On behalf of the governing body of the city of Pake, we welcome you to the July 15, 2025 city council meeting. In accordance with chapter 231, public laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by resolution of the municipal council adopted on June 17,
2025, setting forth the schedule of meetings for the year 2025 2026. Said notice was published and posted on the city hall bulletin board by the office of the city clerk. Please be further advised this meeting will be conducted in person. The Zoom stream provided is
for viewing only and is offered to the public as a convenience on July 4th, 2025. Public notice and Zoom instructions for this meeting were published in the Herald News and posted on the city of Pake website at www. cityofake.com. Council agendas instructions are also
available on the last page of this agenda. Please be guided accordingly. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Melo, present. Councilman Mayor, present. Councilman Garcia, present. Councilwoman Colom, present.
Councilman Love, present. And Council President Sher, President, should we all please rise? Heavenly Father, we want to thank you Lord for allowing us to meet this evening. Lord, we ask you to please guide us decisions that will take place this evening. In your beloved name we pray. Amen.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, justice for all. Good evening everyone and welcome to our
council meeting this evening. May we ask if you have a cell phone to please put it on vibrate, turn it off so as not to disturb uh your neighbors. Uh we also ask if you've not already received a copy of the agenda, they're located outside or you can access the agenda as
well as all the uh documents that accompany the agenda on the internet. Uh you are they're able to receive everything that the council has received and we thank the administration for the materials so that we can deliberate with good knowledge. Um, tonight may
very well be a regular meeting in in sense of duration or it could go a little bit longer or a lot longer than originally anticipated because of items on the agenda. Uh, that being the case, we are on our agenda. Roman numeral 4, mayor's update. Mr. Mayor, it's a
pleasure to see you. Thank you, members of the city. Last night, obviously concerns and reports of flooding in the city of we did not have any incense obviously challenges during flooding our continued
investment in infrastructure. I have to start from the beginning, Renee. My mic wasn't on. Apologies. It's a 10-hour drive from North Carolina. Just got in. As I was saying, council president, members of the city council, all those
uh employees from city hall, and all those present, my report will attempt to the best of my ability to be short, succinct. Last night, there was a lot of rain, and I know there were many reports around the state, obviously around our area in
the north regarding flooding. I report that in the city of Pik we did not have any incidents. Our prayers and our thoughts go out to all the communities that face challenges including those that have losses. Our continued investment and infrastructure and flood
mitigation efforts have had great impact. I want to thank our police department and our fire department for going around the city throughout the storm for meeting beforehand ensuring that uh they are prepared to respond to any calls and concerns. I wanted to
share with our council members that uh you may be driving around the city and you may have noticed repairs or roads that are beginning to be repaired. We are dealing with a a lot of repairs around the city. We strategically try to
schedule them around the season between spring and summer and begins to end around the fall because obviously the winter it's not conducive to fix roads because of the snow and the plows. Just an update for those that may be watching online. We are working on Chestnut Street from Gregory Avenue to Myrtle
Avenue. Myrtle Avenue from Oak Street to Gregory Avenue. Henry Street from Myrtle Avenue to Garden Street. P Street from State Street to Market Street. Exchange Place from P Street to Pennington. High Street from Pollison Avenue to Main Avenue and How Avenue from Grove Street
to Prospect Street. Members of the city council, council president, there have been some questions as from residents as to our approach to anchored parking and painted parking and how we come to that decision, especially while we're milling and paving the roads. I wanted to update
you. I know that you're privy to information, but obviously for those that are not and those that may be watching online, the angled parking, we don't arbitrarily decide to do this and we don't make those decisions in silos, what we have is our engineers and professionals that we task to go out along with our police officers to do
traffic studies. And when we find a road that is conducive for angled parking, which obviously increases parking spaces and multiplies them, uh we either task our DPW to paint them or we get an official contractor with a machine that
can get it done quickly. But it is our desire to paint the uh parking spaces, linear parking spaces throughout the entire city. We've done Hudson Street, we've done Murdoak. This has shown a great deal of benefit and we've received a lot of positive feedback, council
president, members of the city council, in terms of preserving parking spaces and ensuring that individuals do not take up more space than they need. In regards to uh community news, I wanted to share with you that this weekend we have the Colombian flag raising and uh Colombian festival held at Third Ward
Memorial Park. We thank Miss Isabino and all of the uh organizers together for yet again another successful event this year. And also there was doing it in the park. Doing it in the park at school number 11 tradition that has long been in the city bringing different
communities together this uh year under the leadership of Miss Alexis Willis and partners. They were able to give out bicycles again raffled them off to children, display or showcase the talent of the community with individuals coming up on stage and again bringing the
communities together. We are thankful to always provide space in all of our parks and all of our areas for our extremely diverse communities. In the next coming weeks, we will have the uh um Puerto Rican flag raising. I am obligated by law, the attorney said, to mention
Marita Colany and to say wea. Is that did I say it correctly? Thank you. I'm supposed to say that whenever I mention her name in the flag raising as she's always been at the forefront of that, but we also will have the flag raising and the parades obviously coming up for we have many flag raising and parades
throughout the summer and we will let you know that is the extent of uh the report that I will give today. If you have any questions about anything going on in the city or regarding the report, I'm available to answer. Mayor, if I could ask one question, I if I'm putting you on guard, I I apologize,
but do we have any approximate number of children who are participating in our various summer programs? Uh we can get the exact number for this. Each year we get the enrollment like right now we've added more children. So this is the very first year that and I believe we are the only city doing this. I want to
acknowledge our police department and then we have deputy chief gentile here under the leadership of chief Guzman and deputy chief sher as well as chief of the fire department Patrick Chernikos and deputy chief man the entire fire department. This is the first year that
we will have a special needs um component to our junior police academy and our junior fire academy meaning special needs children will participate for the first time with assistance. We're working with some parents from the school and our professionals here. So
those numbers will increase. Typically we have the final number by the end of the summer season, but I will get a number for you for the next council meeting of how many have enrolled right now. Each year it has increased and I can guarantee you this year it increased from last year.
Excellent. Excellent. Uh questions from the council. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. We're up to number five on our agenda. Mayor's presentation 2025 preliminary budget. Council President, forgive me in my report and council woman Melo and to all
the council members. I failed to uh to acknowledge we had the passing of a city employee this morning, Daryl Smood, who worked very closely with our police department, our housing department. Um he passed away this morning. I know that
that was shared as well as we had um tragic loss of a youth in the city and unfortunately obviously when we get these reports they are always difficult but I know in the very beginning council president you wish to be informed of this so that we can have an appropriate
moment of silence as their family members may be aware so we can hold a moment of silence for them and over those who have passed. Moment of silence. Please stand. Thank you. Thank you to Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. On the budget,
just as good-looking as you are, you don't look like my mayor. All right. So, this is the mayor's presentation. It's presentation on behalf. Council President, thank you. Give me a second to pull it up on the screen.
What? All right. Good evening members of the city council and residents of the city of Pake. My name is Omar Garcia. I'm the chief financial officer and finance director for the city. And it's my pleasure to
present to you the at tonight's meeting the mayor's 2025 budget transmitter. One second. Here we go. If you need help with the computer, I can probably be Oh, that would be great. Council President,
you did say it' be a long meeting. All right. Before getting into the numbers, first I would like to briefly explain what the budget is. So the budget is the outline of how the city intends to spend its funds during the calendar year in order to provide the
necessary services for its residents. The budget breaks down into two parts. appropriations, which is how the city utilizes its funds to provide all its government functions and services, and revenue, which is how the city raises
money in order to fund those services. Appropriations or expenses are broken down or further broken down by departmental salaries and other expenses, deferred charges and statutory expenses, capital improvements, and debt service.
Revenue or income is broken down by fund balance or surplus, miscellaneous revenue, receipts from delinquent taxes, and amount to be raised by taxes. Now that we have an idea of what the budget is, let me explain on how the
annual budget is prepared. The annual budget starts off on the departmental level. So department and the divisions submit requests dependent on their budgetary needs for each calendar year. Those requests are reviewed with the
administrator and the CFO review those requests with the mayor. The administrator and the CFO meet with each department head to convey the mayor's approval or denial of each said request. Once all the requests are finalized and
the full budget is put together, the budget is then presented to the city council. That's what I'm doing now. And in and ultimately will be introduced or is introduced by the city council. And that is on this agenda as well, July
15th. Once intro once introduced, the council will then review the budget. The budget is then placed at a subsequent meeting right now for September 2nd for a public hearing and ultimately a vote
for an adoption. So, as previously mentioned, appropriations. Appropriations are what the city anticipates spending for its day-to-day operations. the the proposed appropriations for 2025
is 118,671,554. Now, you may ask, what are the significant changes in appropriations from last year to this year? So to highlight health benefits increased $2,470,000
due to an increase in health premiums which are set by the state health benefit commission. That was an approximate 15% increase statewide. Salaries increased 1,992,000 due to contractual obligations to
employees or roughly a 3.92% increase from 2024. Liability and workers compensation insurance increased $772,000 due to an increase in premium set by the
joint insurance fund. Roughly a 14.42% increase from 2024. Garbage collection and disposal cost increased 581,000 due to new bid contracts which is
roughly a 9.72% increase from 2024. The library appropriation which is set by the state of New Jersey increased $159,349. All increases above were set by either contracts or other governmental
agencies. Now, sticking on appropriations, I'd like to discuss a little bit more about health benefits. Over the last three calendar years, the state health benefit premiums have increased 50.47%. The state health b as discussed the
state health benefit commission approved an approximate 15% rate increase for 2025 for the 2025 health benefit program plan year for the city of Pake 15% that represents approximately
2,470,000 in increased cost for 2025 employee health premiums. Now, the city will be using an additional 500,000 from its reserves to offset the 2025 increase. Therefore, the
net increase for health benefits in 202 in the 2025 budget will be 1,970,000. However, if the health benefit costs do not significantly do not decrease significantly in the next years, future
budgets will have to bear this increase. And I just like to throw out because this was uh something new that also came out. Um the state health benefit commission uses an actuary to determine how much is needed to raise the rates each year. Um at a recent meeting in
January, that actuary recommended a 32% increase in rates for the upcoming calendar year. Now just how the budget breaks down between the categories I provided again the budget the proposed budget is
118671,554 salaries and wages makes up 52,725,000 or 44%. Other expenses which include the health benefits and the liability insurance make up 46,111,000
or 39%. Deferred charges which includes pension contributions um is 15,258,000 or 13%. debt service which pretty which represents the repayment of previously
issued bonds is $2,76 uh 76,000 or 2% capital improvements 700,000 1% and reserve for uncollected taxes was $1.8 million or 1% of the total
appropriations. Now just for illustration purposes I mentioned debt service which was the repayment of previously issued bonds. Attached is the future debt service payments. Like I mentioned on the slide previously the 2025 debt service
repayment was 2,76,000. As you can see the how we're repaying the debt over the next couple years and towards the end for all the currently issued debts. Now, I'd like to make a note that as of December 31st, 2024, the
city has outstanding debt of 18,334 334,000. That leaves the city still with a remaining borrowing power, the ability to issue debt of an of an of an additional $170 million just to show as
in comparison that's very the debt issued is very very low. So it shows a great job for the city on keeping its debt service low. could you share with us an equivalent municipality that we Yeah,
I could look uh council president into our neighboring municipalities. I know just from my previous uh work uh as an auditor, this this debt service or uh debt service usage is very low in
comparison to municipalities or size. But to get you the exact or comparable, I can have that for you for the next month. And and what's the advantage of not having a lot of debt? Well, so not having a lot of debt is obviously when you have to repay that
debt, it has to be raised in the budget. However, debt or more importantly the bonds themselves become at sometimes necessary when you have to make larger capital improvements because it helps amortize the cost or
stretch out the cost over a larger period of time as opposed to going to one year's budget and saying, "Well, this year the budget has to go up $5 million just for this one expense." You're able. So the the city is
obviously has ample room for for bonds when it when it deems it necessary. Thank you. Now on to revenue. Revenue or how the city funds appropriations. So, as previously discussed, revenue or
income is broken down into fund balance, surplus, miscellaneous revenue, grants, receipts of delinquent taxes from previous years, and and the amount to be raised by taxes. So now, what are the
significant changes in revenue from last year to this year? So, the American Rescue Plan or ARP funds, which are which were federal funds, were fully allocated by December 31st, 2024,
reducing the revenue by $4,785,000 net of offsetting appropriations. The expiration of the two-year municipal relief fund. This was additional state aid that the state provided reduced
revenue by $1,38,000. In this proposed budget, the city will be utilizing 13,400,000 in fund balance or surplus, which is an increase of $7,285,000. an increase in the amount to be raised
by taxes of 3,257,000 which equates to 4.25% of the prior year's tax levy. City also realized increases in municipal court revenue of 224,000,
interest on investments of 500,000, an increase in various pilot revenue of 158,000. Pilot is a payment in L of taxes just for acrony purposes.
Again, we have a balanced budget. Therefore, our revenues equal our appropriations. Our total revenues are 118,671,554. That is made up of 13.4 million 13,400,000
in surplus or 11%. 25,323,000 of miscellaneous revenue that includes state aid of 22%. receive from delinquent taxes of 48,000 less than 1% and the amount to be raised
by taxes of $79,900,80 or 67% of the total revenue. Now, what does that mean? The estimated impact of the proposed tax levy increase is four 4.25%. To put that into a little bit into
perspective, the average home in the city of Pake is assessed at $275,000. Therefore, based on that, the 2025 average home municipal tax bill, municipal tax bill in 2025 would be
$7,415 in comparison to their 2024 average homes municipal tax bill was $7,137. That equates to an increase of $278 per year or $23.17
per month. Now, I'd like to note that the increase in assessed valuations of $10 million above and beyond the how much was appealed. That allowed us to limit the
impact of this tax rate to 3.9%. Now, I'd like to thank the city council, the mayor, and the business administrator for allowing me to present this budget and take any questions as Mr. Fernandez. Number one, thank you
very very much. Um, Mr. Fernandez, when what is our dating? What is what happens now? So, once it's introduced, uh, like Mr. Garcia discussed uh it's sent to the state. The state has uh their month or
two to review. The city council has their month or two to review and they would come for second um and approval budget approval on the September council meeting. So you have from now till September was
it fifth? I think second September 2nd for everything to be approved by the state and then adopted by this council. Recognizing that that most if not all municipalities are doing tonight or in
the past days or in the future days what it is that we're doing. Do we have any understanding how we're doing compared to our our neighbors and friends? Yes, sir. So I'm gonna hand it over to the mayor who diligent in having those discussions.
We anticipated that that question. Why am I not surprised man? You always request those numbers um every year. So I want to thank the business administrator obviously um our director of finance just to give some general numbers. the largest
municipality in the county, Patterson is at over 10% increase about uh oh well I'm sorry that Patterson didn't introduce yet is at 10%
teneic is at 7% 7.15 Hoboken 6.9 again these are municipalities similar to us in numbers in government Caldwell 6.6 Elizabeth 6.4 4 Union 5.9 Clifton
believe that's 5.8 Hawthorne 5.4 West New York 4.8 Bloomfield 4.7 Kernney 4 Toa at a 3.87 Wayne at 3.63
Nightly at 3.35. So we all seem to be somewhat in the same boat. Well, some significantly higher. Some significantly higher. Absolutely. Not lower. Not significantly lower
though than ours. No, we're in compared to everyone else. I mean, we're in good shape. The problem is that you're looking at the average cost of a home in Pacific is is how much? I'm sorry. 2007. But how does how does
so the way that works is you have the all the assessments for every single line item. The homes are then taken from that grouping and divided based on that total and that's what your average number is for each of the homes within the city. So we do have we understand
that there are homes that are significantly higher but there are homes that are lower. Right. So, so the average income in PAC is how much? The average income. Oh, now you got me to go back to the Census Bureau. Uh I
want to say we're in the like 50,000 and change. Something like that. I believe was our last uh census. So, not not directed to see if to you or to the 56,000. I'm sorry. 56,000 is the average. So, how does someone making
$56,000, which is the average in in the city of Paic, how do they afford a $275,000 home? Oh, they wouldn't they would they'd probably get into a condo or something at a buck and a quarter, a buck 75, right? That's what I'm saying. It's an average. So, there are condos, town
homes. I I think uh and mayor if I could be so bold, one of the reasons that we've been proposing some of the changes in zoning that we've proposed throughout especially the last couple of years have been to accommodate that need. Right? So that's why town houses and this council
approved town homes in areas that didn't typically have h town homes uh set aside ordinances to allow for you know a different scale of income within each of the units that are being built to kind of balance to create that balance
understanding that our average income is $56,000. questions. First, I just want to say thank you for the presentation as well. Um, and then also to the mayor administration and yourself. Thanks for making this so user friendly, so to speak. I mean, budgets
in the past have been kind of and mayor, you sat next to me where I bumped you and can you explain this to me, but they've been a little confusing and it's just outlined so well. Um just just back to the health care when you talked about it and and by all mean no means in
public or in private I'm going to ever suggest um any lesser insurance for our employees. I'm a beneficiary state benefits which are are phenomenal. Okay, sorry. Which are phenomenal. But have we
looked at any alternate ways in terms of um cost savings with the same type of benefits? Um, I do know there's a penalty for going out and then there's a penalty for coming back in if we had to, but what what were the results of So, just so the council's aware and we
periodically have this conversation, we go out to the market every couple of years, right? So, every couple of years, especially when they hit the 20%, we're like told our brokers, go out. The mayor was adamant, we can't keep this up. The budgets can't be sustained. So, we went
out. every year they've come back that it is more beneficial because of our exposure to stay in the state's health benefit plan. Now, that being said, we went out again and we included this time
the possible 30% increase on top of this current increase. And our broker has come up with certain uh options that uh we're in the process of discussing. And if any of them are viable, I'm sure the mayor will give us the direction to have
that discussion. Right now, we're in the uh reviewing of the proposal. Our meeting is set for within, I think, the next couple weeks to actually look at what the responses were from us going out to the market. Um, this is not a unique thing. A lot of what what's
happening also and we've had that discussion as well is that some of the smaller municipalities that were in the state health benefits plan easily got out. Right? So now what happens when you're looking at economies of scale and you keep dropping other municipalities
out of the plan now it raises our premium because the only ones that are left are the ones with the highest exposure, right? And it's been raising so high and we're a city, right? So let's put it in perspective. We're a city. So our uh exposure is much higher
than the smaller suburban city, but so far it's almost caught up with an urban city of our size that it may not all it may not be balanced. So those are things that our broker we're waiting for them to explain to us in the upcoming meetings. I apologize there if I if I uh
took that. All right. The only other things I think you touched upon explain a bit to the um council that the numbers sometimes make sense the first year we come out it's the following years as the numbers rise and I'm going to ask the BA if he can
share just what would impede us to go back into the state plan if we do come out. Right. So, um the state plan and I I believe there's um a statute change that would require any municipality that comes out of the plan to be out of the
plan for a minimum of three years. Uh what happens is whatever program we would look at would have to carry us for three years. Um some of the options are going into other providers. options like going as a self-insured entity is
another option. And then there's uh a third option that just came up which is like a a card, what do they call it, Homer? The the difference card. The difference card. So basically all that means is that they're going to go with that card and the city's going to pay the difference of what their actual
claims are so that our exposure is lower. I'm not saying any of these are viable. I'm just saying these are some of the options that are out there and what it is that we're looking for to see. But like the mayor's point is and what has happened to certain municipalities is that they go into
another product and then within two years that product is co is more costly than get you know getting out of the state plan. What I can tell you and I think all of us are keenly aware of that is that an 80% increase in four years is unsustainable
and municipalities that stay at that level um are just going to be funding their money and health benefits on a premium and not their specific claims. So basically the process right now is that they're analyzing our claims and realizing with a with a city of our size
with this level of claims, what product would we fit in? And to your point about u you know not lesser than we there's contractual obligations that anything we do has to be equal to or better. So when we're looking to go out uh to the
market, it has to be uh commemorate with what they're we're currently offering to the employees. Okay. Another question, Rick, and and the last one. So there's a large sum that we would have to pay even if we went into a new one. And then after that three years, if I'm correct, and after
that three years, if it didn't work, we go back into the state or we attempt, then there's another large fee, right, to go back into it. I want to say the fee is not the fee after the third year, right? I believe so. And also the fee to get out um and I can and I'll get you more
information, but the the city just like uh quite a few of a large number of municipalities within the state of New Jersey in some legislation back in somewhere around 2011ish, I think. So, municipalities were able to delay two months worth of premiums. So
the city's not I wouldn't call it penalty, but what the city would have to pay is that catchup of the two months what you're referring to to be able to leave. So you pay wherever you're at now plus those two months that you were kind of behind on, right? So it's it's really
we owe them the money kind of thing instead of like the penalty because if you take advantage of that two-month um you know windfall for us, but that would also um be a hit to our budget, right? we would if you know if we went there cuz that's an expense that we didn't.
Yeah. Some of the discussions is we budget for what our what our total amount is, right? So let's say roughly we're a $20 million benefits, right? That's what we put in the budget to account for it. We get to to to use it, right? Um that surplus, but every year
we put it in to make sure that we can cover it. And then ultimately, let's say we did some sort of like self-insured plan, that money would be the fund, right? that money that 20 million would be the fund and the the idea is that our claims are lesser than the 20 million
and then the whatever the surplus is goes into the next year because as everybody knows with health benefits one year may be good the next year may be very bad and you have to get enough of a windfall uh which is the problem in the current plan where there is no windfall
so they had to make up that difference with these premiums and the more the more the towns that are less exposed go out, the higher the premium. And and one more thing, if I can add, uh, more importantly, you brought up a great point, Councilwoman, that that that
twomonth delay needs to be considered. The broker already knows that and is including that as part of their analysis to determine cost savings. So, they're already taking that into account and on top of that seeing if there's cost savings, right? So, just think about this. Next
year, 30%. If this year is 2.4 before and next year we're doubling that up. You're looking at close to $5 million, right? That's like a big hit. Yes, exactly. Okay. Thank you. To follow up on on council's question,
do we have any u preliminary understanding what policies in Washington specifically regarding Medicaid will affect us here? Not that I'm aware of. Yeah, we don't um
us here as a city hall, it wouldn't it wouldn't really hit it um for at least active employees. There may be which we haven't looked at yet. There might be some sort of hit for the retirees um but we haven't seen that come in yet.
We don't know how many they retire because what happens typically is the retirees um once they go on the retirement plan their first the their primary becomes the the Medicare once they hit the age right so when someone retires if they
retire before the Medicare age we're still paying for their premium at the total premium cost but once they become Medicare eligible the premium to us becomes less because they come they become part of the Medicare Advantage plan. So I just want to be clear then that that policies from Washington do
not just to the states or the counties. They hit us locally right here. Council President, if I may, just to clarify, if I just asked the BA if he can speak on this, if the retirees have a cut in their Medicare,
are we contractually obligated to make up the difference? I believe the answer is yes. Yes. I believe that's what the council president is trying to give that and thank you mayor for that. That's that's correct. We're because of the equal to or better whatever cuts they get we have to make up the
difference. Thank you council may thank you appreciate the presentation. Uh is there another product a gap product for those retirees? Say that again. a gap product for the retirees who retire. Well, the retirees
that retire before the 65 and over to receive Medicare benefits is that gap be until you hit the age, you're just in the in the plan. You're just in our current plan and then once you reach the age, you come you that
plan becomes secondary so that we don't have to pay the full freight on the on the premium for that employee. So what'll happen is and that's why that's why if Medicare is cut and they are in a Medicare product that we would have to
make up that difference. So right now the way it works is until you hit the age you're covered under the regular plan and then once you hit the age that plan becomes secondary. One more question if I may. The other municipalities mentioned
definitely uh seem to be taking a bigger hit on their taxes than we do. But do we have any idea of if they're touching their reserves or their surplus to keep most absolutely they are they are touching. Yeah. Um what happens is for example a municipality that's hitting a 10% or a
7% tax increase is doing it so they don't have to hit more of their surplus and then exhaust their surplus. So uh we've been very conservative with that so that one of the discussions where we don't want to hit like for example we do
a zero today right we waste we use up all of our thing and then tomorrow you're over forget about 10% we're over because we've used up all our savings. So what we've tried to do is uh systematically pick away so that we're not completely overwhelming the
residents with a higher tax burden but also keeping enough so that we can keep it sort of steady for the next you know several years. Councilman if you would have seen in the initial reports and I I didn't want to name all of the municipalities. I just wanted to ensure that while you're looking at the numbers
and you and your had juxtapose them to similar municipalities, demographics and numbers that you consider that especially coming after co at the wisdom of the council working with the administration and the uh the director of finance we chose not to play the smoke and mirrors or kick the can down
the road the 0% I was mentioned by the business administrator. There was a commitment many years ago to try to keep it under 5% no matter what. It's not always easy, but we never want to shock the uh residents. We understand the no tax increase is received positively
ever, but that promise helps individuals at least prepare for it. And I want to thank the council because every year we've been able to maintain that. Ideally, we would want 0% increases. In fact, though that doesn't mean taxes disappear. We would want no taxes. But
to the council president's point, he asked about cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and they discussed retirees. Some of the benefits, not benefits, let me see how I phrase this. There are those who don't work in the city but
still receive services from the city and their cuts even though they're not employees. Seniors, expectant mothers from Wake. When when these cuts impact the residents in the city, the needs are not going to go away, we can either choose to no longer
provide them services in the city and see that need come to us in other ways with people on the street with us having to respond to homes or prepare appropriately in terms of budgeting to address those concerns throughout the city. So, we're also looking at those
numbers and I think that sometimes they're missed out on the fact that we still are going to have to face our seniors, populations that are vulnerable in jeopardy of losing their homes, those who still need to eat every day and are dealing with food insecurity. So, those
are concerns that we consider as well with these cuts. Just to be clear, I'm sorry I must have missed something uh during the presentation. How much is the administration based upon the document which you've given the city and given to this council? We understand that it's
now the council's budget. U but what is the uh what is the rate increase that the administration is proposing? Yeah, so it's it's 4.25 25 as far as difference from appropriations, but because of the added assessed valuations
because now you're able to you've added more assessed property and balance it off. The actual uh impact to the resident on the municipal side is 3.9. Oh, that sounds like the other ones you had mentioned. Correct.
And what does that do to surplus? What is a surplus today? What will it be tomorrow if this is passed? So the surplus currently is $32 million. We're taking 13 million from it and we approximately bring in about 11 million 11 million and change.
So next year, same time, same station, what should the surplus be? Uh next year, let's say we bring back around the same. We're probably depending if everything it's hard to say, but if you ask for a guesstimate, we're our surplus is
probably going to go down maybe anywhere between the 13 million to the $16 million, right? Because there's a lot of things here. For example, if health just forget about everything else. we just stayed in the state's health benefits plan and that's ultimately what happens.
Uh we're that's $3 million that we got to take now from either a trust account or the surplus which then brings you down to a $16 million usage versus a $13 million usage just in general terms. Uh the problem that the problem that's that
we're having and not just us but just municipalities in general is that the increases for things out of our control are so much faster than the increases in revenue. Right. So, one thing that I hope the council president noticed
because you're one that always asks, our our our courts went up an additional $224,000 from what they did last year, which is, you know, but you can't balance the budget on court fines, right? Um so, when you're when you're sitting on
without doing a single thing, without touching the budget, an additional $3 million on top of what happened last year, you are already in the hole. So you got how do you make that up to go to the mayor's point? If we want to keep it below the five, then that's going to
require us to use surplus to that extent. So uh unless revenue increases by two or three million over one year, which is not anticipated, uh you're looking at using at minimum the same surplus, but definitely right
now if everything stays flat, like if the increases that we know of happen, you're looking at at least like 16 million. I'm on the budget committee for the state as as you're well aware and I will tell you that if the state's budget looked like this one we'd be in much better shape.
I tried to read the statement. Never thought I would say that, but the maintenance of surplus u even at the reduced levels that you're talking about, I could argue well that that's what surplus is for, right? Uh and taking a obviously a conservative
approach that you all have seems to significantly hurt to the benefit of the citizen, please. Thank you, Council President. Um, thank you for the presentation. Um, very educational um, and very user friendly.
I mean, someone that not good with budgets is able to catch a lot of stuff. So, thank you. Appreciate it. Um, so I did notice that the increase on the garbage n 72. Yeah. And if the council remembers, we
bid that out several times to get a lower number. And this was the lower number of the how many three times I think we bid it at least. Yeah, we bid it at least twice and and both times you know we're coming up high revising and trying to get better
numbers and this was the best number that came in through our bid contracts. B just and for perspective Omar can you give what was the highest number? I would have to get back to you on that number mayor but I could get
Yeah. Yeah. the the the it was roughly the second lowest bidder was like over a million dollars. Yeah, just that's right, mayor. And then to the mayor's point, like we don't accept the number if it's way too high. I mean, how many times has this council
sat here and seen us reject bid, reject bid, reject bid because the numbers are coming astronomically high, you know, and I could tell you right now, forget about the tariffs happening. The anticipation of a possible tariff happening, talking about federal impact
have has impacted every bid that we've put out and this has significantly gone up after co Yeah. So it it went up automatically after CO because during COVID they couldn't get employees. It was like this whole thing and it went up and now so
we've been gradually going up and then CO is over and now this went up even higher. We've been going up and one of the things the mayor uh wanted to make sure we did when we bid this out is lock in the rate. So this is locked in for another I think three years or or after
this one because we did it last year. So, uh, we locked in the rate. The mayor's like, "Submit the lock in the rate." The council approved it and we locked it in so that we don't go out to the market again and double it up. Once again, if you can, and I know that the council is privy to this, but for those
who are watching to the lay person, when you say lock it up, why do we do this? Why are we at the mercy of the responses or the bids that come in? Why can't we just shop around and look for cheaper options that don't come from government?
Yeah. So, so we're we're bound by the local public's contracts law which comp specifies how we are to acquire any vendor uh for the city of PIG. So, we have to follow that process. Based on
that process, they allow you in certain instances like a garbage contract to go out multiple years for the purpose of um being able to have a a certain number going into the next budget. Right? So,
if we did this and we lo we we had the five-year rate, we know what the percentage increases are going to be for the next five years and are able to budget for it. If we were to do this every year, especially now, as volatile
as the market is, you may see significant increases because remember the vendor who does it is also obligated to that number and not the changes in the market, right? They're responsible for what they submitted to us in the
bid. So if the market fluctuates higher, the idea that they have a a lockdown contract is beneficial for them. And because we've held that number, we're able to stabilize it and not go into a volatile market where we don't know what
those numbers we will be getting back. But conversely, we don't know the numbers versus two years from now. But I think that what what we are essentially doing is because it's a relatively short period of time. If anything radical should happen one way or the other, we
can take advantage of that. That's right. This is definitely for but forgive me. We're to control the radical. It's to control the radical. Possible to do, especially with something like Harding because of its volatility. The trend over the last few years has not shown the numbers to go
down. So in the most clear and basic way to explain it to those who are watching online, if you don't lock in a number for the next three years and next year we try to go back out and the lowest number is a million, we don't have the luxury of saying, "Well, we just won't have garbage pickup and we'll wait to see if we can get it lower." That will
be our options. That's why we lock it in. Councilman mayor, please. U the anticipation of all these tariffs and everything affecting the tangible item rate. Do we have any idea of why these rates are going up insurance wise and if there's any light at the end of
the tunnel for rates to stabilize? So, I think a lot of it has to do with exposure and some of the things like when we do our workers comp self- insurance meetings, one of the things that I've noticed and I always bring up and you know Omar and the attorneys are part of that committee as well um is
everybody's quick to go to surgery. I've never seen from when I first started this 15 years ago as an administrator till now the amount of surgeries have significantly I would say tripled from what they used to be. You know before
everything was go to PT right physical therapy. Now they cut first and then they go to physical therapy. And when you start doing that it the the rates are significantly higher because everything costs more right. Um so that I think it's the exposure. I
think the issue is the cost of um the services are going up and then the the exposure number right when you have roughly 700 employees at any given time like you know total within the city and that's kind of what
the market is it's it's hard you know so we were just so just to councilman just to put it in perspective we used to put in an average of an increase of like 6% for our health premiums that was our always our average forever and you just
heard over the last three years we've gone up 50% and now going up another 30% when we used to average 6%. So what we're doing is in fact we were when we did the projections council president that you asked about using surplus for
next year we put in 15%. Right when we were looking at it and now we got the number like a day ago or two days ago that it's going to be 30%. Right. Which now that increases the usage that we need for surplus. So we
and it's it's like we were talking you you never know what tomorrow is. The best thing that could happen is if let's say if we anticipated 15%. And it only ended up being 8%.
Right? There's also a trust account we could put the surplus in or it goes back into surplus that we can then use to balance the budget. Right? So it never goes it's never wasted. It just helps us for the upcoming year but the the it's
better to anticipate high and be low but we haven't been able to do that with the volatility of the market but from the macro perspective like nish I understand it's not a paic problem but what's driving this is the claims like n it's just claims claims claims claims claims claims claims claims and then in the
state health benefits plan I think the actuary so let's not forget the actuary right because this is based on a premium and the fund is the state they anticipated a number their claims came much much higher and then you had a mass
exodus of those with lower claims hiring that requiring them to meet the gap. So going back to your gap the state right now needs to meet the gap of all those uh municipalities leaving and the higher exposure which is leading us to these
numbers right now. We were hoping that one day it would balance out. In fact, we thought it would happen sooner rather than later, but we had this issue where they they gave us the 24%. They said, "We're going to, you know, we're going to help you guys out the following
year." And then it went up another 6% the following year. And then there's a mass exodus. And now they there there's no way of them to catch up without these enormous increases.
Council Garcia, please. I got the answer already. Thank you. I have someone that has a clear line. Hi, Joe. Council Love, excuse me. Thank you, Council President. Um, you know, as a council person, sometimes I'm programmed to look for the increases and
point those out um and scrutinize those. But I I just wanted to point out some um increases that I think are phenomenal that you guys were able to do and keep us in a great place with the budget, right? um one our health division,
right, to increase there. That's that's um direct services to our our citizens. So, I I'm I'm amazed that you guys were able to increase there and still um have a low increase. Well, I'm not going to say low, but a great increase, right?
Low is zero for us, but we know that's not um feasible. The division of recreation, which is very dear to me. I mean, we've increased um money there. That means that more more of our children have an opportunity to have
safe activities and be off the streets. Um, our handicap recreation has went up significantly and that that's awesome because that's a population that's usually overlooked in in a lot of m municipalities and even in our own at
times. So, I really appreciate that. And then two as a direct uh result of having so many beautiful parks and things that we had to increase in our park maintenance and you know frequenting the park quite often well several of them.
Um it's good to know that there are some monies allocated to to maintain our investment. So I just wanted to commend um the administration, the mayor and and our um finance guru over here for making that happen. Any
other questions? Mr. Fernandez, could you review with us again what are the dates that this council needs to do what by in terms of returning the budget back? So, it'll be the introduction today. Then we will send it off to the state. It'll be
adoption on September 2nd. In the meantime, if there's any specific questions or issues, you you know, we have those two months to review and discuss and then ultimately the state comes back. Typically, they they always
I always say they they need to earn their money, right? So, they always come back with some comment of some sort that you know, you'll get a corrective plan or or change, but it's usually minimal, right? that you know it's usually wording to be honest that they want when we go to adopt and that'll be on that
same meeting uh we'll have the public hearing we'll kind of go through the same discussion we did today with the public and then uh it'll be adoption and to use council president's term we rinse and repeat
uh in the next uh few weeks with the council's permission I'd like to consider how we go from now from now specifically in terms of uh providing information to members of the council for their better understanding of the budget and its process. Um if members of
the council would keep me in mind and keep me posted in terms of their thoughts whether we should hold joint meetings uh please please inform me and we will consider all items. Just a last word. You've heard very genuine compliments on this budget and I
join those. Um, but we are one small municipality of over 500 municipalities in New Jersey, of how many in this country, of how many in this continent, and how many in this world? And as we all know, the world economy itself is in significant
trouble right now. At least that's according to what everybody says. This is a a tsunami that we will not be able to escape. It's going to require some very very difficult decisions. Not this year. Well, this year of course there were
difficult decisions to be made, but as Trenton has shared with us, this upcoming year is going to be difficult, but next year is going to be very difficult when programs which are true to all of our beliefs as being vital and
necessary. when the funds are simply not going to be there and taxation across this country and across the state will be way into the double digits. The projections that I'm hearing now are two years from now the budget increase to be somewhere in the neighborhood of
18 to 35%. Uh because mayor, as you said so eloquently, these numbers are simply not sustainable. And the governor knows that. He said as as such as his predecessors have and there's no civil role. Um, and the other thing that we can do is constantly rep
prioritize what it is that we're doing and question ourselves why we're doing it. Um, and sometimes the answers will be good and sometimes they won't be so good and we've got to uh live with those decisions. Uh, but to join my colleagues, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Business Administrator, Mr. Finance Director,
where is Elmar? Are you still here? Yes. Sorry. You need to grow. I gave you the compliment about being as good-looking as the mayor. That's as far as it goes. Um, yeah, my my compliments, my extreme compliments to you. Uh, it's
been difficult budget to to wrap together. Um, probably one of the more difficult that I've seen, but I'm more concerned, frankly, about next year than this year. Um, and it's going to require difficult times with the council. If there are no other questions at this time for the mayor, if
I may. I'm sorry, ma'am. Councilwoman um just want to say thank you to the mayor the administration because we are living the seven oh what seven skinny cow years um and you guys um put together a very conservative budget but
did not shed where the real services need to be. Um you guys make sure those are I know it's a lot of work together it's not easy because you have to keep everyone in mind. Um but thank you. We really appreciate um you know the hard
work that you guys put behind this. Really appreciate it. Thank you. Councilwoman, if I may, I just want to take this opportunity obviously to thank the directors and the staff at city hall. They're asked to do more with less, sometimes less staff in the council's wisdom working with the administration years ago. We decided, as
an example, to purchase garbage trucks for DPW so that when there would be issues or concerns, we would go out ourselves and pick them up. We expanded recreation programs and brought in more volunteers through attrition. We tried to resolve issues that may impact
whether benefits or salaries. It's not easy as you mentioned. These are not the years of plenty. I think that's the reference you may be making, but it's definitely the years of responsibility. I often say this and I think we take it for granted because it happens so much. And this year it's been much more
difficult. our assemblyman of the 36th legislative district who serves on the council, serves on the budget committee, he's well aware of the funding every municipality, he alluded to it. We have 564 municipalities and they're all asking we need more and the representatives and the legislator in
the legislature, Senate and Assembly are out there fighting for their districts. The city of Pake has received a number of grants that have helped us whether with parking, with public safety, which become so important. Just the other day, our fire department had to respond with Bergen County and put boats into the
water to rescue three individuals that were drowning. We don't always put the face to the numbers or the actual situations. We don't realize that without equipment, without the resources, without the additional garbage trucks or the boats in the fire department or police staff that we might
end up with more loss of life. We may not be able to assist our neighboring municipalities. Often times people say why why do we need public safety and we have to explain to them this is an urban uh area a densely populated city you may
be able to afford uh or have take away the word afford have volunteer firefighters in a more rural area where you have one house spaced so far out from another that if a fire occurred you're not concerned with the neighborhood but in the city of Pake if we don't respond in time you have a whole block that went up in fire and we
need firefighters present they need the apparatus statuses in the equipments and we need to be able to respond to our neighbors the same way they respond to us through mutual aid when we have calls throughout the city and we see the drastic drop in violent crime when we see that our police are having
additional patrols whether it's the bike patrols or the command center and then we consider that using grants and strategically and creatively utilizing UEZ to have additional patrols around specific strategic areas to ensure that we support our businesses
and keep streets safe. We're doing everything that we can pragmatically responsibly with what we have, but without working together, today wouldn't be possible. We may be looking at a double-digit increase. So, I take the time to thank our directors, our staff who work so hard, also our
assemblymen who has an uncanny resemblance to our council president. I make that joke always, and to all of the council members because it takes all of us working together. And hopefully the the years will come, council president, where those numbers level out. and we may be able to turn to the
community and say things are looking good in the state and obviously in the city. Thank you. Thank you, mayor, and thank you for all the work that you have personally invested in this in numbers. With the council's permission, we're up
to the numeral six on our agenda hearing of citizens. In accordance with the open public meetings act NJSA104-16, the council opens 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 active participation at any meeting. Therefore, please be advised that the council will not entertain any comments from persons who communicate seen
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 allotted five minutes for public discussion. If you would like to address the council, we invite you to come to the to the podium. We ask you to please share your name. Is there anyone who would like to speak before the council
ma'am? Love to have you. Sorry. Good evening. My name's Lauren. Mh. Speak a little bit louder if you could. Hi. Uh good evening to all of you. Um ladies and gentlemen, um my name is
Lauren Zulu. Um I am coming here to represent a group that I run. Um I've been running it since 2013. Um it is it at first started out as an
autism support group because of my uh two special needs children. Um now uh we've kind of evolved uh where we now call our group the PAC
special needs support group. Um we have approximately I would say about five to 10 parents and the group is specifically for the parents.
They are invited to bring their children and we have a separate um area where my mother actually keeps an eye on them in a separate room and we are able to conduct our meeting. The meetings are
held once a month. Um it's held uh graciously. We were given the permission from my church St. Anthony of Padawa um on my uh we meet once a month like I said uh
for two hours and uh we invite anybody to come we have had authors we've had um film directors we've had chiropractors had doctors etc. Um at our last meeting,
uh we were discussing something that we feel we are starting to realize that we need um a lot more for our children. And most of our children are between the
ages of about 16 through to um now my son, my youngest son is 24, my oldest is 26. Um my youngest has autism, my eldest one has cerebral pulsy um but in the lower
extremes. Uh but um the other parents have children that have various issues um delays um all kinds of things. Uh sometimes they have two different
conditions. Uh one of the reasons why I came today is because uh we were discussing at our meeting and felt that we wanted to present just some of uh some of the things that we would like to see um
happening in our city. Like I said, we've always had this meeting in this city. Um it's a not it we don't have any um uh it's not a nonprofit. It's not something that we have been funded. We
fund ourselves a little bit. Um I hold um a lunchon by the request of the staff members of school number six um Martin Luther King Jr. and um from that lunchon we're able to raise a little bit of
money so that we can um have uh food provided for the parents uh each month. uh we spend about maybe like $70 or so for for not only the um parents
but also for the children. Um so anyway, we discussed a couple of things and I just wanted to share it with you and I can sit there. Um the first thing is to do with graduates uh for special needs
graduates in the schools of Pose. Um and my son I actually had to take him out of the state but uh for the students here uh we are looking to figure out how they
are presented with a diploma. Um what type of what does that diploma look like? Um I don't know if it's really been addressed. I know that we do have uh a C is it a C
pack um group that meet to be the liaison between parents and um the the parents of students and of course the the the school system. Uh so I'm not
sure if it's been discussed fully but I'm going to ask you to ma'am I'm going to ask you to begin wrapping up if you wouldn't mind. Sure. Sure. Uh the second one is about work programs provided in Pay for special needs children or adults rather.
Um we also um want to address something about how certain uh what uh these individuals like to be independent of course and they are traveling sometimes on their own but sometimes they are being
intervened by the homeless. So, I'm not sure if how that can be addressed, if maybe they could have an aid or somebody who can help with how the homeless um um approach these particular individuals. Um the fifth
thing is uh we're concerned of course now our children are still staying in our homes most of them but um as far as housing um because once the children reach the age of 21 or adults but we consider them
children of course um once they reach over 21 all their services are disappear basically and uh this is a very difficult thing on how we try and work out where they can be housed. I'm sorry about
that. Um and then the last thing well the last three things are uh job training of course um the the aspect of medicine, health and dentistry for special needs children uh
adults and of course just to get more support from um the council. That's it. Thank you very much for listening to me and hearing me out. Thank you so much every Thank you, ma'am. Um, some of the things that you
referenced um are simply extraordinary. Simply extraordinary. It's quite all right. some of the things many of the things which you mentioned that you and your uh friends and colleagues have done together to support each other um in terms of this
extraordinarily important issue. Autism as we all know used to be something that no one spoke about and thank God the doors are open, the windows are opened and we're able to deal with societ society on its own level. Um it really sounds extraordinary what you're doing
and I would com commend you to continue doing such. I'm sure in the city of Payic there um are some things that can be done. As a matter of fact, I'm going to take the liberty of giving the microphone over to the mayor, which I don't always do, but this is a subject which I know is extraordinarily important to him and frankly to all of
us, but him as our spokesperson. Thank you, council president. You know, I just want to share this week we had a meeting with um autism NJ and many of these same concerns were addressed in our zoom meeting to see how we can partner up in the city of Pake. But I want to share with you first I want to
echo the sentiments and the words of our council president. Your work is is noble and very needed especially for parent support um activities and groups. Oftent times the focus appropriately on the child who is special needs whether on
the spectrum or otherwise and people forget that parents are also needing some help and support. And we actually talked about that and also addressed creating programs for siblings of those who have special needs often times who
are referred to as neurotypical. They they are by some standards neglected or forgotten about because of the hyperfocus on the child. But I wanted to share some things that we do have in place. So our police still use the blue envelope program. We've been introducing that in uh training and sharing. That is
individuals, adults who are on the spectrum or have autism. They have this envelope in their car as they drive because many more are now starting to get their license and if pulled over by a police officer, it's an immediate identifier that lets you know. So, we have that program in the city of Pay. We would love to share that information.
Also, we have an adult uh special needs recreation program. Yeah, my son is in that one. Excellent. Yes, he loves it. Yes. They go bowling, they go to plays, they go to the beach, they go all over. So, we we really want to expand on that and I think it was referenced by Councilman uh Dr. Terrence Love
regarding expanding our recreation program, especially with those with special needs. We've recently found out and council president, we may ask you and your other roles to look into this uh that the county has a limit on the GPS tracking program that they do on
adults where they're no longer going to continue that service. I know that we have a similar program in the city of Pake and we'll be bringing reports to the council on how we'll have to address that. But I also wanted to share that uh in regards to some of your questions, the special needs program, the graduate
um graduation program in the schools because we go to the graduation, they're similar. They walk the grass, they receive the same diploma, but in terms of work training or what that diploma will actually do. I've actually had conversations with the council president and certain agencies in the city to see
how we can develop job training programs that would be conducive for those who are adults and maybe uh don't feel comfortable interacting immediately in crowds or with customer service. One of the programs that we're exploring with nonforprofit in the city is working in food trucks. Inside of the food trucks, because of
the separation with the public, obviously the order of items, all the items go in the same place, the money, the exchange. So, we're actually doing a pilot program. I think if I say actually one more time, cor we're we're uh we're doing a pilot program to try to develop.
Fine, mayor. Don't be nervous. Thank you very much. I do get excited. I'm passionate about it because our our council colleagues, our recreation department, our city is we're aware of the uh of the aging out of services and the need that we see coming in the
future. when we spoken to Joyce Hunt of our community development regarding affordable housing and programs for adults with autism and what that would look like especially with professionals living in the facilities ensuring that these developments would occur or would
be created near bus stops transportation. We have free shuttle service around the city that helps individuals who want to get around in the city and that reduces the risk of someone ending up in another municipality because they got on a bus trying to get downtown and you end up in a New York or something because the
shuttle stays locally individual trying to get to Main Avenue or to shop right at worst it'll stay right here in the city because it doesn't leave. So we're working on that. in terms of the uh health benefits, dentistry and otherwise that's something new
that concern and as a parent of a child with autism we know the challenges especially for individuals who are sensitive to touch to noise whether we're getting training of individuals and that's something that we can reach out to some of the professionals in the field uh whether it's the hospital or
some of the dentists professionals to see how they're um they're incorporating services are considering to make it more inclusive. We've seen it in barber shops actually where some of the barbers in P say uh in working with them they've begun creating
spaces using clippers as an example that are low-noise clippers that they use them for children with autism or adults because it it's less likely to trigger uh or create a concern. And then lastly with uh
homelessness, I want to be very very uh transparent. It's extremely difficult for us to uh train or reach out to homeless individuals and say, "Hey, this is how you can approach someone with autism."
It is something that I would need help with from professionals more experienced in the area. We'll talk to our human services and we'll try to reach out to some of the counselors who work in this field and speak to our police. We have deputy chief gentiles
here and see what we can do to ensure that those who are going around obviously enjoying welldeserved autonomy and independence which I believe is the goal and desire of every parent no matter where you find your child uh in terms of their abilities. We want to see
them be independent, have jobs, have an apartment when they're older, and live productive lives. So, we'll bring that up with our police. Again, we're excited about the meetings that we're having with Autism NJ. We'll bring a report to the council, and if we can get your information, we have staff members here
like Ian or Justennena, and you can leave them information. We'll set up a follow-up meeting to see how we can connect and bring in the council members as well. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Anyone else like to address the council please?
Um, hi everyone. My name is Nancy Estada. I'm living in PC Muallan Avenue. I am part of CPAC of PC from uh school public school PC public schools and I with Miss Lauren for a long time. We are
here like a 50 years trying to support the parents for with information on trainee or something like that. I really appreciate you have the envelope bl envelope blue envelope because uh I request one from Clifton police and say no you have to go to the the parliament
um for for the sheriff or the police on on the sec. So I remember Lauren has also the ID the ID I have a form somewhere I have a form that parents can fill out
now the most important thing that I'm here I would like to we create a office that the parents can fill out these kind of things and there the kid will be diagnosis when is two or one years and then we call the adult's life because
when the kids go to the adult life, it's really hard to navigate on this um service. There are service but it's difficult to get in. So now with there of course you say Medicare in Medicare is really important for our kids. It
really important they have the therapist the the medicines the checkups everything it's so important to have on focus this or pay attention on these kids. So I would like to if you or someone can create an office because
some of our parents go to other other district like Paris they go at another district and and tell them what they need and they help them and it's fine it's it's good because they can bring also information to us but I would like
to hear them say the parties feel comfortable to explain what they need especially when the our population is prim primary Spanish speaking like me. So we need uh more information about it
and just it's just one thing. Ah the other thing um I would like to know as a parent of pas schools when in September is going open that new schools we know from the parents they really worry about
the security because we know this uh area is a little bit difficult. I would like to know what is the plan or if you having a plan for keep all kids safe because many of the kids are worried or
the parents are feel worried what's going on with these kids when they arrive in this song they are not a good reputation because I I always think p is beautiful p is good we have a lot of people working in front of us try
to keep p safe and clean and growing up But I would like to know if uh the police or you have a plan to try to tell the the parents don't worry the kids are going to be safe. We are mentioning about the bus the little bus because
some kids coming now from the Pacific park or some um areas is far away from the school line and school A. So we are trying to tell them there are no other option that can we your kids don't need to to walk. So there's going to be this
kind of transportation. So I hope that the pirates can use it but security is really important or kids don't need to be in a gangs or something like that. We don't need it. Those schools are going to be really great and I hope I hope I really hope when the the P high school
the new P high school is open they'll be ready for kids and they get the good good education especially for special kids. So I really really appreciate them and I try to talk in English. It's
difficult for me but thank you so much for hear me and I would like to pay attention of this. Thank you so much. Thank you ma'am. Thank you. Anyone council president as to her question may she had uh two questions. one uh we'll we'll address it with the
council and see if we can work on a on an office to address the concerns of families in terms of the city uh programs for autism and assisting with applications or filling out paperwork. But your second question, I believe it is directly related to the high school
being closed. When you're referring to the new schools, is that the high school students will now be going downtown to school number eight, school number nine, and concern of safety. These children will now be walking there. There's going to be obviously a large number of of
youth that will be in these areas that have been areas of concern. We've had conversations with our police department. Our council has reached out as well to ensure that we're doing everything possible. We'll work closely with the school. We have an SRO program, SRO, our our school resource officers.
They are aware that there is a change in terms of the dynamics in the city where we'll have older children that will be walking. Before these elementary uh schools, most of the kids were picked up by their parents. We know that at these older ages, children are walking. Some
of them will be coming from far. We will have stepped up patrol during the hours of school opening and school closing. Not just with our SRO's, but we've actually, and I mentioned to it, or I alluded to it earlier, through creative means, we've stepped up the presence of
police officers in certain areas around our commercial district where there are businesses. Fortunately, one of the benefits of being 3.2 square miles is that everything is so close together. Marcus Street is uh right by these schools. So the extra officers that are
by the business area will be right there by the school patrolling. The presence will be felt that again it is always a challenge in every city. Our children are a priority. I'll share with you and everyone is aware all of my children go
to public school. I believe that we have good schools and a safe community just not a perfect community. So are there areas for improvement? Of course. And that's why I appreciate so much when parents come to our meetings and address concerns and identify areas where we can improve, we will look to step up the
presence of police in those areas of the new school working with security in the school, our school resource officers as well as the police officers in our and we'll be reaching out to our county sheriff to see if he can assist as well throughout this transition.
Okay. I just want add one thing. I know you have the recreation program and I know they have a waiting list and now we have a lot of kids are at home they doing nothing but I would like to if try to open more spaces also all the
kids coming from school these kids always well the parents are always on communication and sometimes the people that work I know it's difficult and it's different um way that you manage this program but always the the parties are
on communication with the person that in charge for the these programs and sometimes they say no please don't call me because I don't have time to attend you okay let me try to talk to Bayer what's going on with that because those parents every single time are on
communication with the the teachers so it's difficult for them to stop the communication with the person that in charge for the for the program so it's just one thing one parent come and told me that I am going to come to the um bring this uh with you and so try thank
you so much I'm sorry I'm sorry thank you so much for for being here and anything we are here to cooperate as a parent to be part of the community to be part of the the city of thank you so much for hearing thank you anyone else wish to adjust the
council Yes. Good evening. Uh Joe Kosenti, Council President, can I uh present a exhibit? Uh can I have it A1 marked? Yes. If you give it to the clerk, please shall have it passed to members of the council. That's that's your intention,
sir. Yes. Okay. Council President, the reason of this picture is is by 101 Pake Avenue. The point I'm bringing up is by the administration building on the outside
there. It has nothing to do with the school. If you if you uh go there, there's a plaque there. It could tell you the history of that. Before the school was built, it was a city hall. That's the
reason that Belle is in that area. So my question is to the council if we can help the school everybody. Can we have another location to put that before it would maybe get destroyed
because I don't know what the plans is for that bell. my my uh gesture would be maybe out here because this is a misable building and it would be part of that. That's my gesture to that.
My next question I have here is thanks for the paving of the roads especially uh Chestnut Henry Street at the intersection of Myrtle and How Avenue and a few other ones there. Glad
that's all taken care of. But there's a there's still only one problem with that. on Henry Street you have storm drains and I know within about two years ago they hired a company to have these storm drains cleaned but I don't know if
they missed it or what the story is but the one on Henry Street is very bad. You got two, one on each side of the street, Henry and Maine. So they just paved the road today and now we got uh clogged storm drains.
There's probably a few other places too besides that like to see if that could be looked into. Um, my next question that I have, I noticed for a while now
that the streets with the names of the streets, there's no signs in a lot of areas like you got Prospect Street or you got, you know, there's a bunch of other ones that don't have no signs.
I'd like to see if uh maybe funding or something that you're going to have signs put up in a lot of streets that don't have it. My next question that I have here is okay um we had Memorial Day at May 31st.
I noticed it was very disappointing. reason why the introduction was terrible has not no meaning at all with uh Memorial Day because Memorial Day is a remembrance day and there was nothing on that issue
about remembrance day and then they pick a ground marshall which I don't understand what he done where he became ground uh ground marshall I don't see any any reason for that
And also um going back to the introduction um it was a very bad day because you don't give certificates out on a remembrance day, memorial day. That could be done here. That could be done
any other place. But very bad. One minute. My next question is um on the taps the guy's playing a bugle and there's no flag raising. It's horrible.
There was one um group that usually comes out the bikers there and they were told not to participate this year. Why? I don't know why. Okay. My next question that I have on the audience that you had at the last
meeting, ordinance 2485-25, residential parking permits. The question that I have is, is that for the host city or is that a certain area where they're going to have permit parking? Um,
that's what I have tonight. Any more? What's that? Any more points, Mr. Konosanti? That's it. So, I I gave you full latitude to say what you were going to say and I didn't interrupt you. So, you're going to do the same with me? Yes.
You're not going to interrupt me? No, I'm listening. Okay. Good, good, good, good. Thank you for your comments and your compliments. Uh, in terms of the uh the roads, we agree they're looking great. Um, some
areas need to be done. That's always the case. It's constant, but the steps that have been taken have been phenomenal. Um, in terms of the bell, which is extraordinarily uh important to so many of us, um, I'm sure that good care will be taken care of, where to put it and
how to put it and what what would be most important. Mhm. Your comments uh on straight sides are very important also and and very helpful to my understanding and I'm sure to my colleagues understanding in terms of what the real priorities are.
Um and streets without a sign is a very difficult thing. Having said that, I am fascinated by your analysis of our Memorial Day festivities. I'm amazed that you said what you're going to say. here was an
opportunity to say something positive and good and instead you took it and you stampled on it and said it was terrible. Even the taps had no flag raising. Nothing good about it at all. The kind of something I sometimes say to myself, if only we had more of you, our city
would be in such a different place. I don't think better, but a different place than it is. Um I I don't know where one gets the gumption and the wherewithal to stand up there and put down what kids have been doing and and everything else um in in the name of
what I'm not quite sure but I promise you that I'll listen intentively to all the things that you say in the future and try to mock them where I can where it's most appropriate which seems to be from beginning to end throughout. But I do thank you for coming tonight um and wish you good speed. Yeah. Anyone else like to address the council
please? Seeing no hands, I move second. There's a motion. There's a second to close. Roll call to close, please. Councilman Love, yes. Councilwoman Melo, yes. Councilman Mayor, yes. Councilman Garcia,
yes. Counciloman Colz, yes. And Council President Shear, yes. Thank you. We're on communications, please. Roman numeral seven of our agenda on items 1 through 4. Are there any questions, please, on one through four? Seeing no votes at this time, may I have
a motion, please, to accept one through four. Motion and second. Roll call, please. Councilman Love, yes. Councilwoman Melo, yes. Councilman Mayor, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes. Councilwoman Colz, yes. And council president Shar.
Yes. Thank you. A separate vote, please, on number five. Second. Motion and second. Roll call, please. Councilman Love, yes. Councilwoman Melo, yes. Councilman Mayor, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes.
Counciloman Colz, yes. And Council President Shear, abstain, please. Yes, sir. All matters listed here to be routine in nature. Items 7 through 14. 7 through 14, please. Move.
Are there any questions on 7 through 14? Seeing none, motion, please, on 7-14. Is there a move, please? Second. Second. 7 through 14. Councilman Love, yes. Councilwoman Melo, yes. Councilman Mayor, yes.
Councilman Garcia, yes. Counciloman Colunt, abstain. And Council President Sheer, yes. Thank you. Separate vote, please, on number 15. Second. Moving seven on 15 minutes.
Councilman Love, yes. Counciloman Melo, yes. Councilman Mayor, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes. Councilman Coline, abstain. This is the one. And Council President Sher, vote. Yes. Please. Roman numeral eight
on our agenda. Budget introduction. Council President, did you skip current year 2025? I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm sorry. Did you skip item number six? I don't believe we did. Yes, you did. You said separate vote. I appreciate the
correction, please. On number six, please. Is there a motion to accept? Motion second. Motion and second on six only. Councilman Love, yes. Councilwoman Nelo, yes. Councilman Mayor, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes. Counciloman Colany, yes. And Council President Sher,
yes. Thank you. A budget introduction by current year 2025. Mr. Fernandez are going to help us on this one. Roman numeral 8 16 an ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank NJSA4A
4-45.14 first reading to be considered prior to budget introduction. Second reading to be set at introduction. Is there a motion please to accept? Second. Motion and second on 16 only. Roll call,
please. Councilman Love, yes. Counciloman Melo, yes. Councilman Mayor, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes. Councilman Colonz, yes. And Council President Sher, yes. Thank you. On 17, please. A resolution authorizing the current year
municipal budget to be read by title. Motion, please. Move it. Second. Motion and second. Roll call, please. On 71 17, excuse me. Councilman Love, yes. Councilwoman Melo, yes. Councilman Mayor, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes.
Counciloman Komo DZ, yes. And Council President Shu, yes. Thank you. On 18, please. Introduction of the municipal budget, current year 2025. Is there a motion, please? So move. Motion. Is there a second? Motion and second. Roll call, please. Councilman Love, yes. Councilwoman Melo,
yes. Counciloman Mayor, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes. Councilwoman Colom, yes. And Council President Sheer, yes. Thank you. Roman numeral nine on our agenda, please. Resolutions. Number 19 is a resolution authorizing closed executive session of the city council of
the city of Baic on July 15, 2025 at 7 p.m. or anytime thereafter to discuss pending litigation, contract negotiations, and personal matters. It's my understanding that we we will we could use an executive session tonight. Very good. There will be an executive
session, Mr. Fernandez. That is correct, Council. Very good. Members of the council. Very good. Let's put 19 in the bayance for a moment if you would please. On items 20 through 50. Are there any questions? Please.
20 through 50. Mr. Fernandez on 31. Please could you help us understand that what are we doing here? Okay. So, yeah, this is for the uh design and construction management of the Pocket Park uh on Main Avenue in
Pennington. Uh so as the council may recall, we had um gotten 5.7 million from the urban investment fund of the EDA, which included a number of uh cityscape
projects. We've already approved design professionals and construction oversight for a few of them. One of them being the the plaza deck here. The other one is at the uh Cole Square. This would be for the main and Pennington um design of
that corridor. Because they're relatively small, are they meant to be passive parks more than active? Yes, they're they're in fact uh part of the grant is specifically for uh pedestrian passive recreation, pedestrian safety,
things of that nature. kind of like uh to protect the corridor and those using the space and um the locations that we were permitted to create this was basically here in our central business district. So everything is is with that
end to be able to accommodate some of the businesses and those that shop in those businesses and be able to enjoy the time downtown around uh that area. Is has there been any consideration
given or is it not permitted but to set aside parking spaces next to the So that's not an eligible expense. That's what I thought. Uh it's basically for streetscapes, right? Uh not really roadway improvements. It's it's more for the
pedestrian and the usage of of consumers and pedestrians in the area. Okay. If I could ask you on 44, please. What are we looking at here? Paul 91. Okay. Yeah. So, this one this one is um on Paulson Avenue there are two rooming
houses that have approximately 30 rooming units on it and it's been a uh area of some concern uh with the rooming houses. As the council may or may not be aware, rooming houses are prohibited uses in the city of Pay.
Um, we are in discussions with the owner of both of these properties for a designation and ultimately demolishing these two prohibited uses and and creating a uh a more viable permitted use if they're prohibited. How do we
help them and how do we negotiate with them? Because I mean the mayor I tell you he anticipates the question so well. He's like they're grandfathered in. So that's that's the answer. So, they're pre-existing non-conforming uses and whenever possible, um the redevelopment
law is specifically to address some of these pre-existing non-conforming uses that create certain issues within um an area. So, the idea would be the maintenance of the property, the uh crime or or amount of service calls that
are to the property. These are all parts of the components that this study is going to look at to designate the parcels. So for those of you in the public and for council members that may not know, this is step one. This tells this directs the planning board to
create a study. Once you do this, we will start preparing a study to make sure that these two properties, which I can tell you with almost 100% certainty, qualify as areas in need of rehabilitation just by the mere fact of what they do and and how they act. And
then uh it'll come back to the council for a a resolution of designation. You will then designate it. Once that is done, a plan will be created so that these two properties can be demolished and then put back into a more um
adequate use. Let's put it that way. So would it in fact become residential? It's a residential multif family residential neighborhood. So, for those of you that may know, between High, I think it's between High and
Pennington, there's all those multif family buildings that are on the corner, and then you have these larger homes. So, if you look, it's funny when you go on the corner, there's multifamilies. You go to the next corner, there's multifamilies, and then there's like four houses in the middle. Well, two of the largest houses there are rooming
houses, uh, which account for, you know, somewhere in there with 25 to 30 rooming units. And the idea is to grab those rooming units and make them viable apartments, right? Rooming unit is one night a week. So they go they're they're they're week
to week rentals and they're usually single occupancy and shared common spaces. So everybody shares the same kitchen, everybody shares the same bathroom. uh some of the issues that you run into and I'm looking at the fire chief because hot plates seem to be a a very common uh thing and uh sometimes
even kerosene remember that chief kerosene heaters in these facilities um you know and then not to mention looking at the deputy chief of police some of the criminal activities and usage of uh
non-permissible the vetting process usually for applicants for apartments or for units are much more rigorous and detailed than for a rooming house to say the least. Obviously that lets the public know that some individuals who come there's no
background check. You're only going to be here for a couple days. It's really hard for us to know what the intent as opposed to someone who's going to be here monthtomonth and set routes down. Questions from the council. Seeing no lights at this time. Is there
a motion please to accept items 20 through 50? So move it. Second. Motion and second. Roll call, please. Councilman Love, yes. Councilwoman Melo, yes. Councilman Mayor, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes. Councilwoman Montz, yes. And council president Sher.
Yes. Thank you. Ordinances for introduction and first reading for number 51. Proposed ordinance amending the designation of restricted parking for disabled persons by New Jersey license plate number. Is there a motion to sit down for second and final reading at the council's next meeting on August the 5?
Motion. Second. Motion and second. Roll call. Councilman Love. Yes. Councilwoman Melo. Yes. Councilman Mayor. Yes. Councilman Garcia. Yes. Councilwoman Colz. Yes. And Council President Shear. Yes. Thank you. Payment of bills. Are there any questions on the bills? Seeing
no lights at this time, is there a motion, please, to accept the bills as presented? Second. Councilman Love. Yes. Councilwoman Melo, yes. Councilman Mayor, yes. Counciloman Garcia, yes. Councilwoman Colany, yes. And Council
President Shist's report. Um, normally I don't say anything, but I have one comment that I'd just like to make and piggyback on the mayor's comments about the grants. Uh, and just Omar can attest to this with his old hat
of being the auditor. I just want the public to know and the city council that the city of Pake is known for having one of the highest success rates in grants to fund their budgets than any municipality of our size. In fact, our auditors every time they come to our office just shake their heads because
they cannot believe the the amount of tens of millions of dollars that we operate our budgets with through grants. So, I just want to make sure that that was on the record since we had the discussions of it. And again, that's a testament to everybody in uh administration and city hall. And they
know that uh our grant writer knows. Don't even ask us, should we go for this grant? The answer is always yes. It doesn't matter what it is. Go get the grant. Even if it's like two bucks. Anyway, that's uh my report. Council President. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I've got you
down. Council President, we have our family camp out this year. Uh it's going to be Saturday night going into Sunday where families will be able to pitch tents and experience a camp out at our park as well as fishing in Hughes Lake and many activities. It's become extremely
popular and I believe in the next uh coming weeks we have a presentation from our youth in the city of Pake under the direction of our business administrator. It's a planning program that occurs here in the city where young people get to participate in a project for the city,
present it, then we'll bring it to the council and we actually work on that project with their designs, with their research and their study. We continue to involve our youth in uh in government and it's becoming more and more popular every year. Our business administrator will report on it for the next council
meeting. Thank you, ma'am. With the council's permission, the council has passed item number 16. I'm sorry, item number 19, authorizing a closed executive session. I'd like to take a five minute break, please, and come back. When we come
back, we will meet uh in closed session. So, we ask all uh all members, everyone here who's present with the exception of senior staff to please uh wait for us. There may or may not be action taken. Um, and I'm not sure how long it's going to be, but it shouldn't be that very
long. At this point, we'll take a break and then come back.