The notice requirements have been satisfied. The meeting dates for the year are confirmed at the annual meeting are posted on the public bulletin board in the lobby of the municipal center and published in the record within the first 10 days of the new year. Salute to the flag, please.
Omar, can I have a roll call, please? >> Council member Corsair, >> here. >> Council member Dayton, Council Member Jackson, Council Member Michaels, >> present. >> Council member Dr. Okconor, Council Member Council Member Roeri, Mayor Zenna
>> here. Okay. The first item on the agenda to be considered the ebike legislative updates. >> Um, Shephard's going to do that. Yeah. Come on up, Shephard. Just give us your name. No address. >> Just your name is
>> and speak into the microphone, please. That's fine. This one. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. Go ahead. Give them out. Wendy's on. Wendy's on the uh blind. >> Yep. I'm here.
>> Hey, Wendy. >> Hi. Thank you. >> Thank you, uh, mayor and council for allowing me to speak tonight. Um, does this work? >> Um, I'm Shepherd Grinker. I'm a Tennifly resident, local business
owner, um, and member of the newly formed New Jersey ebike shop coalition. Uh, I'm also invol involved in downtown uh, business community as well. Um, with me is uh, Sandy Chapman uh, who spearheads the co the bike uh, ebike
shop coalition uh, and is working with people for bikes and the new uh, Jersey bike walk coalition um, to advocate for change on the new ebike law. Um, and we will both be available for questions after a brief presentation. Uh, I'm here
to speak tonight on S4834 A6235 signed by Governor Murphy uh on January 19th and to discuss it through the lens of what we now care about uh what we all care about most, which is public safety.
Um, let's start with intent. Uh the goal was to update RS3911 which uh was to address uh legitimate concerns around high-powered electric motorcycles, what many call emoted devices should be regulated. Uh they can
be dangerous. Uh they can reach dangerous speeds and they present real safety risks. Um but the issue uh is in that addressing those risks. uh the law wept in low-speed electric bicycles um which are fundamentally different. You'll notice I'm using the term emotos
and ebicycles. They are totally different things. Um, we now have a situation where low-speed ebicycles up to 20 mph uh which are designed uh for transportation and recreation are capped at safe speeds and
high-powered e-ostos above 20 mph uh which behave more like motorcycles are being treated the same under the new law. Uh this creates confusion and most importantly a misalignment with actual safety risks. Um, we've all heard it from our neighbors and people downtown.
Uh, I almost got ran over on Washington by someone on an ebike on the sidewalk the other day. It's a real problem. But we are regulating these things the we are regulating the wrong things in the wrong way. Um, why is this a safety issue? If the goal is safety, the law
has several unintended con consequences. uh conflicts with federal law um imposing motor vehicle requirements on low-speed bicycles which are federally treated as consumer products and exempt from more restrictive state regulations while high-speed devices remain
unregulated underregulated uh more so it creates confusionment and confusion confusion and enforcement issues. The law labels multiple vehicle types as ebikes which increases the number of units requiring registration and enforcement. Uh these low-speed
electric bicycles can be can be difficult to identify to uh due to design and speed and police departments will now have to differentiate between pedal bicycles and electric bicycles. It's almost impossible.
Uh it introduces requirements without current infrastructure. I spoke to uh the mayor about this. Uh the um the law requires registration, licensing and road tests, insurance, but the systems are currently not in place. Uh insurance
products are limited and specialized. Most carriers do not have existing policies for liability for low-speed electric bicycles. They don't exist right now. There is a few specialty companies that offer insurance but right now we cannot enforce this because there is no insur there's no insurance and
there's no registration processes. Um, and even if you go to the MVC uh uh website, the information uh under the website has an information weight list. So, you can get on a wait list to learn more. But so far, I've been on the wait list for 3 weeks now and no have yet to
be contacted or even got a confirmation email that I've submitted my name and email and everything else. So, when compliance is unclear, safety enforcement breaks down. It also when we're talking about safety, it discourages safe transportation
choices. Low-speed ebicycles are replacing car trips and less safe and less safe alternatives. But this law adds barriers, restricts use, including carrying children, and makes adoption more difficult. So, it's harder to get an ebike now, and it's harder to get it registered under the new law, which is
actually a these are safer transportation alternatives. uh fewer people using these safe low-speed transportation is not a safety improvement by any means. And this is what the the core of it is. The law dis disproportionately affects individuals
with limited transportation options, including DUI uh um violators who rely on them. Um lowincome residents who depend on ebicycles for commuting and work. Immigrants. um elderly residents
who rely on ebicycles mo for mobility, disabled riders who use low-speed ebikes and eikes for essential mobility devices, and recreational riders who use ebicycles for sport and mental health like me. Um this is not just a burden on riders
because it adds over 300,000 known this is known this is not Amazon data. This is known by major the major bicycle manufacturers. Low-speed electric bicycles to the infrastructure enforcement burn. 300,000 units that need to be road tested and registered
and insured that that pose no safety uh risks at all. And so enforcement is going to be even more difficult when you add all of these bicycles that actually don't create a problem to the mix. Um, and then I'm going to talk a little
bit about economic uh impact and community impact because my businesses is tanked since this law passed. It's flatlined. I'm actually getting moving all of my ebikes to a store in New York that needs them because I cannot sell them. I cannot talk about them. No one's asking questions. This was the
sustenance of my business for the last two years and it's gone. Everyone knows because that it went out in the the Tennifly flyer and every town is putting it posting it and the police departments are posting it >> that they're now illegal but they're and
they're going to enforce it but you they can't the police cannot enforce it because you can't register. So uh uh other shops are seeing product returns uh and growing uncertainty among amongst riders uh affects my small business. Uh
and we don't have the the finance for the financial data on this, but the the thousands and thousands of tourists that come to the Jersey Shore that use our bike paths, they're going to think twice about coming to a state that is going to
enforce it. the people that are coming from New York along 9W on high on low-speed e electric bicycles that are going to think twice about visiting our state and spending their money here. So, and it's going to have a devastating impact in the Jersey Shore. They are
they've already seen it where people are they're not they're afraid to rent them. They have ebikes. They come they they park their cars and they ride ebikes all summer long and now they're going to think twice about visiting our state. We'll get to questions in a second.
Adams, >> the good news is this can be fixed. So, a safety focus approach would restore clear definitions aligned with federal law for low-speed ebicycles up to 20 m hour. Very simple. 20 miles per hour.
uh remove un it's not fast that's that's how that's how fast I ride on the road and and and road riders are doing 25 30 miles per hour on county road so it's actually and that's up to you >> mean with regular bikes >> regular bikes um remove unnecessary burdens like
registration licensing insurance for those low-speed ebikes clearly define e-oto as motorcycles so let's stop calling them ebikes they're emot with appropriate requirements for license, registration, insurance, and age restrictions, which is extremely
important. I believe that a 13-year-old should not be on an ebike, period, or an e-oto or an ebicycle. Uh, and address the deceptive marketing. This is a big problem where high-speed vehicles are sold as ebicycles. Close
loopholes around tampering and strengthen enforcement through training and data collection. That is how you improve safety by targeting actual risk. So this is my ask and then I'll get to questions. Um as elected representatives of our town, I respectfully ask that you both uh collectively and individually
look through the information I've provided. I can provide you with more. There's a a plethora of information. My website actually has a blog which breaks down a lot of the details. Um and reach out to me with any questions because we want educated solutions to the issue. So, I I do I
want your feedback. I want you to to to research it and understand it. And if you have questions, come to me or you can contact Sandy as well. >> How fast can an emoto go? >> 75 miles per hour, 100 miles per hour, as fast as they want. >> Their runs that are ripping around town
are going 60. >> Can I finish my thing? Like >> so. >> So the other thing is uh urge senators park and hater. So contact them. I'm going to contact them myself. >> Assembly members. >> Yes. >> Hater and Park. >> Yeah.
>> You said Senator >> Senator Johnson. >> Yep. Sorry. Um >> uh as well as Governor Cheryl to support uh future legislation. So it's coming before them very soon. It's going through the process. just remind them it's coming and say you're in support of
it because it's basically uh it's going to define what low-speed ebikes under 20 miles per hour is bicycles eliminating license registration and insurance requirements. Very simple. That's what's going to go in front of them. We need their support. I know uh Mickey Cheryl is
>> supportive of changes to the legislation although uh she's unable to really enact anything. It's really up to the state senate. There are two bills proposed that the bikewalk coalition of
New Jersey as well as for bikes have been voting. Um, Senator Mccury, who's I guess Jersey City, is probably the lead advocate. He was the author of the 2019 bill which regulated
uh the emoto numbers here. Are these the existing bill or the proposed? >> Existing. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And uh I sit on a call every Tuesday with people for bikes, bike law coalition, various other advocates who
are back and forth uh you know they have each of these two main organizations have uh lobbyists in Trenton working it through. Um, and at this point, uh, by Monday, we should have a, uh, little bit more
dialed in, uh, proposed legislation. >> So, what are the two bill numbers? Do you know the new ones? >> I proposed not released yet. Yeah. >> Can I can I ask it then? It sounds to me, if I was going to summarize what you're saying, that these the fact that
they're classifying Emotos under this umbrella and calling them ebike is is the crux of the problem, right? >> That's one of them. The fact that they've they've lumped everything they've lumped what the federal government considers three classes into one class
>> is what's going to create real issues. And an emoto emot the safety. >> That's the the safety. And that seems to be what I think when when I was young, we called a moped, >> but there's there's there's also emopeds. >> Oh my goodness. But I don't want to. >> All right.
There is a gray area. Um, and at this point there is federal legislation that uh has been pushed forward. It's going to take longer than >> Well, it's federal. Sure. >> To to start to make some changes here in New Jersey to come up that will allow
the CPSC provide the appropriate regulatory structures to control the marketing and distribution side of the emoto, but they fall into a very odd hole right now. >> Okay. unregulated. Essentially, they
market them as class two, >> which is a low speed in our >> nomenclature, but they can be very quickly and easily modified to exceed, as Shepard say, exceeding that 20 mph limit and going
all the way up to 50, 60, 70 miles an hour. Um and then f I mean finally I just wanted to I I was hoping there would be some police um but I I asked the police and traffic officers reach out to me. I'm happy to provide a um an education
session at the bike shop and because I don't think they know and I think that that's the biggest issue is no one knows what any of this stuff is and no one's really looking to seek it out and find out what it is but it's it's coming up quick. So they have till July to comply and understand what this is. And so it's
going to be very confusing as this happens as it unfolds. So that's it. Um I'm just looking for your support, looking for you to reach out. >> So I got one better for you because it seems that Assemblywoman her is actually on call right now. So you could speak directly to your assembly.
>> Okay. Were you listening? >> Assemblywoman, are you on the line? Can you hear us? Yes, I am. Can you hear me? >> Yes. How you doing this evening? >> I'm good, thank you so much. I just heard the whole uh uh problem right now.
Uh would you mind reaching out to my office and talking to me directly? >> Yes. Yeah, that was my next step actually. >> Please come in on Engle Street. You can stop by. You can call and make an appointment or walk in on a day when we are there anytime.
>> Okay. >> Okay. I'll I'll I'll I'll set up an appointment. So, >> please do. >> Okay. >> Somebody here will have my phone number. >> I'll Assemblywoman. I'll give it to Shephard. I'll give him all the contact information. >> Please, please do. Thank you.
>> Of course. >> No >> questions. >> Yes. I I have one. That's okay. I want to know what would you like to see here for children because I think you know riding bikes such an incredible thing that is in this community. I'm also
seeing kids flying down the street no helmets running all over our municipal fields running all over our parks and wreck um without a care in the world ripping up the you know landscaping. So obviously we need some sort of restrictions somewhere but things that
make sense. I would love input. You know, I'd love for you to work with our police if they're willing because there does need to be a balance and I think children seem very unsafe on some of these. >> I I absolutely agree. I was I was walking it was interesting. I was
walking on Saturday down Washington and a a kid wearing a helmet with a kid not wearing a helmet on the back of one of the motor >> came right up on the sidewalk and I had to jump out of the way >> and I actually caught up to him on Westervelt and I said do you know what
you're do you get off first of all get off the sidewalk let's let's start with that um we we've t I've talked to the mayor about it like we need to educate the police they have to understand like what you know what are the what are the law you know now that the law has become even more murky. Uh what are the laws?
What what's safe and what's not safe and and identifying that um and being and for the police to be able to identify that um education in school is the best thing. Um that's the best place to get kids and I know that I believe Tennifly has actually made an announcement. You
said where did you hear there was another school that did it? one number >> 50 50 school systems across the state that we've heard from we have coalitions 110 bike shops as well as local community members so we're getting the
word out I think I was in Glenn Rock for years and we I spirit a sacred school program uh we did a number of bicycle safety training programs for young kids seven, eight, nine years old.
We did some training for kids just to learn how to pedal a bike or get on a bicycle from, you know, a toddler age. >> So, those are things that are really fun community events that that bring participation and they at least get that messaging started.
So, there are organizations that have trained educators to >> New Jersey Bikewalk Coalition, I think, has has an educational program as well. So, Oh, I will say as we repave our streets, one of the things that we here in
Tennifly should be looking at is that curb area, not on the sidewalk, but in a safe lane on either side when we can to stripe it for bikes and walks and runners. >> Which street? >> All every single street. We had done this initiative years ago that
everything we repaved was going to have a bike and walk path and we haven't stuck to our guns on that. >> Yeah. I mean, I think it that that that's a lot of the conflict issue that we see is people are uh pedestrians are on sidewalks. >> Yes. >> Um and kids on bikes are on sidewalks
and and my son who was now a a freshman in Tennifly High for many years rode on the sidewalk because he didn't feel safe in the streets. And so and he's a skilled cyclist and he didn't feel safe riding in the streets. And so and again
that's where the conflicts arise. It's not a kid problem. It's a safety problem. You had asked the question earlier about you know how did this all arise and I won't go into minute detail but one of the things is since co u traffic crashes have increased
dramatically I think it's a 30% increase overall across the country uh pedestrian motor vehicle crashes and accidents however you want to put it have also increased at a slightly higher
Um what's interest and you know also concurrently uh you know bicycle crashes with motor vehicles have also increased. um these emotives being written by younger kids without necessarily the prefrontal cortex to
really control their actions uh are you know there there's some very tragic stories and that's there was a 13-year-old uh in Scotch Plains who was on an emoto and rode into the side of a landscaping truck and you know perished
unfortunately and that's what prompted state senator Senate President Nicholas Qatari to move a piece of legislation that had been basically tabled for over two years and had not gone anywhere and literally
within a month uh had moved through and uh signed off on. So it it went much quicker than the national organizations understood or saw. Um there was really very limited uh public feedback on it. >> Yeah. Has anybody ever passed in two
months? >> I don't think ladies didn't understand. >> I think that's exactly the case and they seem to understand that at this point and are now beginning retrench. It is the single most restrictive bill in the country. There are 36 other states that
have some sort of legislation for ebikes. Um, I brought with me tonight the latest issue of the industry rag, which it's all over that as far as California, uh, Washington State are trying to get ahead of New Jerseyy's
restrictions, uh, but still putting some greater controls into the emoto side. >> It sounds like it wasn't ready to become a law then with this speed >> have something and nothing and then they could amend. But >> exactly, there's some very good parts of the law as it exists now.
>> The problem is there there's no way to enforce it. I mean, like, you know, again, the law is passed. >> Theoretically, I own an ebike. I have to have it registered and insured. >> I I can't go get it registered. I don't have an MCO. >> Don't you have to have a license now for
them? >> A driver's license or an ebike? >> 16-year-olds can't get driver's licenses, >> but you can get a 15-year-old can get an ebike license. You should know this. You're running the DMV >> except we we don't issue them though. >> Well, I was that's a problem.
>> What What does the DMV allow? What is What are we allowed to apply for any of that stuff? >> We don't officers don't issue any of these licenses or registrations. >> There's no there's no there's so there's there's supposed to be a a road test.
>> There's no road test. No one's been trained. And there needs to be a budget for that. Don't forget. So you're going to need to you're gonna need money to do all this stuff and there's no budget for it. So they've enacted a law with no budget, no money behind it, no real way to implement it, only a way to enforce it.
>> No six-hour course. There's a 45 hours >> is a requirement on the >> We've also a woman who's on our our committee who has a now 15year-old autistic son who
uses an E trike with the throttle be considered a class two and he his life has changed dramatically and there is no possible way he could he doesn't have the cognitive ability to pass a written exam.
much less he doesn't have the motor control to pedal a a conventional bicycle. So there's a huge impact on that community alone. And uh you know I think that these are some of the the unintended consequences that I think are
really dire and and things that uh you know certainly tear at my heartstrings as somebody who's a passionate cyclist but also somebody believes in trying to be as inclusive as possible. Okay. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you, >> Shepherd. We'll be in touch offline with
the contact information. Okay. >> Of course. Thanks for your time. >> All right. The next item on the list is Davis Johnson Park Cafe. Uh and just to frame this up for the council and everyone who's here, um a resident
approached us and said, uh came up with this idea for making a cafe out of the main building there with the proceeds of the whatever the rent would be would go to support uh the park and only the park. Um, and so because someone asked
and wanted the council to have the option of thinking about it, it's on the agenda tonight to be considered to see if anyone has any interest in pursuing this at all. >> So I >> I think Julie had it first. >> So I um, as you know, Mayor Z, I've I've
rented that space actually for events. Yep. >> Um, I think before I would uh entertain this, I'd want to have information about the use. I know that it gets rented. I also know that garden club uses it. Um,
also some political organizations have meetings there at times. So, since it's a public space, I'm very wary about having a a private entity there and like what those impacts might be. So, I I'd want kind of those facts and figures
about the use of the building. That's just my my initial question. >> Lauren, you're here. You do a second. Yeah. in between. I love the idea of doing this, you know, bringing in, you know, a temporary wine bar or getting more use out of the space. What I would
like to do actually is I'd like to understand the David Johnson, like Julie said, how is it used? Now, I will tell you, and I don't know if anyone let you know, David, but we have a room in there that I've been in numerous times with all of the historical documents of
Tennifly under heat and moisture. I mean, we have some incredible pieces of history back there. It needs to come out of that room and preserve somewhere within this building and air conditioning and temperature control. >> It's interesting. Yeah. >> Which I've said it numerous times, but that would free up an entire space that
maybe could be, you know, refrigerator, storage, something before we build something additional. I'd like to see if we could utilize it in the footprint. um which would save a little bit of money but still convert it because there is kitchens, there is event space, there
are bathrooms. Like I'd like to actually go through and see what's usable and how we can maybe make this concept. And I think that would also go quicker also how we can make this come to life. Um and maybe a little bit of renovation, but maybe we gut it in places inside
that. >> But Lauren, I think we might we might be uh saying slightly different things. I'd say like I want to know what it's how it's being used currently and then and and then not you know and then act accordingly. This is just a person came with an idea. So it doesn't you know
mean we have to >> your point about uh historical documents though being in an unsafe area though we we should you know that that should be its own discussion >> not not necessarily connect. So my only comment would be that I think
it's one of the most beautiful parks that we have in Tennly for sure and whenever I pass it though it seems that this the community is not using it to its fullest and I and it really breaks my heart because you know I go other
places and I see you know beautiful open spaces where the community is there and they're congregating and there there's a poll. Um, I saw recently I was on a vacation spot and there was something called like the wine stand and it wasn't a cafe. There was no hot food.
>> It was more of like um they sold wine and beverages and like fruit and cheese platters and I even put a picture in the thing of like all these people outside enjoying the space. So if there was something there that could bring in the
community so that they could really use and see all these beautiful flowers and I just pass it and it's empty and I just feel like it's a way for the community and the residents. I'd love to have something that pull people to see it and
admire all the beautiful flowers. >> I mean it has a beautiful porch too that overlooks the rose garden >> 100% which nobody rents it. I mean for bridal showers, for baby showers, for events, for gettogethers, for bachelor lunchons, >> but just for I mean and again this would
be where you get statistics, but I I know that it does get rented and if if there was a discussion where you want to say this is a community space which can get rented and we want to advertise that a little bit more perhaps in the
newsletter if that was the type of thing where maybe more people should know about it. But I I will say that I am aware that it does get rented for >> those dates. We could set aside those dates and say these dates are you know
for the people that are using it now. We don't want to take away something from somebody but I don't want for five like seven before we get into the weeds tonight just >> this is about whether we want to pursue this and gather more information. Right.
Go ahead Adam. You know, I was just going to say again, I don't believe it's a binary thing of, you know, a couple times a year it gets rented, therefore let's not do anything. Again, you you know, I could if it's a lemonade stand that you put up right next to it, I think if it could do two things, one,
get more of our residents to use Davis Johnson Park. And two, bring in revenue to improve our parks in this town, I'd be for those two things. So, if I could find a way get more usage of Davis Johnson
and bring more revenue in for our parks. I'm for that. >> Lauren, >> I just want to say I actually bumped into uh friends of ours and one of them is in the Rockley Garden Club and I said, you know, and she was holding her events in like, you know, a field,
literally a field. And I said, "Well, have you looked at Davis Johnson? We have a conservatory. We have a green room. We have space for gardening clubs." I said, "Our gardening club uses it. I also want to make sure that that is preserved." Um, you know, I think it's it's a wonderful thing. And she's
like, I will absolutely be calling up the burrow and moving my garden club here because we don't have anything like that, by the way, in any town. Apparently, we're very unique in that we have that gardening space and most places don't have that. So, let's keep that. I think the whole place could use a little bit of a facelift, especially
inside. But, you know, between those two things, I mean, that was such an easy conversation and she's moving over, you know, with with 20 people. >> All right. is council done because I'm going to because there are people here who are here on this topic. So I'm going to open it up to public comment on this topic
open. Okay. All right. So if if any members uh we're going to open up public comment and move it around a little bit for this topic only. We'll have regular public comment again. So, if you have questions or make a statement about Davis Johnson Park Cafe conversation,
please just come up to the microphone and just give us your name, not your address. Pull it down. Don't worry. If you break it, you don't pay for it. Boss. Hi. Mhm.
etc. I'm also a member of the Penfly Garden Club. We just had our meeting there just on Monday. Um that's our building where we hold our meetings. We have our plant sale there. Um and I know um it's a very important place for us
and certainly we spend a lot of time at the Rose Garden and I think that's what brings a lot of people into the garden also. So, um I know that the mayor is talking um uh about the our meetings and more people are coming to our meetings
now. So, I really don't want to see a cafe there. It's a community of of I don't want to see a private entity there. So, that's basically what I want to say. >> Thank you. Anyone else like to comment?
It's in the audience here. >> Send it all the way. Maria Makovitzka, a Tennafly resident for 19 years, 18, 19 years. Um, I joined the Tennafly Garden Club maybe five years ago. I didn't know
about the Rose Garden despite the many years of my being here and despite the fact that I am a very avid gardener and they can attest to that. Um, so you know, part of the problem with getting people into the park is that we drive by
and there is no sign for the rose garden for example. So for many years I just drove, you know, this way and that and I thought, oh, I can see through the entire park. I didn't even slow down, right? So if the idea is to bring people
to the park, there are so many other ideas than giving someone uh a free pass to make money of the public property basically. Uh so these are separate things. Do we want some entrepreneur to make money on
on that site and destroy it in innumerable ways? Because we know what that means. It's not going to be just a lemon stand. is going to be a cafe and there'll be delivery truck going down, slithering down the narrow alley. So,
we'll need a road, the little parking lot which happens to be right in front of uh where I personally tend to the pollinator meeting. So, I didn't have time to change the cartridges, but um for a few
few years, and Julie knows me, um I have been building the pollinator garden uh with our rose buddies and club buddies. I've involved high school students from the green club. I'm not doing it completely alone. It's a
community effort. It's a beautiful thing. The Earth Day is coming. uh you know we need to preserve the nature we have. I mean I will not be fooled that uh a cafe is just a little you know just a little sandwiches with cheese and
coffee. It means garbage. Who's going to be picking up the garbage? DPW with the taxpayers money. If we want to bring people to the park, you know, we can write more about it in the in the newsletter. We can put up a big sign uh
on the corner where it says Davis Johnson Park. You can also say Rose Rose Garden inside. You know, you can Carol would be good designing it because she's very artistic and I am not. So, um you know, we need to preserve the little
little nature we have. We really need to focus on that rather than just give away a freebie to some person who thought, "Oh, I could make money of this." And they'll be the customers will be looking out on the beautiful rose garden that is
tended by whom? Us. The old lady from the from the garden club. It looks pristine because three, four times a week, you know, these ladies over there, they go out there with their
clippers, with the bags, with a blower, and they pick up the fallen petals, they pick up the debris, they they they ship it away, and they make it so beautiful. So what gives, you know, like so h how
would the idea of of a private cafe, a money-making operation even fit in that community place? It's not just a piece of park. It's a community. And I assure you, you should go there after high school graduation and see dozens of kids
taking pictures on Saturdays and Sundays. Moms coming with children spending time uh in the garden. There are lots of people who have lunch in the garden when the when the weather is nice. Just by hanging around the pollinator garden and the rose garden,
we have met a lot of people who really do appreciate the park and the peace it offers, you know, and the peace will be gone. And who is that person, you know, who is that person who wants to make a back of of that of that building? By the
way, the inside has been repainted. It looks pretty good, right? You know, it doesn't look decrepit. And also, it has um air conditioning and heating. There was a problem with pipes that you know during the the frost. So, it's true that there was a little bit of a problem
there, but um it's wellmaintained and um I would just encourage um all of you council people and the mayor and uh uh everybody on Zoom there to uh perhaps think about how we can make it um better
known for everybody and not bring a lemonade truck or or or a cafe with the garbage with the cigarette butts. it's not allowed to smoke inside. So, they're going to be going to the rose garden to smoke, right? So, um it just
seems like um a lot of problems may come up from from from this idea. So, we came here representing the park. Who wants to come next? >> I made a sign something. >> So, we're not there's no smoking in any of our municipal parks or fields or
wrecks. So, we should be enforcing some of that. I mean, it is getting very egregious around town, I will say. >> Is there a smoking problem? We're getting off. Is there a smoking problem in the park that you're seeing? >> No, I was just anecdotally supposing that if there is a cafe, people will
perhaps want to smoke with their coffee, but I am aware of that. No, no cigarette butts. >> No, not a problem. No. >> Is anyone Go ahead. for your >> um you know I would talk about the mental health benefits of having the
park big topic. I'm a professor at Bergen Community College very involved in the community and such. So I could lecture on but I think I've made my point and I would be glad to answer questions if you have any questions besides the cigarette. >> I think we're good. Yes, we want to hear from you.
>> All right. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Would anyone else here in the chambers like to make a comment on this topic only? Okay. Does is there Omar? Is there anyone on Zoom who would like to speak on this topic only? Kathleen Cook has her hand raised.
>> Uh I'm Kathleen Cook and I have a lot of the same concerns that Maria just spoke about. First of all, I mean, there'd be very inadequate parking for an operation like this, a cafe, and it would indeed generate a lot more trash. And there
would be noisy delivery trucks that have to be to to service a a facility like that. I mean, and in my mind, it violates the whole notion of a park, which you want as a overall peaceful place. And if the the desire is to to
raise money for the park, I mean there are lots and lots of people taking professional photographs there and the requirement is that they pay for permits. So that's something that should be enforced in order to raise money for it. And in terms of the usage of the
park, I mean my observation is that when the weather is good, there are tons of people there. I mean, obviously when the weather's bad, not so much unless there's snow on the hill and then the kids are all sleigh riding down the hill, but I I just don't see that that a
cafe there is really a proper use of the park. And I don't even know if the you know the the documents that that that donated the the property initially would even allow such an operation. So I I really think it's something that that
really a trial balloon that really doesn't need to be pursued in my view. >> Okay. Um thank you Julie. Do you have something to say? >> A quick uh thing that Kathleen brought up and Maria was u I also was aware of
this from the uh garden a green team is we do get a lot of those permits for uh graduation pictures, wedding pictures. So people don't go in and just do it free. That is true. I know we have a whole that there's a permit for for the photos and it's very popular to take
photos in the parks. That was a good reminder. >> Professional I'm sorry. Professional photographs. >> Please go take pictures. >> I think >> All right. So we got more public comments. Let's uh Assemblywoman, do you want to make a comment, please?
>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. I also want to second and third everybody's comments about the uh Davis Johnson Park. I'm a gardener. I've was a member of the garden club. I was one of those rose buddies who used to clip the roses, clean the uh place and I have a huge
attachment to it. But not only that, as somebody pointed out, that's a garden that should be a peaceful place. We can do not need extra parking spaces created to accommodate a private enterprise over
there. That's a public space for public use. The garden club uses it as councilwoman Okconor pointed out. People use it privately. I've seen dozens of wedding photos being taken there. If I remember correctly, there used to be
concerts in the pergola. I don't know if they still happening or not happening in the summer, but there used to be uh classical music concerts there. There's plenty of good use of the park as is. And to allow an outside enterprise to
take over that beautiful space and that I don't even know how it would what benefit can there be, how much money the town can make of that looking at all the other things that will come with it. So, I'm I'm urging you to
please think very long and hard and not take this step. Thank you. >> Thank you, Assemblywoman Omar. Anybody anyone else on Zoom? >> I see no other hands. Mayor. >> All right. So, we'll we'll close public comment time on this unless other
council members have a question. Just so everyone understands, the council's not voting on anything tonight regarding this. There are no ordinances, resolutions, no decisions. It's just a conversation. Um, and we'll see what happens going forward about whether it
comes onto the agenda again or not. Okay. But there won't be any surprises for anyone. Okay. Thank you for being here. Of course. You're beautiful. Yeah. Good. That's great. That's wonderful.
That's great. Yeah. Right. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So that I was going to get to that next. Right. I was waiting there. So the question is does does the council want to gather more information?
I mean, I I I would be uh hesitant to proceed with uh the plans as they were in concept photos, but uh I'm also going to be cognizant of our the community feedback.
>> Yeah. Consistent. So, it was great to hear community feedback and see where we are. Again, I don't believe anything that is potentially being discussed is inconsistent with anything that was laid out here. Uh so, do not want. >> Just get additional details. All right.
So, let's get some additional details and then we could just >> check the land trust, too. >> Yeah. And we'll check the land trust to see if we can go anywhere with this. >> I >> So, we know what we're doing. >> That was a there was an interesting point though about our goals because if there was a goal to attract more people
than what Maria mentioned about signage, I know that we had a lot of these signs placed in different areas of the community. Maybe one of the newly designed signs to say, you know, Rose Garden this way with the Tennifly logo that that could be, you know, makes it
easier to find. >> Okay. All right. Thank you everyone. Thank you for being here. You're welcome to stay. You don't have to leave. >> Please have somebody take a look at the historic room and move those documents. The library has an incredible space for historical. >> Yeah. So,
>> as soon as possible. >> We just did put a we just did uh put a new HVAC system up there. So, uh let me find out. >> I'll take you to the room anytime. >> No, I I know where the room is. I just want to find out whether or not the new HVAC system is >> But they organized. I mean, they're just
in piles and boxes. They're not protected at all. >> HVAC system there may be better than we had here a couple weeks ago. And then um in terms of no smoking, we do have a no smoking ordinance in our public lands. All the signs have been taken down have been taken down
downtown. We used to actually have signs that >> the last time I saw someone I don't think anyone cigarettes anymore. >> I don't know. I don't even notice the signs. >> All day every day. All over town. All over town. All day. >> All right. Okay. So now we're going to move on to sports equipment recycling
bin proposal. >> Yes. Um basically I >> All right, guys. We've got next topic. >> I received a a code email from uh this organization called Gear Give that uh is proposing to place this uh recycling bin
for exercise equipment uh at one of our parks uh if we're so inclined. They did indicate that they would be willing to pay for that. I haven't had a conversation with them yet to find out, you know, what they're willing to pay and the logistics because I wanted to
find out if we had any interest in this or not first. So, that's really my first question. Is there an interest to pursue allowing them to put this kind of bin at one of our parks and we can talk to them about the feeation?
>> I love this idea. >> Yeah, I'd be charge them >> but not in our parks where >> they would pay us. You would charge them like they would pay us. >> Yeah, >> that's what they're saying in the email. >> A park or at the recycling center. >> Recycling center.
>> We have other bins for donations, >> I think. Well, they're >> Yeah, they're requesting though. >> They're requesting it be at one of our sports fields. >> You wouldn't put it in the recycling center. >> No, I guess >> in a park. >> It would be in a park.
>> Maybe maybe >> maybe Field by the building we have there. field right over here. >> There you go. >> I don't have problem. >> So, >> that's a solved. Yes, absolutely. Yep. Let's find out.
>> Okay. So, now we're going to open up >> just just one question. Is the payment based on what is collected or is it like a rental payment? >> Be like a rental fee. I don't really have any idea right now. Uh Wendy, it just simply said that they would be
willing to pay us to place this on our property. So, uh there's interest in looking at what they're potentially offering. Um you know, they what I have printed here in my report is exactly from their email that they would be
willing to pay a fee to the municipality for the placement of the bid. >> Okay. Thank you. So when I get more information, I'll circle back with you as well. >> Okay. Um we're going to open up to
public comment. Audience members wishing to speak will have three minute time limit to address the governing body on any items on or off the agenda. Large groups are asked to have a spokesperson represent them. Is there anyone here in the chambers, Omar, who looks like they want to speak?
See, mayor, >> anyone online? Is there anyone on Zoom who would like to make a public comment? See no hands. Mayor, >> no hands. Okay, we're going to close public comment. Administrator's report. Does anyone have any questions for the
administrator? >> Ask about uh vacant properties and what the status is in the burrow. Do we know any new businesses coming in and what are the vacant properties? And >> yeah, I asked, >> are we meeting with any of these owners?
>> Masa and it's spectacular. A great addition. >> Really nice addition. Great family run place. Really great. They'll do like check that out. Chef menus for you. Really, they'll do anything and anything. They're wonderful.
>> That was over tonight. Also fabulous. >> Okay. To hear the kosher deli is no. >> He says for up for rent. >> Yeah. That's right. Sen coach. >> Yeah, people have been very upset by that. Very upset about that. >> Getting a lot of messages about. >> So, Councilwoman, to answer your
question, >> between the building department and the uh the uh health licenses, we'll be doing a report. >> Okay. >> We report about new businesses and spaces that may be coming vacated as well. One of the ways that we were
looking to move downtown was with that, you know, ordinance, and I know Wendy has tweaked that at this point, but we were hoping to get more interaction between the burrow and the landlords and really try to encourage them to take proactive steps like keep it clean, room
swept, signage down, you know, advertising up and h, you know, ways that we could help them. You know, should we advertise vacant properties in our newsletter or things vacant. >> We do. We do have some buildings and and that's why I asked for vacant property
list. So, it's the last page, vacant commercial properties. Um, and again, I want to fill them all. I think we have space. Um, but what I would like to do is sort of start building a program in which whether it be our chamber of
commerce or council liaison with the chamber of commerce starts to work with these landlords. You know, what is the hold up? on the vacancy if they're vac this they only make it here if there's six or months or more vacant right so the idea of the ordinance that was
originally written was that our burrow was going to start to interact with those vacancies in a way and we really haven't established a program here where we need to do that so I'd like to start maybe brainstorming we don't have do we still have a liaison to the chamber
>> Jenny so we should have this conversation with Jenny in the chamber yeah >> absolutely and so maybe they can figure out a But more importantly, >> lead on it, >> the vacant properties after 6 months are supposed to register with our burrow. And I assume that's happening under our ordinance. Um, and so I'd like to know,
you know, do we have local landlords? Are there landlords not within our community, within our state, within our >> connection? Yeah, it's all over the map. >> I agree. So, but I would like some way consistently to have an interaction with them. You know, let us know how it's going. Put the vacant properties up in
some sort of commercial. Maybe it's the Chamber of Commerce website, something in which we are supporting it and this vacant list can get shorter. >> Look at Jenny in the chamber and see what we can come up with. >> Thank you. >> I mean, the good news is I think we're really are down like pretty full down
there. I really don't think that we have much. And I know that >> I think they just signed a leads in what that used to be the tea store. Something exciting's coming there. >> Oh, infinity. >> Yeah, something exciting's coming. I know. I'd like things to stay. You know,
they come and they come. >> Have to go and shop locally and go eat and that's how >> and support them. >> Support them and they will do that. >> Yep. >> Um I could just find out uh >> I don't know if it's me. I sent a note to roads at tenantfly.gov tenantflynj.gov.
I think please keep me honest here. The PSNG must have done a lot of work on highwood the entire route up. >> Yeah. >> Right. And it is just the ugliest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. >> But more importantly, and again I sent
the note to roads at uh between two town two roads. I don't remember it anymore, but it was in my email. There is like a crater >> right where they dug, >> right? >> Which I assume it there was a use the right word sinkhole >> settles >> settles dramatically down.
>> Yeah. >> I went this morning. So I sent a note on Sunday. I went this morning. is Tuesday. Still hasn't been resolved. I just want to make sure >> on Highwood towards the top >> on Highway between Glenwood and Homestead. Definitely Glen Glenwood.
>> Make sure it's not a uh a water man. >> Correct. That's what I'm worried about. >> It's deep. >> It's Hollywood and it's definitely Glenwood and I think one above that is Homestead. >> Okay. Um, but if we could just take a look again, it was you're going to tell
me it was PSCG, which stinks because they just obviously they don't care about >> They're doing a lot of paving right now around Stillman School. That's happening. They they they stuck to their schedule with that. So, that's good. >> They were on the end of Highwood today. >> Pardon me. >> They were on the end of Highwood today. Uh, you laughed, but they made a
sinkhole on my own property and I have a big thing like this of just sand where the whole thing just sunk my own front lawn waiting for them to come back. That's one of the reasons why they don't wouldn't pave until it's been >> we wait so long.
>> Okay. Let's move on to the uh introduction of ordinance 2616. Uh Councilwoman Dr. Okconor, would you like to make u make the motion? >> Sure. Um I move to introduce on first reading ordinance 26-16 and set the
hearing for April 21st, 2026, 7:30 p.m. or soon thereafter. >> Have a second, please. Uh, Omar, could you please read the title of the ordinance to conduct a roll call? Ordinance number 2616, bond ordinance to authorize the the making of various
public improvements and the acquisition of additional replacement equipment and machinery, new information technology equipment, new communication and signal system equipment, new additional furnishing and new automotive vehicles including original apparatus and
equipment in by and for the burough tennifly in the county of Bergen state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $4,89,950 $50 to pay for the cost thereof to make a down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriations
and to provide for the issuance of a of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds. Council member Corsair, >> yes. >> Council member Dayton, >> yes. Thank you, Susan. Thank you, David. >> Council member Michaels.
>> Yes. >> Council member Dr. Okconor. >> Yes. >> That was the budget. That was the beginning of our budget. >> All right. Could I get a motion to approve resolution R26-1 165, the temporary capital budget, please? >> Can I get a second?
>> Omar, please conduct a roll call. >> Council member Corsair. >> Yeah. >> Council member Dayton. >> Yes. >> Yes. Sorry. Yes. >> Council member Michaels. >> Yes. >> Council member Dr. Uh, yes.
>> All set, Omar. >> Yes. >> Can I get a motion to approve resolutions R26-166 through R26-1 172? >> Can I get a second? >> Omar, please call the role. >> Council member Corsair, >> yes.
>> Council member Dayton, >> Council Member Michaels, >> yes. >> Council member Dr. Okarnner, >> yes. >> All right, committee reports. We'll start uh with Councilwoman Dayton, please. >> Um we are gearing up for Pride Day and I
know JP has been trying to get a meeting in place and dates, but um for the public, if anyone's listening, we are always looking for members of members to join our pride committee to be um upstanders to join our committee discussions. And if anyone here wants to
help out on Pride Day, let me know. We have not met in a long time. So, you know, our our committee unfortunately has scattered a little bit. Um, let's see. We >> So, Councilman JP did come to our events and uh to get the paperwork done. Yes.
>> Um, so June 1st, I believe, is going to be the flag raising. >> Nice. Okay. >> Combined with the the March and then their activity is going to be at um Baresco Park on June 6. >> Okay. Great. June 6.
>> Thank you. I know he was looking for dates and again we're ships passing in the night the two of us. So thank you for that. Um on the planning board obviously our um uh 145 Dean Dean Drive will go to the planning board if anyone
has any further comments on that. Um we have not received paperwork yet from Starbucks application. So for the public who's interested when Starbucks coming they need to >> what is going on >> put in their application. >> So so it's in their hands. Um we're
waiting for them to uh schedule the uh their next meeting perhaps in May. We'll see. >> Do you know if they're still want to be in >> this? We haven't heard anything different. >> So we don't know. >> Um I do not know when Saraphene is opening. That's the other question I get
asked a lot. I hear that furniture is coming from Italy and they're waiting on it. I hear that corporate doesn't have it on their opening for 2026. I hear all sorts of rumors, so not sure. >> Each time it's a different reason why. >> We'll see what happens. Right. >> As far as the planning board, next
meeting, we are discussing the Nickerbacher Country Club. They want a soil permit to um put up tennis courts and pickle ball courts and a small golf um was it putting what is that called? >> Putting green.
>> Yeah. Thank you. Anyway, a lot of residents are concerned about flooding on Nickerbacher and um Country Club and Palmer, not Nickerbacher, sorry, it's not going to flood up. It's going to flood down. And so, a lot of residents came. So, you guys should know that if you hear from any residents and they
want to talk about it, they can send it to the mayor and myself, both of us on the planning board. Um joint use hasn't met, fire hasn't met, and DPW is doing so well, we don't need to meet. So, there you go. >> Yeah. Um, one >> mayor, if I may, just one correction to
council's report. >> The um, Dean Drive application already went to the planning board. It's coming back to the council on April 21st. It does not go back to the planning board. >> It does. We have a second hearing for it, don't we? >> Right. We have a second hearing. That's
what Wendy's saying. On the 21st. >> No, no. Planning board. >> No, no, no. No. If the council has a second, >> I'm sorry. I'm talking about Dean Drive. You had indicated that it's going I thought you were talking about nickerbacher. Go ahead. >> Right. >> The dean drive application has the hearing before the council, not the
planning board. >> Correct. >> Right. That's coming back. >> But I have a question that I'm I'm glad that came up because I have a question about the process. So I thought it was going to the planning board to then go
get reviewed by our engineers and our >> It does. That's the site plan review process. But that's only that's only after the second if the second reading by the council goes forward then it goes to the planning board >> for site plan review. >> And then what if the planning board says
hey we've uh we think that this means that you'll need for for argument sake a new type of fire truck or there's a problem with this plan. What happens then? Does it come back to council or or it just
proceed with their change as they >> typically? Okay. It would get addressed at the planning board level. If the planning board says you've got 10 lights here, we really need 20 or but or you have 50 containers for your storm drains, but we've determined you need a
hundred. That gets resolved at the planning board level. >> And this is a a very specific question, so I apologize, but okay. What if they say um because I know my question had to do with like the fire equipment and then the the gentleman there said it's not
going to be an issue per se, but what if the planning board people say you know what you really actually do need a new truck to be bought at to build to reach to whatever we need. Do they can they
then say to the developers we want you to also buy a truck or or no? like do they never do that? >> So that's a legal question about telling people to buy trucks. But what will happen is the fire chief, the police chief, the DPW director, all of our
people weigh in. So the fire chief will weigh in on what all the fire suppression means and what the whether our 100 foot ladder can actually work based on the angle. Gotcha. But so that's either the fire chief because they we get letters on the planning
board from our from those professional department heads that say the police department might say I have no issue with something or I do have an issue with this. We need another turning lane or we have to change the traffic timing. So that absolutely goes on >> and it gets changed there at that
planning board level and the fire chief and they're all going to review the plan. >> They all review it. It goes to all those department heads to review and plus we have David Halls our own the burrow's engineer who sits right here >> to listen to all the engineering of the
testimony of uh the applicants experts. >> Okay, >> Julie, we usually get like very detailed letters from our police or fire or TAC like you know very very detailed on on the issue the traffic flow getting to you know response.
>> Okay. um you know, they don't hold back. I will I will say we I've seen very strong letters from the chief in in some applications. >> Okay. >> And just as a reminder, the redevelopment plan that you're having the public hearing on was vetted by your planner and your traffic engineer. To
the extent of the information that would be necessary for a zoning ordinance versus a site plan application, it has been given eyes and prepared by our professionals. Okay. Uh, Council President Michaels, >> just a couple things. Uh, not this
Saturday, but a week from Saturday, uh, the 18th is Little League opening day. So, we'll have our parade starting at 9:00. >> Did they fix the banner? >> Oh, you can take it. >> What if the banner said April 26th? >> Did we fix it? >> You can take that.
>> Okay. Um about the night market. >> No, because I was >> What else do you have there? >> Um and you take that one. >> Um and then the night market is a month from now on Saturday night, May 16th. Uh
>> I thought it was a Thursday night, May 4th. >> We moved it to the Saturday. >> Really? Every >> It was originally Thursday night, wasn't it? This is now moved and there's different people like
>> it was May. It was always May 14th. >> It's for what date now? >> Now it's May. >> We changed it to >> for the night market. >> Yeah. >> During the week or weekend? >> It was Thursday night. >> It was originally Thursday night. I thought we moved it.
>> Yeah. I don't sign my calendar so I'm not sure. >> So we'll take it back. Let's we'll get that confirmed. >> Okay. >> The only reason is we have a blood drive truck that night going. So I I didn't know. >> Okay.
>> That's it. >> All right. Councilwoman Corsair. >> So you got the nature center uh spring fundraiser at uh left geese on May 28th. Uh please buy your tickets. It's going to be a really beautiful fun night. um April
18th, we start the day with the little league opening day and then it rolls right into um lacrosse day. So, it is a full day of sports in Tennifly and should be fun. And we're going to have food trucks and
vendors and um some outdoor games and it's gonna it's just like a fun go down to Guisinger and the and the little league field and spend the whole day from morning to night. >> Wonderful. >> It's going to be fun.
>> It'll be a lot of fun. Great. Councilwoman Dr. Okconor. So, I I hope the weather for that whole weekend is very good because the next day uh will be the Trashathon. So, uh one o'clock at Higher Park. Please come get your tongs,
your gloves, your garbage bags. Uh and please register in advance. It makes it go a lot quicker. Give you a map of where to go and clean up. And DPW picks up the garbage bags from where you leave them. It's great. be removed.
>> Oh, they they'll probably that'll be one of the guys and grie one of the spots from the day before be plenty to clean up. Uh so yes, trashathon and I see it on our lights and on the mayor's message and um and also on our social media. So
so please everybody please register and do the Trashathon. >> Wonderful. I'm just going to comment that the road paving has started in the community. There's what is there about 10 roads around the Stillman school area that are being paved. >> There's nine >> there's nine roads being paved around
the Stillman school and that paving um was done to coincide uh with the school closed this week so it's less painful >> striping pass on the sides. >> I don't know if that I don't think that was planned. >> Yeah, that's not part of the roading but
we do have funding for uh >> or striping itself pedestrian safety and striping. If we want to do that, we can certainly >> I would do it on all four elementary schools. Say, you know, we're not >> the police police department and see what they think. Yeah.
>> Dave, would you mind can you ask them about >> Yeah. >> if that's possible. >> Sure. So, I'll talk to the chief and then our traffic engineer may have to weigh in about whether it's uh consistent with the MUTCD. >> Okay. You know, especially just in and around the schools, the little kids walk.
>> It is Saturday. >> Okay. Wait, just to confirm, so it is Saturday. The night market is Saturday, May 16. >> Okay. >> 5 to 11. >> All right. >> 5 to 11. >> Yes. 5 to 11.
>> Okay. We have a closed session this evening. Um Wendy, would you like to read the resolution, please? Or or Omar? Resolution 26173 is a a resolution to go to close session
at a meeting of the mayor council of the burough tenfly county of Bergen city of New Jersey held on April 7th 2026 be resolved in compliance with NJSA 10 col4-12 the mayor council of the burough tennifly are going into close session executive session to discuss the
following matters personnel police department minutes will be taken of the meeting and re released to the public at the time that the matter is resolved. >> Can I get a motion to go into close, please? >> So move. >> Have a second. All in favor? Any opposed?
Okay, we're going to go into close session after which we'll come out here and close uh this meeting up. >> We just have one topic. Yeah. >> So,