Okay. Good afternoon everyone. If we can please silence our cell phones and close the side and back doors, I greatly appreciate it. We are on the record. Today is Monday, the 8th day of December in the year 2025. This is a city council caucus
meeting of the Jersey City Municipal Council. We had a 400 p.m. start. The clock on my cell phone is showing 4:14 p.m. May we have roll call for the commencement of this caucus. Council
person Ridley, Council Person Huings, Council Person Bajiano. I think he's still here though. Council person, council person Solomon here, >> council person Gilmore,
council person Deise, >> council person reverber >> here, >> and council president Waterman. We have all nine council members in attendance at 4:14 p.m. On behalf of Council President Waterman and the members of municipal council in the
coordinates with New Jersey Public Laws of 1975, Chapter 231, the Open Public Meetings Act, also known as the Sunshine Law, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the posting on the bulletin board of the first floor of city hall, the annual notice, which is the schedule of meetings and caucuses of
the municipal council for the calendar year 2025 and filed in the office of the city clerk on Friday, November 15th, 2024. In addition, at its time of its preparation, the agenda of this meeting was similarly disseminated on Friday, December 5th, 2025 at 9:05 p.m. to the
mayor, municipal council, business administrator, corporation council, the newspapers, and posted on the city's website so I can certify as to our total compliance with the sunshine law. Council President, I'm going to turn it over to you. Good evening, President Waterman,
members of the council. I have seven items before you today. First one is item number 1026. Resolution will authorize the award of a contract to Rich's Tree Service Incorporated for Tree Pruning and Removal Services under the Huntington County Educational Service Commission
for the DPW Division of Forestry. Total amount of this contract is $500,000 and funding is available in a DPW forestry operating account. Whoops. That's his
uh What happened to our tree people? Uh we still have it, Councilman. >> Yeah. Yeah. This does this picks up on all of the um for instance, they do the disposal of the dead trees and things of that nature. Pruning. I mean, we have a big tree canopy in the city, so it's
beyond the scope of uh you know, just DPW doing it. All right. Next is 1027. Resolution will authorize the purchasing agent to sell 22 motor vehicles that are no longer suitable for use. Next item 1028 resolution will authorize
the public sale of 109 motor vehicles through the public surplus.com online auction which are no longer suitable for use. Next is 1029 resolution authorize award a contract to Winter Ford for the
purchase of three 2023 Ford police interceptor vehicles under state contract for the DPW Division of Automotive Services. Proposed vehicles were originally ordered by the Department of Public Safety. However, the original purchase order was cancelled without notification to the
dealer. The dealer subsequently notified the director of automotive services offer offering the vehicles at a reduced price. Funding for this purchase is available in the DPW capital account. Next is 10:30 resolution authorize the award of a contract to air brake
equipment and supply for heavy duty parts and repairs and services is needed for the city's vehicle fleet. Total amount of this contract is $300,000 which is available in a DPW automotive services division operating account.
1031 resolution we authorize your ward of a contract to a limbo car and heavy duty truck collision incorporated for the maintenance and repair of heavy duty vehicles for the DPW division of automotive services. Total amount of the contract is $400,000 and is available in
DPW Division of Automotive Services operating account. The last item is 1032. Resol resolution will authorize the award of a contract to Jersey state controls for the building automation system in citywide city- owned buildings for the Department
of Public Works Division of Building and Streets. Total amount of the contract is $83,610 and funding is available in the DPW buildings and street operating account. >> Thank you. here
school council. >> Good evening. >> I have six items to present before you. The first one is item 10.38. This is resolution 25807. This is a resolution renewing an
agreement between the city of Jersey City and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield for a one-year period starting from January 20 uh excuse me, January 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2026 to provide um dental insurance for um
eligible employees. Total amount of the contract is 938,566. Um, the city has uh two additional uh one-year terms. Are there any questions in regards to No. The next item is 10.39.
This is resolution 25808. This is a resolution res uh renewing the contract with the city of Jersey City and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield to provide open dental insurance to city employees from January 1st, 2026 to
December 31st, 2026. The total amount of this contract is $2,672 and 400 I'm sorry 2,672,443. Any questions? The next item is 10.40.
This is resolution 25809. This is a resolution extending the contract with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield to provide medical uh insurance. This is a month-to-month we want to um afford the new administration an
opportunity to um to discuss the new TPA. So, we're just going to extend it on a month-to-month basis. Any questions? The next item number is 10.43. This is a resolution authorizing the award of a
contract to ULIO um I'm sorry, the Union Labor Life Insurance Company, aka ULIO to provide self-funded medical and prescription drug excessive uh stop-loss coverage for all retirees and employees. This is a one-year contract. Uh this
covers approximately 5,000 lives and the contract is 13,823 3,597. >> That's 10.41. Correct. >> That is correct. Reso 25810. Any questions?
>> Next. >> The uh next item number is 10.49. 49. This is resolution 25818. This is a resolution authorizing the award of a contract torale specialty on behalf of Expressc Grips Savon LLC and
RX benefits for the city of Jersey City prescription benefit prescription plan. This is a three-year contract beginning on Jan, excuse me, bringing in on October 1st of 2025 to September 30th of 2028.
RX benefits um covers the uh retirees under the age of 65 and all active employees. Any questions? >> The last item is 1050. This is resolution 25819.
This is a resolution authorizing agreement with with Express Scripts to provide prescription drug drug plan for Medicare eligible retirees and their Medicare eligible spouses. This is a three-year contract as well. This one starts January 1st, 2026 and it ends on
December 31st, 2028. This um Express Scripts and the Egg Whip uh provide drugs drug services for retirees over the age of 65. Any questions? >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Good. Good afternoon, council members and council president. I have two items for your consideration this evening. First being item number 10.33, resolution 25-802.
It's a resolution providing local support for the Coupe JC LLC to operate a class 5 retail cannabis business. The Coupe is located at 306 Manhattan Avenue. It received CCB approval on July
22nd, 2024 and zoning approval on October 27th, 2025. We don't have any distance issues, 306 Manhattan Avenue, which this is >> this is near ringside.
Oh, okay. Yes. >> I think it was an auto repair store I think months before. >> That didn't hear you, Councilman. >> Where's that at? >> It's right be If you're coming up
Manhattan Avenue with ringside being on your left, it's right before it. >> I know what you're talking about. Yeah. Next, uh, next we have item number 10.25, resolution 25-794.
It's a resolution authorizing the issuance of a redemption amusement game license to RPM Raceway located at 99 Caven Point Road. This is really just for uh, renewal of their license with the state. They require council approval
annually. questions. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon, council. I have eight items for the finance department. Uh the first item is 4.2 ordinance 25119.
This is a carryover from uh last meeting. I believe this was was tabled. Uh so it'll be a second reading re repurposing uh various capital improvement funds uh in the amount of 58 million. I actually sent the council
some amendments and the clerk I believe they all have it. Uh the new revised amount will be 47.5 million and what we took out were some of the the bigger ticket items that the council expressed some concerns over. So, anything for
Reservoir 3, Persian Field, Engine 10, um Martin Luther King Boulevard does a property acquisition, uh and the Norc Avenue drop-in center. All that funding will remain in its dedicated account as originally earmarked and everything else will be repurposed towards uh building
improvements, IT improvements, sixth street embankment, uh public safety vehicles and equipment, infrastructure improvements, sustainability efforts, and public works vehicles as well. Uh you know, additionally, this will just alleviate some temporary budget uh
appropriations in next year and hopefully provide some relief in next year's budget cycle. Oh, hey Kyle. Why um I mean I still see the one of the bigger issues I know in particular for me was
the funds for Arlington Park. >> Yeah, I believe I provided a response to your office that that project was completed uh and that the funding was no longer needed. >> No, that project wasn't even started. There's no way it could be completed.
>> We've never >> I know I spoke with I provided a response from infrastructure to uh Erica a while back, but >> yeah, but the I definitively know that the project didn't even start. Um because I know when I speaking with
Barker um I think earlier this year um that was something that we were trying to actually get done before the weather got bad. So, I definitively know it wasn't um done. But bigger than that, um
my major issue with this with this bond is that I don't like the thought of anything going into a general fund. If there's a conversation that needs to be had for us to pay for certain things, all right, then we can have that
conversation. But to just I and this is for me just to agree to give your office the or to give anyone the authority to just go spend money like that. You know, I just don't think um from a council
perspective is um responsible governing um because I just would like to know if things went under under or over budget. I just would like to know as a council member what triggered what triggered that um to take place. Um but I I mean I
do see you guys have it looked like you scale back from 58 to 47 million which is a differential of andor around 11 million. Um but for me it's it's just still problematic
um being in a general fund. >> Yeah. And I and I'm sorry I want to correct myself. You're right. Arlington Park uh at the time. Uh there were some revisions that were needed to the plan specifications before it went out to bid. So you're correct. Um but there are
like I said there are other general park funds available, but this was one item that we just included here. So again, it's up to the council how they want to vote on it or if it remains on the agenda. That is entirely up to you at this point. And I guess if we can make
additional revisions to remove that, we can we can do that as well. >> And I guess my my my follow-up question is like is it a dire need? Like is is it first of all, I'm unclear on exactly what you guys are trying to do. But
bigger than that, I want like is it a dire need? like if you don't do it now is like what are the what are the setbacks, drawbacks or consequences if we don't get this money to allow you to put it in a general fund? >> Well, some of the more immediate needs
are mainly for uh information technology improvements, right? They right now they don't have much capital funding available at all. And again, like I said, just to alleviate some temporary budget um allocations next year, stuff for um you know, building improvements
via uh public safety leases uh for existing leases. This would help us income the funds now before the start of the next budget cycle. So that is the immediate need. And again, like if you want to scale back even more, I believe we could do so. I would just need to get
those, you know, those notes from the council. So, I did reach out. I took out what I was advised to and I didn't really hear anything else beyond that. So, [snorts] >> yeah. I mean, I just think it's it's a it's a bad way to do business all
together. Um, those are like some of the things that jump out to me. Um, cuz for me, right, I'm looking at this system that we have set up and it's a good check and balance system, right? If we go and bond or airark money or receive
grants for a project and the project go over budget or other budget like we need to know why it went from 1.2 to 1.5. Was it negligence? Right? And it's not necessarily to look and see if someone didn't do their job, but it's more so
opportunity for us to learn the next time so we don't run into the trouble again. to take away that authority and power from the council. I just don't think that's that's a responsible thing to do because when something go wrong, all of the calls and the questions are
going to come to us. They're never going to say, "Oh, you know, finance made a bad decision." It's always going to be the council. >> Yeah. Like I said, I I from the beginning I understand that that sentiment, but there's contracts that come to council for projects and you could kind of gauge uh if you know
change orders are being done for additional funds for projects or whatever the case may be. There's other reporting mechanisms we can use. And I like at this point it's up to the council uh and the BA's office. >> Yeah. To add to that, Councilman, any of this funding any of the funding even
it's reallocated still to be approved by council resolution. So no matter what, you know, where the money ends up, whether we're going to spend money on the reservoir going forward or not, you have to prove it either way through a resolution, whether it's in the current account or a new account. So it always come back before you
>> follow up. If I can just follow up on the councilman's point and it sort of gets gets to those two points. So, Kyle, are you able to kind of outline in detail for the council this question of what are the existing appropriations this would be going towards? Cuz you're saying, hey, we we need to free up some
funds to help uh, you know, address the the existing year budget. And so, we just know, hey, if we're reallocating this 47 million, you know, what percentage of those are are being intended to be spent on existing appropriations? >> Yeah, I I could provide that. >> Yeah, that'd be great. And because I think that gets to Peter's point, as far
as I understand, >> well, as for I understand it is because if if we've if we've already approved it, like the VIA contract, that wouldn't come back before the council. So, if we move these funds to capital, uh, a new account, then then they could just be spent. But obviously, if it's a new project, then it would. And so I I guess
what I'm really trying to understand is, you know, how much of this if we transfer it into these you more generic generalized accounts is then going to be spent on existing contracts that are pre-approved versus how much are then going to sit in those contracts for a future council then determine where where it's going. >> Yep. So you know what what I'll do
shortly after this is from the new proposed amount to 47 million. I'll break it down uh what intends to be allocated for 2026 operations >> and beyond and whatever uh the difference is. >> Great. That'd be very helpful. Thank you. Kyle, I think that one of the
things that you have to put down there because it's what's needed is need about four or five fire trucks and the city doesn't have it and we are really well >> in bad shape with that. >> This would allocate, I believe, 15
million for public safety vehicles and equipment. So again, that is something that could be covered. And I'll break down the existing leases and then what would what would remain available for additional purchases. I'll just I'll move on to the rest uh of the items for now. Uh 10.1 resolution
25770 uh authorizing assertion of special items of revenue and appropriations into the calendar 2025 budget. Again, these are grants that the city has received post adoption. >> Say the last part again. >> Grants received by the city post
adoption. So they weren't included. >> Oh, they budget that the the council approved. The next item is resolution 25771 10.2. This is the second time we're coming to council for uh calendar 2025
appropriation transfers uh statutoily. We're allowed to do these the last two months of the year. Uh this is to cover any operational needs through the uh end of the year and any payroll uh needs as well. Uh for the most part uh the
surplus of funding is you know a result of you know grant reimbursements uh vacancies left by separated employees. Um, and you know, for for the most part, a majority of this funding is going towards uh public safety and DPW for
parts uh repairs, maintenance of the fleet, excuse me. Uh, additional overtime needs, uh, expansion of the security contract that has gone a little over budget and, uh, some unclassified items as well, gas and diesel. Um, and
some additional matching funds for new grants. Next item is 10.325772 resolution requesting a change in title text or amount of appropriation. Uh this is to disperse a matching funds into the new designated account for each
individual grant. So the city budgets for matching funds for any additional grants that come in the year where there's a local match required. This would move the funds from that general appropriation to that uh grant program. Um and I just want to note that 10.3 is
contingent on uh 10.2 passing as well because that would allocate some additional matching funds. Next item is 10.8 resolution 2577 authorizing agreement with H&L systems uh for annual support and proprietary computer software uh for the division of
tax collections. This is the uh tax software that they use for billing for pilots and everything. Uh they are going to remain on this uh at least through the and the end of next year. Um and the finance and accounting sides now with Edmonds.
Next item 10.92778 resolution authorizing cancellation of tax balance tax balances less than $10 for uh current year and prior years. So tax collector has statuto authority to cancel any individual tax balances less
than $10. Uh we are trying we did some outreach for anything over five but total cost to the city is about $700 and the cost of actually going out to chase these down and do the mailing would just cost us more. So this is what we're proposing.
10.17 Resolution granting the award of professional service agreement with Wilcottson & Company LLC certified public accountants to perform professional municipal budget accounting and financial uh services. Uh we've had Wilcott's last few years. They really
helped us with preparing our financial statements uh and you know coordinating with the the state of New Jersey on getting our budget adopted. Um, so this would be a renewal for another year, January through December. Right now, they're on a month-to-month contract to the end of the year.
>> That's 10.37, right? >> I'm sorry, I had one more. >> Yeah. 10.5 uh 25774 cancellation of grant receivable balances and or grant reserves. These are prior year grants that uh the terms
have either expired or the amounts are being amended and the balance will either not be collected and or or spent. Uh there is one duplicate opioid settlement on here that was that happened to be set up twice in the budget. So it's on the books. uh and we
just need to cancel that out. There'll be no negative impact to the city. Uh this will net about $640,000 to fund balance for the end of the year. >> That's all. >> Thanks, Scott. >> All right. Thank you,
>> Jennifer. >> Good afternoon, council president. Council members, >> the media is video. >> Jennifer Wong, director of traffic engineering. I have one item um item 1058,
resolution 25827. We have um our on call traffic signal maintenance contract with General Electric expiring. This resolution would authorize a 3-month extension to the existing contract um while we solicit bids uh and award a
new contract. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, Madame Council President, members of city council. City Planning has two items for you tonight. Um the first item um presented by myself is item number 10.
Apologies. Resolution 25786. Um could you confirm the number in the agenda? I just realized I don't have >> That's 10.17. >> Yes, 10.17. Thank you very much. Um, so this is a resolution of the city council
authorizing the planning board to conduct a preliminary investigation of conditions for several parcels in the vicinity of Hudson County Plaza for possible designation as an area need of redevelopment without the power of condemnation. Any questions?
>> This is all around Cornelison. Is that right? >> Uh, correct. So yes, if you see in the um attached letter that the county requested the designation of parcels both around Cornelison and in the Newark and Baldwin area, but um the
exact definition of um the appropriate scope for the Newark and Baldwin area was still under um discussion. We wanted confirmation on the parcels um and the county requested that they not move forward with that designation at that time. So the exact parcels for this
designation are in the map attached to the resolution and consists of the parking lots around Hudson County Plaza. >> Um the PSNG transformer site which is now vacant as well as um several small sort of sliver properties owned by the
port authority that would tie the site together. Um these are all aside from the PSNG site, these are all publicly owned sites and we are not proposing the power of condemnation. >> Got it. And at this stage and is does the county have a a like fully fleshed
out proposal, number of stories, units, things like that or or uh >> Yeah. So um so a fullyfledged proposal was not communicated with city planning or with administration staff. Um the um the letter communicating um this request
which was included in council attachments simply requests um the county would like to redevelop for residential purposes with a significant percentage being dedicated to incomerestricted and rent capped affordable and workforce housing. Um it's my understanding that there may
have been media articles about um detailed proposals that the county has, but those have not been shared with city staff and they have not been analyzed or scrutinized by city staff. >> Got it. And then this would forward the proposal to the planning board for review. >> Um this would merely forward the
proposal to study these parcels and designate them as >> Oh, got it. So So it's it's it's studying the parcels. Understood? >> Yes. So there is no there's no written redevelopment plan. Um and >> right yeah at this stage it's just a partial study. >> Correct. >> Got it. Thank you.
Good evening. I'm here on item uh 4.7 second reading ordinance 25-124. This is an ordinance amending chapter 345 zoning section 52 regarding permitted uses in the medical zone.
Uh so as you know uh the council drafted and sent an uh ordinance to chapter 345 to the planning board and the planning board heard presentation and reviewed the ordinance
on November 25th, 2025. And um the recommendation made to council is that there they planning board has made a a proposed amendment to this ordinance
for the council's consideration and found that the ordinance as written was not consistent with the master plan. And there are a number of documents that are attached now to this ordinance uh to do that. one will be added between
today and Wednesday. We're memorializing uh a resolution regarding this matter at tomorrow's night's meeting. Um so you won't see that as an attachment right now, but what is attached is a medical overlay district resoning for the
Greenville area, a medical overlay district resoning for the Palisade area, and a staff memo. Um the staff memo lays out the the findings and uh of the of the planning board and
some of the the relevant statutes and background. Uh but what was was found was that one we summarized that there were the removal of senior housing assisted living uh was what was proposed in the council's ordinance as well as
the reduction in height from 10 stories 100 ft to four stories 45 ft on lots 50 uh I'm sorry and then on lots 50t wide or uh or more five stories and 55 ft Uh
looking at the master plan that was adopted in early 2022, uh there was a series of recommendations made to the medical district and they can be best summarized as to reszone the medical district along Palisade Avenue as RC2 or R1 and instead create a medical overlay
district uh in those areas. And so with that as the basis of uh the recommendation made regarding this area in the master plan, the amendments that are attached in into this ordinance from
the planning board are are based on that. Um they are the other the other thing to mention is that uh senior housing um and assisted living facilities are we're seeing as a needed uh land use moving
forward as our senior population is increasing in the city and the fact that the MLU and case law uh designates them as inherently beneficial uses. Not sure if there's any other questions, but I will do my best to to field them.
>> Uh everything still remains at five stories. Correct. >> So the all that was heard from the the all that was done by the planning board was a recommendation. They recommend that uh that an alternative to what was
sent to to the planning board be reviewed and considered by council moving forward. and they found that this the version sent to them was not consistent with the master plan. >> Yeah. Well, it's consistent with the people of that area and uh I don't care
what the planning board says. >> Just as I if I can just ask two questions. So one from just a legal perspective if we were to adopt the amendments the planning board is recommending that would probably be a substantial change. So we wouldn't have another
meeting to do that. Is that right? >> Correct. Yep. >> Got it. So, so it's either at this point it's it's accept the resolution is written or the ordinance is written or you know obviously you defer it to the next council and then and then we're allowed to accept it and we just have to state why we think it's the right thing
to do even though it the planning board doesn't find it consistent. >> Right. >> You can reject the planning board's recommendations as long as you place it on the record the reasons why. Got >> it. Thank you. Jennifer, [laughter] >> it's not >> Jennifer Drigo on behalf of municipal
court. Um resolution 25817 item number 10.48. This resolution is awarding a comp is to award a competitive contract to power plus translations for language interpreting services for the municipal court. The contract will provide
interpreting services for one-year period for the amount not to exceed $80,000. The term shall be for one year commencing January 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2026. And the city shall have an option to renew the contract for four additional one-year terms.
>> Question. Thank you, Jim. >> Ryan. Good evening, council. >> I have one item for you guys tonight uh to consider. It's agenda item 10.19, resolution 25788,
[clears throat] and it's a resolution authorizing a third amendment for professional services with tectonic engineering and surveying um for LSRP services at Reservoir 3. um proposal is to continue with the
environmental work uh required to maintain a compliance with NJD and advance the site through the next phases of the investigation and remediation. So, it's ongoing. >> Do you know what the project timeline is
for this? You know, that's a million-dollar question. >> Of course. Of course. Um it's a little bit like building an old house. You never know what you're going to find, but they are narrowing down the focus. Excuse me. And um uh I would like to think that within another contract
period, which is I think up to two years with these folks, uh that they can complete their testing and their and the reports and we can get some positive outcomes. >> Do we know how far across the retaining wall they're going to be um inspecting
or looking at? Like I know it's Riverview Park, but is it just Riverview Park or is it going to be the J? >> This is Reservoir 3. >> Oh, Reservoir 3. Sorry. >> Okay, >> my bad. >> Yeah, it's it's all contained with it's all contained within the the basin area where the water is. Uh a little bit of
the area inside the actual other areas of the park are fine. Right. >> Wrong. >> Yeah, [laughter] that's it, Brian. >> Okay. Thank you, Jade. Afternoon council. I'm here on behalf of the
division of community development and I have four items on the agenda for your consideration. Our first uh item is agenda number 10.20 resolution 25-789. It's a resolution to execute a discharge
of mortgage encumbering 95 and a half Orient Avenue, Jersey City. Uh, April 2010, the borrower executed a mortgage in the amount of $8,000700 $8,750 uh dollar made under the homeowner
rehabilitation program. The mortgage encumbers property known as 95 and a half Oran Avenue. The B mortgage was booked in book 17505, page 919 with the Hudson County Register of Deeds. and the mortgage was five for
five years. Pursuant to the mortgage repayment schedule, no payment is due from the borrower. The Division of Community Development has reviewed this matter and is requesting that the mortgage be discharged as the borrower has met all the mortgage requirements.
Next, we have agenda item 10.21, resolution 25-790. It's a resolution authorizing the ward of community development block grants cares act program year 2019 funds and a memorandum of understanding with the
city of Jersey city's department of health and human services division of injury prevention. The city of Jersey City Municipal Council adopted resolution number 20-576 August 2020 and resolution number 20-717
October 2020 authorizing the city of Jersey City to receive cares act funding from the US department of housing and urban development with funding received in two allotments. uh CDBGCV is to be used to meet the
needs of low moderate income persons impacted by COVID 19. The city's Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Prevention, has applied for CDBGCV funds in the total amount of $59,940
for the purpose of purchasing a recreational vehicle, which will provide hygiene support, resources, and outreach to vulnerable and unhoused people of Jersey City. The division of community development has reviewed and supports
this project. Uh we recommend the city award 59,940 to the division of injury prevention. We also ask that you prioritize um this award as these funds need to be expended
by 2027 and uh this awarding of funds will allow HHS to go out to bid in 2026. >> Thanks. Okay, we have here agenda item 10.22, resolution 25-791.
It's a resolution awarding community development block grant public facilities program year 2022 unallocated funds and authorizing the execution of a subreient agreement with Hudson Community Enterprises for an improvement
project at 6870 Tours Avenue. The primary purpose of CDBGPF program is the development of viable communities through the provision of decent affordable housing, a suitable living environment and supportive social
services, uh, food and other basic needs for seniors, families, and senior caregivers. Hudson Community Enterprise is a community-based organization situated in Jersey City, and it provides training and employment opportunities to persons with disabilities and Jersey
City residents. Um, Hudson Community Enterprise requested CDBG PF funds to modernize an elevator at 68 to 69 Tours Avenue. The total project cost is approximately $395,000.
The project does qualify under the limit limited clientele criteria of the LMI objective benefiting targeted groups of low and moderate income persons. Uh Hudson County Enterprises has demonstrated that its clientele are
pursuing low to moderate income persons. The Division of Community Development supports this project and recommends that the $395,000 of CDBG program year 22 unallocated funds are awarded.
Next, and lastly, I have here agenda item 10.22, 22 resolution 25-792. It's an resolution awarding community developed black grant uh public facility
program year 2022 unallocated funds and authorizing the execution of a subreient agreement with St. Paul's Center of Caring. As I mentioned, this is also CDBGPF project and St. Paul's Center of Caring
is a community- based organization in Jersey City that provides availability and accessibility to activities that provide services, housing or shelter available or accessible to low and moderate income people including persons
with disabilities for Dre City residents. St. Paul's Center of Caring requested CDBG funds to rehabilitate facility public facility spaces used to house nonprofit entities and community organizations. The total project cost is
approximately $198,000. This project qualifies under the area benefit criteria of the LMI objective benefiting targeted groups of low and moderate income persons. St. Paul s center of caring has demonstrated that
its clientele are low to moderate income persons. Division of community development supports this project and recommends $198,000 to be awarded. >> And that's all. >> Thank you. Good evening, council president, members
of city council. HHS food and nutrition has three items for your consideration. The first is item number 10.13, resolution 25782. This is a resol a resolution authorizing the city to apply for and accept the
grant grant funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation to support early childhood education and family well-being. The amount that will be applied for is $248,66. This will support uh this will support integrate services within wick and head
start programming along with supporting staffing program operations, vertical farm maintenance and participant incentives to operate a 2.5year program from March 2026 through September 2028.
>> Thanks. >> Okay. Item number 10.14, resolution 25783. This is a resolution from the city accepting a grant and authorizing the execution of a grant agreement from the county of Hudson department of health
and human services office on aging. This is our senior nutrition grant. Uh we are fortunate to get the very close to the same award this year of 1,117476 and this will be for meals on wheels congregate socialization and recreation
and nutrition education. >> Next. >> Okay. Item number 10.15 resolution 25784. This is a resolution authorizing the award of a a competitively bid open-end
contract to LLC for provision and delivery of the congregate nutrition program uh serving more than 200 seniors at 10 city sites beginning on January 5th. There were two biders. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Council President, Council members. I'm here for resolution number 25-775, item number 10.6, a resolution to grant veterans exemptions for local property taxation pursuant to the NJS 5443.30
for five properties. Um the properties are I'm sorry actually four and the properties are 109 Cole Street unit 3 89 Mercel Street 353 Fton Avenue and 313 PEL Avenue.
Properties owned by 100% disabled veterans are eligible for 100% tax exemption in their primary residence. Therefore, I'm requesting the municipal council to authorize the collector to refund or cancel the taxes in the amount of $3,950 for the four properties.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Good night. >> Good night. >> Good afternoon, Council President. Council members, I have one item before you today. Agenda item 10.24, resolution 25-793,
a resolution authorizing a payment of claims submitted by micro systemystems NJ for software and maintenance of the four tax assessment software. The software is used by the tax assessor's office for tax assessment process citywide. The total cost is $65,2146.
You Thank you, Council President. Uh, the one I have is 10.18. It's a resolution approving the use of the public right of way by Pilot Fiber NJ LLC for the purpose of installing telecommunication infrastructure. Uh, this has been
reviewed by Drew Bangart's team. This is purely for installing cable on already existing telephone poles. Right. Council members, there are no first reading ordinances. We're going to move right to the second reading ordinances.
Item 4.1 city ordinance 25-110 is an ordinance authorizing the city of Jersey City to enter into a lease purchase agreement as a leie with Jackson Square office LLC as a less sertory office building to be constructed on
block 22502 lots 36 through 37 between Orient Avenue and Carney Avenue on Mont Luther King Drive and improvements throughout Jackson Square.
>> Um so we we've um we've had some meetings. There's still a lot of things that has to be um ironed out. I know um they still plan on meeting with the SID.
Um so right now this is something we will had to um consider how this would look with the um the new council. Um I did meet with um with Eric Eric um at
Brandy Wine. Um and it's just so much so much uncertainty right now. Um and it's also been uh some issues with the buildings that we do have uh that they have um developed. Uh we've had issues.
So I mean this it's not ready to move forward. So, if if it's not ready, I mean, I would suggest that the council vote it down or um if you table it, it's going to die on the tabled agenda with this uh
council's term. >> What is the bu purpose of the building? >> It's not just a building as I think was presented earlier. There's a redesign of that whole area. Uh it's the third phase of all the Jackson Square improvements we've been making. Um this would include
a kind of public access park area. It would include you know statues and design elements. Um and of course it would include the building as mentioned. That building's intention was to serve both as a community space and as you know potentially additional office space for the city if we needed for any
independent agency or if we wanted to organize you know where we currently have offices and make you know that building a certain you know uh agency or department and create another building for an independent agency. >> A joke.
>> Okay. Item 4.2 And >> yeah, I think um >> Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you said vote it down. >> Yeah, that's what I about to say. I think the best thing is just to vote it down then >> restart. Yeah, >> start it. >> So, we will have to have a public hearing and then you can take the vote
to vote it down. Um item 4.2 and 4.3 were touched on earlier. Item 4.4, 4, city ordinance 25-127 is an ordinance amending chapter A350, council rules of order. This is
basically just to um cleaning up the um language in A350 and also adding the ability to vote electronically. Um, also on just to go back to 4.1, you can also if you don't want to vote it
down, you want have the public hearing, you can table it prior to the conducting a public hearing and that would basically just kill the ordinance on the table agenda. >> Do that that way. Bunch of people ain't coming. >> Okay. >> So, you would rather you would rather um
motion to table it without conducting a table uh public hearing. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. That's so then I will just need a motion from you councilman. >> Motion >> not yet. >> Oh >> on Wednesday on Wednesday >> second >> um >> on Wednesday. [laughter]
>> So Sean voting um electronic how is for council members? >> Yes. So there there is an ability in I compass. It's a a portion of IC compass that we haven't used yet. It would be the ability for the council to vote
electronically. Everybody would have to have laptops with them or a Surface Pro. I would also need one as well so I can follow along and recap the votes. Um, but you guys can basically all vote at the same time and then once I have the
totals, I would recap the vote for the members of the public. >> So, >> as the first person that votes, I've been waiting for this. [laughter] >> Wait, so do that mean so I can be absent and people can be here and you could cast? >> No. No, no, no, >> no.
>> If you're absent, you're absent. >> Councilman, give us some kind of perspective. This is very similar to how this state does it with the assembly or Congress does it. You know, again, it would be to that council decide how they want to orchestrate it. You could have like a big, you know, screen behind you that automatically calculated it however
you wanted to. But the main point is independently you guys would all potentially vote at the same time and then you'd get to recap your vote after you've cast. >> No, no, I'm never going to do it. I think >> I think >> that's just an option. We just change the code to allow that to happen. It doesn't mean it's going to happen
anytime soon. >> I got kids. >> And again to in order for that to happen too, we would need representative from my compass to come in and give us some training because we haven't touched that portion of I compass.
>> Denise is waiting for this. >> Which 4.4? Don't even dare try to vote that down. That's that's an ordinance that we did. This is to benefit you you guys and all future council members.
[laughter] >> We got to leave Denise. >> I don't know if you guys at home could hear all the conversation, but it's interesting. Okay. Item 4.5, city ordinance 25-128, is an ordinance supplementing chapter 332, vehicles and traffic article 3,
parking, standing, stopping, amending section 332-22, parking prohibit at all times along Stuben Street between Warren Street and Washington Street. Item 4.6, Six, city ordinance 25-129 is
an ordinance of the Jersey City Municipal Council amending the Jersey City the official zoning map and incorporation of the ICO compliance provisions. Item 4.7, city ordinance 25-130 is an
ordinance of the Jersey City Municipal Council authorizing the city of Jersey City to enter into release agreement with Exchange Place Alliance District Management Corporation for space at 335 Washington Street. And last but not least, item 4.8, City
Ordinance 25-131, is an ordinance establishing the Jersey City Accessibility Advisory Committee. Hey Sean, also in regards to 4.4, um would there be a feature for people to call in versus everything done
online? Um because I know some of the seniors are going to lose their mind if you ask them to do anything online at this point. Um so is there option for them to call? I know Zoom you can call in. You don't have to actually have the
>> Are you Are you referring to signing up to speak for a council meeting? Yes. So, right now it's it's both calling and electronic. We're trying to u eliminate the call process because we're also
putting a deadline on what time you can actually sign up to speak. So, it's going to be uh 2 hours prior to the meeting being conducted. So, if it's a 6 p.m. meeting, this this sign up cut off will be 4 pm.
You guys should allow all seniors to talk first moving forward. >> What's a senior? >> Richie. >> Richie. [laughter] >> What? >> No, I'm talking about for public comment when they're watching it online.
That's what I'm talking about. >> Uh, you're referring to what they consider a hybrid. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Well, that's something that I don't think any municipality has at this point, and I'm talking only about council. Not talking about school board.
Total different thing. Uh, if you show me one municipality that's doing hybrids, I can also tell you that in order to do a hybrid meeting, we would have to have like it's almost like a production. um what we did for the ward
commission. I had IT, I had communications, I had um at least four or five people from my staff. And that's just to do that one meeting, which is uh it's not an easy thing to do and it'll be paying a lot of overtime for people
to to do a hybrid meeting. >> Do hybrid. >> Okay. All right. our public speakers. Right now we're at number 57 and then on to our petitions and
communications. Any questions or comments on items 6.1 through 6.17 hearing? None. There's one officer communication and then there's three reported directors 8.1 through 8.3. Any
questions or comments? hearing none. Our claims and on to our resolutions. Items 10.1 through 10.3 were touched on earlier. Item 10.4, 4. Resolution 25-773
is a resolution authorizing the sale of vacant property located at 2077 Street pursuant to NJSA 40A12-3A and 4A12-13.1. >> It's the old second recent >> and that's a shame. What a disgrace. The
city closed it. They should fix it up. >> I I do have some concerns with it. just uh one I don't think there's been any community conversations on it with the Hamilton Park neighborhood to know what could come. Um and then the second was in in all my time on the council we've we've always transferred to the JC and
had the JCA do RFPs and so I don't know why we to have the city put it out for bid. Yeah. So for this one the property is very unique. It's in a historic zone and the zoning is very strict there. So we did an analysis with the JR determined if it would make more sense to transfer it and essentially the zoning is so restrictive that you
couldn't really build much there. And in fact, if you did decide to build it, which I don't think you're going to get a demo for because of the historic nature, what you'd actually be able to build is smaller than the current footprint of what the east east precinct takes up. Um, so essentially the only thing you could really do for it is to rehab the whole facility, which Jere
didn't think it was economical for them to handle. So the point was just to publicly auction it. Whoever would purchase it would purchase it. You know, they could technically, I guess, try to get the permits to demo it, but again, I've talked to uh historic preservation already, and they said it most likely would be considered historic, so you
couldn't do that. So, really, they could only potentially rehab it and condo it or rent it or whatever kind of design they would think of that would go along those lines. >> Sure. Understood. I mean, I'd feel more comfortable letting the community know that this is happening before we as a council authorize the sale. >> Yeah. And one, the way the public
auction works is once you authorize it, we still have to do a whole community outreach. we have to put in in papers, that kind of stuff. And then even when someone purchased it, if they were to do anything besides a rehab, they would have to go before planning, zoning, all the traditional, you know, variables before they actually could make any changes to the property.
>> What a shame. They're closing that precinct. >> What's the um update on um on the on the new >> council? I didn't hear you. I wasn't um their plan to replace um
is it open? Didn't we? Um >> it's still we got the temporary one. We're not the new one isn't open. >> So So the Easter that you're referring to is the one where they built a building and kind of gave us a white box and the city was anticipating building out for everything. >> Um that's still under review. The initial plans that came in exceeded what
we originally thought we could expend on it. So there's a budget gap that we're trying to resolve before we pursue with it. So, is the the current precinct is it vacant? Like, is there still I guess >> the the precinct that we're talking about that's up for sale right now is
vacant, >> but I mean everything is out of it. Like all paperwork, everything is gone, >> I believe. So, yes, that's correct. >> Okay. And so, they would just live out of the trailers until, >> correct, something else? >> No one's relying on the police are not relying on this precinct for any kind of
operational uh capacity. I don't think there's even storage in there, but I could double check that. Um, but right now they continue up and out of the trailers that they're in and then assuming that we can find funding to the the new east precinct and build that all out, then they would move into the new one when that's ready.
>> And the old fire building, what's in there now? >> Which fire building? >> The public safety merit. >> Yeah, on merit. >> Fire headquarters. >> Yeah. On um I'd have to get some more information. I don't off the top of my head. Council one believe it's still
active though. Yeah, but the public safety people are out of it. And I apologize. Can I go back to an item? I missed one. Uh, so Sean, was it was 4.1. Sorry, not 4. Uh, 4.7, the lease for the Exchange Place Alliance at
335 Washington. So I I wanted to see if it had a clause in the lease. Uh that wouldn't um I I hope it wouldn't be substantial but obviously defer to the law department on this which basically you know we're we're authorizing as I read the lease we're authorizing exchange place
Alliance to do the you know full renovations of the uh you know cultural community center on Washington which I think is a good thing. The only concern I have is as written they need to get the infrastructure department's um
you know approval um to do it but it's not it's not like a requirement and I want to kind of strengthen that and I I basically want us to say in the lease that you know that the infrastructure department you know has to give sign off and there's no you know has to be done in a reasonable time frame. It's just
like a clear like that gives the city the final authority on the design because um while we like Exchange Place Alliance, we're eager to work with them. Um I don't want to basically remove the city's full power here and and basically transfer it over to the improvement district. I think it should be more of a partnership and not a transfer if that
makes sense. And so there's just a clause in there that says infrastructure has to sign off but it's kind of I think worded in a way that that's not particularly strong. Well, that's fine, Councilman. If you have um just suggested language or we can draft it up and go over it with you. I do recall that there's a two-year
build out. If it's not completed within two years, we can cancel it as well, but >> thanks. >> And obviously, we would just need to know if that's a substantial change. >> Okay. Items 10.5 and six were touched on
early. Item 10.7 resolution 25-776 is a resolution authorizing a lean against properties listed herein for the cost of removing litter, debrisze, etc. in the ordinance with the NJSA 40 col 48-2.14
and Jury City Code section 287-4. Items 10.8 and 9 were touched on earlier. Item 10.10, 2010. Resolution 25-779 is a resolution in support of consideration of amendments to Senate Bill number S4881,
also known as the Keen University, New New Jersey City University merger act to protect the seniority, tenure, and rank of New Jersey University faculty and staff. Item 10.11, city resolution 25-780.
It's a resolution honoring father issuance endob probably butchered that name I apologize for his years of service on the occasion of his 50th anniversary of priesthood. Next item 10.12 resolution 25-781.
It's a resolution expressing the Jersey City Municipal Council's opposition to the proposed New Jersey Transit discontinuation of overnight passes for Liberty State Park light rail commuter lot. And >> Sean, I just wanted to speak to that for
a little. Um, so the large light rail commuter lot at uh Johnston Avenue currently a lot of the residents in that area use that for residential parking. Um, so some of the residents reached out
and said they were having issues getting monthly passes. We reached out to transit seems like they might not have been aware that was going on and their answer was to stop it completely January 1st. um which of course transit is not
responsible for uh parking for our residents. That is their commuter lot. I totally get that. Um but we are asking them to delay that decision for a little while and have a community meeting because while it's not their responsibility, not all of the light rail stations have a commuter lot. So
just as they may feel we're a burden on them, they have been a burden on us for years in areas that don't have commuter lots. And now we've instituted uh permit parking in a lot of those areas like Princeton and Danford and Richard Street etc. Um in addition the lot at that
Liberty Park stop um from what I'm hearing from commuters is the cheapest. So most people use that spot. If you're there in the morning you'll see people from all over West Orange Nutley like coming from different places. So I asked why they're using that lot in particular
and they said because that's the cheapest one. So, another thing that we would ask them to do is to uh stabilize or standardize their parking amongst their lots throughout the city. Um because that's also putting an extra burden of traffic in that Bergen
Lafayette area. So, um, those are our asks or my ask and I ask the council to vote with us, but we are in talks with New Jersey Transit to hopefully get a community meeting and maybe we can hold off a little bit and work with traffic and engineering so that we can prepare a little better for the influx of possible
on street traffic. >> Okay. Items 10.13 through 10.15 were touched on earlier. Item 10.1620, resolution 25-785 is a resolution of the Jersey City Municipal Council directing the planning board to study and prepare an amendment
to the powerhouse arch redevelopment plan in the rehabilitation zone for block 1159 lot 2 and three. So I I just want to flag I I do have concerns with this. So this is a development project on Bay Street. I've met with the developer. You
know, I think there's a lot of good things that are being proposed. affordable housing, new school. But at this stage, I'm not supportive of it as written. Um, and then obviously this is going to be forwarded to the planning planning board. Then the planning board will come back that it doesn't give the new council person in Wordy a chance to
get in. So, you know, I'd love to continue the work on this in the coming months. Um, so just wanted to kind of stay stay where I'm at with it. Okay. Items 10.17 through 10.33 were touched on earlier. Item
10.34, resolution 25-83 is a resolution approving the termination of the deed notice approving a replacement deed notice affecting portions of Hudson County Chromate site
number 091 requested by Honeywell International. Item 10.35, resolution 25-84 is a resolution authorizing a settlement of court versus the city of Jersey City, docket number HUD L30224.
Next item 10.36, resolution 25-85. It's a resolution set uh authorizing the settlement of action entitled Kathleen Marchetti versus the city of Jersey City docket number HUDL295423
10 point items 10.37 through 10.41 were touched on earlier item 10.42 42 resolution 25811 resolution recognizing Austin Wright senior 2025 Odyssey international community service
award of excellence honore item 10.43 resolution 25-812 recognizing Erica Bell 2025 Odyssey international business award of excellence honory item 10.44 44 resolution 25-813
recognizing Erica Carrington 2025 Odyssey International Kyle Amberi Entertainment Award of Excellence Honore 10.45 resolution 25-814 res recognizing Harland ABS House 2025
Odyssey International Community Service Health Award of Excellence Honory item 10.46 46 resolution 25-815 is recognizing Javetta Lynch 2025 Odyssey International Business Award of Excellence Honore and 10.47
rec uh resolution 25-816 recognizing the 2025 Odyssey International awards honores items 10.48 through 1050 were touched on earlier. Item 10.51,
resolution 25-820 is a resolution recognizing Councilman Bajano's 50 years of public service with the city of Jersey City and designated the corner of Magnolia and Baldwin Avenue as Richard Bajano Junction.
>> No. >> Rich, can we get a resume here? [laughter] >> Where did this come up? I thought they was putting Rich on a cannabis board. [laughter] >> Y'all was talking about this resolution. No, for real. I was looking and I thought that we was appointing Rich. Oh,
>> Councilman, should we pull this one? >> He should be on the count. >> Pull it. I know you like us to pull us. >> Those applications, man. >> Rich. Oh, God. >> You have to say a speech on Wednesday. >> Yeah. 50 years, Rich. That's >> That's a long time. longer than I was in
existence. That's good. >> We appreciate your service. >> Thank you, Rich. Mayor, >> we can give Rich cake. >> God bless Councilman Biano. >> Item 10.52, resolution 25-821
is a resolution honoring the HUD Post on its 10th anniversary and recognizing its contributions to Jersey City. Item 10.53, resolution 25-822. It's a resolution reappointing Victor Nagron Jr. as a member of the Jersey
City Redevelopment Agency. Item 10.54, resolution 25-823 is a resolution reappointing council person Denise Ridley as a member of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. Item 10.55, resolution 25-824
is a resolution reappointing council person at large Daniel Rivera as a member of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. Item 10.56, resolution 25-825 is a resolution appointing Roco G. Coriello
as a member of the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority. >> Just on on 56, you know, I've reached out to Roco unfortunately going to meet with him in in January. So, you know, I my concern would be moving this nomination too quickly, but I just wanted to express that for everybody.
Yeah. Thanks. >> Okay. Item 10.57, resolution 25-826, is a resolution authorizing a contract with Brown and Brown Metro LLC as professional service to provide the city of Jersey City with insurance consulting
services to be the city's broker of record for obtaining and maintaining the city's liability insurance. I >> I have a legal question for this one. Is is the amount here above the informal bid threshold? in the aggregate. It's above the bid threshold. It's up to 66,000.
>> Okay. >> The original contract was 60. >> Okay. Because as I read the resolution, it was the informal quote solicitation, which I thought was like it it struck me as higher than what we're allowed to do for informal quote solicitation, but I'm confirming with you guys.
>> We do these through an RFQ process. There's a statutory exemption for insurance brokers. >> Okay. >> In the local public contracts law that does allow us to use an RFQ process, which is considered a more informal process. >> Got it. Okay. Okay, so this is done by RFQ and professional services. And then
when it says the city informally solicited quotes, it informally solicited from every broker that was part of the already pre-qualified under the RFQ. Normally when we get informal quotes, we have a few vendors that we reach out to. They give us their quotes. We make sure the prices are kind of in line with each
other. Then we pick from one of those vendors. Got it. Okay. Thanks. >> A 10.58 was touched on earlier. Item 10.59, resolution 25-828, is a resolution authorizing the payment of claims submitted by Michael A. Armstrong and
Associates for providing litigation services. Item 10.60, resolution 25-829, is a resolution authorizing the payment of a claim submitted by Frank J. Mater for providing consult consultation
service for risk management. And hearing nothing else, may I have a motion to adjourn at 5:29 p.m.? >> Motion. >> Motion made by council person Rivera, seconded by council person. On the motion to adjourn at 5:29 p.m., all
council members present by acclamation, please say I. We are out of here at 5:29 p.m. Thank you so much everyone in attendance and everyone watching at home. Remember teamwork meets the dreamwork. Have a great rest of the night and stay safe.
See it. You're live to see it. Rich, >> you'll have to