meeting with
regard to the budget. It would likely be a Zoom meeting. Uh well, I think that that may not work for everyone next week or I mean I'm intrigued by whether we
have a reason to meet. It would be nice to think that we'll have something to vote on. Council President, I reached out to the chairman of the uh finance and administration committee uh asking for a subcommittee meeting specifically about the budget. Uh we're going to try
to do that tomorrow. Correct. Um, I think at least for me, I'll have a little bit more clarity as to where we are. So, I don't know if it's if it makes sense to try to discuss when we should have that meeting. Uh, I do plan on having some discussions about
potential amendments. Uh, and I don't know what the rest of the committee will say or what they would want to do, but at some point I think we as a subcommittee should have that conversation before we move into uh, just a vote for the budget.
Okay. Well, I think I've heard that Wednesday is not good. Thursday is the What's I don't have a calendar in front of me. 27th. 26th. 26th. 26. I mean, we could I I mean, I hate to go through the expense of noticing it and
then handling it. What? Um, but we also, Councilman President Zano, could handle a couple of the matters. That's what I'm hoping. If we could do that, would be great if if we were to do that before the 30th. Yes. We did it on the 30th. Pardon? Monday the 30th. Monday the
30th. That's the week of um July week. I' Yeah, I'd like to push it before that. I'd like to be before that. Before the 30th. The date's a special date. Monday the 26th. And Jason and Jason just said
we have temporary appropriations end the end of June. Any I'm sorry, Caleb just said temporary appropriations come to an end at the end of the month. June. the end of June. So, we have to have a special meeting before the end of the month. Okay.
Thursday doesn't work for me the 26th. Why doesn't the 25th work? Because there's a public meeting from 6:00 to 7:00. Could we do it at 7 after that? Well, we would do it at 7, but Councilman Cohen has a conflict. So, we're just trying to work around everyone's schedules. Um, the 24th. I
could do that. Is the 24th going to be soon enough or Councilman 23rd I think if we did it tomorrow, right? So 7 days is the 23rd from today. Tomorrow you'd have to have it. If if we don't have a budget to vote on, noticing it and
calling a meeting doesn't seem to happen. Yeah. So it would be multiple special meetings. I'd rather have one because the noticing costs as we discussed. Well, if we knew
we were going to get I'm just concerned about uh Councilman Russo. You're saying the your the meeting on the budget is tomorrow. You're having We're having a subcommittee meeting tomorrow. I'm sorry. Council committee meeting is tomorrow. Yep. That doesn't mean there's
resolution tomorrow. It just means no discussion. Yep. And I I would direct uh all council members to m uh director Stratton's memo today with regard to how to prepare amendments to the
which was at all of our seats. How to prepare proposed amendments to the budget. You the finance and admin committee discuss scheduling tomorrow night as part of that and come up some times to share. Council President, I I just passed a bunch of questions and my
recommendations uh last night to um director um Stratton and some of it was based upon the past, in other words, what um director Freeman had requested and how to present things. So, there's like a little miscommunication there,
too. Well, I mean, is it something where it's like a line item saying I was told we change X to Y? I was told give me the summaries and so that's what I presented the summaries to director strand and director Gonzalez and evidently they
want line items so they want what they want line items so now it's the reverse of what director Freeman have requested whether which by the way I do want to give it this is Robin yeah I mean I I do want to say that in this budget process uh under uh director Gonzalez and
director Stratton it's there has been a lot of transparency which I do want to recognize and I want the public to know that there was a lot of uh data put together for the council. It was very clear to see and this has actually been a very positive experience. Uh and coming from me, I hope that explains to
the public that I'm I'm pleased so far. So, I do want to give a a little bit of a shout out to uh the the business administrator and the assistant business administrator. Next Tuesday, No, you said Tuesday is bad for you, Councilman. Next uh the 20 24th 4th. That's the
That's You said Thursday was bad. Thursday is bad. Thursday is bad. Well, then we said, "How about Tuesday?" And I thought you made a face. Look again. Let me look again. Jar, can you get it out by Tuesday? It needs seven days. Wednesday is Councilman Cohen has a conflict. Thursday, Council Russo has a conflict.
So, we're now floating Tuesday. Tuesday. I might be able, if we do it at seven, I might be able to make that work. You don't have a hair appointment, do you? Only if you do. Still holding on to that handline. I know. Not taking it high and tight.
Yeah, that's fine. We We will figure out which ones I mean there are I get I get what you're saying. Okay. So, one whatever you sent to the committee. Four, five, six, seven, seven. There were nine. One's going back to first reading. One we're going to address
next. So, you sent it to me. I didn't send it to anyone else. No, no, but you can forward it to the committee. I mean, you're Yep. Yep. No, I just have it. You want to distribute it? Yeah, I'll give you I'll give you Send it to the committee, please. For the 24th. Okay. 24th 7th birthday.
Do you want to do it at 7 or do you want to do it? Uh, how about we do 7:30 to give you a little more time or that'd be that'd be great. Okay, that'd be great. Thank you. I appreciate it, Council President. On the 26th, 24th. All right. Thank you.
So, uh, Mr. Fina, so we have a hearing on an ordinance amending chapter 179, special improvement district of the city of Hoboken. Uh, is there any uh members of the public signed up to speak?
This would be on ordinances for second reading. Well, I guess seeing as there's only one Enrique, uh, Herrera, I believe, uh, Mr. You've signed up for You have P2, so I'm going to put you on
for resolutions. This is the wrong sheet, but we'll we'll keep you. Okay. Thank you. So, no members of the public have signed up to close public portion. Do we have a second? Thank you. All those in favor? I
Okay. Uh, council members, Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con? I. Miss. Fisher? Yes. Mr. Jabbor? Yes. PresidentO? No. Mr. Cano, I. Mr. Ramos, no. I'm sorry. What are we voting on
here? Your ordinance. Did you want to talk? 766. Yeah. I just have one question. What was the Oh, I What was the change? I on B766. You know what these are? the changes in general. This is basically the list of all the properties. So like when a property
falls off the list or newly constructed, that's the the correct. And I wanted I wanted to make an amendment to remove 4C in its entirety. Well, I asked if anyone in the council had anything to say. And worried about a a a meeting that you just proposed. I had to put it in my
calendar. Council President, you got to keep up. Councilman, it's my version. All right. Um, do we have I'm a No. President I Okay, we're up to uh the motion or I
should say the the ordinance passes. Agenda uh right so consent agenda public portion on resolutions. Thank you. Wait, so do we
public portion on resolutions? What? And m and Mr. Herrera is number one on the list. We haven't yet. That's why I'm confused. And if you Yeah, that's fine. Thank you, sir. How's it going? Thank
you, Council President. Um, the resolution awarding the police department this type of a quiet these portable police radios is a is a good upgrade. Uh, I think we should also look at any type of oversight into um how the
PBA and PSOAs operate. Uh, with oversight involving the police and the police chief at that um, and also including the neighborhood watch. I think this is a good step toward giving our police more money, which is better in the hands of police than PBAs and neighborhood watch people who don't
really know what they're doing. They just kind of just call the police. They don't really run the the calls or go, you know, do their jobs or anything like that. The police do the jobs. These PBAs don't really do anything other than just point the finger at people. And that's just my opinion on it.
Okay. Thank you. Uh Rosemary Markle signed up CD1, CD2, CC all. I'll make it quick. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. um CD1, it seems like every two weeks
that that salary in or her paycheck increases. Maybe we should look at hiring as a part-time employee. Maybe we'd save some money there. Um CD2, the affordable housing funds. I could use some of that money. My my apartments are
affordable. Can anyone apply for that? Seriously? Oh, I can. Yes. Oh, thank you. I'll have you. Yep. um CC, all of them with the lawyer fees. We've increased the lawyer fees in six months by $225,000.
Yet, seriously, we need to start looking into this. CC3, we're going to sue the federal government. Maybe you should use your own money. I really don't want to spend waste my money on that. It's been removed. And CC5, the tenant advocate, that keeps going up and up and up. Uh
again, so it's a resident who's suing a landlord and I'm the taxpayers are footing the bill somehow. I'm not sure if that's legal, but I guess in Hoboken it is. TX1 $27,000 in tax overpayments on this
agenda. Last year $125,000 was paid back to owners for overpayments. How does this affect the city budget? Does anybody look into it? T3 T3 $67,000 for 500 new those I'm assuming those are those white things that are blocking all
the corners from people. How many times are we going to replace them? Because everyone every driver runs them over. What a waste of money. T5 I'm just going to be snarky. A traffic engineer. I hope it's not the same one that supposed to reduce the traffic in the southwest area
during construction. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Markle. Um, Pat Waiters. Miss Waiters. Thank you. Hi. Thank you, Council President. I'm sorry. I'm just rushing a little bit. I
just got here. I want the one CD. There's one on here for from Ruben Ramos for the cops for the um for the police department. Which one? I don't know that Councilman Ramos is joining the police force.
Well, anyway, I'll I'll talk about that on a public portion and affordable housing, capital improvements for affordable housing on Washington Street. CD2 YMCA. That out. CD2. Okay. Yep. That's the former
YMCA at 13th in Washington. This going to be a grant, right? It's it's a Yeah. donation to a charity to repair it. Excuse me. What is it for? Is it to fix up the YMCA to to improve
the the physical structure of the building? All right. Okay. I'll talk the rest on a public portion. I think it's the sidewalk probably. It's the you know the sidewalk in the front of the pantry just a disaster and it's breaking. This I think
is going to go to help that. But males still live in there, right? Yeah. Okay, thank you. Yes, thank you. Uh, no more members of the public are signed up to speak. Motion to close public portion. Second. All those
in favor? I I Okay, now we're to consent agenda. Um, as you'll see, CA1 is carried and CC3 is
removed and P1 is carried. P1 P1 as in Peter public safety one. Public safety P1, not P1 park and R. Oh, it should be PS1 and PS2. Somebody missed that when I was looking at this,
I guess. So, PS1 S1. Yes. Thank you for the clarification. Um, council members for A1 and P1 claims CA4
CC1. Sorry, did you say TA CA4? CA4. Charlie Alpha. C AI4. No, C Charlie Alpha 4. Okay. Claims. Yeah, got that. Uh, Charlie, Charlie one,
T2, T3. And I think that does me. CD5. CD5. Okay. Uh, Mr. Pina, you got I'm trying to get it in the right alphabetical order. A1
CA4 I'm sorry CC Charlie Charlie what council president no CA4 is correct I got this which of the CC1 okay and then there was P1 T2 T3 and CD5 which should have been up
higher so uh everything else Mr. Fina please call the vote Mr. Con I Fiser. Uh yes on everything but abstain on CC4. Mrs. Jabore. Yes. PresidentO. I
I I Mr. Cano. I Mr. Ramos on CC2. Mr. Russo. Hi. President Doyle. I claim back to uh yes, claims. Thank you, council woman. Um,
Director Stratton. Uh, 25-01323 Uline wire mesh can $8,464. I'm hoping there's more than one can. You got to let me catch up on with you. I'm sorry. What page? Uh, it would be
under I think parks and rec. Um, sorry. Go down a couple pages while I get on to the website. Okay, go ahead. Um, come on. Where are we? You find Did you see it? Yeah. The description is not for
the number. I can I can have Diana pull the director. Can you it I'll look it up right now. Just give me a second. You want to come back to this uh council president while he's looking the number
the claim? Uh 25501323 Uline. It just says can. So I'm concerned we're paying $8,400. I don't think it's an $8,000. I'm listen crazier stuff has happened in government. Do you want the director to come up? Director. Oh, he's
I'll look it up. Yeah. Yeah, that's why I was going to see if he pushed. Okay, we come back to it. We'll come back to it. Well, thank you. Next up, Ca4. A1. A1. A1. I'm sorry. I thought that that's what was A1. That's what you
meant. Thank you for all your help. Council President, really just for a vote. Okay, Mr. Fina for A1. Please call the vote. Mr. Con? Hi, M. Uh, excuse me, Mr. Fisher. Yes, Mr.
Jabor. Yes, President Zano. No, Mr. Cano. Hi, Mr. Ramos. Hi, Mr. Russo. No, President Doyle. I CA4 resolution authorizing the city to
request data from PSEG in connection with Hoboken's community solar renewable energy program. Uh Councilwoman No, that was President Councilman President Army. Okay. Yeah. Um thank you, Director Gonzalez. Um
I read this one. This may be protocol. However, we're getting when we're getting people's information for to do studies and things like that. My concern is that that's that information falls into potentially wrong hands or
um I'm also very concerned about protecting people's um what's the right word? Um privacy. I'm sorry. Privacy. Yeah, privacy. So, can you explain this a little bit to me because it did for me just I I understood what they're trying what you're trying to do. However, in
light of what's happening in the world today of how privacy stuff works, we now have taken the data from them and now sits on our our information or our servers. Again, please educate me on it. Yes. So that's actually exactly why this is before you so that we can sign a
non-disclosure agreement to ensure that that data is kept private and not subject to any you know potential OPAR or anything like that. This data actually goes straight from PSENG to our energy agent. It is standard practice and it is treated as highly
confidential. It's billpayer data. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, uh, one, sorry, one last one. Apologies on the back end of this. This was an automatic optin. I was reading this isn't this is an opt
out. It's opt in. It's opt out. Opt out. So, if you if you recogni if one of these individuals, let's say Mr. Smith is recognized from your data that you got from PSG. Yep. Automatically, you put him in this program. Correct. Yep.
And is there a financial implication for that individual? Yeah, actually it's a cost savings for that individual. They'll get something. Yes. Um it's going to be a discount on their bill. I will get back to you with all that information. Um if I could at a Yeah. Yeah, that's fine. At a later time. I just want to make sure that we're not
because we have enough problems when we do the electricity that the the phone calls we get up here. Nope. I want to make sure that this isn't a positive thing. Yep. I will I will um follow up with you. But yeah, I'm I'm 99% certain it's opt out and it's done directly through their energy bill. If it is not,
I will correct that and and send it to you. Thank you, Council President. Correct. Just uh one followup question to that. Is there um an in an end date that would change the rate? So for example, after two years, there's a
significant increase to the rate where that's the problem that we ran into with some of these opt out programs in the past where there might have been a small cost savings upfront, but once it reached its maturity, then there was a big increase in rate. No, because then
you'd be sent back to the utility, like you'd be you'd go right back to PSCG if the program were to end. But I I will confirm the timing to your question of how long is the program. I will confirm the timing. Yes, please. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you, director. Mr.
Freen, Mr. Conor. Hi, M. Fisher. Mr. Jabore. Yeah. Yes. The only pause is Did someone It sounded like someone wanted to ask a question. Guys, I'm We'll come back. We'll come back. It's
not This isn't for you. This program is not for you anyway. It's a very specific program. So, I'm sorry for the interruption. Mr. Fina, could you just continue with the vote? I'm a yes. Uh, Mr. President, I give
I, Mr. Ramos, hi. Mr. Russo, I President Doyle, I did you get everyone, Jimmy? Yes. Okay, great. Thank you. Okay. Council President, the Yes. The claim was for 12 garbage cans and 50 lids. Say it again. 12
garbage cans and 50 lids. 12 garbage can 50 50 lids. Okay. 12 cans and 50 lids. So that's the ones that you push in. It's the Thank you. Do we want to vote on claims now?
Hold on. Okay. Um Yeah, it's fine. Mr. Fina, please call the vote on claims. Claims on claims. We were waiting for an answer on the claims. Mr. Con, I Fischer, yes.
Mr. Jabor, yes. President Zano, hi. Mr. Cano, hi. Mr. Ramos, hi. Mr. Russo, hi. President Doyle. Hi. Hi. This is okay. Uh, CD5. CD5. Yes. Councilman
Fischer. Yes. Is Is Director Brown still here? Do you know? I believe. Okay. Can you can you explain it? Do you mind coming up and explaining kind of what this is?
Thanks. So this is a resolution of intent to in fund the shortfall um if if there is any shortfall um of affordable housing compliance mechanisms. There's several affordable housing compliance mechanisms in the housing element and fair share
plan. Um one of those is inclusionary housing um which does not require anything from the affordable housing trust fund. Um that that will likely cover our entire obligation of 126 units. However, we want to ensure that the other mechanisms are creditw worthy.
Um, and so as Wendy mentioned earlier, you know, afford uh any 100%. Um, can you get just can you give an example? I mean, there we're we're agreeing to bond for shortfalls. So, like what would be an example of what we're bonding for?
Uh, so we have a uh rehab program, the housing improvement program. Um we have a affordability assistance program and uh the um in inclusionary projects. Um
and so the these programs are w will in all likelihood be funded by our affordable housing trust fund. Um we we don't foresee any this and what's the reason for doing this? Is it a requirement for the plan? So, it's a check the box issue that we probably
won't ever use. Okay. That's that's the that was what was missing from the whereas clause. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Pina. Please call the vote for CD5.
Mr. Con. I fer yes. Mr. Jabore. Yes. President. Hi. Mr. Canero. Hi. Mr. Ramos. Hi. Mr. Russo. Hi. President Doyle. I CC1 CC1
Chipmunk Charlie Councilman Russo uh Councilman Russo was that uh DC was Charlie Charlie the other Charlie Chapman the other challenged one okay um
uh director Stratton uh or corporation council can you tell Tell me what this is for. Is this uh a particular case or is this just a general? Sure. So, this is CC1. This was on your last agenda and um the clerk
sent you an email on June 12th at 12:01 p.m. That would be Thursday. When I say you, the entire council received an email. So, this attorney is handling three different cases and you were given little summaries of the cases. Yeah, I I just want to make sure from that. No, that's fine. Oh, okay. Yeah, that's one
to make sure. Um, one one other I have the moment. Um, by the way, Rose, on some of these, because we don't have a budget passed, there's pieces that get dumped into each increase. You'll notice on the agenda, so it's not as if over the past 3 weeks we did this. If we had
a budget in the beginning of the year, it'd be one lump sum kind of up to just so you know that that I know you I know we haven't seen I know we haven't seen you in a while, but this was this was brought up at a another meeting. So, just to let you know.
Thank you, Councilman. Uh, Mr. Fina, CC1, please call the vote. Mr. Conn, I miss Fischer. Present. Mr. Jabor, yes. President Jano, I miss Mr. Caterero. Hi, Mr. Ramos. Hi,
Mr. Russo. Hi, President Doyle. I P1, not to be confused with the other P1. Council President, uh, every time I tried to pull this up online, it for whatever reason wasn't coming up. Could you, director, could you give me a quick brief synopsis of
what we're doing here? Director Alist, good evening, council. This is a licensing agreement with RCX uh LLC. That is the parent company that MLS GO belongs to. This service would just put
us in an agreement so that we'd be able to tap into their services which includes any sort of coaching training, the ability to tap into their resources for uh scholarships. So they would provide our community for members that wanted to be part participants that wanted to be part of our soccer program
could not afford it. there is uh sponsorship uh scholarship um offered through them also uniforms they would provide the city with some uniforms granted that would be uh we would have to procure the best cost option and weigh that out so there is no cost to
the city it's simply just being able to tap into their services no change from what we've done in the past with them no this is just so that we can add in additional resources I appreciate it thank you thank you director uh Mr. Fina P1 please call the vote that be Mr. St.
Mr. Con I Miss Fischer Mrs. Jabore yes President Hiro I Mr. Ramos hi Mr. Russo. Hi, President Doyle. Hi. Everybody just turn and look. That's Caleb Shran. What did I just make
sure everybody everyone sees? Several people. Yeah, I I said Okay. I didn't mention I did before. Go to the video. Oh, got it. Uh T2. That's That would be me. Direct and T3.
So, you want to take both of them? Yeah. Well, I mean, yeah, we'll have director director Webb, if you can. Yeah. Can we discuss uh Council President, is it okay to discuss both of them and then we vote them? Yes. That we can vote together. Thank you. Um, can you explain T2 to me a little bit uh a
little bit more? Uh, so we're we're applying for a grant from NJ DOT to fund uh a segment of the bike uh the green circuit. Uh that would uh the segment that we're funding here would be on Newark Street
from the bow tie down to uh the merge with Jersey Avenue. Bow tie. The boat bow tie where where Newark and and Observer intersect. Thank you. Okay. Um thank you. And then T3. Um
yeah. I mean this one's pretty explanatory. I get it. But as long as I have you up here, I was going to keep you up here. Um, do you know what we spent last year? Uh, sorry to put you on the spot. You I'm going to guess you don't know. I can I can find it out for you. The year before that and the year before that.
So, I'll give you a quick hint. I remember voting on this last year was about 50 something,000. This year it's $67,000 for more of those hideous delineators. Uh, it takes the quaintness of our town away. I can't stand them. There's not one truck that doesn't drive
over it, including city vehicles, including the UPS truck, FedEx, Amazon, you name it. And now cars are getting a little more aggressive with these things and rolling over them. They're pulled out of the ground. We're spending another $67,000. I know we can't put up
uh metal cement barriers. However, um you're going to tell me it's the cheapest thing to do to do daylighting, and I'm going to say to you, city bike stations on the corners for daylighting, uh would be a better thing cuz nobody's going to take out a city bike station.
I'm not saying on every corner, but I'm really against the delineators. It takes away from the quaintness of our town. We have eye pollution on every corner. Uh our streets are tight. I struggle a little bit with certain
things. Um, is there another option than getting plastic or a delineator that can be rolled over? Is there something where we can street by street trouble areas where we actually put in nice heavy things
that you're never going to park in that area for? Well, I as we redesign uh our streets uh uh and as we go through reconstruction, our intent is to build
out daylighting with with curb and uh then either install bike uh bike racks, city bike facilities, uh green infrastructure. Uh those are permanent. They're certainly much more
attractive. I would agree with you 100%. Uh the delineators are an interim measure and it's my hope that we build out the the vision zero network and eventually we don't need any more of them.
Okay. Um I'm not in favor of buying more delineators. I mean I'm just going to let you know I think it looks like garbage. They're all over the place in the first ward. uh and in some cases they're actually put in the wrong spots
where sight lines are not impeded. In other words, that could be a loading zone that could be used for some of my businesses or some of my residents who are struggling to uh uh to even just drop off groceries or drop off their grandmother. Uh so I'm uh I'm not in favor of these things and I will I will
never be going forward. Understood. Thank you, Councilman. I and that for T2 and T3. Do you want to have two separate votes or you No, I think that's fine. Answer. Okay, Mr. Uh, wait. Well,
I don't know. Up to the council, not to me. Well, that's fine. Then we can you can always vote one way or the other. Uh, but we'll take we'll do T2 and T2 T3 simultaneously. Mr. Conn,
yes for both. Fisher. Yes, for both. Mr. Mr. Jabbor, yes for both. Mr. Presidento, yes for T2, no for T3. Mr. Cano, I I Mr. Ramos, I
Russo, I am both. What? President Doyle. I on both. Thank you. The ordinances for introduction. Um, yep, you're right. Thank you. An ordinance amending chapter 155 section 155-16
155-17 155 20A2 of the Hoboken city code to clarify certain determinations and considerations of rent leveling board and application fees.
Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con, I fer yes. Mr. Bore, yes. President, yes. First reading I Mr. Ramos hi. Mr. Russo I President Toro I order for introduction
opting into the Garden State CPAC program to facilitate the financing of CPAC project. Mr. Pina please call the vote. Mr. Con I. Fisher. Yes. Mr. Jabore. Yes.
Presentano. Hi. Mr. Canero. Hi. Mr. Ramos. Hi. Mr. Russo. I. President Doyle. I. Ordinance for introduction amending chapter 192 parking for persons with disabilities. Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con. Hi. Mr. Fischer. Yes.
Mr. Jabore. Yes. President. I. Mr. Cano. I. Mr. Ramos. Hi. Mr. Russo. Hi. President Doyle. I introduction amending chapter 190 entitled vehicles and traffic to
relocate loading zone on Hudson Place extend bus stop hours on Hudson Street. Mr. Fraer, please call a vote. Mr. Con, I fer. Yes. Yes. Mrs. Jabore. Yes. President Jano. I matter. Hi. Mr. Ramos.
Hi. Mr. Russo. Hi. President Doyle. I. Please switch the order. Go to six if you would. Council President, just a point of order. I I actually couldn't pull this up either on my uh computer. The the one we're actually voting on the table of organization. Oh, okay. What
what were the uh changes from the original updated version has uh been crossed out five captains and makes it to seven. Or do you mean from the original or from the last version? From the last version. I'm sorry. That I don't It went from 118 to 114.
And it's two two for superiors. Yeah. And eight. These are two two two additional and then eight additional patrol. That was only a change from the officers from 10 to eight in the duration. Yes. Yeah. Because it's still
two two and two for captains, lieutenants, and sergeants. Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it. An ordinance for introduction. Code of the city of pover chapter 59A entitled Department of Public Safety
Article 259A-8 establishment of division to increase police department table of organization. Uh Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con, I Fiser, no. Mr. Jabor, yes. Mr.
President, no. Mr. Cano, hi. Mr. Ramos, no. Mr. Russo I President Doyle I just uh take a just a a moment and walk out the number five in
No just a sec. Do you want me to read it, Jimmy? Oh yeah. Okay. Yeah, just hang on for a second. Introduction on authorizing a financial agreement between the city of Hoboken and JB12 urban renewal LLC.
Mr. Pina, please call the vote. Mr. Cole, I fer present. Present. Mrs. Mrs. Jabore. Yes. President Xano. Hi. Mr. Cano. Hi. Mr. Ramos. Hi. Mr.
Russo. I sorry President Doyle I public portion just not uh yes uh uh
are you all are you uh Enrique Herrera for public portion I am Sugar. It could be sugar. I want more. No, I have some. Do we know if Would it would it be possible to postpone until uh Councilman Ramos comes
back or he continue? He may not be back. So, okay. Uh well well this is in response to more of my um advocation against neural links and illegal use of advanced technology without any risk management. Uh I and Ra Herrera have
never recovered from the betrayal of my life and its horrors. Yet I am unbowed in terms of protecting the innocent in terms of from AI rape material and Neuralink airdrops of that material into the minds of anyone that's either
innocent or guilty. Uh I think it's very important that I reiterate this you know with the police and chief police over here as well. Uh that you know I make it something of a statement that this neural technology is real. It has advanced to a degree where it is as
advanced as it possibly could be with the inclusion of airdrops of any visuals or auditory dialogue or any type of real-time communication which would be faster than the the walkie-talkies that even the police officers have. This is something that I was very much critical
of and I was very much um hyperritical of in the prior uh public portions. I I was able to really bring that into a conversation of Marvel and bring that into speed where this advanced
technology didn't necessarily just pop up overnight. But the lack of risk management makes us it makes it impossible for us to actually catch what this technology is about which involves numbers, fingers, and magnets which is something that I would have to elaborate with the council
members in in different settings. Of course, this doesn't really give me much time to really go into it. So, when I personally created and um utilized an AI timeline against prediction scale model systems, I did so with the intent to
only have real time, which would eliminate any and all orchestration or prediction scale of any act that could be committed against a female, which would be something that a woman should look into. I do go into it into my social media accounts. I understand that that's
something a lot of people do look at. I have been shadowbanned. I have been more or less not looked at in any way, shape or form on my social media. Um, this came about with the AI deep fake stuff at Island Span Sauna somewhere I worked at and was a primarily female, you know,
run establishment with the management being female. I did the best I could, but it's really hard to explain that to to women when you're the minority male in the situation where it doesn't come off as anything other than off-putting and has to be done professionally. You
are shifting through complex evidence and stuff like that. Um, in terms of the the addition the addition of the um 24 walkies, which is pretty much what was listed in P2,
24 portable police radios. Yeah, we have to be mindful of this same exact technology, the neural links and stuff like that superseding that technology where people have the heads up prior to a police call. People have this technology when they wake up in the
morning all the way to when they go to sleep. Neighborhood watch, PBAs, PSOAs that don't conduct themselves properly with numbered systems in a micro grid usually leave all what's left is discrepancy work for the police to pick up. So if we can just get just an
inquiry going around town, maybe even into wards of how neighborhood watch is conducted with police oversight. I didn't get a chance to explain this at the CAPS meeting, but if in the event this technology is faster than these walkies that you're bringing in, that that just doesn't that doesn't fix the problem of police officers not getting
to the crime on time, where if it's left to the civilians, there would be discrepancies regardless. So, I support the P2 agreement with the new walkies and the money geared toward the police officers. What I think we should do is open up an inquiry into neural links and malicious use of that in our civilian
populations. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Herrera. Matthew Mc Mau, Alan Welner. Evening. My name is Alan Welner. First Street. Um
uh I just want to mention um that I've been involved in um kayaking in uh Hoboken for maybe 30 or 40 years. uh several clubs
that we've um that we formed have helped uh put kayaking on the north end of Hoboken in Sinatra Park and also in Jersey City in a few places. Um, the reason I'm up here
is, uh, because of something that we saw, um, on the 5th of June, about a week and a half ago, uh, at Pier C. Someone jumped into the water there. Uh, there
was a police response. Uh, when I was there, there were perhaps 14, 15 different boats. uh New York City police, New York City fire, uh New York City Police Department helicopter.
Uh there was a big big response to try to find this individual. Uh I was there for about an hour. Um there were people on P trying to find this person. Uh so far at this point, Chief Feranti tells
me that there's been no sign of this individual. Um, I've been here perhaps three or four times in front of different councils going back probably 20 years. Uh, also
written some letters to the editor when there used to be physical papers. uh on this particular point which I'm about to bring to your attention. U have some pictures of uh Pier and the area around
Pere. Uh there's no place to get out of the water from the terminal all the way up to Maxwell House uh except for Sinatra Park which has a uh a launch um
in about 1999 in between administrations where we we were able to put that uh access to the river. Uh it's been used by kayakers, but also by emergency
traffic, people who need to get in and out of the water. Uh and it's probably saved some lives. I asked Chief Veranti just a while ago, how many events, how many people go into the water on our waterfront? Uh and if I recall what he
said, he said perhaps 10 or 12 per year. and half of them don't come out alive. There's no place to save yourself. There's no place to grab to hold on.
That river um is a moving river. Changes direction twice a day. And when it goes at full speed, it's three or four knots. You cannot swim or even kayak against it. If there's no place to hold on, there's not much you can do. Uh there
was a life preserver down at the light rail station on the railing. I don't know if it's still there, but um let me just hand these out. You can hang on to these. I think you
getting out of the water. The bulkhead is 10, 12, 15t high. It's very slippery and there are no hand holds for about a mile. So, um, what I was suggesting, uh,
perhaps Chief Veranti can, uh, give you a number, but with 15, uh, emergency responders and boats, a helicopter for that one hour that I was there, it has to be tens of thousands of dollars,
maybe more. It's hard for me to imagine what that number is, but imagine doing that 10 or 12 times a year. You're talking about an absurd amount of money and um we're talking literally about life and death. One thing that I suggest
years was something like this hanging off that bulkhead every 100 yards or so. This is a nylon or a polyropylene rope with a couple of hand holds that um would allow
somebody if they wanted to to save themselves. It would cost um anywhere between uh perhaps a,000 bucks or $2,500 more or less to do that along the waterfront. so that if somebody uh
somebody somebody wanted to they could if they jumped in they could change their mind and save themselves or on some of the weekend evenings where alcohol is involved somebody might be able to save themselves. So as I said this is the
third or fourth time I've presented this in front of a Hoboken council and it seems to me that um it's the simplest thing to do. Take a look at that construction that's going along Sinatra Drive now. That's a a huge huge project.
Millions, many millions of dollars. Uh so if we can just do the simple things, I if it's possible, I'd like to leave this here just so you can see it. You can do whatever you like with it. But when you see the size of that gap,
you'll realize that no one can do any. Most people who drown are good swimmers. So, it's not a matter of being a good swimmer. Just just keep it in mind if you can. I appreciate your time. Thank you. Uh, Cheryl Phallic,
Patricia Waiters, nope. I have a few things I'mma speak off on agenda items what I was speaking to on C wait on CA4 what we was trying to get your attention Paul with I lived in applied housing and I was affected by
this that's why thank you council president for saying they should protect our name or identity or whatever what happened was I got this huge bill but they already utilized my name and number at PSENG and already had changed me into this program. Margaret O'Brien came to
all of you guys, a few other people in her building. I lived at 1233 Park and I also lived at 1219 Willow. This seemed like such a scam cuz they get let you catch hell. I couldn't imagine the poor senior citizens that's locked in their house. And I was told if you don't want
it, you come down here and sign yourself out of it. First of all, who told you to put me to hell in it? And they gave me such a hard time. I kept getting bill after bill after bill to it got up to a little over $1,000. And by the time I tried to fight this, the city of
Hoboken, your mayor said this is okay. And there was supposed to be this flyer in everybody's box saying that they was going to change or offer you do you want this energy program. So I don't know what language is in this. Oh my god, y'all are so rude. I'm getting my extra time, too. People noticing this that's
watching this when I talk and it's something y'all don't see how rude Mr. Coleman is right now. You see, Patricia, you No, no, no. That's disrespectful to me. You're going to respect me. All right, you finished. I'm done. Thank you. I'm I'm I'm serious. People watches this
and they notice it's a difference when it come to Patricia Waiters. Let me get my point across cuz this is serious. And I notice if stuff not affecting you guys sitting up there, you give us the blank look. I don't care. And what that last speaker spoke about is real serious. Where people walking around depressed
and going down to that river, work with Mr. forthy and get that done because it's serious. And now I'm back to PSCG before I was ruly interrupted by fifth ward councilman Phil Cohen. All right, include me in and you two on the first
ward. So don't go there cuz I was talking to you. We asked you the question when you mentioned PSEG and now I was stuck with not only the bill, I had to go through hell to try to sign out of this program that I didn't want to be in anyway. And they got access in
the database to all our information clarification purposes. Ralph, I just wanted to get that out. And this one here that I was asking Ruben about, I'm sorry when I come late, you need to give people time with this agenda.
The shortfalls and he's not even here. When he says shortfall, this was last uh meeting. We talked about the building. They supposed to relocate people in the housing authority and start building in a garage in that u parking lot. Am I right? And start building in the parking lot. I want this one and another one.
Affordable housing CD2 talking about affordable housing, capital improvement and money or whatever. I want you guys to do me a favor. Meet with Chief Fanty again on this director forthy and discuss bringing back the officer next door program. It was a program for
retired cops, cops, correction officers where they could live here in Hoboken and on watch 24 hours. They got to sign a contract. Just visit that language and if you want me to, I'll get it for you and take that into consideration having our police officers stay here in town.
Provide a place for them to stay and they get like a discount or whatever to live here if they live in the unit for free. Okay. Could you guys please look and work into that? I promise the cops every time I see them on the street cuz rent is getting outrageous. Now, boxing glove time. Listen again real quick and
I'm going to wrap it up cuz that man talked 22 minutes. We have an election again approaching. Okay. When all of y'all just voted no, I'm sorry, but one of y'all not to Tiffany for those white cones that's sitting in the street. I work at Deerous School. I sit there in
my desk watching the cameras and watch the delivery trucks, the cab drivers, lift, Uber, park on those cones like they not even there. They back right up in their vehicles cuz I come out and put my cones out, they back right into them cones. Those cones is not only
hazardous. I see baby carriages being pushed over there and the baby fell out the carriage. Little kids on their bike tripping over them. Our town was perfectly fine. And the young man, no disrespect to him, he don't live here. Stop saying, "Well, our city streets are coming to be what?" We live here, okay?
And we lived here long enough to know that's a waste of money, guys. Please start thinking about the people. Yes, it's a waste of money because they parked there anyway. God bless the soul of the little kid that got hit by the truck like with those things being there. That's that's that's true. That's
good. But see, listen to me. It's not Listen, Mr. Cohen. It's a bad thing to put those there, too. Cuz now what if somebody not that U-Haul truck that hit that guy? If another truck was there, you can't see for real and the mothers still try to maneuver around it. I sit
there six hours a day straight and see how dangerous it is. And these cars from New York and everywhere else, the park on those things is very dangerous. So when you make a mistake, just say it and correct it. Get them out of here. We didn't have them before, but now it's election season. And I'm telling you
guys, again, congrats to all of y'all. Y'all could come out and grandstand and do all of that. Don't do it at our meeting time. Seriously, I know it's a bit much, Mr. Doyle, but please could you get on your colleagues to respect us and respect our time? I'm doing the best I can, Pat. No, we'll keep on doing it. I'm I'm with you. But that's not fair to
us cuz I'm not interested in none of this stuff that people trying to impress us out here cuz it's an election time. I know. All right. It's not It's nerve-wracking. And I sit here and I'm being very nice and I'm trying to respect you. I'm wrapping it up. We're saying this. Please work with Mr. Fanty
on that. And I really appreciate you guys. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Franti has been promoted back up to the chief. Apparently Manuel Rivera Solair and I I still call him chief.
Good evening, council president, members of the council, members of the public. Council President, uh if you notice my absence earlier, uh I was uh planning not to speak, but due to certain incidents that have occurred, um I I am
and I am here. And uh I just want to say um first off um before I say my remarks um going to keep up my member of the public being the consoler of the council. I
just want to say again it's very tragic that we as Americans have to continue to see violence uh bestowed upon innocent people. We the members of the public just want
everybody would like everybody pardon me to be civilized and to have civil discussions and never resort to violence. Now, I would like us if you can again, council president, as you always do, and members of the council, members of the public, if you can please
help me in joining and sending our thoughts and our prayers and our best well wishes to the families of Representative Hartman of Minnesota and Senator, State Senator Hoffman's
family for their speedy recovery. Miss Hottzman or Mrs. Hzman who was killed and her husband. So I would hope that we could be civil and understand that violence again as I said last meeting is not the answer to our differences. And
with that council president I will continue. Now, um, as a member of the public had mentioned, um, we we we just came off a a um primary election that was contested and, um, we got the
results of that and now we're going into the season of Hoboken uh, elections. And I didn't think I was going to say this so early in the process, but I want to say through you, council president, to
all members of the public, but especially the members of the public of the six board, as I am a resident of the six board, I ask all members of the public that is to discern to discern for themselves and to make sure that when
a candidate or candidates approach you or knock on your door. For those who are still oldfashioned, who knock on doors like myself, ask them, ask them the question, especially if you're a member of the six ward, what have you done for the six ward? Why did you not give the six ward
a voice in December and now you are promoting candidates who nobody knows or not involved or though well perhaps intentioned well intentioned and everybody does have the right to run to put their hand in
the ring to anything that I am in agreements with. My beef is or my concern is that now we get these phantoms. We get these ghosts candidates from the past. Those that only come when it's in
their best interest and they do not they do not want to do anything else just only on election time. Once the election is over and they lose, they are gone. So I ask once again all of the six ward
residents, all of those that I go come across and all residents of Hoboken, do your discernment, please allow them to ask answer those questions to you. That's all I'm saying. If you so wish to ask them
again, everybody has the right to run. Everybody has the right to serve their their municipality or their city or their states or wherever they want to serve. But again, I know it's early in the contest. I'm sure I'll be back. But I
appreciate the council for listening, the members of the public. And again, I want to thank you for asking and taking apart a lot of the questions or a lot of the ordinances and resolutions here on consent agenda. So,
I did it as a little experiment to see if you would if all of you would and members of the public would ask questions and I want to say you passed because you did ask many questions and members of the public appreciate that. So, again, I don't want to take up much
time. I have said my point. We should be civil with each other. We disagree agreeably. And with that, Council President, I say, let's continue to pray for the hostages, the release of the hostages, and for the innocent civilians now in Israel going through something
else and the innocence of Gaza. And with that, Gil President, God bless you. God bless you all. God bless Hoboken. And always, Slava Ukrainy. Glory to Ukraine. Slava, glory to the heroes. Thank you
and good evening. Thank you uh Mr. Rivera. Uh Alex Garcia. It's not right. Oh, okay. All right. Because there's
four different uh good evening council Garcia 6. I want to thank Paul for the T3 Pesco climate. I think it's the worst idea ever. It has taken so many space, parking space, um
delivery space. I've been I actually tried to drop off my son at the barber shop on seventh and uh um sixth and I think it's I think it's Jeff Jefferson I think it was taper and tonic and I got
to do the circles just to drop off my son and they put him in that corner. So I'm not sure if that was a part of the whole vision zero. I'm not sure. Was that part part of vision zero? I'm not sure, but if it is, I'm a totally against it. And I thank you for going against it from this point forward, cuz
I think it's the worst idea ever. I mean, I don't know about you, but I know how to cross the street. I've taught my kids how to cross the street both ways. I mean, that's the first rule of thumb. Put your phone down across the street, right? So, basically, if you try to make space or make it safety hazard, make it
safety people across the street, that's the worst idea because you're taking away parking space. Hoboka's biggest issue is parking or a drop off or whatever the case may be. Thank you po for going against it from this point forward. Secondly, um the electrical charger stations, I think
they become a personal parking spot now for the electrical cars apparently cuz I have one in front of them right in front of them 66 in Washington. They just park there. Go in there, I park right behind. They go in there, they park and they leave the cars without even charging it.
So I see I actually saw one there was two one I was charging just parked his car and I actually was in a car on my car making a phone call I was in the car they want to get out the Bluetooth and I see this other electrical waiting there standing the guy like oh my god it became personal and it's not the first
time it's happened two times already where it became a personal parking space for these electrical cars that's two three um Friday or Saturday night it was 1:00 in the morning I got home and um I see a
guy walking in front of my building six and wash and I was he was coming back from a Mets game, a little intoxicated, whatever the case may be. Um I see him and what's going on? He's like, "My phone's up. My phone's dying." And I'm like, "Let me help you. What's going on?" Long story
short, his car he thinks got towed. So he was parked illegally in the parking station, right? So now I go ahead and like you like are you okay? Can you describe your car? Do you know anything about your car? It's a
little off. So I I start I start making a phone call. I I contacted the the useless HPU. I contacted them and voicemail 1:00 in the morning. So I the next thing I did I called the police department for him. This in the patrol
car very helpful, very courteous. I have they saw I was trying to help the guy out. They were in front of my building and you know actually they asked me questions. I asked him questions of course and they tried to get information with his license plates information whatever the case. They went far and
beyond and they were to they able to they were able to see that the car was not towed on their end. But then they said but it doesn't mean that it wasn't towed. It could have been the electrical company from the EV who towed the car.
So like what do you mean? I mean, like, how you guys not going to know this? If a car gets towed, police department should know. Any car gets told, they should know. Like, no, we don't know everything. We don't know. If another company tosses it, they'll tow it and that's it. We won't know it.
That's is unacceptable. I have a drug man in front of my house lording, not loading, but like helpless. And I'm trying to help the guy out, and he doesn't know if his car got told or not. And at this point, his phone is dead. I call his mom. his mom's coming from Pamis. So I stay in front of she tell me
I she begged me please stay with him. Lo and behold I stay with him till like almost like 2:30 in the morning waiting for his mom to come to go pick him up. So I mean I was there the fact that he told me that the police department told him that that uh he has to come back on Monday. This happened like on the
weekend. So to get him any detailed information from HPU they have to wait till Monday. That's unacceptable. He has no information if the car got told or stolen. Well, he said it wasn't told. So, he doesn't know if the car all stolen. It was stolen. Great. We
understand it. But the fact it was told, if a company told it, it has to come from you guys. They need to know. That's why I say HPU is hopeless and worthless. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Garcia.
No more members of the public signed up to speak. Motion to close. Second. All those in favor? I motion to close. Favor. I Jim was given the look like