Okay, everyone, we're about to get started. If we can please be seated, silence our cell phones, please close the side doors and the back door. Greatly appreciate it. Okay, good morning everyone. We are on the record. Today is Monday, the 18th
day of August in the year 2025. This is a city council caucus meeting of the Jersey City Municipal Council. We had a 10 a.m. start. The clock on my cell phone is showing 10:06 a.m. May we have a roll call for the commencement of this caucus. Council person Ridley.
>> Council person Huings >> present. Council person Bajana, Council Person So Cle is not here, Council Person Solomon, Council Person Gilmore is not here, Council Person Deise is not here, Council Person Reber,
and Council President Waterman. We have six council members in attendance at 10:06 a.m. On behalf of Council President Waterman and members of the Municipal Council, in accordance 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 on by the posting on the bulletin board of the first floor of the 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, August 15, 2025 at 7:57 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 President, I'm going to turn it over to you. Good morning, President Waterman, members of the council. I have four items before you today. Uh, first one is
number 1043, resolution 25537, resolution to authorize a sale of 100 motor vehicles through the public surplus.com public online auction which are no longer suitable for use. Second is resolution 104425538.
Resolution will authorize the award of a contract to AM incorporated to perform installation of a Honeywell web N4 proprietary automated automated building management system at the city's 911 Emergency Communication Center located
at 75 Bishop Street. This location houses the network service associated with 911 communication system and the public safety network and the present BMS system has previously failed and is unreliable. In order to protect the health, welfare, and safety of citizens,
city residents, and occupants of the building, I declared this to be an emergency expenditure. Total cost of this contract is $79,46. >> Director, when you say the BMS service has failed, can you say more about what that is? That's a building management system related to HVAC.
>> Okay. So, it's that's failed in in Bishop Street. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Got it. And and have these guys started working or when can they get in to do the work? >> Uh they actually we contracted with them. I signed the emergency declaration councilman to move it quickly. Right now, we have a temporary fix, but that
hopefully we can get them started this week, latest by next week. >> Great. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um, next one is uh resolution 104525539. Resolution will authorize renewal of an open-end contract in the amount of
$56,5264 city electric LLC for electrical supplies and equipment. Funds for this contract are available in the DPW Buildings and Streets operating account. And the last is 104625540
resolution. We authorize the award of a contract to McCcluskey mechanical contractors to provide HVAC services for city-owned buildings under honor of the Hunan County Educational Commission HC. Total amount of this contract is $750,000
with a temporary incumbrance of $5,000 which is available in account 0120126 291310. Morning, council president and council members. I have four items on for today. First item
is 10.30. It's a resolution authorizing the award of a contract for extraordinary unspecifiable service with Metife Insurance Company to provide life insurance to non-management city employees and retirees for the
Department Administration, Division of Human Resources, and Office of Employee Benefits. The amount of the contract is $298,300 per year with uh an additional uh two one-year periods for renewal. This covers the uh the non-management
employees uh for life insurance that uh we're required to provide consistent with the executive order and other uh types of agreements that we have in place with our employees. >> Questions? Next item I have is uh item 10.31. It's
a resolution authorizing the award of a contract as an EU with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company to provide management city employees and retirees for the department. So these are all of the management employees. The cost of this
contract is uh $29,467 per year with an option of two additional years at one year period. Questions? The next item I have on for today's agenda is item 10.64. It's a resolution
authorizing the payment of a claim submitted by Murphy and Orlando for providing litigation services for various various cases that is uh found in resolution 25- 558. And the amount of the contract is
$81,732.20. Uh the invoices for the services are attached there too. >> So director what were their services for? >> Uh they had a variety of services but one was the ward map case that was there uh as well as other matters that they've
done for our office and for other offices uh that human resources works with. So predominantly the first bill listed if you see the attached had to do with the uh ward map case that they handled and then other matters they handle for us have to do with uh EEO
compliance and EEO matters that we review that go to outside council for a variety of reasons whether if it's conflict purposes or if it's uh somebody that's of a uh higher up on the uh on the authority process and and when sorry
can the law department speak to why the word map case is coming as a claim and not you go through the normal contracting process. >> So basically what happens we do a lot of crossover work um and there was we I work with my team to rectify this but this is more of a communication gap
between offices. So what we've done traditionally is we'll do work with our office and then we also have to work with other departments including the law department including the other agencies. So long story short it was just a snafu when it was bought in because we only looked at it as a solar solo budget. So
I'm representing I guess the issue for a few departments here. But in in essence now we have a procedure whereby we make sure that we're coordinating a bit better on some of these matters. >> Okay. Thank you. 25-59
which is also a contract for appraiser Mastro and Murphy uh to provide legal services um a variety of services from April 24th to July 2025 the total amount that's owed is 184,248.32
um consistent with my explanation in the previous one this is also being submitted as a claims reszo cuz we do coordinate with other departments uh and with that Ian said we use their services a lot. We were only looking at it from a from a solo, you know, one-dimensional
type of type of aspect, but the services are all listed and this is the firm. They represent us in numerous negotiations uh with all labor unions and also they were the firm that uh were very successful with representing the city in the state of the emergency claim.
>> Yes, sir. >> Any questions? That's all I have. Thank you very much for your time. >> I would just like to record council uh person Gilmore president 10:15 a.m. So we now have seven council members present.
>> Council President, the Department of Infrastructure has 21 items on the agenda this week. All of them are summarized for you in a me memo that all of you have in front of you and via email. If you have any questions, you can email them to me and the BA before Wednesday's meeting and we'll answer
your questions. Do you want to bring something to the council's attention? Last week, my staff and I attended a community meeting organized by the Ward Council person to discuss a proposal to redesign two streets. So, first I want
to give you the facts of the proposal. The mayor recently announced a plan to convert two streets in Greenville into oneways to accommodate safe transit and bike infrastructure. My staff was asked to prepare concepts and to present them
to the community for feedback. The presentation that we delivered showed a conversion of MLK and Bergen Avenue into one-way streets with dedicated bus lanes on both streets. No bike lanes were proposed on either of
the streets. So, of course, this is just the beginning of the conversation. It would be a significant redesign for both of those corridors and we would have to conduct further analysis if the city decided that they wanted to move forward
with this. That ultimately is a decision of the mayor and the council, not ours. The community meeting has been recorded. It took place Wednesday of last week and it's been reported by press. You can all review it. There were a number of
questions and criticisms that we got about the proposal itself, about the process, the way it was rolled out, and the lack of sufficient data, all of which we acknowledged. There were also insults and profanity shouted at the staff throughout the
presentation. The meeting was attended by hundreds of people, including some of you on your staff. Even after we asked that people stop with the personal attacks against staff, speakers shouted out things like, "Go f your mother." while staff were
presenting. There was one speaker who acknowledged that we were just messengers in this process and then made references to messengers getting shot. It's one thing to disagree, vehemently disagree on the issues,
but threats of violence are never acceptable. Personal attacks and verbal abuse directed at staff cannot be normalized and someone has to say that out loud. We prepared a presentation because we
were asked to and it is our job. We showed up because we made a commitment to show up. We stayed because we knew how important it was for us to listen. But it's also important that professionals are guaranteed an environment of safety and respect when
they're being asked to conduct city business. This is an absolute bare requirement for any of us conducting any city business in any capacity. I'm urging that the council and the administration work together to ensure
this does not happen again. We can participate in community engagement in ways that are respectful and responsible and productive, but only if we first prioritize people's right to safety in the workplace. >> Thank you for your time.
>> Ara, I just wonder if you could stay um you could say that directed. >> Okay. So, um I think this as a city council, you know, what what the director stated is like totally unacceptable and I don't think that
absolutely no director should be going out to these meetings at all. We should have community meetings then either here in city hall or at the annex.
But to get threatened like that is totally unacceptable, especially if she is doing the job that the mayor has told her to do. So, I think we as a
council should urge all of our directors if they're going to go to community meetings, community meetings should be uh either in a protected state being that the fact that they were threatened
to be shot. I wasn't there. I'm just going based on what the director said and that's unacceptable. Let me just briefly say a couple things. Uh first, um
it is very important that we ensure safety of everyone and all of us who have been elected officials for a long time know that people get upset and when they get upset, rhetoric goes beyond where it should go. and we know
that we work hard to ensure that we are there for constituents. You know, just to share a personal story, um you guys were all here on the council. Uh we had a speaker come up about talking about Israel and Palestine, talking about the deaths of children in Israel and
Palestine. That speaker mentioned my daughter by name. We said nothing on this council. No one said that they were threatening my daughter's life. that person should have never brought my daughter's name up. Someone should never
use a metaphor shot. But I think we also acknowledge that that when an individual goes too far, we should say that individual went too far and then ensure that we're putting in practices to ensure that that doesn't
happen. I would also say that I I don't think that we can have a conversation without what I think has been the extraordinary disrespect to the south side of the city that has been shown through this proposal. Um to just give an example, the proposal presented was
moving MLK and Bergen to one ways. The entire public conversation was MLK and ocean. But what has been said is we are voting on this in September. We are voting on this in two weeks. that that is an extraordinary level of
disrespect um that engendered an atmosphere which you I understand why people were upset about that that does not condone or accept any individual that crossed the line with the words that they used.
Right? And so you know what my deep concern here is is is we are now being told that we're voting on a new proposal in September. That is still a direction that we are being told is happening. A proposal that was first presented to the community just a couple
weeks ago. How can you do the studies? In the meeting, the the the uh city professionals honestly answered that they didn't have core pieces of information to answer the questions of constituents and that made constituents angry because they're being told that
we're voting on this. If you had said, "Hey, we're coming here to present an idea and as questions are answered, we will now move forward and then, you know, we will come back and answer your questions before any action is taken." But that's not what they are told. They are told that we are voting on this in
two weeks, that we are voting on the most extraordinary change to the city's infrastructure. Um, and so from my perspective, I I I think, you know, again, it is unacceptable for even someone to hint at violence. Just as unacceptable for someone here to mention my daughter by name while talking about
the deaths of children. Um, >> that that right there is is is very unfortunate. If I would have known, right, that you've said something about your daughter, I mean, I would have actually I would have >> mentioned my daughter by names. >> I would have had I would have I'm sorry.
I would have actually had them removed because that's completely unacceptable, >> right? And so so we condemn anyone who whose rhetoric hints at violence because we have to shut that down. I just and understand that moving forward when we have these
meetings and hold these things in in in place that we're going to very very very carefully ensure that. But also understand that I I again being told that we are voting on this in 2 weeks and then not being able to answer basic questions about the plan. I I you know it doesn't condone violence but I
understand why people were very very upset. >> I mean I think that you know uh I'm not sure what was the directives that the director were was was given by the mayor and by the administration. Uh but at the end of the day, yes, I'm not
saying that uh we should not have discussions about the south side. Has has the south side of the city been treated like [ __ ] 100%. But, you know, we have to make sure that it's done the right way. Councilman Gilmore has done his due diligence in
bringing up this, you know, questions and concerns to the community. But you cannot, and I know what you meant. You, you said it, we just have to com continue to reiterate. You cannot threaten someone's life. You can't say
we're going to shoot you. The other stuff as directors, as elected officials, we can say whatever, f your mother. That stuff doesn't bother me, right? But I've been personally threatened here where the police
department has put a fixed post in my house for weeks. Right. Hey, I can protect myself along with the u the uh Georgia City Police Department, but some people just can't. And unfortunately, I
get, you know, what the community is saying, but I also we as as public officials have to protect the the the constituents, especially our directors.
You cannot absolutely not you cannot threaten someone with shot. You don't know if you're going to actually shoot somebody. You don't know where that round is going to go. can potentially murder that person, can potentially hurt that person. But the fact that that word
was said, we have to take that to the fullest extent of being cautious. Again, I want to reiterate, I'm not, you know, trying to downplay the concerns of the south side of the city. You know,
the the fact that that tweet was put out and it put everybody on an outro. Yes. I think that the the director and her staff should have said, "Hey, that's not coming from us. That's not really going to happen." Because at the end of the day, we're the ones that are going to
vote on something like that. And if it's going to alter if it's going to alter the the the livelihood of a huge comm community, we as council people have that common sense that we won't let
something like that happen. But we need to make sure that you cannot threaten somebody's life. And I really really from the bottom of my heart, Councilman, I wish that I would have known whoever
was here that threatened your daughter because the same way the same way the same you can jump in in a few minutes. The same way that person that told me to go [ __ ] myself and I had that person removed, I would have done that and
probably had that person arrested. But just to be clear, the point I'm making here is is rhetoric goes too far. Did that person mean to threaten my daughter's life? No. But they were using rhetoric that went too far. That that's the point is that when emotions get high, rhetoric goes too far. And the thing is to say, hey, you did go too
far. You can't say that. But also understand that >> rhetoric is going too far, right? That like there there's a difference between that and and and >> and that's agreed it wasn't right. But that's not I'm trying to make the comparison here because I'm saying look that happened. No one said anything
>> wasn't the right thing to do. >> I I need to jump in here because >> I need Denise waiting. That's okay. >> No, I don't want to listen. The the pro the Palestinian protesters that came in here, should they have used your daughter's name? Absolutely not. The
point of their speech was to imagine if it was your your child. Okay, that's what the point was because there are people getting killed there by our tax dollars. I have had my family members killed there with my tax dollars. It
wasn't to threaten your child. >> Wait, but the No, you can't equivocate the two. There was someone that made an implicit threat that was removed from this council. Okay. And then they they were arrested because they didn't want
to leave. There's not the same. >> Okay. All right. Denise, she was waiting. Go ahead, Denise. Was waiting. Go ahead. >> I just think that we need uh some clarity particularly as a council uh about the proposal, right? because we
were saying that okay now it switch from MLK and >> y all excuse me y all shouldn't leave because somebody going to have to answer some >> I need somebody to answer these questions >> right y'all don't all walk out y'all got resolutions on here your director left because she's still upset but y'all
still got resolutions that they may want to ask because she didn't go over she sent that memo >> yeah I think what the director stated was to email her and she'll have the meeting listen to what I'm saying somebody going to have to answer Yeah, some of your staffs have stay here.
>> Yeah, that's what caucus is for. >> That's all. >> I'll stay. >> Okay. >> But as far as the the proposals go and now it's switched from I guess MLK no till MLK and Bergen and then we have council people saying that it's definitely going to be on the agenda for
September. We still haven't received any of the proposals as a council. Nobody has contacted the council and said that it's going to be on for September. So, can somebody give clarity? Is there something that's going to be on the agenda in September? And when will we actually get something physical with a
plan >> administration? Do you have an answer? Cuz it's your >> cuz right now this is all hearsay and everybody is very passionate and upset and everybody's in a frenzy and we still don't have any direct answers from the administration.
>> I don't think the plan has entirely been finalized part of that meeting that was understandable. So until the plan's finalized, we don't have any current intention of putting it on the agenda. Obviously, we have to give the information ahead of time so you can properly review it and we have to make sure that plan is final so we're not changing on you guys when you are reviewing it. So I'll let you know as
soon as we have the information on that. Okay. So for the public's sake, there is nothing that the council has received as of yet concerning the one-way direction. All of this started because administration did a tweet. And this is
the danger when you tweet stuff out there before you have any information. It made a community in an uproar that has a right to be upset because there was no conversation. And that's what I don't think we understand when we say things even
though there's not facts to it the effects the domino effects that it have. And now because of that there was a community meeting. There was things that was says people uh emotions was high. They had a right for their emotions to be high but we must be careful with what
we say. And that's just the truth. And so now this council is facing this every day we walk out in the street. Someone is asking us about this one way. I keep telling them we have not received it. But for the public's sake, let me
explain to you. The administration has the right to put something on the agenda. That is their right. But our right as a council, we can vote it down. All right. We can vote it yes and we can vote it no. As of right now, we have not
received anything. We hear what you saying, community. We hear it loud and clear, but we have not received anything. Our responsibility is to vote. We have not received anything to vote on, but we hear your cry. Now, the director
came for infrastructure because she was summoned to go to the community meeting. Based on what she said, as of now, she is still upset. She feels like her life is threatening. I was not there. But we have to be careful with what we say to people. And
that is the truth because we don't know one another. I don't know if you threaten me. If you say something, you won't make it. You won't make truth to it. I don't know. People emotions are high nowadays. People are highly upset about a whole lot of issues.
And so that's why we must be careful with what we say. So as of right now, to the public, we have not received anything. We hear what you're saying. When the time come, if the administration chooses to put it forth, that is the administration right. But
our right is to vote on it. We could say yes or we can say no. This is the way the law is. We hear you. So at this time, I am tired of all of the gossip. Give us a chance if the
administration decide to put it forth. Give us a chance to vote and then from that point, let's see what happens. There's no need for nobody to be upset any longer. We have a director that's upset. We have to make sure she feels safe now because that is our
responsibility too. Just like if anybody come in the chambers and threaten someone, it's our responsibility to make sure you feel safe too. Everybody wants to feel safe. So now enough. Now when y'all want to protest, the administration is across the hall.
>> I just want >> It's across the hall. Y'all have that right to do that. That's your right as a public. You have a right to protest. That's what you can do. All right. But just make sure it goes the right way. >> Frank, before you say anything, I was
with Barker over the weekend several times and I think she needs an apology from whoever is involved in this. >> Whoever's the for Well, the mayor is the for this. But I just want to say this. Hold on.
just want to say this that um first and foremost I don't condone any violence any way shape or form. Um, now I will say this. I will apologize because I host a meeting and then I should have had more control of it. But
I want to put things into context. Um, and I think this is a beautiful opportunity for all us to have a um, a learning session, right? So what someone said because everybody were essentially lashing out at Barker and I repeatedly
several times that, you know, she's doing her job. This is the proposal that the mayor put forth that she's tasked with bringing to fruition. Right. So, after that statement, someone got up and said something to the
effect that um y'all keep saying that she's the messenger and the messenger is the one that get shot. On the surface, this sounds drastically dangerous, right? But if you know and understand dealing with certain communities and
certain demographics, metaphors are used to heighten the understanding of what someone is trying to articulate. Now, they were saying that in a sense that all right, councilman, you're saying that, you know, we shouldn't be yelling at them. They're just the messenger. No,
we're going to yell at them and they need to bring it back to who gave them this plan to bring to fruition. Um I don't I don't think that people were I mean people were outraged and pissed
off. Um and you can argue some people will say well was rightfully so or not. Um but like I said I will will apologize because in a sense that if someone feel that they're not safe and I'm conducting
a meeting then that falls on me. if someone get hurt and I'm conducting a meeting and that falls on me. But this this is the reality that we're dealing with. The mayor put out a tweet without context. Let's not overlook that fact,
right? Let's stop looking at the side effects and go to the root cause of what the disease is, right? if he never tweets this out without even in fact after watching their presentation it's
clear that they didn't even he didn't even consult with the professionals on how this plan will look it went from protected bike lanes to no bike lanes being included from ocean to bergen all in one jump
right that is a lack of leadership and that's what like if we can call out everything but Let let's call out everything. There's a certain onus. There's a certain No, I mean, I get it, you know, but there's a there's there's a certain there's a certain onus that
everyone have to to bear responsibility and it's almost a disservice really to the council for the mayor to do this because he kind of put us in this it's really a stupid situation, right? So, here it is. We're sitting
instead of handling city business, right? We're sitting here voicing our opinions over things that have transpired because the mayor put out a tweet in this. I mean,
it's just crazy, man. So, I will apologize to Parker personally and the infrastructure staff personally because ultimately I don't want anyone safe. I don't want no one to feel like their safety is in jeopardy. But I'm also a realist and I'm extremely honest. I know
that my community, this is what they they use metaphors, right? Because they really want to articulate that pain and express that pain that was felt. >> Okay. I I think that um we all expressed
oursel concern in this situation with a tweet that took about 30 almost 45 minutes or something that we really don't have control over. But nevertheless, um we we hear the public loud and clear. We understand how the director feel feels. Um the councilman,
he apologized because he said that, you know, it was his meeting and um um director Bark, I hope you somewhere around and you heard that um because that was not the intent to put you in any way any any way of danger. That's not the council's intent at all. That's
not what we do here. But nevertheless, um we'll see if the administration want to bring it forth and at that point, this council will uh take a vote to say yes or no. But I know how we basically feel about this, you know, but we have to get it in front of us. That's for
sure. We We don't have anything. That's why we our hands are tied. We don't have anything for us to say it's A, B, C, and D. But we hear the public. I want the public to know we do hear you and we see your concerns. Uh, Councilman Clay, >> I was going to ask what would be the
next step. Is it a study? Is it >> We don't know. That's all of this is but a tweet. This is just this happened because of a tweet. We do not know anything. That's why we we putting so much time into something that was just tweeted out and that's the problem. We
have nothing nothing tangible, no study, no anything. And so that is why. So at this time, let's continue with this meeting. Um Barker Group, um we wanted someone here just in case they wanted to answer on the resolutions. That's why in
the ordinance that she had placed. So now Jimmy Carol you went. Now Cohen you're next. >> So Cohen before you go just wanted to record council person present at 10:21 a.m. So we now have eight council members present.
>> Morning council president members of city council. HHS food and nutrition has one item to present. Resolution 25515 item number 10.21. It is a resolution authorizing the Jersey City Department of Health and
Human Services to accept the 2026 WIC Women, Infants, and Children Health Services Grant from the New Jersey Department of Health. Uh this is in the amount of 1,940,692. And I'm pleased to report there were no cuts to the program between this year
and last year. >> Questions? Thank you. All right. >> Good morning, Council President, council members. I'm Laura Takuri from the tax assessor office. I have three resolutions today. The first one is resolution 25-500,
item 10.6, Six, a resolution granting veterans exemptions from local property taxation pursuant to the NJSA 544-3 for three properties. The first property is 118 Columbia Avenue, Unit One. The
second property is 200 Central Avenue, unit 203. The third one is One Shore Lane, Unit A6. Property owned by 100% disabled veterans are are eligible for 100% tax exemption on their primary residence. Therefore,
I'm requesting the municipal council to authorize the tax collector to refund or cancel the taxes in the amount of $18,552.3 for the three properties. The second resolution is resolution 25-501, item 10.7,
a resolution to cancel a portion of the 2025 real estate taxes on block 28701 LA 121 153 Danfor Avenue due to an approval of the 5 years tax abayment pursuant to the NJSA 4821-5.
The property was renovated and converted from one to two family home. that taxpayer applied for the five years tax abatement and was granted in March 1st, 2025. The 2025 assessment value didn't reflect the tax abayment portion. Therefore, I'm requesting the municipal council to
authorize the collector to refund or cancel 9 months of the abayment portion in the estimated amount of $772.91. >> This um this when was the baitment given for for this Laura? They apply in April. So they got granted for um I'm sorry
they they were granted from March 1st to December. So we already in 9 months >> March of this year >> 2025. Yes. >> No. Did we vote we did we vote on this? >> The property is just a renovation. So it's nothing. They need approval for the
council. >> No. It says a conversion from two family from a one to a two. Was it a one family? Then they converted into a two. >> Yes. They don't need a council approval to change the number of units. They just need to get a building department permits and the certificate occupancy.
>> No, I'm speaking. No, no, no, no. I was saying from the pilot perspective, >> it's not pilot involved. >> Huh? >> It's not pilot. It's regular taxes. >> So, they had an abatement. >> No, they never have an abatement. When you do have a property that you
renovate, >> you have the right to file an appeal for a 5 years tax abatement with a certificate occupancy. >> Oh, okay. Tax abatement. That's what I say. Five years payment. Yes. They don't need a council approval for that. >> All right. >> Council, they consider rehabilitation.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's why I was confused. Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. Anything else? So, the third one I have is resolution 25-502 item number 10.08. No. A a resolution to cancel a portion of the 2024 and 2025
real estate taxes on block 454 lat one qualifier 202 for the property in 122 New York Avenue. The taxpayer file an appeal in 2023 with the Hutton County Board of Taxation which was successfully reduced by 100,000 in assessment value.
The reduction equates to a savings of 2,247 per year. However, a reduction was not applied for the tax list 24 and 25. Therefore, I'm requesting the municipal council to authorize a collector to refund a portion of those taxes for both
years and $4,585. It was a typo there, but I'm going to fix it with Sean because I forgot to added that 2025 year taxes. So, I only added the 2024. >> Okay.
>> Any questions? Thank you. >> Good morning everybody. Uh the finance department has five items on the agenda. One ordinance for resolutions. Uh the first item is 3.1 ordinance 2585.
Um I actually reached out to the administrator's office this morning. Um we're most likely going to have to withdraw this ordinance from the agenda. This is it was just this is original copy uploaded to I compass back in June. There were some uh
changes made and there was another ordinance updated for the August 20th meeting. So there was just um a misunderstanding of which one to approve. Um I'm not sure if they're going to swap them out or we'll just bring it back uh at the next meeting. Um but essentially what we're looking to do
as we mentioned in budget hearings is repurpose existing capital funding. um not necess essentially cancelling any projects, but compiling all of our building project funding into one um one account so we have more flexibility with
spending. If if one project goes over and one goes under, we have everything uh available to us. Um and and also expand on some of the the purpose of of the funding to cover new things that have come up with uh certain equipment um and Sixth Street embankment which uh
the law department has been reaching out to us about. So, uh, we'll get all those details to you if this is going to come back to council, but ultimately it's something we could do in September, um, if there's no pressing needs >> included in this.
>> Yeah. So, we're carving out some some funding for that. Um, sorry, just to sorry, can I go ahead? So, in 2012, a um bond was issued for $6 million for the Sixth Street embankment that has just sat there because project hasn't moved,
but it's dedicated for the Sixth Street embankment. Two years ago or a year and a half ago when bond money was transferred, right? I asked on the council if the what what money was being transferred. I was not told that the Six Street embankment money was being transferred.
It it was I was told a very a different thing. there's a record in there. We brought this to the administration and we said, "Look guys, this that was not we asked. We got to put the money back in." So, the administration made a commitment to say, "Hey, look, that was an error. We're putting the money back in." So, what Kyle is referencing is
they are moving the the 6 million back into the bond that should have never been transferred. That was an oversight. It was a mistake. It's being rectified. So, it's not a new bond for Six Street embankment. It is simply putting the 6 million back into back in that should have never been taken out. So it's just it's it's you know making the ledger
whole. That's what that's what's happening. So it's not a new bond. It's just >> making it whole. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's all existing. >> When did you have that conversation with >> it? It was the last time a bond ordinance came where they were transferring unused money from other bonds. And so it was years ago.
>> It was like a year and a half ago. We'll find the exact ordinance for you when it was up here. >> I believe it was in 2023. So this is just corrective action to make sure you know everything's covered. >> Yeah. Are we close to resolving the issue with the strict >> I I think I think there I think there's
a proposal. Um I have some concerns with it. Um so we'll we'll >> yeah we'll see but but there it is active we are still actively pursuing steps forward but you know there there are some different steps that have to go have to be done to get it there. Yeah.
So moving on to the resolutions uh the biggest item obviously is 10.2 two, resolution 25496. This is a resolution authorizing amendments to the 2025 calendar year budget. Um we are still going through
some things with uh the state. Um particularly some land sale revenues that we have in the budget we have purchase sale agreements on and we're just working on getting all the complete documentation from the JC. uh the administration is working uh closely
with them on that. Um so we're not sure if we'll be able to again similar to the other ordinance, not sure if we'll be able to present that on Wednesday. It may have to be withdrawn and brought back at a later date, but ultimately what would happen is council would vote
on the amendments. If the amendments were to pass, we would then have a public hearing um either at the next meeting or at a special meeting and then another resolution to uh formally adopt the budget for the year. Um but in just to speak on the current draft that the
council has attached to this resolution, there aren't any major changes. Um we're basically ensuring that each departmental budget has um reflects the recent contract settlements for uh local 246 in particular. So you'll see a lot
of salary wage adjustments um that's all we're accounting for there and any personnel that has been you know separated from the city. uh additional grants that have come in since adoption uh in sorry introduction and we also had an amended annual financial statement
after we introduced the budget um that yield some additional surplus for us which is reflected in this amendment. So again there aren't major changes here there is um ongoing communication with the state and I I'll be having a call with them this afternoon and get some
clarity on what the timeline is going to ultimately look like. Let me ask you this question because I know the councilman he has a amendment on too for the budget. So now um he wants to amend that correct the council budget and give it to infrastructure who's not here. And
the reason why I'm saying that because there's so much going on with infrastructure. I don't know if we should even look in any way towards that because of the one we s one week situation and you you know the concern of making sure that
they you know do what they're supposed to do. It's like you know we're just in a a whirlwind right now with all of this and I I'm so shocked because the state, you know, is still looking at our budget and we at the end of the year so nothing has been really passed. So we just
spending, spending, spending and we really don't have no control over this spending. And this is serious. This is a serious problem because we really we're spending probably more than what we bringing in. And I'm looking at other the department heads and they short of staff. The city is short of staff
throughout, you know, the city. Um there's certain services that the public cannot receive because we're so short of staff. And yet in our budget it was put in that, you know, there was money for staffing in so many departments. So now I'm just, you know, like what are we
really doing here? I I I'm serious. This makes no sense to me at this point, you know, and then people got laid off a few. So where are we with this budget to be perfectly honest? It's it's
a whirlwind. >> It is. Oh, u just quickly address everything I can address. Okay. >> We do do a good job of making sure that the temporary budget allocations don't exceed what was introduced and if there isn't a a situation like that, it would
be reflected in the amendment. That's not the case today. Um yearto date. So we introduced the budget at 744 million. We spent 460 million. >> Okay. >> All of that has been authorized by the council through temporary appropriation resolutions. So we are monitoring that
and that's not an issue. I understand the delay is concerned to the council but ultimately what we want to do is make sure that >> we can adopt the budget with the min as minimal tax impact to any taxpayers. So we don't want to move forward take revenues out of the budget and
ultimately have to raise these by taxes or cut other spending. So we're doing everything we can to make sure that the introduced budget gets adopted as closely as possible to that. So, um, as far as Councilman Solomon's amendments, I've been talking to him and his aids. Um, they have the current draft that you
have on my resolution. Their amendments would be on top of this. The state reached out to me as well to clarify that. So, when the state approves the finance department's draft, councilman's amendments will be on top of that. So, that is up to the council if they want
to entertain them and >> if I just brief Yeah, I just want to briefly explain the amendments. So just exact what said exactly right they have their budget amendment the state's approving what we're proposing would be on top of that right so the budget office has their amendments and then we'll approve on top and we're just
briefly we have a memo with more details but briefly what we're proposing on top of that is in the prior three years that we've all been budgeted for four full-time aids but all of us you know have equivalent of two full-time aids in 2023 that extra money was in our budget
but then was shifted to the insurance line in 2024 was in our budget and then it was proposed to shift into public safety. My view is instead of waiting until November or December to shift it, let's shift it now. Although obviously our budget as the council president says is later than would want and my proposal was to shift it into the infrastructure
department specifically because I have and I would guess many of you have long-standing requests that haven't been fulfilled. So just for example, um Marin and Grand Street unsafe intersection, Columbus and and Marin unsafe intersection, Grand and Jersey unsafe intersections. For over a year, I've
asked the traffic and engineering teams to review to see what plans we can put in place to make better. And they've simply said, "We do not have the resources to review those those intersections." So my view is I could, you know, scream at them when they're here, but I'd rather be constructive. And my thing is, if they don't have the resources, it's my job to find them the
resources. That's why we're proposing this shift which would allow them to fill a number of open positions, bring those traffic and engineers uh staff in so then those requests can get fulfilled in a timely manner and then our streets can be safer. That's that's the purpose of it and then there's the allocation there. Um and so that was what I was
hoping to do with it. >> Now let me ask last time when we had this conversation with that the administration said based on what infrastructure have they have enough funding in there to do this. So now I want to make sure we're not shifting anything from our budget because if
that's the case, if we can shift a million, then why can't I shift a million and give it to DPW? Why can't I shift a million and give it to HHS? The only reason why I'm saying that because these are departments that are short staff and and I'm out here and I see that they're very short staff. So if we
have a million to shift and if infrastructure already has money to cover what Councilman Solomon desires, then let's shift that money to make sure we can hire more people to do the laborer jobs. Make sure that we can hire more police out there, give them the
overtime that they deserve because this city is out of control with bad behavior. So in order for us to kind of get it under control, we do more need more police, but the police has to be paid. So, if that's the case, then let's do all of that. >> Yeah. C. Well, I'm not sure exactly the
rationale as far what resources they don't have, and unfortunately, they're not here for us to question that. Um, but I do know when it comes to professional staff, you know, we have an engineering contract with them where they can fill any gaps they have. We've also let them know that despite the freeze we have on hiring new employees, any professional staff that are critical
or any replacements, they have been have the authorization to hire. So, they should technically have the staff they need if they're talking about professional staff. Um, if it's a matter of capital funding or other resources, I can't answer that without them being here, unfortunately. >> But this is the problem I have. If they have the funding to hire and we keep
freezing them, stopping them from hiring, then what are we doing? That's what I understand. They have the funding. >> I keep hearing it. They have it, but then yet they freeze, you know, they stopped them from hiring. This makes no sense to me. >> The money's there. He says it every time
we have these budget hearing. Y'all have the money for staff. You have the money for staff. you have the money for staff, but then yet they can't hire. Why can't they hire? >> So again, without I don't know specifically what she's done to hire them, but for professional staff, you know, certain critical things like
attorneys, engineers, things that take a longer time to hire because of the professional and the kind of niche market they have. We've allowed them to hire. We made it known to all the directors that if they need to hire any of those, we're we support it because we know it takes a long time to actually get those professionals on board to interview them and make sure they have
the proper certifications to to work for the city. >> I thank you for your answer, Peter, but something's wrong. We've been going in I tell you it's a whirlwind here with this budget. >> Kyle, >> how long? >> Just hold on. Uh quick. So the budget um
740 million. How much you said we've spent to date? 462. >> 462. >> All right. >> And I I saw you a couple emails from you this morning, which >> Yes. >> Scott. So, I'll get you at all that as well. >> All right. >> How long does it typically take to
onboard someone with a professional degree from posting it and um you know, interviewing and onboarding and training and getting them ramped up to actually be of benefit to the city. It's very situational. You know, attorneys, if
they're not specialized, it's going to be a bit quicker. If you're looking for a specific engineer, an elevator operator or an elevator engineer that we haven't been able to find yet. There's very niche markets that sometimes it takes a while to get those individuals. Um, plus, you know, we have to make sure that the salaries that we offer are competitive with the current
marketplace, our leave packages, our pensions, all that kind of stuff. It it requires multiple things, but I usually months if not longer. Councilman, >> so there's four months left in the year. what happens next year um to those hypothetically if everything went
perfectly and you know we hire the engineers uh it's a new year next year and are those people liable to be fired because let's say the next council wants to keep their
money or the next mayor says you know >> it would depend on a number of things whether or not to sell the service there's multiple factors I can factor into that councilman but in the meantime we said we have an engineering firm that we you know the council has granted us permission to contract with that way if
there are any critical needs or gaps we have someone on standby that can provide the services to us. >> Let me ask you something. Do they still have this um meeting that determines who get hired? They always HR always meets initially to
determine what applicants we have and kind of filter them and then usually we turn it over to the director or the department themselves to make the final call and do the final interviews. >> If they don't meet then nothing moves. Am I correct? >> Yes. It see like they give the final approval then it goes to the director
not before >> because I don't I don't this what I understand if you hire directors and and they telling you what they need. It seemed like to me the director should be the one who have the say on exactly you know who should come to their department. I that's what I understand you know because they putting it out
there. Okay I I have so many staff and you know what and I in my budget I have two missing spaces. So I'm putting it out there. All right, I'm looking for this person. Now, what happens is they receive the application. Now, it goes to this other committee and this other committee tells them, "Oh, no, you can't hire."
>> That's backwards. >> So, council president, the directors do have the final say on who they're hiring. The only difference would be if there's a salary condition, if there's some kind of funding source that has to be verified, that's the only time that anyone would enter or supersede them.
But the pro I hear what you're saying, Peter, but my thing is though, they already know that they have a certain amount of salary in their budget that they can hire. So, I don't know when it comes to that that team, whatever it is that meets that determines that. That's
what I have the problem with because to me, it seemed like it should be the director's call because the director know if I'm let's say I'm hiring a laborer, okay? And in my budget, I know I can hire the laborer for 50,000. I know that I'm the director. So, I'm
putting it out that I'm hiring a labor. I'm putting it in all the meteors or whatever. All right. I receive applications, resumes. All right. I do the interview. It is my department. I know what I need in my department. I know the skill set that I need in my department. Why is it necessary? Then it
goes to this board. This board looks at the applications and then tells the director, "Oh, you can't hire." Now, that's where I got a problem with because then yet you telling them that they can't hire because the money's there. This middle piece is what's
stopping this city from hiring and I see it. That's been the problem. That's why I You can't get laborers. You can't get skilled people because the directors are doing their part. It's that middle piece. So, how do we get rid of that
middle piece in four months? Council President, not to make an open season on everything, but uh what we've usually see this happen in the past is we have certain positions where we try to hire someone at with the certain guidelines of salary that we currently have. The applicants that we get aren't uh
qualified enough or don't meet the expectations of the directors. So sometimes they have to go back to us and ask for authorization to increase a salary or look for different ways to offer their position to individuals. And that's usually we have to get, you know, the second group involved to see if there's a way to accommodate that.
>> I I have a question. Maybe it's legal. Maybe uh like every time we've done this where we've transferred funds from the council to another area of the city. It's always happened after we have passed the budget. And I know we have a law on the books that says essentially
the council needs to be funded like other cities of the first class such as Newark. So my question is, if we were to transfer this funding, would we have to find another million from somewhere else in the budget in order to pass the budget? Because our council budget has
to be the same as, let's say, Newark. The the council budget is is set by ordinance. So you have a maximum amount of aids and a maximum amount of salaries. Council salaries are maxed um and obviously a couple civilian employees. But that's how your budget is
uh introduced and it is up to the council if they want to fully fund all those aid positions. Um at the end of the year the reason we do transfers is because that is what the budget law permits is November December could do uh budget transfers uh with the approval of
the council. Um we do that at the end of year to cover any over expenditures or any shortfalls or things that may come up. So it's not always the plan. It just typically is how it goes with the city and it's usually a small percentage of our total budget. The last few years the
council has decided not to fully fund uh fully hire in their offices. So that money was surplus end of the year and >> whether we transferred it or not that money was going to be un unspent. So >> we had >> you wouldn't have to offset it. That's
just >> Well, I mean only if the council council member comes back and wants to hire somebody. I mean, that's something that this is why I addressed it with the council president and everyone as a whole. >> If not every member was on board, the finance department was not going to
include any amendment because we did not want our amendment to fail um and just continue to prolong the prog uh the process. So once I got confirmation from the council president that she wanted the budget to remain as is, that's when Solomon went his route with it. So,
>> and then you couldn't guarantee that these would be funded positions in 2026, correct? >> I mean, my intent every year is to fund what the ordinance um >> I mean, uh I'm talking about the uh the engineering positions that we're asking for.
>> We're not there yet. So, I mean, >> every budget year is changes. >> I know every year >> decides what >> positions they want to fund or take out or expand on. So, next year. >> Yeah. Just briefly on on what happens in 2026, at least at the start of the year,
the temporary budget is based on the approved budget, right? So if these positions are funded in uh traffic and engineering, then they would be included in the temporary budget in 2026 because that's the bas 26% of the past budget. Um and then
obviously future council and mayor could change it. They could either fund more or fund less, but at least at the start they would be funded. Um, and then just as my understanding, and this gets into some of the things, but but you know, my understanding is our our chief engineer position has been vacant for >> over a year. Um, and so we're trying to
increase the salary to hire someone and and no matter who the next mayor and council are, they're going to want a chief engineer. Um, I think there's four um engineer positions that are are not fulfilled um or not open right now. Um, so we don't have the staff and and so if
we're relying on the contractors to to fund basic engineering design work, um, I I don't think that's a sustainable plan. But then, you know, furthermore, again, you know, the requests that I've had on these major intersections have have been sent for over a year. I mean, I probably could go back and it's probably close to two to
three years. Um, and so again, it's it's been frustrating and then obviously members of the public get upset at us and say, why haven't you moved this forward? And you know, that's why we're trying to find a a solution here that actually gets us the the team and the staff here. To the council president's point, there are many other departments that also need funds. And so, you know,
if if if there's uh some agreement among the council to shift some funds, we're always open. So, obviously folks can see in the in the memo what's going where and where the money is. And if there's other other, you know, ideas and plans, you know, we can have that discussion uh in the next, you know, 48 hours.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean uh as far as the temporary budget, it's just next year's temporary budget will be that percentage of the overall budget. So the way this the way the budget is introduced and adopt is at the legal line. So total salary, wage allocation, total other expense
allocations, that detail is all worked out internally. So while we may put funding in for this year to hire those certain positions, that doesn't necessarily mean that the funding in next year's budget will be available for it. um unless those employees are hired
for the end of the year, maintain their civil service titles, etc., etc., right? So, there's there's so many moving parts to that um that really finance doesn't really have a say in aside from making sure that our liabilities are covered. >> Carl, let me ask you one more question.
when we contract out, okay, like um engineer because they couldn't find an engineer, we contracted out that money that we contracted out with, do we take that from the salaries that are posted to replace that position? I'm I'm because I'm trying to see is why we
trying to really find somebody to hire is because now we under contract with this group here and part of that funding that normally with the salaries we using it to pay this contract. >> No. So that was the conversation before we introduced the budget. We wanted to make sure that if we were going to go
the route of hiring that that money would be available and if we were going to use contracts that would be either available in the other expense lines of the the current fund budget that we're voting on now or within the capital budget. It was the decision that we could make these funds available within
our capital budget and reduce um the appropriation for you know the current year uh infrastructure budget. So that money isn't made available in salaries and wages right now. It's it is in another source. So that was a decision that was made to you know limit the
amount we're increasing the budget this year and you know introduce the budget with the you know flat tax uh change. >> Tell you it's a whirlwind. >> It's a whirlwind. >> You know I appreciate you. You know why I appreciate you? Cuz I see you
understand this budget. I got to say that you understand this budget more so than anybody that I've seen really came up here and explained it. You really do. I appreciate all that you explained. >> Yeah. Uh I got a question to ask. I'm sitting here listening to all this all this morning and it gets to be annoying.
I look at our parking authority, our police department, our radio room, our DPW, all short-handed of people plus all the other departments. I look around the city, I see all this development. I It's like unbelievable. All I want to know is everybody's asking me where's the money?
Why is the city bankrupt? Why are we in financial trouble? Why? I mean, with all this development, with everything going on, uh we should be living in the lap of luxury here. But this city is get this city's falling
apart. >> Said we're not bankrupt. I'm going to put that in the record. My next question right now. Um, you know, there's a number of things that come into it. You'll see that throughout the municipality, you understand that we're one entity. There's a county, there's the school board, there's us, everyone
has consistently increased their taxes. The city to the council's benefit has really kept that under control to offset a lot of increases you see other places. So despite the development, despite the things you happen, we also have a lot of increases. Medical has gone up for everyone as you stand. It's a national problem right now that we're dealing with. There's a lot of sources like that
that we have to deal with in our budget to try to offset those things. Um, you know, unfortunately, if you're trying to decide between keeping taxes low and potentially hiring more people, it's a balance that we often put to the the council, but we know that with the tax situation in Jerry City, that's the number one priority that we're trying to remedy at this point. Um hopefully if
things go down, we can look at increasing that in the future or the council can maybe in 2026, but you know, it's something we just have to monitor closely. >> It doesn't make sense. You know, like you look at all the development and you say to yourself, and people are asking me, especially in Journal Square,
where's the money? Where are the developers? What are they doing for the city? Uh why is the city bankrupt? These questions have to be answered. I mean, it's getting to be annoying. Uh it's people are just disgusted. Taxes are going up. I've lost three neighbors in
the last three weeks, moved out of the city. one for parking, one for taxes, and one because they're just tired of uh driving around at night looking for a parking space. You know, it's a shame. And somebody starts has to start taking
control of this city and managing it properly. >> Peter, let me ask you something, Peter. Based on based on the development um that people see going around, how do the developers pay taxes um to the city? That's that needs to be explained. How
do they pay the taxes? Cuz that is a a a fair question. >> So, it's a very complicated question. Um, I'll try to make it as basic as possible. It depends largely on the development. Certain developments have pilots. Some of these pilots go back. >> The pilots, a lot of these buildings don't have pilots. We gave out very few.
>> Correct. So, I'm I'm saying is there's pilots that exist that well before the council that is currently up here. Um, we get money from them. Most of the developers pay normal taxes. commercial properties sometimes they pay they pay a tax they pay based on their income they receive. So there's a number of different ways that we receive income
from them. Um also we assess them every year based on their ratables. They often fight those assessments because we're dealing with millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars. So we usually tax them and then may have to go back and you know adjust those. It it's a very complicated situation we're dealing
with. Um but for the most part everyone who is developing Jerry City is paying their fair share. um especially the developers, especially the larger properties, they have millions of dollars. Everything you see in German Square or mostly everything you see in Zero Square is paying regular tax dollars besides things that were abated
a long time ago. Um but again, we have healthc care costs that are going up and all our expenses. The money has to come from somewhere. Councilman >> Peter, I don't can't see how a 60story building in Journal Square is paying proper taxes. You have maybe 400
apartments in that building and you're telling me when the average homeowner on a street is paying 18 $20,000 in taxes and you got 400 people living in a building, what is their share of the taxes? I mean, come on. >> Unless it's a condo councilman, those
individuals don't pay taxes. The building itself pays taxes. >> I guess I think >> their fair share. I guess the the biggest problem and I guess the point of frustration is that as a city we have grown drastically from a development
perspective. Um and then everybody's looking around was like well we have more tax ratables. How is everything going up? How is our taxes going up if we have the potential to bring in uh more revenue? Yeah, I mean as far as tax valuation,
our ratables do go up significantly every year. It went up 1.6 billion this year alone. And >> one point how much? >> 1.6 billion. And that what that does for us, it generates extra t tax revenue that you don't have to increase the rate
that you're billing people, right? Your property value goes up, the rema the rate may remain the same, but you get extra extra tax dollars on on those those variations. So that's the number we work with when we introduce the budget. There's no we can't speculate
what we think it is. The our city assessor assesses the properties gets approved by the county assessor. That's our valuation for the year. That is what we use to determine what our rate will generate in tax revenue. Um I mean there's really no way around that. And there are again there are massive
massive tax appeals that we're constantly getting hit with. last year was well over $20 million in just county board judgments, not including tax court judgments and other things. So, it may feel like it should we should
have a a higher valuation, but the courts aren't seeing it that way. The countyy's not seeing that way almost every year. So, again, this is not something that is in the finance department's control. We're just working with, you know, what's authorized and then and then unfortunately we try to
balance the budget around that. And as far as tax increases go, >> I've been here going on 9 years now. We've only raised taxes more than 2% one year. Um the major increases have come from the county and board of ed. So I
know we're getting a a majority of the blame, but we're controlling what we could control and that's just that's the reality of situation. So, state city's bankrupt and whatnot. It's just not true. We're doing a good job, I think. So, >> okay, next one.
>> All right. So, moving on. Uh, item 10.1, resolution 25495. Subsequent to the other res, uh, resolution I mentioned, the amendment. This is just additional emergency appropriations to support, you know, the continuation of services. The total
budget will be raised to 582 million from 547 million approved at the last uh council meeting. >> Okay. >> 10.50 resolution 25544.
This is authorizing a professional service agreement with Willan Skullman and Spitzer to provide legal counsel for the city for bond related matters. Um this was a request for qualifications and RFQ. They were the only uh proposal
that we received. They were also our our um our bond council advisors last year. So we made the decision to uh request to retain them. Good. Next item 10.4 25498
uh and 10.5 resolution 25499. This is a resolution to cancel outstanding stale checks um covering majority of 2022 and 2023. So what happens is the council approves
checks to vendors every council meeting. City mails them out. Um and every now and then we typically do it on an annual basis and we did have a resolution last year to cancel some checks. This was just one account we didn't get to last year. So, we're canceling these checks
that were not cashed. And again, this was all approved by council uh authorized in previous budgets. So, this money will be returning to us uh as surplus. Um Councilman uh Gilmore, I will get you that detail you request this morning. There was one particular
check that I looked into for a million dollars. That was actually just an an inter fund from So, we have multiple funds. We have the current fund budget and then we have grant funds HUD community development. We had a reimbursement uh check from community
development to uh for VIA. What we did is in this year's AFS we made manual adjustments with the cash balances and so we're just eliminating that interfund and canceling that check. So there's no impact to the budget or anything there. That was money pretty much
>> check cut from ourselves to ourselves. That's it. That's it. Just >> one quick question. Um, do you have just an update on the audit, >> the 2024 audit? >> Yes. So, we're pretty close to wrapping up the single audit. Um, there's just a few non- finance items that they're uh
waiting on documentation for. I believe the auditor's deadline was this week, and if he doesn't uh get everything, he's just going to proceed, and anything that's not answered will be a finding, and hopefully we'll have that um early September. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks,
girl. Christine, President, members of city council, I have two items for you today. They're both insurance certificates. Item 10.13 and 10.32. One is a resolution authorizing the city
of Jersey City to issue a certificate of insurance for TOPS holding for the purposes of the Jersey City Youth Mural Project. An insurance certificate. Okay. And then the second one is for Hudson County for
the use of their show mobile for Summerfest. Okay. Hello. I am uh here on four items from city planning. Uh the first is item 3.2, ordinance 25-086.
It's a first reading ordinance, an ordinance of the municipal council of the city of Jersey City adopting amendments to the Journal Square60 redevelopment plan and the St. John's redevelopment plan. Uh this was authorized by a resolution in August of
2024. Uh there was a good number of community meetings uh meetings with the the council person and the council person's aid uh for W C. And uh in June of this year, the um the amendments got
a uh favorable recommendation by planning board uh for adoption here at city council. The scope of the amendments includes multiple items. Uh, one is a corner bonus E provision for the creation of public parking in and
around uh, Journal Square to service the general public, but also to uh, um, hopefully be located close to adjacent attractors like the county courthouse, the Lowe's theater. Uh the there's also a a Lowe's artwalk
and loading bonus which is um to encourage uh nearby developments to one improve and widen the uh walk between the Lowe's uh theater uh and continue it all the
way down to Tunnel Avenue should those projects be realized. Replacement of dwelling units subject to rent control. So in the occasion where there is a building that has rent control units that is uh incorporated into a larger development those rent
controlled units would be required to be put back one for one for lowincome affordable housing. Uh a beneficial uses overlay which includes uh many uses that we thought are important to allow in any uh district in Toronto Square such as
senior housing and so forth as well as map changes. uh one being the the primary change to the St. John's redevelopment plan which uh changes the boundary of the two plans moving 3000 Kennedy Boulevard from the St. John's
redevelopment plan. Many people might know it as the the Dollar Tree building uh with the parking above it uh into the Journal Square redevelopment plan and and uh that is contained on a map that's shown in the packet as well as updates
to the circulation map and the corner lot bonus map which relates to that uh parking that public parking bonus. Uh in this ordinance as well is that resolution that authorized this uh the resolution of the planning board
recommending adoption and the amendment text itself showing the changes in uh strike through or yellow highlights in blue highlights. The council has any questions I can answer. >> Yeah, John. Uh Matt, uh first of all, I
spoke to the people from St. John's today and nobody ever sat down with them and explained this and I'm going to ask this to be pulled again until September and secondly because nobody we were supposed to sit down with you Tanya and
anybody else and go over this whole issue of the journal square. Remember we had the meeting up in St. Joseph's we had about 150 to 200 people there and they were violent about uh what was going on in a nice way. They were violent. >> Rich rich. Yeah, they were a nice way. They were >> watch the word. Watch.
>> Yes. It wasn't violent. >> I watched my terminology and I spoke to the people up there this morning and until we sit down with you, with Tanya, and with other people from the community and from St. John's, I'm going to ask
for both 3.3 and 3.4 to be pulled till next month because you don't get back to us. You don't explain anything. And I'm tired of it. And I'm said 3.3 and 3.4. You mean 3.2 >> 2.2 and 2 point uh 3.3
>> I spoke to >> Yeah. You want to um and explain to the councilman. >> Um so I'm I would be happy to sit down with you tomorrow. >> Not with me. You got to sit down with the neighborhood and other people. There's uh Lipky, there's uh uh Mike
Manzo uh on 3.3. I mean, you come up with all these things, but you don't come to the community and explain things. And people of Ward C are tired of it. And I'm tired of it. I'm tired of what's going on. I'm tired of uh like seeing uh Palisade Amu destroyed, five
corners destroyed, and nobody does a damn thing. Nobody gets back to us. They just do things now. And in all their years in the city, I've never seen it like this. >> Let me ask you a question. >> Yeah, there was a lot of back and forth. Um, we took out a large part of this
amendment at the request of the councilman. Um, which uh is incorporated in this. So, it's no longer in this amendment. It's no longer part of the scope of this amendment. If there I I didn't realize that there was an issue
with 3000 Kennedy. This was that was made explicit in the authorizing resolution from last August 2024. If that is an element that is uh severable at this time, I think that the council should maybe entertain that and
we can better bring that element back because it is a discrete uh piece of this uh amendment. There are lots of other items that are working together to that have been in discussion for a very long time. um were even put
on hold for uh at the last amendment which uh precipitated that the council person's authorization in August of 2024 last year to bring this amendment again give more time to massage if that's an element that you want to remove this
time perhaps that's something that we can discuss I would like to discuss it before Wednesday's meeting if that's something that you wish but there are many items that I think the council should listen should hear the the at least the planning board's recommendation and if anyone has
questions I'd be happy to answer those. >> Not to delay anything I'd recommend if you're feasible Matt and councilman maybe just meet tomorrow with it. That way before the council makes decides to withdraw anything they just know they have a complete understanding of what they're withdrawing or what changes might be happen. >> All right, Matt, come on down to city hall tomorrow. Let's sit down and talk
about it. And as far as 3.3, I spoke to Mike Manzo. The developer was supposed to come back, meet with the people. They've changed things. They never met with the people and the people down there are ticked off. >> Okay. Uh so I I admittedly am not the
point person on this. Um and Tanya is away on vacation, >> but there is council here that is petitioning for this amendment should you wish to have them up to answer any questions. Um, I think that it
before this item is concluded before caucus, perhaps the rest of the council would want, >> you know, Matt, when a developer says they're coming back to the community, they make changes and they're coming back to the community to explain this and they don't show up and they just go to you people and they want to get
approval. No, it don't work that way anymore. I'm sorry. So, uh, maybe Mike Manso, if I can get him down here tomorrow and a couple of people from the neighborhood, let's have a meeting. come on down here and let's sit down. But you know, >> you know what my concern is? Do we have
a list of community groups? Um the reason why I say that cuz he he just keeps saying one name. And the dangerous thing is when we pass law, we pass it based on one person >> and then we adjust it again and then another person come back and say we didn't meet with them. So my concern is
always is there a community group that you know you guys meet with and based on the feedback you get from them then y'all move forward because I know in uh any project you're not going to satisfy everybody. You're not but if there's a community group that represents the
community then I think it's fair for them you know to really be you know have a voice at the table because he just keeps saying one person but how does the other community feels? That's all I just want to know, Rich. Cuz then if he say something and then somebody else say, "Well, you know, we didn't we didn't
agree with that." Then we'll be having Matt going like a yo-yo back and forth here trying to please. But based on the first ordinance, he said he spoke to the councilman and he made some adjustments. >> Mike represents the community down there and he represents a lot of people Marian
and you know they the was supposed to come back speak to them and he never did. So I spoke to him this morning. I spoke to Steve Lipsky this morning and I spoke to others this morning and uh you know Matt like I said uh we were
supposed to sit down and all this was supposed to be explained and it never was you know and after that meeting where all those people were there and you saw how uh angry those people were in a nice way they were angry okay but uh
>> it was a constructive conversation so I I appreciate you organizing that meeting it was a very constructive meeting >> yeah appreciate So, um, I guess Rich is going to set up a meeting in the morning, make sure these voices are heard, and after that, we'll just keep moving forward. I think
>> I will say that I'm not I'm a little bit behind the eightball on the second item, which is 3.3, ordinance 25-087. Mhm. >> Um I would prefer I can I can attend the
meeting but I would >> believe that the council person or I mean sorry the council >> who is uh petitioning for this amendment on behalf of their client would also >> would like to probably have time to speak with the council and anyone else
uh that might uh have questions on that item. >> Do we still want to invite that person up? They're here. They are here. Um, let them meet with um, Rich afterwards. They're here. Just come see Rich after. >> Okay. Understood. >> Okay. >> All right. I have two more items.
Uh, resolution 10.33 uh,25-527. This is a resolution of I'm sorry. A resolution of the municipal council of the city of Jersey City authorizing the planning board to conduct a preliminary
investigation of the conditions of block 6001 lot 45 study area for determination as an area in need of redevelopment without the power of condemnation I've described herein pursuant to the local and housing
uh redevelopment law I'm sorry local redevelopment housing law um there there's a app attached to this resolution. Uh this was a request that came to city planning uh from the
administration. Uh it is already in a redevelopment area. Uh however, this is a redevelopment plan that has existed for some time and uh we staff felt it uh necessary as a first step to restudy it
or uh as an area needed redevelopment prior to any further consideration by council. And the last resolution uh is 10.51 on the agenda. Resolution 25-545.
It's a resolution of the city council of the city of Jersey City directing the planning board to prepare an amendment or revision to the powerhouse arts redevelopment plan. Uh this is a um resolution that um
will ask us to take a look at um the powerhouse redevelopment plan. We believe that we forwarded uh this this request uh to to uh the the downtown ward council person um and uh understood that there
>> um they were >> what and I can be a surprise. >> Yeah, I can I can speak briefly about this. So this is the forwarding for the planning board. So the planning board would study and obviously come back with recommendations. Um there is a surface parking lot uh on the corner of um
Morgan and Warren that uh is uh has a uh you know as of right development of around 12 stories. Uh the current owner or or under contract is making a proposal to increase that to 20 stories. Um, and so the sort of core changes are obviously you're adding more units,
you're adding more height. Um, you would be going from zero affordable to 15% affordable. Um, and they're adding art space and they're adding an infrastructure improvement. Um, so they're adding a lot back to the community. Um, there's a community meeting to be held about it. Um, I think next week or this it's either this week
or next week, but we will forward everybody the information so anyone people and staff can be a part of that. Um, and on our end, you know, we want to hear what both the community and the planning board have to say before it comes back to to council. >> Thank Thank you for your time.
>> Asia. >> Good morning, council. Uh, Deja Anderson, director of division of community development. I have six resolutions for you today. The first one is item 10.25. That's resolution 25-519.
Um this is a resolution to reprogram community development block grant cares act. So that's that corona virus funding um from the department of recreation to the department of health and human
services. um the city was able to identify other funds. So we are reducing the award um to cover HHS for $290,296.84 staffing and the associated
uh expenses for operating the Ruby bus. The next item that I have for you is 10.26. That's Reso 25-520. And it's a resolution to authorize the business administrator to execute a
discharge of the mortgage encumbering 133 Clerk Street in Jersey City. Um, the home owner did receive neighborhood stabilization funds in the amount of $110,725. All terms for the mortgage have been
satisfied and the city is obligated to discharge. Okay. The next item that I have for you is 10.27. That's resolution 25-521. And this is a resolution authorizing um the program of awards and contracts
under our community service block grant for the 2025 program year. Um again this is pass through funding from the US Department of Health and Human Services to the state of New Jersey to us. This
funding does come in two tranches. So this is for us to accept the first trunch of funding which is going to focus on food and security services by us funding Graceban boards community service HHS let's celebrate and the
sharing place. >> Okay. The next item that I have for you is 10.28. That's resolution 25-522. Um, and this is a resolution to authorize the business administrator to execute the discharge of a mortgage
encumbering 410-412 Holiday Street in Jersey City. And this owner did receive funding under the Home Investments Partnership Program in the amount of $52,000.
Um, all requirements under this mortgage have been satisfied and the city is obligated to discharge. Okay. The next item that I have for you is 10.29, which is resolution 25-523.
Um, this is a resolution asking um to be able to amend a prior resolution 24-678, which would authorize the sale of 362 Hoboken Avenue, unit 302. Um it has a
aka that address is also known as 65 Pleat Street. Um and this would also authorize um the new property owner to assume the city's notes, the mortgage, and the deed restriction that encumber the property.
So this is a unit that is held by a qualified low to moderate income buyer. They are looking to sell. They are going to sell to another qualified lowincome buyer. Okay. Um, there was an accompanying resolution to this that
does not seem that it made the agenda. Um, however, this would also require a mortgage subordination cuz the city's now mortgage that encumber this property needs to move to a lower position so this new individual can secure the
mortgage to actually purchase the property. So, um, council president, at this time I don't know if there's the possibility for me to be able to walk on this mortgage. um assumption resolution, but without this going on, the purchaser
would have to push back their mortgage closing until after our next meeting on September the 10th, and that is not ideal. >> Okay, thank you very much. Okay, and the last item that I have for you is
actually resolution 10.62. That is resolution 25-556. And this is a resolution to authorize amendments to and the forgiveness of notes made by Fairmont Hotel Urban
Renewal Associates LP to the city of Jersey City and authorizing the discharge of mortgage for the acquisition and renovation of 2595 Kennedy Boulevard, also known as the
Fairmont Hotel. Um, so you have the resolution in front of you, but in summary, um, and for the record, um, the Fairmount Hotel did receive home, um, investment grant for the property. Um,
and this was over 30 years ago. Um, they received home, they received CDBG, they received linkage funds and the property. um the total amount that they receive from the city. I'm sorry I don't have that number uh
added up for you. However, um the prior director of this office in this mortgage note did add in uh a interest rate with a balloon payment that would be due to the city at the end of the restricted
period. This property's restricted period ended on November the 28th in 2024. I have been in communication with the property owner in addition to um the state of New Jersey um with this sale.
the property owner is already has application into the state for a specific grant program specifically for buildings who have affordable restrictions that are looking to expire for them to be able to do
rehabilitation work in the property. The payment due to the city is $2,27254 uh40. Um, should the city decide not to wave this repayment, that would make the
Fairmount Hotel, which is currently affordable senior housing, market rate housing. um by discharging this repayment and I do in thinking of thought process and intent of why this repayment was written into this
particular program was to give the city uh a space for negotiation to be able to incur some new affordable restrictions in the future. But by way of um not requiring this repayment and waving this
obligation, they can apply for the state funds. they can do the needed and necessary repairs to this senior housing. The state will then encumber this property for a period of 30 up to 45 years. So we will retain this senior housing. We will be able to retain it as
affordable which I think is in the best interest of not only the city, the residents that reside in the building. Okay. Do you guys have any questions for me on this? Director, is there um you assuming this all moves forward, what what's the plan as the repairs are done
for the seniors, are they going to be relocated during the repair process? Are the repairs going to be done while they're in unit? Do we have any details on that piece of this? >> So this whole process for the repair, so once you guys approve this resolution, I will not have any additional oversight
over the process. So the state of New Jersey is going to be managing that process moving forward. However, to address that, I did have this conversation with the current property owners. Um, this work is going to trigger the Uniform Relocation Act. It's
going to require him to put a plan together ahead of time on how he intends to do the rehab work for the seniors. I'm aware that there was a newspaper article discussing this and discussing the concerns of the residents, which I did also put forth to the current
property owner. now as his potentially modified plans on how he wants to work with the seniors, provide them with other locations. I don't know if he currently has vacant units where he can put seniors and then work inside of the unit in the building and then put them
back. There's a host of ways that we can do this process. Um, I am willing to be a partner in conversation, but I just wanted to be really clear that I have no ordinance or anything behind me to force conversation or force for any of these
actions. But I can share point contact with uh NJHMFA and who's going to be working with the property owner on this. So, as the city, we can still advocate for our residents as required. That'd be great if you could share the contact as well as for both the developer and NJ HMFA.
>> That is absolutely not a problem. >> Thank you, >> director. I want to thank you. Um the director invited me down to her department. I met with her staff. They're unbelievable. They truly care about people of Jersey City. They
explained everything that's available to me to the citizens and I really appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. And that offer stands to any member of the council should you ever want to come down to community development and have a more focused talk on how our resources can impact and
support your ward specifically. Um the team is always available. >> Director, where's your office >> at 4 Jackson Square right on the first floor. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Director, before you go, if you would be so kind just to email me the title of that resolution that we're adding on to
the agenda. >> Okay. I think we already went in and switched it to September the 10th. So, I have that date modification for you. Thank you so much. You got it. >> Chief Johnson Council,
>> good morning, Chief. >> I'm just here for the resolution about one of our apparatus that we're repurchasing. >> Which number is that, >> Council President? 1019 resolution 25-51, sorry, 513.
It's just a replacement for an apparatus. Most of our apparatus supposed to be replaced in 10ear terms. We have this specific apparatus is a tiller truck needed for certain areas of the city. I'm well aware that the
expenditures for apparatus the last several years went through the roof. They've doubled in the last 10 years in pricing, but this apparatus is um it's overdue and it's needed. I know there's we've just had meetings with the city recently about more apparatus that are
needed and we're in the process of ordering more apparatus after this one. >> Questions? >> Just to add to that, what we generally try to do is purchase one or two every other year. That way there's no point in time where we have multiple failures which of course impacts public safety
but also greatly impacts the financing of the city. So we generally try to spread these out you know evenly as much as we can. This one in question I think we have two current ones but one was built in 1992 the other was built in 1996. So they're quickly approaching end of life and we just want to make sure
that we're prepared going forward. >> Thank you. Just currently we have on a daily basis 28 to 30 apparatus on duty every day and because of the rigorous job that we do
and the using apparatus 24/7 our apparatus are wear down all the time and break down. So we do have currently about 10 spare apparatus that are older apparatus that we've recycled and the need for replacements is really needed
for the department moving forward. So to to get one or two every year is vital for us to keep moving forward. >> Um actually I I just want to chime into that. Uh cuz the chief nailed it. If if any of us want to go by DPW and you look
at the fire garage, you know, there's usually a lot of apparatuses there that that's in need of repair. But and I know it's a it's a costly uh thing to pay. But the more we go up
in this city and the more buildings we build in this city, we need to make sure that, you know, we have fire apparatuses, you know. So, uh, it's sad because a lot of the times these fire houses are are are operating
on spares that are 25 26 years old, right? Not only do you put the residents at danger, but you also put the firefighters at danger as well. So, I mean, if we could kind of like maybe make sure that, you know, we don't get
to that close to uh having apparatuses uh not not that many apparatuses. It would be great. And and this is just not uh to the fire department. We have the same situation in the police department as well where they need equipment and
they need uh things uh to to work on a daily basis. So, we'll be on that. Um, and really quickly, we just have one more item. I just want to keep the chief here in case anyone has questions. We have 1063, item 25-557.
That's a safer grant. Um, that's a grant where we receive federal dollars to help us pay for fire personnel and different things throughout the fire department. Um, it's in the millions of dollars, so it's very important the city receive this. Um, we're just working through some of the language because with the change administration federally, there's
been new language updates. We're just making sure that comports with what we believe and what we idolize in the city. Um so we want to put that forward just because we're at a time constraint there, but we'll have updates for you if necessary by Wednesday. >> Just to add one point about apparatus.
Um the reason why there's a necessity for ordering these apparatus is because the time frame to receive them, we're looking at 3 to four years in build times to receive an apparatus. So this apparatus you're voting on, we we actually received it already. is built, it's ordered and we have it in in the
city. But future apparatus could take 3 to four years to just build it. So that that's a factor involved with our concern with apparatus moving forward. We have to look at it, you know, five years from now receiving apparatus that we're ordering today. >> Got
thank you. >> Okay. All right, on to our first readings. Items 3.1 through 3.3 were touched on earlier. Item 3.4, 4, city ordinance 25-088 is a franchise ordinance granting
permission to 88 Region Street LLC and the successes in the signs to have private improvements in the public ride of way of Regent Street adjacent to the property located at 88 Region Street, Jersey City, New Jersey, identified on the tax maps of the city of Jersey City
as block 14002, lots 1.02 and 1.06. Item 3.5, city ordinance 25-0089, is a franchise ordinance granting
permission to Ian Gutch and Shannon Smith pursuant to resolution of the planning board of the city of Jersey City under case number P22024-0135 allowing the installation of a common entry stoop and stair that, God bless
you, that extended into the right of way beyond the boundary. three lines of lot 30 block 1 19007 and are for the benefit of lot 30 block 1 19007 commonly known as 328 Holiday Street in Jersey City, New Jersey. Item
3.6 Six. Ordinance 25-090 is an ordinance authorizing the city of Jersey City to executed an extension of a lease with New Jersey schools development authority on the real property at block 21102,
lot 52 on the city's tax map located at 70 EG Avenue for the purpose of temporary parking for the Ver JC service. >> Hold on, Sean. Um, VA, what what are we doing here? We I asked I think two years
ago and that was supposed to be the last time. We subsequently did I think two more extensions and now this is the third one. You guys don't have a plan. >> We do have a plan. There's actually another item on the agenda that addresses that. Um we did an RFP. The
RFP was worked on, decided. The committee selected a new vendor. Um it'll be River North Transit which is VIA. Um, part of the RFP was requesting them to have a proposal to us where they had to actually provide their own parking. So, we didn't have the solution anymore. So, that's included in their uh
the RFP and the contract that we're working out with them. Um, that's another item on this agenda. The one that we're putting up now is just for another 3 months because in the interim while we finalize everything, we don't want to have a situation where the cars can't be parked anywhere and you know, we have to stop services.
>> You said that last three times. >> Say that again. You said that the last three times. >> The item is actually on the agenda this time, Councilman. >> Goodness. Yeah, Sean. >> Thank you. Item 3.7, city ordinance 25-091,
is an ordinance supplementing chapter 332, vehicles and traffic, article 9, parking for the disabled of the Jersey City Code, designated reserve parking space at various locations throughout the city. Item 3.8, 8 city ordinance 25-092
is an ordinance supplementing chapter 332 vehicles and traffic article 2 traffic regulations amending section 332-9 stop intersections to designate various intersections in the Heights neighborhood into multi-way stop
intersections 3.9 city ordinance 25-093 is an ordinance supplementing chapter 332 vehicles and traffic article 3 parking standing stopping amending section 332-24 parking prohibited certain hours along Van Winkle Avenue between Tunnel Avenue
and Liberty Avenue. And last but not least, 3.10 city resol ordinance, excuse me, 25-094 is an ordinance supplementing 332 vehicles and traffic. Article 8 permit parking amending section 332-58
parking restrictions in residential zones to extend parking zone 2 to include Clifton Place between Fairmont Avenue and Summit Avenue. On to our second reading ordinances. Item 4.1, city ordinance 25-078.
This is an ordinance authorizing the city of Jersey City to renew the lease with Riverview Community Garden for the use of block 30002 lot 2, more commonly known as 285 Ogden Avenue for a community garden. Item 4.2, 2. City Ordinance 25-079 is an ordinance
authorizing the acceptance, excuse me, authorizing the the accepting the deed of a street and sidewalks on a portion of Chapel Avenue situated at block 27503, lot 14- 14.01.
Item 4.3, city ordinance 25-080, is an ordinance authorizing the execution of an easement, access, and maintenance agreement between 500 Communipore Avenue LLC and the city of Jersey City in connection with the construction of a
residential building at 500-510 Communor Avenue. Item 4.4, 4 city ordinance 25-081 is an ordinance authorizing the city of Jersey City to acquire certain real property known as block 27503
lot 13.01 on the city's tax map located on the foot of Chapel Avenue from Liberty National Development Corporation LLC for the purposes of ensuring continued ferry service to the public. Item 4.5,
city ordinance 25-082 is an ordinance of the city of Jersey City Municipal Council amending chapter 163, firearms and weapons to add article six firearm storage requirements. Item
4.6, 6 city ordinance 25-083 is an ordinance supplementing chapter 332 vehicles and traffic article 3 parking standing stopping amending section 332-24 parking prohibited at certain hours at St. Joseph School, 509 Pavonia Avenue.
And item 4.7, city ordinance 25-084, is an ordinance supplementing chapter 332, vehicles and traffic, article 2, traffic regulations, section 332-8, prohibited right turns on red signal tohibit turns on on red at all times at various
locations intersection, excuse me, various intersections along Summit Avenue, in Journal Square Neighborhood, and at Grand Street. We will have a public hearing on the 2025 2026 Journal Square special
improvement assessment role and budget and then we'll have our public speakers. Right now it's at 16. Any questions or comments on petitions and communications item 6.1 through 6 I4
hearing? None. Any questions or comments on office communications 7.1 through 7.10 hearing? None. Any questions or comments on reported directors 8.1 through 8.3? We have our claims. And going right into
the resolutions. Items 10.1 through 10.8 were touched on earlier. Item 10.9, resolution 25-503, is a resolution of the municipal council of the city of Jersey City authorizing the award of program contracts to various nonprofit awardes for the summer
of 2025. >> Is this for the administration? Is this through the cannabis funds or could you give more information about this? >> Yes, I believe this is the community groups related to cannabis funds. There are some applicants that for whatever reason weren't included last time. So, we just want to make sure that they
didn't miss out on these funding opportunities. >> Would you guys be able to send us a list of everyone who applied and then how much was awarded? So, like did everyone get one? Did some groups get one and some groups didn't? Just that so we get the full overview of of who applied and what awards were given. >> Absolutely. And I think the previous
ones I'll send everyone. There's usually a separate amount between 5 and $10,000 everyone qualified for depending on their application. Some got, you know, the lower end, some got towards the higher end. Um, but they had to justify that in their application. >> Okay. Thank you.
Okay. Item 10.10, resolution 25-504, is a resolution rejecting all bids received by the city of Jersey City on June 5th, 2025 for providing financial advisory services. Item 10.11,
resolution 25-505 is a resolution recognizing coach Isaiah Thomas and the Snider High School track team for the excellence in athletics and supporting equitable recognition for student athletes.
Item 10.12 resolution 25-506 is a resolution ratifying the extension of professional service contract with Sterulich Garulo Twin Burrow PT Associates on a month-to-month basis until new contract is awarded for the division of risk management and
authorizing the payment of a claim. 10.13 was touched on earlier. 10.14 resolution 25-508 is a resolution reappointing Rachel B as a member of the Jersey City Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Item 10.15,
resolution 25-509, is a resolution introducing and approving the 2025 2026 budget of the Mcinley Square Special Improvement District, directing the city clerk to publicly advertise the budget and schedule a public hearing, and directing the tax assessor to prepare an
assessment role of properties within the district based upon the budget. Item 10.16, resolution 25-510 is a resolution accepting the 2025 2026 assessment role of the Journal Square special improvement district of the city
of Jersey City. Item 10.1725-511 is a resolution adopting and ratifying the 2025 2026 budget of the general square special improvement district of the city of Jersey City. Item 10.1825. Resolution 25-512 is a resolution
appoint appointing Omar Manning as the fire official of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire and Emergency Services, Bureau of Fire Prevention. >> Briefly, I have a legal question and a substantive question. On the legal question, um, is this a tenure
appointment? Is it a how does the kind of appointment work um, in this case? Uh I'm not certain. I'll I'll look into it. I'm not sure who submitted this. >> Okay, that'd be great. And and then just on on a sub basis, we'll reach out to um uh fire officer Manning to set up a
conversation. We we've had two events since he's been the acting fire official where there were some concerns expressed to us. Uh you know, I obviously don't know all the facts. I don't want to, you know, but I I do want to flag I will reach out to him, talk about those two things prior to a vote, uh and let the council know.
And Kevin, if you need any support from administration, let us know. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Item 10.19 was touched on earlier. Item 10.20, resolution 25-514, is a resolution authorizing the cancellation of unexpected budget
appropriation balances of the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Disease Prevention. Hey. Um, Peter, can you give us I'm trying to see um cuz I noticed no one from the health
department wasn't here today. Um, so what what specifically um what happened here as as it relates to this STD testing services? Give me one second, Councilman.
Sean, do you want to go and then come back? >> Uh, if you guys don't mind, I'll come back to uh 10.20 that we want to come back to. >> Yeah, let me see if I can get more information about it. Worst case scenario, we can pull it and then we can always put it back on if we're not for the responses.
>> Okay. 10.21, which touched on earlier. Item 10.22, 22 resolution 25-516 is a resolution authorizing the city of Jersey City to apply for and accept grant funding from New Jersey Department of Health under the fiscal year 2026
strengthening local public health capacity grant program to build infectious disease preparedness and response capacity. Item 10.23 23. Resolution 25-517 is a resolution authorizing the city of
Jersey City to accept terms and conditions of the New Jersey Department of Health for Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services to license and inspect temporary food vendors operating at festivals and other special events held on Liberty State Park property and
execute a letter of understanding. Item 10.24, 24. Resolution 25-518 is a resolution authorizing the payment of a claim submitted by Long View International Technology Solutions for installing and servicing kiosks that
dispense health testing and harm prevention products for the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Disease Prevention. Item 10 point items 10.25 through 10.33 were touched on earlier. Item 10.34
25 resolution 25-528 is a resolution authorizing the execution of a subreient agreement with the city of Hoboken in connection with the United States Department of Transportation's grant award to the city of Jersey City for safer streets and for
roads for all grant item 10.35 resolution 25-529 is a resolution authorizing the city of Jersey City to apply apply for and accept grant funding from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs under
the fiscal year 2025 capital improvement program to support the demolition and asbestous reuniation of Hudson County Administration building. Item 10.36, resolution 25-530 is a resolution authorizing the traffic
engineer to provide by regulation for the temporary closing of Third Street from Erie Street to Manila Avenue for school use where such closing is necessary for the prevention of the preservation, excuse me, of public
safety, health or welfare. Item 10.37, resolution 25-531 is a resolution supplementing the manual of the loading zone designations of the city of Jersey City designating the loading zone at 71 SIP Avenue. Item 10.38, resolution
25-532 is a resolution supplementing the manual of loading zone designations of the city of Jersey City designating loading zone at 626 Newark Avenue. Item 10.39, resolution 25-533 is a resolution supplementing the manual of loading zone
designations of the city of Jersey City designating a loading zone as various locations within the proximity of Newark Avenue pedestrian mall. Item 10.40 40 resolution 25-534 is a resolution authorizing the award of
a contract to power concrete for the the 2025 on call concrete ADA ramps project number 2025-05005-e for the department of infrastructure division of engineering >> just briefly I know the department of
not here um you know one of the things that Hoboken did very successfully in vision zero is anytime an ad ramp was done they would also do the bumpouts with it. Um, and we haven't done that and prior to approving this contract, I'd like to see if that's something we can add to what we're doing. So, I'll
I'll put that in an email. Uh, but then if that doesn't if we don't have clarity before Wednesday, would would want to make sure we have a a you know, a plan in place going forward. >> Thanks. Okay. Item 10.41, 41 city resolution 25-535 is a resolution
authorizing the award of professional service agreement collier engineering and design ma ma maser construction PA for the implementation of the operations and maintenance plan for the remainder of 2025 through the first quarter of
2026 on the PJP landfill project landfill site excuse me project number 10-018 at 400 SIP Avenue Route Routes 1 and N for the Department of Infrastructure Division of Engineering.
Item 10.42 resolution 25-536 is a resolution authorizing the payment of a claim submitted by Ironbound Community Corporation for the Resilient Northeastern Action Plan. Items 10.43 through 10.46 were touched on earlier.
Item 10.47, 47 resolution 25-541 is a resolution authorizing the award of a contract to AM Inc. to upgrade and replace the existing proprietary Johnston Controls Inc. Building Management System at the Jersey City
Police West District under the state contract for the Department of Public Works Division of Building and Street Maintenance. Item 10.48, 48. Resolution 25-542 is a resolution removing the restrictive covenant that affects block 22305,
lot 5, also known as 204 Orian Avenue in Jersey City. >> Peter, can you give us some background on this? >> Uh, this is 1048. Councilman, let me see. One second. You want come back to that one at the end. I have the question. We'll
>> come back to those two. Sean. >> All right. Next item 10.49 49 resolution 25-543 is a resolution authorizing the city tax collector to enter into a written agreement for a pilot payment in installment plan for a AHM
housing associates uh for LLC sorry Penrose Properties excuse me >> from >> yes >> my office submitted those so for 1049 and 1054 we subitted um on behalf of our office as well as the tax collector.
Just as a summary, uh there's always a back and forth about whether or not somebody owes us money. Um for $1049, we all agree that there was an underpayment and we'll be um getting $153,742 in this payment plan for 1049. And then
as to 1054, that was the result of some tax appeals and some back and forth. And this city um and the um other party agree that we're still owed a little bit over a million dollars and they will be paying that to us in monthly
installments over the next uh two years. That's money coming in. >> Hey, thanks. >> Okay. Thank you. money in the bank. >> So now we are at 10 1049 and 1050 and 1051 were touched
on earlier. 10.52 Resolution 25-546 is a resolution authorizing the award of professional services contract to Langden Engineering and Environmental Services LLC in connection with a comprehensive building demolition service including
testing of existing materials design specifications on bid documents for the county administration building demolition project 2023-019 for the department of infrastructure division of architecture. Item 10.53 and 54 were touched on
earlier. Item 10.55, resolution 25-549 is a resolution ratifying emergency contract award to Princeton Hydro LLC for routine mechanical weed and alleged harvest >> algae harvesting services for reservoir
3 for the department of infrastructure division of architecture. Thank you. Item 10.56, resolution 25-550, is a resolution authorizing the renewal of a contract of statewide striping corporation for the citywide traffic
striping program for project number 2025-003 for the Department of Infrastructure Division of Traffic Engineering. Item 10.57, resolution 25-551 is a resolution authorizing the award of
a contract to Smith ashalt construction for the communor avenue safety improvements for Jersey City project number 15-00004-T federal project number HSIP-1691 for the department of infrastructure division of engineering
>> Sean >> yes >> for that one 57 and 58 8. I don't know if there's anybody here that can kind of >> so for 10.57 and 10.58. >> Yeah. >> So, there is a memo that is in front of
all of the council and I I I actually emailed the memo to >> Yeah, I think these are um Yeah, we can email it. >> Yeah, these are director Patel's uh items. I did clarify with her that this isn't changing directions of lanes or
anything like that. This is more about street improvements, traffic signals, lights, things of that nature. Um, beautifification, striping, etc. But I can have her give you more information or if there's anything specific you want, you can contact her directly. >> Yeah, because it doesn't say on here and it says safety improvements, but I'm not
sure what that means. >> So, Councilwoman, if you wouldn't mind just emailing the director and I'm sure she'll be able to answer the questions on both 10.57 and 10.58. And I'll just read 10.58 into the
record. Resolution 25-552 is a resolution authorized in the water professional services contract to TNM Associates for the construction engineering management and inspection services for community avenue safety improvements Jersey City project number
15-004-T federal project number HSIP-1691 for the department of infrastructure division of engineering 10.59 resolution 25-553 is a resolution authorizing the water of a competitively bid contract to
River North Transit LLC to provide ondemand microtransit services for the city of Jersey City. Item 10.60 60 resolution 25-554 is a resolution authorizing the award of competitively bid contract to alta
planning and design to provide professional planning services for the department of excuse me for the development of Hoboken vision zero action plan update and supplemental studies item 10.61 61 resolution 25-555.
It's a resolution authorizing the award of competitively bid contract to the street plans collaborative to provide professional planning services for the development of the Jersey City Vision Zero Action Plan update and supplement
supplemental studies items. >> Sorry. Um Oh, go ahead. >> For 1060. I'm just trying to figure this out. So I guess I guess Jersey City is a subreient of a Hoboken grant. Okay, that's why it says we're doing this for Hoboken. Okay, we'll we'll get some
emails. I just wanted to make sure we weren't paying for Hoboken. No, >> Council, we're not. There's actually three resolutions are all connecting each other. One approving the Hoboken SL city side and then the individual awards to the individuals. >> Okay, got it. That makes sense. I just was a little confused for a minute.
>> Yeah. And that that >> I mean I I like those guys but >> that's also >> we don't need our money. >> Not that much. >> Yeah, not that much. >> That's also another one from the Department of Infrastructure. >> Okay, I got it. Makes sense now. >> Okay. Items 10.622
through 10.65 were touched on earlier. Item 10.66, resolution 25-50 560. a resolution of the Jersey City Municipal Council in the support of BLSC
Housing Group application to New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund Program for proposed affordable housing project at 314-316 Martha Luther King Drive, block 22604,
lot 24. And the last item on the agenda, item 10.67, 67 resolution 25-561, a resolution authorizing the closure of the public right of way per ordinance 25-073
in connection with the Jersey City Marathon half marathon for Sunday, April 19th, 2026. Real quick, council, I address the two that you pulled out. Uh 1020, that was the disease prevention from HHS. that looks like it's a cancellation of three
separate grants from 2022 to 2023 in the amount of about $59,000 total. One of those is a federal grant for HIV. Um and the other was spending about $13,000 for another grant. Um I'm not exactly sure. It looks like the funds might just weren't expended because they were able
to do the services less than what we originally got the grant for, but I'll get the exact details of why the $59,000 wasn't spent. That was Unix. We're not giving anything back. We don't have to. Um, and then for 1048, uh, it looks like that was a restrictive covenant that was a coordinated deed back in 1971. So, essentially the city-
owned property. They sold it to a private individual. They sold it. They put language that deed saying certain things can't be built there. Among them, chemical plants, car storage, all that kind of stuff. They're removing that because one of the things it says was horizont horizontal condominiums, but the area is zoned for highrises. So,
it's a, you know, it's a conflict there. So, just removing that body of language. All right. >> Motion. >> I'll ask for a motion to adjourn at 12:17. Motion was made by council person Gilmore. May I have a second? >> Second.
>> Second by council person was first. On the motion to adjourn at 12:17 p.m. All council members present by acclamation, please say I. >> We are out of here at 12:17 p.m. Thank you so much everyone present and everyone watching at home. Remember teamwork makes the dreamwork. Have a
great rest of the day and stay safe.