Good morning. Welcome to the premeating of the North Municipal Council on Tuesday, July 14th. Council President, council members, we need to start on page 58 because we have an appointment. Item 8A is an appointment to the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning advisory commission. Is Mr. Paul Aonte Familia Jr. here? Mr. Ponte I don't see him. >> On vacation. >> He's not here. >> Not here.
>> On vacation. >> Okay. >> He's on vacation. >> Not appearing. >> Council President, council members, we are on page three of the agenda. Item five, reports and recommendations of city officers, boards, and commissions.
>> Okay. Any questions? See? None. Continue. >> Ordinances on public hearing. Second reading and final passage 6P SFA is an ordinance ratifying and authorizing a 10-year extension to the tax abatement granted to Claremont Newark Urban
Renewal LLC for a project to undertake improvements to the FBI building. >> Any questions? See? None. Continue. >> B. an ordinance amending special improvement districts to amend various sections increasing the administrative
fee retained by the city tax collector from 1% to 2%. >> Any questions? None. Continue. C is an ordinance granting a 20-year tax abatement to 452
South Orange Avenue Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the West Ward to construct a five-story mixeduse building consisting of 34 residential units, 27 market rate, and seven
affordable. Sponsored by Councilman Kelly, second by Councilman Council. >> Any questions? I just have one quick question. >> I think as we're [snorts] moving through these ordinances, we need to seriously
reconsider the AMI that the city has put out. Um I love that we're building things, but the average Norcer cannot get into these units when the income is starting at 895. Um, I don't know how uh we do that, but I will be introducing
something through motions tomorrow. But we have to change that because there are too many people being evicted from North Housing Authority that are allegedly low income and even families moving forward. Um, children coming out of the family's home trying to leave before they get 40.
Um, it's impossible because we're not making that income level. So, I would love for us to adjust majorly the AMI that we are requiring um for tenants to get into these new buildings. Thank you. E is an ordinance granting a 25year tax
abatement to Cono Homes Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the North Ward to construct a new fivestory residential building with 65 residential units consisting of 52 market rate and
13 affordable. >> Let's see. She said no. >> My apologies. I skipped D. >> My apologies. D is an ordinance granting a 20-year tax abatement to 518 South 16th Street Urban Renewal LLC for a
project located in the West Ward to construct a new low-rise multif family building with 20 residential units and 16 market rate units, four rental affordable units as well. Sponsored by
Councilman Kelly, second by Councilwoman Scott Roundtree. >> Any questions? I see none. Continue. Now E, an ordinance granting a 25-year tax abatement to Concaso Homes Urban Renewal LLC for a project
located in the north ward to construct a new fivestory residential building with 65 residential unit consisting of 52 market rate and 13 affordable units. >> Council, you want to sponsor? Um, sure.
Councilman second president >> sponsored and second by council rounder by Ramos Mover. >> Continue. >> F is an ordinance amending stopping, standing and parking by adding a new section entitled limitation on parking
of motor vehicles by certain commercial establishments sponsored by Councilman Ramos. Second by Councilman Silva. >> Any questions? See none. Continue. >> G is an ordinance authorizing amendments to the bylaws of invest.
>> Any questions? >> No questions. Sorry, Mr. President. >> Yes, Council M. >> I was going to say I believe that the last meeting we were asking for a list of the amendments and what they are and I don't think uh we've gotten that. >> Can we know that? >> I didn't get it.
>> Council Ramos. >> Yeah, it's Mr. President. It's not about this um ordinance, it's about the previous one. Um, would it be possible for the clerk's office to make sure that the police division sends out these
various ordinances that we've uh approved over the last six months to the different precinct captains because um last week we had our second precinct monthly meeting and you know the captains are not aware that some of these ordinances have have been passed
you know regarding restricting parking on lawns. um the ordinance that Councilman Silva recently sponsored about commercial vehicles. I think it's important that besides us taking action that that the individuals who are tasked with enforcing these ordinances are well
aware that this is now law so that they have those tools when they go out and um help some improve some of the quality of life issues that the residents are concerned with. >> Council. >> Yeah. Um, just for the BA, uh, last
month when I when we passed those ordinances regarding commercial vehicles, we sat down with the chief judge and the chief prosecutor and I brought in NOR police and the chief judge had mentioned to possibly create some type of committee that we would
meet once a month uh, from the council to the police to the courts to make sure that we're all on the same page as Councilman Ramos was saying. today. >> Good morning, Eric Pennington, business administrator. I certainly understand the intent of what it is you want to do,
but it' be inappropriate for the chief judge and police to have a meeting about the prosecution of claims uh without having a public defender and administration be present. And I generally think that that would not be
the appropriate approach. I'm happy to talk to you about what the uh appropriate way would be to go. I'm a little surprised chief judge didn't let me know that she was having these meetings. Um and I would have made myself available to attend and likely would have suggested a an alternate
route. I think back to Councilman Ramos's point about making sure that uh the police uh captains in the particular precincts are aware, we certainly should have uh that done. Uh, I don't know if the last legislation that Councilman
Silva sponsored that went through has gone through the 20-day waiting period. I think it has, uh, but we have to have the 20-day waiting period before it comes law. And then we can send that information out and we should do so. We we'll follow up on that and make sure um, on the court one, hopefully you and
I can talk about that a little bit further u outside of this, maybe even in in executive session. It was just more for them to uh cuz sometimes they don't get the information from here and cases get dismissed and that's what was happening. Uh and so it was just for us
to all be on the same page. That's all it was. There was no ongoing meetings. It was just one meeting just to make sure that everybody was on the same page regarding whenever the commercial vehicles or another ordinance that we're passing um comes in front of them,
they're aware of what the new ordinance changes. Yeah, I think the intention is absolutely fine. I don't want to go into too much detail, but I don't want there to be a perception that there is inappropriate influence from the legislative body on the court, but I but I I would like to talk to you about that
perhaps in executive session. >> Yeah. And and I think the clerk's office should take an active role just making sure that, you know, we I' I've sponsored a number of ordinances that deal with quality of life issues. I think it's great that we get word of the council, but you know, it's important
that the individuals at the precinct level on the police side know that these ordinances exist because those complaints do come up and Councilman Kintana has some of his staff there and um you know, we try the best we can to legislate to address some of the issues
um that that the residents bring up, but the enforcement is key and for them to know that we're, you know, th those issues are not being taken lightly. So >> that's right. If I could have the captain address. >> Yeah. >> Morning, council president and council
members. Uh Captain James George on behalf of the department of public safety. I can assure you the last two uh legislative changes that were made. There was memorandum put out to all police division users uh of our power DMS system that uh those changes took place, what they entailed. I wrote those
things myself. They were distributed. So maybe they just might be remiss of uh those uh notifications that went out, but uh I'll double check to make sure that everything uh that's current right now, anything that maybe I've missed, but uh those notifications are sent out that there is a feedback loop there.
>> Madame Clerk, as noted by Council Ramos, >> uh the correspondence to Department of Public Safety regarding his concerns. >> Yeah, Council President. >> Yes, Council. in in light of you know what council Ramos stated I don't think the the argument should be if the information went out I think it should
be what is the data behind it uh of all of the the ordinance passed what is the execution if it's happening if you can you know forward that information uh to the council because there was several ordinances that went out about the commercial vehicle vehicles that are parking now on sidewalks and grass and
you know the enforcement of of basic quality of life issues what is the parameters and and and uh you know significance behind making sure that those things are attended to um and even other ordinance that was passed uh in in in the past right like the clear
zone ordinance like where are we with that how many people have been ticketed to move away from these commercial corridors with the uptick in there like what does the data look like and we collect data about everything else in a police department um and we would just love to know what that data looks like
about quality of life issues in preparation for the uh some of the ordinance changes. We we look back in that data. I can get you updated data to see how enforcement looks like after the changes were made. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Jen.
>> H is an ordinance establishing the accessory dwelling unit assistance program and authorizing the use of federal proousing grant funds. >> Any questions? >> Yeah, Mr. Chairman Council. So, I I just want to make sure that when we're doing
the presentations that we are um in alignment with with with with the messaging when we talked previously about the uh ADUs and the possible grant uh to assist and to help individuals that uh are looking to go through the
process because there still is a process of making sure that you can build a additional dwelling unit in your R1 zone. uh that we are not talking about helping uh those who've already offended uh in the wrong in the wrong manner and
I think we need to be clear about that that if anyone has already done something illegally they should be fined um and they should not be able to you know go into a pool to look for support uh to be able to do that and so it's important because as we go out and have
these kind of community uh conversations we want to make sure that the the messaging is clear to residents so they're not confused about what can happen and what should happen. >> Absolutely, Jackson. >> And that's exactly to my point. Um [clears throat] there have been several presentations done and the community
doesn't even know what they're coming to the meeting for because they don't understand what it is. Um I think that this company needs to come before us and do a presentation if they already have a newcomer. I'm going to ask them to come back. The second thing I'm going to say is as we're going to allow people to
build on their property, we better understand that's going to cause additional parking issues. But you're talking about putting another structure and every time we put a structure, a building, there's at least two cars to everything we put there. And I understand where we have to tell people
stop parking on the lawn. Get all of that. But the parking in this city is atrocious. People have nowhere to park. The people that work in the daytime, when they come home, there's nothing there. the people that leave at night coming home and I know that's not the issue here but we are now talking about
putting more units on people's property and there are homeowners that may do that for their college student when they come home etc etc but we all know that the LLC boys as they begin to put this stuff on here this is about getting bodies in that unit and it'll be a
onebedroom and they'll have five people in there and all five of them will have a car a truck um almost commercial truck and that will need to be absorbed on the street. So, I want us to be cautious just because we think this is something good. We got enough empty units out here
that we don't need to be rushing into letting people put another house because they got a space where the garage is. I I just think that we need to pull back and and I know you probably already done went through you went and I'm new, but I'm just telling you this is not a good thing because you talking about more
traffic, more parking, more bodies, more garbage pickup. Are we considering that when we already having issues that we have now? >> Deputy mayor, deputy mayor. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Uh good morning, council president. Uh, council members, Allison Lad, director of economic and housing development. Um, and I wanted to give a little bit of background on the accessory dwelling unit program. Uh, first, uh, the, um,
mayor and the council approved the ability to create ADUs, um, when we voted on the master plan and then the Newark land use and zoning ordinance. Um, in that approval,
all requests for um, creating an ADU had to be approved by the central planning board. Also had to meet about um, a dozen or more criteria regarding bulk standards and height issues and ensuring
that the lot size was appropriate. In addition, if the site is in a historic district, the landmarks and historic is also required to approve uh the application prior to it going to
central planning board. Um second, the effort that we have before you today is to provide funding to um compliant homeowners who want to
build an ADU in their backyard. So this is not about the non-compliant ones. This is about someone new. So, say, you know, I have a property in the west ward and I want to build an ADU. They have to
come into planning and zoning office, submit an application, have it reviewed by the planning board before it can even be considered as legal and able to be constructed. Um, second, what we were
doing is designing a program using funding, which is these dollars we received competitively from HUD a few years back called Pro Housing. And what we want to do is make sure those units are affordable.
So you not only can create an ADU, but then second, if you apply for these funds, then you're able to create an ADU with affordability requirements. And so um what we did over the last couple weeks is we held um some community
meetings. The meetings were held in the south uh west and north ward because that's where the R1 zones are. There are no R1 zones in the east or in the central ward. Um so I'm happy to today
send you um the slide deck that we prepared and that we provided to the community. Um I believe it's posted on the website. Um and I'm also willing to answer any questions now or later. But we agree in closing that the illegal
ADUs should not exist. Um, the mayor has been firm about that as well. I know he's talking to the engineering department about it. We've been on a few community walks and we've actually seen the illegal ADUs where we've had to close them down. And so, I just wanted
to convey that we know there are some that are done improperly and shouldn't exist. Those are not what we're saying are eligible. What we're saying is any new application. >> Okay, two quick questions if I can. Virginia.
[clears throat] >> I'm sorry, Council President. Yes. >> Um, are we causing making along with the fines the illegal ADUs to be taken down? And then the second question is how much um money are we
giving to the homeowners to put the ADUs up? >> Sure. Um so I will defer to engineering about any fees and fines because that's a separate department and I'm sorry I just I know that that it's in the works and maybe the director can answer that
question. But I'll say second, what we're offering is up to $40,000 um that uh would be eligible for a homeowner to access the money to create an affordable accessory dwelling unit. >> Okay. >> Mr. President. >> Yes. Council Ramos.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um Deputy Mayor, do do we know what what the cost is to construct a legal ADU to go through the planning board approval process, the design work, um sewer connection? Do do we have an idea of what it costs to to build one of these
legally? >> Uh, council president, to the question asked, I would say no ADUs that exist today are legal. >> If there's an ADU that exists today, it is illegal construction.
>> But has your department done an assessment of what it would cost for property owner to to build one of these legally? >> Oh. Um, and I just wanted to say that so you knew we didn't have any legal ones. The second part is is is that uh no we didn't do an analysis but we can um
because out of curiosity yeah >> because we did check to see if anyone filed a permit for the ADU and no one has filed and no one has requested the ability to. So the ones that exist today uh should not exist. >> And there's criteria right on on the
grant meaning that the ADU has to be um affordable or are are those criteria going to be part of the agreement with the grant that they're receiving from the city? >> Uh yes. Uh council president yes to council member Ramos's question. Um, any
person who homeowner who applies to the program will like similarly to like the live Newark program or the facade program, they will have to sign an agreement with the city for an affordability period um based upon um
the program design. So yes, they will have to execute an agreement and it will be recorded against the property so that ultimately um that it'll run with the land um and so they'll have to if they sell the property, the next owner would
have to assume the same affordability requirement. >> Councilman Roundtree. >> Yes. Also, because I've been to all of the presentations, I just want you to also put on the record that these funds are limited. I mean this is not an on and going for the next 20 year
availability based on the grants that are or the funding that's available. That's number one. So you can explain that to the public. And the second thing I think it would be a little probably difficult to you probably give an overall assessment but based on the materials that are used to build the ADU
we'll be a be able to really give an honest assessment of what it would cost to build an ADU. I mean, unless you talk to somebody that's done the illegal ones and then they're not all quality material. They're not all uh built with
the proper um materials. Uh, and I know you said that they do have to be approved, but again, the funding's limited and in order to give us an assessment of cost, um, a contractor would probably have to, um, based on the
materials used to build a onebedroom because it's just going to include one bedroomedroom similar to a studio if I'm not mistaken. Is that correct? Not they can't build a two-bedroom house on as an ADU. There's uh, requirements for that as well. Am I correct?
Uh yes, you are uh council president to council member Roundy's question. So um a couple things. So uh yes um the funds are limited. Um some may remember we got $4 million competitively a few years
back. A portion of that is used for this program. Our goal was to create the ability to do it by zoning and then now help with the funding so that we could have more affordable uh [clears throat] units. Um second uh there definitely are
requirements that have to follow for the central planning board and our zoning ordinance. And then um in addition I know um council member Jackson asked about parking. Uh you cannot build an ADU without an additional parking space.
You have to have parking available. So the people cannot have to park in the street. >> Okay. So you're saying continue. >> So you they have to park on the property. >> Correct. >> Okay. Which would probably be the driveway. >> Yes. >> So homes that don't have a driveway, we
don't have to worry about [laughter] >> hopefully. I got you. >> Likely. Yes, ma'am. Unless they decide to add a driveway in their site plan. But correct. Okay. >> If there wasn't one already in existence, then they would not be eligible. But if they were going to modify their site plan to include a
driveway for the ADU, then it would go through the review. >> Okay. And one last thing, is there a height requirement? So, could they do a onebedroom, onebedroom? >> Oh, built up. >> So, um yes, I understand the question, council president. Um the question is,
uh there is a height limitation. Um, and I will I I I believe it's 20 ft, but I will double check and send it to you. But it's not meant to be um taller than a regular standard single family house.
Supposed to be the similar size and height. >> So then it's possible if I have a one family, three floors, I could put a double floor. Am I correct or incorrect? >> So I understand. So, council president,
the idea around the ADU is either like an addition. Okay. >> Like um on the side of your unit. The other idea is to build a garage um and they have carriage houses. I know that some are have housing opportunities there. I think the other idea is to
build above a garage. So, those are really the thinking behind it. Not to build on top of um a roof. >> Okay. >> Of a house. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Uh yes, uh council president, um the business ad administrator asked me to
touch on the um income uh discussion that was previous. If you would give me another moment. >> Yes. >> Um so uh the um the mayor has uh talked with us um about how to uh modify the
income to be Newark's income. So if we look at it, we know that the Essex County median income is about 108 38,400. We also know that in New York our median
income um based on the last census is about $58,000. So what we're looking at is redefining the income, >> right? and we are preparing for legislation to come forward to the
council in which the mayor will be speaking with you about that, >> but he is uh agrees that we need to look at that as well. And just one quick point, when we're looking at that, can we please look at the income of those
that work in the city and work for the city and see if that 58,000 is even uh plausible because I don't think our DPW guys, our clerical staff, um many people are not at the 58,000.
um you know I don't >> you know want to shine a negative light but that's the purpose of um my bringing that to the attention today because I know that every phone call that every council person and even those
non-counsel is housing affordability I don't use affordability anymore because we got lost in that we should be continuing to say low income because unfortunately that's the community that we live in and until we get there. I want first time officers, first time
firefighters, first time DPW workers who are not making 25,000 to be able to get into these units to bring something substantial into their home and stay in that unit. But if I don't have it where it's meeting them, then I'm going to continue to have people couch surfing
that don't get counted in the homeless numbers because they can stay on my couch. Uh, Councilman Kotana, etc., um other family members in our homes that aren't counted in this homeless number when they really are because they don't meet the criteria. And we really,
you know, I'm that's going to be something, you know, that I'm pushing for for us to do better with is to [clears throat] start this at 895 like we did. We left the whole city almost out of that affordability process. And I think with the vacant units that we have across the city that are allegedly
affordable, we need to do better. >> Council. >> Yes. Uh, thank you, Deputy Mayor Lat. And um, this is something that I've been talking about actually for the past two years, even before I I I was elected a council person. I would just want to ask if we could double check the numbers for
the median income for NORC because the Department of Labor, I believe, has it has the number closer to 46,000 than 58. Um, but I want to I want to double check that just to make sure that we're looking at the actual NORC municipality because sometimes even though you're
talking about Essis County and they do the region, but sometimes they um do it and seasonal and so that seasonal number may be a little higher. So if we could just double check that meeting income for NORC because I think Department of Labor has it at 46 closer to 46,000.
>> No problem. >> Doted by Councilwoman Bay. Uh Madam Clerk, >> thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Resolutions. Seminar 1A through E are temporary
emergency appropriations. A is for Broadway Park. B is for workforce investment opportunity. C is for the operating expenses. D is for women's health. And E is for the summer youth employment
program. >> Mr. President. >> Yes. Council Ramos. I'd like to move the Broadway Park item. >> I'd like to set up a second. >> Thank you. >> I have questions on B Councilman Bay and then Jackson.
>> Yes. I wanted to move on uh B and C as well. >> I'll second noted as move in a second. >> Okay. >> Of course, >> the stepchild. Um questions.
Um, I see that we're talking about $6.5 million in the WEOA program. I'd like to know how many youth we have engaged, how many adults we have engaged, and how many dislocated workers we have engaged,
and are these uh dollars enough to run the programs effectively? And are we having a um decent track record with placement once trainings are done? Does any of this money in B youth go to the
summer youth program? Just uh wanted to know does any of those do any of those dollars cover the year round youth program and then I'll go to see okay uh council president council members Karen Gaylord executive director
for the uh Newark Workforce Development Board. Um I think the first there are two different questions here. One is the WEOA. >> Yes. >> Uh and the other one is about summer youth employment. I just want to uh clear that up.
>> So uh for sure uh the WEOA funding is a cut from last year's funding, but last year's funding allocation was a considerable increase over the prior year. Um we fought for that increase
because uh in the prior year we saw a surge in training uh coming out of COVID and it took us about a year to get the Department of Labor to catch up with us on that and they increased the allocation to match that surge that we
saw. Um so we're now leveling back to um closer to where we were uh two years prior. Um but a cut is a cut at a time when we need more because uh people are losing their jobs and we need to be able to respond to that. People want to pivot
to a new economy to uh new jobs and opportunities and we need the funding to help us with that. Um so to answer your question uh no it's not enough. We're looking for alternate sources of funding through the Department of Labor, for
strategic opportunities in tech, in construction, in healthcare, in green infrastructure, um among others. But those are the primary ones that we're taking a look at and um we'll keep doing that for as long as we can. And we're very fortunate to
have some new grant resources here in the city to help us pursue um non-federal um non-state non-governmental funding as well. So we're we're um moving in every direction we can to increase funding um
especially for training. Our emphasis is on employment. So where we can use our funds to um help people get started with employment. Um, we've made already significant investments in training. We want to use funds to give people a
chance at employment first so that employers can look at them, realize their skills and talent, and hopefully hire them permanently. Um, with regard to summer youth employment, uh, we and everybody in the state took a severe cut
when, um, summer youth employment was announced this year. um in particular the um work experience program. Um thanks to the mayor uh and an appeal that he made to the governor, not only did we have most of
our funding restored, not all of it, but most of it, but the rest of the state who received youth employment um also saw their funding restored as a result of our mayor's appeal uh to the governor
on that. So this um uh request today is to allow us to insert the funding that was restored after we already accepted the the funds were given to us originally. >> Okay. And just one more thing if I could
um in terms of the youth and adult training um we have continual pipeline gas line infrastructure issues here. Um, I don't know if it's possible to partner. I'm not all the way happy with
PSENG. However, um, if it's possible to partner with a PSENG um, and others to start a pipe replacement program to train our children and our young adults and our
adults like myself, 25 and over, Amen. Watch. Yes. um to train in that so that we don't have to continually outsource and always go to private companies for these things. We'll have folks that are from
the city from the maybe a county program with um Essis County Vocational to do that because I would like to see our children, grandchildren have that story to say I replaced the the not the water main pipes, the sewer main pipes on
South Orange, Springfield Avenue. I think we need to get our workforces ready for that so we don't have to keep on calling on companies who don't always have our best interest at heart. We're not down there watching to make sure that all the pipes are put in at the
right time. We not necessarily have the personnel to make sure that when they're out there. I remember, you know, being very involved when they we had the water main break on 19th Avenue and having to challenge Montana because I didn't see any new pipes out there. So, what are you doing? You're going down there
patching. No, if we have severe water main breaks and we had a lot and and yes, we know the system is old, but there's times now for us to start where we can in these contracts forcing new pipes to be put in versus the continual
welding of those pipes. So, I would just, you know, I've been to the new office. You have done a phenomenal job. There's no question. I'm not questioning you at all. I just wanted to know if you needed some more money. So, that's my job. now will go out and gofund maybe to
your office. I don't know. Is that legal? Mr. Pennington, is that legal to goofund to the workforce office? You let me know after Mr. Stewart, stop shaking your head, sir. We can have some kind of fundraiser. Um, but I'm laughingly but seriously to try to get some funds and
to do some more training programs and try to get our people exposed to what's going on and maybe partner with um I know some of the unions did come in um but I think we need to expand that and reach out to more to get into those electricians people always having work
done at their homes. I think we could create something where we could have our our people ready to create these companies to do that electrical work, that carpentry work, and get some of the young men out there, the [clears throat] 25 year olds like myself who are master masons, etc. to come in possibly
volunteer until we get some more money. So, >> apprentichip, >> there you go. >> All right. >> And other stuff. >> Great question. We we need all the friends we can get and we for sure um are are never going to be exhausted
looking for partners. Um PSENG um is a target of that. Um absolutely. But in the in terms of the water department, there's a great program already with New Jersey water um working in collaboration with Essex County College. They have
produced some graduates in their pre-apprenticeship program for the water department. And one of the things that we aim to do is try and place some of those pre-apprentices from Newark um who've already been identified by us in apprenticeship opportunities with the
city and others. Um in terms of construction, you hit um you hit a uh really important area for us because there's a lot of construction in and around Newark um more than any place else in the state. Um so we are working with the carpenters with IBW.
Um we need people in electrical um opportunities and welding which is probably the highest paid position aside from operator engineers anywhere. We need our people um uh getting those opportunities. So yes, we're very focused on it.
>> Thank Thank you, >> Mr. Mr. President. Yeah, just a couple questions. One on this and one on a different item. Um, you uh does your office provide reports of job placements? >> I'm sorry. What kind of placements? >> Job job placements like what going
through the program and then what? >> Sir. >> Yes. >> Okay. Can we receive copies of those so we can kind of get an understanding of how well the program is working? >> Absolutely. >> All right. [clears throat] Thank you. And I have another question not on on a different item.
>> Continue. This is on actually 7R1D. This is for the health department. Um the the 7R1D talks about the its purpose is to improve the health outcomes of women. And I just wanted to get a better
understanding of what that means. How to improve? How are you going to improve? What are the benchmarks, KPI, whatever the >> Thank you for the question. My name is Caitlyn Olsburg, director for the Department of Health. Uh the $ 109,000
that we are receiving from the state is going to be used to expand our women health practice. Uh the dollars itself will be used to purchase equipment supplies that support the care and our prenatal program and OBGYn services that we provide to the community. >> All right. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And I do have one final thing. Just want to see is this the time for it? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Okay. Um, where do I start? Um, we are in the
budget season. I am not understanding why we are still continuing to do these month-to-month budget emergency appropriation. I don't understand it. Um I think that the
budget breakdown that I see um and unfortunately couldn't get this yesterday to have those line items. I did I'm very concerned um with the $68 million to be allocated for the month of July. Um I've been waiting for the
breakdown to see what that's covering because I know that's for the budget as well as to cover the budget in the water department. Um, but I'm very concerned with that as I have looked at the previous things with all of the items that are listed under regular and then
the things that are miscellaneous andor unclassified. Um, so I have a very serious concern. I'm not uh in favor. I understand you guys have to do what you have to do, but I think this is very irresponsible of us to keep allocating
millions and millions of dollars to cover the city budget month after month. I think this is how I know this is how we get into the trouble that we are. Mr. Pennit, I know you're going to explain to me why we need to do this, but I just have to um express my opposition to this
being continually done. I think we need to curb back and I think we need to identify the things that are not identified. I need to know if a million dollars is on paper clips, paper, copy, ink, whatever it is. I just don't think
that we can be this um unspecific in the budget crisis that we're in. Thank you. >> Administrator, >> Council President, Eric Pennington, business administrator. Uh thank you for
the question, Councilwoman Jackson. um as I have offered in the past. >> Yes, >> we can discuss whatever your questions are with respect to how the budget process works, >> why the there's a continuing uh need to
adopt temporary appropriations so that we could run the city. Um as as far as I know, you have not taken me up on my offer to come to my office and discuss these. it is still open and available for you to do so. In order for
the city to run, we have to have temporary appropriations until the uh council adopts the budget and goes to the state and they approve it. The administration has introduced the budget. You should have a copy of the introduced budget. Uh if you don't,
we'll make sure that you get it and if you need additional detail, we can sit down and go over that detail with you u whenever you want. >> Okay. My my you know my office is open and as I've said to you on numerous occasions, >> you have >> you can come down. You just have to you
know I have a I have a camera outside my office so I can see when people walk by. >> Yes sir. >> And you walk by three or four times and you you knock on the door. >> Yes. Not a problem. But like again my objection is what I have seen um the budget that we've posted the little um
>> what you talking about >> that we've done. >> Well there's a user friendly budget. There is a summary of a budget. There is a significantly more detailed budget >> uh that has hundreds of pages that >> I can meet with you, with our budget director, the finance director, and and
address all of your your questions. I don't mind if you raise questions. Questions are important. Uh the public needs to know what the answers to those questions are. Um and I'm happy to address them, but I need to know what they are. and and and if you ask the question from the days which you are
absolutely entitled to do, uh I may not have the answer immediately, right? >> But if you and I meet in my office and then you want to come back out and raise those questions anyway, I I think that's more fair and appropriate and it will give the public a better opportunity to
have a sense of what the uh budget issues are, your concerns and their concerns and others. >> Okay. So, we have to continue to do these emergency appropriations. They're not emergency appropriations, but >> temporary emergencor appropriations. >> Have to continue to do these until the
2026 budget is submitted and approved by the state. >> Correct. >> The the budget has been submitted to you to the council. It has been introduced to you. We will continue to do that until it is adopted by the council and approved by the state. Yes.
>> Okay. And I'm just going to insist um as I will again tomorrow that this budget process be done with the public in mind. We have we cannot come in here at 10:00 be done with a budget presentation by 12 and not have community homeowner input.
It just cannot happen this time. The public has the right to input on whatever we're doing. If councilman council for example for the south war wants to put $50 million in the trees I'm just using example sir and
councilman Ramos wants to do $35 million in the south war in the north war for flower pots the residents have the right not just in those two wards but citywide to look at what we're doing and have some input in that and say hey look
council you can get 10 million for the trees you're not getting 30 councilman Ramos you can get 5 million for the flower pots. And I'm just using those as examples because I think that >> I need us to be open. I need us to be transparent with the people in this city. And we were not because to have a
budget hearing and then not allow residents to come up and question every department because I'm just going to end with this. in previous budget hearings because I attended them particularly under the James administration, not even so much under Booker, we were able to
sit down, every department presented, the council asked their questions of those departments and then the public was allowed to do that. And so I think that that open transparency needs to happen because I need to see what the court system is bringing in. If they're bringing in $150 million and we were
around 150 to $200 million under the James administration just in the courts and the cost of running the courts at that time was about 56 million. I could be off a couple of dollars. So, you know, I stay corrected if I'm off. We need to know that we have a surplus
there of XYZ. then we can hire some more people, hire some more people, hire some more people, and do better enforcement because I think what happens is we get lost in the enforcement. And that's why people are so reluctant to do the right thing, but
then those that don't, we don't see them being penalized. It if that kind of makes sense what I'm saying. If you're if I'm putting my garbage out when I'm supposed to, if Councilman Crump is putting his out, Councilman Quintana, and then my neighbors continue to do the wrong thing, we need proper enforcement
and we need to handle it differently. So, to understand where the budget is, where we have income coming in, and why we don't um AI, the parking authority does not need to be a separate entity. We need to bring those dollars back in house. And that's the reason why I'm just going to be so insistent um with
the public to make sure that these budget hearings don't only happen at 10 o'clock in the morning because people work. There's going to have to be some even evening ones. And I'm also going to insist that there be at least one public budget hearing in every board. And I've already started the process to put the school permits in because this public
with the conditions that this city is in right now financially. We've had to roll over some things. I'm not blaming anyone, but we rolled over the retropay. We made it happen. Okay. But we need to have input. Some people fully understand what a budget is and I do too. And I'm
just saying that now it's time to let the public know what's going on, hear what they have to say, good, bad, and indifferent. And we may have some people in the community that can help us leverage some things better so that we don't have to keep spending out what we spending out. And we can increase the
revenue because when you say to somebody they got to pay a $100 fine, I need that $100 paid. I don't need somebody over there in the court going in there talking about, "Oh, I know Miss Jackson for a long time, you know, take the fine from 100 to 50." Nope. Nope. You got to pay it. Particularly if we've already
warned you several times. So, I just want to make sure to I will come see you when I, you know, when I'm finished doing my little investigation cuz I did get the paperwork you sent me and I need to get another copy of something from you and I will. But I just when I picked
these up before and I saw the breakdown, when I see stuff that says unclassified, miscellaneous, whatever the caption was in every department in the millions of dollars, I can't tolerate that. And I'm not because I I need to know what you're
spending the money on. Is it paper clips, paper? Is it additional staff? Is it gas? What What is it? because we can't afford to be this ambiguous in this city when we facing financial crisis and everybody is. So let me just
say it's not just north, it's everywhere. But now we need to know where every not penny but we need to at least know where every quarter is. >> So thank you. >> That's fair. >> That's fair. >> I agree. I I think I think I'll take
away from that that we need to have more transparency and more participation from the public. We agree. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. continue. >> F through L are purchasing contracts. F is an amendment to increase the contract
amount for medical supplies. G is a state contract for communications equipment. H is a state contract for communications equipment. I is to amend the contract the state contract and increase the amount for
computer equipment. J is to extend an emergency contract for leak repairs. K is a bid contract for concrete, mixed sand, and gravel. And L is a bid contract for fire extinguishers.
>> Any questions? >> Yes, I'll put them all together. >> It's all love. Ghi is all communication technology. Um, I need to know how we're going to use this and who's going to be supervising. Um, I know that right now
we have some things in place. We're bringing in some new communication devices. And as we are doing that, I think about my crossing guards that are out there that have nothing that I think um should have at least a walkie-talkie and or a phone. So, if I could just get
a little bit of an understanding as to how this is going to supplement. I'm sure most of this is for the police department communication camera type things. Um, who's going to be watching that and are we going to be doing better monitoring? Because I know what we have
right now with all of those cameras on Clinton Avenue, I know it's not being monitored at the level that it should and I'm very concerned about that. So, before this new technology comes in as we're bringing it in, who can work it? because I know we having an issue with that right now. Thank you.
>> Good morning. Um Ana Tier, city purchasing agent, you are correct. These uh contracts are for the department of public safety. I don't know if there's someone here who can speak to what they will be purchasing, but um they are for public safety. So more information
>> captain can provide or we can get more information and provide it to you. >> Okay. Thank you. Morning, council president, council members. Uh James George here, captain with the police department on behalf of the department of public safety. Uh G speaks
to uh gold type business machines. Uh they support and um install and repair many of the uh ALPR uh data machines. Uh also the NDTs, the uh computer mobile data terminals that are installed inside
of police vehicles. uh they do the e ticketing and such. Uh as I understand these uh these these amendments uh it authorizes a higher level to be spent on these things. We still would need individual authorization for those additional purchases. So I don't think there's an exact plan but it's looking
to raise the allowable uh upper limit. Uh the second uh H speaks to Motorola and that that does touch upon the police radios. So that would allow us to buy more if needed under the contract. Again, we need authorization to do so uh to use that money, but just uh
increasing the upper limit. And then Dell, of course, is uh computers that we use in the Department of Public Safety, uh police, fire, and OEM. >> A quick question. Um on the Motorola, are we able to
use some of that to equip our crossing guards? And I say that because they're the first line of defense. We have been talking about this for many years over 15 in terms of we we at one time we were asking people to turn in their unused cell phones so that we could turn those
on. I just think our crossing guards need to be able to communicate to the police department immediately. Be it a fight, be it a car running over, running into a building, whatever. somebody came through um ran the light, didn't
disregarded the crossing guard, hit the crossing guard, hit the child. You know, there's a plethora of things that are happening at our intersection. Um some of them being severely unsafe and I know that that's come across your desk a million times. I know we looked at South
Orange and Sanford. Um we looked at Maybound and South Orange Avenue. We looked at Clinton Avenue. some areas where it's really, you know, um unsafe even for the crossing guard. Um we saw on South Orange and Sford and I'll finish with
this where the officers were out there and the people were still going through the like um the children were crossing, they still turning. Um so you know I just wanted to if portions of this could be used and if
not can we reconsider the cell phone um drop off that we did one time to maybe equip the crossing guards with emergency devices immediately and what's the quickest way to do that and if not this Mr. P and I can write a letter to
Motorola and ask them to donate um two 300 walkie-talkie type cell phones to have come in just for the crossing guard so they can be safe um while they're out there. >> Yeah, I couldn't agree with you more. Those are all worthwhile ventures. Uh
but again, I believe that the uh the intent of this is just to raise the upper limit what we can spend those things on. Okay. monies on and then what we spend those monies on uh will be a separate conversation, a separate request and uh all those things are are definitely worthwhile ventures and would be allowable if we had the extra uh
space there in the budget. >> Okay. All right. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Yes, I'm good. >> Just um add to what the captain said. So if you look at I for example the resolution again is just to increase the amount that we are allowed to spend on the state contract and also to include
the department on the previous resolution that they were not. So it's just expanding the previous resolution to allow more departments specifically public safety to participate in the state contract. So it's not tied to a specific purchase. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Continue. M is a subgrant agreement to develop [snorts] rehabilitate and improve Lincoln Park. >> Any questions? Council women B. >> I just want to
sponsor second by council. >> Continue. >> N is an acceptance of grant funds from the United States Department of Education for the Newark Literacy Initiative. >> Any questions? I would like to sponsor this. >> Sponsor, second by ground
>> and third by Jackson. Thank you. >> Continue. >> Two seconds. >> Seven 2A through P are sale andor redevelopment agreement. A is construction of a new two family
residential dwelling to be sold at market rate in the South W. >> Yes, council. Council, I'm respons. >> Is there a second? Second. Second by uh Kelly. >> B is new construction of two three
family dwellings consisting of one ADA compliant apartment unit and two standard units in each dwelling to be sold at market rate in the south ward. >> Yeah. Uh Mr. Chair, 7R2B,
7R2C, and 7R2D. I'm going to defer. Is >> there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Roundtree. Virginia >> C and D are deferred. E is new construction of two family home to be sold at market rate in the south ward.
>> Yeah, Mr. Chair, I want to move that item. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Kelly. >> Okay. >> F is to rehabilitate the existing twounit property. One unit will be owner occupied and one unit will be rented to
an income qualified household at 40% of the area median income in the south ward. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to move that idle. >> Second second by Grump and moved by council. >> G is new construction of a new mixeduse
building consisting of one commercial space and two residential units. Both residential units will be designated for households earning 50% of area medium income in the South Ward. >> Yeah, Mr. Chair, 7R2G and 7R2H. I would
like to move those items, but the the concern that I have here is the amount of time that these items have taken to get to the agenda. This has been back in 2025 and now we're going on 2026. We, you know, have to be expedient. I
mean, we can be prudent and urgent at the same time when we're trying to move projects and get things done uh in this city. And I just want us to to, you know, work to advance that uh you know, in a in a more prudent and efficient way. But uh 7R2G and 7R2H, I would like
to move both of those items. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Round continue. I is new construction of a two family home to to be sold at an affordable rate of 80% of the area medium income in the south ward.
>> Yeah, Mr. J, I want to defer that item. >> Second >> Jackson >> Jackson >> J is to build a new construction of a two family home to sell at an affordable rate in the West Ward. >> [clears throat] >> Um,
uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. I'm going to, um, want to, uh, wait to move this till tomorrow. >> Okay. >> Okay. Is construction of a new two family home to be sold at market rate in
the West Ward? I'm going to I'm going to I have some questions, so I'mma wait to the for this one as well. >> L is to rehabilitate a two family home and rent at an affordable rate of 60% of
area medium income in the West Ward. >> Quick question. I I would I would like to uh get a get a question answer from Deputy Mayor Lad. My question is that um for most of these most of the the
property that are that's on the agenda for today whether it's in my ward or or other wards specifically in the west ward most of except all but one the assessed amount value is
way over the sale amount value and just just comparing it to the south ward the Southwood assessed [snorts] value is less and the the sale amount is higher than the assessed amount. I'm
just kind of wondering why in the in the West Ward that the assessed amount value for all except one is way over the amount of the sale amount value. And you know, is there any particular reason that we're selling it for less than what
it's worth? Uh good morning, council president, council members. Alison Lad, director of economic and housing development. Um as you'll see, um just a global statement and I also answer the council members uh questions. Uh there are 16 private sales
on the agenda today for sale um in different wards. Um they have been going through various processes of approval. Um we understand the sense of urgency. Um, I will note that as you may recall, it is a partnership with whoever's
buying the property and so we move also as quickly as someone's able to submit paperwork to us. I will add though that going forward, especially in this term, we are um going to be very clear about timelines. So if you have not submitted
paperwork within the period of time in which we've asked you to, we're actually going to take the property back or we're going to re um distribute it. So that's just first on a global um second uh nine of the sites are market uh seven are
affordable housing. Um and all of them are greater uh price per square foot than um you know when we started selling land um under this administration. Uh in closing, I'll say that the pricing is
based upon the type of housing or development that they're going to do. So for the market rate, the prices are generally between $20 a square foot and $25 a square foot. And then for affordable, they're $14 to $17 a square
foot. Now, I know many of you remember this is a lot more uh price per square foot than when I first met you about eight years ago um when we were doing it at four and $6 a square foot. So, we are working to get more um revenue back into
based upon our land. Um and then just in conclusion the the part of the thought is is that for affordable we need to provide some land subsidy for the development so that the um project can
be um supported by sources and uses. Um the last piece is I understand the question about the assessed value. I that is really done by the tax uh assessor through the finance department. Uh I know that these assessments are old
often as well as we're going through the reval. Um so um we'll definitely mention that to the um finance department who might be present uh today. >> Yeah, I I would love to to hear um you
said that he's present, right? >> I Well, I'm not sure. I just I just want to I'm just curious about and I keep using the south war because it's on this on this agenda. The assessed amount of value is low but the the sale amount is higher but in the
west it's higher and then there's a low amount that we're selling it for. And uh I know we say that it's for some of it is for affordable rates like this particular one that I'm talking about is 60% AMI.
um how do we know that once they have the property that they're going to give that apartment for 60% AMI? And I'm asking these questions specifically because things I voted on I tried to get people in those apartments
>> and they did not make it to get in those apartments. Uh uh so council president to the question I'm just going to speak to how do we make sure they're affordable and that is there's a deed restriction that follows with the property and then we do
compliance on who's in the unit. Um but as far as how people access the units I won't speak to that. >> Yeah. Um Mr. President to to Councilman Kelly's point, I mean, at the last council meeting, I mentioned the property on Verona Avenue that the city
had sold to an adjacent property uh owner with the intentions of that individual developing, you know, project. And he essentially combined the two lots and then sold them for a ridiculous amount of money. So realistically, like what kind of
controls does your department have to ensure the affordability on the deed restriction, but also to follow through and make sure that these folks that are buying property from the city at discounted rates. Even at $25 a square foot, you're still selling property a
well below market value. because we know a lot in NORC, whether it's in the South Ward, westward, North Ward, um is selling for a considerable amount of money in the private marketplace. So, how how does how does your team make sure that if you sell a lot and that
person's going to build a two family home that that actually does happen, that that person doesn't go ahead and flip the property or combine it with a lot next to them and then sell it for five times the amount of money that they bought it from the city.
Uh, Council President, uh, to the question, I'll work to be succinct. It may seem long, but I'm going to try to be succinct. [clears throat] >> Um, before Mayor Baraka became in office, uh, there were no reverter clauses and little to no deed
restrictions on property. So when the mayor took office, the process started to have deed restrictions around affordability as well as reverter clauses that allow us to take property back. Um so that was the first step. The
second part is is um the mayor really focused on compliance um work. Sorry, it's kind of loud. Um compliance work. So we have um multiple ways. We have uh compliance office that we've
expanded. At one time it was only one person. Then now we have five. Uh we also have outside counsel that send out legal default letters for people who are non-compliant on tax abatements on sales as well as anything regarding site
plans. Um the third part is is is that we do send out um administrative notices but we are more focused as we go into this year on the legal notices to be sent. Um administrative notices are um a good notice to tell people to get into
compliance, but a legal notice is actually um enforced and I think that that's been helpful. Um the last part to say is is is I think that it is um it's newer for us so I don't disagree. Uh but
I do think that the compliance aspect we are working to do better at some point um if the council would like I'm happy to talk to you more about just our method of compliance. We have checklists we have lawyers. We have administrative
staff. Um, we have processes that I'm happy to go through for each type of agreement that we have in place under economic and housing development. >> Yeah, Mr. President, I I I would strongly suggest I mean, you listed a whole bunch of different tools that you
have. You need to go after that property owner on Verona Avenue. Um, Councilman Kintana raised the issue about a guy that purchased a lot on Summer and Third Avenue um, some years ago and essentially converted it into like a junkyard, right? This was a city-owned
property. Uh, this person went through the approval process. Another site that I I don't believe it was city-owned, but brings up another issue. This this developer got uh zoning board approval to put up a small apartment building on
on Mount Prospect and Third Avenue and it's every every week DPW is cleaning that site up for illegal dumping because the site is, you know, the grass is like 10 feet high. It looks like a like an like an abandoned property and this guy
has approvals to build a a small apartment building. And you know, we need to start holding some of those folks accountable because it's not fair that DPW has to invest uh resources every single week to clean up this site. But we we need to go after these folks
that we sold property to. Uh discount rates. It's been years. Some of them um have owned these properties and and you drive by and they're still empty. Um a lot of them are are being dumped on illegally and some of them are being flipped and sold.
We understand and um it's definitely a priority for the mayor. So um understood. >> Just just um thank you council president. Just to add on to um what Councilman Ramos was talking Ribbon site, you know, I'm hearing that
we we sold that to somebody else now. It's it's not the the owner when I first came into office. It's somebody different now. I just found that out from somebody. Um, but the the property is over, you know,
overgrown grass. It it looks crazy on South Orange Avenue right now. And just to go off of what Ramos said, Councilman Ramos said, we have to hold these these owners, you know, you know, that's the area that I grew up in, and that land
has not been, you know, fulfilled yet. And I don't know how many times we've sold it. So, I I really would like to see us really leaning on on these owners, these these uh these developers a little more just to make them develop
the property. Um, and it's making our corridor look crazy. And and and another thing that is now all over social media and and people are calling my office about because the the weeds and the grass is so overgrown,
you know, they have a picture. They tried to put art on a billboard there and it's a little it's a black boy who's playing in a field, but now with the with the overgrown grass, you're attracted your eyesight is drawn right to this picture and it looks like the
little boy is picking cotton, you know, and I don't think that that's a great picture to, you know, have in the West W, have in the city of North, have along one of our main veins, uh, like South Orange Avenue. and and I really would love to for the owners, whoever the new
owners are, to really remove the picture and actually landscape the property. >> Um, so, council president on this, uh, the city doesn't own Pap's Blue Bourbon site. Uh, it was private property and so
what the city has done is over the last few years, we've worked on site plan approvals and we worked on um pilots in which the council approved as well. Um, I agree that when I heard that the property was going to be sold, I was um
more than upset uh because we went through about five years of entitlement work with the current owner and now they um are don't want to move forward. So, it is a strong point of contention I believe for the
administration that when developers and I remember council member Ramos has talked about this in the past as well. when developers get entitlements and then they sell the property, they're selling the entitlement and somehow they are added value to that and that is an
absolute frustration. Um I'll close by saying sometimes it's not a city choice. Um the state laws govern how we allow these entitlements to happen. Um but when we can we will u be putting stronger rules. Uh one example in
particular that you might remember there's a site on William and um William and Hollyy uh it was called the vibe at one point um in my short tenure I looked at the project three times you all looked at the project as in addition
three times so the last time you saw it we put a one-year timeline on it that said if you do not get financing in one year then the pilot terms were suns setting and so We have looked at that. Um, but I understand the the issue. The
piece about the art I'll say is that it was a collaboration between um the administration and the owner then. Um, and uh I did I will take a look at that as well. Council Roundree, >> I just want to say I'm hearing that
entitlement I I know all of that goes with the transfer of property, but they're not entitled to have what Councilman Kelly is saying about grass and I mean, we did I know that's a lot of land to do a clean and lean on, but they wouldn't even be able to transfer or sell the property if we had to go and
make sure rats and and animals and Jungle Kingdom is not running around on South Orange Avenue because they've let the grass grow so tall And I'm not that tall. So as tall as I am, and that's not a good thing, you know. So I'm just saying, hey, a clean and lean, I know
it's a lot, it's a lot. But when we do it, it's a lean against the property owner. So they couldn't just keep flipping it without paying the city for us doing what they should have done in the first place. So enforcing that and and that's throughout the entire city with all of these lots. I don't know
what Councilwoman Jackson and other my other colleagues have said about enforcement, but that is something that we really need to look into because that also affects the homeowners that are keeping their property that are trying to abate issues with rodents and other
other things that that attracts. And in reference to the artwork, the new owner should probably have a conversation with you regarding what he's saying. So they're either going to cut the grass and do that or they're going to be fined and we're going whatever needs to happen
with that needs to happen because that's a lot of land, a lot of land and to have greeneries and all of that, you know, unless we gonna make it a park. We should have went on and let Walmart go there 20 years ago, but that didn't happen. So let's move forward and see
what we can do regarding the clean and lean on the property if possible or getting the owner to at least upkeep the property before they flip it again. Thank you so much. >> And just just to add real quick, um just I agree with with with Councilwoman
Roundtree. Um you know, [snorts] I know it's a lot. It's our main corridor and it makes the West Ward and our city look don't look great along the the the corridor. But just one thing about the art too. When the art was
happening, they said I was I was notified that there would be art and that they would notify my off office so they can allow me to see what they were doing. Nobody ever contacted me. It was
just put up there. And now we have social media and people in the area looking at the art like, "Why did you allow this?" And I didn't allow it. Uh, understood. I'll say that I'm uh, council president. I'm happy to work
with my other directors to handle the matters that have been discussed. Uh, economic and housing development. Um, we play a role and we can do what we can do, but we'll also work with our other directors to address the issues. >> Councilwoman Jackson.
>> And so the other concern on all of the vacant property around this city is D violations. Um, I am not going to harbor on it long, but I know on South Orange Avenue and Grove
there's still gas emissions and we're not paying attention to that at all. When they were supposed to put two foot of fill in, that's when they put the wall up and then they put the dirt there. We don't even know if that's clean dirt. So again, we're talking
about environmental and allowing these buildings and properties and lots to be sold without checking what's going on. We got the schools around. We have data center. We used to be Ivy Annex on South I mean on
uh Sanford and Ivy. They still have the gas pipes coming out. Central High School, same thing. We just built a little house, put the gas pipes. We have got to ensure that the stuff that's going up in this city is safe and it's not. The children can't even use the
playground at Belmont Renan because that still hasn't been fully abaded. We have to be careful even when we're building that what we're building is safe and these issues that we're talking about now on the lot transform into a whole
bunch of other stuff I'm not even going to get into but it's conditions and we have got to put something in place in law and I guess we all going to write it that we can't keep you know they say they're private sales but we need to have something in place in this city
that when a owner decides they don't want to do what they contracted with us to do. That's one thing. And then when the person gets the land and doesn't do what they're supposed to do, that's supposed to be something else. When we give it to them and they putting 30 and 40 units in there and then don't
maintain it, all of that needs to be upgraded. Those fines need to be greater. Um because it it just has to be that way because folks are just doing what they want to do. and this constant flipping of land. I know if I sold like
five properties in three months, uh, somebody be looking FNBI, CNIA, and US Department of Treasury. We have got to be careful what we allowing to happen here and what we allowing these owners
to do. And so, um, again, to the councilman's point, because I'm a Wester, too. Um, I remember when they were putting the placers up to put the art on and I asked the young man, "What's going on?" Oh, no. We just putting these up. They're going to put advertisement on it. That's what he told
me. Um, so I'm thinking, you know, festivals, that kind of thing will go on there. But then when they paint it, and again, to not contact the councilman's office to let them know what they're going to put there is the other part.
But we have got to be stronger and we have got to be no nonsense when it comes to people cleaning their property. I'm just sorry. We going we going to be calling this owner again as we had to call the previous owner to take that stuff down and then we need to be working with Irvington to make it happen
because the back half of the lot is Irvington. So we have got to hold people accountable. It does. Our Carter looks horrible. And then the next thing is can we build on that land? So let's let's just be honest. Can anything be built there? And if it
can, what do we need to do? And if we're not going to build anything, we could put a rec center there, sir. >> We lost the Boys and Girls Club on Littleton. We could put a rec center right there. Clean it up. We We need recreation. We need safe spaces. So, let's put a U Let's Let's do a a City of
NORC Young People's Club because we won't use the other acronym cuz they've left us. um and have our own recreational centers because we do need more of those. So, if they can't build something there, Councilman Kelly and the rest of my council colleagues, we'll put a uh North
C play center. >> I'll come up with a better name. Okay. Of school, too. >> Okay. There you go. The new West Side High School. Amen. See, that's what I'm talking about. Then we can put center inside the old west side. Amen. We solved it. >> I'll call I'll call the owner when we finish. >> Any other question? Any other questions?
>> Thank you, madam. >> Thank you, council president. Thank you all. >> Madam clerk, can you um note all the all the questions that were raised? >> Yes. >> And forward them to the b business administrator's office. >> Absolutely. >> Noted. Thank you.
>> Um I'm sorry, council president. I forgot one item. Um on the private sales, um the representatives who are buying the property are present. Um they're or they were present. Um we had about 10 of them here. Some were out of
town or out of the country, but there were about 10 um of the groups that were buying the property present. So, if any council member would like to talk to them after, I'm sure we could get them to speak with you um if there was interest in that. So, thank you.
>> Continue. >> M is new construction of a three family home to be sold at market rate in the West Ward. >> Oh, God. Another one. >> Sorry. Is that 7R2M? Madame clerk. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> You're moving it. Moving it. Second there. Any second? >> Second. >> Second by Jackson. >> Continuing noted. And is new construction of a three family home to be sold at market rate in
the west? Also, >> um I have some questions. is not moving it right now. >> Okay. Continue. >> Oh, is new construction of a two family home and a four family home both to be
sold at market rate in the central ward. >> Council President, u I have not met with this developer and I have too many questions to go over right now. So, I move to defer. >> Defer. Move to defer. Second. Second by Chrome. >> J. P is construction of a mixeduse
building consisting of 32 residential apartments with 20% of the residential units designated as affordable housing in the central ward. >> Council President, again I have not met with this developer. I have too many questions to go over right now. I move to defer.
>> Defer second. Second by >> Scott. >> Q and R are acceptance of grant funds. Q is for the workforce innovation and opportunity act and R is for the summer youth work experience.
>> Any questions? >> Yes. I want I would like to um sponsor R. >> I'll second it. Second by second by Scott >> and I'd like to sponsor Q >> sponsor which Q is there a second for >> second
>> second by Jackson [clears throat] >> S is a subordination agreement in order to permit the redeveloper to obtain the financing necessary for the development of three two family homes for sale in the south ward. You're good. Okay.
>> You sponsoring it? Are you a sponsor? >> Your sponsor. >> Sponsor. Second. >> Second. >> Second by Kelly. >> Okay. Continue. >> T is an investigation for an area in need of redevelopment in the south board. >> And Mr. Chair,
a question. Um there were some other um listed items that was in need of of redevelopment that was supposed to go to the planning board outside of these uh other addresses that are listed uh on the document. It was uh
the entire Freeland Heisen Avenue area. Did we ever get any information or word back if that ever reached the planning board and if it was approved or not? Uh we were waiting for information for that as well because I know it's critical and for what needs to happen on that
corridor. >> Council President um uh Allison Lad uh director of economic and housing development. Um if I may just ask the council member a clarification question. Um sir, so were you thinking about the airport redevelopment plan or are you
thinking about a different plan? So, we had on the agenda the uh the entire Freel and Avenue area in need of redevelopment. I don't know if part of it was the I don't know if part of it was the uh the the airport piece, but it
was the entire Freeland Avenue along with all of the the streets corresponding around it. Um, and it should have been a board a long time ago and we're just still trying to wait to see what was the outcome of that, but we can try to have some kind of
conversation moving forward about what that means for us and how the administration is going to, you know, move on what is happening on that corridor. >> Uh, no problem, council president. I'll follow up um and let the council member and council know. Thank you. as noted.
[clears throat] Continue. >> Seven 3A and B are change orders. A is for the Ironbound Roundabout Safety Project and B is a change order to change the city's matching funds. >> Any questions?
Sh continue. >> C through G are professional service contracts for engineering services on an as needed basis. C is GZA Geo Environmental. D is CME Associates. E is Suburban
Consulting Engineers. F is Cura Bernard and Fox Engineering. And G is OCA architect. >> Any questions? None. Continue. >> H through K are applications andor acceptance of grant funds. H is for the
safe streets to transit program. I is for the sub regional transportation program. J is for the street resurfacing paving project and K is the five ward paving project. >> Any questions? >> Yes. >> Yes. Council, I'd like to sponsor J and
K. >> Is there second? >> And on K. >> Yes. >> And on K. Can we have a list of what that includes? when we're doing this paving, are we in communication with the county and not
having county rules that we should not be paving? I'm, you know, very concerned when they do the NY Avenue, Clinton Avenue, South Orange Avenue, um, Bloomfield Avenue. Sometime they come down and they stop, they [clears throat] stop at the border and they don't continue down. Um, so I just want to
make sure that, uh, we are tandem hand in hand with the county. uh and just you know we have enough to do that we're not paving streets that we shouldn't pave and then one other word of caution sometime they come out to the main thoroughfare and stop sometime they come
out to the main thorough fair and continue and it's just not looking uniform [clears throat] one other thing is I would like to know what the plan was when we are paving one side of the street I don't understand that how one
side gets paved and the other side doesn't. Was that a cost savings? Did we go out and do an analysis to say it's less bumps on this side, more on this side? I'm I'm just trying to understand how we only I'm sorry, >> Director Adams.
>> Good morning. Um James Adams, acting director of engineering. Um there was a whole bunch of questions, so hopefully I get them all. Um, as far as the item 7R3K, that is our municipal aid 2027 paving
program. If the council remembers that was sent out to all council members a few weeks ago and I have to apologize because you would have gotten it a week earlier but I had to review it and digest it and understand how the plan
works before I sent it to the council which in order was sent to the mayor. So specifically, there are two streets in each ward, the central, east, north, south, and west that will be paved under
that program. Um, Councilwoman Jackson, you don't have to write anything. We can give you a copy of all the streets. So, you don't have you don't have to write. >> Um, and the way we do it is every year we analyze all the streets. We come up with a list of maybe 10 or 15 streets
per ward that are in need of paving. We rate the streets and then we send it through for the approval process. Um, understand it'll probably be two or three years before you see these streets to be paved.
The other question I think you asked was and I think it relates to PSENG and you utility companies and work that they do in our streets where before we had allowed them to pave half the street. Now based on a um a current municipal
ordinance they have to pave from curb to curb depending on the number of utility cuts or the amount of work that they do in the streets. And as a matter of fact, we recently had a meeting with PSCG. We're going to follow up with them to make sure um that they do remember that
ordinance and that they understand it. >> Okay. And just one more thing if I could >> Oh, let me go let me go back. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> You asked a question of Deputy Mayor Lad about um illegal construction. Um the the legal construction ordinance from
the state of New Jersey allows the construction official to a fine up to $2,000 per ordinance per violation. So and that fine is set by the state of New Jersey. It's it could be from zero to
2,000 and the construction official has um latitude within that amount to find um the property if there was what we would consider illegal construction. >> Okay. >> So, I'm sorry. Now, you had another question. >> Yeah, just really quick. How many
construction officials do we have? That wasn't a part of my original, but I'm going to ask that now. Um how many of those people do we have, if we have any? Um and then the second thing is um monitoring the paving
and the landfill and the refilling of the hole. Okay. So when we taking up the ground be it for PSNG or whoever I've noticed lately when they're doing this work some contractors are throwing
sandbags in those holes and then putting dirt on top of it. I know in the limited construction experience that I do have because I took a turn to construction class so I'm an expert unofficially um that that's not supposed to happen
because when the weather comes and that asphalt burns that water is getting in and it's now going to where that sandbag is that normally would have been some dirt. Um, so that's the reason why I'm asking who are the construction
officials and where are they? Because there's a lot of work being done out here, but it's not being refilled properly. Um, on my block alone, my uh neighbors on the Telford Street side in front of their driveways, they have a
significant dip. And I mean significant, so that when it rains, it fills up as if it's a puddle. because when they put the dirt back, the mortar back in the ground, they didn't do it properly. So, I just noticed that we need to be a
little more vigilant. And I know you just got here, sir. So, thank you. But we need to be a little more vigilant in watching when these construction projects are going on in terms of what they are doing. Um, I take the pictures, I send them. Um, I know we limited on
staff, but if we watch better what's going on with these folks and make sure that the paving is quality paving because we don't need them to just put it on top of the street that is already bumped up. Some of this stuff needs to be taken down and we need to make sure that it's taken down far enough that the
sewer holes are in line with the street because how do we pave and then I'm going boom down my street? Shouldn't be happening. Thank you, sir. So, Councilwoman, um you've you've hit on a um probably a sore spot in engineering and traffic and signals.
[snorts] We do do we do not do a good enough job in watching the paving. It is due to staffing, which I know people don't like to hear. At one time we did have somebody who worked for traffic and signals whose only job was to follow
around utilities, PSENG contractors to make sure they were patching the trenches properly. They were com compacting it properly. Unfortunately, we do not have that person. We're looking into that and that's something we are going to pursue based on the
amount of paving work that's happening. But right now we manage it. Our traffic and signals division is probably at least two engineers short of where we I think they should be. >> Okay. >> Um let me answer another question. You mentioned construction official and I
understood what you said. However, in our vernacular, the construction official is the person who's responsible for the UCC office. He manages the electrical, building, plumbing, elevator, and fire inspectors. The state
allows us to designate one person as construction official which is George Perdone. However, there are a few people in our office that have construction official license which is issued by the state of New Jersey.
>> Okay. Okay. So, we have about four people. >> It might it might be about four. And one of your previous questions was on the qualifications of the people in the UCCC office. >> Yes. The state of New Jersey issues their license. Anybody who works in our
UCCC office, you can go to the state of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, look up their name, and it will list their license, what they're licensed to do, and when their license expires. >> Okay. So, then we need to do two things.
We need to open up the request for that position. Correct. So that we can have more people because we're short staffed. I'm currently short staffed in the building for the building trades of at least two people. >> Okay. So, I'll help you and I'll speak
to the administration and we'll get that open because we need to have these things in place. There's a lot of as I ride around and my council colleagues and the people in the community, the these buildings like the one on South Orange Avenue and Cedar, right? Cedar,
Chelsea, Chelsea right now that that wood has buckled three and four times. And my concern is that as these buildings are going up, when water hits wood, mold for mold forms within 48 hours. And then you turn around soon as it stops raining and they're putting up
the uh piece of paper alleged insulation on top of the wet wood. I have a problem with that, but I don't see enough construction officials out here watching what's going on. Do I want us to build? Absolutely. But I'm very concerned about
the rapidness of it and us watching what's going on with that and then, you know, once we get to that point. So, uh, I'll just personally ask right now if you could send someone by for us in the West Ward to check on because they're not finished. They have not put the
insulation layer up yet on that building on the corner of Chelsea. Am I correct, Councilman? Yes. >> Chelsea and South Orange Avenue. Um they have replaced the wood several times but in riding down today I see that wood buckling on the front side and because
they don't have that insulation up if we could send someone to look at that before that's complete because we want to have successful projects across the city but definitely in the ward that I and uh Councilman Kelly live in. So we're a dual tag team sir. So we could
get somebody there today because if it's not right please have them fix it. Thank you so much. And just and if I can um I'm I'm glad that councilwoman said that but we have just so you know we have sent people there like you said to
change the wood um we spoke to them that they they actually treat the wood. Okay. >> For for when it's raining. So I I've been on that and we've sent people so they've treated the wood they've changed the wood. Now if she sees a new thing that's happening yes then that then we
need to send somebody back out. But we have been doing that. Okay. Right. >> Right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chair. Yeah. Real quickly, Director Adams. >> Thank you. >> 19th Avenue, when is it going to get paved? It was on
a list to be paved, and it hasn't been paved. >> Councilman, I'll have to get I'll have to get back to you on exactly when it's going to get paved. >> Appreciate it. >> No problem. >> Madame Clerk, that's noted. and let's
continue. Thank you. >> L is an exception to public bidding to provide the services of a municipal engineer. >> Mr. President, >> Council Ramos, >> for the BA, um I know we used to use this contract before to have Mr. Adams
assist um the previous engineering director. So this explain to me why we still need this contract. >> Eric Pennington, business administrator. I will explain to you the need for the contract is to pay the outstanding
balance due to KS Engineering. And they also do in addition to providing municipal services other services uh that this contract allows for uh you should have received in your email by now uh the notice that we are appointing
Mr. Adams permanently. So we won't need it going forward but we certainly will need it to uh address the outstanding and prior uh invoices uh from KS Engineering. Uh, Director Adams has been working for us under this
contract. Um, and he will now become a permanent employee. >> So, he will no longer be employed by KS. >> That is correct. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Daniel
75 A and B are application acceptance of grant funds in the health department. A is for women's health outcomes and B is health resources and services for the administr I'm sorry hersa health resources and services administration.
>> Any questions? Continue. >> C [clears throat] and D are acceptance of a gift. C is the implementation of the electronic medical record system in the health department. And D is the maintenance of the electronic medical record system.
>> Mr. Chair like to sponsor CN D >> noted and second >> a second. >> Second by Okay, continue. >> 7R6A is a pre-litigation settlement for executive session.
7R 8A is authorizing the reading of the city of Nor's 2026 municipal bud budget with a public hearing at tomorrow's council meeting. Any questions? >> B is an appointment to the reappointment
of the joint meeting of council member Anibbo Ramos Jr. >> C is a ceremonial street designation to honor Fria Bay sponsored by council member Amina Bay. >> I'll second that. A third, a fourth.
[clears throat] >> D is a ceremonial street designation for Deacon Eugene Vic Jr. sponsored by Councilman Council. >> Is there a second? >> Second byry. >> E is a ceremonial street designation for
Ryan and Charity Hood sponsored by Councilman Council. >> Second, second everybody. >> There's als fourth [laughter] I heard first >> Kelly first. >> Duly noted. >> I put a light here.
>> F is a whole harmless agreement for movie under the stars back to school night sponsored by council member Ramos. >> G is being returned to council. H is waving the special event application permit fees for the Clinton
Hill Community Action Farmers Market sponsored by Councilman Council. >> Second. >> I is waving special event application permit fees for the MER Avenue block party sponsored by Councilman Council.
>> I'll second it. >> Move in a second. We'll continue. J is a resolution supporting Sebastian's law for window guards sponsored by council member Bay. >> Second. >> Second. Right.
>> Moving in a second. >> K is recognizing and commending resolutions and J is expressing profound sorrow and regret. >> Okay. Seminar 111A is recreation center
program for the STEM program, science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics summer enrichment program. >> I'll sponsor a second. I'll second. >> Continue. >> Seminar 12A is a change order for the
expansion of the water treatment plant. [clears throat] >> Any questions? >> Yes, Councilwoman Jackson. Um, can we just have some history given to the council, not at this moment in paperwork on how long this has been
going on and how many change orders have been submitted by these companies. Um, does things need to be fixed and repaired? Absolutely. But when I continually see 12, 15, 20 million for
the same treatment plant, I have concerns. And if it's not the same, then break them down for me because I'm just trying to figure out if you came up with a plan to fix something for 12 million in 2025. Here we are in 2026, almost a year
later, and you're asking for a change order. and they'll ask for another one because as I look through some of the resolutions from the water department, some of this stuff is going back to 2020. So, if they're not going to do the work and we're not monitoring them do the work, who from engineering is up there
even watching what's going on? We spend a lot of money on these treatment plants and I think we need to have better accountability. Somebody needs to give us some answers. I think this company needs to come before us and they need to tell us what they have done. They need to tell us what's the problems and why
they continue to need these extensions of time for one and then they're going to increase the money too because these folks don't do anything for free particularly when they come here. So I know there's going to be a change order for some more money as well as extended days um because I've looked at some of
these resolutions and it's it's just beginning to be too much. We spending millions of dollars. We should have a perfect water system with all the money that we've paid for these repairs, filters, and all this other stuff. So, I just need them to at some point come
before us, explain to us why they need these change orders. Explain to us why they need the extension of time. I'm sure they'll say the fire had something to do with it and the weather, but these companies know how to work with those kind of conditions. And I think they need to come before us now and explain.
It's just a lot of money. We should invest. We should reinvest invest for these companies cannot just blindly keep asking for extensions in time and not do what we're paying them to do. Thank you. >> Madam clerk, if if we can invite
the director and maybe the company uh to do a presentation as as noted by council Jackson. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. B is a professional service contract for engineering services. Communications.
Item 8A will be deferred. B is a reappointment to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Pedro Nves. C is a reappointment to the Affirmative Action Review Council, Mr. David Carter.
D is a reappointment to the Central Planning Board, Miss Salana Miles. E is an ordinance establishing a salary for the department head serving in dual positions of director of water and sewer utilities and director of public works.
>> Any questions? >> Yeah. Um >> council Kelly. >> Madam clerk, did you say you were deferring 8? >> A is going to be deferred only because Mr. Familia didn't appear before the council. >> Mr. Carter AC as in as in
>> No, they're reappointments. Reappoints don't have to appear. >> They're going forward. >> AC AC will cool. >> All of those are going forward. They're all reappoints. >> Yeah, they served. >> I want to sponsor AC
>> and I just have a question on E. >> Okay. Go ahead. C >> and it's not a personal who is Go ahead. the the the sponsorship for HC you indicated was Councilman Kelly and I think they said
>> yeah we >> okay good >> okay just in regards to AE um >> excuse me council president council member Jackson it's a personal item we'll discuss in executive session >> it's executive
>> oh okay okay yes sir >> okay got you >> F is an ordinance amending and supplementing cannabis by amending chapter 2 cannabis establishment to add subsection micro consumption amending chapter 2 manner of operation and armed
security and chapter 14 license fees >> I I'll sponsor >> second >> by Ramos >> excuse me Mr. chairman. Um, Council President, I just wanted to go back to 8D. I wanted to be a sponsor of that. >> Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Second by Jackson. >> May and Jackson. >> M. Mr. President. >> Yes. Council >> for 8F. Can we um get an explanation of what the amendment is or are I think I know it deals with I think armed guards
but I just want to clarify to make sure that >> I started by council >> okay someone's here >> good morning council president council members Bena Walker from the office of cannabis and special taxes um so
regarding the amendments that are being done for the armed security uh we currently have 24-hour security for all the dispensaries running. We're going to be dropping the 24-hour security to just have them there for when they're operating. So, cuz it's killing the
businesses with the 24 hours. Um, so [clears throat] moving forward, everybody's just going to be having the armed guards for when they're operating and then they're just going to have like their locks and cages for when they're closed. The other question, did I answer? >> But that that answers the question. I do
have a second question. I guess cuz I I thought there was more to it. Does it change the the fee not structure, but fees are now every two years instead of every year? Is that what this does, too? >> Yes, we're also going to be changing the fee structure to mimic the rest of the
business licenses downstairs in B17. Everybody is every two years. As of right now, we're currently being paid out every year. So, I believe it's bienial. >> Yeah, >> that's what it's going to be. So every two years, everybody has to make their payment. So if you're a micro business,
you originally pay your $1,500 every year. It's going to be $3,000 every two years. >> So that just conforms with everything else that's going on. >> Yes. Just to match the rest of the business office. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Question question. Are these armed armed
guards are they in compliance with the are they registered with the city of Newark as a as an entity? I mean do are they how do we know who these individuals are? I mean are they specials or or who are they?
>> Um as far as I know there is >> what training I mean I would like to know what training do they have in this area because this is very important. I mean it's just a question >> they're just going to be sora certified just like everybody else is downstairs
or in our business in our building that comes in and out. This just still wanted to know that. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> G is an ordinance authorizing the mayor andor his designate to execute the sale
and transfer of city properties. >> Any question? >> Mr. President, I'm waiting for uh deputy director lad. She's walking around. So, here here's the intent, you know. So, we uh approved this this ordinance earlier
on and and and I helped to sponsor it. I believe it's a win-win ordinance uh in terms of ensuring uh that we are allowing local developers to come in to develop property uh and be able to even sell it at 50% AMI or rent it out at 50%
AMI. uh some of the issues that I have around it. I think it should be very intentional about uh uh local developers and making sure that these properties do get in local developers hands so that we can have proven track record that we're
supporting local de we are also supporting uh low and moderate uh uh areas for rent and ensuring that we're building capacity for home ownership. And so, uh, in the document there is there's one item, and
I don't know about my other council colleagues, but there's, uh, 650 South 11 Street that I I have concerns about. Um, and because, you know, some of my other colleagues may have some, um, addresses on that place. I don't know
necessarily if if we want to defer it, but I would like to have deputy mayor come up because in good faith I would like to defer 650 South 11 Street or have some kind of, you know, a long range conversation about this to ensure that um we are spot dead with making
sure that local developers are getting these projects to redevelop and put back online, especially because of the minimal cost that's attached and the and the work that's going to be engaged with it. >> Mr. President, if I can piggy back on that. Um, also,
can we get the actual um principles of the developers? I at least what I saw only has listed the name of the company, but you know, like we do when we do private sales, we usually have the disclosure forms that would provide who the actual principles are of the
company. So, if we could also have that. um council >> and and what what process did the city follow to let local developers know about these opportunities? Is that I didn't see that in the attachment. I
mean, one of the buyers is um developer address is listed as 224 Ballentine Parkway, which is a neighbor of ours in the historic district, but I don't I'm not aware of a >> I know >> company that operates out of there, but
maybe they have their LLC registered out of that address. >> Yep. Deputy Mayor. Good morning, uh, council president, council members. Allison Lad, director of economic and housing development. Uh, so this initiative called the community
revitalization initiative, uh, was publicly approved by, um, the mayor and the council. Uh, we then posted, um, information about the community revitalization effort. We also held an information session which there were
probably about a hundred people in council chambers and then we received 50 applications for six sites. Um, and uh, to answer a couple of the questions, um, to council member Council's question,
uh, yes, the site that's in the south ward that was referenced, um, there were three applications for that site and, um, unfortunately um, the the Newark-based company was one of three
and they were not the highest scoring um, in that case, but again, we're happy to look at it um, given guidance. Uh [snorts] second, I will look at the address uh that council member Ramos mentioned about the um about that information for
that address. And last, um I'll verify disclosures were requested and they should be in the file. I um I'll make sure they are. Um I did bring more for illustrative purposes. This is the package I have for all of them. So I was
expecting that you would have this too. So, I will verify it and make sure you have what you asked for. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? >> Yeah. Can can you give us some insight the the first six properties that I know that was part of this trench that that
went out to uh the other individuals? Do we have any update on that? So, when we have initiatives like this, I think we should move uh quickly to make sure that everything is in alignment with with some of these folks. So that one it
could be something that is very tangible to uh the community uh and the individuals who are building and developing. So some of these things should be fasttracked uh to show uh that we're either making sure that we're providing for low and moderate rental assistance or lifting up, you know, home
ownership opportunities when we're doing this. Not to just be uh in in favor uh of the entire document and which I am. That's why I supported it. But I'm also in favor of trying to make sure that we expediate uh special programs like this
so that the impact could be felt immediately in the community uh as well as with with the uh individuals who are participating in it. So I know we did you had the initial meetings uh here and there was uh I think it was six of them that were initially went through. I
don't know where we are in the process with them yet. Have they closed? are any of them working on any of these uh uh properties? And just to get get some background on that, that's all. >> Sure. Council President, uh to answer the question, um these are the six sites
that we are selecting the people for. So, they're the sites, council member, that you're remembering. >> These are the six sites that we talked about during theformational session. Um and then we received the applications from about 50 groups and then they were
scored and that's how we're presenting these uh six purchasers to do the effort um about affordable housing. Um I'll uh just end by saying these properties were uh we did have to relocate some families
and so we actually found them better housing um than the than the properties that they were living in. Any other questions? No. Continue. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. H is an ordinance granting a 25-year tax
abatement to 636 MLK Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the central ward to construct three new buildings each a fourstory lowrise multifamily dwelling consisting of a total of 42
residential units. 33 will be market rate and nine will be affordable. Any questions? None. Continue. >> Item 10 is miscellaneous approval of the raffle license.
>> Council president, council members, their peers that the administration have three added stars. >> No. >> How many? >> Three. Uh good good afternoon Kenyatta store city of North Corporation Council. So
essentially the three add starters are as follows. Uh the first one that the uh letter start number is 26-1053. Uh it's essentially um a settlement for $54,000 to pay the cost. Uh the name of the
company is uh Jack Dohan, which is essentially the company that helps us with our sewage um clearing the sewage when it comes to sewer trucks. Um it's a vendor that we've used. I don't know the original amount, but they went over by 54,000 uh for work that they've already done. I
can get you the details about what the original contract was later today. Uh the second one is 26-1052. So, so essentially what that is is um I'm not sure if you remember, but at maybe
about uh about four months ago, give or take, uh we put forward a uh a container fee ordinance some time ago. Um there had been some litigation in reference to it. Uh the the litigation was based on the fact that they said
essentially we were targeting certain areas. What we've done is um we have a a study conducted uh essentially that gives us information on um why we need the actual money when it comes to containers. Um and in addition to that,
it also addresses um automobiles as well that are left on the port as well. Essentially what we're doing is we're we're uh creating a fee um and and the purpose of the fee is to help us with some of the issues that we
deal with when it comes to the fact that in Norc we have an additional um issues with roads, additional additional issues when it comes to public safety and things of that nature. As you know, we have to have trained our police and fire when it comes to the to the port and all of the above that has led to of course
as you know um the unfortunate loss of two firefighters here in Newark. So that's the purpose of that. Uh what we're doing is we're asking you to um send it over to the planning board so they can consider you know when it comes to the master plan.
Uh the third one is 26-1055 and essentially what that is is um it's a uh compliance is for property compliance for us. Essentially, as you all know, we've been dealing with bad landlords and unfortunately uh through
the history of us getting um you know uh trying to get things repaired and things of that nature, unfortunately, the cost has been on the city, the cost has been on the residents. What this would do was allow us to create a fund and whenever we sue these landlords for these issues,
um it would allow us to get attorney fees when necessary, of course, um pay for the additional staffing that's associated with the task force that has to go out, but most importantly, they'll also give us an opportunity to help the residents uh who live in the conditions
to actually have money to address the repairs. Some of those folks are doing repairs themselves, trying to take care of themselves. And unfortunately, uh, we find ourselves in a space where, you know, we're paying for all of the work. Uh, the tenants are paying for the work
that they're trying to put in, but the actual landlord or the property owner or is not. This will give us a fund so that when we sue them, fortunately, we'll be in the space to help those folks out. >> Two quick questions. >> Go for Um how much are we charging per
container? >> It's based on the study. Uh basically what happens is after the after the the container is there after 30 days it depends on the size of the container and things of that nature. question question in terms we should
compare some of the container fees to other ports, you know, in terms like the uh the port of of Long Beach uh has a uh structure with the city of Los Angeles
where they have they're they both uh they're both sharing the same uh uh revenue because a a part of the port uh the port of uh of Long Beach where cars
come and all the other there we need to look at what their costs are because I think they're we should be comparable to what they are. >> Yeah. So >> I think we're less than what they are. >> So [clears throat] essentially uh in the in the actual assessment which will be
attached to the actual ordinance um uploaded uh it talks about cases that have taken place throughout the nation in reference to containers and things of that nature. that gives you details and does a comparison. >> Okay. >> And then one question, sir, on the property compliance. >> One question on the property compliance.
Okay. Um, sounds good. Um, but in regards to helping tenants, when code enforcement comes out now, currently, they make the tenant do a open request for a copy of the inspection report.
>> So that when these tenants are going to court with all of these violations, >> most cases, they do not have the inspection report that states what the Yes, sir. because we're making them do a open request >> um in this property compliance since we
are I hear the gist of it is to get the property in compliance as well as assist the tenant. We need to change that when the code enforcement officer comes out. And you know, I have my concerns about that, but we're doing a little better. Um, but I think we need to know the law
better to assist the tenant because when there's violations that violate not only city ordinance, but state ordinance, we need to be in tandem with that in the court with the tenant. So my question is the code enforcement process needs to
change. every tenant should be h have access to the land the um code enforcement report so that when >> for their unit you're saying >> yes for their unit because when they're going to court to fight um
Mr. Pennit only because you're sitting there to fight Mr. Feniton the owner and they don't have only because you're sitting there sir because they don't have that report that says they got a leak in the kitchen a leak in the bathroom. >> Um I know they can't put on the report
that they appears to be mold and that's where we need to get our health department a little bit together. Um because the average tenant doesn't have the $400 or $500 that it cost to get that mold remediation test done in the unit to approve it. I mean, you know,
we've had different reports from different code enforcement officers. Oh, that's not mold. This is mold. There are things that's mold mushrooms. There are things that's mold foam that come and there are mold trees that come through people's apartments. And we need somebody from the health department as
well. So, if we could in this property compliance include that when court enforcement goes out that those port reports be ready within a reasonable time so that when the tenant goes to court they have that proof because what
is happening um because I've been advocating and I still do allegedly um the tenant is going in without that proof that they're living in an inhabitable condition and there have been times times when we've deemed that like we did at the property at 279
Clinton Place. >> Um we had the um light our electrician and our other guy come out because the gas had to be shut off, the electric had to be shut off because the boxes were sparking. So those reports needed to be readily
available for those tenants. Two two of which were section 8 tenants and we need the section 8 t the uh inspectors to be on board with that. But the lady at the second floor was not a section 8 tenant. And when she went to court with the landlord, we did not have ready for her.
Our city of North code enforcement report that would have showed that we had to come out and order the fire department and PSNG in order for that electricity to be shut off. They had to shut it off um unfortunately for safety issues. So, we need to let the tenants
have that backup when they go to court to let the judge know that the owner is violating major stuff that is really a 24-hour repair. And uh I'll say it on the record, thank you for your diligence, uh city of Norp, in getting that done. It took us a little while. We
left people in that home for over 30 days with no electricity. >> Um they didn't have a choice to move someplace else, which was very, very unfortunate. But we do we do have to do a little better job assisting the tenants proving their cases when they go to court particularly when we're getting
involved. >> Okay. >> Mr. President, just a question in terms of the process for uh the property compliance. So, how does a what what is the process for a tenant to have access to the fund in order to deal with uh
some uh issues with their apartment? >> Yeah. So essentially the the first part is establishing the fund and then what we'll do is we'll make sure we work with uh finance to make sure that that there's a process set aside so that the funding can be uh associated with the
actual piece of property right because essentially you know what what what I'm afraid of is this idea of I had I never complained about anything and I'm taking all the funds as opposed to you who complained went to court went through a process and now you need the funds for
your actual Okay. So, so the the actual process is not included in the ordinance at this point >> for the tenants. No, but that's the next step. >> Okay. Yeah, Mr. President. Yeah, I I I do believe it needs to be drafted out, more calculated, more more discussed
when you talking about some kind of process like this. uh because um you definitely want to be intentional about what what's happening especially in a rent control area and having alignment with folks being able to go through the court process being able to evaluate
what's happening and what's going on. If not, then you'll be opening up Pandora's box. Um, you know, in areas like this and you want to, you know, make sure uh that we are prudent about, you know, what it is that we're doing, especially when you're looking to try to draw down
um off of of off of what these uh property uh folks are doing and then making sure that there's a streamline for uh to be able to access or pull dollars. >> Sure. from them, not just depending on them because I know one aspect of it is you saying, "Well, if we go to court and
we win in court, then the court should be able to to make them pay." But actually being able to figure out a way to get those dollars over into Yeah. And if I could add one more thing,
the system is broken, but a tenant should be able to file a marini defense and very few have been allowed to do that in Ess's County. And I know that's [clears throat] not going to be a part of this process. However, if the tenant is in a Marini defense case, and there
are several out there because I've assisted some folks in doing that, there will be a pot of money that the court makes the decision as to whether or not that does or does not go back to the landlord. I had a particular tenant on
17th Street. The landlord refused to fix the water heater. She had been playing into the Marini defense going into CO. She had about 20 grand sitting there. I told her, "Take that money and go buy her a water heater. Call Home Depot. Let them come." I told her, "Yes, I did." I wasn't a
>> She told her before she was a council person. Council >> man. It sounds like she's not going to be a witness. >> Yeah. I just want to put that on record. >> Let somebody else tell her, but >> she came in and had the water heater done from public uh from Home Depot and was able to pay for that and it was a
legitimate expense because hot water is essential. Mhm. >> Um, so she was able to take that receipt and the judge did deduct that almost $2,000 from the rental pot. So I think if that was the if that could
well [snorts] you can but in our legal services who's not helping nobody but I'll just say it if the legal help was helping tenants to file Marini >> talking about legal aid up in county. >> Yeah. Well, yeah. Mhm. Allegedly, um, if
the if the tenants were getting the legal help, we could take this compliance and there would be some dollars to be used for the repair, if you get what I'm saying. So, if I'm in the unit, I'm paying $2,000 a month. I pay my rent into the
>> coffers, right? And I have $7,000 there and I have leaks that are going on um in my apartment. Now, it could take care of that, but then the landlord got to take care of the roof. And that's where code enforcement comes in to cover what the issue of the leak is because a lot of
times it's the roof. A lot of times it's the black bathroom in the unit above me that cause all of this that's going on. So, just wanted to say that. But then also, um, probably with Councilman Council, Commissioner Council's assistant, when the tenant is a
subsidy section 8 tenant, the housing authority DCA is paying that major portion and when there are violations in the unit they do stop payment I don't know what HUD regulation we could slip in
here if we could not saying we can or can't but when those dollars are being held as HUD does give section 8 tenants money to repair their apartments when someone is moving in they we should be able to encumber some of those dollars
from DCA nor housing authority to not give it to the owner and get the units fixed for the tenant as well. I don't know legally how we do that, but I I think that you know since section 8 and others have the power to stop those
payments because of the failure to repair. I think that something if legally can you >> I don't want to tie HUD to this because of their ramifications, their process.
And what I don't want to do is I don't want to put the tenant in a situation where I'm putting them at a disadvantage from something that HUD is supposed to do for them. I would love for HUD to do their thing and for us to be able to still help them on our side as well. >> Okay. I just don't want us to be double
paying a landlord who is uh not being compensated by HUD because we want the repair done and then HUD turns around because they did fix it with our money and gives them that five six months at 10 $20,000 back and the repair wasn't
done by the landlord. It was forced by our audience >> if you kind of get what I'm saying. >> Understand? >> So a little tricky in there. I mean, I I I really don't want to um harm homeowners, but those who don't follow the rules and regulations, and people
are living in other conditions that none of us would live in. >> Um I don't think we should compensate the uh landlord with a double hit >> paying for the repair. So, I don't know how we fix that in there, but I think somewhere we should, you know, without
>> we should do that. Was these the only three added starters? I was looking for 26-009 and 26- 037. >> 27 >> 26 >> 26 one 09 and 261037.
>> That should have been >> uh good afternoon. Um Allison Lad, director of economic and housing development. Uh thank you. We do have a few requests uh for added starters. Um one is 26-1037. Um this is modifying the affordability
restrictions for a property that was sold. There was no definition of affordability. So we're actually defining the affordability so the property can be sold to a new homeowner. >> Um I believe that was one of the items. Council member councel. Uh second is the
approval of the CVA Aspire for brick. This is the new development on Bergen and Clinton that um they've already started construction. Um they have uh Aspire funding and so they have been able to work with the community and with
the administration and I also believe with council member council on the benefits agreement. What they're going to provide um is um three main things. Uh one, they're going to be holding um a variety of block festivals and events to
um ensure that the community is aware of wellness activities within the neighborhood and also that there will be some services that are directly [clears throat] on site. Uh second they will also be providing some training uh for the various community
representatives and third they are going to also provide multi-purpose space for communities to organizations to have meetings at no cost. So that is what they're doing. Um, we did have to on this item uh spend more time with the um
developer of brick because at one point they did ask us to wave the CBA, but that wasn't a policy position that we were taking in the city. So, we were able to get some additional benefits out of the project. So, that is 26-109.
Um uh another item is uh and I know that um a council member reached out to me about this. There's an adjacent property sale uh 26-0922. Um this is a property in the East Ward. Uh and we were able to get to an
agreement um on the price and so that is something that would we'd like to have considered. Um, another one is also in the east ward. Uh, this is Brian's maid address. Uh, the developer is Maria and
Maria. [snorts] This, um, this one is not in Legar yet, but it will be today. And, uh, the last one we have is um the lease for the temporary first precinct. So, you might remember we have a temporary first precinct near the Office
of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery. We do need a lease to enter into with them. Um, and that would be the last one. >> Okay. >> And we'll be sending all of the materials to you today so you have everything that you need. Um, and all
but one of them are already in Legar. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Mr. uh, Chair, I'd like to sponsor 26-109 and 26-1037. I'll second those two.
>> So, Mr. President um just learned some information that there is two other items that are and I use the word urgent um rather just give you the information purchasing department have an
opportunity to come talk about it and then we'll we'll follow up with you later today about how far they are. Uh the first one is 26-0779. It's in reference to uh shot spotters which is from public safety. Um as you
can imagine uh that system in itself is extremely important for us. Uh it's essentially the the process that we use unfortunately when there is a shot that goes off within the city. It's the process and the system that they use here in the city to find out where it is
and of course that uh initiates their reaction process. Um I'll let the purchasing department come in and talk about that. The other one is 26-0925. Uh it's my understanding that's in reference to the security guards here in
the city. Uh there was there was a contract with one group. Um there was a bid that went out from what I understand that bid the person that excuse me the group that responded could not fulfill its um obligation. As a result of that,
we had to go back to the original uh contractor and this uh emergency contract will address that time period, the gap period. So that now the new contract will start I think in September. So this contract will address
that small space of time. So, I'll let the purchasing department come up if you need more details or if you would prefer me just have them send you a document that explains the details for purposes of time. >> [clears throat]
>> This is >> is this a new shot spott system we're purchasing or upgrading? >> I believe it's the same company. >> Same company is just that for additional time.
>> Oh, I don't understand. Additional. Okay. So, Oh, it's a contract time. Yes. And we need to be Okay. Okay. Gotcha. I'm good. And I and I will say I will say that uh because of our summer schedule uh with the the small amount of
meetings throughout the summer unfortunately some things get caught up in the mix. So I will say that you know this isn't [clears throat] a situation where I'm going to put too much pressure on the actual departments. I know folks are trying to do the best they can based on you know when the agenda closes and
things that's happening throughout the city. So what I what I would prefer to do is send the council a document that explains both of these two items in more detail so that you know you all can have it and you can appreciate at a different
level before tomorrow. >> I appreciate it. Um council president if I may if we can get um is there some document or some information on all of the adder starters? Just a little detail not not much but just a blur if we can get that. Sure.
>> Appreciate it. Thank you. >> All right. >> I'll second that. >> Second. >> Thank you. Go ahead. >> Council President, council members, we are now in a 30 minute public comment portion of this meeting where each
speaker will have three minutes to speak. Please state your name for the record. Is there anyone wishing to address the council members? >> Hey family. Wake up, Noc. Oh, mama. I'm so glad to
see you up there. Pull it down. See you. I'm glad to see everybody up there. Silver said he's got some great event he's running to. They doing what they got to do in the World Cup. Um, USA didn't win. Shout out to America's 250. I don't know if anybody else said it.
You know, I'm a Patriot. So, uh, definitely celebrate us. You know, we still a young country. We still got a lot of learning to do. And um I'm just so proud of us to keep fighting. Um we need a program to get me back. You
know, a lot of us couldn't afford to stay here. I work right in the city and couldn't afford to stay. Couldn't have my own. I don't know if I've seen a lot of studios coming up, but you know, we need to maybe check out some studio apartments because young men need to have their own space. You know, they
shouldn't have to live with somebody or room and shack. You see what I'm saying? as well as these jobs being able to pay for that, you know, in the city. And um yeah, Kelly, I told you we should have had a storage facility or something up
there, right? And and it is terrible how it just look like that on South Jaff. Um but uh Crump, you know, she didn't want to say it, but it sounded like those people are holding our city hostage. Okay,
that's what it sounds like when they refuse to build. It sounds like a hostage situation and then they start flipping it over. It's unfortunate. Council know about that. That ain't the only area these people are doing that I'm sure. And we got to put more feet to the fire, make
them want to build or, you know, beautify everything around it. Put some some stuff up there that says, "Don't mess with these people or or or it's just it's not okay." And then it leads other people to feel like they can just do what they want to do. And you're right, we got to do better. We going to
do better. Again, I said we need to have these young people training for every position in this city. There should be a young person following behind every director, every uh other director, the person under him so they could come next up. Next up, we got to be building from
the bottom up. Period. There should have been so many young people following y'all around or they can still follow you around this summer. You see what I'm saying? Think like that. Be ready to pass the baton when it's time and knowing that you prepared
them. Okay. I should be following uh Miss Daniels around. Okay. Something. But yeah, I'm so happy to see everybody again. I told y'all the public, you remember we talked about the ordinance, the public trust act stuff. Yeah. we going to get that stuff done because
when you talk about all this data, this is where we could keep all that data at. We can know what jobs are available, what what youth services are needed, who's in these spaces. We can do it. I believe in you. No.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. I guess it's afternoon now, right? Good afternoon. Good afternoon, council. Good afternoon to all the city workers and all residents. Before I say what I came
to say, I'd like to give a shout out to the workers of DPW who come out and work very hard and pick up everybody's slack. Okay. My four at large council members
and my southward councilmen, I came to appeal to you to ask the administration to please to please
to please fix the street on Avon Avenue between Seymour Avenue and Chadwick Avenue. It's only one block and it is the block that is in front of
Avon Avenue School and it is a hot mess. A hot mess. And it has been for several years now. If you go up there right now, the street look like it was hit by mortar shell. And you can't they can't say it was
because of the snow last winter. It's been that way for several years now. And over the past couple of years, they've come a few times and done the fill-in thing. It does not hold. It does not last.
And I welcome any of you to ride up there and take a look for yourselves if you think I just came down here today because I had nothing else to do. All right. And enjoy the rest of your summer.
>> Good. Good to see you, Miss Green. Deborah Salters, great day, Newark. Um, it was so great to hear all of the questions that were talked about today. Thank you, Donna, for bringing up everything that we've been talking about, but now we have someone sitting
up there that's going to needle you to get these things done. And Ramos's chiming in, all of you playing nicely. beautiful, beautiful to see, you know. Um, I want to thank Councilwoman Ba's office for doing their jobs, um, issues
that were happening at the Y. I called her, she was on vacation, jumped up, what, you know, her people got on it because quality of life issues are important. So, thank you to you and your office um, for being diligent and following up. Um, so you know, a lot was
said today about this property and and Donna asked a question about the the ADUs and the parking because that's my thing. Parking has always been an issue, right? Just like a project that they're putting on North 7, it got deferred um from the meeting the other night, but they want to put up all of these
buildings with very limited parking. So, um I know Allison talked about we had 4 million um from some years ago for these ADUs and we need we need people places to live. So, if we've had this 4 million, did it have to wait for the
ADUs to to be used? And again, how are we uh making sure that this parking is being done? Like we talked about for years, Ramos brought it up. This particular lot that you all gave away for pennies, the guy merged it, flipped
it, sold it for four or five times what it's worth. But we've been saying this to you all. So what are we going to do to where Newkers are now going to benefit instead of these developers and people who are buying these lots that
were not being sold to homeowners or people in the city who want to be homeowners? We have lost so many people because the city has not worked with them to become homeowners in the city that their blood, sweat, and tears held
together. So, we need to see some resolve with that. We need enforcement like we talked about. You all were talking about the the past blue ribbon site which we talked about for years. What's happening? What's going people dump on NORC and hold NORC hostage
because you've allowed it. They've come and punked you and said we gonna do this and other people come and say well it's New York so we could just dump our trash they ain't gonna do nothing you know blah blah blah and it's true so when are you going to do something these are
conversations it is now time to uh Roundry bought the clean and lean right clean and lean the property that way they're not able to flip it and sell it to somebody else until they take care of Newark and pay our bills this way you
won't have to burden the homeowners with tax increases, water increases, whatever increases when you take it from the people who are taking from us. >> Thank you. >> On the other speakers,
clerk see no other speakers. >> Roll call for executive session. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> Your first official vote.
>> Yes. >> My first meeting. >> Yes.