instructor to uh to guide us accordingly. Um we are on uh Roman numeral four of our agenda this evening. Agendas are available outside the council chambers or you can access them on the internet
under the city of Pekk where you will find all the proposed resolutions, ordinances, receipt of correspondence, etc. available to you as provided by the administration to the council in accordance with the open public meetings act JSA104-1
act the council evidence every public meeting for comments of the public however in accordance with NJSA104-12 nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the discretion of a public body to permit prohibit or regulate
the act of participation at any meeting therefore please be advised that the council will not Entertain any comments from persons who communicate obscene material. Make statements which are considered bias intimidation in which a person intends to intimidate any individual or group because of race,
color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity or makes comments intending to harass or speak any offensive language. The person who makes these statements will relinquish their allowed 5 minutes for public discussion. Is there anyone who would like to address the council this
evening? >> Good evening, council president. My name is Yolf. I want to ask there's a planning board meeting last night where they actually introduced a very nice multif family project
and I asked the planning board why in the past dozens of projects has there not been any forale construction in the city and these are very large projects in the past seems that has presidential towers
they have Carlton towers But in the past dozens of projects, there don't seem to be any for sale housing. Additionally, there had been some large lots that were
sold to developers and the developers chose instead of putting up town houses, they chose to put up one, two, or three multi-million dollar houses. And I've asked this council and I want to ask again two things. First of all,
the plan where it says it's up to the council to make the the redevelopment plans that are sent to them. And I'm asking, is this council doing enough to encourage for sale housing to encourage
home ownership, additional housing that people could buy and know that they could stay in these units as long as they want? >> Can I ask you to repeat the question, please? not taking time. >> The planning board said that the city council is sending them the redevelopment plans for review, but this
council is making the redevelopment plans that they abide by. Meaning anything that has to incurred for sale housing for sale as opposed to for rent has is up to this council. And I'm asking if this council is doing enough
to increase housing in the city that's available for sale, not just for rent. My second question about what I mentioned it was on Century Place in Payak, a 18,000 foot lot that could have fit 12
town houses is having three multi-million dollar houses on Acre Avenue in Payic. The corner of Payic Avenue, they could have put up seven town houses. They put up three multi-million dollar houses. And I'm asking this council with Mr. Fernandez
leadership went and said that they want middle class housing but on top of that they added a restriction of 15% that's 1550 I'm sorry 20% set aside for affordable housing that means the developer who builds it
has to set aside on five units they have to set aside a housing unit that's below cost for them but when it comes to rentals there's only a 15% side which is more. But if you look at the statistics, there's nothing being built for sale. So
what is the big impetus to put in this set aside for affordable when they're not even building middle class housing? They're not building town houses. It's not worth it. So maybe take away the restriction and maybe people can build for sale housing so people can buy town
houses and places to live in as possible to just renting. My second my third question is there is a tax abatement that if somebody builds in basic additions to their house within 30 days they can go to the city and they
can ask for an abment 5ear step up first you pay 20%. and the find you have to pay 80% and then it goes to regular disab $25,000 of assessed value that you're going to abatement of. So someone could
be doing a construction project of 150, 200, $500,000 and the city is talking about how they have abatements and abatements for these people and it's $25,000 that the city is giving them a fiveyear
tax break. Thank you. >> Mr. Fernandez, would you like to take a dive here? >> I'll try to remember the order, but um Mr. No one likes to take bits and pieces of things and missing the whole picture
of the of the discussion and quite frankly the market is what dictates what's going to happen. So we don't tell a developer that it has to be X Y or Z in our zoning ordinance. Right? to a lot of like Century Place. I could tell you
for a fact we did have a specific discussion about having town houses and the developer chose to make the one family homes because that is their right, right? That's the ordinance that it is. That's the market. That's the way it goes. These are not redevelopment
plans far far and large. Redevelopment plans are very specific. And I could tell you that one of the most recent plans included town houses which were on Acre Avenue. So that was something that this council passed at the direction of the mayor uh had me put together for the
council to review. So quite frankly question more succinctly. It's really up to each developer and their investment in that property and then it'll come to the planning board for their evaluation of that proposal in comparison to our
ordinance. So really we we don't drive that. That's based on the investment of the specific property owner. um as far as uh tax abayment goes and the total amount that is dictated by the state of New Jersey and the um short-term tax
abatement law which dictated the $25,000. I could tell you that the coun uh that the mayor had requested and we proposed an amendment to our um rehabilitation portion of the tax that this council passed to to create greater
incentives for uh property owners to fix their homes. But we're limited by the state statute and the numbers that they dictate to us. But what we did in the last amendment, Mayor, I don't know if you want to add on because I think everybody knows by now the mayor's position on improvements to properties
and how we want to promote and not penalize people for improving their properties still has to be done within the opices of the statute and we went as far as legally possible using the statute. uh that we must if if I could
ask aside from what Mr. Wolf was addressing I'm sorry aside from what Mr. Wolf was discussing but just as a general question does the city show um positive prejudice to purchase
versus rental. So it's it's really on a project by project basis. So it has to be it has to sit on its own merit and the discussions that we've had is a balance of housing. So all the documents that we write and
how we write it in fact um we propose right mayor on the R1 zones town houses to incentivize you know that for sale on on larger lots instead of McMansions let's call them which was the term that was used maybe
I'm dating myself right um for that purpose. So this administration and this council have taken actions to show that they do want to incentivize for purchase housing but also the need for affordable housing where the 15 and 20% came which
by the way was also guided by the state of New Jersey and the state fair housing act which required 15% for rentals and 20% for sale. And the reason for that is because the belief is that a forale property creates generational wealth. So
when you're doing a large project, when you're doing a large forale project, you want to make sure there's enough affordable housing so that people can uh use that um that income base and maximum uh price
base to have people that otherwise wouldn't have an opportunity in certain projects to have opportunities. And that's why the state of New Jersey put the 20% that uh this administration proposed and this council approved for those types of projects.
So I can say the full spectrum. It's always been a balance depending on where it is. Do we ever when we're contacted by uh builders, developers, do we ever sit with them and let them know that we have posit positive prejudice
towards purchase? So, it seems to me that so many of the projects that we've entertained have in fact been rental. >> Mhm. >> Um, I think that some of that is people waiting for the market to to change in and short-term effect, but it seems
that there's a whole lot of others that could be oriented to purchase, right? So the the larger ones, the ones that we have the opportunity to have those discussions, right, are those that have to be looked at on a case-byase basis,
right? Versus the ones that come in under the zoning ordinance, which is the majority of them. So let's be clear, the majority of them come in with their own projects. We don't sit and have discussions, right? And maybe I I know what you're trying to say, but I would say there's no
prejudice in any way whether it's for or not for sale or rental. It depends on the project that we have the opportunity to have a discussion on. So if these are larger plots of land in multif family residential areas or you know uh for
example, if they're structures that are getting getting adaptive reuses, they're multifamilies now. when we're defining multif family, right? That doesn't mean that that multif family can't be a condo
situation, right? So like 285 or Cin towers, Cin towers is a multif family building. They just condoed it out because condo, you know, there's the use and then there's the form of ownership and the form of ownership, right? So to
your point, the market can dictate if they're getting enough prices, a good enough prices in the market to condo them out, then they would condom out. And a lot of times developers may start off as multif family and then condo it out if the
market's strong enough in any specific area. So I just want to I just want to show that because people say, "Oh, they're all multifamilies, but multifamilies doesn't mean that they're going to be rentals." It doesn't necessarily mean that. It can also mean if if the market is strong enough that
it could also be condominiums, right? So they could be condoed out which has happened in the city of P throughout the years. And and last question if I may on this. Is there anything that we can be doing? Obviously within the limitations
of the law and our finances and the rest of it, but is there anything that we can do to encourage back from this fight uh that would encourage uh purchase rather than rent in our form of
government? >> This is a loaded question I feel over. No, I'm just wondering in our form of government, I mean, if we can get a list of these magnanimous developers that will purchase property and then not look to make a profit and provide two or three town houses that would sell at
appropriate prices for people. But I mean I know there are certain forms of government I don't know which ones come to mind where the governing body um imposes um certain prejudices on developers tells them what they can develop how
much money they can make or what would be most conducive I mean I've seen conversations in more social settings social I've seen list on these social settings social list that could be um
approach in terms of government. There's certain states nearby where maybe approaches like that have been mentioned and people have rejected. But I'm I'm trying to understand the question because sometimes as mayor I'm confused. if if there's a a property and I do mean this seriously. if there are any
suggestions of these developers and and I I know that I was being a little facicious and the adjectives of description magnanimous and generous that would like to purchase property um take some of these blighted areas perhaps identify an area and say look I'm I'm going to spend the millions of
dollars to purchase it sometimes to demolish it to construct it but do it um according to what the restrictions of the city but I think what the business administrator kept articulating was incentivize and the market I think council president, this governing body has done a good job to incentivize but
not to compel and your your question was very specific. what can we do to encourage and I think what we have been doing but we're definitely open to any conversation because we have created initiatives I mean even with the tax abatements with the incentives when it comes to rentals and I understand the
concerns and the desire to have people have ownership but I think this governing body has taken an amazing approach in terms of balance to try to create affordable housing to incentivize more investment but also to encourage
individuals who do want invest and get a return on their investment because it's just the reality of development. I to date I haven't found one yet. I believe there's some that are out there motivated by a remarkable and profound altruism to say I want I want to invest
and make nothing back. In fact, I'm looking to lose money. How can I benefit the city? I'm sorry. >> You have you have council president like you. I sometimes have the same question. How do we encourage them? But I I I want to commend because this council has
created ad hoc committees, has met with the ministry, the the business administrator, have consistently requested from our attorneys to let us know how far can we go, what is legal and what is not. But I am a little confused as to what is the request specifically from uh the speaker because
I'm I'm a little confused in terms of the sales. I do want to go through the council president because I believe the council president understands it. Did you understand the initial question? I think there was references to construction sales and um are we selling
>> I'm sorry versus rental. >> Yes. Are are you clear on it, Mr. B? Because I I I will admit as mayor I got a little bit lost on what is the specific request for the approach of this governing body. So I can only speak for myself although
in casual conversations which I've had with a majority of my colleagues on the council I believe there would be very real interest to explore how one can maximize purchase of
property uh and and then live in that property right um >> by by whom >> by the purchaser. Yeah. So, so to your question, we are doing
it. Okay. And I'll explain. I'll give you just a few of them, right? It's a balance. So, depending on the parcel of land, you're going to see multif family if it belongs or home ownership, right? We have rehabilitation programs, down
payment programs, down payment assistant programs, right? all >> first time home first-time home buyer program things to keep you in your home so you don't lose it and for you to purchase your homes. Uh you've passed ordinances which allows for a diversity
of home ownership types of housing like we've discussed and the speakers discussed about town houses, right? We then even went as far as saying if you're doing townhouse projects and it exceeds five units, one of those units has to be affordable to make sure that
there's opportunities for those that may have otherwise not had opportunities and then those individuals can use the other programs like your firsttime home buyer program to be able to get into it. Right. >> You even explored rent to buy. >> Yes, that was a big one with with HUD,
right? But again, it's their purse strings. We have to abide by what how far they let us go. But this administration and this council has gone to the maximum to incentivize investments in of all types and kinds within the city of Pik. But as an
example, >> just to add to Mr. Fernandez and I don't want >> Yeah. No, I'm fine. There a number of lights on and I don't want to go too too long with this but um just one quick note and that is that you know I believe there would be very real
interest on behalf of this council to follow the mayor's lead to join with him however he would be most comfortable and would be most effective but to see if we can raise the ante here a little bit see if we can push a little bit more there is no doubt we've seen it um in in
support of firsttime home buyers with properties scattered all over the place. And the question was, well, do they need each other closer to survive? And the answer is proven under your leadership guidance. It's not the case. You can put
property here and it alone will generate around it. We notice better take care of the homes, flowers, and paint is painted over. There's no peeling. um and and we've been extraordinarily successful in
that. So, you know, I would just as a as a last point, whatever we can do, I think um this generational wealth is something which um was an aha moment for me at least. Um and it it represents
such a sea change conceivably in in in urban communities like ours. Uh, Councilman Mayor, thank you. Council President, in the R1 zone, it was mentioned that there was town houses allowed in the R1
zone. >> R1 and R1. >> So, the R1 isn't just dedicated to single family homes. >> Antana. >> So, that Century Place, for example, that Century Place >> that was in You know, I want to say it's
R1. I don't remember exactly, but it was R1. It was R1. It was >> R1 zone. And they had the option. They had the option. I chose >> three single family homes. That was their choice. They had the ability. And
I want to say it was somewhere in the neighborhood of five or six town houses roughly. Again, I'm doing this off memory, but around there, which would have only required one affordable witch. So, I guess, and to the mayor's point, cuz I don't want to lose this,
what's the point of building, and I think the speaker tried to allude to building a bunch of multi-million dollar homes if they're not affordable to everyone? And that's where the balance comes in, right? So, if I'm building an 18,000 square foot home, who's going to
afford that? So then what you do is you create a balance where smaller homes like town homes, right, can be developed where then you can put down payment assistance still keep it sort of relative within the market rent and the
market rate and have someone have an opportunity to get it. So remember what we're trying to do here. We're not just saying let's just build home ownership. We're saying we want to build affordable home ownership and begs the question
again and I'll repeat it. For whom? Because when you're looking for assistance, and I know that most individuals aren't privy to this information, and I don't want to go wrong on it, but you have to income qualify to receive firsttime home buyer funds. You have to income qualify to
receive some of these uh grants. The challenge is some of the individuals who income qualify don't qualify for anything else. They don't qualify for the bank. they don't qualify with the credit check. They have other challenges. So, we're left as a city, as
you're saying, council president, what can we do? You know, we've taken approaches with ADUs, accessory dwelling, and stating that if we allow you to build it, we don't compel you. Perhaps you don't have the funding, but if if somehow by chance you can, that may allow you to stay in your home, rent
the home to your children, or bring income into your home, pay off your mortgage, now you have home ownership. you pass on the home to your children in the next generation and that creates some of that generational wealth. We we've done what we can. That's not to say there aren't other suggestions that
we're open to. It's just sometimes the way that it's presented and I I don't want to come across as frustrated at all, but sometimes for me and perhaps there are others that get it better than me, I'm going this ideal scenario where individuals want to purchase
property and then build it specific to whatever the neighborhood wants and provide affordable housing as the city is attempting to get while still ensuring that individuals are attracted to the city and invest because they can make money sounds great. I just don't
know how you do it practically. So, we try our best to take approaches understanding and I think the business administrator stated it perfectly case by case. Some projects are a lot easier to work with. Other projects we go, it doesn't work here. I know the numbers
seem like they can, but it just doesn't work. Whether you're applying for funding and some with the tax abatements, with EDA grants, with certain programs, we can attract individuals. We can repurpose an industrial property, get commercial, make residential, make it affordable.
And then others, someone will buy it and say, "Look, I do I want to put three very big homes and make money back because I purchased it with partners and I'm beholden to them and I took a loan out from the bank and it is my desire to pay back the loan and perhaps make
enough money to send my kids to college or pay off some bills." And I feel sometimes that approach of looking at someone who's investing, making a profit, and judging them, and acting like they're doing something wrong is unfair. Because I go, yes, I've seen some other states, some states very close to us that seem to want to
penalize and attack individuals for making money. And we go, look, you want to make money in the city, great. That's wonderful. As long as you work with us, but to a certain extent, we we we don't have that kind of authority, a form of government at some times. And it is true. There are certain projects where
they're beyond the scope of what we are beyond what we can do. If they don't get a tax abatement, if they don't need any funding and we try to limit them for subjective reasons, we might find ourselves with litigation and they'll end up developing anyway. So, we try to
do these things appropriately. That's what I'm trying to point out to. But I think to your point, yes, we will explore any option in order to increase home ownership and opportunities for those in the city of Pake who otherwise would not have had a chance to own a home. We want
to see that in the city, but we can only do it within the law and according to the programs and finances that are available and those who qualify. We went on a on a tour. I think it was like maybe five years ago. Council president with me. We did uh we did town hall
meetings at the Boys and Girls Club for firsttime home buyers program. I remember councilwoman uh Melo and and Councilman Love showed up. We took it downtown. We went around the city. We showed up to uh not for profofits faith-based. And then we went to our community development and said, "How
many people have applied?" >> Two people. And it wasn't that they weren't interested. there were other qualifications that restricted. But again, to the point, I think it's a good point. We'll try everything that we can to explore additional measures or initiatives that we can take. I just want to be candid in the answer that
it's not as easy. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> I know it's been long. Can I have 20 seconds? >> Sir, you're you spoke. Your time is up. I only get to speak once. Uh Councilman M will you finish? >> Yes. So, the R1 zone is strictly is not strict. There's 10 houses. That was a
recent amendment made by the council just prior to me coming. I'm assuming that was actually that was enacted that was passed to accommodate people trying to >> this exact same exact conversation >> and guess how many we're having the same
conversation again. >> Guess how many have done it, >> right? Century had the opportunity to do that on this brand new ordinance and they chose to do the three houses. Right? You see what I'm saying? Like it's it's only question is that I have is we get it closer. Well, maybe we're getting closer. We're getting a little
closer. Even is is is movement. >> Well, it's movement instead of they could have built one big humongous mansion and they built three, right? Like >> humongous mansions. >> Yeah. Council may coun I I don't want to
have you escorted, sir. >> I don't want to have you escorted from the chambers. Officer, >> that's that's an inaccurate statement. And I spoke I spoke to the architect, but >> I I appreciate his input with whatever specific little one word he hears from a
but I'm part of the whole conversation and the whole conversation of that project was determining what the cost of construction was for additional units plus the return on building three massively large houses versus six town
houses and what the return would be on top of the cost of construction. and they ultimately decided because it's not our money, it's their money that they were going to build three. But I can tell you that the lack there wasn't because of lack of trying because we would have loved to showcase the first
right after the ordinance passed, the first successful usage of our first-time home buyer affordable housing money. And by the way, just so you understand the kicker, we're giving money to individuals to build it. So it's not like other towns
that have no money. We're using HUD funds to per to pay for that unit. It's a choice that the developer has to make. We're giving them all the That's why I'm saying I trust that this administration is and
this council with everything you've passed is doing what we maximally can do under the law. Right. Short of compelling, which legally we can't compel. Is that >> that's the point I was trying to make? >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Thank you, Council Councilman
Monk. Please. >> Thank you. >> It the likelihood is it can't work exactly for the what you just saw where a person bought a house and wanted to either put up six town homes or three big homes. Okay.
where the city is, the cost of the home throughout the whole city. You can't pick up a home for $50,000, okay? Where you say, "Fine, I can take three homes now, okay? For $150,000, I can put up six town homes." The cost of homes
today, per say, every block of the city would mean that if I want to build town homes, the cost of the land for each town home will probably be $250,000 to start. Now, if you start your land costs at $250,000,
it can't work for town homes. The only thing that could work is to build a single family home. They could sell for a million dollars. >> So, it works in municipalities where you could pick up a house for $15,000. Mhm. >> You can pick up a whole row of homes and there are municipalities in the city of
of the state of New Jersey and other states where you have such areas where you can pick up a whole block and then you can just level it and you can put up town homes but it cannot work in the city of PAC where every home is going to cost you 4 to $700,000 before
you even start. >> Yeah. It's a blessing and a curse, right? So it's a good thing. So I don't want negative any consolation in lengthy meetings that I've had with my colleague in the assembly representing the great city of Camden. He's told me that the prices are now out
of reach for property in Camden for people to do exactly what we're trying to do here. >> Right. And the depressed horrible city of Camden that we all know so much about and some of us grew up next door too.
Um, things have changed there. Things have changed in Atlantic City, right? So, >> yeah. >> So, whatever it is, I I I'll be honest. I've sat many times with the Google maps of the city of Pay and look for a piece of land. We can do exactly that because
unfortunately, we can't we don't have a place for the young >> families who want to settle here, who grew up here and want to settle here. They can't afford and a lot of them don't want to buy a home. Some of our homes in in the sea are 100 years old. They don't want to buy a home that's
that size and so big and old windows and the cost of heating and so on and so forth. They want something new. It could be small but something that's controllable in terms of utility expenses and so on so forth. But there is no land. I've looked at it. I've
studied it, you know, and on top of it maybe 15 20 years ago before warehousing became popular back then. Okay, you know what? Take down a warehouse, right? and put up 50 town homes. >> But warehousing became >> super expensive. >> Super expensive.
>> You can't take down take down an old warehouse and put up it just can't. It just doesn't work. These logistics centers like the one we did on 8th Avenue and on Jefferson, the old Panason. They're paying a premium for the land above residential numbers. If you
thought it was that I saw the numbers, I'm like, this is four times what anybody would pay to make this entire lot residential. >> So, there's no way to hit even the older you think. Oh, that's why adaptive reuse, right, is the next viable option.
But when you have a five, sixtory building built in the 1800s with three 4 foot thick concrete floors, you're not knocking that down. You're going to rehab it. And what can you rehab it, right? it has to be condos or to or apartments. I mean, that's
>> the the nature of where we're at. And we've even explored with banks, >> bank owned properties. We've reached out to our congressional representative to see if there's any measures, any laws that could hold them rather than holding on to properties long-term because they pay the taxes off of them. They can
become blighted. Sometimes there are banks that are out of the state that are owning the properties. We have no means of forcing them to sell the properties even for initiatives like affordable housing or to create condos or to have these and we've explored them. But I don't I
don't want in any way present that we're closed off to them. We're saying is that it's one thing to paint this ideal picture, you know, this remarkable utopic city that I haven't seen yet, but that could be where again these investors come in and they buy the
property. They buy the property at at market value and then say, "I don't mind losing the money in order to meet everyone's expectations." That's just not the reality. People invest, make money, and then where we can encourage and incentivize, we do it with the funding that we can provide you with
because then we can tell you it has to be affordable. You have to provide this many units. Has it happened? You know, Councilman Monk said, "No, maybe one or two have occurred since I've been here where someone gets a deal on a property.
Maybe there's a not for profofit that's sold off." >> Mhm. >> But once they get a hold of that, they're looking to make as much money as possible and that's where the city can push and say, "You know what? We won't allow you to build." And then nothing happens there. and they
hold on to it for as long as they can or sell it to someone else who's going to be a little bit stronger in their push to build it. It's just a reality. But yes, council president, we will explore further and and will be more than open to partnering with the state, but as you mentioned with your colleagues, it's not
just Pacific, >> it's around the state. >> Thank you, sir. >> Coun, please. Yeah, I mean all the points that I had in my mind have been um discussed nausea, but I just wanted
to reiterate, you know, some of the things that the mayor said. Um word goes out sometimes to developers and and cities on on the types of um projects that may work. So when they're going to present them, they're not going to try
to present projects that going to create time, money, legal expenses, and driving it along and trying to get it done. um rental properties has worked. As Councilman Monk um strategically and and
eloquently pointed out, it's very tough to to grab a piece of property um at 250,000 or even 450,000 and build town houses that you're going to be able to sell to make one of your
money back, let alone a profit. So I I think that in itself makes it very difficult for this administration to even um entertain um and and approach and again people are coming in with their own monies. So I think they they
pretty much have a idea of what they would like to do when they come um to the city of Pay. Those firsttime home pro home buyer programs are are phenomenal and I just want to commend administration for continuing and expanding them. Um, I'm I'm a product
with First Home Buyers program and I'll tell you, uh, it probably was the best thing for me being a young father at the time and and making a very minimum amount of money at the time. So, I just hope that we continue and we explore
even more with that. But I think it's it it's one of those things where developers are going to come in our city with their mind made up on how they want to make money. and and Mary said it best. It's going to be very difficult to
tell someone, but this rate in the market right now is it's not stable. It goes up, it goes up. You buy a piece of property and you just dump it right away um and lose out on money. I think it's going to always be tough. So, thank you.
>> Thank you, Councilman. Is there anyone else who would like to address the council? >> See, motion to close. >> Second. Motion and second to close public hearing. Roll call, please. >> Councilman Monk. >> Councilman Love.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Melo. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mayor. >> Yes. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Yes. >> And Council President Shear. >> Yes. Thank you. And Councilman Monk is an affirmative vote on that, please. We were five ordinances for second and final reading. Hearing is required.
Number one, propose the ordinance number 2527-26, an ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank NJSA44A colon 4-45.14
introduced at the May 5th council meeting. Mr. finance director. Yes, sir. >> For those of us who have forgotten, can you share with us briefly what it is that we're being proposed to do here?
>> Yes. So, part of the uh statute set by the state of New Jersey is allowing you to increase your budget by what a cost of living adjustment, which is set by the state. Another piece of that which
for calendar year 2026 is 2% of an adjust of your adjusted 2025 budget. They also allow what they call a uh an uh increase of up to 3 12%. So that's an
additional 1.5% of a bank that you can take on the 2025 adjusted budget. So for this what that means for the for the city is we have
about $4.3 million of a cap bank with this of of which 1.5% or $1.6 $6 million is the additional that doesn't mean that we are increasing the budget by that. That just establishes a bank for for a
future years that in the case that it becomes needed for example in next year and 2027 or 2028's budget you have that available cap bank for any type of
extraordinary increase. I thought that was what surplus before. >> Yeah. So surplus would be for example how you fund that increase but this cap is the statute what allows you
statutoily to even increase your expenses by that. So for for all intents and purposes, the state pretty much gives you a limit to how much your budget can increase, right? And now this
cap bank assists you with an additional $1.6 million if needed. >> So So just as an example, right, the pandemic hit, right? We were blessed that we got a
significant amount of funding, right? What if that funding wasn't there and now we needed to raise over the cap because of this global pandemic? This would allow us to tap into that money to
address that. So it's it's we like to call it the rainy day fund, but it's really for catastrophic like >> it's it's my understanding just to be clear that you can only tap into the cap bank with the express approval by ordinance of the council.
>> Yeah. >> Yes sir. So th again this is just establishing it and yes the council would ultimately approve it of the usage of it in the following year's budget through the approval of said budget
>> right it goes through the budget process. So you'll be you you'll have the same review and analysis you have with any budget just knowing that we have because of xyz we had to tap into that bank. Okay. Any questions? If not, can I have
a motion, please, to open public hearing? >> So move. >> Second. >> Is on 2527-26. Madam clerk, >> Councilman Love, >> yes. >> Councilman Monk, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Melo, >> yes. >> Councilman Garcia, >> yes.
>> And Council President Sher, >> yes. Thank you. Is there a maker of the motion, please? >> I'm sorry. Ladies and gentlemen, is there anyone who would like to address the council on this item or this item only? >> Seeing no hands, I move to close the public portion. >> Second. >> Motion and second. Roll call, please. Thank you.
>> Councilman Monk, >> yes. >> Councilman Love, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Melo, >> yes. >> Councilman Garcia, >> yes. >> And Council President Sher. >> Yes. Thank you. On the ordinance, please. Is there a maker? >> Move. Second. >> Motion and second. Roll call, please. >> Councilman Monk, >> yes. >> Councilman Love,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Melo, >> yes. >> Councilman Garcia, >> yes. and council president. >> Yes. Thank you. The ordinance pass. Yes, sir. The ordinance passes. Number two, please. Proposed ordinance 2531-26. >> An ordinance amending the designation of restricted parking for disabled persons
by your license plate number. Is there a motion, please, to open public hearing? >> So move. >> Motion. >> Councilman Monk. >> Yes. >> Councilman Love. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Melo. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mayor. >> Yes. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Yes. >> And Council President Shear. >> Yes. Thank you. At this time, ladies and
gentlemen, the council is deliberating proposed ordinance 2531-26. Is there anyone who would like to address the council on this item and this item only? >> Seeing no hands, I move to close the public portion. >> Second motion and second. Roll call to close public hearing. >> Councilman Monk, >> yes.
>> Councilman Love, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Melo, >> yes. >> Councilman Mayor, >> yes. >> Councilman Garcia, >> yes. >> And Council President Sheer, >> yes. Thank you. That was only the ordinance. >> No. on the ordinances make please motion. >> Second
>> and second. Roll call, please. >> Councilman Monk, >> yes. >> Councilman Love, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Melo, >> yes. >> Councilman Mayor, >> yes. >> Councilman Col, I'm sorry, Councilman Garcia, >> yes. >> And Council President Sher, >> yes. Thank you. Uh, we have
communications items 3 through 7. Are there any questions, please, on three through seven? Seeing all is there a motion to entertain three through seven? Move it. >> Second. >> Motion and second. Roll call, please. On 3 through 7.
>> Councilman Monk. >> Yes. >> Councilman Love. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Melo. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mayor. >> Yes. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council President Shar. >> Yes. Thank you. On second agenda, current year 2026, budget adoption, public hearing required.
and there is a resolution subsequent to it adoption of the current year 2026 municipal budget. We've been informed from uh the local government services uh bureau in Trenton that unfortunately the
uh those people responsible for accepting the budget and making sure that it is indeed copacetic and leaves exists under the laws of proper laws of the state of New Jersey that they ask us not to pass this ordinance tonight. They
do ask however that we open conversation and leave the table open till our next meeting. Is that phrased correctly? >> Yes, Casper. So part of the statute requires that they review it and come back with either no comments or with
comments and they have not had the opportunity to complete that review and what they're saying is to open the hearing and then carry it to at least the next meeting. Is that correct? Um Mr. Garcia? Yes. So today we can open
the public hearing, hear any citizens, we can close the public hearing and then the but the actual resolution or the vote on whether or not to adopt the budget will have to get carried to the following meeting while we await for the division of local government services
approval >> and and at that time there will be public comment provided. There is not needed satisfy. >> There will be public there will be public participation provided at the next meeting when this is proposed for
adoption. >> Yes sir. Absolutely. >> Very good. Uh are there any questions please on these admittedly interesting machinations? See mind. Is there a motion please to accept current year
2026 budget adoption >> or open the public hearing? >> Open public hearing. Okay. >> Is there a motion to open public hearing? >> Move it. Council president >> second. >> Motion and second to open public hearing. >> Councilman Monk. >> Yes. >> Councilman Love. >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Melo. Yes. >> Councilman Mayor. >> Yes. >> Councilman Garcia. Yes. >> And Council President Shar. >> Yes. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time the council is deliberating proposed budget item current year 2026 budget adoption. Public hearing is required. We
welcome your comment tonight. This item will be left open until our next meeting on June >> 16th. >> On June 16th, at which time additional comments of the public will be welcomed. Is there anyone who wishes to address
the council at this time? Seeing no hands, is there a motion to a motion to move to to continue the the open public hearing till next meeting? >> I second that motion and second. Roll call, please. >> Councilman Monk, yes. >> Councilman Love,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Melo, >> yes. >> Councilman Mayor, >> yes. >> Councilman Garcia, >> yes. >> And Council President Shear, >> yes. Thank you. Now, we are not doing the adoption. Is that correct? >> We are going into communications.
>> Correct. Right. Okay. We didn't flub it up too much right now. On items 9 through 17, are there any questions, please, on 9 through 17? Um, just Councilman Mayor, see water supply. It sounds like the
PVWC has remedied whatever situation was in the city. Is that correct, Mayor? mass alert that it was extended to the city. >> Expectations I believe are that it will
not be done before tomorrow evening. >> The mic wasn't on. They extended the uh boil water to pake initially. It began with a water main break of 51 in in Clifton. Then uh they continued work and they had a boil water alert in Clifton
earlier this morning and then it extended to the city of PA but there is no expectation that it will be done tonight. >> Who owns that agency? They are so flipping up sometimes. Thank you mayor. We are up to
resolutions. We did pass that. Yes. >> Items on 9 through 17. >> 9 through >> 16. Are there any questions, please? If not, is there a motion, please, to accept 9 through 16? And second, roll call, please. On 9 through 16.
>> Councilman Monk, >> yes. >> Councilman Love, >> yes. >> Councilman, >> yes. Councilman Mayor, >> yes. >> Councilman Garcia, >> yes. >> And Council President Shear. >> Yes. Thank you. Two resolutions from the numeral eight. >> Council President, >> we just did that already. What are we
doing now? 17. >> Cuz I forgot 17. Okay. On 17, is there a separate vote to accept 17, please? >> Second. >> Motion and second. Roll call, please. On 17 only. >> Councilman Monk. >> Yes. >> Councilman Love. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Melo.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Mayer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Yes. >> And Council President Shear. >> Yes. Thank you. On 18, a resolution authorizing closed executive. Now, do we need closed? >> No. Council President. >> Mr. Fernandez? >> No. Council President. >> Mr. Mayor, sir.
>> Thank you, sir. Members of the council. >> No, sir. If we could look please at items 19 through 24. Are there any questions please on 19 through 24? I have one on 19. Mr. Fernandez, what do we We're extending the current contract.
>> Um the reason for that council president is that we went out to bid multiple times. Well, uh, every time we went out to bid, it was significantly overbudget to the tune of 50% higher than it was the last time. And it's and that's up 50% higher from the one before that
because of the pandemic. So, we've kind of uh drew a line in the sand and are now discussing pricing with the the biders and seeing if we can't get a better price. So, that's why this is this resolution. >> So, what so what happens? Are we forcing
the current company to continue doing that? >> So, we're not forcing. We amicably requested and since they're one of the biders that we're negotiating with, they have uh graciously accepted to extend it until the negotiations. >> There's no firm indication that they would get the contract.
>> There is no firm indication that they won't get the contract. Absolutely not. >> Why, Councilman Mayor? >> Thank you. >> Why is there don't What do we pay for when we're doing recycling? Isn't there some so that allow you to recyclable? Yeah.
So there's there's two it's two parts of the bid. One part of the bid is the hauling which is an expense and then a part of the bid is the marketing which is the revenue. Right? So we try to maximize the marketing and try to
minimize the uh the hauling. But in either case, it would net net be an increase of 50%. From the last contract. So what we asked is for the uh recycler under this
resolution to continue at the current rate, not the bid rate, the current rate until we can negotiate who the hauler is going to be for the upcoming year and who the marketing is going to be. because it could be the
same individual like it is right now or it could be separate. It could be one company for marketing and one company for hauling. So, we're trying to figure out how we can get the best uh price. >> Thank you.
>> Any questions please on 1924? Yes, council president may just um if the administration could just um give a brief synopsis of uh 24 the fea just um >> um
the part watch parties >> I don't know what a party is you don't know what A PARTY IS so I'm going to clarify is we're not we're not calling it FIFA m Friday we we are calling it Um obviously uh as a city
the logo will be a football friendly and soccer ready city. We did not receive a FIFA uh designation nor did we receive any FIFA grants which actually is both a blessing and there's some challenges though. We didn't receive the revenue.
It freed us up to have different kind of events cuz FIFA is quite restrictive in terms of the kind of events that you could have in the community. Um, for those who don't know, anything that occurs during FIFA is not considered a local incident, but can be considered an
international incident because FIFA and and that's not to say anything of the cities that did receive the designations. They're having events close off. We're going to focus on our community events. Now, we've had outdoor watchings before, but these watch
parties will be unique. We have secured uh what is technically um categorized and described as a gigantic outdoor viewing screen. >> Huge. Yes.
Huge. I know. >> Yes. And uh we're going to bring them out. We're going to have the restaurants come out with their food. We're going to close off the streets. Now, we've had similar events like this. It's like on Marcus Street when we had the parkletits we allow people to bring out the ceilings during co this isn't something
new but in terms of the watch party what we will have is designated areas for specific games with police presence obviously ensuring that DPW is there to maintain the cleanliness we'll take all the appropriate precautions
but again the goal is to have the community that can't go to the middlelands even though I will share with you I was just online and uh the tickets are now going for research about 7,000 8,000 per ticket. >> So if uh if anybody >> say he's going to take the council >> as we were talking about the cost
again this isn't given opportunity for families for children and perhaps even some of the earlier games to uh make some uh some agreements with these after school programs or during school programs to bring the youth out and watch the games as a community. We're
extremely excited about this. recreation has been working along with the administrative team, our clerk, our police, our fire, our business administrator, our UEE, and so much more. So, we're extremely excited. There is some funding sources that we're using
through UE, through the EDA, the economic um development authority of the state that assisted us in securing some of the resources and some funding. So, we weren't that hurt by not getting we would have loved the FIFA money. It would have been a challenge with communities like ours to have the
restrictions. To give you an example, open air events weren't as encouraged. If you're having a FIFA event, FIFA cities, they technically may not be allowed to have other soccer events. So they're not confused with the official
flag designation. Whereas we have many small soccer teams that can participate in different tournaments at our activities under the Paint Banner of celebrating the World Soccer event. So it's we're a little more creative with how we describe it, but we can also do a
lot more. That's an overview. Mr. administrator, if you want to share anything, buddy. >> How many how many of these next Thursday is the kickoff event
at uh Monroe Street? They're shutting down portions of >> I believe that's Mexico versus South Africa. >> Yes, Mexico versus South. >> So, we we got uh very blessed that Mexico is the opening game of the tournament. So we get a lot of our
community can share in that uh and and one of the directions from the mayor is that he wants it in every section of town so that everybody can share it. So game one is here. Then depending on different weekends, you may have one in, you know, uh, downtown by Factory 220 in
Thorward Park for a weekend and back for the culmination of the World Cup at Palaski Park, which will be akin to the fireworks show, which will be the week before. So we're going to have a lot of action in the city of I believe that was going to be Councilman Mayor's question whether we
were taking it around the city. No questions. >> Any other questions on 20 through 24? >> Second. >> Is there a motion please to accept items 19 through 24? >> Move it. Council president. >> Second. >> Motion and second on 19 through 24.
>> Councilman Monk? >> Yes. >> Councilman Love? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Melo? >> Yes. >> Councilman Mayor? >> Yes. >> Councilman Garcia? >> Yes. >> And Council President Sher? >> Yes. Thank you. schedule a meeting on 25 and 26. Both regard an appeal uh
concerning the rent leveling board. Is there an expectation that these be hired as soon as they that these be heard as soon as they're they brought to us? Can they be delayed a little bit? >> I believe they they can be delayed a little bit, but the rent leveling board's decision is stayed pending our
determination. What I'd like to do is I'd like to move the uh I'd like to move the hearings not to June 16th when the budget is being prepared and presented but uh to the meeting following. >> Um the following meeting would be the July 1st meeting.
>> Very good. >> If the council's pleasure >> um that's the reorg so >> July 21st >> July 21st instead. How's July 21st everyone?
Okay. July 21st. Is that with the administration's pleasure? >> So, what >> I'm sick that day actually. >> Have we Have we heard any of these appeals? This is going to be the first one. >> First ones.
>> We haven't just We haven't heard any appeals yet. Right. This is going to be the first one. Yeah. So it's interesting because you're hearing two of them and one is from a tenant and one is from a landlord. So it's interesting that the first one here are one from each party.
But you are correct. That is the first one and that was discussed when the rent leveling board was uh again revived that any decision that is not finalized there in the appeals go directly to the council to be. >> Very good. So we'll set the date down
for both of them to be July >> 21st. Do we need to do that by vote? >> Yes, sir. >> Is there a motion, please, to accept to schedule hearing for items 25 and 26
at our July 24th meeting? >> 21st. >> 21st meeting following council business. >> Move it, council president. >> Thank you. Motion second, please. >> Second. >> Motion and second. Thank you. Roll call. >> Councilman Monk. >> Yes. >> Councilman Love.
>> Yes. Councilwoman, >> yes. >> Councilman Mayor, >> yes. >> Councilman Garcia, >> yes. >> And Council President Shear. >> Yes. Thank you. Payment of bills. Are there any questions on >> I'm sorry, sir. Item number 26, please. >> I'm You weren't looking for my vote. >> You did 25. >> Okay. I thought we were doing them
together. 26. >> I'm sorry. >> Didn't get that verbally done again or >> No, that's fine. >> Very good. On the payment of bills. Any questions on the bills? >> Is there a motion, please, to accept the bills as presented? Move it. >> Motion and second. Roll call on the bills, please.
>> Councilman Monk, >> yes. >> Councilman Love, >> yes. >> Councilman Melo, >> yes. >> Councilman Mayor, >> yes. >> Councilman Garcia, >> yes. >> And Council President, >> yes. Thank you. Administrator's report, Mr. Fernandez. So I just like to say one
thing and that is to um thank all the staff members that have been an intricral part of the preparation and planning for the PAC soccer ready watch parties they have been instrumental uh specifically obviously the police
department's been great fire department but our city clerk's office with our UZ uh coordinator literally went business to business. They're still, one of them is still out there right now trying to get businesses to sign up and be vendors
for that kickoff event. So, I just wanted to put that on the record and thank them for all their effort uh to try to make this a successful kickoff event. >> Very good, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Tennyson Park has been opened today.
Families are very excited. Um, obviously there was so much that was done, renovated, additional equipment that was added. Go by and check out the park. It was uh just beautiful work that was done. There's one one piece of equipment, a seat that we're still
waiting on delivery, but we covered it up and opened it up for the families today. Um, I do want to share to the council members, you'll hear of some trees that were removed. We went through all the appropriate channels. We uh examined the trees. We planted
additional trees in there, but we added shade. We put umbrellas up in special seating areas. So, they are where the spray pads, which is the water portions of the amenities that we provide at our different parks and they open up tomorrow. So, you may get questions,
when are the spray pads going to open up? the temperature is rising 90° and up and that's going to open up tomorrow and we'll stay open for now on as the temperatures are expected to continue rising on the 14th we mentioned it earlier there will be a big procession
in the city of Pate very big procession by the dasis of Patterson there will be uh individuals coming in from uh Chicago New York and all over we've had these processions in the past but this will be
bigger as it is commemorating a specific religious anniversary. June 14th is a Sunday. So, we want to make sure they're aware. Uh we will send out information to your emails uh council members. So, please look out for that. We'll try our best to uh give you a call beforehand.
Um the procession begins on that Sunday around 3:00 in the afternoon and will uh will end at Pake Stadium and that will be uh around 6:00 where they will begin their ceremonies. We've had processions
like this in the past that ended on Wall Street, some that went all around the city and came back um to Myrtle Avenue, but this everyone will be combined together for it. So please look out for those. We will make sure to send the flyers out to all of the watch parties
to all of the council members so you're aware of the different locations and when they will occur. This is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America know that the 4th of July event. If you think the previous years we have
secured quite the spectacular show, but we're also combining it with a concert. We will have a concert in the park and uh we are looking to secure reenactors of the revolutionary war to come in dressed up. We are taking volunteers. So
if any of the council members have taken their uh their horse riding lessons we have going for those who did not hear online council president said he's going at the horse. That's hilarious. But um that was
good. So, we wanted to let you know just because there there will be a lot of events around our city over this month and I know that we're coming back together a little bit later um in in the month. We want to let you know. So, please look out for those emails because there's a series about four or five
events. Starting tomorrow, St. Anony's Family Festival, the carnival they have every year begins. It goes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. And that's a pretty big festival that will occur. The Salvation Army in the city of Pake recently had a change of ministry
leadership. They're actually beginning a program where they're sending children to um to camps out of PI for free. They're paying for the children to go. It is a camp in Pennsylvania. I met with them today along with the members of our clergy leadership and not for-profit
organizations in the city of Pate. But we welcome the new leadership on and then also I want to share and many of you who know the family personally um Reverend McKenna who took over the ministry uh from her father um will be
leaving Calvary and starting a position in Texas starting a position in Texas. So for those and I know many on the day are very close to the family. You may want to send out a congratulations. She was just appointed um that was shared with us and we're extremely excited for
her new opportunity but we'll miss her here. She has become such an integral part of uh community outreach programs. And then lastly I want to recognize um uh Miss Karen Terrera works with our business administrator as his assistant along with uh the administration and
those who assisted me. We put in an application, council president, members of city council to be included in the historic um trail, the state trail for the African-American history. And uh in doing some research, I will share that I had found uh a Reverend Pence who was
the first ever African-American attorney in the history of Pake County. And uh he had his office across from the VFW on Summer Street, right across from it at the building. and he was one of the founding members of Mount Zion
Missionary Baptist Church. Our application was accepted. It was uh co-authored by myself and Karen. What that means is that she worked tirelessly for days and then I added my name at the end of it somewhere on like the 17th page. Karen, you're on. Karen's like,
"That is accurate. I just didn't expect you would tell everyone." Exactly. Maybe I look I did I I will admit I I found the name but Karen did so much work in putting this application together and working with the team. It was accepted by the state and we received the plaque
from the city for the city. So we will be putting together an event where we will hand over this uh marker, this historic marker. It will be placed at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church on Main Avenue. And we are officially part of the trail meaning that anyone looks it up for the state wherever they go
around the state. We have a specific area where people will come and see this marker and learn about uh Reverend Pence who was such a remarkable figure in the history of the state. And uh I believe the marker also recognizes him as one of the leading founders of one of the
political parties in the city of Pake and for the county and the state. A party that may more align with the administration in Washington, but back then it was a different kind of party. So >> you say it first.
>> I'm Yes. Yes. But at the time there was a lot of different I believe um President Lincoln was part of the uh party, but he was born in the 1800s and I had just run into his name doing some research and uh requested him. >> Excuse me. The Underground Railroad was
not in SEC at all. >> There there are um locations that were included and um Mr. Ron Van Ransier. Uh do the Van Ransier, the Han Ransier, Hunter. Um they they have markers. I think we have two locations that were
identified in the city of Pake and I know Patterson has them. Yes. >> But this is a little different. This was a a historic trail that was created by the state of New Jersey and we were able to be included in this application. So we're very excited about it. >> Very cool. >> Okay.
>> Any members of the council wish to say? >> Yeah. I just just a quick question. um for administration and um and it'll help me too and the public cuz usually the business administrator takes care of me. When I get a complaint from a tenant
about their treatment from the landlord or not fixing things, mold and those things, I turn it over to their business administrator, but I don't know what takes place. So, I'm just asking where where should tenants go and with those types of complaints? Is it rent leveling
board? Is it here? It's here when it comes to issues of code, of heating, anything that has to do with the quality of life, the living conditions, that would come here. Rent leveling is more in terms of paying the rent, increases
of the rent or any disputes that you have in the contract, the lease, uh the termination of the lease and things like that. And again, that is uh just one one level of government that we have here. Obviously there's tenant landlord court that they can pursue and typically we
would request that they come here first but they always have the option to go straight there. >> I'm sorry specifically who when they come here >> human services. Okay. if they need the information specifically uh regarding any dispute when it comes to rent evictions and but when it comes to
actual repairs of the home. You know, we had uh we had a few complaints towards the beginning of the spring because we had those days where it went from 90° and then the next week it shot down to like 50 and 40 and and some landlords
never turn the heat back on. Those we refer to code. Code makes a phone call and inspects me. Thank you. And then if I may, Council President, I want to congratulate those on their primaries and the election. I know that the county commissioners, those who are running for
Congress, and uh different offices. I want to commend the um the c the city clerk and all of the staff there worked very hard. We had early voting in the city of Pake again and that was a big deal. But things ran smoothly here and congratulations to everyone who secured
their positions to run in November. Thank you, ma'am. Being no one else, is there a motion please to adjurnn? >> Move it. >> Motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and second. Roll call to adjurnn, please. >> Councilman M. Yes. >> Councilman Love. Yes.
>> Counciloman Melo. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mayor. Yes. >> Councilman Garcia. Yes. And Council President Sh. >> Yes. Thank you. This meeting is adjourned.