Okay, everyone. We're about to get started. If we can silence our cell phones, close the side and back doors, I'd greatly appreciate it. Okay, good evening everyone. We are on the record. Today is Monday, the 24th
day of November in the year 2025. This is a city council caucus meeting of the Jersey City Municipal Council. We had a scheduled 4pm start. The clock on my cell phone is showing 4:05 p.m. May we have a roll call for the commencement of this caucus. Council
person Ridley >> here. >> Council person Hulings will not be here. Council person Bajiano. Council person Sole is not here yet. Council person Solomon is not here yet. Council person Gilmore. Council person Deise is not here.
Council person Ria and Council President Waterman. Okay, we have five council members in attendance at 4:05 p.m. On behalf of Council President Warerman and the members of the 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 15, 2024. In addition, at its time of its preparation, the agenda of this meeting was similarly disseminated on Friday, November 21st, 2025 at 5:05 p.m. to the
mayor, municipal council, business administrator, corporation council, and the local newspapers and posted on the city's website so I can certify as to our total compliance with the sunshine law. Council members, before we start our caucus meeting, we do have a special
announcement from the director of employees benefits, Cadra McNair. Would you please come up and give us our insight and what we need to do before the deadline? >> Good evening, city council.
>> Oh, as uh my god, Sean just mentioned, I'm sorry. I don't have anything any resolutions to present, but I do want to um make sure that everyone is aware of the dependent eligibility audit that the city is currently going through. As some of you
may know that the city is going through a dependent eligibility audit to audit those individuals that are currently enrolled in the city's plans on the medical, the dental, and the prescription plan. Um, this is pertaining to anyone that have a spouse
or dependent child or children on the plan. Um, just to give you a little bit background, according to the plan rules, in order for a dependent child or spouse to remain on the plan, you have to be legally married.
And for children, you under the age of 26 to remain on the medical and the prescription plan, and you have to be under the age of 19 to remain on the dental plan. If you are over the age of 19 concerning a dental plan, you have to
be enrolled as a full-time student and you must show proof that you are a full-time student. The city has never gone through a dependent eligibility audit. This is the very first time. And is important as we know that everything is rising, right? Food, health
insurance, and one way to control the cost is to make sure that we remove those who are no longer eligible to remain on the plan. Um the we sent out several notices. Um it stem back a couple of months ago and
um we're approaching the deadline which is today. Um, we may extend it again just to give those who are kind of trickling in and providing documentation who may be having trouble uploading the information to the secure portal. They
are also providing their documents uh directly to our office and we are forwarding those same documents to the secure portal as well. Um, but I did wanted to give you a heads up that you may receive phone calls. Um, again, we are working with those individuals who
um who are kind of slow with the process. Um, but again, I just wanted to give you a heads up. >> Any questions? >> Of course. Enjoy your holiday. >> It's so And just to add that real quickly, if you have any constituents that reach out to you, feel free to
direct them to Kaja's office. They're more than happy to accommodate them and, you know, take care of them. I don't want you guys to be caught off guard by anything in case you get those phone calls. Thank you. Okay, council president, before I turn it over to you, I just want to mark council person deise present at 4:07
p.m. So, we now have six council members present. >> Good evening, President Waterman, members of the council. I have 10 items before you this afternoon. First is item 10 number 1825745. Resolution will authorize the award of a
contract of Foley Power Systems for the purchase of a 2025 Caterpillar Ma model 950GC Wheel Loader through the Source Purchasing Co-op. Total amount of this purchase is $266,945 and the funds are available in a DPW
capital account. Next item is 10/19 25746. Resolution will authorize award of a contract to W. Campbell and Supply Company for heavy duty parts and repairs as needed for city-owned vehicles through the New Jersey Cooperative
Purchasing Alliance. Total cost of this contract is $100,000 which is available in the DPW division automotive division operating account. Next item 1020. The resolution will authorize the award of a contract to Northeast Auto and Truck Part LLC for
the purchase and delivery of fluids and lubricants for the city's vehicle fleet. Total cost of this contract is $500,000 which is available in the DPW Automotive Division operating account. Next item 1021-25748
resolution will author authorize the award of a contract to city auto and truck parts LLC for parts and maintenance of heavy duty vehicles under the source purchasing co-op. Total cost of this contract is $700,000 and funds are available in the DPW automotive
division operating account. Next item 10:22, resolution will authorize the award of a contract to FNS Tire Corporation Incorporated for the purchase and delivery of various tires for city-owned vehicles on the New Jersey state contract. Total cost of the
contract is $350,000 which is available in the DPW automotive division operating account. 1023 resolution will authorize award of a contract of Verizon Connect Fleet USA LLC for the purchase of GPS tracking
subscriptions for city-owned vehicles through the Sourcewell purchasing co-op. Total amount of this contract is $414,625 and is available in the Department of Public Works Division of Automotive Operating Account.
1024 resolution will authorize the award of contractor Sherwin Williams for the purchase and delivery of paint and related supplies through the Educational Services of New Jersey through the DPW division of buildings and streets. Total amount of the contract is $225,000
and funds are available in the DPW buildings and streets division operating account. 1025 25752 resolution will authorize the award of a contract to jewel supply for various electrical supplies under New Jersey
state contract for the DPW division of buildings and streets. Total amount of the contract is $140,000. The funds are available in the DPW division of buildings and streets operating account. 1026 25753
resolution will authorize the award of a contract to Karasoft Technology Corporation for the purchase of the Greykey Magnet Magnetic Forensics USA model GKL-fpr1195 software for the Department of Public Safety Cyber Crimes Unit. Total amount
of the contract is $55,960.80 80 cents and is funded by the 2024 UASI grant account. >> Hey Greg, um with regards to this software, um I would imagine that the only phones
that will be allowed to be gone in are ones that have been approved via search warrant and things. >> Correct. Yeah. And it it usually not 100% for the most part, council, but they'll come in under a warrant and also use in criminal investigations. Okay.
>> And the last item is 10325759. This resolution will ratify a contract award to Natala Mobile LLC for the lease of modular trailers that currently serve as the East District Police Facility. Total amount of this contract is $66,864
which is available in the Department of Public Safety operating account. >> Right. I know last time when we talked about this um the last extension was supposed to been the last one. Do we have a update on exactly where we at?
>> Unfortunately, there's no updates, council, the last um this was called in this afternoon. If I would handle this particular item, uh I'm not aware if the construction has started or or what the status is as of this point. >> Greg, they haven't done nothing with the
prein at 2077 street. It's not as far as I'm aware of. >> That's a shame. A real shame what they've done. And how long has that been closed? About a year and a half. >> Uh almost two years. >> Almost two years. What an embarrassment for this city.
>> Had mold when I was working there and I'm still alive. >> You know the mold issues, Greg. We worked there in the 70s. They had mold in the building then. they said is a >> and you know like what a joke. That's a beautiful building. The back of that
building goes back to the early 1800s that's attached to another building and uh they're probably going to sell it to some developer who's going to ruin it. Well, there was when we did the um the initial investigation, it was consider considerable amount of asbestous and
mold. So that's why for safety reasons we had to close the districts down. >> Yeah. I had them in in the 70s the for the mole and the guy came in with a rag and wiped the wall and said the mole's gone and we worked there for another 25 years and nobody died and nobody got sick. >> Such BS
>> clean. >> I did some time down there too. >> Okay. Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving to everybody. >> Yeah. Get up and open Greg. >> Good evening council president, member of council. I have four resolutions this
evening. First one is resolution 25754 item 10.27. It's a resolution authorizing an agreement with network management solutions incorporated for providing maintenance and support services for the department of public safety for computer
infrastructure and related systems without public um bidding. This is our annual um contract for our engineering services and um for 48 locations and as you know we're open every day 247.
Um is there any way we can I didn't see is there itemized breakdown of the 400 itemized breakdown? >> Yeah, there's actually there should have been a contract doing exactly that with the full
resolution. Okay, I'll double check. I didn't see it when I first looked. >> They're doing the computers. They're doing switches. They're doing my microwave. You know, >> they're doing your microwave. Yes, microwave. We back up. If Verizon goes down, public safety can't go down. We
have three ways of getting information back and forth. They maintain it all. For me to do this in-house, I would have to hire four engineers at $190,000 each, pay for their benefits, and also for all their training for
certifications, you know, and whatnot, and sick. This This is all it cost me. Somebody's sick, I call and say, "I need an engineer." And bang, it's there. >> It's done. >> Mhm. >> Second one is resolution 25758.
It's 10.31. It's a resolution ratifying the award of a contract to Celco Partnership, DBA, Verizon Wireless for mobile, cellular, voice, and data services under state contract for the Department of Public
Safety, Division of Communication and Technology. This was actually part two. Part one you didn't see. We switched from AT&T wireless to Verizon um wireless and it took us 10 months to complete this
because we're you know 1,300 phones out there. Every vehicle, fire, police, you know, that has a SIM chip in it had to be replaced. Uh looking back at what we did last year, we spent $767,000
with AT&T. Right now, it looks like I'm finishing this year with $572,000, about $194,000 less. But we'll be talking more about that probably at the next meeting once the resolutions come through.
>> Okay, next one. Resolution 25760. It's item 10.33. resolution ratifying a contract to gold type business machines for providing maintenance and support services for the department of public safety. It covers
all land computers, the NCIC 2000 um which is the national criminal um check and uh without public bidding. It's in the amount of $366,24. These are my field personnel. These are the people who are out there visiting
each site and working on the computers, programming, um, doing writing scripts. And again, you know, Councilman, it saves me the money of having these people in house and doing the same thing. They are highly trained. They're certified and stuff. And it's uh, you
know, I said, we really have a great team. Last but not least, resolution 25761, item 10.34, and it's a resolution authorizing a contract award to Gold Type Business
Machines for the support and maintenance of the Vigilant automatic license plate reader system for the Department of Public Safety without public uh bidding. And as you know, those are the cameras that are out there when we're looking for a plate or something happens. I
believe I gave you a report last year. on how many hits we get, you know, a day. It's it's a vital it's a vital system to public safety. Thank you. Have a happy Thanksgiving. Good afternoon everybody. Uh first item
is ordinance 25119. Believe it's uh agenda number 4.2. second reading ordinance uh repurposing various capital improvement funding. Um essentially what we're doing as I mentioned last caucus is consolidating
numerous and numerous capital accounts into uh eight different categories uh with more broad descriptions to allow us some more flexibility with spending. on the event projects go over or under or under budget, we now have the ability to
continue to spend on these purposes without coming to council again to repurpose to new projects with uh this is where they're transferring money like from Persian Field and everything to other places. >> If if there's any money currently allocated towards a project like Persian
Field, it's just being bunched together for general building improvements. So, the funds are would still be available for something like that. this is just to provide more you know be honest with you this should be tabled and uh we should meet and uh this should be discussed.
>> Yeah. I mean I guess Cal my issue with this in a nutshell is that um while the intent may be to do these projects still right now there's a specific line item
designated to specific things i.e. the reservoir, Arlington Park, and a bunch of different parks. When we put it into a general fund from a legal perspective, right, there's no guarantee that that
area where that money was once allocated for is going to be addressed. So, I guess my question to you and to the administration, um, what what is the purpose of doing it this way versus leaving it? Where is
that? >> Yeah, I understand what you're saying from our perspective in the finance department. We do get a lot of requests for projects uh for emergencies that come up where funds haven't been allocated towards and that puts us in a position where we need to come to
council now and get that authorization case by case. This would eliminate the need for us to do so. I understand your concerns with projects that were uh had funds originally earmarked for them not being done. Again, that's that is on the project manager and and the administration on how they want to
coordinate uh with the other department directors on that. This would just make it much simpler in the event there is an e emergency or something that needs to be addressed or if one of these projects like Arlington Park, right? Say we allocated a million dollars just making
a number up and it costs you $1.2 $2 million, you won't be able to execute what you need to do for that project without going back to council for the additional. >> Well, I I think that's why we have check and balance mechanisms. It's whenever we spending money, it should be coming back
to council. If we're looking to spend 1.2 and we've only allocated 1 million. That's a good example. But let's say a project come to fruition and then these projects that the money was already earmarked for never came to fruition.
So I mean for me that's the problem. If we've already identified money being allocated for specific areas and the council have already voted on that right so now when constituents come to us we're just gonna say oh no it's in a general fund so as long as though they
do x y and z good. I mean, for me, it's almost like we're lacking accountability. If something go over budget, it should come back to the council for us to consider it. I mean, that that's that's what the council for. That's why it's a process in place. To
me, this is circumventing that process. I mean, I don't know what the intent, but I think that the way that this is written, I think it's going to do more harm than good. >> Yeah. And also, >> so no, listen. Yeah. And also because of the financial
condition of the city. That's another reason this is being done and it's wrong. >> What What do you mean by that, Councilman? >> What do I mean by that? Why are we selling off so much land? Why to meet the budget? You know, >> that everything in this ordinance is or
is funding has already been authorized. So there's no >> funding being allocated >> and they're putting the money someplace else. I think it has to be further explained. It should be taken. Again, this is this is up to the council. And >> so, Kyle, I have a a question about one of the the line items and what exactly
happens with that funding cuz I see the uh Holiday Street firehouse in here and I know we're still in the process of uh making repairs there and they're due to be finished by spring. >> How does this impact that? >> We we these aren't all the existing
capital accounts. Anything that is for the most part anything actively being worked on, we have already encumbered in other accounts. This does not count account for incumbrances under these purposes. So there I understand what you're saying, but I'd have to give you the details of, you know, what account
that's currently coming from, but anything actively being work worked on by the city is is covered. on our encumbered for the so >> what are the reservoir funds going to be like I know that there's multiple phases
for the reservoir and the remediation so these funds are being transferred to if we vote on it into a general account um >> there are there are funds for park improvements and sustainability efforts uh park improvements is $5 million and then $4 million for sustainability and
again that is these are This would be for citywide, but that would be a permissible use of it. But >> there was like something specifically for reservoir 3 as a line item. Uh, you know, people are asking us about it and
Okay. I just didn't know if it was for another phase. >> I'm not I'm not I'm not entirely sure where they're at with that project. >> Okay. And the North District is on there as well. I know we haven't started the new north, but um you know and I know
it's going to take several million dollars more, but if this if I was to vote yes, like where would that money go like instead of to the new north >> for building improvements, general building improvements that could be used again, like I said, for the same purpose if not something else.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> All right. Uh the next item is 10.28. 28 resolution 25755. Uh I'm just representing this one on behalf of the IT division. It is uh a service for the finance department. Uh
resolution authorized an agreement with Edmonds Govvek for support of software systems. Uh this is our annual contract for the new uh financial accounting uh software that we're using. Next item 10.4. 40 resolution 25767.
Uh small amount of $1,22452. This is just a grant reimbursement that we have to run through the budget. Any questions on that one? Uh and my last item is 10.41 resolution 25768.
Uh this is uh another installment of opioid settlement funds. $2747. Yep, that's all. Thank you, >> Council President. I just want to mark Council Person present at 4:24 p.m. So, we now have seven council members
present. You're gonna have to mic towards you a little more. >> This is for item number 10.13, resolution 25-740. >> You got to talk louder. We We cannot hear you. We can't
>> And it's for item number 10.13, resolution 25-740. It's for the resolution uh designating funding in the open space recreation and historic preservation trust fund for use towards various properties 15 to be
exact. Um it is much needed funding towards projects that support park improvement and historic preservation. Thank you so much. Good afternoon, council. I'm here for uh three different items. Uh the first one is uh 10.16 resolution
number 25743 resolution authorizing the execution of a agreement with the state of New Jersey uh um the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affair permitting the uh city to use the National Armory
National Guard Armory at 678 Montgomery um Jersey City, New Jersey. Chief, um I know when I was in recreation, part of the deal was, you know, we will rent the armory from the state so the tracks for the public
schools can have that. In return, we will be allowed to go into the public schools. I have learned, and I don't know how much validity is behind it, that we will not be going into the schools until next year. I know typically we always start after
Thanksgiving. Um, so can you uh I guess clear up if that is the case? >> Yeah, we are starting up programs a little bit later. Um, not for any reason because of the board of ed just because of the holidays. Um, but that's that's really about it. We're running boxing still. Um, that's going to continue. Um,
and I just can't think of offhand what else. But yeah, we're just starting a little bit later. 14 and uh 41. Uh, they'll all be used. We have no there's no situation between us and the uh board of ed >> which a little bit later because we normally go right after the Thanksgiving
holiday. >> Yeah. >> So you're telling me we're going to miss the whole month of December indoors >> at all programs? No, because uh the Armory is going to be supplying track and basketball. So we'll have that up there. >> So after the tracks come in, they leave
at 5:15. Then from 5:15 to 8. The the issue is if the deal was us using the public schools, >> there's no deal on the table. I have never talked to anybody about say if we do A, we get B. So it there's no
>> No, as the coordinator of the program, I'm definitively telling you that's what the deal was broken. The school would use the armory and we would use the school for after school basketball programs. >> Okay. But as acting director, I know that we don't there's no deal in place
where we say if we do A, we'll do B because if I don't do A, they're still going to give us B or if we do B, we're still going to do A. >> Okay. So, the better question is when are the kids going into school? >> Uh, I think the program starts January 1st for some programs, not all programs.
We have programs all over the city. So, we also have the community center. We also have uh the armory. So, those will be the big places where we'll be running programs. and then January 1st >> that's when our regular >> issue with just having the armory is
kids that live up by Curry Woods are not going to the armory for distance reason and then for confrontational reasons they can't go that way so that's why it made sense for each of the kids to participate in the recreational activities of the schools they went to
>> understood we've been doing it for five or six years now I I I understand. So, but this time we're just taking a couple of weeks to start the program up. And >> I I just want you to understand the sense of urgency and how vital these
programs are particularly to kids on the south side of the city. >> With all us due respect, Councilman, >> if I'm talk, let me finish. >> Okay. While it may not seem like a big deal to some, kids having nothing to do
for a whole calendar month is a huge deal, especially for those kids up there. >> Councilman, if there's way to speed it up, I'll work through my office and meet with the school board. I'm welcome to join you with you and your staff and we can work on that. >> Uh, for any more questions?
Okay. And I'll uh I'll talk to Joe about uh setting up programs a little bit quicker for for this month. There's a lot of holidays um in between all those. So, if we could bring them to the uh to the armory, that would be the best thing. Um second uh resolution
is uh 10.29 29 resolution 257 uh resolution number 25-756 resolution authorizing an award of contract to Great Lakes Recreation uh company uh voice incorporated for the purchase delivery removal installation
of splash pads for Dr. Lina Edwards uh project uh 2025 through Sourcewell Cooperative, formerly known as the National Joint Powers Alliance for the Department of uh Recreation and Youth Development Park Maintenance. Any questions?
And then we have U number 10.30, 30 resolution 25-757 resolution authorizing an award of a contract to Ben Schaefer Recreation for the purchase, delivery, removal, and installation of new playground equipment
and safety service for Virginia Avenue Park through the Educational Service Commission of uh ES CJ for formerly Middle Sex Regional Educational Service Commission for the Department of Recreation, Division of Parks Maintenance.
That's it, Keith. >> That's it. >> Keith, I just want to say something. I want to thank you. You've made a lot of changes in the recreation department. Every time I call you with problems, you take care of them right away. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> You. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Thank you. Hey, >> good evening council members. I'm here on behalf of the division of community development as the acting director. Accompanying me is Jim Lee D. Rosier. She is our compliance officer and she
will be presenting on agenda item 10.10 10 resolution 25-737. >> Good afternoon, members of the uh city council. Um my name is Jim Lee and I am the compliance officer for the division of community development. Uh I'm here to
present resolution 25-737, agenda number 10.10. And this resolution is reprogramming funding and awarding program contracts to the city's division of community development home improvement program under the 2020
community development block grant rehabilitation program. Uh so initially resolution 20 that 626 uh was approved in September uh 2020 um to award $100,000
under the 2020 CDBG uh rehabilitation program and DCD contracted with Habitat for Humanity to provide uh rehabilit rehabilitation services um to low to moderate um homeowners. Uh Habitat for
Humanity completed two projects during that time uh for a total of $46,92. Uh DCD and uh Habitat mutually terminate their uh contract in November 12, 2020 2024. So, we're asking for the remaining
funds from the initial $100,000 to be re reprogrammed back to DCD so that uh we can contract with uh contractors to provide the uh services of rehabilitation um to uh low to moderate home owners.
>> Contractor will excuse me the new contractor will be essentially providing the same services. We're just doing away with our contract with Habitat for Humanities, right? >> Yes. Correct. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Have a good holiday.
>> You too. Afternoon, council. I'm uh here on uh two items, but actually I should start with the third. >> Um item 4.7, ordinance 25-124. That's an item that is currently
scheduled before planning board at tomorrow's meeting um before the planning board is able to produce a report to bring back to city council. So, I would recommend that that item be
carried to December 10th so that the the the board can uh or the council can hear the recommendations or um >> 4.7. >> Yeah. 4.7 before they make a a decision
on the second reading ordinance. council. Yeah, we would have to carry it to the 10th because the planning board has to appine on it before we can approve. >> Okay, with that, um I'm here on
item 3.3, ordinance 25-129. Uh this is an ordinance of the city of Jersey City Municipal Council amending the Jersey City official zoning map and incorporation of ICO compliance provisions. This is very similar to uh
ordinance 25-112 which is up for second reading uh before uh city council. Um in between um the introduction and today of that second reading ordinance, a community meeting
was conducted on November 18th, 2025. Uh there were several people that joined um via Microsoft Teams as well as some folks that gathered in um gathered with
Councilman Boiano um at a cafe in the Heights. Um city staff went over the uh the recommendation and planning board and some of the reasons as to why uh the recommendation for eighttory zoning was
incorporated into that that first version of this ordinance. Um, previously the two blocks that were recommended for that eight story zoning were zoned for that uh were actually zoned for 10 stories 100 ft uh for roughly
over two decades. And that being the uh furthest west blocks of uh this this 139 gateway, >> city staff still stands behind that recommendation. Now, uh, hearing from
the community groups that and and members that join the the meeting, uh, a first reading ordinance is before you um item 3.2 two and there is a map attached to that which eliminates
uh the I'm sorry that's wrong 3.3 sorry and there's a map in there that is attached which shows that the R3 is no longer a part of uh that ordinance uh should you proceed with introducing and
voting on that that first reading ordinance item 3.3. So, we leave it with the city council uh and in their judgment and best uh in their h their careful hands. Thank you. >> Hey, Matt, this is this is 139, right?
>> That's right. >> Yeah. >> No, no, I'm just saying it's that one. So, we we will have to cuz isn't it one on there? The second reading. >> Yeah, the second reading is being tabled. >> Yeah. Council members, the second reading by process Sean can correct me
if I'm wrong. you would vote on the first reading to introduce it. If you introduce the 139 changes that the councilman proposed, then you have to vote to defeat the second one. So, you can't have two of them. >> And basically what we would do, we would
introduce the item 3.3, ordinance 25129. And then when we get to the second readings on item 4.125112, as long as we introduce the first one, we will make a motion to uh defeat the ordinance without holding a public
hearing. >> Matt, I just want to thank you because you met with us in the neighborhood. You met with the people. You heard them and you listened to them. And uh I want to thank you and Tanya uh for what you did.
So, Rich, which which 4.1 we voting on to uh 4 is better? Wait, >> 3.3 is the one that's the new and improved. >> Oh, that's the new Oh, okay. Any other questions?
Thank you. Oh. Good evening, council, city clerk. Uh for the record, Paul Kate, Health and Human Services director of disease prevention and injury prevention. I have three items for you tonight. Uh two are on behalf of the Division of Food
Nutrition. I'll start with those. Uh the first is agenda number 10.7, resolution 25-734. Uh this is a resolution authorizing the city to apply for and accept a grant from Farm Credit East. They work with
farming industries across the Northeast. This is to help expand the Healthy Greens program. Uh the grant could be up to $50,000 with zero match from the city. Any questions on the first? Good. Okay.
Next is food nutrition as well. Agenda uh agenda number 10.8 8 resolution 25-735. This is a resolution uh authorizing the city and health and human services to accept additional grant funds from the county health and human services
program. We accepted $40,000 uh December of last year and this is an incremental $10,000 to uh help the meals on wheels program. Good. Okay. Uh last uh for division of injury prevention agenda agenda number
10.17 resolution 25-744. Uh so this is a resolution authorizing the uh department to uh uh reach out for a bed uh bid process for competitive contracting to purchase new mobile
outreach units to replace the Ruby buses that we currently run. While they're effective, uh they have their limitations. Uh during polar months, the pipes freeze. We can't use them for shower services and laundry. So, uh uh
generously through DCD, they're providing funding to and uh city clerk. This is an ask from both myself and director Flanigan. We're going to be revising this from the resolution of one unit to two because just this afternoon DCD said they could provide enough money
to allow us to get two units or to to put out a bid for two units. >> If if you can just send over the changes in word, I'll be able to make that correction to the resolution. >> Absolutely. >> Either tonight or tomorrow morning. >> Yep. Definitely tomorrow morning. >> Thank you. >> Um
yeah, so it's a resolution just to allow us to go out to bid. Hey, so we'll still be using the red ones just in the warmer months. >> I can't answer that right now. I get back to you with the the idea is to use the new units because they're more reliable. Um,
if I could be candid, the Ruby units in the winter months are really just used to provide just general outreach um and transport people who need the services to Universal Full Gospel Church on MLK. That's great. But if we could meet them where they are rather than drive them
around the city, it's a better use of the program and I think we'll be able to serve more people more effectively. Good. Thank you very much. Have a good holiday. Thank you. >> Good evening, council president, members of council. Mike Mandela, director of transportation planning on behalf of the
department of infrastructure. I have five items to present to you tonight. Um, two are actually for the Division of Traffic Engineering and Director Wong. The first is agenda item number 3.2, ordinance 25-128, and that's an ordinance to amend uh
section 332 of the code to adjust where parking is prohibited at all times. And that would be to remove that prohibition on the south side of Stoben Street on the block between Warren Street and Washington Street. And this ordinance was requested by Councilman Solomon's
office. Okay. Second item is item 10.6. It's resolution 25-733. This is the resolution uh designating a loading zone at 531 Newark Avenue um on
Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. And this was requested by Councilman Bojaniano's office. Okay. The next two are related to each other. The first is agenda item number 10.11, resolution 25-738.
This is a resolution to authorize the city to uh enter into a grant agreement and accept a grant award of $1 million from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for the purposes of electrifying the fleet of VIA Jersey City vehicles. Um little bit
of history. this uh the NJ awarded the city $1.6 million in 2022 to help transition the VIA Jersey City fleet to uh electric vehicles. Um in 2023, the council adopted a resolution to
authorize 600,000 of those dollars to um be reimbursed to the city for the VIA service and we have started collecting reimbursements on that funding. The remaining million dollars was always meant to be to purchase EV charging equipment so that the VIA Jersey City
fleet could become fully electric. >> Oh, and this and this takes us to the full electric threshold. >> Full what? Sorry. >> Full electric threshold. >> Yeah, I know at one point it was a portion and this is finishing up the threat the
>> Yeah, this would be to help um transition the fleet to full electric. Yeah. Speaking of transition, when are they transitioning from off Eye to the spot that >> Well, I'm glad you asked that, Councilman. That's the next resolution. Oh, >> okay. >> Um, so the related resolution is agenda
item 10.12. That's resolution 25-739. And that's to authorize a triparty agreement with a private property owner um in order to install the charging stations that would be paid for by that million dollar grant um on private
property. So VIA is about to enter into a lease with a private property owner to move out of the Egy lot into another lot. Um before they sign the lease, they would really like to have the triarty agreement between the city, the owner,
and VIA to confirm, you know, to to allow the owner to have confirmation that there's going to be EV charging there. So once they have this triparty agreement, they could sign the lease and they'll move in before the end of the year. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You ready, Rich?
Go ahead. >> I just want, you know, this this morning on the radio they were talking about California and California is going all electric. All electric. And they said, "What happens if a crisis happens and a power goes out, we have a disaster or something like that, we're in trouble
because all the police cars aren't going to work. Nothing's going to work." I think this is not too smart that you turn everything over to electric. If you listen to the radio in California with what's going on, >> uh I don't think it's such a smart idea.
>> Yeah, it is a concern. Councilman, I think the city has been making efforts in terms of sustainability in developing micro grids um run off of renewables. So, in case there is an an outage that there is a you know, an independent backup of those electric services. Um and the electric vehicles that would be
used in the VIA fleet, they're not charged every they don't need to be charged every day. Um, so there's opportunity there to to um, you know, have a few days of available supply in case, god forbid, there was some kind of serious power outage.
>> Listen to the radio. >> Thanks. So, Mike, as it relates to these um these what you call it the the charger station, would they only be for the via vehicles or also accessible
for public? >> Good question. Um so, this grant that was awarded in 2022 was specifically for the VIA Jersey City program. So, D will only allow those chargers to be used for the VIA fleet. However, we do have another grant that we will at some point
be coming forward to you to accept the the grant award to do community charging um to have D pay for charging stations within um multif family community neighborhoods. Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. And the last one is agenda item
10.37. It's resolution 25-764. This is a resolution requesting from the New Jersey Department of Transportation a six-month extension for the award of the construction contract for the Manhattan Avenue Franklin Street Bikeways grant project. Um, as you're
aware, um, there were already, um, 30 extensions approved for this grant. Um, we did submit the final plans that that the council authorized uh, to move forward to the DOT for their review. they've come back with some checklist items that we need to provide them and
they actually told us to just go ahead and submit another extension um since the award deadline is coming up uh next month. >> So Mike, what um we paid for architectural uh rendering. What what happened with that >> design plans? So they were submitted they were completed and submitted to the
DOT for their review. Um so the DOT reviews and approves them and then they authorize us to then go out to bid. Once we go out to bid, then we would award a contract and that's what has to happen before this current deadline. So that's why we're looking for another one more extension.
>> Oh, I mean the the confusing thing for me about this is that at one point we were saying that we had to get it because we were infringing upon the deadline. Then the deadline came, we extended it. Now it's coming again. I
guess I mean because the community I either we doing it or we not because it keep coming back and when people reach out I just don't know what to say because I know one minute someone saying this oh we we we have to do it right away because we won't get no more
extensions now it's two extensions later. So I'm just trying to understand >> yeah I mean typically DOT doesn't offer extensions willy-nilly. I think because we have submitted the design plans and they've received them and they see them,
they're willing to give us that one more extension and they know that there's sort of some extenduated circumstances behind this project. So, they were willing to do one more grant deadline. >> So, you don't foresee us having to get any other ex extensions as it relates to this?
>> Uh, I don't think that anyone would like to see that. I think we'd like to make some decisions on this project one way or another. Yes. I think I think it's in the best interest of everybody if we do that. >> So So Mike, I'm voting on this just for the record, right? >> Yeah.
>> But let me ask you a question. >> Sure. Did you guys go back to because I know the last time we spoke that you guys were going to go back to public safety and discuss what the concerns with parents and forget about parents the the
the public safety department where they were saying that this was something that we have to look at very carefully. Did you go back to them and and and get that because I know they previously said no >> for this. Yeah. Yeah. Did >> you go back to them and get a yes answer
from them? >> We haven't. We've we we talked to them a few times before that that no came in and then um that was right when the council authorized the design. Um I think at some point when the ordinance does ever come up to council, we'll
definitely have those discussions again um with public. >> And the reason why I say that it was Councilman Gilmore, you know, hit it on the head. You know, that was a contentious meeting because we were we were like, "Hey, you need to make this decision or this grant is gone forever."
Now we're here talking about an extension >> out of nowhere. >> But I think if if we hadn't made that decision in that time to at least start the design, then it would have been a moot point cuz DOT is only really offering the extension because we've
submitted the design plans. If we had never started that process and just said, "Please give us another extension." I think they would have said, "No." >> So, what's the difference now? >> Well, we've we've submitted some design plans to them, >> but the public safety part of it, we
don't know what's going like, you know, none the entire homework wasn't done is what I'm trying to get, right? >> Yeah. Understood. >> We we again, I'm voting for this project, right? Yeah, but I just think that we're submitting homework and it's not done.
>> Understood. Yeah, >> that's it. >> Thanks. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Sean. >> All right. The people up there because the people don't want Going with our first reading ordinances.
Item 3.1, city ordinance 25-127 is amending chapter A350, council rules of order. Items 3.2 and 3.23 were touched on earlier. Item 3.4, Four, city ordinance 25-130
is an ordinance of the of the city of Jersey City authorizing the city of Jersey City to enter into a lease agreement with Exchange Place Alliance District Management Corporation for space at 335 Washington Street. >> Um,
clerk, I Oh, sorry. Oh, okay. No, it's okay. >> Good evening, council. Um, Don Pepe on behalf of the Exchange Place Alliance. So, um, the most recent budget adopted for the Exchange Place Alliance contemplated,
um, renovating and fitting out what's commonly, I think, called the ice house, which is a a building that was dedicated to the city as part of a development project. It's across the street from the powerhouse. And, um, we're we're the Exchange Place Alliance is looking to
fit that out as a community art and performance space. And this would be a lease agreement that would allow us to take control of the premises uh for a period of time. >> Uh do me a favor. Uh when you go back to
this Exchange Place alliance around the Polish statue down there, you want to tell them to clean up the side the street there, fix those blocks there that are broken? Uh yeah, they were complaining when we had the uh ceremony down there. All right, >> I will bring it to their attention
tomorrow. >> You know, they destroyed that whole area by what they did the exchange place alliance and now you know they're not taking care of it. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> That's I was going to say about uh before we finished the first reading
ordinances that I had a late item for an accessibility committee. Um so I'd like to introduce that and I've worked on it ordinance. So, um, just want to Councilwoman Deise and Council President Joyce Waterman have helped me on it and
I'd like to bring that forward. Okay. Right now. Okay. Give me You got it. I'll give you the title right now. an ordinance establishing the Jersey
City Accessibility Advisory Committee. >> Peter, you got that on on your end. You can >> No objection from the administration. >> Thank you. No objections. So, the only thing we'll need to do, council, is just take a vote to add it
as a late item. >> You going to talk about it? >> We'll talk about it December 10th. >> Oh, >> talk about it now. >> Okay. I can hear some of you guys even with your mics off. Um, anyway, next is our
second reading ordinances. As explained before, item 4.1 will be defeated as long as we introduce the first reading ordinance that replaces this. Item 4.2 was touched on earlier. Item 4.3, city
ordinance 25-120 is a franchise ordinance granting permission to 2011 Newark Avenue property LLC is successors and assigns to construct private improvements within the sidewalk area of the Jersey Avenue public right ofway
adjacent to lot 5 block 12702 on the official tax assessment map of the city of Jersey City. Sean, uh, I was told before there may be a lawsuit involving the city over this. Uh, >> yes, I think they're gonna Whitney.
>> So, I I I believe council members, we have both attorneys here for both sides. If you want to have some questions, they can answer it to the best of their ability. >> Well, I mean, I guess we should we have from
if you can just identify yourself for the record. >> Yes, certainly. Thanks. U my name is an Studholm from the law firm of Post Pollock in Roseland and I represent the Saffron Homeowners Association. We're currently in litigation appealing an
approval by the zoning board of a project at 2011 Newark. That's the intersection of Newark and Jersey where the bank is. And that is docket number H U DL 322625.
Uh briefing schedule has been has been ordered on that. Um but that's clearly going to take a few months to play out. So while that's playing out, we thought it's probably, you know, not really a good time for the city to take action on
something that affects this application which is currently on appeal. >> Yeah. So, what's more important here is >> finish? >> No, no, I'm finished. >> No, >> no, no, no, no. It's your turn. It's your turn, so speak. >> All right, go on. Finish.
>> Listen. >> Oh, well, I mean, I can I can go on if you want to know more. >> Yeah. Well, she's finished. She said >> Well, I'm going to tell you more. The people don't want it. >> Speak. >> She finished. She said she was finished.
No, no, that's I mean I'm happy I'm happy to hear what the councilman has to say. I've got more information if you guys would like it. >> Do I have to call order to this caucus meeting? >> Easy in here some days. >> Okay. So, you are finished with your
comments? >> Well, I mean if you know I'm happy to take questions and I'm happy to give you more information if that's needed. I don't really know whether what Britney is recommending to you guys, but I can tell you about the project. I can tell you about the franchise. I can tell you about information about what they're planning to build in accordance with
this franchise. It wasn't already in the plans and be given to you. I have more information if you'd like to hear it. I just wasn't sure that you wanted to hear it. >> Yeah. >> And I I started to ask a question because I heard you say you were finished and I got interrupted. First of
all, the people down there do not want this. Most most of the people in this city are sick and tired of seeing beautiful buildings like that destroyed. And I I believe the community should be stand up and say no and this project should be killed.
>> You understand that you and I agree? >> I guess we do. >> Rich. So, so again, if you're going to be thinking about it, if there's aspects of the of the application that you're still thinking about, um that's why we were
here last week to say, for example, um the application that's before you, as far as I saw from the plans, doesn't show the extent of the current city um electric bike rental rack. That would be pretty close. Uh it's true, they've got like a five foot gap at a certain point
between this franchise and the bike rack, but I don't think that was on the plan that you saw. And again, you can reach out to the planning people. The other thing is I want to make sure that this counts as a wear. This thing that they're planning is not going to be like little wooden tables sitting on a sidewalk. It's going to be 3 and 1/2 ft
high. So basically, everybody sitting on their I I hate to say this, but their crotch level is going to be at eye level of the passers by. So, you know, there's going to be some solid walls there. It's going to be 3 and 1/2 ft high. It's going to be solid. It's going to be faced in granite, 72 feet long, 8 ft
wide sticking out for the building. At the moment they've got seven what you call in the restaurant trade two tops. That's seven two people seat uh tables there. Um and at the moment and and Mr. Harrington correct me if I'm wrong. I think at the moment it's proposed to
have um large automatic retractable awnings and the glass doors will slide back and forth. So at the moment there's no proposal to winterize it. You know, if they're building something 572 square
ft, 3 and 1/2 ft tall, 8 ft wide, clad in granite with already they're going to be repurposing steel grills on it. And I think there's probably going to have to be solid because I wouldn't want to sit there as a woman. >> Okay. Okay. For you, you said you had nothing else to say. Okay. Come on,
Chuck. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh for the record, Charles Harrington um for the applicant. And just a few not um comments. There's no reason uh not to to act on this now. Um it's part of the process. The fact
that someone takes an appeal uh to the next level does not mean everything stops. Uh in in uh many projects are it's uh you can you can act and move forward on your own risk or at your own risk under when something's under appeal. So there's no there's no reason
to stop and not hear this. Uh I mean the city already acted on it. The zoning board uh heard it. five hearings and they voted unanimous unanimously to approve the project. This is this is a a hotel or a restaurant on on the ground
floor. It is uh restoring and rehabbing the the old Capital One uh bank. Um and what what we are proposing, yeah, it's going to be 3 feet higher, but as I explained uh 3T off the ground, I explained at the last caucus, that's because the interior of the building is
3 feet high. So, this is similar to what every other restaurant would have on a sidewalk cafe, but when you're 3 feet above the ground, you're not going to you're not going to walk out and then down to the sidewalk. This allows it to be level with the interior of the
building. And I also note that, you know, this Capital One building and this was vetted at at the uh the zoning board. We had five, like I said, five hearings. Um many many people came out and Councilman Boiano, there were many, many people in favor of it. not not
against it. Not everybody's against that. I haven't heard one person. I don't want that to to to be a misrepresentation, but um uh this this building it really this complements this building. You know, you you want something that's that's grand there. And
as we said before, the zoning board, this is something that's located at the west end of of the pedestrian plaza. Uh so it's it's a perfect location. You're going to have eyes on the street. we all know the the tragedy that happened on on Maxwell Place uh within the last month.
This this gets activity there and you're going to have people there. So, yeah, it's going to be out there and we think it's a great location to be out there. Um and it is Yeah, there's um again, there's no reason not to not to act on on this. uh there is an appeal that will
take its way through the courts, but this is before you um to to uh review it and act on it. And I uh when Ann's comments about uh the the bikes um racks there that those we've been working with
the Jersey City traffic department uh and city bike to relocate those. So, this has been reviewed and vetted by the Jersey City Engineering and Traffic Department as part of the application before the zoning board and as part of the application to this council. So, uh
it's it's not it's not and and they've given their recommendation, you know, on on it. So, that's uh again, I think it's it's appropriate and I think that the council should should move and act on it. >> Chuck, I I just have one question. I'm
not too caught up in what's going on in the legal battle, but um how does this like if we don't vote on it now, what if anything happens? Let's say if you win the litigation, how does this
hinder your client's ability to move forward? Well, this is part like if this is voted on now, if it's approved, we keep moving forward with with, you know, construction documents um and things like that, which we are, you know, my client wants to do. He wants to move
forward on this project as soon as possible. So, if you delay it, you delay him. The the court the court action doesn't delay us because we can keep moving forward on on our own risk. If if this is not, you know, voted on, um, you delay us, my client, from moving forward
at this time. >> Well, but how long? That's what I'm trying to figure out. Is it a is it a huge delay or I every every day is a huge delay? I mean, it's it really, you know, every project uh you you want to get you get
all the pieces of the puzzle together as soon as possible >> or you go to the Okay. Now for our legal team, uh Britney, um it is pending in litigation. Um as our representation, um do you think that if we either voted it
down or tabled it, is it any what is your recommendation, I guess? >> Sure. Council, so um the zoning board is the defendant. The city itself is not a defendant, but there still is litigation ongoing. Um I did send the council an
email. Um, I would be to be cautious. >> Yeah. Uh, >> not to vote on it. >> But Britney, when you say the zoning board is a defendant and not the city, the zoning board is like how
>> the zoning board and the planning board both have their own >> attorneys. Yeah. >> They are separate entities. Yeah. >> Okay. No more talking. That's it. I That's it. Thank you. Thank you. No, no, that's it. No, no, no, no. This ain't
the court of law where we go back and forth. That's why we don't do it back. That's it. No, please. That's enough. Okay, that's enough. Yes. >> That's why we have our attorney here. That's why. And she sent us an email. >> I just want to >> sent us an email. She did. She sent us
an email. She did. That's why I'm saying we do have the email. She sent us and she and she's answering wisely and I'm seeing that. So that's why I said that's enough. That's why. >> All right. Can I >> He represents us. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> I just want to say something though. The
planning board and zoning board are uh they just uh never go along with what the people want and they just do as they're told. >> Okay. Next, Sean. >> Next item is 4.4. City Ordinance 25-121 is an ordinance amending Chapter 3,
Article 10 of the Jersey City Municipal Code. Next 4.5, City Ordinance 25-122 is an ordinance supplementing chapter 254, Property Maintenance, Article 9, Maintenance and Responsibilities of Owners and Managers, amending section
245-45, excuse me, 254-45, General Safety and Sanitation to align the facade inspection standards with best practices. Item 4.6, Six. City Ordinance 25-123
is an ordinance of the Jersey City Municipal Council amending the Jersey City Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 345, Article 1, Section 6, Definitions, Chapter 345, Article 5, Section 62, Residential Design Standards, and
Chapter 345, Article 5, Section 63, Non-residential Design Standards. Item 4.7 was touched on earlier. Again, I will need a motion to carry that ordinance to the December 10th meeting.
Next, item 4.8, city ordinance 25-125, is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 260, rent control to address institutional ownership of its units not currently subject to rent control. >> This hurts uh mom and pop shops. Uh and
uh it's wrong. >> Yes or no? Um, >> the people want to know. Done. Vote yes or no. >> I mean, is Oh, we wouldn't be able. >> Yeah.
>> And this is what if they own multiple and then you >> Yeah. I mean, I know what the intent is, but >> vote yes. >> By default, it looks like we hurt. We hurt people. >> Just vote yes or no. When they vote. >> Yeah. >> Just vote it down or vote it up. >> It's going to be voted down.
>> That's it. Just vote yes or no. >> Yeah, >> that's it. >> Tomorrow we'll see its faith. Next item 4.9, city ordinance 25-126, is an ordinance approving a 30-year tax exemption for a mixeduse project at 30
Newport Parkway and 40 Newport Parkway and authorizing financial agreement with NC Housing Associates number 200 Urban Renewal Company pursuant to the long-term tax exemption law NJSA 40A 20-1 Exec. And we have the attorney
representing Jim McCann and I have a handout to provide the council while Jim is going to go over the handout. >> Hi, Jim McCann uh from the law firm of McConnell Fully on behalf of the applicant. I just wanted to point out to the council that I was asked at the first caucus
>> to provide conventional tax information for the project. So, I have done that. Um and that's the handout you're receiving. Um, actually the figures that are in that handout are from your financial advisor and W Financial. I did
not prepare those calculations. They're from them. Um, and I just thought at the at the same time that I would provide you with just a quick cheat sheet on what the terms of the proposal are here. As you know, this is an existing project. It already serves the
affordable housing community at 80% AMI. It currently pays the city at 6% of annual gross revenue, $2 million under the proposal before you. Um the project will be converted to a full um chapter
188 affordable housing project with low income, moderate income, and very lowincome housing in it. That can that conversion can easily happen because the units are already built. So, this is a preservation of an existing affordable
housing project. And under the proposal before you, the city will receive instead of two million, it will receive uh over $3.8 million as the service charge because it will almost double from 6% to 10%. And the last thing is
just to urge you to just take a look at before you vote on Wednesday. Um NW Financial did a report that they attached that was attached to your ordinance. And you can see from that report that there are units that will be
rented out for as low as $654 per month, $71 per month. Two-bedroom, $841 per month. Now, they're not the average rents, but those are the rents for the
very lowincome units. And you could see there's a chart there where I think um if you look at it, I hope you would agree with me that there's some very affordable units listed. And again, this is NW Financials information, not mine. Unless there's any
>> when this abatement is up. Uh when when the first 30 years is up, what's the what's the expiration date for the first one? >> The current abatement expires uh in December of 2028. >> December 2028.
>> So this tax abatement that we're proposing here before you would commence the day after the the existing one expires. >> Okay. So it it expire in over two years and the current um
affordable threshold is 10% it looks like plus another what is >> so no the current the current threshold is 15 what we're proposing is 20%. So we're going to add 18 more affordable units. >> Oh so we'll bring it to 20% affordable
>> from the the current one is 15% affordable. We will bring it up to 20% affordable. Yes. >> Yes, sir. >> And I mean, I don't know, maybe this a dumb question if it's not up until 28 because I'm going to be honest. This is
what it looks like to the outside and the people who don't necessarily do the dayto-day of city operations. Councilman, this looks like they're rushing something in for downtown to have more luxury buildings. Um so my
question to you um if it's up in 28 um I can even make the argument that it may be fair to do it in 27 which is a year before but here we are in 25 which is oh over three years. So why
>> I think I I think I can answer that because um so um it so Newport would really like to keep this project as an affordable housing project. It has a mix of housing. I know everybody thinks of it as a luxury community, but it does have a mix of housing. They want to keep
this project as an affordable housing project and they would like the city to be a part of it instead of the NJFH HMFA. That process before that agency takes a really long time. So the reason we're here now is to to see if this is
acceptable to the city that they do not have to go through the HMFA process again and they can have a relationship and affordable housing agreement with the city instead of them. So that's why we're here early. The other thing is if if nobody wants to give this project a
tax abatement, it may eventually transition to um market rate housing and that process, you know, the tenants have to get notice of it things. So that process has to start to be thought through also to protect, you know, the
tenants. They there's there's a process that >> that you have to go through for the tenants. So it's just early it's just early planning, good planning. So my next question is if this is voted down
um in 28 you guys will transition those things from affordable to market rate right >> probably. Yes. Yes. >> And that process takes three years. >> Um there's a process I can't tell you exactly how many years but no tenant is
evicted immediately. It doesn't work that way. it there's there's a process that the NJM FA NJMHA has that that regulates that process. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I just know um for me um just looking at
all of the development that have transpired in the last 15 20 years in this city. A bulk of it have been down in this corridor. Um, and I just think as I begin to learn about these
abatements and how it really puts a strain on one and two family um, households, um, I just want to make sure I'm doing my due diligence as it relates to trying to make sure the city get as much tax revenue as possible. I know
there is a huge conversation about having affordable units. I think we're all for that. Um, I just think that we have to really be financially responsible as it relates to who gets
abatements and where the abatements go. Um, cuz I don't I don't I I don't I don't think I can find the evaded property from communal Paul to the Bayon borderline. >> Well, I just to answer me give you a
little bit something to think about. So, you know, I've been before you asking for redevelopment plan amendments and even tax abatements for affordable housing projects that aren't built yet. The and and usually it's for 50
apartments, maybe 60, maybe 70. I think there was one with 90. These apartments are already there. They're ready to be converted >> subject to this proposal. They're already existing. This project is going
to happen and it's a 178 affordable units. That's a lot of affordable housing units. 48 would be very low income. 86 would be low income. And the city's service charge is almost going to
double. So the city will get um 3.8 million almost $4 million where now they're getting 2 million. So that's a big bump for the city. Do you know how much the city would get if it was uh no pilot? >> Yeah, it's it's in the sheet I gave you.
>> No, I want to know. Do you know the number? >> The the number here is 6.3 million. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> That's conventional taxes. >> Rich. Rich, I have a question. >> Yeah. Mr. McCann, would you do me a favor and get me a tax abatement on my
house, please? >> Unfortunately, the law doesn't allow that. >> I mean, come on. You you just said $6 million and you're talking about they're going to be paying three million. You know, >> Oh, no. I I I said they're going to pay 3.8 million or almost four million. But the other thing is, Rich, on
conventional taxes, and you know this as well as I do, the city gets about right now about 35% of every dollar. So basically, this is an affordable housing project. The city will get more money keeping this as affordable housing than they would if it was conventionally
taxed. Oh, and the other thing is that people >> that's common knowledge, right? 6 million 35% of it is what less than three million. So there are definitely advantages to to the city, not the developer, to the city
to to preserving this affordable housing project this way. >> 30 years. >> And the the schools would also get their fair share. Correct. There's a county service charge of uh it's in my sheet to
youund and something thousand councilman. >> Okay. >> Yes. It's on the it's on the cheat sheet I gave you. >> I mean it's a judgment call. Do you want affordable housing? It's going to come at a cost like it's going to come with abatements. If you don't want affordable housing then you know we we can vote it
down. and the city only gets 33% under traditional tax scheme, this would be straight to the city and the schools. >> But I think realistically, if there's no abatement, there won't be the project
will convert to conventional housing. >> Exactly. >> To market rate housing, it it just has to it's 188,000 councilmen for this for the county. >> Got it. So, it's a judgment call and you know do what you feel is right.
>> Okay, Sean. >> I really appreciate your time. Thank you. Oh, happy Thanksgiving. >> Thank you. Okay, that's the second reading ordinances. Moving on to our public request for a hearing. Right now, we have 46 speakers.
Any questions or comments on petitions communications 6.1 through 6.36? Hearing none. Any questions on office communications 7.1 7.2. Any questions or comments on reported
directors 8.1 through 8.2? We have our claims and on to our resolutions. First resolution item 10.1, city resolution 25-728, is a resolution congratulating Pastor
Eron and on her installation and excellent public service. Item 10.2, 2. Resolution 25-729 is a resolution supporting New Jersey Senate Bill Number 4442,
Assembly Bill A5521 establishing local requirement for updated alcohol health warning signage. Item 10.3, city resolution 25-730, is a resolution fixing the dates and
times for the caucuses and regular meetings of the municipal council for the calendar year 2026. Before we get into um all of the meeting dates, just so you know, this all the meeting dates were vetted for all the religious holidays on all religions and also the
very first meeting that we're putting on the meeting will be with this council that is behind me. and that is to pay bills because if you look at the last meeting of this year, which will be December 10th, it's almost a month
later. And I'm sure we're going to have um companies knocking on our doors if we don't have a council meeting so we can pay them in a timely manner. And we want to have to be able to do business with these same companies. And I know the business administrator is going to address it. >> Yeah. Quickly to address that. Thank
you, Sean. Um, as the council's aware, when you were all uh voted in, usually January 1st is a reorganization meeting when we do everything. Because of a change in state law, it's now January 14th or 15th, I believe. >> 15th is when the new administration takes over.
>> 15th. So, there's going to be a gap between December 10th and January 15th, as Sean mentioned, when we'd have no meetings and potentially not be able to pay any bills. So, it's a little odd, but this council will be technically meeting one final time in January. No new ordinances, no new resolutions,
strictly to pay bills and make sure the city continue city continues to operate. Thank you. >> Does any council member have any questions on the meeting dates? >> We have the dates. >> They are attached to the resolution.
>> If you >> and you can read it at your leisure. If you have any issues, let me know by tomorrow. Um, next item 10.4, city resolution 25-731 is a resolution certifying compliance with NJSA4A
5-4 requiring the governing body of every local unit to make an annual audit of the books, accounts, and financial transactions. Basically, this ordinance is if it if approved, will say that you guys all receive the annual audit. You
review the annual audit and what's probably in front of you being circulated right now is the group affidavit that is required by the division of local government services that I will have to submit with the approved um resolution.
Okay. Next 10.5, resolution 25-732 is a resolution correcting the reappointment period of judge Ramy to be a judge of the municipal court to October 28th, 2026 due to an error in calculating of his
time of his appointment. So, we have um our corporation council here just to answer any questions that any of the council members may have on this corrective resolution. >> And council members, I did send you an email this afternoon about it, just
explaining it. Um just to comply with the statute to make sure he gets his full three-year term. He was initially shorted a few months, so this is the correction. >> Okay, hearing no questions, we'll move on. Thank you, Cooperation Council.
Items 10.6 through 10.8 were touched on earlier. Item 10.9, City Resolution 25-736 is a resolution appointing Daniela Pepe as a member of the Jersey City Cannabis Control Board
>> items. Her resume is attached to the resolution and so is the letter from the mayor and she is filling a vacancy because they added two additional spots to the cannabis control board.
>> How many people on there now, Sean? >> I believe there's it went from five to seven if I'm not mist. >> No, but how many? It's a seven member board. >> She'll be the sixth person, >> I believe. So, they've been having they have a meeting tonight. So, >> right. and they and they actually they
had a they had a vacancy due to a resignation. So, they're still limping along with six members, I believe. >> Okay. >> Okay. Items 10.10 through 10.13 were touched on earlier. Item 10.14, city
resolution 25-741, is a resolution authorizing the reimbursement of $31,617.58 to Shad Burke due to erroneous auction of a vehicle. Item 10.15, resolution 25-742,
is a resolution authorizing the execution of a license and gift agreement between the city of Jersey City and Friends of Van Boris Park, Inc. to allow maintenance and upgrades to Vanvor Park. Items 1016
through 10.34 have been discussed earlier. I'm going to turn it over to our cooperation council for items 10.35 and 36
and 38 and 39. or council members, I did send you um this was included in the email update this afternoon as well. Um these are just uh to assign conflict council for 10:35. We cannot represent the city and one of the named
defendants. So that's assigning council. 10:36 is continuing litigation and I did provide you an update um offline about that. As well as 1038 and 1039, that's also continuing litigation. We are scheduled for arbitration in late
January. So hopefully that will be resolved um early next year. >> Motion. >> Oh, well done. >> Sorry. We do have one other um Jean Pino is here as well. There was an email sent out about untabling one of the um
ordinances. We have 11.11. I don't know if you signed up to speak or if anybody has questions about. No. Item item 11.11 city ordinance 25-087 is an ordinance of the municipal council amending the Fiat Broadway redevelopment
plan. >> My name is Eugene Palino. I'm with Nova Burns and I represent the applicant on the redevelopment plan. Um the last time we were here in um October um October 25th I believed uh we
discussed >> oh 111 >> going back to the community to get some greater clarity in what was going on. There was concern about construction on an adjacent piece of property westside
square that is almost completed and there was concern about uh Salaria Erolano or Erolano Solomia I don't know which is first or last. Um, I'm here to report to you what happened there and
also to ask that uh the matter be placed move removed from the from being tabled and placed on the agenda for uh a vote on the amendment. Now, you'll also recall that you took testimony on the amendment. You also took public comment
on the amendment. So, the only thing that's open for you to do tomorrow or whenever you decide to hear it is to vote. Um tonight I just thought I would provide a report to you as I said to let you know what happened um at the
community meeting. Uh we we did meet uh with the community on October 16 and um at that time there were basically two major issues that they raised. one
was the uh construction that was going on on on the adjacent building pointed out that uh there was a number of safety and and completion issues that we were trying to address. I had the construction team there. In fact,
Richard Hadis from the uh Jersey City Sewage Authority was there, municipal utility authority was there, and he explained that there's a sanitary sewer being built from down Westside Avenue that would go to this location and other
locations that in service of all those other locations and that the line was in pretty bad shape. They didn't know when it was going to fail, but it was going to fail at some point. And um with all that discussion uh we instituted some kind of we spoke
to all our contractors the GC the subcontractors came up with a proposal as to how to deal with the construction. It's almost finished building is up um and now we're dealing with uh and this is an ancillary issue. This is really not the issue before you. the issue
before you was the amendment to the redevelopment plan which does not concern this part of the property. So um that was one issue that we dealt with in order to be able to give you some kind of comfort as to what was going on in
the area. Second issue was the delhi. U my client tried desperately and very hard to come to an arrangement with Natali Reno I think is his name and uh apparently in the middle of it uh I even
showed you a lease that was not signed but prepared and ready to be signed and that lease was never signed. What we did get was a letter from Mr. foreno saying that for personal reasons he's decided not to sign any lease and not to stay at
that location. He's apparently I mean I can't speak for him but uh he's moving out of that location. What he wanted was a six-month lease to get himself I guess ready to go. And my client did exactly that. He executed he went into a
six-month lease, no rent for that period of time and apparently he's moving. I uh the reporting is that he'll move to the Miss America diner. I don't know whether that'll work or not work. Um a client is looking for a
restaurant uh to occupy space that's available and that's the issue with respect to you know what was going on at that point in time. So you have before you the amendment and I'm here just to urge you to vote yes on that amendment. It's not a complicated amendment. Uh
it's something that we filed uh almost two years ago. In March, it'll be two years. Um it's an amendment that allows for a project on the east side of vacated Westside Avenue. Where is that?
If you know where the Puchini building is, it's that side of the street. Um it's that there's a seek temple at the end of uh Westside Avenue at the very end. And then there's uh the property that my client owns and the project
there has been discussed with the planning division many times. We've had more than seven community meetings. Uh we are providing we provided as much information as we could and planning decided that it was a worthwhile project
and so recommended it to the planning board. The planning board heard the same testimony. geared to the architect, engineer, everybody that they normally hear and also is recommending it to you. Uh I've heard this council on a number of occasions say, you know, we're not
planners. I understand that you're not planners. And um the recommendations of the planning board are taken seriously. And I telling you here and I'm arguing to you now that you should take it seriously here in this case. I think
they really looked at it in depth. So, um, there's an affordable housing obligation with this. Affordable housing obligation kicks in whenever you amend the redevelopment plan to add more units. And that's what's happening here.
Um, this amendment didn't need to be an amendment. It could have been submitted early on with the first application that was approved and that was that was done in December of 2024, a year ago, the first one. However, the planning
division asked us to hold up because they were concerned about a particular part of the project that we were thinking about. Let me tell you what they were concerned about. They were concerned about the plaza or the piaza. My client actually called it a piaza. I'm Italian so I could sympathize with
that, but he calls it a piaza. It's a public space. Okay. And um he was concerned about have the the planning division was concerned about making sure that the developer built that piaza before they got a certificate of
completion for any other property that was being uh built. And my client readily agreed and uh there was a a bond required. It's in the redevelopment plan. The historic preservation requirements, it's in the redevelopment
plan amendment, it's all there. uh there's uh they would not have recommended it to the planning board and the planning board I assume would not have recommended it to you if all those bases were not covered. So >> did you email any of the council members
with your intentions of trying to untab this? >> Uh yes, we I emailed it to uh to uh council president, Mr. Gallagher, Britney Murray, but not to individual council people. I left it to >> Okay. What area is this?
>> This is uh >> Jean, first of all, people on the planning board aren't professional planners. Okay, let's get it straight. All right, that's number one. Number two, I was at the meeting. I was at that meeting and I walked out with several other people and the people there are
really ticked off with this developer and they're ticked off about being demolished. And so you say you had a meeting, but that meeting that developer did not satisfy the community. In fact, he ticked them off and they're furious
about it. And the people down there are dead against this whole project. And I think he should come back, sit down, and talk intelligently to the people there and stop this. They ruined most of Journal Square in our area. Now they're trying to ruin that area down
there and the people do not want it. Uh you know like you were at the meeting and that meeting was an embarrassment. >> Thank you Sean. >> Before I ask for a motion to adjurnn, I
just wanted to inform the council that we'll have to invert the order of business. We'll have to approve the resolutions before we approve the claims. Um, with that being said, I'll just ask to invert the order. On that, may I have a motion to adjourn
at 5:41 p.m.? Motion was made by council person Gilmore. Second, may I second by council person. All in favor of the motion to adjurnn at 5:41 p.m. All council members present by acclamation, please say I.
>> I. We are out of here at 5:41 p.m. Thank you so much everyone present and everyone watching at home. Remember teamwork makes the dream work. Have a great rest of the day and stay safe. I can do something on one side.