Everyone, on behalf of the Patterson Municipal Council, I welcome you to the workshop session on November 6 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is now called to order. Madame Clerk, please call the role. One second.
Where's my um my roll call? >> One second. Council Council President. >> Roll call, Madam Clerk. >> Yes, ma'am. One second, please. Thank you. >> I had No, I'm sorry. Roll call for the workshop session of
November 6, 2025. Councilwoman Cotton >> here. >> Councilwoman Dava, Councilman Jackson, Councilman Khalague. >> I'm here, Madame Clerk. >> Thank you. Councilman Mendes. >> Good evening, Patterson. Press the clerk. We're ready to serve. >> Councilman Omar.
>> Good evening, Patterson. Ready to serve. Councilman Uden, Councilman VeZ, >> present. Madame Clerk, >> thank you. >> Council President, >> I am here. Madam Clerk, >> Madam Clerk, could you please >> We have six present. Three are absent at this time. >> Madam Clerk, could you please read the
statement of compliance? >> Absolutely. Statement of compliance with the open public meetings law 2025 2026. Meeting date, November 6, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Adequate notice of this meeting was compiled and disseminated in accordance
with the open public meetings law in the following manner. One, the annual notice of regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council was compiled for the year 2025 2026 on or about July 1st, 2025. Two, a schedule of
the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2025 2026 was duly transmitted on or about July 1st 2025 to the North Jersey Herald, the record, the Arabic voice, the Italian voice, the Bose
County Pulse, Dominicanana News, Laiskea International, Elispiel, the Patterson Press, the City Post News, Tap into Patterson, The Weekly Bangla, Patrika, in addition to any other publication duly requesting such notices. Three, the
schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2025 2026 was prominently posted in the lobby of city hall first floor in the place reserved for the announcements of this type. Four, the schedule of the record of
meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2025 2026 was duly filed with the municipal clerk. And five, a copy of the schedule of regular meetings of the municipal council was mailed to any person who requested and paid the fee authorized by
the Open Public Records Act. Council President, >> thank you, Madam Clerk. >> You're welcome. >> We have items 12 through 22, which are all renewal of license. 12 to 22. >> They're all renewals of coin operated
license. Um, and there's two new that I spoke to. Our newly elected councilman of the sixth ward. Um, and he's okay with the two in his ward for 12 through 22 >> for um 12 through 22 consent.
>> Uh, council president, >> council member, >> uh, the one for the license that is in 21st Avenue 14 and 15, but it has a u I know it's a new owner. Okay. Um, and that place was closed for the longest,
but there was a shooting and a death in that place way back. And, um, this past weekend there was a u a shooting out there, too. So, um, this number uh, I think it's um, and councilman from
the six word, I just want to give you a little history on it because it's we want to preserve the quality of life in the area. >> Uh, is in the border with six and and fifth and I received numerous complaint
while it was closed about some activities in there and they didn't have the license um in place. Um I I would like to have a call of service for this particular address 24321st Avenue. Um
because it's real important. It's real important. time. >> No, no. We going to do in the record and um and they will ask for the call of service uh for 24321st Avenue um from two years from now back.
>> Uh yes, because I know that the place was shut down way back because there was a murder inside and there was some gang activities after it was closed and all that stuff. And this past weekend it was a shooting even I don't saying it's related to that place but it was too
close there. So we want to make sure Councilman uh uh um thank >> that the the quality of life is preserved there. >> Thank you Council Member in the future. So I I just want to say for renewals I think that's needed but if it's a new entity that's opening and the councilman
has made his introduction in his ward and he's already approved it. We can't hold a new entity for quality of life issues that have happened in the past. >> This is a new entity applying for a a new entertainment license. The councilman has already went to this area
and that's why I always reach out especially for new renewals. Even any council person has an issue, but he already met with them. They are in a place of understanding. But even if you present that information, which is fine, I don't think we should hold any new business for quality of life services
that have occurred. Um, these items will be on consent, madame clerk. Um, item number 11, it may shift if council vice president wants it, but we'll put it on regular. Item number 10 for Miss Wita will be on
consent. Madame clerk, >> same. >> It'll be on consent. You want it on regular. Number 10 will be on regular. Um, number eight, madame clerk, I know
we received all the information. It just came to us late for number eight for the cab driver. So, we are up to date per licensing. So, I want to recommend number eight to be on consent. Is that okay, madam clerk? >> Sure. >> Number eight is consent. And then nine
is the stenographer for our wonderful um >> consent >> for the work she's doing. That's consent. Number eight, resolution authorizing contracts with certain approved vendors um through various departments and divisions in the
city of Patterson. >> Number six. >> Number six. >> Is that on consent or non-conent? >> Number six. >> Consent. >> Consent. Is everybody okay? >> Regular. Madame clerk.
>> Regular. Sure. Discussion. Councilman Jackson. Uh Mr. Ba, could you give an update on number six, please? >> Good evening, council member. That's a recurring resolution that we prepare every year. So, we select the vendor
that have been used quite often for different department for the city. So we make sure that they belong and they have a valid state contract and in consultation we we finance we we
stipulate amount of money not to exceed. So when the department of division had a need to purchase a good now they had the vendor that they will provide a good. Thank you. So a couple things. So thank you Mr. Savales. always appreciating and
um respecting your uh insight. First thing is I could not help but council president called you Mr. Ba. Are you being paid to be the BA this evening? Cuz I saw on some of these documents over here where it was saying
that um Mr. Seaman was presenting these items. Now I see you sitting here tonight and she calls you Mr. Ba. I mean, I I don't I I I respect the work that you do so greatly. I think that you you are should be entitled to out of title pay, especially if you're being
called the BA. So, are you being paid out of title or you just uh Okay, >> they are worth it. >> All right. Thank you. I appreciate that. I'm just making sure. Um so, we're paying two BAS now. We have a BA that has basically tapped out for, you know,
some undisclosed reasoning, some inappropriate activity that took place within the administration. Now, the BA has quit, threw in a towel. He's still presenting information. He still he we should we should not be accepting. We have a very competent person here who's sitting in on our meetings. He should be
the person that's signing off on these documents. But, um, Mr. Mr. So, especially in light of this um this uh $4 million unknown expenditure or or in
the the the lack of information on this uh over expenditure for four plus million and then I get a document here where you're just talking like you know we spending a million dollars close to a million dollars in fuel. We're spending
um a half a million dollars or more for Verizon and but we don't really have any details on these each individual items, you know, um are we being accountable,
responsible for fuel consumption? How is this fuel being utilized? Is this fuel for PD? Is this fuel for fire? Is this fuel for DPW? Um, you know, um, there's there's there's just no details here.
Dell marketing, $135,000 for computer equipment. Is that for um computer upgrades, etc. Council Jackson, >> you're correct as for the use of the
whole city >> and that's the reason you're saying that amount also is not to exceed amount know that everybody arbitrarily want to and to answer your second question if we have way to control like a one of those
is say 50,000 >> and we know we're near with 50,000 like say 37 40 So we prepare and you have approved few of those additional preparation for that contract in order to finish out the the budget year. So we
try to that's the reason we put the numbers and the way you see in there is based on the last year expenditures. So a go. >> I I understand that and that's why you know I I' I've been stating it for several weeks. We failed to do budget
hearings where we've actually sat down with every single division head, department head and looked at it. We're not even understanding how much of this is is is being utilized. Like we didn't get a if we're just blanketed um approving these amounts based on what
happened last year. Well, we don't have no report on fuel consumption. What vehicles are using fuel? How many calls did they go on for the fire department and they're utilizing X Y and Z amount of of of gallons per diesel? Um I see
there's gas here. We we're not even getting any reports on on expenditures on the spending, but we have to be in, you know, looked at. First of all, we're we're going to be expecting this this this council is going to be expecting on
approving a uh a loan for 65 plus million dollars. and we're not being responsible and accountable for each individual line item. I'm surprised that we don't have, you know, a packet broke out broken out for each each expenditure
outlining how much are we using? What was the comparison from last year? Do we need to is is the are these numbers reflective on increases? Are are we reducing certain line items by a certain percentage? Are we trying to save money? We know that we're in duress, right? Are
we are is the administration being accountable and responsible to every department when it comes to spending cons council me that particular resolution I look at the numbers and you're right last year I think there were two more
vendors in the listing and because we don't use it or we found somebody better to do the work is not listed there >> you have a total you have a total for this >> every department receive the building we We I mean when they meet here for the
budget that's a line item in their budget they you can you can see and I think that's >> understand I understand that it's a line item on in on each particular budget. But what I'm asking is >> this is one item item number six. >> Yes.
>> That we're looking to approve 19 different expenditures. >> Yes. >> But there's no total here. are I mean I can add it up of course but is do you have the do you do do you know what the total is for this entire item
once again that says not to exceed amount based on the last year construction second we prepare the contract you can see there I did the the department had the want to call for the service gasoline oil and so on and so forth a
breakdown we can I can ask the departments at at today expenditure and all the holy items but also if that we do in order to expedite things if you wish to to put it on the side and then and then I prepare
resolution has the need comes and absolutely me personally I mean I know I'm not going to get the support from the rest of the council but as we're in a deficit we're now borrowing 65 million we're now short $4 million there we we
were short uh what $67 million in TA these numbers start adding up and if I and I understand it as the purchasing agent it's not your job or your responsibility to look at what was expended what was the projected cost and
what we act what was actually realized in in the expenditures but it is the responsibility of the administration the gentleman sitting right next to you who's failing the city miserably he should be telling us where the money's been spent and what money was left over
and what we looking at to throw this on one item and just expect I mean I know it is the practice of the council the council hasn't looked at the budget they've been approving stuff and then certain people say oh I didn't know that was there as I said in the in one of the previous meetings we should have every
single department head here being accountable including these expenditures right here where are we spending on fuel we know that there's there's rumors that people take their personal vehicles they f they fill it up in in various spaces we don't even know how much fuel we're
utilizing and what we're what we're expending it for. But just to say just on a on a blanketed uh uh uh report, we're going to spend a million dollars on on on fuel and then not have a an in-depth report on how it's being
utilized, what departments are consuming. You know, we spent money on electric vehicles quite some time ago. We should see a reduction in fuel consumption. Where where's the where's the report on what we saved based upon
the expenditure that we that we that we so freely approved in the past for all these electric vehicles. How many electric vehicles do we have on the road? How much savings have we have we realized? Are we saving anything? I mean
that's a part of being responsible in our budgeting process. We cannot just I cannot just sit here. Well, I have not been sitting here and just blindly approving these items. But can I say something? >> Absolutely. >> All right. Sorry. Four.
>> Oh, you were Oh, you were answering Mr. B. >> He was. >> Okay. I couldn't hear you on the mic. You were answering. Thank you. >> Okay. >> I have mentioned before that particular resolution, we do a lot of research before it's prepared. part of the
research to find out how much money have been used in those items. For example, you may some you may reference to Verizon cellular phones, all these devices that come with the funds and all the communication land
services. So is all those contracts that's the reason you're seeing that amount of money there. revisions. Yes, that's the reason I said last year I believe there were two other vendors there but they're no longer there because we find no need for to have in
there but if we do the the research when I say that I don't have the information because every single department should provide the information >> correct >> we my office and I do bits and contracts and this is something like a
is that blanket I should mention to be able any department what need to to obtain those services. They already had the authority to do so. >> I understand that, Mrs. Fles. We want to be able to have the the the resources available when they're when they're needed, >> but we also want to be responsible to
make sure that they're not being wasted. >> We want to be responsible to I mean, how else are we going to catch up on budgeting? How else are we going to ever catch up on, you know, the over expenditure, overexpending? Are we going to just Is this just part for the course? Is it is it is it our
destiny just to be relying upon transitional aid forever just to continuously see news articles the way we did today in the paper where $4 million and we don't even understand where this money is being spent. No, we have to be there has to we have to draw a line in the sand and say when are we
going to be responsible for all the spending? Not some of the spending, not maybe half of the spending, but all the spending that's going on here. You know, we sat here and approved all these items that's costing us money from the state health insurance plan and all these various things that's costing the
taxpayers an enormous amount of money to sit here and put we don't even have a have a a a total on this on this thing. But it's it's m it's several million dollars, you know, and some of these expenditures. Paramis Ford, Inc. $140,000. That's it's two three four
half a million dollars. half million dollars here, a half million dollars in phone services, uh a million dollars in gas. So, you're talking $2 million right there alone. This thing this build this this billless is is about three plus
million dollars. So, anyway, I I I made my point. I think that, you know, it's uh the public understands it. Thank you, Harry. >> Thank you. This item will go on this item will go on regular. And I just wanted to bring clarity to the
community. We are not voting on a $60 million loan. That was removed from the agenda last week. We are not voting on that. We're looking forward to bringing forth the final adoption of the budget um on next week. We just got some final numbers. We're looking to bring that
forward to this council. Um this item will be on regular. Madam clerk, >> council president, before >> Councilman um >> Thank you, >> Veles. um CFO through the chair CFO uh number six uh that's the one that we had in
discussion now um this this amount was already budget or you planning to where where you planning to get this money from >> where is it for gasoline >> it's gasoline >> that's all for next year's budget council >> I know can you tell me which budget
>> 2026 >> next year right Yes. >> Thank you, >> Councilman. >> Councilman um Khalika and then Council Mot. >> Thank you. Um >> thank you um council president. Um >> just want to clarity from Mr. BA as
well. These number six these are state approved contract vendors is not for only one department it's for various department not to exceed as they
needed they have authority to order uh from auto part store or or uh snow when snow come snow removal and we allocate some money for each of
those those um entities department. So as they needed they would we might not spend that uh $75 million parson repair for the road services and such a thing. So this is a annual thing that every year we do. I'm not here to micromanage.
We have every department has we have every department responsible for their own invoices ordering as well. If personally if I want to see anything I'll ask them. I'll get the invoices if I hear something fishy going on or
whatnot. But this whole discussion I think we are trying to micromanage um I'm not here to do that. I'm okay with regular or or council president. >> Yes. Council cotton. >> Thank you. Um council president. Um, I
just want to say, Harry, and I'm not sure if it changed, but probably about 10 years ago, um, um, they came up with a system where you to to put gasoline in the cars or whatever they got to use is like a tag or something. That's
>> and it tracks every vehicle that's putting gas in the vehicles. It tracks like if it's the fire department, is the DPW department, if it's the uh economic development department, community development, it tracks it. So, we can
get a breakdown of how much each department uh is using for their vehicles. Say say uh zoning, you know, they got plenty, they got a lot of cars, but some of their cars are electric and some of them are not electric. Um, so I know that we still use that kind of tag
to track vehicles >> and also in some department they still use the live book. Anybody come in and then sign. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> Council President. >> Councilman uh Mendes, please. >> It was it was >> it was okay. Oh, thank you. Thank you,
Council President. Uh, and I'm just uh definitely also I have to clarify because the $60 million discussion was a very heated discussion and something that it caught everybody's attention. So that's not on the table. Uh so we're not having discussion about that and and um
you know a a approving a contract with the state contract is something it's this is a regular business. So we do we do this every year. I was a little confused why the discussion uh this is normal business. Um the reason why I I
want to comment on this uh d um our VAR is because uh co-op is also a a another tool that we could save money. Uh I don't see the city using co-op uh u you know as regular all the municipality small municipality what they doing they
coming together they join you know together and to save money. So we got to look into any angle that we could save a dollar. Every dollar is important especially now in the condition of the financial condition that we have right now. So just going to add this keep in mind um that to that we could use it to
save money as well. Thank you. >> So right before council member just to give clarity we use co-op all the time. So maybe just present some of the documents that we've approved but we use it all the time. Council Mendes Councilman Veles. >> Thank you. Council President once again
uh you know uh sorry I I interject again we we have done this regularly we use co-op we use state contract that's not the problem here CFO
this is considered other expenses in the budget right >> that's correct >> see other expenses in the budget everybody knows and everybody body read today the article about this
overspending in other expenses. The reason I asked if he identified where he's going to pay this and he just say for the next budget, okay, next year. But here we go again, other expenses. In the past, I said the administration
and Councilman Mendes uh was willing to do it at the same time to identify another expenses without touching salary and wages and benefits because that contractual to look into other expenses in the city to see how we could
minimize, you know, the the the spending there and and and and my colleagues are right. How you do that? you get the data how much you spend from $300,000 and you know you didn't spend $150 only give it
200 don't give it 300 so you know that's how you reduce other expenses but now the article say that they overspent and this is like a blank check again that we given oh we didn't spend there so let's move this money
that we didn't spend to over here and when we look at it they we the last people to know because We already approvening it today. CFO, I know you're trying to do your best. You can't do it by yourself. But one thing is what we like is because I don't
sit on finance. A lot of this councilman over here don't sit on finance. If they don't if they try to bring their report and it's a light report because what they go to report is what is whatever was saying in the committee. But if you
got something that you had to tell us that is not saying in the committee, bring it forward because from this point on, the community is watching. They don't see the service coming back to them and they see a lot of spending. So
we had to do more good in the communication as a CFO. I'm not I'm not talking about the BA or assistant BA CFO. your ball is in your side to prove us that you guys doing the right thing. Thank you, Council President.
>> Payment of bills, Madam President. >> Councilman Jackson. >> Thank you. So, first thing is um just because you're doing something for 30 plus years doesn't mean you're doing it right. In fact, it's very simple to see that we have not been doing it right. There's a
an enormous deficit that we need to cure. And it doesn't surprise me that some people are confused with with the level of questioning because, you know, it's very easy to confuse members on this council and we can just blow back blow past several million dollars in
expenditures. And what's even more disheartening, you know, when we talk about all the illegal construction going on, all the illegal apartments, and now you have a family of five that just lost their life, we get absolutely no reports on every single item. Maybe you guys can
show me in your email thread where where there's reports on last year's expenditures. We just finished the 225 2025 uh uh expenditures on these same items, which is mirrored. So, we're just going to go ahead and blanket approve them for 26 without even having to report on it. Without even having to
report. And you're thinking that's responsible. And I'm not trying to micromanage. No, your job is to manage the budget. This is our job. the budget, not to be hanging on the back of garbage trucks, not to be, you know, cutting side deals with with building sub code inspectors so family members could build
extra floors on their houses. We're talking about the budget. This is what this is about. So saying that we're being irresponsible by questioning the expenditures here, I don't just don't understand how this is being irresponsible. you know
this relative to the $65 million the last the discussion that I was a part of we needed $65 million in order to make payroll if we found another way to have done then that's fantastic but that should have been part of the discussion
so the public could hear how where we found this money one week we're short 65 million and we won't be able to make payroll we're threat we we're scaring everybody oh we ain't going to be able to pay the employee employees now. Now we don't need it anymore. Did we even
need it to to to start with? But we're not monitoring the expenditures. The $8 million surplus, the $8 million additional that got applied for as a grant that got app that got uh uh uh poured into the Hinchcliff Stadium so all those people could make additional
money. We haven't gotten a report on that yet. So it really doesn't surprise me on how some people are very confused about the line of questioning. We never get any reports. We just blindly approve all the spending by this administration. I've never seen an administration get
this much leeway when it comes to spending. 85 plus million dollars in in in uh uh CAR's Act dollars. We don't know where it's at. Have we gotten Have we has Has has anyone here seen a report on that? >> You have too. >> I gave it to you. >> No, you didn't.
>> I did. I emailed it and handed it to you. Yes, I did. >> I did. You have it. that I gave it to you. >> Where? Where is it? I I can get it here. >> Go through your email. I emailed it and physically our secretary walked over and handed every council member the exact
report. You have it. I gave it to you. >> $65 million. I gave it to you. >> Okay. What about the $140 million? >> I gave you both. I gave you all of that. >> $140 million in tax credit. You gave me that. >> So, in my July 1, you you challenged me to do it and I physically handed reports
to every council member with your name on it. You have it. It wasn't just emailed. I physically handed it to you. >> Yes, I did. >> And if you would like it to be done again, I can I'll be more than happy. You can have mines on my desk. >> If that is the case, uh, and that was the oversight of mine, I apologize. But
this right here, this document we're voting on now, you gave me these reports, too. >> You gave me >> We're not voting on it. We're in work. >> This item number six, >> we're voting next week. I understand we're voting next week, but in workshop is when we're supposed to go through it, talk about what the expenditures are so
we so next week we don't have to prolong the meeting, but if we're not going to have people here to speak on what these expenditures are now, this is on the agenda. It should have come with a package that show. >> So my request to uh CFO and BA just for clarity to the public cuz you
know sometime it's sound bites but let's be clear this is state approved contracts right every department head and I'm glad you're here because this is your budget that is being spoke about. They give you up to a certain amount where you're able to do your jobs and be
financially responsible in your departments. We vote on this every year. It doesn't. That's why it's hard for them to give you a total because the total is not exact. It depends on the invoices and the vouchers based on the work or the requests that go in. This is
not new. It's been going on for a long time. So, if poss, could you provide the information as to what the final number was up to this point because the year is not over, but up to this point of how much they spent based on last year's contract? I think
that will help out so you understand and know that that's what this list is for. And I see the directors are nodding your head because that's what we're doing. We're voting on the state approved contracts. So for the following year, we have to do it in advance that you can start pre-budgeting for your year for
your employees and your department. >> So council president, this last point I'll make. First of all, these are state approved vendors. These are not state approved contracts. These are state approved vendors which which we can mitigate going out to a public bid for
but the amounts and what we're spending this is what we need to be regulating. Now, I know you you you haven't seen it this way because this wasn't ever since this administration came on, the process has been changed. When we had when we had people who would who were doing our
uh uh budget officers that was doing it responsibly, we would it would be side by sides of the years previous of what we expended. So, we get an opportunity to see what the usage what the usage is. We're not just because we're approving
these things doesn't mean that we're not supposed to they're not supposed to get scrutinized. We've never in the past never in the past when I've made multiple suggestions for line item vetos and you guys have failed to support it but we've done these things in the past. That's what that was done in the past as
well. If we don't completely expand it a line, we would normally get rid of it. But if we're not doing that responsibly and then they and at the end of the year, yes, it's it's built into his budget, he's just going to move the line item from one to another and and spend it on something else on one of their
salaries. >> So I agree, Councilman Jackson. So please going forward, even for next week before the vote, have that information, and in the vote for the following year, do the same. I think it's prudent that you have that information that's being requested. Payment of bills, Madam Clerk. Payment of bills, madam clerk.
Council President, >> payment of bills, madam. Mr. President, >> payment of bills, madam. >> Council president, I just want to clar the record a little bit here. >> Uh, if you allow me just a few second only. I >> Councilman BZ, make it very >> I'm going to make it quick. You know, uh, we when when we talk about the ARP
money, uh, 64 million I believe or 68 million that came in. >> How much? >> 64.7. >> That could easy resume what we use that money. So this is easy road resurface parks. Um they short-handed the city employee
with half have half has a pay. You remember that short-handed the city employee has to pay. Um there was 20 million remaining. They promised a recreation center and uh they the money went down the drain and study where you want it where you want to hear you want
it over there. They ended giving $2 million to a nonprofit for a recreation center that is in the other side of the city. So that's how they waste the money. >> That's the report. >> Thank you, Councilman VZ. That's not on the agenda. Madame clerk, payment of bills. >> Thank you.
>> It's my freedom of speech. >> Payment of bills. >> Thank you, Council President. Summary of dispersement total is 16,9,16951. uh we have a payroll week about $5.3 million also a payment to actually two
payment to board of education about one payment I believe 6.7 million also there is that um community development fund payment of 1.5 and I recommend
that this payment of bill move forward thank you second >> move by councilman colleague second by councilman Mendes Roll call on payment of bills. Madam clerk, >> roll call on the payment of bills in the amount of 16,9,169.51.
Councilwoman Cotton, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Dava, Councilman Jackson, >> no. >> Councilman Khik, >> yes. >> Counciloman Mendes, >> yes. >> Councilman Omar, >> yes. >> Councilman Uden,
>> yes. Councilman VeZain, >> payment of bills. What? >> Oh, payment bills. Yeah, abstain. >> Abstain. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you, council president. >> My vote is yes, madam clerk.
>> Thank you. Thank you. We have six in favor, one against, one extension, and one absent. Payment of bills is hereby adopted. So, madame clerk, we have items 25 through 30 for uh DPW.
Um, there was a committee meeting through our chair, uh, Councilwoman Cotton, and I see our our deputy, uh, director is here, Manny O'Hada. Um, all of these items are being recommended
to be on consent. >> 25 through 30. 25 to30. >> 25 through30. There was a very excellent meeting um held in DPW. Thank you, Councilwoman Cotton for leading the charge and those council members that showed up to the committee meeting. Are
there any questions as they're preparing for the wintertime for salt and the items that are uh needed um for pest control, plumbing repair um and rock salt for the winter time? Council President, >> can you come?
>> Council President, >> can you come to the mic? >> Councilman, Councilman Jackson, and Councilman Mendes. >> Uh like um this is the time of the year we almost >> It's going to get cold. We don't know how many snow amount of snow we're going
to get out there. Uh how many um what is the budget for snow this year? >> 500,000 again. Other other years it was um close to a million. >> Close to a million. >> Yeah. But uh we don't know what the numbers are going to bear this year once
we go in front of uh the council for the budget. >> Correct. Um our trucks are ready to go. Right. Just in case. >> They're being service as we speak. >> Service as we speak. Uh when you get a chance u can you email me u how many
trucks we have in operation? How much are they are in the yard? you know in mechanics or whatever. I just want a list of operating vehicles before and you know anything happens. I want to know how many vehicles and if any
vehicles sitting down on the mechanic shop to see when they could come out if if they're not holding the vehicle because payment. >> No. >> No. Okay. Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you, Councilman Jackson. Then Councilman Mendes. >> Director. What's up, brother? How are
you, sir? Can you explain to me number 29? What what do we uh uh Nicholas, >> what um what items for plumbing is is this this this this item going to be utilized for? >> Okay. Okay. >> Well, Councilman, that contract is actually for the whole city, all the
buildings, any any issues with plumbing, >> any issues with any uh water leaks or anything like that. Uh that's what the contract is for. It covers that. It also covers us buying parts, sometimes even for the HVAC system. Uh part of that is the white and sugar. We go there all the
time to buy parts for any of the units or anything like that is needed throughout the whole city and that's all the city buildings. >> No, I I understand that. But uh what what plumbing are we snaking toilets?
Are we uh changing washers and and and the sink valves? No. >> What plumbing are we are we get getting done for this contract? >> That's major pl uh that's that's minor stuff. That contract is for major plumbing. >> So, I know we I know we overspent on the boiler for city hall. We spent uh about,
if I'm not mistaken, like $400,000 for a boiler that should have cost like $65,000. And then we spent $600,000 in in here. So, what I'm just trying to understand is like I get it. It's for the whole city, but what like
what kind of plumbing? You said HVAC. So, if we have HVAC repair or something like that, because we normally whenever there's a there's an item that goes down, we'll get a spe we we'll get another item presented to us that says, >> you know, we have a a special
expenditure for emergency repairs on a on a HVAC system or something like that. Or further like if if if this is a like a common normal practice, what was the repairs? Do we have a list of all the repairs plumbing wise that was done last
year? >> We can get you those details, councilman, for any particular thing. Um, I know that the director has given you other information before in reference to other contracts. We can do the same thing with this contract, too. But that contract also has a lot to do with the sprinkler systems in the parks
and all that. Um, all the water, all the lines that run into our bathrooms in the parks. Uh, that type of work. is not to that it's not to uh uh change washers and all that is none of that stuff. That's minor stuff. We're referring to um stuff. Sometimes they
have to um repair um big water lines uh here in city hall. We had issues at the headquarters um sometimes. So that's >> what issues do we have at headquarters? >> At headquarters when we had the the flooding down at the basement even when we had the leaks down at the um the the boilers and stuff like that, we had to
do some repairs there too. The leak's down in where? >> At headquarters. >> At PD. >> Yes. >> So, this company came in to do the repair for >> plumbing. Yes. >> Well, but we don't know what what what
Okay. So, this is just this is just an emergency fund >> just in case something goes wrong that we're going to hire that they'll come in. So, how much of this did we expend last year? I don't have the numbers in front of me. Obviously, we can discuss that when we discuss the budget, but I
can get you all the details if you need more information on the plumbing. >> No. Now, see, listen, and and and director, I know you you know, it's been quite some time and you might be a little bit out of practice, right? But, uh, council president was just putting
this item on consent, right? It's a and I know it's not a great deal of money, $65,000, but it's not it's not here. It's not presented here. So, we're just expected to just vote blindly. We don't know what
was expended last year. We don't know exactly what plumbing. It's just overall plumbing. >> Yes. We're talking about parts, but yet on the same cluster of items, we have a contract that's being renewal for Grand
Hardware where we know we normally buy plumbing supplies, uh, electrical supply, all of those different supplies from there. So, there's a separate item for for parts. >> It would be it would be a separate item
for a simple reason. and a any type of some electrical work our facilities division does ourselves. Same thing with plumbing. We change toilets and stuff like that. We don't need to call a plumber for that. But that plumbing contract is for any major issues that's above what we can do.
>> All right. So, I I'll shoot an email to both you and and and and Director Rodriguez if I can get a a report on what we spent last year on what emergencies did we spend last year and how is it it was it expended what items
are, you know, outside of the scope >> of what we can handle in house because again like I would expect that we we we're snaking drains ourselves and 65 mill,000. It's not like it's a great deal of money, but it's still we we have
to be accountable for every single expenditure that we have, every dime we have. We should be be, you know, looking to be responsible on the spending. So, if I can get a report on this this item and um the other this uh which item miss
madam president number 26 would like to be on regular. >> You want you want 26 on regular. >> Yeah. Create. >> Okay. Council Okay. Councilman Mendes and then Council Motton. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you. Um, Council President, uh, director, um, it's good to see you. Uh, quick question on item
number, um, 20, item number 30. Um, I definitely see and this was my comment before. I know we using co-op to buy salt and every year. So, my comment was to just let's look into other area, other item that we could use co-op also to save some money like all the
municipalities are doing, all the item that we using. So let's be creative in order for us to save every dollar that we can because we we all know what we going through financially in the city of Patterson. But the question is in general are we ready for this winter uh in term of the truck? How many truck do
we have that are ready uh to go out? If you could give me the list if you don't have it now just give me the list of truck how many truck that we have you know equipment um truck that need to be repaired. let us know, you know, if we ready and what we can do, what needs to be done for the win for this winter time
that is really around around the corner. And and the last comment that I have, director is uh about the tree. Uh I know we we have a uh company uh we have a $200,000 contract with the company uh just to address the problem that we have with the tree. Uh but there's people
that they have one year, two years with with the tree on the list that need to be cut. We have to go back and revisit the list. Now winter time is coming. We have a lot of old tree especially in the third war. We have a lot of people that have some tree on the list for for very long time. I make a comment about
Brilliant Avenue and 18th Avenue. The owner of that property, he tried to fix the sidewalk, but that tree that we going to have we're going to have to cut it. It's it's it's unsafe right now and it's still closed and people they have to go into the street to to just to because the sidewalk is closed. So let's
address that because that's a problem and not only in the third war in other area also as well but in the third war um is is the biggest problem that we have. Thank you council president. >> Thank you and director if you council cotton if I may >> about a tree I'm sorry director if you
could >> just text me the address so I can look into it. >> I have a list for you. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you council cotton. >> Thank you um director. Um >> thank you. Uh because we was in we had our committee meeting. Um um councilman u Omar was there.
Councilman Bles he was there. He could have asked some more question. >> He was in the committee meeting. Um the only one that was not in the meeting was Councilman Jackson. But I just want to say to you that we went over all these items and the reason why Grant Hardware
is back on here because it changed ownership. That's the only reason. We voted already on Grant Hardware, but they changed ownership and once they change ownership, we have to uh put put the put the contract in. Um I just want to say also for um
and I had asked I had said it to Harry Person agent a few times about state contracts and cooperatives. if you belong to a co-op, if you belong to the state contract vendors. Um, and I said to Harry, I remember saying to him that
he really looks at the prices because if he can go outside, he will go outside. If he needs to go out for RFP, he will go out for RFP. What you're going to find most of the time that when you in that co-op or you do that state contracts, most of the time the prices
are lower than going um to the outside. So, um, with that, I just want to say that, um, we did talk about all these in our committee meeting. Um, no one had any issues like especially like with that
with that plumbing. Um um with that um the emergency plumbing, it's for it's for major jobs, not for a clogged bathroom over there or or clogged, you know, it's for a major um thing that it has to be there. But
the So we did go through all of these items and and we all did approve them to to be here on the workshop. So that's why they're here on the workshop now. But Neo hardware, I mean Grand Hardwell changing name. Um, also for those that
don't understand what a monitoring well is, they have to what happened with a monitor well is that they have to make sure when they going to do a building a building of development or something that the building is higher than the water level. If it's the building's
going to go down further than the water level, then they has to change the the specs of the contract. So, >> thank you council. We was all at the committee meeting. We all approved these items. >> President Director, >> Councilman Jackson, >> very good. I'll wrap it quick. So,
what's disheartening is that as a council, we should not be um outlining or explaining what the the administration has a responsibility to outline and explain to us. and you know to uh to to
to give off the um the notion that we you know some of us should not be questioning >> I'm not giving that notion off I'm just saying >> I wasn't talking to you council >> okay all right >> I'm just saying in general other council members have councilman Kik has been taking many jabs and stabs oh you know
this and then other people I'm confused about what we're doing the director just sat here and I asked him a simple question but plumbing like what is this contract for? He says, "Well, it's for this for that. HVAC is included." Number
25 is a separate HVAC contract. It's on the same list. So, we have $140,000 already outlined for HVAC, but we're saying that this the other contract for plumbing is is is going to encompass
HVAC. And and I know director you you know you weren't necessarily aware of that, but my point is the administration is supposed to be aware of that, right? We're spending $105 an hour for
potential emergency HVAC uh uh utilization. The last question I have for you, who do we have on staff under in DPW now that's um Black Seal certified? I know uh uh um
um and Finch. Um >> there's one gentleman here in the building. I just can't remember his name right now. >> Well, direct. >> You can say that we have one or two. Just don't mention employees names based on >> We have two of them. >> We have two Black Seal certified >> mechanics. Yes, sir.
>> Cuz I know we have one that's out for um uh uh workman's comp or something like that. He's out on injury, right? So we have two additional. >> No, we have one more. >> We have one more. So >> the point I'm making is and and it has nothing to do with you. Please don't
there's not this is how what the practices of our city has has been. We'll outsource this and pay a company $105 an hour when we can bring in someone who's qualified, who's certified. We can pay somebody, you
know, instead of paying out 140 grand a year for this contract. We don't even know how much of it got utilized last year. We bringing in some outside person to make money in our community. We can hire somebody for $85,000, $90,000 a year, save money, right, and have
someone on hand all the time doing repair and maintenance on HVAC. If we need to do an installation, I'm sure even that person could do installation. We may have to spend some additional money on a crane, outfitting a crane for a particular space wherever it is. But
this is not responsible. This is not the most responsible way to utilize this, you know, funds. My point with the plumbing, if it's something very s simple and we're doing, you know, some minor plumbing adjustments and things of that nature, repairing some lines, we
have a broken water line, kids can do that. It's not that much of a big deal if we have people that's trained to do it. we could pay somebody locally and and have have that done. So 25 council president, I need that on um regular as well. I won't be supporting that or this
plumbing item. I mean, I think we need to be doing it more responsibly. Again, nothing to do with you personally, director. It's just my personal perspective on how if we're going to recover as a city, we have to be more responsible in our spending. And we have to make sure we're utilizing personnel.
We have to employ local people. We got to stop giving out contracts to all these outside contractors coming in here and say, "Oh, you got a problem with this. You got a problem with that." If it's a specialized service, a elevator repair company or something like that, I I can understand that. But HVAC
plumbing, we got thousands of people. We got people every day that's going to HVAC training. They go to Hocus or wherever other schools they're going to HVAC training. We could bring two or three guys on for 35 $40,000 an hour changing filters and HVAC machinery doesn't necessarily need that much
attention, you know, but anyway. >> Thank you, Councilman. Item 25, thank you, director, will be on regular. Uh, our fire, our office of emergency management is here. This is just a renewal contract for disaster recovery. >> Um, and I'm recommending this to go on
consent. And our public safety chairs here, we did meet in public safety. This is for fire and police. If you'll just come up. All of these items. We had a full committee meeting. Um we vetted all of these items for uh the disaster relief for gunshot detection equipment
for police vehicles and the maintenance of our portable cameras. So um our public safety is um chair is here is recommended that all these items go on consent. >> Thank you. Thank you so very much. So madame clerk items 31 through 34 all on
consent. Thank you directors and O. >> Thank you NAACP honore. >> Why they ain't say nothing to you tonight, right? >> Economic um health and human services. Well, economic development if you'll come first. >> Yeah. >> Economic development has two items
on the agenda. They're just statement of needs for housing opportunities. Um, so they can go before the NJFMA and the NJ EDA in regards to affordable housing projects, something that we've
had many people talk about, do all kinds of commentary, and these are two projects that are going before the board and they just need statements of support. Are there any uh >> item 36 and 37?
>> Director, can you just explain? I have no idea what it is. >> Wait, I'm sorry. I didn't hear the question. >> One one second. >> I have no idea what is it. What it is. >> They're on the agenda. 36 and 37. 36 is the >> All right. Gentlemen,
>> did you give the updated? >> There should be two resolutions in your package. They're both resolutions requesting support of these of the project. It's 24 and a half in Hound. So, just one second until he gets I'm not sure why he doesn't have the updated
information. >> Council President, >> one second. Councilman Veles >> 36 and 37. >> Okay. Councilman. >> Um, so
Hudson Blue 24 owner LLC. >> Uh, where they they doing this project? So the project will be done at 24 and a half Van Hound the corner project. >> That's a few the former blue onyx the beach. >> That is correct.
>> I I just wanted her to talk about the resolution >> and they looking for a support to go. >> It's a resolution of support that would you know that would accompany their application to go for NJA funding as well as NJHMFA funding.
>> So in other words they're looking for support to do affordable housing. >> Correct. It's 100% affordable housing, age restricted. >> How many how many units they plan to do affordable housing? >> Um the total project is 194 units. How many units will be affordable?
>> The pro the total costs of the project. >> You asked how many units? Yeah. 194 units. >> 100 >> 194. >> Are they all going to be affordable? >> 100% affordable housing. A council president I could ask those questions but you not
>> because what happened is that we give we what happened is that we give this letter of support and they end given only 10 apartments as affordable housing. Now, we don't have we don't have the courtesy to have the individual like in the past
come here and address the council about their plan about their I don't know if they have a special treatment that you representing them but in the past we have their project managers the owner of
the project come up they did it with grandparents gracing grandch uh grandchildren they came here they address us they put a plan together they tell us this is the plan that we have but in this case you are the voice for that and we don't know what they are
putting there >> so and and and I don't feel comfortable that you lobby for a private entity >> lobbying this point of questioning is borderline is borderline this point the point of
questioning is borderline >> is borderline offensive one first First and foremost, the items are very clear. These are items of support and it states in on the agenda and in the resolution 100% affordable housing. You ask her at
the mic, is it 100%. She says yes. And then you say, "Is it 100%." She says yes. You ask her how many units, she says 174. You said I didn't ask you the total cost. >> I asked you the unit. She says I just said to you 174. We know in Patterson
right now I'm not saying whether this will go forward because this is far we're not approving the project. This is just for them to go and find funding cuz if they can't get the funding the project is null and void, >> right? So all of these conversations has nothing to do with this moment.
>> So that's your opinion. Let me keep your opinion. Councilman, you don't have the floor. You don't. No, you do not have the floor. Councilman took the floor. Councilman border council president. Councilman Veles, you were done. >> I had the floor done.
>> Point of order. >> Point of order. Councilman Veles. >> Point of order. >> You were finished. Councilman Bles. And then >> the point of order the floor. I want to hear >> Right. I I called the point of order. >> No, I did. >> He did. >> Councilman Jackson. >> So
I I understand that you may have an issue, but the councilman is absolutely correct. First of all, he has the floor. And he has the floor. He's entitled to have a line of questioning in whichever direction she he may go whether I and agree with him or not. being spoken over
is not the practice of the council and further well I I don't the the other part doesn't have to do with the point of order but when the councilman has the floor the councilman should be allowed to he's not speaking out of out of character or whatever he he has the
reason to question any director in in such fashion >> but um I I I definitely would like to have the floor as well but um whether I agree with him or not, which I I'm not going to speak on that, but a council
person has the right to have the floor. It should not be spoken over by the council president. It should not be dialogue with from the council president. Just because you're the president doesn't give you the authority to to mute and or mitigate his uh his line of questioning.
>> Thank you for your point of insertion, Councilman Jackson. Let me be clear. When the questions become borderline, you're mixing apples with oranges. He started saying, "You're talking about what happened when other developers came. They did this." I said, "And I
stopped it because it was going into a borderline offensive situation." And then it's not offensive. Council President, Councilman Jackson, now you just said, "Who has the floor?" Now I have the floor. Now you're talking. Council Jackson, let me just finish. >> But you're not you're notarian.
You're not the parliamentarian. You don't answer to the point of order. When I call you, I have the floor now. When I point when I call a point of order, you're not the judge to rule upon the point of order and you're the one that's out of order of order. Point of order. >> You're the one that's out of order. You
don't get to run the point of order and say, "No, that's incorrect." >> So, at the point of conversation, when the director was accused of being lobbying for a project, that is when I interjected. She is not lobbying for a
project. The item is clear. The items are here in support of whoever this owner is that wants to go before a finance board. That is why she's here. I'm not stopping his questioning. I want him to ask, but she's not a lobbyist. So that's why I made the point of
insertion. Council member can continue um his question. >> Lobbyist out. You presenting for them today this resolution. >> I'm presenting before the council a resolution for you to support. Yes. >> The director. Director. When was the
last meeting that we had with economy development? >> The last meeting we had >> that I was president >> that you were president was two weeks ago. >> Two weeks ago and we didn't discuss this two weeks ago. >> We did. You left early.
>> No. I left No, no, no, no. We did. We left early. We spoke about this. This has been discussed. >> I saw the agenda. I saw the agenda. >> Point of order. Point of order. Councilman VeZ, you actually second
director because the resolution >> point of order. >> Councilman, so >> I'm the I'm the chairperson still has the floor. Council >> one second, Councilman Khaled. >> Councilman, you're asking her a question. Correct. You pause. She's
responding. Allow the director to respond to your question. You pause for her to answer. >> My question is two weeks ago we had the mini. >> Yes. I saw the agenda and the agenda was $2 point something million dollars that
the county want to put this vans to play here transport whatever. Um I believe you was going to speak about cannabis or license or whatever was and the other part we didn't get to it.
No, there were I left because I left because >> I know this was not discussed. >> So it was not on the agenda because the resolution had not been prepared. It was discussed but the resolution had not been prepared which is why it did not appear. >> Okay. So so so let me let me say this 36
and 37. All right. I will move it recommendation to move it back to committee. Okay. and have the owners of L this 24 owner LLC to come and present us their plan with that project there.
>> So it was presented before the manager director um um is in my ward. Okay. I know that um that in the past this was under blue onyx um doesn't matter >> the beach fail and all this stuff fail.
Now we don't have no beach, you know, in summer and all that stuff. They were looking to entertain a restaurant with liquid license in there. The resident was concerned in that time. Now they pitching for affordable housing. Okay.
And to give respect to this council, especially me, I would like to listen from them. What is the real plan? What is going to be in paper? Um because based on the history of people asking for support of letters uh uh for project
like this they come they construct go find out how much is the rent in that place that we just approved for grandparent raising grandchildren. Okay 2500 up that's affordable.
>> No that's not affordable. So madam madam madam director with all your respect. Okay. You presenting, you're not lobbying a resolution draft by your office requested to legal. Whatever they ask in here, I want to hear it from the
owners of this LLC. I want to hear it directly that we go ask some question. What's how they going to get compromised to us after we give them this letter? It could say a lot of things in this paper, but at the end when the project is finished, even talking about the Riverwalk,
doing something to the Riverwalk, it sounds like Riverwalk, >> you know, but um >> thank thank you. >> I'm talking about 4% of tax, federal tax, all that stuff. You know, I not I don't feel comfortable to move forward
into this. I I I would recommend that go back to committee, do a presentation from the owner or have them come here in a workshop and present their plan with this that >> Thank you, Councilman Bless. Councilman um um Councilman Jackson and then the chair of economic committee where they
had a meeting already. Councilman Jackson first, please. >> Well, I mean I'll yield to the chair if he has some insight. >> Yes, Councilman. >> Councilman Khalik, please. Councilman Valz, you were president at the meeting. We we then you uh you had
to leave as you can recall. We discussed the U 5-year plan also the share service agreement with the county county BA and uh couple of his members was there. It was a long meeting. Uh after you left we
briefly discussed this item. This is a amended um resolution. Correct. >> We did gave them a letter of support previously for I believe 174 or 170 units. >> Correct.
>> Now they have amended the whole plan and now we stand at 194 units. you went in front of the planning board and you was approved and this they just need a letter of support so they could go to the state or some other entities to get
their uh funding. Correct. That's the only thing we're doing. We are giving them a letter of support for this project and it is 100% senior affordable housing community uh age 55 and older. We always talk about
affordability, affordable housing that we need in our city. We do have a project right here. Um hopefully we could move it forward to give them a letter of support. >> Um that's that's that's what I have to
say about this. >> Councilman Councilman Jackson then Councilman Mendes. >> Thank you, Council President. So before I ask the director question, since the chair has is so insightful, what's the what's the rate for what's the
affordableility rate? How much are they how much are these apartments going to be put in the market for >> 100%. >> I'm not I'm not aware of the exact pricing. Maybe um >> No, I'm asking you. You you you just said
>> I'm not I'm not here to answer you. Okay. our our our director in here. She probably knows. >> She probably knows. >> So, first of all, the calculation is based off of the HUD area median income levels.
>> So, there's a range. So, it falls within a range based on what's happening in the county and that is applied specifically to the project. The reason they need the letter of support, it's because they have funding. They're just subsidies that support the affordable housing.
That's why. >> That's right. So, so council president. >> No, you don't. >> No, no. Um, >> so director >> Oh, he got the floor. Okay. >> First of all, this affordability rate that we're talking about is far too high for our community. I know I I wouldn't
and I'm not going to to put you in this line of questioning because I'm sure you get zero calls for people who are being who are utiliz who are losing their housing. When I was on my way here, I had to make sure there's a young lady who's been
illegally evicted from an afford from an affordable unit, you know, who people are having very extreme difficulties in paying their rent. The towers, it's affordable. I have people who are being taken to court for $30,000 in back rent
supposedly, and they're they're they're illegally evicting people. What is the the fail safes? like there should be some ceilings based on this. Um, they're looking for our letter of support. And let me let me make this clear. Let me clear this up. I don't even speak to
council member. >> We if we cross in the hallway, I won't raise my head to say what's up. I do not we we are on totally two totally different wavelengths. But it's not going to prevent me from acknowledging when he's absolutely correct.
When Royman, who is making a killing off of our community and pimping our residents, he came here every single time he was expecting a letter of support. Not only did he come here, he also came here with the director of PHA
and they presented to us of which I outlined to all of my colleagues. This is these are bad deals. the Fifth Avenue project. He came here and said, "Councilman Jackson, you'll be happy to hear this. This is my last project." Yeah. Because he done raked the city
over the coals. Now we have another developer, which you know, he should be here. He's expecting our support. And and I'm not saying you're lobbying him for him because the economic the previous economic de development director was here because it is
something that the administration is bringing forward. You guys are in support of it. But every single other item that was brought before this council that has received the letter of support is not rendering what is supposed to be outlined as affordable
housing. It's not. And that's just I can go line by line. I just wrote a letter to the congresswoman today and getting her support so that representatives from HUD could come and do an audit on these derelic landlords that are coming in
here hatinand making their expression as if they're doing us a favor and helping with our lack of inventory and they're coming in here simply to make a dollar. Now, I don't have any any quarum with anyone making a fair dollar in exchange,
but again, in the case of the towers where they're doing $1.2 million a year in revenue and they have an enormous amount of evictions going on, where they're where their management is not meaningable to the to the comm community
circumstances where I have single mothers sleeping in cars with their children. this this developer needs to be here before the council and outlining how much of these units just to say generalize oh it's going to be whatever
the that that rate that rate is not affordable I would like to see the the financial projections I would like to see their their because uh is this application requesting a pilot as well >> so no as part of their so this is actually all going to be state
subsidized so you're talking about using um NJHMFA as well as NJEDA through the Aspire program which requires it's mandatory that they have affordable housing built in. So these are again state funded programs that support
affordable housing initiatives based off of HUD's criteria in terms of what is deemed um affordable housing. It goes by a calculation that's comprised of looking at the entire county which is Poseic and that's how the calculation is
based. >> So this these units are going to be fully subsidized. >> It'll be fully subsidized. Wow. >> It's an affordable housing developer. That's their expertise. >> Okay. Which we have a we have a housing developer in our own community that has the same expertise. They may not be
exercising it. They fa they're failing our community, but the PHA is our housing developer. We should be partnering with the Patterson Housing Authority where the revenue that this developer is going to potentially be making could be recycled back into the
community, back into our budget, back where we're hurting and, you know, looking for um some some level of uh of of of recourse here for our for our taxpayers. The fact of the matter is this developer is going to be able to make a great amount of money. Just
because it's being subsidized by the state, it doesn't mean there's no level of accountability to our to us. And this council is supposed to be responsible and holding everybody accountable. He's going to be, you know, buying yachts and flying on private jets and things of
that nature based on projects like this. We should understand what the financials look like. We should be a Is there is there financial projections in the package? >> There are performer that has been um supplied. I don't have it before me, but I can tell you it's a $111 million
project of which I believe 55 million is coming from EDA. The other 35 >> $111 million >> $111 million. 31.9 million is coming from HMFA. An additional 54 million would come from
NJA and the rest is being provided through financial institutions. Wait, 54 million is coming from from from EDA and 29 is coming from HMA >> 31.9 >> 31. So let's just say 32
>> and it's 111, >> right? And I said the additional funding would come from financial institutions. They have private funders. >> Private funders for the 25 million. So they put up the difference. >> Okay. And there's uh you said $111 million, right?
Oh man. And there's 190 how many units? >> 194. There's also commercial aspects to the >> $572,000 per unit. >> You're not including the retail space and all the other added amenities.
>> So So what? $72,000 per for for cuz because when you build out >> affordable housing projects are naturally expensive given the number of subsidies that you have to use in order to make the project. How much is the developer's fee? >> So the developer's fee is under 10%.
>> If you're interested in the project perform, I can provide that to the council. >> Thank you. >> So, so, >> so the developers fee, okay, they getting all this free money from HMFA, from HUD, etc. They're going out
to the market for $25 million in funding. They're walking away with almost more than close to 50% of what they're going out to the market for in developers fees. And who's the who who's the uh projected uh contractor on the on the on the on the job?
>> So the sub you're talking about the subcontractor >> the contractor. >> So I can get whatever information is being requested. If you want the contractor's information, the proforma of the project, if you want the individuals to come before either council or through committee to do
agree, I think this needs to go back. They were at the planning board and they did the same. So, you know, I know that uh yeah, I think this needs to go back before committee 500 $500,000 per unit. >> You know, it's very simple. Hey Siri,
what's the average per unit bill cost in the state in New York? Do you want me to use chat GP? >> Sure. Use chat GPT. >> I use it every time. >> Here's an answer from Chat GPT.
>> Hey Chad, whound Okay. 142,000 $142,000 per unit. It's not very simp like I don't understand all these places that we're building. Listen, >> but is I don't know what the quality
looks like for that 100,000. I >> Wait a minute. But that's But that's the point. That's the point. >> We allowed Royceman, Israel Royceman. >> I can't speak to Royceman. I've never >> Okay. So that's why moving forward, we got to be responsible. We can't just let just because you're on the you're the
face of it that they're bringing forward doesn't mean the developer is going to be responsible to the city. Those piece of craps that he built over there have fallen apart. And now we gave him 400 plus thousand dollars per unit to do a
rehab and they're worse than they were when he built them. So I mean we gota >> So part of my line of questioning when I meet with developers is to show me your portfolio of work. That way I have something to gauge whether the quality is subpar or above you know is a decent
level. They provided their portfolio. We were able to see the quality of their work. They received awards for their work in New York. Director, with all due respect, I mean, >> you have every right to meet with the developer if that is your wish. >> We have a projector right here. We have
we this in the past, this is how it's worked. I mean, I know that this mayor has gotten away with murder. Like the when when Councilman McCoy and Councilman Morris left this council, it it is is full disarray. We there's been
no accountability to people that's coming in here. You're going to come into my community. You're going to build a $110 million project. You're going to walk away with more than $10 million. The moment you sign the contract, you get a guaranteed $10 million 10 plus
million in your pocket. Then you go and price out the units at at $574,000. >> Based off a calculation you use through chat GBT, >> Madam Director, I'm very familiar. I just built a two family house on North Fourth Street not that long ago. Cost me
less than $90,000 per unit. And it's and I use all quality materials, granite countertops in every kitchen, and every bathroom and all those units that's being built. Do we have projected is it granite that's being put in here? Are we getting granite count? Are we going to have rain showerheads, heated floors in
the B in the showers? Cuz that's what I that's what I did for 90,000. So, I know I know what it costs to do this in in New York City. In New York City, the average bill cost is like $375,000 per unit. In Dubai, it's $400 plus,000 a
unit. That's not chat GP. You're talking about me doing research building that requires certain materials, including on the exterior, the finishes. So, and again, we're comparing apples to oranges. You could tell that to you could tell that to a novice, but I have more experience in in
this area just because we're talking about they're not utilizing any historic preservation materials in the interior of the spaces and there'll probably be little to nothing going on in the exterior because they're they're they're not going to be allowed. Maybe the window treatment, that's probably the
most expensive thing. Maybe some cobblestone uh uh walkways and things of that nature. But I mean, these are the things that we should have read readily available. It should be presented to us. They should be before us. There should be a line of questioning to anybody that's going to come here. Listen, I
can't find there's not one not one developer that's come in here and that's gotten certain provisions. Not Penrose, not uh uh the one uh uh Royceman, none of them. I have tenants calling me from from from the old Alabama area which is
um u heritage where there's mold that's blowing coming out of the um the the vents. There's been so many different complaints. We have the the the the line of checks and balances has to start right here. We if we're not going to hold them accountable from the start,
then then we're just we're just setting our own residents up for for abuse while somebody's making money. Quick case in point, right next door, 13 and a half. If you go back and you look at their their agreement with the city, they are
supposed to provide 24-hour sec security for the duration of their contract. They haven't done it in years. When that building was first built, when we allowed them to re renovate that historically historic site, they had police officers, offduty police officers
that worked that that that that uh that detail. I'm not sure if he was here that long. They haven't done it in 2530 years, but it's still in the agreement. It's still in the agreement. So, it's if it's not in the agreement, if they're abusing us for the ones that it's in the
agreement, what do we think these these guys are going to do that that we don't force them to do? We should have >> ceilings placed on. >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry. That's an enforcement issue, but >> but it's an administrative issue matter that's being presented by the
administration without any >> All right, never mind. I >> President um first of all, Madam Clerk, these two items will be on regular. >> Council President, >> Councilman Mendes, Councilman um and then Council Motton, but these items both will be on regular. Thank you, Madam Clerk.
>> Thank you, Council President. Uh, director, I I think that and and we have a lot of a lot of question on the floor. Um, you know, legitimate question on the floor. This is a very uh ambitious project, 194 units, which I'm in full support. Let me say let me say this in
the beginning. I'm in full support. Uh, senior, we always complain that we don't have enough affordable housing in the city. So, we got to make up our mind what are we doing. So that we don't have enough affordable housing and we expecting private developer to build property to build project as affordable
housing. Private developer they not building uh apartment to be affordable. They're they're in the real estate business now in the market rate when we now we have an opportunity to have 100 um 194 units. Uh but let's do it right
and 55 and off. I mean that's really needed in our community. We all know that. But first of all, director, this definitely need a presentation to educate our community, which is a because it's a major project, very beneficial and very needed. So, I'm definitely requesting and and we're not
late for that. We should have a presentation and bringing the developer here to inform the community about what are we doing because this is something great. This is a great news, but we got to do it right. We definitely have to do it right. And when Councilman Jackson talk about the type of material, those
are all legit legitimate question. They have answer. They have they have answer. I'm expecting to have this presentation. I'm looking forward to to voting support, but please give us all the information. Give us every every question that we have. Take note and give it to the council members to make
sure that they uh make an informed decision. Uh because this is really needed in our community. I don't think that we have to push this back. We just have to get the information. the projectors there, bring the developer in front of us, talk about this project because this is something needed in our
community and it's something great. But we when when we come to contracting agreement, we got to be mindful. We got to be very careful. some uh company developer once they finish they hire the the management company and the management company they start dropping
the ball like Heritage Place they promised 24/7 security for that project and then they went down to 24 hours a week and now I don't know how many hours they have on on security on Heritage Place and it's not the city responsibility it's the management company it's the developer
responsibility when it come to maintenance that's is that's not that's not us the problem is that once We sign the contract and we let them build the project. They do whatever they want. That's an enforcement problem. Uh we have a lot of those management company >> but they start dropping the ball. So the
city have to hold them accountable. I don't I'm not you cannot blame me because this is a phenomenal project. I say yes and I approve it. And after that they have a management company that start just breaking the contract and everywhere form. That's that's an enforcement piece. So I I I hope to see
a presentation of this project uh because we need affordable housing. And just to educate our community when they say on the situ that they expecting to re they requesting 4% federal low-income housing tax credit uh for the New Jersey housing and mortgage finance agency. Can
you elaborate a little bit for the community what this means in term of money in the on the project? um in terms of value and well in terms of money it's $31 million that would come from that um fund to support the project. So that
would you know again the cost of the project is very expensive. It's $und00 million that would be a portion of the funding um that would support the project and again it meets the requirements of the um of the affordable
housing trust which is why you know they're going after those dollars. Correct. Correct. And the last question that I have, so this project is affordable, but it's going to be based on income for the senior or >> it's age restricted. So any individual 55 years or older, income eligible would
be allowed to um to rent there. Yes. >> So it's going to be based on income. >> Correct. >> Okay. So that's another extremely important information for our community. You know, when a project is based on all those details, >> it's important that we know, but it's important that that the public knows well because this is going to be very
attractive for everybody. Housing is a problem. We have a crisis here in housing. Um, thank you, uh, Council, but I'm expecting that the presentation director help. Thank you, Councilman Mendes. Councilman Veles. >> Thank you, Council President. Affordable housing versus
lowincome housing. That's how I see it. Affordable housing, low income. I'm looking at the description of what they doing here and I know we pitching 55 up.
I'm 58. 55 up. and they pitching like say we need affordable housing for seniors but then you say 55 up that's is the federal law now they include seniors a
AARP 55 you know up I'm 58 so when we when we talk about affordable housing that's why we doing every private developer are doing that every day affordable housing. What I want is
lowincome housing. It's totally different, lowincome housing. And when I see the description here about what they want to do, they want to do a theater, they want to do business,
they want to do other a mixeduse property. >> It's a mixeduse property. >> They they that's why it says here >> it is. Yeah. >> Yeah. I know. Yeah. How many seniors from se 65 up 70 has got to have peace there right we look in
places that our really seniors right seniors when I see seniors and I'm 58 time once again >> when we look at seniors 60 70 probably they want to live in a quiet peaceful
place that area the residents in that area are real demanding about quality of life. >> When they did that presentation, Were you working for the city at that time? No, it was Mike Powell. >> Right. >> Right. But you knew Onyx way before this presentation, correct? Familiar
>> with Yeah. Right. You fan of them, right? >> No. No. Yes. Let's be honest. >> No. Now you're exaggerating. >> They sell it to you. They went to your office. They spoke to you about the project. And that's why you presenting. You're not lobbying. You're presenting.
I'm presenting a project that would be beneficial to the residents of this community. >> I don't feel comfortable I don't feel comfortable of the introduction that you given tonight regarding this project. Once again, I will not send council
councilman Jackson, I don't know if you agree with me on this, but I will not send it back to committee. I want them to come and address the whole entire count council. You know why? Councilman Jackson just stay >> we gonna make
>> we gonna make Councilman Mendes just stated that we gonna make them accountable and responsible. The the city have to make them accountable and responsible. I want to make them me as a councilman accountable and responsible.
Us me as a well let me say me. But if we send this for committee >> you're only going to speak to four people only. and and this is a decision that we going to take as a council as a whole and to give the same respect that the other
companies that were looking for this type of support came here. Okay, I understand that they went in front of the board. They approved through the board whatever and I respect the decision of the board but now they're looking for a letter of support
for finance. They should come here, bring those beautiful pictures and trust me, are they going to knock down that building? >> No. >> No. So, >> it's an adaptive reuse. >> Oh, so when they say new construction here, they say here >> they're add is an addition. They're add
is >> they're remodeling the building. Yes. >> So, it's not a new construction because for me the the whole walls are old. The historic preservation had a big deal with that building with onyx. They didn't want to do this. went out to preserve the uh the historic building.
Now, new construction, >> it still meets the historic preservation guidelines. It has been approved by the historic preservation um director. So, Council President, I know I know you probably I know you probably want to leave this in a regular uh to give the
benefit to the owner of this LLC to the same way that they presented to the board uh for approval for their project and amendment or whatever they did. They went there in front of the board. They presented beautiful picture. They say, "Where's the pool? Where's the theater?
or the the the ramp to go to the river walk or whatever over there by the they should come here in a workshop and present it to us. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> We're not going to give another blank check. >> Thank you. These items will be on regular. Thank you, director. >> So, you're not going to take my recommendations
next. >> Do we have do we have council president? Do we have in the regular to let let him come here and present us this? >> Thank you. Thank you, council member. Councilwoman Cotton, >> I'm sorry. director, if you may. Um um I know it's only a letter of support now.
Is is it two separate projects or is it one project? >> No, it's one project, two separate resolutions of support that are needed to they're two different applications. One is to NJA, the other is to NJHMFA. >> Oh, it's it's so it's going to two different >> requires their own separate resolution
of support. >> Right. So So actually they're asking for money from two separate entities um um to to build this project. Now once we do this resolution and we give the letter of support, it's just a matter of the NJ
the HMFA if they're going to approve it. >> Yeah. So it gets submitted, right? It gets submitted to the state, they review, but there's already been conversations because there was initial application that was submitted based on the prior approval. Again, we're just amending the number of units and that's
going back to the state, >> right? So once we um once we do um um once we do a letter of support um I guess the H the HMFA and then you have the uh economic development uh I think
it's called FEA >> the EDA EDA uh economic um to see if they're going to approve the project. The only thing and I want to make sure I just want to make sure that everyone hears me out there. If even this company
here is going down to those two departments to try to get funding for affordable housing, um I have written HUD many times about affordable because affordable in certain areas are different than other areas.
And so you really need to get on board um for affordable like you you know you need HUD need to sometimes I find that um I had a situation on Cal Street where it took two years to get a house taken back from there was a HUD house. I call
them HUD house meaning the landlord is getting money directly from the federal government >> to subsidize the rent. So it took like almost two years where they went from project based to tenant based >> meaning each tenant then got that money and then now they can go anywhere. Now I
hear I hear what um uh Councilman Jackson says about people being evicted and but I say to you the only one listen people out there the only one that can convict you is a judge. They have to sign off. A landlord
can't just come up to your door and throw you out your apartment. So, it has to be clear. And we have a lady, and I use her every single day across the street, 125, Chanel. I use her every day to fight with landlords who are doing
illegal things to tennis and and and and have them to go to 77 Hamilton Street before a judge to say, "No, no, you can't just throw people out. You can't put no lock on no door." So, um, let me just make it one point clear, too. And
we're just doing a letter of support, um, for this project. It's just a letter of support. These cities are watching us. And these cities are waiting for us not to do this cuz they in line >> to go after this money. >> I want to make it clear.
>> They're looking at us right now and they're waiting because soon as we don't agree to this, just a support letter, that's all it is. This is what they're asking this company to do. There's some cities out there waiting to come in here. >> Thank you, director. >> Thank you.
>> So, thank you. Thank you, director. Uh, Councilman Jackson, >> Councilwoman Cotton, just I beg to differ. The Mount Laurel agreement. No other city. What other city you see development going on the way you see it going on here in Patterson? Name other
other city. I go drive by >> and none not one of those cities is allowing themselves to be abused. Not Trenton, not North, not Camden, not not one of those cities is allowing themselves to be abused the way Patterson has been abused over the last
10 years. The amount of discre and then oh now we got this next item to come forward. Listen, just today I'm on the phone with the chief as he has to charge a a landlord for illegally discarding of
a young woman's property just today. So, this is not this is a common thing in Patterson where people are being evicted. Everybody knows that that you have to be evicted by a judge. That's not the point. The point that we're talking about here is affordability.
The point that we're talking about is profit sharing. When we bring in developers, we should they we should force them to have the profit share with the community. We should be looking at their projections and if they're making millions of dollars, we first of all,
he's getting he's getting a major concession. Almost 75% of his project is not even his money. It's it's it's government money that he's using to then come back in here and then abuse the the the people who who
who need the most protection from for and this council. This is where our job is. First of all, even with our appointments and the housing authority, housing authority has totally dropped the dropped the ball when it comes to providing. That's where affordable
housing is supposed to come from. We're allowing for all of these developers to come in here, utilize all the funding, the outside funding, the state funding, the free money, and then they're making a great deal of money off of it. But anyway, anyway,
>> thank you, Councilman Jack. So, as I stated, Madam Clerk, these two items will be on regular. Um, Health and Human Services, if you'll come up. I just want to put this on the record. Two weeks ago, we had two letters of support that was not totally affordable
housing. There was no questioning. Nobody said a word. They didn't qu >> We just voted on it to at the last meeting. No one said it. It just amazes me and I don't mind lines of questioning. But two letter of support
and those items were not what I get calls and I think every council member gets called for people that are looking for affordable housing. That is a very great point of contention in the community. It just amazes me two weeks ago and I want I'm going to ask the council people to go back to your a
items of agenda that you approved. This council approved it. You didn't say one word. You didn't ask a question. You didn't say you didn't say anything. And I'm not saying don't ask questions, but please to our uh madam clerk or secretary, please send those items to all council
members. We have to make sure if this is the concern about letters of support for these type of projects, please send that out so we can question all of these entities. Not this one or that one. We got to question everybody cuz it just went it was just on the agenda just last when we approved it last year.
>> It was $110 million project. >> It was more than that. >> What project? >> It was more than that and we approved it. >> You talking about >> Well, you'll get it. I >> What's the title? What's the title of that one? >> I I'll make sure the club sends it to everybody. >> No, no. I want to do it in public because I I don't recall that we >> Well, Councilman, it just was done. So,
um to our director, she's shock shaking her head. Um director, please send that information out. That is not on the agenda, but I want you to send it out. >> She will do that. Um items that we're talking about now is item 23 and item number 30. Council >> President,
>> director Council President, >> director, let's let's set the Let's Let's set the record clear. I believe that project was >> to support that we needed >> and the and and the and the private developer was going to put the money.
>> So, congrats. >> Okay. >> No, not asking not not asking for not asking for $110 million >> to to to the state or whatever and then come back >> and then let me let me tell you what's going to happen. 200 votes.
>> I seen it another project in the fifth ward in the river se section of the riverside um on the grrey falls. This motivate me. Oh, the director left the the director. This motivate me to review back all those supporter letters
and the project that was finished to see how many seniors are in the department, how much they have vouchers from section A and how much of those apartments are market rent. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank Thank you. >> I I I will be curious to see.
>> Thank you, council. >> Even the parking authorities getting uh the benefit for the parking. Um I I want to see now now they promoting another another building for veterans. Okay. And I agreed the title for veterans but
after this it's constructed they using the word affordable or low income and and and it'll match when they go and rent. And not only that, the requirement of it, the requirement of it, if your income is lower or up, you know, I don't
see the benefit on, you know, we giving the letter just to satisfy them. I know is election time. >> Okay. And people want to be friends, but we want to do the right thing. director now that and and council president to give the benefit of the doubt to see if
this individual comes here and presented and give it the respect that they he gave to the board to get the pro approval of this of this project to come here and present it in front of us. I know you got the votes, but I just want to make my loud and clear that it's
disrespectful that individual looking for support for their project don't even come here had to use a director to present the intent to invest in a project. >> Thank you, Council Member Les. Um, director, items 23 and 30, and I'm
really excited about item 30. We've been talking about the smoke shops and the ordinance to put some parameters in place. So, let's talk about 23 first and then we'll go into uh sponsored by councilwoman uh council vice president Davin and myself, the smoke shop
ordinance. So, let's do 23 first and then we'll do um item 23 to regulate the smoke shops in the city of Patterson. Director, >> item number 23 is a resolution authorizing the first amendment to theou with the cities for financial empowerment. As this honorable council knows, we are the only financial
empowerment center in the state of New Jersey. Uh thisou amendment is for us to now start offering legacy planning. uh the CFE because of the performance of our financial empowerment center offered us the opportunity to start offering
that this and they are giving us $50,000 so that we can start implementing financial uh legacy planning which is assisting individuals Patterson residents to get their assets ready um as they are getting older medical
proxies wills powers of attorneys Thank you. >> No, no, no. >> Councilman Jackson, >> I apologize, director. I didn't hear nothing you said. I didn't hear anything you said, but but nothing here is going on consent.
>> Listen, and you're going to take the grunt of this. I'm sorry. >> 777 Carter Highway. This is not for you, >> okay? It's going to go through you to the public. You're the pass through.
Brother Keys, 777 Marta Highway. A brand new build from ground up. Parking, retail, Shaquille O'Neal's the partner, 777
Marta Highway. Uh cuz I mean I guess you shouldn't be using chat GBT. 30 33 stories. 33 stories, right? Let's just say on average if they had 10 units per story,
right? Over 300 units. $190 million, right? For luxury luxury apartments. We talking about 111 million dollars for a refurbished old factory building,
>> right? >> Refurbishing a old factory building for 190 something units. You can't make this up. I apologize, director. And and and I'm upset that she left, but
she'll get that, I guess, on the replay. Can you please repeat what you what you talking about? Item 23 is a resolution authorizing the first amendment to theou the cities for financial empowerment. As you know, we have a partnership with the nonprofit
with the NJCDC where we host a financial empowerment center. We're the only one in the state of New Jersey. When it first started in 2021, we were giving seed money, $250,000. This is an amendment where they're giving us an additional 50,000 so we can now offer legacy planning which is uh as
I mentioned medical proxies, wills, powers of attorneys, and helping residents of Patterson get their assets together, their life insurance beneficiaries updated. Uh power of attorneys at the bank updated. Um some don't have any of that. So they will
expertly guide residents on how to get all of these affairs in order. So, how how much of the 250,000 that was given to us previously has been expended? >> All of it. >> We've exhausted all of it. >> This is our second nonprofit. So, all of
the money goes through the to the nonprofit so that they pay for salaries and benefits. And >> where's the reports of the individuals that we helped? >> We have reports. Yes, we can I can submit you to >> Are they here?
>> I have I have a copy of I would give it to Madam Clerk. She'll give you the year-to- date. Um, some data points. We've helped individuals reduce their debt by 1.3 million in the last year. Year year to date as of today. You can
you can make copies. I'm sorry. >> You only got one copy. >> Last year we had one copy, director. >> I'm sorry. >> You only had one copy. >> I'm sorry. I brought these from my notes, but I will I'll the clerk can provide you copies. >> Copies. Okay. See, >> so far this year, we have exceeded the
goal that the CF has established for the uh financial empowerment center. Uh 161% of the goal. Their goal is 500 people. We've served at this point 805 individuals. Year to date,
>> 805 individuals. What What have we done for those 805 individuals? >> We've helped them establish credit. We've helped them reduce debt. We've help helped them uh obtain mortgages. We've helped them get out of bad debt. >> Everything that the financial empire
>> How many mortgages have we helped obtain >> from this program about five individuals have obtained homes? >> 500 individuals we've helped >> five individuals >> of five individuals. >> We've helped them obtain mortgages. >> Correct.
>> And uh how did we do that? We help them establish credit or build their credit, build their savings, get rid of bad debt, and then we connect them with programs through banks or um other financial institutions that offer
first-time home buyer opportunities so that they can then purchase a home. >> So, out of 800 recipients of this help service, we've helped >> this year 805. Yes, >> I'm 805. this year so far. Yes. >> This year we we have and the the five
mortgages that we've helped with. That's this year as well. That's the duration. >> That's in the last two years. >> Last two years. Where where's this data at, though? I want to see the data. I want to see the individuals that we've helped. I honestly, director, >> it's really not you. I I would say I
have about a pretty high percentage of trust in your uh in your performance and you've been very helpful but I have limited the only reason that I could look to the right right now is because Mr. Salees who's very well respected but
other than that there's zero confidence and the mayor who just made another robocall today which by the way Mr. I still have not been shown how we're paying for all these robocalls. Where's that money coming from? I mean, we're
making robocalls and we're we're making statements of success that are just really >> so falsehoods. >> I will tell you that for the financial empowerment, this is fact checked by CF. The This is CF's big brother. I don't
trust them either. I want to see it for myself. >> Well, they're the ones who fund it and they they say we're the top five in the country. When I went to the state of a of a city address at at the NJ pack, >> you know what he did? He pulled all those recipients up on stage with him.
>> All the recipients so we could see them. We're hiding it. We want to redact information. We're put we're putting numbers up, right, that don't have any face or any, >> you know, correlation to physical family value. >> There is a confidentiality agreement.
Individuals must authorize us to put their information forward. So the individuals that we can share their stories, we have shared their stories at the recent gala for NJC not a public document. We go into close session all the time to share confidential
information. Sharing it with the body. >> Part of our agreement with CF is there is a confidentiality clause. We can't, for example, when we did our guaranteed income program, we could not contact the individuals from this program directly with guaranteed income information.
>> This is not guaranteed income. >> I'm just giving you an example that I cannot just give you >> an example of something that's unrelated. >> This is a program that individuals are coming to >> a a physical location. Mhm.
>> You're telling me that that all these individuals that registered with this program, no one in in the administration has their information. >> The information is is kept through a software programs. We can pull reports with the nonprofit, the NJC. The software that we use, this is part of
theou with CF. It is proprietary to CF. We can we can give you how many people what the reduction of debt was, how many accounts were opened, how many people reduced their debt, how many people bought homes, but
>> in that order and just general numbers. We cannot give you specific to individuals. I >> just at theCC ga two weeks ago, >> I honestly I mean I don't I want to see I want to I want to be I'm a tangible person. I need to be able to see it, >> feel it,
>> and I want to know, you know, I mean, I listen, >> never mind. I I mean, I trust your your your um your perspective director, but I need to see this stuff. I need to see the impact. Like, >> I'd be more than happy to schedule tour
individuals. And you know, just to be clear, this this this same person that you've been helping for quite some time who's been illegally evicted. >> I mean, she would be a perfect recipient for somebody to say, "Hey, you know what? We we're grant funded. Why don't I
lend some assistance? You know, you have you you've lost everything. No car, no um ex, etc. We're we're we're trying to make sure that you you know, your life can go in the right direction." I mean, I've had what, maybe half a dozen calls
with you just this month alone. So, we have >> The first step would get to get that individualized hous >> that individual needs to be stably housed first and then she can take advantage of these programs. But you you need a roof over your head so that you can then put all your other affairs in
order. Council >> President, >> I understand that, director. My point that I'm the point that I'm making is we have individuals that are in need. Mhm. >> that are asking and I see them but I don't we I don't know >> who's being serve who's actually
benefiting >> they have to go >> this even even from a standpoint of bringing them forward to congratulate their success in completing a pro the program >> right >> anyway I I got >> we have an individual that came through the program and opened a business in the
first ward Kirsty Bayas I can actually we take you to her laundry man the first w president I have first her wasn't wasn't confident. >> She She has forward. She was just honored at the NJC gala. >> Yes, >> Council President. >> And she's given us permission to share
her story. Yes, >> she has to sign. >> She made a waiver. >> She has given us permission to share her story. >> All right. >> This item is going to go on regular. Councilman, uh, Council Vice President, it will go on regular, madam, >> director. >> Yes, sir. >> Uh, thank you for your service like
always. Um, so this data that you gave us here, >> right? Yeah. >> Um, this is only one year. >> That sheet you just pointed out was the last report two weeks ago, which >> two weeks ago >> which the program manager sent out to
the mayor and myself. >> You just stated that since the program had been open 805 clients have been >> No, sir. This year, year to date, 805 individuals have been served for 2025 year to date. >> So, they don't consider clients.
Well, >> individuals, >> we call them individuals, right? Yes. >> So, this year between since the program opened 805, right? >> Yes. >> Um, >> and the program opened in 2023,
22, 23. >> In 2021, it was launched with the United Way of Pose County. >> Correct. >> When I came on board, we did an RFP again and we awarded it to NJCDC. and JCDC and and only five people have obtained
like you say um home ownership, right? Um I see here in your data that Mayor Andrew referred 12 are those five are from that 12 that he refer >> no sir. >> Oh no, that's a valid question you know
because you have 63 63 clients. I'm using the same word you say. We keep track of the mayor's referrals on that report for reporting purposes. But >> what was that? >> We keep track of the mayor's referrals on that report. >> Correct. >> Just for tracking purposes. >> You say you cannot disclose um no
personal information and I respect that. Uh but can you give me a a report of for example egnacy uh for example age range >> we have demographic breakdown. Yes.
>> Okay. Yes. And for example from that amount of people comes how many come from the first ward, second ward, third ward, fourth war, fifth ward. >> We may not break by addresses we we may not be able to. >> So can you speak to it and it will
>> the software is not owned by the city is owned by the CF. They don't it's Patterson residents. >> Okay. So it's Patterson resident >> 100%. >> 100%. So can you can you give me the age range? How many you we can get all all those you know but you cannot give me
the war part but you know that the person that >> uh give you permission to talk about >> uh his testimony come from the first word. >> Yes. >> Okay. But you cannot give me a range uh >> when the data is input and individuals file an application they do not put it
in by wards. It's put in by act. How many how many people how many people the mayor reclude or or or attract and let me say this the other day they was given bags of food um um um on the road and
there was two cones a line of cars and I served the mayor giving the empowerment empowerment center car to to to participate and it's hard you go into struggle you don't have food in your home you don't know where you're going it's cold whatever but the mayor instead
of giving a a debit card is given a letter a card to say empower yourself financially. In other words, a slap in the face. You should not be here. You should empower yourself financially. Uh >> but that's the message that really No,
hold on. This is me looking at the situation observation and and and people saying to him, >> what is this? I'm struggling and you telling me to go empower myself. And they use you know what they did? They throw the car back.
They had to make sure when when time's sensitive and things are bad in the city, they need to learn when to go and promote things because you slapping in the face, they almost drowning here. Instead of giving a rope to come out, here's a car for you could go, okay,
>> and and empower yourself financially. It's like no match, right? And people looking for food or whatever. Instead of giving a debit card here, empower yourself with this debit card and and after you leave here big with this tool back, go to a supermarket. >> Thank
>> uh council president. Um um you know it's like >> okay >> okay what? >> Okay. No, so it's okay to say okay to everything. This is the problem that the city of Patterson has right now.
When you start bringing out things that you that you get sick and tired to be sick and tired, right? And then you start saying things now hold on Louisville, we have to stop him. Control that guy. He's crazy. He don't know what he talking about. And then the mayor
don't use himself. He sent people to stop me. And I'm not going to stop. I'm not going to stop. And when you think I'm a far right >> Oh god. Okay. Think that are not making
sense. People looking out there who's not making sense. >> So, thank you, Council President. Thank you, director. >> Thank Thank you. Um, we're going to go to your next item. Council uh vice president, please. Let's go to smoke shops. >> Thank you so much. Uh, council
president, uh, I have not spoken all night, and I hope that the clerk did share that I was in the hospital. So that is why I came late today. Uh first I want to start by thanking you director
uh the work that you're doing. Um and I've been witness myself. I get the same phone phone calls as Councilman Jackson and uh you pick up, you answer, and you provide resources that are
available for our uh constituency. When it comes to this item, I would think that someone would say how great it is to be able to empower people. That's what we're supposed to do. We need to show people how to fish,
not give them the fish. Let's show people how to fish. So something like this I I so look forward to it because it was a program like this and it was an individual who said let me help you empower you to fix your credit to be
able to do things. These programs work to question and to say people are hungry and tossing cards that is someone that unfortunately really is not thinking about the future is someone that for right now they just want instant gratification.
Okay. So, that is why I wanted to speak, council president, because these programs work. I do understand what Councilman Jackson is requesting, right? But I also understand the other side that the only time that someone that you can mention someone's name or highlight is if they give that permission and that
waiver to do so. There are people that don't there are people that don't want to say that they had a 500 credit score, >> okay? And that it took them unfair and that they were, you know, 80 100,000 200,000 in debt. But there are people that say, "You know what? I got out of it, so I'm going to be your poster
person." So again, you want to make this about the mayor. This is not about the mayor. Unfortunately, or fortunately, however you want to put it, it's under his leadership. And yes, the mayor goes everywhere with his little stack everywhere he goes talking about this and giving these flyers out and giving
cards. That's what we're supposed to do. So when there's a young lady who is in need, right, we are the resource. We are supposed to say, "Here, you know what? let's get you to someone to talk. If the person says yes, great. If they don't, that's okay, too. That's that's on the
individual. So, I just wanted to say those few words. And I also just wanted to say, council president. I know I got here late. I don't know if there was any congratulations, but I just want to say thank you, Patterson. >> Thank you, Patterson. I got the numbers here. >> Not yet. We'll do that in a minute.
>> I got the numbers here. No, I'm not going to go over. I just wanted to say thank you, Patterson. Thank you, New Jersey. Thank you, >> Council Person. >> Can you do your smoke shop? Oh, Councilman Wooden. >> Yes, we're going to do the >> Yes, the second item. >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. Councilman, >> is it my floor? Council person. All
right. Thank you very much. So, uh, director, thank you for uh being here and uh let me just uh let me just take you back. It's about a year ago or so when I saw that the smoking shops growing every everywhere
>> like groceries. What topic you told me >> on financial empowerment. So you're going to the next one. >> So you just said about smoke shop to >> We haven't started it yet. We're just finishing this. All right. >> So I'll call you. So the next item, sorry um Councilman Uden. So item number
>> 38. It's a first reading. It's an ordinance amending the zoning and land development ordinance of the city of Patterson to provide No, sorry. is an ordinance creating chapter 421 item 39 article 3 of the Patterson code to be
entitled smoke shops and tobacco stores. This item has been going through for about two years >> a little more >> a little a little over two years. Councilman a few years ago sent an email saying hey we got to do something. So,
Council Member Veles sent said, "Let's do something um in health and human services, finance, public safety. We've been working on it for two and a half years." So, can you just give a brief overview of the ordinance that we're putting in place to put some parameters around the smoke shops director? And
then when discussion, Councilman Odin, director, >> so the ordinance is establishing a license that we currently do not have for smoke shops and stores who sell tobacos. Right now, the city of Patterson has very little enforcement
power and we do we really have no revenue from any of these um smoke shops and tobacco stores. um and we're limited with resources to be able to go into these places and hold them accountable for violating federal or state laws or
local ordinances. So, this covers all bases. Um I know that legal worked very hard on that on this. So I want to thank Ben David through the leadership of uh corporation council um for spending all those hours with us in committee um and
entertaining the back and forth from my health officer and our chief RHS. Um so >> the health experts within the department Dr. Prasad and Robert saw um reviewed federal and state law put in all the edits. Um I know that there was some
work also happening through economic development. uh we work together, we merge both versions of this ordinance and what you have before you um is the end result where we will now have not only enforcement power but also um an
ordinance that gives us >> teeth, an ordinance with teeth to be able to stop these flavored vapes for being in our community which are getting into the hands of individuals under 21. um and a lot of other products that have
chemicals in them that are in violation of state and federal law. Um so if you have any questions, I'm here. Unfortunately, Dr. Prasad is on vacation, so he cannot be here this evening, but if there are any questions that he should answer, I will get it to
him and and get you a written response. >> So, right before um Councilman Odin, I just want to thank because this took a lot of committee work. It's not something that you can do um overnight. So, it took reaching out to our state legislators, talking to um the health
department, our public uh health director, public safety director, and various committees, economic development, and I'm glad that instead of just putting something forward that will not have any validity, that it went through all the necessary channels and now it's at this step. >> Um, Councilman Uden.
>> Thank you, Council President. So um let me just take you back when councilman Valz has a presentation on this topic. Um after this I had a presentation uh with other um researchbased presentation
by uh COPE partnership for success from Montlair University. That was the first one I presented here in the council regarding the growing smoke shops, baking products in our teenagers hands and how can we limit that and make sure that we have licensing process.
Um I have and my team provided a uh draft over to the corporation council. Corporation council also took a look and he came up with a draft as well. Second time we had another community-based presentation here in the council meeting
regarding this item and you all know this. This is very recent one and then corporation council said we are going to have an ordinance that actually covers the smoke shop that growing every single corner of the city like it like groceries and I'm glad to see this on
the paper today. Now the part that I want to mention that this is over a year that we are working on this with the community members different organization co- partnership for success rahim smalls uh organization I forgot the name my volunteers interns they were presenting
here making their voice and their experiences to see that how teenagers getting products in their hand now when I see this item here in the council uh sponsored by council president and vice President
I'm just looking forward to get the answer that is it by mistake or where is my original >> paper where where and I I want corporation council to speak on this before I give it to the council members corporation council would you please um
uh can you please reflect one more time that where this idea and where's this original uh recommendation came from and how how come I am not included the ordinance that I'm working closely for for last over a year. Corporation council.
>> So right before corporation council speaks, let me make Okay. Corporation council. No. Yeah. So before corporation council speaks, let me be clear. This item has start the
process started in for this item two and a half years ago. While we appreciate the additional dialogue which happened more recently, I stated even then this item was already being worked on in workshop. It's not excluded anyone. The
reason why it had not come forward and I know councilman uden you wanted it to come forward. I had stated in that meeting when all of the young people were here I spoke to Mr. small with privately who brought a lot of our youth youth here and we appreciate and I stated to him we had to wait to get the
green light from all of these entities cuz just putting forth a ordinance that has no teeth no validity is not going to be enforced it would be a waste of paper and for two and a half years we've been doing hard work behind the scenes
this didn't I mean you just presented something probably a year ago but this has been been in the works for 2 and 1/2 years. So that's why you see our names on it on the item because it's been worked on that long. It doesn't take away from anything that other people
presented, but we have to be clear. Council member, that's why we stated tonight he made the request something has to be done. So, okay, something is being done now. We took it from what Councilman Alles said. We've been working on it for two and a half years
and now it's presented. So to me it's not a question of who gets the credit or whatever. It's about so corporation council if you can add and then uh Councilman Jackson. >> Yes. Thank you council president. So um you are correct. This is a collaborative
effort. I will note that you and uh Councilwoman Davila as well as Councilwoman Cotton had brought it up >> but um and discussed it previously. But I but I will also note that Councilman Uden uh provided substantial assistance in this as well, provided several
drafts, uh provided several suggestions. And so um I do want to make that record clear in terms of obviously who ultimately passes this. It is the council and uh it's being workshopped now after going through committees and various suggestions um so that
additional council people may provide input. And we're open to co-spon if anyone wants to be a co-sponsor we'll happily add vez councilwoman cotton council uden if you want to be a co-sponsor that we're very open to that >> councilman Jackson first councilman Jackson
>> he had a concern before coun you there council >> speak I'm just curious councilman like are you is your is your accusation that your legislation was was uh plagiarized >> I I I I kind of saying that uh council
man thank you for >> talking about the title >> thank you very much so >> there's are there items in the actual legislation that mirror what you what you presented >> council president can I take the floor >> council order >> thank you very much so uh yes councilman
so what I'm saying is the draft uh that is even which one is right now is very close to the one that we drafted and we drafted multiple times um following the state legisl ation as well. If we if I
bring councilman's name, my first presentation was included with councilman as well. when he did year before nothing happened. Councilman and I had conversation and we we actually brought back the same group of people
that worked with councilman Valz and my current councilman I want councilman to state on this that where is came from now and I wanted to just present it here and I don't want to and this is not my quality to disrespect anybody when even
the certain council members reach out to those individuals and organization when they recommended to bring me to the ing some of our council colleagues said what you don't need to bring councilman there just know this I don't want to bring that topic here I want it's not about
the taking credit is something very essential very important for our children and for our city I wanted to move forward however however it's very disgrace disgraceful that this is present in certain way where
councilman bles or myself is not even included to Adam, >> but Councilman Councilman, I'm just for a point of clarity. I'm trying to understand this. >> Is what's being presented >> favorable
or a document that would sufficiently support what the agenda is for the item? >> Yes. >> Or is it lacking in some sort of way? Is it lacking something that you view here that would would add validity, strength,
teeth or anything else? Is it is the document sufficient or is it not sufficient? >> Council president Council President, is that sufficient? >> No. >> Well, uh councilman order >> well coun councilman um few pieces are are are missing here. Few pieces are
missing including which is the major part was that there should be a cap how many maximum smoke shop can take place around the city. That's one thing is completely missing on this on this ordinance. >> So so I'll just rest it here cuz I want
to I want to understand what your actual gripe is because you didn't you didn't move to make an amendment or you didn't bring up the fact that there was a there was >> I I understand council media >> there's a deficiency. I'm trying to understand, are you more concerned about
you being a sponsor or are you more concerned about us providing legislation that's that's beneficial to the community? >> Well, uh, both. I use it both because first of all um when I'm fighting for
last over a year and when committee members included to it if it shows then I should be included to it and I should have a say to it. Yes, I want to put recommendation on what else should be added or not. I definitely want to do
this. But when you are working on a project for for years for for consistently and you are you show the final result where you are not included to it. It just does taking away something there that's very close to your heart. That's exactly what's taking
place. So it's it's both council. >> That's understand councilman because I mean it's very simple. If there's if the item is deficient, make a suggestion. I I'm probably one of the only persons I don't care. I don't want my I don't not fighting to get my name on the move.
Second, I don't need to be a sponsor if it's a benefit. That's you. But I can tell you this, it may be me, but I can tell you this. >> There's a there's a definite failure in the community. Like when we go outside in the community, when we looking at when there's a family that burns in the
house that there's illegal construction, when I'm going through neighborhoods and there's all kinds of deficiencies going, when we see illegal storefronts and operations, we're as a council, my my big issue is we're more concerned with getting our names placed on legislation
than what's actually taking place in the community. When you go outside, it's not reflective of uh oh my, I'm the one who brought this forward. I'm the one who wrote it, who who who prescribed it. >> This is I'm just if if we're going to if
if we're ever going to be effective and you know move things forward. I mean amendment. >> Right. Right. Councilman because listen at any point in time if any argument that I bring forward, >> right, >> you feel is inadequate or or presumed
not to be validated, please, I welcome you to challenge me on that. But I'm saying tonight like your your concern is to get your name on because you can easily say, "Hey, can I be added to the legislation?" Corporation council just said you you
contributed to it. >> So do you want it to be in your name only or like I'm just trying to understand Councilman? You you you are a man of kind nature. I like that. But here's the thing that I want to bring one more time to the to the light that
you were working on a project for a year consistently with the team >> and you just even last week last meeting I was fighting for it cuz I brought it to the last workshop it was removed councilman what I'm trying to say is
it's not about just putting name into it it's just to see your the result of your own action that's you cannot I just say you should be kind enough to just give away something that you working for over a year. >> So let me finish. >> So council if you just No, no, let me
finish it since you said it. It's not about just taking credit of something. It's about um that the project you're working on, you want to see that finally came to the fulfillment. That's exactly what I'm trying to say. >> Let me just finalize with this, Council President. Um,
>> just as an example, >> I fought extremely hard for Buckley Park when I got elected. We spent $140 million on a trailer. >> Everyone went down the line. I was adamant. I was banging my head against the count against his desk. Certain
council members, oh, it's going to beautify the neighborhood. It's going to be fantastic. That $140 million, whatever it was, million dollars is, or 1.4, I'm sorry, $1.4 $4 million is still sitting there rotting and wasting. The
next year, Abdelaziz gets elected. He works something with the with the administration. They move some money around. It was something I was fighting for the year before. I don't care who wins it. If the community now gets to utilize it, you could put He still brags
about, oh, I came here to get a It's what I fought for for you. If the things that I fight for, if the things that I that I'm fighting for are being delivered, what I'm talking about is is our blatant things that we're not getting. You are the gentleman.
>> Why you interrupting me? I I didn't interrupt you. >> Right. >> What the things that we're not getting like when I'm looking up here that developers in Jersey City were forced to build schools when they're given allowances to build in the community.
when Shack builds a building with 34 stories, 370 units for 190 million and we're now allowing developers. See, those are the things I I can see making a fuss, but you're sitting here making a fuss because your name is not on the legislation, >> but you're saying you fought for the
item and it's being delivered. So, I'm just trying to understand the logic so that council >> one one second council order. So, let me let me just interject because I I one I don't like anything that's stated that's inaccurate. The Health and Human
Services has four members of the of that committee. And when there was a meeting, Councilman Uden, you were invited to the meeting and you did not show up. So, you're stating that we were doing stuff. We we we without you knowing, which we
started a whole year before you even got involved. Now, we're open to allow you to become a co co-sponsor, but but you stated that you were not in these conversations and we openly made sure one committee me member would not be
present to allow you to come to the meeting >> and you didn't show up. But for me to like for me, I just want to move forward. >> Can we just put his name on the >> He will be a co-sponsor sponsor. He should be a sponsor. >> No, he will not be a sponsor. We did the
work for two years, two and a half years. >> He did work too. He w he wants his name on his legislation. >> Co-sponsor President Councilman Mendes wants to be a co-sp. >> One second. Council members, Madame
Clerk, please add Councilman Uden, Councilman Veles, and Council Mot. >> No, no, no. >> Okay. Councilman Uden and Council Motton as co-sponsors. >> I will get at if I if you allow me. Council President, just give me a sec. >> As council co-sponsors, >> if you allow me to speak something
because I I there's something missing here. >> Councilman Valz and then Councilman. >> Thank you, Council President. So, so let me let me let me let me clear the the >> the fear here with this ordinance.
When we started all this, the main concern was and we said we had to do something is because smoke shot was popping up everywhere in the city of Patterson. >> How long ago?
>> There was no zoning regulation on them. >> Yes, >> I still don't see it here. Okay. First of all, license for tobacco selling or whatever is regulated by the state is enforced by
ABC or uh narcotics or whatever that we have in the city of Patterson. They've been doing a good job. They've been going to this place surprise. They be seeing a lot of stuff and they even close the business down and they arrest people. They've been doing the job. Police are doing the police job. Now
what I'm concerned here is this is a ordinance that really really is good but don't have no teeth >> have no teeth. Let me say why >> this is only to certify that they going to have a license
by the municipal government. >> Beside beside that they are regulated by the state. They had to pay the license by the state. They had to pay taxes to the state. But now we could impose a license for them. Not only that, the
director just say that it's going to be inspected by health inspectors. >> Let's be the scenario that one of those inspector goes inspect one of those smoke shop and find bag of illegal weed
in there. Who they going to call? >> Ghostbusters. >> Ghostbusters. >> They're going to call Paul Basat. Are they going to call the supervisor of of inspectors? You know, health inspector. >> Yeah. Director. >> No. Hold on. Hold on. I'm giving the scenario.
>> You could answer that. >> So, here comes an inspection of you selling this with uh brand. It has a tax on cigarettes are taxed. Okay. Uh the state allow you to sell some kind of
flavor, tobacco, whatever. Whatever. Okay. They go in there, the owner had to pay $1,500, $1,200 for a license, and they have to be subject to health inspectors. Now, they go to the place,
they go in, they act like cops. We came to inspect, they found cocaine, marijuana, all that stuff in there. Do you putting liability on those inspectors because they find illegal drugs there? at the time
probably the officers are tied up in a in an arrest, drug arrest or whatever >> is is is a liability for that inspector. That's one. Second, I want I want to amend this I want to amend this ordinance in the floor. I
don't know if you guys could agree to have teeth on it because initially of the whole thing that we requested and I requested is that and counciloman Ruby was concerned also that smoke shop was popping up everywhere. I want to amend
this uh ordinance if it's possible that do not open smoke shop if they don't have five feet from from the other. Okay. five feet 500 ft from the other.
Okay. Uh distance uh to open one smoke shop from the other. Uh not open smoke shop around uh school workshops um you know faith you know churches. Uh that
will be good uh to put in this ordinance to amend that um that cannot be open around schools uh around house of workshop. And the other one that we could amend if not you could send this
back to committee to amend uh not open establishment in mixed use property. For example, the main complaint I have from people opening smoke shop is that in the top you have seniors living, you have
residents, kids or whatever. And the order that comes from those smoke shop invaded the whole building. So that is if if illegal could you know if this is if this don't have a rush, I know you you did a hard work on it. If we could
put those amendment in the in the in the in this ordinance, I will be happy. >> The same way I did with cannabis. Cannabis, I took it like a drinking in public. Uh corporation council helped me to look into the law and nobody could be
smoking cannabis inside a park or in public area even in in in sidewalks or or whatever public. So, and have been reduced. I see a lot of people not doing it. So if we put that amendment in the in the resolution in this ordinance, it
will have teeth. It will have teeth because people will look into the business district to open the business. >> They will come to downtown, look for places in the business district and open it with no problem. But when you see that I have 12 schools
and you have three smoke shops around those schools, >> no. You know, I have a problem when you have a a a a house of worship and they trying to work ship God and they cannot even open their mouth because the order
of that smoke shop goes into their churches. I have a problem. >> So, Councilman, are you putting an amendment on the floor? The the good thing is here in this ordinance is that they would just want to open a >> license >> a a a a problem only to implement a
license that's going to cost $1,200. >> So council have no teeth a smoke shop whatever you want and it's not addressing >> the concern that those kid had. It addressing the concern that we had and it's not addressing the zoning for those
workshop to open those. So, council member, I heard a motion. Are you placing that motion? >> I'm putting as a motion. If you want, you could send this back to your committee and look at I will state this >> to legal to in put it in the in the resolution. >> So, there is a motion on the floor.
>> Second. >> So, council members, there's a motion and a second on the floor. >> We're not taking vote on it. We just recommended to >> take a not voting >> the motion and the second on the floor to amend. I We need the correct language, Councilman. So, so we haven't
we have the director in front of us. I know that councilman said that it didn't have teeth, but it really does. And like what you're saying, >> no controlling the meeting. >> One second, Councilman. Vice President, you're asking for an amendment for what, Councilman?
>> To add that no smoke shop should be open from 500, one from the other. Moving forward, you know, you can't do that, councilman, right? What >> that right now? Moving forward. Absolutely. But right now, like we we even talked in committee that we didn't
want to give any more any more smoke shops. >> We don't need it here. Where it says here, where's the cap? First of all, he don't have the how many council >> president. So So first of all, council president, first of all, to be able to say we don't want no more.
>> We had to have a data how many we have. >> A whole bunch. >> Oh, no. A bunch of It's like the >> Prospect Park. And that's it. So this is what I'm saying. >> Point of order. That's not >> point of order. Council President Council. >> One second. Councilman Jackson.
>> So from this point on, no more smoke shop. Okay. So amended like council. >> One second. Council >> cuz you're talking a lot. I just need to understand. >> I'm trying to understand. I'm trying to understand. You're asking to amend what
what are the areas or to add? What are you looking to add? >> U at the adoption of this ordinance. No more license for u or smoke shop license should be honored in the city of Patterson is one when this get adopted. >> Yes. >> I don't know how many people going to
sue us for that but that's okay. Um and I you know >> but >> uh are we going to scare this is this is the thing >> we cannot scare business to open here in the city. That's why uh we have to be careful to not to restrict the smoke
shop. What I'm saying is to regulate smoke. One second. Council member has the floor. >> So, so one thing I don't want to restrict opening smoke shops. I want to regulate where they're going to open. It's so different. >> I want to be strict.
>> So, that should be not opening uh not opening smoke shop if they 500 from one to the other. Okay. Um except the business district they cannot be opening in residential area that has mixed use that has residential in the top. Okay.
We going to grandfather the one that open now right but we cannot open one next to another one that has residential in the top and the other one is not open uh um approximately whether it's a school or workshop. Uh
>> well that's already the state law. >> Interesting. I'm going to highlight them. Okay. So, these are the things you're asking for. So, that's what you're asking. >> Legal. Do you got it? >> Corporation council. Sorry, madam clerk. >> Corporation council. >> Oh, sorry. Madam, please.
>> Yes. Uh, thank you, Council President. Um, so I understand some of the uh proposed amendments. I will just note that some of the proposed amendments may implicate zoning and planning and uh require a referral to the planning board
for for their review. Um so um we to the extent that the council wishes to make these amendments of course we will look into it. We will look into what the process is whether it needs to go through planning and zoning referral and approval and back to council. Um we just
respectfully request that an itemized list of what the amendments are andor it go back to work to uh committee so that those items can be suggested suggested in the committee and we can take it from there. So legal. So we could do this, right? Let's move forward with this one
and we could do the amendment down the road after the uh the planning or zoning look into the recommendation, right? >> So that that's what that that was. >> So that's why this is put forward first. The additional requests have to go
through zoning and land use because there's a shift to the um to land use laws. So we as the legislative body this is what we can control or we can legislate the other pieces that you're talking about we agree but this has to
be done first and then you go to that >> president but but look at this but look at the important point now >> this this take effect you're talking about city health inspector going out
and inspect smoke shop what about they find drugs or whatever whatever you know our police is going to be tied up in a crime scene or whatever domestive violence all that stuff you know >> those individual those individual don't
know how to sometimes you know they they make judgment on how they the food look and they go to establish they're going to get beat up >> council member we're already doing that d >> doing what >> we're already do director >> are they inspecting for smoke
>> shop council member >> council You're asking a question ordinance, >> Councilman. VeZ direct. You don't need an ordinance when the legal substances are being served in a store. >> But that's a police matter. They do. >> So when those things are found out, >> I'm talking about health inspectors.
>> How directors like, >> example, fire goes out all the time to restaurants. They answer a call at a house fire. They see things that they believe it's within our wheelhouse. We get a referral immediately from the fire official and we go out there. We will do
the same thing. We do it already. We go into bodeas and we find illegal things in there. We make referrals to ABC, to police, to the state, >> narcotics, whomever. We make the referrals. It is the same process. But now we have the right to go into a smoke
shop and inspect them because they have a license from the board of health. >> So you you you you telling me, okay, you do you do referrals. I understand that >> all the time. Council, you know that. It's total different referring ABC for establishing a bodega selling beer. It's total different, right? And finding a
smoke shop with a kilo of cocaine. What are you going to do? A referral nar that's already happened. >> They're going to be selling the cocaine left and right. >> Councilman, the police already has there's been quite a few smoke shops that have been cited. >> So, council president Council Vice
President Dava, please. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. Um, Councilman, just to you, you do know that Patterson police already and there's been quite a few that have already been cited and shut down, okay, for selling illegal substances. Okay. >> Patterson police, Councilman, you don't
have the floor. Point of order. in committee, you know, we did discuss I I went over, you know, this item >> and I we did discuss, you know, that we should not allow any more smoke shops to
open. We have too many just like we have too many liquor stores. Okay. But those come through the state. People have been grandfathered in. So, I understand what you're saying, right, to put in motion, but we should just say no more. Other municipalities, other towns have done
it. >> Prospect Park did it. They only two and that's it. So, >> but Prospect Park is a burrow. >> You don't have the floor. >> What I am saying is that we are able to say no more and we're not going to get sued. You know, we're going to get sued
that you put in this in this ordinance. Now, you have to be 500 ft. Now, how are they going to comply with that when we didn't have an ordinance in place? So moving forward, >> we we can this council can take action and we can say no more smoke shops.
>> Well, if that's the only thing that people could do, >> you know, because he was he council >> Councilman Oden. >> Thank you, Council President. Before I speak, I have a question to the director. Any number? Do you know that how many smoke shops we have as of now?
>> Whatever you find the >> We don't have a specific number currently. What do you think like approximate >> close to 100 >> close to >> so we do have the capacity to reach out to the state who licensed >> the tobacco certificate and once this is
approved we will reach out to the state and ask for their cooperation in this >> thank you director so so when we originally I sent my recommendation and my draft I say um and we're sitting down with the corporation council uh we also mentioned about the cap there was a
number And if we say we don't want anymore which is even great you know that we don't want to allow any more or give any more license away and if you do so there should be um clarification that how we can have more establishments but
there should be a cap that how many more now as an example just now just very recent I would say about 6 months um uh ago there was a smoke shop uh right in across from school number five right in across from the school. It's
like you know right there. So that was one of the recommendation um that was originally given. So if this ordinance will move forward there should be cap mention whether no more or if more than how and how many. So that's one thing
should be clarified on this ordinance. Um >> we could put hours operation. Oh, I don't have the full but >> and and also um about the vaping products and how can we control reaching out that's that's also should
be clarified as well. So that's few things director has to be clarified before we move forward. Even with this ordinance even don't talk about like all details that council man recommended I understand it's a lot however if we mention about cap cap should be mentioned here if no more no more how
many more that should be clarified also how it can take place cuz we cannot have too many it's already too many I mean if you talk about the it's too many yes but when is bunch like how many bunch that's that's another factor that we have to
consider so >> I I I like to see this moving forward you know but again I I am still that um I I feel that that these few things should be added >> I don't know why we have workshop >> thank thank you councilman thank you
director >> council president >> councilman Jackson >> very quickly so I just wanted for a point of clarity I I mean if we place a moratorum and we we're not allowing smoke shops any further it really kind of nullifies the the require the the
necessity for the the um the amount oft 500 ft that's required but >> this council is the one who prescribes what we do for land use. It does it's not required to go before planning and zoning. Planning and zoning would would
would vet it. They'll do the suggestion, but it comes to the council for final approval. If the council decides that we're we're going to restrict um uh uh the the the zones and or how far whether
it's from a religious institution or etc. We don't need to postpone that to go before planning and zoning. We have the council has the ultimate authority to decide how the city's laid out. So, um, but I am interested in what are some
of like what Councilwoman Dava was talking about the teeth. So, relative to enforcement, um, what ramifications are we looking to if if there's violations within some of the
provisions? And mind you, I didn't see this prior to today. I'm just um it wasn't in the packet. So relative toes violations and things of that nature. I'm not talking about fees because I know this administration is only interested in raising fees, adding
fees on. I mean, you know, >> but I'm not talking about violations. I'm talking about ramifications for whether or not there's there's um viol and I'm not talking about a fee assessment. I'm talking about suspension
of businesses, closing on the first offense, second, third offenses, maybe taking away their license permanently. Um, if there if if things are being repeated, is that here? >> Yes. Yes. This is >> it's in section
establishing this because we currently do not have the capabilities of doing that. >> Right. Is in section on the agenda um in here is on enforcement. I understand that, but just for the edification of the public, director, can you outline that for us?
>> Cuz members of the public don't don't see what we have here. So, when a business is derelict and they're doing, you know, what what's the outline? >> If they're found to be in violation, we can suspend it >> or revoke it. If, for example, by uh
December 31st of every year, your license expires, just like our restaurant licenses. If you do not pay by June, we can at that point suspend and revoke your license. If you violate, if we find that you're in violation of state or federal law, depending on the
gravity of the situation and the substance being sold, the health officer has a discretion of then revoking license. >> No, I I can't support that. Why? How are we giving a health? First of all, we have ABC enforcement. But he is >> why would we be giving the health the
health we're talking about possibly selling to minors. The health in the health officer is going to be the one utilizing discretion. >> He has a state license to make the decision. >> His discretion is very questionable matter. >> That's not a personal matter. That's a
fact. That's not a personal matter. That's >> personal matter between you and the health officer. F first of all, director, I I resent the fact that you I didn't I didn't make any personal accusations towards him and I did not I'm talking about his level of professionalism. I'm not talking about
you you just made an accusation of whether or not I lack the the the professionalism and the the quorum to utilize mention >> clear judgment. No, that's what you just did. >> I did not mention those. >> That's what you just did. I'm saying that ABC professionals are being So, how
many how many arrests has this uh has the health officer been responsible for? How many minors How many minors being sold in the in the city of Patterson? I could tell you there's thousands of young people that's being sold illegal substances. How many has he been
accounted for for finding? >> We currently >> He has absolutely no track record, no investigative uh uh uh background. So, you're telling me that his his his observation or his integrity or his professionalism is going to be more
suited better suited than a than a police officer that's doing that's doing um uh uh >> if I may, Council Director Councilman, >> the health officer has the credentials to determine >> if the business is violating state law.
>> Police have different powers. We're not there to arrest people. The health department is there to find you guilty of violating the law and then making the necessary referrals violating other agencies. >> If you're violating federal or state law by selling >> selling an illegal substance,
>> yes, methylated flavored products, flavored vapes, they're illegal federally and in New Jersey, you cannot have them. And I know if you walk during any of these streets right here, you walk right in, you'll see this the whole wall of colored little boxes. That's all illegal. But we have no power right now.
This will give us the power to go in there and confiscate, call the police and take the merchandise. >> Director, I could walk into I could walk into dozens of bodegggers and find >> illegal uh correct.
>> No, illegal health violations, whether or not they got the proper uh uh uh grease traps and and three compartment sinks in in their traps. So there's violations that's slipping by the health department that he's overseeing right now. We're talking
about public safety right now. >> We're talking about public safety. >> No, we're talking about public safety when it comes to young children being subjected to to narcotics and and illegal substances. >> We we have a rat problem. We have a rat problem that the health officer is
responsible for, too. >> You want me to start showing you videos of the all the rats that's in the community? >> So, where's he been on that? We will investigate it. Councilman, I have investigated complaints from you. You need to you we were in we were at 77 Ellison Street where rats would run up
your shoe when you walking in the building and you need to do an investigation. >> All you had to do is go outside and sit there for half an hour and you're going to come across over a 100 rats out there >> and the health officer is directly responsible for the rat population in
our community. Now you're going to give him another response when he's failing us in all the other areas. Are you kidding me? >> I would have to disagree with you. He is not failing us. >> So we don't have a rat problem in the city. Um director, >> we do not. >> We do not. >> We do not have a documented like New
York or an EP a pandemic of rats. We do not councilman. We do not. The state would have been here. >> Are you kidding? >> We have a licensed professional licensed by the state who happens to be one of the highest credential health officers in the entire state in the city of Patterson. And we're in the most filthy
just about the most filthiest city in the state of New Jersey. >> Filthy streets is not the responsibility of the >> And I've called him on numerous occasions for bed bugs, for rodent droppings where where residents are saying they can't even live in their apartment because it's being over
infestated with with with with mice, rats, rodents, insects. >> Sure. We've investigated that he doesn't ever lift the finger through the court. people who are going being hospitalized because they have their children being overwhelmed with asthma. And you're going to tell me he's the most suited to
do this thing versus the ABC. >> All right. Well, this won't get my support. Obviously, you don't need it cuz I know you got eight others that's going to fall in line. >> You're telling me that he's better suited to investigate a narcotics potential narcotic situation? >> That is not than a than a police officer.
>> As I said, referral. We have ABC >> inspectors that's doing that's that's who is doing who does the tobacco um who does the tobacco um uh uh inspections >> for our department? We >> no citywide who's responsible for doing the tobacco inspections.
>> Right now ABC goes out there for those type of things. We do not have l we do not license anyone for tobacco. So we do not go out there and inspect for tobacco. We don't we have no license. ABC does >> that that goes out to ABC, but we've cooperated with ABC.
>> So, smoke shops >> when we had over associated with tobacco. >> So, now you're going to start doing a tobacco. >> So, we are trying to establish a protocol, a license so that we can go in there and actually inspect.
>> Yes, we do. Yes, we do. >> No, but but yeah, there's things statewide. There's there is >> All right, whatever. I won't I won't be supporting you. While we doing Listen, we have the license. We have We had the rules. Thank you, director. We had the rules on the Patterson code that says we
cannot sell selling electronic or smoking device and nicotine delivery product. All that stuff is already in the ordinance. What we doing here is >> giving the authority >> to put a license that they already had by the state
>> that they already had by the state. So what we doing is double license. The state gave him a license. Now we have going to have a municipal license. But still without license or license, you could go and do this. >> All right. And ABC's been doing it. >> We're doing it.
>> All right. Listen. Let me They decorating only this now. >> Thank you. >> They decorating director. Director. >> Thank you, director. Good night. >> Tell me tell me >> we're doing public. >> Tell me that everything is already in ordinance. >> Tell me it's already in an ordinance. I
already did. I already I already did. >> Corporation council and his team did a lot of research. If it would if it were in our books already, they would not have put this together. >> Does state the state already prohibit all the thing that you saying here >> and they allow us to have our own ordinance. >> So why you cannot apply state statute
when you call those people? >> We do not license them. So we would have to rely on the state to come here to >> not not the state. P ABC does every day. >> Okay. >> All right. We >> director. This is one license of $1,200.
>> This is going somewhere else at the um we have one item left. Item number 3. >> What's going to happen? They're going to go inspect the item is >> and they're going to say cigarette. >> Point of order. >> It had no teeth on it. No teeth. No
teeth. >> Item number 38 is a first reading ordinance. This is sponsored by Councilman Veles. is an ordinance amending the zoning and land development ordinance of the city of Patterson to provide for new three family structures on the first, fourth, and fifth ward
redevelopment zones. >> Council president, >> council woman vice president something and and I'm going to be very brief on it. You know, I know that this item um came before us so we can ask the planning board for an opinion. Uh, and I
respectfully respect the planning board as I do the board of adjustment. Uh, but I want to just put something on record and I'm going say and it's all I'm going to say. I am in support of this and I'm going to tell you why. >> So, everyone has their opinion and I
have mine and I'm going to stand by it. I'm going to stand by it. What happened October 31st was one of the most tragic things that could happen to an entire family to be
wiped out to be in an illegal dwelling. And I'm not saying anything that has not been posted out there. I'm not going to go into details, but everyone knows that our assemblymen and that our councilmen and others lost family members there.
Okay. And part of it was the issue with illegal dwelling. Some people for whatever reason, right, we don't have this in place. We now would have something to say you can go and go through a process so you can legally
legally do it. Okay? And that's why I'm in full support. I'm not going to change my position at all prior to Friday uh uh October 31st. Maybe I would have been like, well, because you know the parking, but if parking is the only
issue and there's all these other positive things in place from revenue, from jobs, people b living in better spaces, okay? Then then I'm going to I'm going to put it on the scale and I'm going to
weigh it. And right now, I see the more positive again, parking is an issue in this city, okay? But it's always going to be an issue. I prefer to have individuals be able to go through a process to legally do this. And so
that's why I'm in support and that's all I'm saying. >> Council President, >> thank you. >> Council Cotton and then Councilman Jackson. >> Council Council, >> my my only concern, well, my concern is some of y'all been sitting up here for eight years, 10 years, and the process
is you go through committee. Now, it didn't go through committee that I know of. You're saying that it did. You go through committee, then you and then you ask the planning board for their >> opinion. >> Opinion. Okay. They sent a letter out
today about their opinion. So, actually, you want to overlook their opinion. I mean, saying, but I'm just saying you go through the process and then you don't have the planner here to tell us why should why we should do this. The
planner is not even here. But you've been here for 10 years, nine years. You don't go through the committee. You go you don't go through you don't you ask somebody for an advice and and you get something you don't like the answer. Fine. You don't like the answer. But the
thing is that the process you go through committee, you know, then you come through the workshop. Who who who was in a committee meeting? I don't know. I don't know who was in a committee meeting. I'm just saying. And then I want to say I ain't got nobody standing there to
tell me nothing. Anybody want to stand up there to tell me why we should have this? Who's up there? >> I don't see anybody. >> This is crazy. >> I I just don't see nobody. If if this is, you know, I'm not against this, but
I'm just saying somebody need to tell me stand up there to tell me why. And I feel you know what? There's so many illegal and it really is it, you know, there's a lot of stuff. But I would like to see even teeth in it.
Okay. If I c if I catch you and you did an illegal conversion, how much are we going to find you? >> And then you got to go through the process of making it legal. But that's not even in there. And it should be in there.
>> It should be in there. No, no. I'm just saying it should be in there. If I catch you, Councilman Omar, and you you converted your one family into a three family and then you're going to go through the process and I'm not going to find you for doing it.
>> Yes, you are >> illegally, but it's not in there. >> And that's what I'm saying. It should be in there. Something needs to be in there. and and and and and only thing I'm saying is that when you get something from a department and it's saying to you
they want to have more discussion on it. That's all it's saying is that they asking for more discussion. >> Council Council Jackson, >> I'll finish. I'm just saying. >> Thank you, Council McC. >> First of all, to say that is a parking issue in the city is an understatement.
To say it's a parking issue in the city is an understatement. And the issue is people are building three family houses anyway. In fact, they're building four family units cuz they sticking one behind the garage illegally. So, and I'm trying to understand the
logic instead of saying holding the administration accountable for enforcement because there is enforcement in place already. this the uh the building sub code official has the ability to find people $10,000 per day.
>> We should find them. >> He's never done it. It's never been done and mandate that it comes down right now in the first when were the when were the residents in the first ward solicited? I was never solicited. I'm not in favor
of this. I'm coming to planning. I'm getting calls from my residents leaning on me for coming to uh uh uh to board meetings to to go against this kind of stuff, the overdevelopment. We're just now going to
forget we're going to try to mitigate the planning and zoning process and just give people car blinds to go ahead and knock down a two family. And you already know on a 25 by 100, if you build a three family house, where you going to put parking spaces at?
What you mean they're not going to? There's there's rarely there's rarely any 35 or 50 by 100 lots in the city. You have a lot on Jefferson Street now that's 25 by 37 that that people are building on now. So you you got all this stuff going on. You trying to build
three family houses and stick them in where nobody in the first ward I can't if you could find a consensus of maybe 10 people in the first ward that's favorable for this. the only people that's favorable for this are the ones that don't live in the city.
So, I don't even understand. And then the planning board couldn't come to a consensus. We we voted on it. It got approved. Then I voted against it. It uh went before the planning board, which I'm very surprised because they just wanted to ask questions.
>> Of course, they didn't say no. But cuz they don't say no. This is This is absolutely ridiculous. three f I mean you're not even where's the study where's the professional study that was done normally when we in fact I think we we're we're due to do a a master plan to
redo the master plan for the city where is the study is there a study is there a study accompanied by this we should be redoing it now we should stop the bleeding on what we doing with this redevelopment zones that's that's that's going crazy where everybody's making all this money and pulling it out of the
city where where's the where's the study I mean, is it included here? Where's the uh where's the where's the study that that that that that that calls for that's saying that one there's a there's an eminent need and that two what the impact study is what kind of
impact is it going to have on the quality of life of people who are already residing in the city who are already um you know uh uh living in spaces I got a I got a a family today that's lived in the city lady says she was born here 40 plus years lived in the
same house right across the street from my house. There's a there's a construction project going on with with a house being built that's equally the size as the house that's there already with no enforcement. Listen, this right here is a travesty. You guys can
continue to move forward with this nonsense if you want to. >> Uh Councilman Bas. >> So, thank you uh Council President. Thank you for the colleagues that agreed on this ordinance uh to be amended. Uh
if um the studies and the law redevelopment zone is already set by the state, we adopted an ordinance that support that redevelopment zone in the city of Patterson. That's why you see
that 1,500 properties that was abandoned in the city of Patterson have been reduced to less than 200 in the citywide in those zone like in the first wif fourth ward and fifth ward. Now
um if you look at the uh the supported document on the back it says regulations on fifth word it says um on the on the fourth word it say regulations regulations
and if you read them on the first on the first word you see the uh the redal plan and regulation is common sense that if people are going to go over what it says here. Yes, they probably had to go
in front of a board, okay, and and get a board approval. But if you set your construction or whatever you want to do into that lot based what it says here, you avoiding all that because you
following the rules that are here. Now, let me let me say this and loud and clear. Day and night, meeting after meetings, we have residents complaining about illegal
dwelling, illegal basement, illegal attic, renting rooms. Hold on. Let Hold on. Renting rooms. They come here every every other meeting
claiming, "Let's do something. Let's do something. We losing revenues. They cheating the taxpayers. They cheating the tax the the city tax uh uh um uh department. So this is going to put all
that in order. All that in order. If we don't take action on this, they still going to be living in illegal basement, in legal attic. What we doing here is put in order to be able to have everything set
the way it's supposed to be. People have to register their property. They have to go and put it up to code. Okay? They need to comply what this ordinance says. Okay? And it's going to be bringing jobs
to the city of Patterson. It's going to be bringing home ownership to the city of Patterson. is also going to bring revenues to the city of Patterson. So you imagine a one single family house that goes by this what it
says here and convert it to two family house based on the rules. If they was paying $500 $5,000 tax a year, they probably going to be paying 10 because they converted into family. So that's revenue coming in. Now we have people converting
it, >> okay, without permits. cheating the tax, okay, getting the rent and then you see people in evicting people because they not in the law, they didn't did the proper thing. But now we're going to put order in the house.
And I think this is opportunity for those um lands that we have abandoned in our city that people want to construct even a small house or whatever they want to do and and sell it or whatever to
make Patterson homeowners. If we going to if the administration have failed to give home ownership, we at least in this resol in this ordinance we putting that in their hands. Thank you council president. Thank you to colleagues that see a a light and think out of the box
with this ordinance that amending that the state the state and let me say this the state allow us to do amendment in the red zone. Thank you council president >> council Mendes. >> Um thank you uh council president. I'm
sorry I was addressing a uh family matters. I was on the phone um for a little while but I'm back. So I know that we having a discussion about item 38 and um the director of economic development um for the last six months
we've been having conversation and we met over here with the fire department building department director as you recall. Um so we have we met in your office and then we have our second meeting here. um with the conversation about about pace magnatic and the
reality that we have in the city of Patterson that most of those attic they rent it. We have a crisis on housing in the city of Patterson and there's people living there and for the last month I've been working with you on this and I see
that this is related is basically connected with what we've been talking about. Uh, so I'm a little so let me jump on this right now because this is what we you and I we've been having this conversation for the last six months. Um, I definitely believe that something
have to be done in the city of Patterson. Those addict they already rented and I've been pushing for this for the longest. I've been pushing for this the long the longest and I'm not I'm not the type of person that likes to take credit. I don't need to take credit for nothing but you you are my witness that
we met around 7 months ago with the fire department chief and everybody right here in that room. So I need to have full hands on this item this legislation. I know council uh uh bring this and I don't know if went if we if we went through the
committee or not. Okay. Okay. if he didn't go to the committee. So, I got to jump on this because I've been working on this for over 6 months with and the director is my witness about working about before I bring something to the committee. I met with the fire department. I met with I met with
economic development and we've been talking about this because this is happening throughout the state of New Jersey. It's happening in different area and it's been approved in different areas. So, uh it's been approved in different areas. So, I think that uh so so citywide.
>> I'm sorry. >> She said, "Why why didn't you do it citywide? Why are you only doing it in the first, fourth, and fifth ward?" >> No, listen. I I will tell you this. This is not only one war. This is happen everywhere. >> No, but you have to read the >> I know I I know it's in the first,
fourth, and fifth. I understand that. But we got to be mindful. We all live in Patterson and it's happening everywhere. But we got to bring safety into the people that live there. We got we have to bring everything up to code. And that will bring bring additional revenue to the city also as well. And that's the
discussion that you and I will be having director. So so I understand >> are you not amended to add your ward to this councilman? >> So so >> so so the conversation >> so I understand director I understand that director you say that it wasn't
approved. It wasn't approved yet by Can you come to the mic please? I just because I really want some clarification. I know that I don't know why I said I hear that legal didn't sign on this. It wasn't approved. But we got to go back. Listen, if we have to go back to the table and make it right, there's nothing wrong with that.
>> So, director, before >> we got to make it right, >> councilmen, before director speaks, um I know corporation council, I'm not sure where he is, but I also want to question because the document is not even signed by legal. So, I need to identify because we can't even move. It has to be signed.
So once C corporation council comes in, we need to find out like where that stands. Director, if you can >> or mic or mic. >> So I first want to say, you know, I appreciate the discussion on this. Um I think, you know, there's certainly some
pros and cons to the legislation that's being presented. We do have a ch, you know, an issue within the city and that there are a lot of illegal apartments. um you know, this could be a way to help with that, but I think, you know, there
needs to be additional conversation and dialogue about um what the true implementation of this looks like. Um it's funny, I was, you know, Councilman Vez, you talk about me lobbying for something, but it sounds like you're
lobbying for this legislation on behalf of a developer as well. And so I just want to make it clear that at the end of the day, you know, for me, I look at things from a life safety perspective. And you know, the the fire incident was
such a sad story and it's something that we need to address and it's an issue that has been prevalent in this city for many years. um this legislation has the ability to address that, but I also think we really need to look at putting additional
parameters around it. My suggestion and recommendation for this council will be to allow it to go back before the planning board and allow the planning board to look at it a little more closely, especially with respect to the
master plan. Um, this ordinance would pretty much wave all parking, meaning any development that happens in the first, third, first, fourth, and fifth ward would wave all parking. >> And we know parking within the city is
already an issue. We are completely strained. So, this would be an additional strain on those communities as it is right now. Um there are other concerns uh that I have personally with the legislation, but I still think, you
know, it's something that warrants further discussion before even moving forward with the vote. Um again, implementation is going to be a concern of mine as well as the process. You know, we talk about um you know, enforcement, the need for more
enforcement. In order to do that, we need capacity. This doesn't address the capacity shortage that we have in zoning as well as in the construction department um given the additional reviews that will be needed for, you know, any of these projects to go forward once this
ordinance is passed. Um there's also, you know, some issues related to the grandfathering that's mentioned here in the ordinance. You know, what does the grandfathering mean and, you know, how far back are we going and things of that nature. So I still think it's something
that should go back before the planning board for discussion, allow the planning board to review and again make their recommendation to council. At the end of the day, council has, you know, within its purview to move forward with the recommendation that is presented by the
planning board or to move differently. Um, but again, the planning board is responsible for overseeing, you know, the master plan as well as the ordinances within the code. So allow them to do their job is my suggestion. >> Council President
>> President Council President Councilman Odin and then Councilman Jackson. >> Come on, Council President. >> Come on. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you, Council President. So, I'm going to pass it over to you. >> Thank Thank you, Council President. So before uh the director leave, I just
want to uh remind you that there was a uh resolution adopted on June 17th of this year to the referral to the planning board to support um the similar
project which is 25 ft um >> 25 by 100. >> Uh 25 YeahT 25 ft by 100 ft. Yes. 25. That was in that was in resolution passed on on the on the 17th of >> allow the planning board to review.
>> Yes. June 7 June 17, 2025. Um uh Councilman Jackson and myself were absent on that day. So I don't see our votes right there. So uh and today we are speaking about this ordinance. Now if we we are actually mixing up
multiple things in one. When you're talking about the illegal jeweling, this is a citywide issue. It's not just first, fourth, and fifth word issue. It's a city-wide issue. And I don't think this ordinance is going to help us
anyway. I don't I don't see it that way. That could be helpful in other ways, but that's different stories. Illegal dwelling taking place for multiple reason. One thing is we are not enforcing. Second thing is our tax is
too high to um you know to carry the expenses of each property. So we are IU city is going kind of giving warm shoulder to the property say come on use it. I say that's what's happening. Every time someone complains the
inspector show up to those location they check they come back. We all know the story and director you know that very well. If there's no call, there's no complaint, nobody go and check the properties. If you check today, just know this. At least 90% properties in
our in our city have that kind of illegal dwelling taking place right now. >> The example they're using from last week. Um that's that's I don't think how right it is to speak about it, but this is everywhere in our city and this
resolution is ordinance is not going to help at all. Now if we speak about yes we what we are doing is the projects are going to the planning planning board with that kind of space getting approval
though just know this without even ordinance they're getting variances and they're getting support from the commissioners and it's happening so we are we cannot really ignore few things I think there should be more clarification needed if
three families come was a was a minimum parking requirement. So I think I think that should be should be clarified >> since you were here economic development director. So I want to mention about something else as well and I'm talking about the last two
weeks. There are two investors in our city and very well-known investors. Um and they they actually submitted their application to the community improvement few weeks ago and they were reported their their files were lost.
He submitted again. So these kind of things happening in our community development and especially under your wings when we are for the shortage of the employees we are way behind
>> and because of this lengthy process people taking illegal ways. Now why people take illegal ways just know this because let's say you are spending you're paying taxes for years after years because your your projects not
coming to the fulfillment someone is thinking that it's better to pay punishment than taking this lengthy process. That's one thing we are doing. We're kind of discouraging people not to go to the community improvement and on top of this like losing pause and and
and someone submitted this is this is disgraceful this is unacceptable totally cuz someone submitted the total plan and you are reporting back hey we don't we did not find your folder or we lost your folder I mean please take a look at this
and particularly this ordinance I'm not sure about the my standard however we cannot really bring the illegal dwelling in on top of this one. Illegal dwelling is everywhere. If we really want to address this matter, we have to address
it separately. There should be um implementation of the ordinance. Definitely, we don't have any law that allows people to live in the basement and attic. But implementation is missing. I'm not saying it's missing is actually giving pass that you can do that.
>> Yeah. I mean uh I I say with our um worm you know I say where are we saying okay to it. >> No >> that's exactly what's happening. >> Thank you. Thank you councilman. >> So council president. >> Councilman Jackson. >> Thank you council president. First of all you know the problem here. People
have a difficult time looking in the mirror. People have a difficult time looking in the mirror and acknowledging that they got a they have a a booger on their face. You going to take a jab at the director saying that there's a level of
accountability that she needs for enforcement. She doesn't do the hiring. She's not the hiring authority. She inherited that department that was already understaffed. >> Director Gilmore is being illegally targeted and pushed out of our
community. I didn't see you one time stand up in support of him through through the ordinance. The CI director was supposed to oversee the inner workings of the building department. I haven't se heard you one time stand up in defense of director Gilmore, but yet you're gonna sit here and hold the
director accountable for the lack of enforcement that takes place when she already she just acknowledged that her department was so far under under mann that you we're going to expect to even put another burden of of of purpose on her. That doesn't even make
any sense. But yet the council, you know what they do in Inglewood? In Inglewood, there's a task force. They'll take the PD representative, the fire inspector, the zoning officer, and the building sub code enforcement agent, and they go through legal, and they pull a a
warrant, a search warrant to go into those homes. So instead of being responsible here and going into the homes and investigating because we have a family that died, we want to just allow them to just build without having to go through any any process without letting them let them mitigate the
zoning process. Let them mitigate the uh uh the zoning and planning boards and just automatically be able to build a three family house. subsequently not have not be a not be required to provide off- streetet parking in a community that's already riddled with no parking.
It just doesn't make any sense. And then Councilman Mendes, this whole thing that you talked about with the illegal attics and basement apartments that you presented between for fire, they tore you apart and that that's why you never brought it back here. the zoning officer, the zoning office already let you know that the state already has
provisions in place to legalize basement and attic apartments. And if you wanted to do that, then you have to go through the process in doing so. But no, just giving everybody a red flag because it's already get being done here, that's not being responsible. That's not saving any
lives. In fact, it took this this this thing at 196 Marian. It was on the Patterson Plus app for months. It wasn't until I went there yesterday. Now we got 30,000 views that everybody shows up and today I get a picture with all of the
red stickers that's on the door. And it Yeah, it was on Patterson. Plus, you sitting here, you you look at those items and you're at large. You didn't you you you're not taking those calls from the constituents. That's that's showing that the corner of of of PNness
and Chamberlain. Mr. David Thompson holding me accountable. PNness and Chamberlain. Another illegal uh expansion. The corner of Union and uh PNness an additional illegal expansion. They got approved through planning and zoning
started without having permits and they're overbuilding over extended the the the application overextended what the plans were. How you expecting we got one inspector, one building sub code official. He's going to go around here and catch all of those things and you're not being responsible as from from a
council perspective and then you're going to try to put the the onus on the director that she has to be it it's on her watch. This is happening on her watch. No, it's happening on your watch. It's happening on your watch. While you sitting here worried about your name
being put on a on a on a on a resolution for smoke shops while we have families that's dying when firemen are talking about they went through the window and fell on the body of a dead victim, a dead child. >> Man, you a clown with this nonsense. We're sitting here allowing for this
kinds of this type of thing to happen and then you're going to sit here and turn around and try to put the onus on a director. >> You got to be kidding me, man. I just want to address. >> So, one second. >> One second. >> Let me just say this and um Councilman
Uden, you are absolutely correct. >> I'm going to say this. I'm sorry, Council President. I apologize greatly. He had the audacity to go live while this family was in that house losing their life. >> And you going to sit here and tell a director that it's this is going on her
watch? You had the audacity? Yeah, I go live all the time, but I'm very sensitive to people's personal situations. You went live while Oh, look what I'm doing out here. You were doing nothing. Nothing
while a family was in there losing their life because they had an illegal apartment that was cut off from the front of the building. While we look like fools all over Patterson, this stuff is going on every day. And we sitting here getting ready to vote on something. Instead of arming
the director, holding the administration accountable about hiring, holding the administration accountable about the signing authority, hiring people competent enough to fill these roles, to go out here and do the inspections. We want to just say, "Oh, well, they're doing it anyway. Let's give them
permission to do it and maybe somebody won't die." That makes no sense. Wow. >> So, council president. >> So, just right before council member was first, before Councilman speaks, >> let me just bring let me state this for
the record. Councilman Uden, you are correct. The item did come before us as a resolution um forwarding to the planning board to ask them to give us oversight on whether this should be done or not. That this council approved it to do that. And I
have to openly say Councilman Jackson apologized because he thought I sponsored this item. I did not. It is Council Member Alles who sponsored this 25 >> then and he's still the sponsor now. So I wanted to put that on the record, but that's what the item was for before. It
was a resolution for the planning board to give us insight as to what they thought. They sent it to us what they felt. Um, and then there was another meeting and then when I got the call this morning, I asked madame clerk to send it to all the council members so
that it would be here and attached and it's on your desk. So if you look on your desk, it is there what they recommended. Um, and now Councilman, Councilman Odin, Councilman Mendes, and then Odin. >> Thank you, Council President. >> I don't know if this is insane what I
just heard >> uh in the beginning your statement. >> I like >> that uh I just love love you so much >> that you was lobbing that I criticize you or whatever you say that that you was lobbing for a private developer to come here for a support of a letter
>> that I is doing this on behalf of developers. Were you at the corporation office when I sit down with him and I deliver him paper to look into the the red law and
to see if this fit in Patterson and the law of the relevant um zone law that we have in place. Were you there? No. Right. Hold on. Hold on. You just made an assumption of accusation of me doing this for the vote. >> You made the same assumption. >> Hold on. I didn't do that. But you you
speak by facts. That is fact. >> So no, it's not fact. >> I'm repeating what you shared earlier. >> Prove me that I have sat down with developers to talk about this if I didn't sit down with corporation council to bring it forward. So don't go without >> this was the same legislation that was
presented to us months ago. >> Did you read your emails today? >> I did read my emails. Yes. So let me let me say this based on you know a lot about kind of a development and those rules. So, you know that the current the current ordinance at as we speak the red
zone allows that any lot that's less than 50 uh 50 ft wide do not meet the requirement of parking. Do you know that? >> Okay. So, I guess you know I don't I guess you don't >> I didn't understand what you were saying. >> No, I don't understand. I guess you don't understand because you don't know. So, let me see.
>> I don't understand cuz you point of order. Point of order for me to understand one second. Director, >> did you read your emails? She said no. >> No council. Good. That's why she came here and he handed me >> That's why you came here.
>> I said I read I read my emails. Councilman, >> let me say this. Uh uh director, November 3rd at 4:09 p.m. >> Okay. >> You will see from an email from Mr. Michael Dorch. Okay. And he put the
master plan based on the request that I did. Okay. to the planning board. Do you read his recommendations? >> So according to >> No. Do you read his recommendations? >> I read the recommendations. That's not the question that was asked of me this evening. You read his
recommendation that was asked director. One second. Director. There's no council. When you asked me, you asked me a question. Allow me to recommend. Council member, allow her to tell me one of the recommendations. So the recommendation was that councilman let
her respond of what was listed in that let me put you council val she's speaking she's speaking over me I have the floor >> I have the floor you ask question no yes but not going back and forth so let me
remind you what that email says one of the goals that he put in that email okay to provide for variety of housing type that will attract and retain um mix of residents for various social
economic backgrounds. That's one. Objective number one, address project future population growth without inspire empowering um the character of existing neighborhoods to increase the supplies
of affordable housing. >> That's his opinion. This is his opinion. That's his opinion. Hold on. To stabilize improve existing residential neighborhood. Okay, that's his that's his opinion. Okay, discuss
with them. U it says here land and let let me go to the land use is interested. Everything that he's doing is recommending us that this is good what we doing here. Convert vacant abandoned property to occupied properties on the
tax rows. Okay. Everything that he's saying back to us, that's why go back to read his recommendation. I don't dispute that. That's not that's not what I'm disputing. I'm telling you that the planning board did not issue an opinion. That's what I'm telling you.
>> The planner. He is the planner. >> But you referred the item to the planning board. To the planner. Point of order. Point of order. Only one person can speak at a time. >> Yes. in your email that you sent today >> trying to block this. Okay. Trying to
block it. I don't know who you taking a recommendation from, but trying to block it. I I read all the recommendation that he gave. >> Okay. And I took in consideration. I went back to my ordinance that I I I drafted with legal and I said, "This is
what what I'm trying to say here." And I even put the document, the original document I put in the ordinance. And then he came back with this response. And let me say this, but you you decide to send an email today through the through Miss through through through the
uh the clerk >> saying this America seek to update the city council on the planning in on the planning board review of resolution that I you know which was referred to the planning board
for review after receiving on June 17, 2025. The planning board has discussed >> three times >> discussed the proposed ordinance >> three times. >> Three times. >> Mhm. >> Okay. November 5th, the dates and this
and that. And I requested after I saw this email, >> you requested the meeting minutes. >> The the meeting minutes, not not to support my good the good ordinance, not to to see what was spoken there. You know why? Because the email that Michael Dorsch sent with goal and perspective,
that was the discussion and I'm taking that in consideration and everything that he's saying there is here. So I don't know why you want to bring it back from the I don't know why you want to send it back if you already did his honest professional. >> They did not memorialize it by way of
resolution. >> You don't need to memorize. I didn't ask to memorize it. I say to give a review and an opinion. They did not provide you with an opinion. >> Read He did to provide the opinion. Read Read the email. Read the email that he sent. Ma'am, read the email. >> Then why did you receive the memo today
stating that it will be going back before the planning board on December 3rd for them to issue an opinion? >> Mr. Michael Dorch had I had a conversation with Mr. Michael Dodge and I said, "Mr. Michael Dors you read the resolution says to give an opinion and
not take a formal action from the board to us to take decision. It's in this side that we take the decision. >> Director, >> you all received the memo. >> Director, the memo I know his opinion. Read his goal and perspective. And that's when I when I read that. Okay. So
>> because you opened the second attachment, I believe so. Well, when I read the second attachment that he's recommending and he going goes in perspective of why he want to see is he ready? Is he ready? So I don't think now I don't think it's a bad I don't think
it's a bad what Mendes is trying to do is so different of this. Okay. If he want to implement something in the remaining other WS in the city of Pan, he could do so. But this is addressing the redevelopment zone that's already established by state law and we adopted
in the city of Paris. We want to amend it to benefit those individual to benefit those new homeowners to benefit the tax ro. If you want to increase fees, this is the way to bring revenues, to put things in legal place to make sure that people are paying a fair share
of taxes and put home ownership where they supposed to be and make sure that with this ordinance, we avoid all those illegal wedding and all those legal addicts and save life and bring quality of life in the city of Patterson. Based on based on I hear you. Based on the
commentary and all the the conversations that are happening, >> this item needs further discussion. >> Council President, put it for a vote. Put it for a vote up and now up and down.
>> I have it in first read. If it's not, you have the chance to put it. >> You are out of order. >> Put in a vote. >> You're out of order. No, I want to see what you say. >> Out of order, council member, you had the floor. >> We don't want the first word, bro. >> No, put it in the first. Put it to vote.
It's in the first reading. It could fail in the first meeting. I want to see where you guys stand. Council member stand for new home ownership. >> Council member Le, you are out of order. >> Put it. >> You are out of order. Council member Le, put it for a vote. >> Let me say this to the public at large. >> Put it for a vote. Councilwoman,
>> no. >> You You can't a whole new home. >> Let me say this to the the city at large. Put it forward. >> Councilman, you're out of order. >> If it fails, community, I'm the loser. >> I want you to take >> I'm the loser. If it fails, >> community, I want you to take notice. >> Take notes. >> Take notice.
>> Oh, notice. >> We're here in workshop, which is a discussion >> and it's a >> several things have been identified. One, we have a a memorandum from the planner board asking for more time. They're not saying it's never going to get done. They're saying we need more time.
>> Correct. the director of economic development is saying the exact same thing. Then you have the So you have three C three wards on here. Now, if you want to do it in the fifth ward, but you got the councilman of the first ward and the fifth fourth ward that you have on
here cuz you're the sponsor and they're telling you they have concerns. The item needs to go for more review so that they can have the time to look through it and talk to the constituents. And I'm going to put this on the record. Sometimes when we come to the council,
it don't even have to go this way. And that's why behind the scenes, I try to avoid it. I sent an email when it was sent to me. First and foremost, there is a process. All items that to be on the agenda should be on that that Wednesday before so our clerk and the secretaries
are not at the last minute trying to get all this stuff together. That was not done. So I sent an email and said, "Did you follow the process?" >> Yes, I did. >> No, you did not. >> Yes, I did. No, you did not. Prove that I didn't. Prove me that I did. >> I will prove it. >> Two weeks ago,
councilman, you're out of order. We >> You have to ask yourself, why are you fighting so hard? >> We meeting once. >> Ask yourself that because I have >> two weeks or three weeks ago. I send this to I send this to the to the clerk office and to my secretary to send it to committee council. the council a dining
committee. You got an entertaining committee because you guys want to do it. >> But meanwhile, there's going to be people dying out here, illegal dwelling, illegal houses, and this will correct that. So, let me say let's put forward the police
warrants. Let me say this. Put put a put a piece of legislation together to pull a warrant order right legislation to pull warrants to go search those places. So >> Anna ice >> director and I'll say this I sent the
email back asking the councilman >> did you follow the process did you go through economic devel I knew he did not because I talked to the chair so what they did was okay let's we're going to have we have meeting we'll add it on to have a conversation cuz that had not been done
>> you did not follow the process that just got drafted from the from the board yesterday >> you did not send it to the clerk's office on time it was sent at the last minute and I questioned that >> and you're you're and now you're sitting here saying you did it. You did not do
it. >> First of all, this is you did not one second. You will get it when when I'm done when I'm done council. >> And so to the public to the public this item requires further discussion
>> and we definitely need the input. We hear the fifth ward, you need to have input, which I said in the email as well. My secretary is there. She will confirm it. I said, "Have you consulted with the first and the fourth ward council people? Cuz this impacts the award."
>> Well, council council Jackson just said that he don't even want to talk to me when he want to talk about that as I'm going to ask that this item be tabled for now. go back to committee so we can get because if it's going to get done, we need to make sure
>> the item is stable. The item is stable, council president, but I need to speak and and and listen, people that know me, they know I'm not listen, I'm very straightforward. >> I don't go around doing BS and and going behind and and doing stupidity.
Director, when you spoke six months ago, the discussion that we have is not similar as this. So, the discussion we had relates to what's called accessory dwelling units, ADUs, which provides the ability for homeowners to allow for
rental units on their property. Um, it's a little bit different than this, but the goal is very similar in that it provides additional housing support for individuals. >> So, I've been fighting for the last almost seven months about this. Now, I'm going to say this. I didn't bring this
back. this not this not in the floor because the fire department went so hard against me and and and all no it that's not the that's not true and that's that's go that's go to councilman Jackson the reason why this not in the floor is because I like to follow the process I follow the process and it
wasn't ready and the director and I was still having meetings about about this because I really care if you own a two family house in the city of Patterson you paid about $12,000 in taxes By renting one unit, it's almost impossible
for you to sustain that that that property because of the high tax that we have. >> People are being forced to find a way to get additional revenue by renting those units. >> Thank you. >> Those unit that are not, you know, that don't have the safety
component to be rented. What I'm trying to see with a a legislation is to address that. And the reason why it's not in the floor is because I haven't finished the discussion with the director. I met with the fire department. I met with building. I met
with the with the director with uh the office of Michael Dutch. And I'm doing my work. >> Yeah. >> To make sure that when it when the legislation is here, everybody's aware and nobody can tell me that I didn't follow the process of the committee and everything else. >> All right. >> All right. If you have to be back. So,
so I don't director table director is ridiculous direct council. Councilman Jackson was next. >> When it's convenience, >> Councilman Jackson convenience. >> Councilman Jackson.
Madam Director, >> what about this one? Madam Madam Director. >> Yes. >> During this discussion, >> put it to vote. >> I love that. During this discussion in this committee meeting, did various members of your department have concerns with the fact that there
already exist provisions in the law that allow for basement and attic apartments to be realized? >> Yes, that has that is that's correct. Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. So >> that's correct. With that being said, so
the councilman Mendes is gonna talk about how how exorbitant the taxes are. So instead of being responsible as a as a legislator, as a budgeteer, and holding the administration accountable on spending, let's just make
let residents create illegal basement and attic apartments to endanger people's lives. There's already provisions. The fire department let him know there's provisions in the law. If you're going to make a basement apartment, you got to have a full-size window. It's not that you can't have a
basement apartment. There must be a full-size window. There must be certain provisions in place. These things already exist. So to act like you're doing something to override and circumvent the law, that's ridiculous. How about being responsible to the
spending and reduce the taxes that way instead of now allowing people to to do other things? And lastly, council president, I got to say this, I got to say this because this legislation is is is hilarious. He he council president, council
president, and and I'm going to say this to the members of the public. See, when I write legislation, I actually write legislation. I go down and it's written in the form of what we normally see to make a copy of the first page of which
corporation council has drafted and then use chat GPT. This the rest of this legis ordinance or this legislation is not written in the format of what we normally vote on. This is a chat GPT format. This is not how we you want to be a
legislator and you want to take it upon yourself to do to to write then write it. who you don't >> don't utilize chat GPT to start to carry an agenda >> for PE other people that's out here to benefit. >> That's okay. You use it before to
>> never last. You don't have to. >> I never I've never used chat GPT to write >> especially not to write I use chat GPT to to research. >> Okay. >> This is research. >> Google. >> That's not that's not writing. This
right here is th there's never been a piece of legislation that's been in this format and you and then you want to bring it forward and push it for a vote when it's not in the format of how we normally how we and if you look at it I'll give it to
you. I'll circulate it so you guys can look at it. The first page is a copy of what was already drafted where it's in the format of what we normally vote on whereas there's multiple whereasses and and if you look at any piece of legislation that I've drafted I've
handwritten I've written it myself it's in the same format. I'm not going to deviate from the format but chat GPT won't understand how to write it in this format. >> You wrong he draft >> GPT won't write it for me. It's going to write it. >> Corporation council. Who drafted that? Or >> write it like this.
>> Who drafted that? >> Let me tell you, sir. That's the question. They drafted. They drafted. >> The only thing I gave him legal draft, you don't have the floor. >> Legal drafted the first page. >> His legal department point of order. Council member, you don't have the floor.
>> Legal drafted the first page and all the subsequent pages. You don't have the floor. So, first of all, >> the it's one it's the pages are actually I thought they were numbered. There's six pages here of Yeah. six pages here
of which five are drafted through chat GPT and one the one that that that legal and this is why it wasn't signed off on because who's going to sign off on Chat GPT writing writing legislation like this. Listen, good try, man. Take this back to your drawing board.
>> Um, thank you, Madam President. Madam President, >> thank you so much, director. Thank you. Good night, Madam Clerk. The agenda items are complete. We are now moving into public portion. Public portion, madam clerk, waiting for my floor,
council president. So clear this public. Council member, you don't have the floor. We are moving into public. I'm waiting for seven speakers on tonight. We have seven speakers on tonight. to
the public. Each speaker, you have three minutes. You have three minutes minutes to speak. >> Please, as this side prayerfully will be respectful, we're asking you to do the same. >> Madame clerk, first speaker. >> The first speaker is Balal Hakeim.
>> Please state your name and your address. Look, look, look. I just I just reading this Mandes. >> Uh, good evening. >> Good evening, city council and those that are tuning in. Uh, first of all, I
want to um extend um our deepest uh prayers on that family that was lost in that um that fire. You know, I I I rode up there and when I rode up there and when I looked at it just as a human being just gave me
the chills, you know what I mean? Um you know, may almighty Allah have mercy on their souls. The other thing is this right here. I I took down a lot of notes because uh had some other things I was going to talk
about, but yeah. Um Councilman Lewis, VZ was um I want to make this here a point. He was on point. Um Lewis uh Councilman focus a minute. He was on point tonight. As the councilman of the fifth ward, he
has every right to question them. And none of you should try to circumscribe or mute him. You were correct. The other thing is that we have a bunch of hypocrites. And I'm talking to all of
you that were silent here when Director Gilmore was in his position. And not one of you stood up and said anything with the exception of Councilman Michael Jackson. Why? cuz you're scared to death. Ass kissing.
Affordable housing. Councilman Leair talked about affordable housing and he talked about low income. Let me tell you all something. The director was here for economic development. Tiffany, right? >> She talked about that
HUD lays down the uh the rules for the um area medium income. Let me tell you that's a bunch of BS. >> You got to turn your mic back on. >> The councilman of that ward have a right
to shut it down. What is the area of medium income of a resident in Patterson? Any council person? Could any of you here afford to pay $3,000 a month? Answer me. Don't sit there like a stupid.
Answer. Can any of you pay $3,000? No. What is the annual medium income of a Pisonsonian? Answer >> 35. So therefore, you need to be challenging HUD and they should not be
setting the standard. I can't get through all these notes that I put down, but I'm telling you, bunch of hypocrites. You goddamn hypocrites. Yeah, hypocrites. Thank you. Next speaker. Madam clerk.
>> Yes. >> Next speaker is Miss Tulie. Kindly state your name and address. >> Adrien Adrienne Tulie. Okay. Is it on? >> Okay. Adrienne Tulie. I was here um last month and I um you know made another
presentation about what's going on at Phillips Academy Charter School in Patterson under the uh direction of the CEO uh Dr. Dwayne Davis and Councilwoman Dilla had made mention in the aftermath
that um the reason she stays in her place and her space is because the matters in litigation. I I don't know why you lied on this platform because I told you I I I you didn't you weren't woman enough to call me and talk to me on the phone. So, we were texting and I
clearly typed that the matter concerning my daughter being unlawfully deregistered and put out of the school and the ongoing racial uh discrimination that she's subjected to is not in litigation. It is not. If it wasn't litigation, I wouldn't be coming here.
when it is in litigation, I will no longer come here. So, I I I wanted to call you out on that because one thing I don't like is a liar because there are people that were here and people that are watching and you're like, "Oh, I know my place. I know my space and if
it's in litigation, I clearly asserted to you that it was not in litigation and I have been coming to this council for for help. Um I've sent a number of emails. Only relief that I get is from um Mr. Jackson and direction. So I I I I
am concerned. Now I can look at a number of people up here, I I can clearly tell why they don't care. But when I look at people that look like me other than Mr. Jackson, that's a concern. That's a concern why they don't care. I don't
know. But then you may reference that. Okay. Some people use race as a a factor or whatever. I I'm a realist. And if you didn't like my realism, that's called tough titty. said, "Don't interrupt me. Don't interrupt me. Don't interrupt me.
If you don't like my realism, that is called tough titty, said the kitty." But the milk is still good. So when you talked, I didn't interrupt you. So the thing is, if the if my child look like you, if I look like you, you' be up out
of your seat. Now, mind you, the ones that do look like me, they're sitting down. No matter fact, they're not sitting down. They're laying down. And Malcolm X said it best. The hardest thing to do is to wake up an organized group of sleeping people. Now, they
sleeping. They sleeping. And they have more power than me to stand up and to assert something to say, "What is going on over there? What is the constant racial discrimin discrimination? What are the racial slurs? Why has this child
been put out of school? They have not done that. Only one that has stood up is Michael Jackson. And I It's a sad day in this age when people that look like me won't even stand up. >> Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk.
>> Next speaker is Eddie Olivaris. >> Good evening, Patterson. >> State your name and address. >> There was an article written today talking about the an over expenditure of $4 million. The article goes on to say that um
uh Mims and Marisa Davila were not aware that there was another expenditure. The article also goes on to say don't don't don't look like if you don't know what I'm talking about. You could go and read the article. you can read. I suppose the article also says that this
administration have not provided documentation for tens of millions of dollars uh within the last two budgets. Now ma'am, you are the chair of the finance committee. People of Paris, listen to me. I am
going to break it down to you is very very simple. you people that are watching and I and you people here, we are to blame because we know these are income poops.
We know and we keep on electing them. Khalik said that uh we're not here to micromanage something to that effect. You know what I'm talking about. Well, sir, then you don't know what your job description is because that's
exactly what you're here for. That's exactly what you're here for. You should follow every last dollar that is spent by this administration. That's your job. But again, I'm going to say it. People
of Paris, people watching, you know, May 2025, we have the chance to get rid of these, you know, three, at least three of them. If we don't do it, we are to blame. We already know they're not
capable. We already know. We've seen it time and time again. How many times do they have to do it before we act? I see. You know, I I couldn't but notice that when I came in that you took your picture and put it up above the rest of
the other pictures in the hallway. Oh, but you really do see yourself as above everybody else. Well, just go outside. Either you did it or you order somebody to do it, but it was done or it's not. People of Patterson, listen. I I mean,
you you're not looking at what I'm looking at, but what she did was she took her picture and she put it above the rest. We have nine pictures of these people. And so, she put I mean, you know, I'm telling the truth. And you call yourself a pastor. Oh, uh, black is not here. What god do
you pray to? You know, I am telling the truth. It's embarrassing. You should be embarrassed. You should be embarrassed. You are a I Well, I'm going to hold my tongue, Mr. Jackson. I'm doing good today. And in less than three minutes, I
let them know exactly how I feel. Thank you. >> Thank you. And good night. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. The >> next speaker is Dennis. Um, can't make out the last name, but it's M. Is it Mesa? Can I pronounce your name and your address, please?
>> Dennis Mesa. >> Good evening. >> Wow, it was very intense meeting. I didn't know it was going to be this intense. Um, but I'm not here for the politics. Um, >> I'm I'm not here for the politics. I'm here for the Patterson youth. Actually, uh, we're holding a little boss's youth
uh, business fair for the kids of Patterson. Um we'll be at 151 Belmont A Sunday, November 9th. Uh where some children of Patterson will be showcasing their entrepreneurship skills.
Oh, I'm sorry. It's from 1 to 4. It's from 1 to 4. And you know, they asked me to come and see if the council members would support, you know, >> I'm sorry. >> One uh 151 Belmont A in Patterson. Okay.
U four. We just ask that you guys come out and support our youth uh trying to become young entrepreneurs. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you. One to four, he said. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. >> Yes. Next speaker is Deborah Hannibal. State
>> one second. Sir, could you wait? Excuse me. Excuse me. >> Mr. Mesa, >> could you tell them to wait? Could you just wait a minute? We only have a couple. Just wait a minute. Yeah, just Okay. Next speaker. Madam clerk,
>> next speaker is Deborah Hannibal. State your name, please. >> Good evening. Deborah Hannibal, Patterson, New Jersey. Madame Clerk. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Your assistant tonight, council president, council members, to the administration.
I want to begin by addressing the business administrator. I see he's not here. And I know that the city employs two assistant BAS. and Harry, always wonderful to see you. It's just curious that we're not we're paying people and
they're not here. So, I don't understand. But I'm going I'm going to say that seeing Mr. Seaman here was a glimmer of hope. It was someone that was competent. >> Yes.
>> That I thought would be able to do the job. I don't believe that he was given a fair chance. He was not set up for success. It took he came here. He did not even have access to a
computer for the first three weeks. I work in HR. You know, someone is coming. The time to fill could be 60 to 120 days. When you have someone at that caliber come and you act like it's a surprise and you don't have supplies for
them and materials and then you're asking them for things they can't produce. And there's a reason there's a reason why things are not supplied. When you're competent, they don't want you here in this city.
>> If you know what you're doing, they don't want you. There's a system and it's not designed for us. It's not designed for success. And I feel bad because I've walked into a place, people need to understand when
you walk into a place that has not been run or managed correctly since Marge Chiron left. This man stepped into a pile of doodoo. >> Yes, he did. It was kneeh high >> and he was going to need cooperation to
be able to dig out of that. I've been there and when you don't have that support, it makes it 10 times harder. This was his dream job. And because people
I mean, look at all the articles. It doesn't take a lot. And I'm madam, I'm gonna ask you for one more minute because I just want to I I've said that >> I can't grant that on the spot. >> I just want to say thank you to the voters. Ple people know you have power.
We saw it. Show up. We went from being adolescence and the teens as far as our cooperation and now we're YOUNG ADULTS. SO VOTE. YOU CAN AFFECT CHANGE IN THIS CITY. LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN. GET THEM OUT.
Thank you, madam madame clerk. Next speaker. >> The next speaker is Keith Watson. Please state your name and address. >> Hey, welcome. >> Keith Watson Patterson. Um, >> I'm just here to
give congratulations to all of the newly elected officials and all the persons who went out and vote. I mean, we got a
we got a we got a diversity. We got a ticket here that trust me, it took a lot of guts, a lot of heart, >> a lot of action on the E day. >> We was out there.
>> We was mobilizing. We was engaging. >> We was convincing. We was persuading people to vote row A all the way. >> All the way >> because everything was on the ballot. >> You see you here. You know what's
>> been taken away from us. >> And trust me, this ticket >> is a ticket that >> I realize that everybody recognized that they had to go out. The numbers showed up in Patterson. The chairman looked at
me personally said, "Kate, you guys did a hell of a job." >> That's right. >> And I'm going tell the candidate also, you guys did a hell of a job. >> And the reason why I'm wearing the shirt, I'm going wear them proud. I
mean, Benji gave me alo a shirt >> and it says, >> you know, vote for hope. And I believe the people went out and vote for hope. all of the candidates. I mean, even this young cat right here, >> I mean, God, I mean, his daddy works the field.
>> Huh. Huh. Mendes. >> Yeah. >> And >> I got to look at this this other young cat over there. >> Man, >> I know Al is my one of my favorite, you
know, friend. But trust me, Kenya, my cousin, my blood. I mean, trust me, he went out there with boots on the ground. He showed up. He actually showed a love to his people and to everyone and he
came out with a mission, one team, one mission >> and we got it accomplished and I we need to continue in that that direction that we keep coming out and I'm going to ask all of these candidate and I want Alex
Med to lead the charge as you spoke to Ken Yatt already. I spoke to Al. I mean y'all saw the devastation in Jamaica. Y >> y'all know what's going on. I had to suck it up, hold it in because I wanted this ticket to win. Okay. While I'm heing inside, I'm feeling hurt seeing,
you know, bodies in the mud, bodies still in the ocean. They can't find them and they can't even get food. They have to take bread and food from out of the mud to eat. I'm just asking for some donation. Please help us. >> Thank you, Mr. Watson. >> Please help us. All right.
>> Thank you, Mr. Watson. Next, next speaker, madam clerk. >> Next, next speaker is Eva Razak, I believe. >> Is is it you? >> I I don't It's I don't have her on the list. Is that a new list? >> Well, I'm looking at the initials. E
>> the next >> is Is it Eer here or >> Joe Keys is the next speaker before Ebie? >> I'm sorry. Joel Keys. I'm sorry. You're right. My apologies, Mr. Keys. State your name and address. Thank you.
>> Joel Keys Jr. Uh, I'm following up on the speech I said the last meeting where I read excerpts from Charles and Inz Baron who stopped gentrification for all 21 years they were in office in East New York,
Brooklyn. So, I have I think it's three questions because I I I notic there's a difference. He says, "The first thing you want to do to stop gentrification is determine who has the power to gentrify your neighborhood." They said it was the
New York City Council. Is that true regarding the Patterson City Council? I don't I don't think so based on even what I witnessed tonight. Uh then next they say the city council has the power over land use. It is the
city council that determines what's going to be built on city- owned land. And even if it's privately owned, the developers have to come to the city council. Is that the situation in Patterson? I don't think so. Right.
Then there's a thing called council member deference. The council member has the power to make or break any developer's project. It could be a billionaire developer. It doesn't matter. Is that the situation in Patterson? I
don't think so based on what I heard tonight. Is is the planning and the zoning? Is are those the places? So lastly, Charles Baron said the other thing is the AMI, the area median income. I heard them saying speaking about that. He said, "You gentrify black
neighborhoods by letting someone else define affordability." We must define affordability for ourselves. Area median income means those who are making a certain amount of money 50% below and 50% above the
halfway mark. In Charles Baron's neighborhood, the area median income is $36,000 for a family of three. They have one-bedroom apartments for $413 a month. Does the Patterson City Council have the
power to dictate to developers what the area median income will be that they will have to accommodate? And based on what I heard tonight, no, that's the planning and zoning. Those are the places here. >> Really?
>> Oh, snap. >> Man. All right. That's it. That's all I have for the night. >> Thank you, Mr. Keys. >> So, you have the proper representation. Motion to close. There's no more speakers. >> No, Miss M. >> Oh, Miss I'm sorry, Miss Eva. I'm sorry.
Queen >> Queen Eva, I'm so sorry. >> Just state your name. Sorry, Miss I just >> All right, ladies and gentlemen, I want everybody to put an attention on Miss Eevee because when you talk, I listen. Heads up this way.
>> Mr. VZ, >> I'm not going to talk to you and look. No, I'm not. I really, really, really mean it. Miss Davila, >> I love you. No, mama. When he finish, I got because what? I'm going to say something. I really want this is what I
why I came. >> That's okay. Bobby, I hope it's besago. I'm going to ignore him. Ladies and gentlemen, I wanted to ask a serious question on this. First of all, let me go here. I wanted to congratulate
everyone that went out and voted. everyone whose boots were on the ground, everyone who did their job. I know a lot of you guys didn't see me out there, but I don't have to be out there to do my job and you know what I'm why I don't do what I don't do anymore. Mr. Mandez, I
want to congratulate you as a father, as a man who was behind your son. Wow, I got chills from A through Z, morning through night. And you want to know something? It's funny to say this. Some people, and they shouldn't do that. Oh, because this is so and so's child. No,
stop. The kids ain't got nothing to do with what we do or we don't do. So, kudos to you. And I'm very honored that your son has a place in there because he really knows from when you do. Oh, no, mama. I've
been there and done that and I got myself in trouble. Another thing before you kick me out, madam, I wanted to say no. Patterson task for the tricky tray. Awesome. everybody who donated, everybody who went, everybody had a great time. Thank you all the
restaurants. Um, also another thing I wanted to congratulate also QAC who's really busting their butt trying to feed everyone in the city. They just had a an anniversary party. Um, Marissa Benji Wimbley, North Jersey Credit Union, Elsa
Montia. Happy birthday to Elsa tomorrow. It's her birthday, I think. I could be wrong, but Elsa the 10th. Okay. So early. I'm J early. And also this is why I'm really here. I know it. There's a rule. If you hit and run and you leave,
you get in trouble, right? Can I ask a serious question and I don't even want to cry, but I can show you what I just went through before I came here. The Mr. Mendes, I want you to listen to this, sir. You remember I told you about we got that sign in the bottom about cars coming in, right? They're speeding. Do
you know that they're running over the cats and I have to be picking them up? I have them here a little while ago. One of them. And I have them outside in a tray. And I told Mr. the other one, send somebody to pick it up tomorrow. We
need to put a something that if you hit an animal, call the cops. Guys, I can show you the heck that that cat went through. And he just died a little while ago before I got here. I got proof. And I was praying to God. But I was like, "I'm sorry." I was like, "Take."
>> Thank you so much. >> So, no, wait, Council Mims, I need this that I'm asking. I don't want to come up here and just feel like everybody feels that we're talking and nobody's listening. Is there a law? Is there something that we can put in place that you guys can do it? >> Thank you. Thank you,
>> Miss Don't make me feel bad. >> No, I'm not. But we have I have to be fair. >> I don't mean to be funny. We got three minutes, but I think I'm the only one and we've been here. Yeah, but Miss Razak, I have to be fair cuz if you extend >> All right, but just Okay, so give me an answer. What are we going to do regarding that about that? Is there a law that you guys can put because the
cars run over the animals and that's all they do? >> We can answer that can be answered during our closeout. >> Oh, who? >> During our closeout, we can send that response at close. >> Sit and wait. >> Yes. Or everybody. >> Or we can have one of our administration. They can have a conversation.
>> I'm not up here to cause any problems. When I come up here, I want to be in peace. But where there's things that are happening and I got pictures and I'm the one picking it up and doing this, you got problems, guys. >> Thank you, Miss Eva. >> Have a good night. Motion to close. >> Move to close.
>> Move. >> Motion to close by um Council Vice President. Second by Council Member Le. Roll call to close the meeting. The total agenda. It has been done and now we're closing out the meeting. The public call. >> Roll call to close public portion. Roll
call to close the public portion. Councilwoman Cotton. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, I'm going to be brief. I'm try to be quickly, but first of all, I want to say congratulations to our sixth war councilman, Ebby Omar. >> Yes.
>> For winning his >> Okay, I got to say election cuz you was appointed the first time. You won your election and you're good now to 2028. So, I Omar, congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. You worked hard like nobody hearing nothing to you. You worked for
it. That's right. >> So, I want to say congratulations again. And I also want to say congratulation to the uh row eight team out there. And they all worked hard >> starting with our governor >> uh Nikki Sh with our lieutenant governor Dale Cwell. We coming on down to our
state senator um uh senator Benjamin Wimbley. We come on down to our two assembly people Kenyatta Stewart, Al Albaziz. And then we come down to our county people um which is um Mike Willymani and Christina Strauss. Um at
the school board we know for a fact for two that are already in congratulations to Valerie Freeman and to Alex Mens Jr. and I just want to say for you all that came out here today, you know, to the council meeting to um express some of your concerns and things that that are
going on and and what we need. But um I just say that um I get calls every day and I I was hoping that our I was hoping that our our um constituent guy is he did he still here? Councilwoman >> Fernand. >> Oh, he left. Um what
>> Javier? >> Okay. Javier, our constituent concervices. Um I want to thank all the speakers that spoke tonight. Um thank you for coming coming out. But um I have two issues and I I just got a text for
one of them and I remember I I had the issue before when you have big trucks parked in your yard. You can't have commercial vehicles parked in your yard or in your backyard even though you own the property. You can't have box trucks
and tractor trailers and um so I have to make sure I want to make sure but there's a it's on East 29th Street. I have to um get that. But there's certain things that I signed that they can. Now, even with um um they talk about the
ordinance tonight about the um the zoning for the first and fourth and fifth ward, but there's things that need to be put in place before all that to happen. Um I always say to people, if you know something is not right, you need to report it. You have to report
it. If you don't report it, then nobody knows. Um so it must be reported. I always say, you know, call Ruby Cotton or call one of us, call my city clerk, call my madam clerk, call my secretary. Um, so they can kind of guide you to the right step to go or the right place to
go. Um, and so I want people to understand that they can call and they can be advised of where to go. Um, I have one more thing that I want to say. I received a call from New York. um a good friend of my husband as a matter of fact and um Tennessee University in
Tennessee is offering full rise starting in 2026. If anybody out there that have young and they specifically said young black men who wants to be doctors they will go to Tennessee State for three years and then they go to the medical school for the next four years.
sevenyear sevenyear college free ride but they require so many a certain GPA which is I understand and a certain score on your ACT test. So, if anybody out there that knows some, please inbox me or call me at city hall. Inbox me on Facebook if you have someone. Um, with
that being said, I just want to say good night to you all. Can have a we got a a next meeting next week. Anyhow, but please um have a good night everyone and God bless you all. Huh?
Oh, and also, you know, the state of New Jersey, if your child is in the top five of their class, they can go to school for free. We better start taking advantage of some of the opportunities that they do have, cuz they do have it. And I say to people all the time, they do have this opportunity here. If your
child's in the top uh five of the class, top 10% of the class, they do offer stuff. So, with that being said, madame clerk, thank you. My Dietra, thank you. my corporation council, my BA/Purchin
agent. Thank you. And my CFO, thank you my officers. Thank you. Eva, have a good night. >> Good night everyone. Officer, my council member, good night. Thank you, Madam Clerk. My vote is yes. >> Thank you very much, Councilwoman Dava. >> Thank you very much. Um, just to
talk a little about what you just said, uh, the program is called New Jersey Stars and it's for the top 15%. If you graduate top 15%, you can actually go to college what's considered free tuition. Uh, and that is a program that I've been
running for quite since it came out. All right. So, if anyone really wants um details on it, you can reach out to me um through my office number county college 973-684-6307. We can discuss that. Uh, thank you to
all the members. Um I do want to and don't want to sound repetitive but you know it is so important that you know we congratulate our councilman now elect for for earning the right to sit and
have a seat at the table. >> Everyone deserves to have a seat at the table. This council reflects what the city of Patterson looks like. So we I want to thank every six ward resident, friend, family member that supported
although may have not known but they know him now. Um and I know that uh we affectionately call you IBI but we know that your name is Ibraim Ibraim Omar. Okay. Um so I I just want to say that um
I I was in tears on on Tuesday uh you know in our other roles which I'm not going to mention right now. Um, you know, Councilwoman Mims and I for months were out there walking and knocking on
doors every weekend. Uh, and just the momentum, you know, it it happened right when it needed to happen. The people woke up and, you know, it was overwhelming. It was beautiful. Uh, and you know, the city of Patterson and Pail
County came in strong and I hope and pray that we continue with that same passion to stand up for for what's right. And I always say this, vote your conviction. You don't have to like me. I'm okay with that. You know, my mom had
a saying, you know, you're not a a piece of gold, right? That everybody loves gold. Who doesn't love gold, right? That's okay. But I'm going to say this. There has to be a level of respect, you know, to think that you can come and address someone and call someone a liar.
No. So, you know what? Then you get no respect for me. I don't even have to look at you when you come here. I do not have to. But I do respect everyone and I do stay in my lane with certain things and I will not and I refuse to get involved in
something when someone is making accusations of someone and I don't know if it's true or not. So, I can't get involved in that. But with that said, you know, um again to everyone who won, Mikey Sher, you were amazing. We're looking forward to continue working with
you for Dr. Dale Caldwell and the entire ticket. Senator Benji Wimbley, uh Assemblyman Albaziz, Kinyatta Stewart, and commissioners, uh Mike Ra, Christina Stratz, you showed out, you showed up, and we are happy for
you. And yes, school board members, congratulations to Valerie Freeman. We know she's in. >> She's in. >> We know that. Uh, Council uh, Commissioner Alex Mendes Jr., you earned that seat at the table. And I told you and I spoke to his parents yesterday. I
said, "Let me tell you something that says a lot about you." But he earned his seat and he did amazing in the forums that were were, you know, where he was afforded to be part of. So congratulations to you. I know that Councilwoman Cotton made a statement,
you know, about that third seat because right now there is some there is a projected, but there's a lot of vote by mails that have not been counted. There's a lot of provisionals that have not been counted. And by law, you have to wait an entire week. That's just the law the way it's set. If somebody put
their ballot in the mail on Tuesday, they have to wait seven days. And so we do know that a lot of people, you know, quite an amount of people have have voted uh through vote by mail. Um so uh right now as a projected, you know,
winner, um you know, uh number three, no, cuz right right number three right now is um Commissioner Dela McCall. If it stays that way, I'm going to congratulate you. If it doesn't, then we have to see who the next person would be. But with that said, cuz I did call
Dela. I called her up. I called the commissioner up. Um, so I'm wishing well to all and everyone who, you know, decided that they wanted to run. It's okay. That's your right. It's your democracy. It is okay to do that. And it's also okay to support whoever you want to support. People get ridiculed
because you don't support who they support. Don't do that. You have the same right as I. You chose one color and I chose another. That's okay, too. And in this case, and I'll leave it at this. I'm a proud Latina. Don't get it twisted. I'm a proud Latina, but I don't
always have to support Latino if I don't think it's the right person for the job. So, with that said, Madame President, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And to everyone out there that has been praying for my family,
I want to thank you as well because I know God is good >> and mine is protected. So no weapon formed against me or my family member will prosper. Have a good night, Madame
Clerk. My vote is yes to close the public portion. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Jackson. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Well, I will too congratulate those who have uh obviously been chosen by the by
the public. That's the ultimate um uh uh telltale. The public has chosen you. As when this mayor was chosen, I supported most of his items. In fact, a lot of mo all of his almost all of his items when he first got elected until I found out that he was not doing the right thing
that was in the best interest in the community. So, just because you was elected don't mean I'm not going to hold you accountable. Uh, Omar, you know, I'm going be all over your tail pipes harder than ever because listen, man, this this thing is it's um, you know, it's it it
the decisions that we make as Mr. Keys was talking about, Professor Keys was talking about, is reflective on the services that the members of the public receive. And with that being said, and I'm gonna give a shout out to uh, Alex Mendes Jr. as well. Um, I didn't support
him, but I do understand. I' I've talked to the young man many times. I do think he has the capacity. I only hope he has the integrity to go along with it. And only time will tell that. And we'll see in his uh in his tenure as a as a new newly seated uh individual because you
can talk all you want to. It's how you vote that really matters. >> That's what that's what really matters. And how we vote impact the community. But I want to take a moment to give uh you know um a special uh shout out to somebody who I'm sure nobody's going to
expect for me to do. I I text him before and I and I said uh I gave him credit and I'm always going to be willing to give credit when credit was due. I I gave him an opportunity equally as well and when I saw he wasn't willing to stand on on the on the needs of the
community, I was even harder on him. But um when somebody has shows that they have a great deal of integrity, you got to you have to stand on that and acknowledge it. Miss Hannibal, Deborah Hannibal talked about um him not having
sufficient tools or whatever to do the job. The the BA that's stepping up. Well, I mean, it was part for the course because the outgoing BA prior to him set him up for failure anyway. She she set she sent over the two assistant BAS on a
special assignment. Um, but you know, I give her credit as well, too, cuz guess what? She stood there every night, took a beating from me, looked me right in the face, but the integrity was lacking. And all the decisions that was made while she was here is a detriment to what we're
dealing with. But this gentleman who just vacated the seat, Mr. Mark Seaman decided to vacate the seat because some things was done that he was forced to to stand forward and sign documents that he
was not in favor of signing. And what did he do? He said, "No, I'm not doing this." He and he chose to vacate. I respect that. I respect that. I respect the fact that you're willing to, you know, as Miss Hannibal described it,
give up a dream job for your integrity. And see, that's very rare around here. Very rare to find somebody with integrity that's willing to make sacrifices and say, "No, I'm not going to do that anymore." You know, when somebody uh uh puts forward some
documentation and then they bring you in the room and say, "Oh, we're going to need you to sign these things that was done 3 months ago." Integrity. So again, I sent you a personal text, Mr. Seaman, and I'm also, you know, taking my hat off to you again today and tipping my
hat to you for for having integrity for the residents of Patterson, for not going along to get along, not allowing people to get abused, not lying that you'll do something and then you don't do it. Integrity, throwing in the towel,
say, "Nah, I can't do this." That right there speaks volumes for me and I respect that. I respect I go I'll stand shoulder-to-shoulder with anybody who's willing to do that especially in these kind these current climate of how Patterson is being abused and there's
zero integrity especially by people who are elected and especially by people who've been um um um uh uh appointed and uh there was one last point I wanted to make but I'm going I'm going just say
this you know when the developer came in to do um the old Fifth Avenue. I sat here and I fought hard and it was people say, "Oh, we need this, we need that." And that
developer is making a boatload of money while the people over there just go just just go do a tour there. None of the residents that are there are happy. Here you have again, as I displayed in Jersey City, they hold their developers accountable. Yes, you could build
skyscrapers. You could build the state-of-the-art places. But we're going to make you do something. If you're going to build a project of such, you're going to put a school in our community. We're going to put forward legislation to allow people to build three family houses when we know the schools are
already overcrowded. There's nowhere to park in the streets. The services are subpar. And then we're going to put people's lives in danger. 777 Marta Highway. Shaquille O'Neal went and partnered with some people in um in
Norc and built some, you know, luxury apartments, all granite, where there's a substantial amount of affordable housing there for less money than this developer here who's not going to come out of his pocket. the same as h the same that
happened at the Hinsk stadium situation where we still haven't gotten the reports on the expenditures at Hinsk Stadium. The developer never came out of his pocket and he's and and they build sub subpar uh uh facilities. I I'm getting
complaints every single day about the noise that's taking place out there where they can't the windows I mean the doors and walls are like paper so all the noise comes in to bleeds into these people's apartments. the windows falling out of the building before before a year even passed. Patterson, your
representation is important. If these people sitting here and over there are not going to hold accountable to everybody that's coming here to take advantage of our community, if they're looking to carry the water and agendas and and uh what was it called tonight?
Uh advocate or whatever he I forget the term he used for the developers. They're not looking out for your best interest. So with that being said, madame clerk, um my vote is yes. >> Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khali, Councilman Mendes.
>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh it's uh passing 11:00, but let me just say thank you uh to all the uh Pisonian that came to the council and express their concern in front of this council. But it's extremely important to start tonight by saying thank you New Jersey. Thank you
Pison. It was incredible how we came out in this election. Congratulation to our newly elect Governor Mikey Cherro. Uh it was incredible. That was a big victory not only for her but for the entire state of New Jersey because she is the
right candidate to be in that position. Also to our great uh Senator Benji Wimbley. Um, incredible to our newly elected uh assemblyman Kinyatta Stewart, a reelected assemblyman Alab Deiz and a
newly elected uh commissioner Mike Romelia and Christina Strap. Uh, and also to my left right here, it was a great honor to support my great councilman, councilor Khali Ibrahim Omar. Congratulation on your big victory and I'm very excited to see you here
right next to me on my left side again to our school board members. Um um Valerie Freeman, congratulation and Alexander Alex Mendes Jr. congratulation. I'm always say that action speak louder than word. Uh over
8,000 and counting. So I'm very excited, very pleased. And I will say thank you to the great city of Patterson. Everybody that knows me know that I I knock in a lot of doors. I see a lot of people in the city and all all my intention is to make the
life of the resident of this great city better. My goal is to just wake up and try to impact the life of somebody and make the life of any person that live in the city of Patterson easy and better and try to support the people around me as much as I can. Uh I help people every
single day, but I don't use that uh to promote myself. I don't need that. God is great. When you wake up and and you have food on the table, you have a roof over your head and you're healthy and your family is healthy, you are blessed. You are extremely blessed. So,
congratulation to all the elected official because it was a victory for the state of New Jersey and also for the city of Patterson. Uh uh and and uh my brother um and my lieutenant uh uh Keith Waxton. Uh thank you. you did did you
did a phenomenal job. Uh he's part of my team Esma L Cruz and and the rest of the team. Uh you guys did an incredible job. I want to say thank you from this day um for the great job that you guys did not only for uh for Mendes but for the
entire party. Um, and also Keith, I hear you. Um, during this, uh, during the election, um, our brothers and sisters back home in Jamaica, they've been going through a very tough time because of the hurricane account that affect the island. Um, I spoke, I spoke with Kinyatta Stewart today. We're meeting
tomorrow. I spoke with all the elected official. I'll call Major Johnson also. Um, and and also Council Ki um, tomorrow. Kinyatta, I want to meet I want to have a meeting with him because he want to put an event together. We want to put an event together as soon as possible before the League of Municipality to help our brothers and
sister from Jamaican. They need everything any anything. They need everything. They lost everything back home. So I reach out to them. Uh and I know Mayor Rosco being bowels as well. So you know we putting together all the elected official to do something great
uh and and tomorrow. So we're going to inform you guys. Uh so Patterson, let's continue praying for our city. Um, let's let's let's just let's continue doing what we have to do to make our city better. Last but not least, to all my third world resident, we resurface in
Fifth Avenue. Pay attention to the signs, please. If you know when you get back home, if you see the sign, do not parking. Please go around and park the park your car in a safe spot. We working on East 26, East 25th, 3rd Avenue, 5th
Avenue, the dead end on East 25th also as well. I'm going to be there tomorrow early in the morning. But once again, be careful, be mindful of the signs. Uh the commercial vehicle or police in the third war, you know my number, but don't call me to ask me for help if they
towing your truck or your commercial truck because you know that you're not allowed to park commercial vehicle on residential area. You got to get a lot. You got to get it. You have to get a space, you know, for for those uh commercial truck. So that's against the law. if the police get a if you get a
ticket and towing um so you're responsible for that please be mindful of that and avoid those ticket avoid because they're expensive it cost a lot so once again Patterson I think I covered everything um and with that say
my vote is yes good night Patterson >> thank you Councilman Omar >> thank you madam clerk uh so I've been waiting a while to say this but uh thank you to all the voters who have trusted me >> and Uh, I just want to say I'm ready to do the work. And to the ones who didn't
vote for me, all I want to do is be able to trust your vote, earn your vote, earn your trust, and let you know that I can do the work. Um, and I want to congratulate the entire row a ticket from, uh, Mikey Cheryl to our Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, uh, Senator
Benji Wimberly, Assemblyman Al Deaziz, and then Assemblyman Kinyatta Stewart. You guys are going to do a great job. and our two new county commissioners, Commissioner Mike Remaglia and Commissioner Christina Schutz, and also to the board of ed, Commissioner Val
Freeman, uh, Alex Jr., and the last seat is still undecided, but whoever it is, I will make sure to congratulate them. Um, and I want to give a shout out to that guy right there because you know what? He was working hard. Every time I every time I took somebody to the polls, he
was outside and and Mr. Watson, I'll give you the respect, Mr. Watson. But uh to to everybody that uh that pushed out that every pole worker, every voter, every person that has something to do with it. You know what? I got to I got to give a big congratulations to their
first big victory. >> Our co our chair and our co-chair. That's right. Council President Mims and Vice President Marissa Davala. You guys did a great job. You guys were out there every day. And to my colleagues who did support me. Thank you. I mean, all the phone calls, all the all the texts, all
the the little motivation. Keep going, keep going, don't stop. Thank you guys because it's those little things that help you uh push. And before I do uh end, I I just want to say my heart goes out to uh the Abahuda family. Obviously, we all know that five people uh passed
away on Halloween night. And uh you know, I I was blessed to uh to know the family, but I'm also was blessed because they gave me my first job. Yes, >> they gave me my first job and they welcome me with open arms and to lose somebody who is such a a staple in our
community, it uh it truly does hurt. So, may God have mercy on them and may God rest their soul. Uh with that being said, my vote is yes to the public portion. >> Thank you, Councilman Nuden. >> Thank you, Madame K. Good evening, Patterson. Uh those are watching us,
those who uh were here made a concern. Um thank you for joining us. Uh before I start, I'd like to congratulate my council colleague. I would you know I'd love to uh you know see you back and of course it was absolutely an honor to
support you on your election. At the same time I'd like to congratulate all the row a candidates and also Patterson board of education candidates for making this election. Um before I would like to get attention from Mr. CFO uh regarding
uh the article. Mr. CFO, >> so um I would like to bring uh to your attention regarding the $4.3 million >> CFO. >> He doesn't need to answer. Council
President, I just want to bring to the attention. All right. So, um Mr. CFO. So I would like to bring it to the attention about $4.3 million unexplained over expenditures and I
you know that uh it came to the just not only the newspaper also I saw that our council president mentioned that she asked for the explanation as well and that explanation um we all need to move forward and let
the record reflect that I did not support the uh budget introduction neither 5.6% or um 3.5%. Because even if you take a look at 2023
2024 I believe 2022 2023 budget there's still some some clarification needed as as you all know that on top of this we are seeking for $65 million u borrow to borrow and which comes along with about
two to$3 million interest so uh CFO we have to be more uh responsible transparent to the people that where's money point. I understand that city is running out of cash. That's that's where we are standing at this
point. However, we have to be mindful about how we are spending our money. Think think about the city situation that where we are spending money is a big amount but city is dirty. We have to more
focused on trash collection. Last week when we talking about ex uh another extension of the um trash pickup without bulk we have to think about this is something very essential. We cannot just ignore this. So how can
we add this to the next budget? So um since council person mentioned she emailed and I'm asking for your one more time that I personally to move forward and see the um you know to make sure that where I'm standing with the next
budget that that you are going to bring. Um before that I need explanation on those items. Um my council colleague laughed but I want to mention about the recent house fire on Imarson Avenue. And before I share
that I am um hardened and and and sorry for the family lost. But this is not the first time I reported to any incident. When I get called I try to be there as soon as possible. The next door is is
one of my cousins property. Before even the fire truck reached to the location, we and I said the families around they tried with their level best to get to the attention. Even the people living on the first floor, they were not
even aware that there was a house fire. The smoke coming out of the house, they are knocking on the door to make sure they come out. That's happened on the day. So this this this is what you're speaking about. So when council colleague mentioned about that um you
know how come I did not speak or go don't go to the live and speak about the um illegal dwellings in our city. Trust me, he mentioned about two properties on Prickness Avenue and and and Richmond.
And there are so many other properties I particularly I sent email to the departments to make sure take a look at when he mentioned about one of the properties he said it's on the Patterson plus about Marian Street. I make my
make my volunteers my interns to report those things on the on the app. I personally email those issues. Even yesterday, Sunday, I um Sunday or Monday, I reported another issue something like
that on from 160 Richmond Avenue and I believe that the director sent the um uh inspectors there at the house to report the issue that I have mentioned. I follow the procedure and I mentioned that when talking about the house fire,
this is not the first time I stood for the families. Last time before that incident, there was a house, two houses on on Toro Avenue. I was there for the entire night, I with the support of the community
members helped the group of um members living in this those properties for for about a week. Same night I took him to the uh hotel, I requested the manager to give the lower price and we we we rented
par room $50 from uh Holiday Inn. I don't know they they Whiteham something they renamed it. This is not the first time I I stood for the families and we we rented uh for for one week um some of the community members uh stood with me and we provided food for them over a
week. This is not the first time we are standing for it. But what I'm trying to bring to the attention that I am not the person and authorized to walk into someone's property and talk about is legal or illegal. That's not me. That's not our authority. We cannot just walk
into someone's property and talk about it's legal or illegal. But what I see and what I feel I I I address that in in a formal way. Um um nothing else. What else to share? Um,
also I would uh like to mention that Mr. Price just texted me uh to he said to mention about it. Uh you send this. Okay. So I want him to know this. We we address this matter. Um he just he texted me. Let me just read the text. Uh
regarding the um regarding the trucks parking on East 29th Street. So um uh I I am going to email as well about this matter tomorrow morning. Uh with that
being said, council president uh my vote is yes to close the public question. >> Thank you Councilman. Councilman VZ. >> Thank you uh madame clerk. Uh I will try to be brief. Uh Mr. Price is having an
issue um east 29. Uh numerous time we have called PD. Uh the only thing is uh Mr. Uh BA uh um East 29 dead end. Um there's a commercial vehicle parking um
in that section, but it's not in the street. They've been hiding in inside a property that is not paved and etc. I refer the issue to the zoning department so to to get the facts of why those vehicles are parked there. So, um he's
29 um dead end, uh by uh the third one. I know Councilman Mendes probably is on on top of it also um and and making sure it get resolved. Um the um
it's really important that uh during the election uh there was a a tremendous uh hurricane that went through Jamaica. You know, let's keep our brothers and sisters and um a local community, Jamaica community in our prayers, but at
the same time pray and donate. um John J um organization, Jama Jamaican organization has been active collecting um um items to uh to be able to take to Jamaica. Um I know that Mr. Joe Key um
not Joe Key um Mr. Keith Keith Wson also has a flyer running around uh to uh people collect and donate. But this one is in the east side high school every weekend from 10:00 am to 6 pm. Any any concern you could call to commissioner
uh Carr if you have their number. Um you could call him and get more information. Um I also posted in my Facebook and um people could get information there. Um let's keep in um in our prayers u our uh below um uh
councilwoman uh Ver Ames. Uh she is she is Oh no. Oh she she didn't tell me that it's my will to say okay. All right. So >> listen I I didn't got that. Oh my god. Can't believe this. Ladies and
gentlemen, I had a conversation with her and she didn't tell me to announce it. She said, "So what about if I want to pray and everybody want to pray for her?" Okay, so the um the representative of her is telling me to announce it. Um
but let's pray for her. Um I didn't finish saying what I could say and they just put in a block on me here. Um let's congratulate I wish I could say this one. Let's congratulate Daniel Martinez for her um um good win at a
Miss Uni Miss New Jersey. Uh that was a nice experience event that I win and um uh it's nice to see people succeed and and and reach their goal. Congratulations Dia Martinez. You have made them proud in the county and also is going to Arizona, I believe that is
to um uh for what? >> Vegas. >> Vegas. Yes. to the uh big competition. Um everybody I mentioned here um Adel Adeliz family and those that knows their family um our condolence. I'm not going
to go in detail to claim what's going on there because it's still on investigation. So I cannot elaborate elaborate in anything and put facts or whatever. Uh that's why I I try to not make those type of comments. But they we
stand strong with them, pray for them and making sure that uh it's not easy losing family in the tragedy. It's not it's emotional is it's especially to the men and women from the fire department
that um went to that place. Um the um the gentleman that was here early uh he was announcing a a a program or a a job fair for youth and um my phone went
dead. Um I don't know if he had a flyer, but just um go to read broadcast and get information unless councilwoman uh president took the notes but my phone went dead. I had it right here. Uh one what? 151
>> 150 Belmont. 151 Belmont. They have a youth uh on Sunday 1 to 4. They have Yeah. Um I know I know that we want to go home. Um we going to be out in a
league of municipalities um next two weeks. in two weeks. Um, last but not least, congratulation to all the winning Democratic team. Those that did not saw
me in any kind of event. I have the right to go or not, but I'm a Democrat and I vote row A all the way. If you had any doubts of that, um, I will continue supporting the Democratic party. Last but not least,
the six word has spoken. Everybody knows that Ela Vonva is my legislative aid. Everybody knows that I was supporting her. We did a clean and professional campaign. When we say we,
even if I went out one day, I did it professional. Even if I went out one day, I did it professional. Uh, everybody's responsible, accountable of do what they do. One thing I got to say is the election are over. Okay? I'm not
going to sit down here and say let's work together and then the next day I'm beating you up, right, Councilman? Uh, you have to represent and you will represent the whole entire community that have elected you. Even that was a
the the amount of vote that came out still if you count all the resident you had to represent them. Even if if a low high votes you still had to represent all of them. What I take personal and and and we have to try to not say it
because when I hear it say it'll match me, right? When when I when people come and say that we have to have a seat on the table, it's true. We have to have a seat on the table. And that's what we here for, to have a seat on a table. When we sit here, I'm called blind. I'm
sit here. I work for everyone. Um, probably the community say we don't have somebody that represent us. That's not the right term. You have nine councilmen that represent no matter what is your nationality, no matter where you come
from, what flag you carry, what language you speak, we here to represent every community that you feel identified with somebody, that's a different thing. All right, but um we here to work. Congratulation uh Omar Eie. Um I say
always that aliz was no okay I got my time. Um um I always say that Aldis was my son. Now you're my nephew. Don't call me uncle and you more close to me than Aldo. Aldo Z was at the end.
So you know but um let's keep on working. Um election 2026 is around the corner. I'm not going to debate personal issues. are here to debate government issues. So
Harry, thank you for for being with us, you know, and and and bringing always your professionalism and what you do. So um u why you raising your hand? Who endorsing who?
>> No, I say election in 2026 around the corner. I haven't made my decision I going to support you or not. Why? >> Oh, okay. Because they want to go home. I Yes. I want to wrap up. Yes. Last but not least. Good night. I made
my statement in Facebook. I sent a letter to the mayor. Um Oh. Um and then I did send it at 9:00 in the morning. Uh um thank you for responding um that you correct the number that it's
not 4 million, it's 2 million. But if it was a penny, still the administration had to be accountable on it. So um that's the respond he gave to me. I wanted the mayor to respond me, but he always has his people to respond. Um,
oh, last but not least, um, the same way the mayor investigated or put in put the alarm situation out there, I hope he comes I hope he comes
with a full report about the false alarm in election day. That would be good to know to put the same energy Um, thank you, council president. I know
you want to wrap up. Next week I will bring the uh answers to the economic development. We we still have to uh discuss a lot of things that she put on the floor. Good night. Thank you, Raphael. Thank you to Melinda. God bless you all. Good night. My vote is
yes. >> Thank you, uh, council president. >> So, let me just do this in closing. Um, an article was out that stated that myself and finance chair was not aware of the $4.3 million
uh over expenditures in the budget. Immediately, um, I made the calls because we've been going over the budget and the issues in the budget for months. So it's not true that we were not aware
when the budget came forth the introduction of the 5.6 I stated it in the meeting that I recognized there was some inflation in the budget and I was not going to support it and I requested that it would be 3.5% from the very
beginning so that we have time to assess the budget and it came back we went to 3.5 we're now moving towards the final adoption next week. So, I saw the article. You know, I don't get into the back and forth. I just tell people just
just listen to the meetings. Watch the meetings. Look at how the votes were allocated and just do what's necessary. I know it's election season, and I tell people that's fine, but I I made a request to the CFO, which he did, to
explain because it wasn't 4.3, it's actually 1.7 million. Um and there's some rationale and explanations as to what uh those differentials were and it was sent to all the council members. If you have not received that information,
please reach out to the CFO so you're fully aware as we go into uh next week the final adoption of this city's budget. It has taken months and a lot of review uh through the finance committee
and the administration and this council. We've always asked for recommendations. Give us some recommendations on things that you may see in the budget to help us get to where we need to be. And so I'm going to ask that again. Our final adoption will be next week on the
budget. There's some recommendations. You will see that as well um that are being presented, but my prayer is that that we do what's right by by the city and um the residents. In addition to that, I just want to say congratulations
to all of our row A candidates and to say that we have our first female Democratic governor. That is an exciting exciting thing to yell and scream from the top of the mountains, especially while we're experiencing a government
shutdown. People's food stamps, Medicare, Medicare was on the line. I want to say that it really feels good to say role A the entire ticket won starting from our governor candidate Mikey Cheryl,
Reverend Dr. Dell Cowwell as a lieutenant governor, our senator Benji Wimberly, our assemblyman, Assemblyman Abdelaziz, Assemblyman elect Kenyatta Stewart, our county commissioners Mike Rmaglia and Christina Stratz. school board. Congratulations to
Commissioner Valerie Freeman as well as Alex Mendes Jr. um on welldeserved victories. I acknowledge uh Commissioner Dela McCall as well. I know there's some more numbers coming and if that you know if it changes I'll come back and say
that. But to all the people that ran, thank you for stepping up and running for an election. I want to say this because it was stated by Mr. Olive on tonight. He said that I was an embarrassment because I chose to put my
picture on the top in the hallway in the city hall in the city hall uh lobby. And this is someone that's trying to be a council person. He needs to understand that at the time
that you are elected by your peers as the council president, the clerk talks to the DPW department and they always put the council president at the top next to the clerk. This has been going on for a very very long time and I
always say I appreciate when I see people come especially men to have an issue when they see a woman rising to the top. So thank you Mr. Aliveres. I'm not trying to be or or looking to be. I am. And I need you to continue to remember that I am in the seat that you
want and you're not going to get. And at the time that you ever get to a seat like this, when you can be, if your colleagues feel the need to make you the council president, then your picture may go on the top >> in 2050.
But I just want to say congratulations also to my council council colleague Ibraim Omar. That's >> right. >> Congratulations. You know the we the leading ladies we were with you from the very beginning.
>> Leading ladies >> myself, Council Vice President Davin, Council Cotton. >> We were out there boots on the ground. We even did a flyer. >> Oh yeah. to make it known that we stood just like we stood with you unanimously in your appointment. I was not shifting
gears because you are always in the sixth ward. You were there with assemblyman Abdelaziz. And when we went out there and talked to the residents, they knew exactly who you were. You also have one of your residents sitting to my right. He was supporting you from the beginning. Thank you for representing.
You know, I love you. I love your family. >> And I will put say this in closing. Since you've been appointed, and I posted this on social media, you have attended all council meetings except for one due to death in your family. All of
the committee meetings, workshops, you've been here in the council chambers, in the office asking questions and doing the work. You will be fine and you will serve well. Congratulations to everyone. Thank you to Patterson and
Pake and Pake County for standing up and making sure that the blue wave we landed the plane. >> Democrats, >> landed. >> Fellow Democrats, very proud of you. Let's celebrate. Let's work together.
And let's make sure that we understand and know that we are better together. Let's continue to pray for the sick and the shut in. pray for the family of the victims that have been impacted not just by this fire but so many other things. Let's continue to pray for them. And
madame clerk, my vote is yes to close the public portion. And at this time, before you close a vote, I'm going to respectfully ask my colleagues to just vote yes because we have been done with
the agenda over an hour and a half. And it is time now to allow our clerk, our secretary, the police officers, and our acting BA to go home for the evening. Madame clerk, my vote is yes. >> Thank you, council president.
The votes are eight in favor, one absent. The public portion is hereby closed. >> Motion to close. >> Second. >> Motion to close. Councilman Mendes. Second by uh Councilman Odin. Councilman Omar. Roll call. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Roll call.
>> Roll call to close the workshop session of November 6, 2025. Councilwoman Cotton. Uh >> Madame Clerk, everyone watching, have a good night. God bless you all. Madame Clerk, my vote is yes. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Davilla. Missy, >> Madam Clerk, my vote is yes. >> Councilman Jackson,
>> my vote is yes. >> Councilman uh Khaled, Councilman Mendes. >> Um yes, Mad before before my vote, I I was under the impression that I congratulate my lieutenant and council aesma. Uh so once again congratulation all my
leesmas kuba kiwax all my team Mendes for that great victory and thank you Patterson for the great support and the vote of conference. God bless you Patterson. God bless our city and God bless each and every one of you. My vote is yes.
>> Thank you Councilman Omar. >> My vote is yes. Good night. >> Thank you very much Councilman Nuden. >> My vote is yes but Clark. Good night. >> Thank you Councilman Delesz. Cong forgot to say congratulate J Alex Mendes for the win of your son. You know I was there. I support him and I did what I have to do to make sure that he get uh
the vote that he had to get. Uh council Mendes. Cas Mendes. Congratulations. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you. >> You owe me one. >> Just kidding. Good night. God bless you all. Stay safe. See you tomorrow. >> Thank you very much. Council President's
vote is yes. Council Thank you very much. Council President, the votes are six in favor, three absent. >> The workshop session of November 6, 2025 is hereby adjourned. Good night, Patterson.