[Music] PL 1975 chapter 231. The notice requirements have been satisfied. The meeting dates for the year are confirmed at the annual meeting are posted on the public bulletton board in the lobby of municipal center and published in the
record within the first 10 days of the new year. Salute to the flag, please. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one
nation with liberty and justice for all have a roll call please. Council member Corsair. Council member Dayton here. Council member Michaels present. Council member Dr. Coner here. Council member Park here. Council member Roller here.
Okay, first item on the agenda is Temply Nature Center. Deborah, come on up to the microphone, please. You what? All right, so just gently tell us. Deborah Davidson, the executive director of the
Tenn of Nature Center. And I think uh we talked with you were going to do a summary and then we're gonna Is that what you wanted to do? Right. Then Q&A with the council. Whatever you want to do. Go ahead. Great. Thank you very much. Temply Nature Center is proud to serve steward to
nearly 400 acres of burrow preserved land, a unique and irreplaceable natural asset in the heart of Temple. This land is more than just open space. It is a living classroom, a sanctuary for wildlife, and a vital green resource for the entire community. The center was
established in 1961 through a visionary partnership with the burough which recognized the need to protect land not only for conservation but for education and public enrichment. Conceived as a blend of a youth museum, nature park and
wildlife refuge, the Tennifly Nature Center has become a cornerstone of environmental stewardship, passive recreation and civic pride. Thanks to the burough's continued support and in just the past five years, the nature center has achieved several major milestones. Updating all trail and
interpretive signage, enhancing visitor engagement and education, maintaining and improving trail safety, including the removal of fallen trees, bridge repairs, keeping the grounds clean and accessible year round, including during the 2020 pandemic. completed habitat restoration projects
earning recognition from state foresters who now rank our forest among one of the healthiest in New Jersey. Constructing the new aviary pavilion fencing that surrounds all of that, expanding our capacity to care for wildlife and to host public programs. These accomplish
accomplishments reflect just part of what the nature center offers. Beyond the visible improvements, the Nature Center delivers deep and lasting impact through hosting thousands of school children and families for environmental education programs, supporting local biodiversity by protecting native plant
and animal habitats, offering a peaceful refuge for residents seeking connection with nature. The ecological significance of this space cannot be overstated. These 400 acres help filter groundwater, absorb carbon, buffer storm impacts, and
provide critical habitat for native species. But beyond the science, they offer something equally essential, a sense of place, identity, and well-being for the people of Tennifi. This is where residents go to walk, reflect, learn, and connect with nature and with one
another. This land was set aside with purpose to be protected in perpetuity as a preserve of land and water. A space large enough for nature to sustain itself. That original vision is only achievable through continued care and
investment. To maintain this legacy, Tennifly Nature Center respectfully requests an annual contribution of $65,000 from the burough's open space fund. This funding will support ongoing maintenance, habitat protection, educational programming, which we
actually cover through all of our pre our fees, and the environmental resilience, all essential to fulfilling the burough's original intention for this land. The nature center is not just green space. It is a representation of Tennifly's values. Your continued
support demonstrates to residents and the region that this burough leads with foresight, values balance, and a commitment to protecting what makes Tennifly unique. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the burough and invite you to help us
ensure this land remains wild, resilient, and welcoming for generations to come. Thank the accessible trails. Yes. Yes, with the grant, what's what's timing on that in terms of when you hear about it and that sort of thing? Just generally
speaking, um we submitted for uh federal funding, right? And we heard from Booker's office who had questions. The actual timing of that is probably not for quite some time because we're waiting for them to go through their
process. So pro probably not this year or probably not this year or possibly next year. Right. In the meantime, we are still pursuing other grants and other opportunities to help us fund some of some of the portions of the project, but that's an accessible track. Correct.
Question. Yes, Lauren. Go ahead, please. So, I had the honor of being the liazison to the nature center for a very long time and I want to ask Deb a couple questions so that rest of my council has the same knowledge. First of all, um, if
you wouldn't mind discussing, and it's been an enormous change and breath of fresh air, the roles of Janica and Helen on your board. Absolutely. Um, about five years ago, we started the process of being able to hire individuals just
focused on development for the nature center. Prior to that, we didn't have anybody who was solely responsible for that except for the executive director, which is hard to balance that with everything else. Um, so Jennica and Helen were were two individuals who were
hired. One is our grant writer and has worked to help bringing in grants and reaching out and finding other grants that we could potentially apply for. and Jennica is working on uh collaborating with corporations and other um larger
businesses and bringing in funding that way, partnering and and finding ways that they can help support the nature center as well. Yeah, go ahead. Just continue. So, I actually you guys don't know I sit on the development committee which I see
members of my development here. No, but specifically within the nature center. I'm not the liazison this year, but I am and have stayed on the development committee whose sole purpose is to fund raise, build relationships with corporations and sponsorships. And I just want to ask them to give us sorry
to give us a couple examples of things that are now ongoing corporate relationships that have been built by the board and by these efforts. Absolutely. Um we've had several returning corporations have come back. places like uh the Garden State Plaza
Mall, uh Samsung, um uh aka Sorority, we made connection with LG this year and we're working on having them come for a day up at the nature center. Um a lot of these partnerships are formed by them also then coming and doing days of service, their staff, and through that
we're able to tie in other um partnerships with them. And I I also want to ask about the ability to have our board fundraised by individual donors, which
on all the boards I've sat on this year has significantly declined. Absolutely. Yes. So, our board does what they can in terms of being able to reach out to individual donors. A lot of those then are shared with our development team and they then kind of continue to
nurture and um maintain those relationships so that we can continue to develop other ways that are uh bringing in funding to the nature center that does not pertain to programming or um
just general asks but more targeted. So I have a question about the corporate sponsors. How do you go about we ask you reach out to them? We for like I said forming partnerships question.
That's part of some of the things that we do. So actually one of the really amazing things we focus on this year is wellness and socialism and not uh isolation. socialism maybe socialization. So we said this year we want to focus on
bringing our seniors in. We want to focus on bringing in we brought in the graph center for well which basically relationship with hospital right here locally. We wanted to focus on health and wellness for even just our residents and we have this incredible yoga uh
expert Dalia Sabari now leading walks and possibly yoga up in the nature center. So the relationships that we're building are actually well thought out. We also recognize who's close by and who could utilize our nature center. So not only do we want Samsung to come for
wellness days, we want their um employees to come for a lunch roll. We want their employees to become our members. And so we are building le levels of relationships with the surrounding companies here in Bergen. And I'll just add one thing really quickly also. It then encourages them
and their families also to come and partake. So you have a lot of individuals who work not too far from the nature center. By introducing ourselves to those corporations, they understand what kind of a resource is nearby. So they have now a space that they can send their kids for camp or other programming making it a little bit
easier for them on a commute on a daily basis. So this is a huge effort that has been spearheaded by our director you know and is focused by our development committee. We have other members here who could talk about it but the nature center isn't just relying on the bureau
for funding. They are you know putting feet to the ground here and trying to think out of the box on other funding sources. We've applied to our congressmen, our state assembly, our legislators, uh our county. You know, those are the easy ones. We know those.
Then we have also now created this entire development focused on corporations, business relationships, ongoing relationships. They're funding some of our nature dinner. They're sponsoring our events. They're putting advertisements in. They're donating something for Silent Auction. And that little relationship opens the door to a
continued relationship and ongoing support. However, as Deb Deborah has asked, an open space fund request is completely appropriate from our nature center. We collect our residents money for the purpose of preserving open
space. Our nature center is 400 acres of incredible open space for that purpose. And I understand that maybe some of us want it to be a more active site, but that is not the intention of this nature center. And I understand some of us
don't utilize it, but so many of our residents do. And as a council, we represent those residents. Do you know what the percentage of the residents? I just am curious. I'm just curious. You know what percentage of residents use in HSN are members? That's a bad that's Don't Don't go that. How many times has
the fire truck killed to your house? You still pay for the fire truck? No. I was just cur I'm just I'm not I can say I can say that 10 of flight is the largest number that we have from one town. It's hard to calculate that because you have people coming multiple times. So you have there are individuals
I can tell you every day that are walking up that hill and walking those trails every single day. I see some people going back and forth. Um we get a chance to meet several of those residents on on a daily basis. Just just a just a quick thing that um
Jamie's question the other day at the spring fling the mayor and I were at a table and Suzanne one of your new board members had said that she well she's a statistics well she she's very wellversed in statistics she's a
professor in CUNI and she's going to be uh taking your data and compiling it so you might be able to answer James question. Is that forthcoming? Right. Correct. We're working on there's all I've been creating reports for 20 years
and all that data. It's just now trying to find tune, but once again, it's very hard to say a full percentage when you have some people that are using it multiple times. I just want to maximize, right? They're community resource. Absolutely. I also just want to note that there was
a time where nature center was trying to collect QR codes um donations or even just a trail fee for people that came to utilize it. Otherwise, uh but the state disallowed that and now it can only be donations. So, you may not be capturing everybody that's actually members,
right? If they're not a member and you don't have to be a member to utilize it. What is the total size of your uh 1 million I think it's one 1.1 million this year. Yes.
To walk the trails, you are welcome to walk them. We do ask for a donation, but it's not a requirement. And is there answer question? Why is there an object I've lived here since 1971?
I skated I will never go to the nature center again because we go for a walk with a dog. But being turned several times a very discouraging. Why is there such an abrupt rule 450
acres not really a portion of that to be more community increased utilization to do that? I simply don't understand. So first of all it's less than 400 acres just just to clarify 380 uh it's like 380 something and 65 of that of those
acres are not even part of our lease but we still take care of it and manage it. I said nearly 400. Yeah. So I don't it's quite a few quite a few acres. Absolutely. Um so historically the main reason why dogs are typically not
allowed at many nature preserves is because their presence will actually and and studies have shown this will actually um cause a disturbance to the local wildlife and and the fauna that it just disappears. It won't be there
anymore. It goes away. um between between fecal matter, between potential diseases. We actually have an entire brochure that was created based on a lot of these studies that we've gathered. Um and in my research, the
majority of nature preserves in the area do not allow um dogs, including the national parks. So, the entire ecosation where that could be something that we could work on.
There is an area of property which I mentioned last year that is not on our lease. It's 14.8 acres and we would be happy. Correct. But it currently is an area that we have a trail on. So, we would be happy to recreate a dog friendly trail
within that 14.8 acres that would be um beneficial. It's also easier to access because it's on the outside of the preserve, whereas a lot of the area that that we have is covered in wetlands as well. And so, the trails where they are located are based on working with the
land so that people aren't trudging through heavily rained areas. dogs could go there and right now. I mean, listen, we're happy to have conversations. The answer of bringing it right through the main area of the nature center is probably not the
best place for them between that and between all the children that are around there who aren't necessarily happy with dogs always. Um, but there are other areas that possibly could be looked into. Okay. Um I just also want to say this
has been discussed numerous times about their leaison to this board. There is a large board. It's usually more than 15 people. 13 to 15 people. And this has been brought up for many times. And the board which are stewards of our land, they do
they have good robust debate on dolls in the area. And it has yet to pass because the majority of the board as conservation and environmental issues. They need to respect that over the idea. And by the way, Tenny just spent an
incredible amount of money to make a dog park a dedicated area to a dog park. Not the same thing. Okay, you can argue with me, but also there is a board that has discussed this with professionals on the board who are environmental and land
preservers and it has been voted down every time consistently. So it is not just the director having this conversation. I just want to make that very clear that our residents that our residents are members of this board and have heard these these discussions and
have voted it down. I just got to represent [Music] represent Michael in your opinion and this is not a question. I'm just curious when is the last time of
that are there places I'm not green space allocation these things I think part of our community I'm just trying to see as we are subject to increases in budgets increases in healthare insurance
agreements and everything else is responsibility to ask people based an opportunity to work. As the nature center is a 100% nonprofit, we do this every year because we have to keep everything from the pens that we
purchase to the markers to the band-aids and the um ice packs and stuff, every dollar is counted and every time we have a way to trim back to make things cheaper or to figure out better ways to
to save, we absolutely do it. um this has um meant that staff has been adjusted based on that every year. We we do this every year when we're creating our budget. We look at our true expenses and we compare it not just with the prior year but with the last se several
years so that we can ensure that what we're doing is getting the best. And we also reach out to see if we're getting the best deals because just like you and in what you guys are doing we also deal with insurance premiums and and increases in phone internet everything
on a annual basis. Of course other questions. Okay. So unless the council disagrees, there's probably several people who would like to make comments on this topic. I think we do that an hour rather than wait for public comment. Sure. Yes.
So do you want to add anything else or you do you have any other questions? I'm always happy to have conversations and I'm always also happy to meet and and walk around and show you where we are as Thank you, De. Thank you very much. All right. If any members of the public
would like to comment about this topic only, please come up to the microphone that are in the chambers. Open space. The topic is the nature center, of course. No, but you mean $65,000? Yeah. Anything about the nature center
someone wants to ask money, whatever, they're welcome to do so. You have to give us your name, Bernie. But don't give us your address. No, apparently the law has changed. You can't give us your address anymore. Such a just your name. You're just
some of you know that I'm not a great fan of the great outdoors. As far as I'm concerned, the creepy crawly things stay on their side of town and I stay on my side. But that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the knowledge
that there's a place near me that offers a rest of manicure laws and carefully pruned trees. A place where someone could wander down a trail and see an incredible variety of plant and animal life. A place where our children could
go to learn about the other inhabitants of our planet. The Nature Center conservatory was created by the residents of Tai to celebrate the wonders of the earth. It's up to us to preserve it. Thank you. Thank you, Bernie.
Hi John, how you doing tonight? Just give us your name. John since 1967. And the nature center has been a part of our lives in Tennifly for many many years and we we became members right after we
moved to Tennifly and we stayed members for all these years. Our kids were avid users of the Tennifly Nature Center when they grew up and their kids we hope will also become users when we hope they move back
to Tenny. But Tenny, but Tenny is a very diverse community and one of the benefits that we get out of the nature center is that it serves all of the residents of Tennly and unlike many of the activities that fall into niches.
The nature center is open to all of our residents and all of our residents can enjoy the nature center and I appreciate the problem that you mentioned earlier, but with that exception, they they all can use the nature center. I've been associated with the nature
center membership executive for a number of years. When I was councilman, I was the lay into the nature center for nine years and after that I was on the board of the nature center for I think about six years something like that.
I think that a survey was conducted a number of years ago and it asked for what was the most important features of Tennifly that made living in tenn of life special and by a large majority the respondents indicated that the nature
center was that agency that was not sponsored by the nature center but it was and it did support the nature center. I believe that nature center is one of the activity, one of the places that separates flight from other communities
that we feel we compete with. And as such, the nature center, the features of the nature center really separate us from other communities. And in all of these things, it's not
it's it's true that we use volunteers and donors to support the nature center, but it's very important also that the municipality supports the nature center. That if you're looking at the nature center, you can say, well, not only is this a private enterprise, my citizens of Tennifly, but that the burrow also
fully supports it. We supported it when I was on the council and I'm surprised and disappointed to hear that this is under that this is being challenged in the current year. I strongly urge you to continue to support the nature center
and to be as generous as you can. As the director pointed out, inflation has caused the need for money to increase each year. And I think we can say with confidence that inflation is not going to go down significantly over the next few years. So we really appreciate any
support that you can give to the nature center and hopefully on a recurring and increasing basis. Thank you. Thanks John. [Applause] Hi my name is Haki. Uh I'm a resident and also a member of the Tennifly Nature
Center. So I have a couple of items here that I just quickly jotted down just to answer the question that was earlier not necessarily directly talking about the u the percentage of folks but we do get roughly 50 uh 50,000 visitors to the nature center annually plus we get about
28,000 people uh via programming that's both students and adults that come in. So, you know, again, uh without double, there's might be some people obviously coming multiple times. 78,000, you know, we're a town of 14,000 folks. So, you know, there's a lot of uh you know,
repeat visitation, people utilize it, it's not being disused or or or going ignored. So, we do need to maintain and we need to make sure that we have fresh programming. We need to make sure that we are having uh safety uh as well because obviously this is borrow property. We don't want anyone suing us.
Uh so, that's there. Um, and then the other thing is just a reminder that I think I spoke about this last time. I I was told that the the nature center is about a quarter of all the of the town's land and and that, you know, I don't think 65,000 is actually a quarter of
the DPW parks budget. So, we're not asking disproportionate amounts or or anything out of the ordinary. Uh, and also, you know, we're not asking, you know, you know, yes, we ask for a donation when people come in. We ask for memberships. We do all these uh other
activities for uh for the corporate sponsors and then when they get you know acquainted with the nature center we do ask them to become members we do have drives we do ask them for donations uh even you know Simon uh sorry Westfield Mall uh guard state plaza not not only do they do a nature day here but some of
the folks became members and then also we do ask for you know they do donate money to help us with our programming right uh so you know I don't think that we're asking people who visit Rose Commons you know to to earn you know, to to pay a donation or we don't ask them to say, "Hey, by the way, um you know,
we don't ask them to to to justify the Rosal Commons budget." We don't say, "Hey, you know, if you're going to come in and and and and walk through it, you have to pay money or you have to, you know, justify yourself." So, I don't think it's something out of the ordinary that we're doing here. And in terms of dogs, I'm a dog lover. I have a dog. Uh
we have many areas to walk our dog, you know, and and as as as council councilwoman Dayton said, you know, we do have a dog park. We have streets. We have county parks which allow dogs. We have many many places to walk dogs. So like dog walking areas are not lacking. Whether it's streets or parks or wooded
areas, it's not lacking. We could drive to New York State and walk the dogs or we could do it locally. My dog is very happy. Uh there are very few pristine areas, very few areas that have just nature. We have almost 400 acres, you
know, 300 whatever 88 or whatever it was. Uh and we have one preserve here that's a big asset to the town for all the real estate folks, right? We we sell based on that. Hey, by the way, this is the only area where we have this. Uh it's it's quiet, you know, we live so
close to city and yet we have this gem, this beauty and and it is, you know, most of the nature center is actually not the nature center, right? As you guys know, it's it's townland and it's it's called the lost book preserve. We're supposed to preserve it. We have a duty to to preserve it to make sure that
it stays forever more. A place that, you know, we're not going to build, you know, these these huge uh you know, you know, kind of areas where we're just going to have amusement. We have plenty of those, right? We could go into the city for for theater, restaurants. Uh we
have parks that that has that if we want, you know, uh you know, uh carousels and things like that. We have Vansstone Park. They're all available to us. But where can we go in Bergen County that's going to be a true area for nature where natur you know we're going to be able to go bird watching without
having the scent of dogs or or you know or or or feal matter scaring these things right you know and where do we get to see foxes and when do you get to see all these things that we could actually start teaching our kids about you know nature. You know, the one great thing, kind of crazy thing that I heard
was some of the I think it was one of the campers and and it was the first time one of these kids actually touched dirt and and where are you going to learn that? That is the weirdest thing, right? But it's incredible. They have, you know, front yards, but they're just, you know, they live in suburbs and
they're just going from, you know, their house to cars and, you know, Purell and everything else. But this is an area where we have again a revenue driver with with our camps, right? and and and and and learning and even you know being able to show the owl. So this is a really good resource that we have here
guys and and you know we're all volunteers you know we we're picking up the clipboard because we can and because we want to. So please help us preserve this. Thank you. Thank you. I just want to point out there's nothing wrong this side of the room by the way.
There was there's not a problem over there. I've never seen this before. [Music] Comments about the dogs. Um, my dogs spent a lot of time here at Hard Hall. I find it ironic that they've
never been in a nature section, but you know, I'm a dog person. I totally understand why the dogs aren't there. And if you need a a visual reason, when you drive up East Clint my house, there's a big fenced in area that's a dog area. I want you to compare grass
and in that area for the rest of the law. I don't understand, I think, why dogs uh I I would like to think that all dog owners understand. I walk Woodland Street every day and I pass at least four properties. The signs basically say
in other words, keep your dogs off my lawn. Thank you. I moved to Tennifly four years too late. In 1976, a group of forward thinking neighbors and public serving organizations partnered with
Tennifly to purchase land on the East Hill that became the Lost Brook preserve. Remember that word preserve. It's not part. Had I moved a few years earlier, I would have the privilege and the honor to be part of that special group that saved almost 400 acres from
practically doubling the population of Tennifly at that time. Living where I do on East Clinton Avenue, my family and I are beneficiaries of clean air and all sorts of critters that might not be here today and greed and shortsightedness carried the day back then.
As I understand it, there are two issues that are challenging our mayor and council in regards to the tennified nature center and the land they steward. First and easiest is the financial question. The question is, do you owe a lot to the nature center the amount of
money they are asking for? This truly is a no-brainer because nowhere else in your budget are you getting such a bang for your buck. They steward almost 400 acres, practically a quarter of our town area, and it cost taxpayers
$65,000. It doesn't take an account to recognize that this is money well spent. There is no need to place restrictions on this allocation. The nature center volunteers have proven over the years that they are worthy of this mission. Yes, the main building is not what we
would like it to be, and it's not their fault. Some years ago, a group of residents, by no means the majority of the town, convinced the town that it was not in our interest to have a new nature center building built using no tax dollars. In my 16 years as mayor, this
was my biggest disappointment and the town's biggest mistake. We need to give our volunteers the tools and the money to do the job properly. You've not be part of a governing body that, pardon the expression, doesn't see the forest from the trees.
The second issue may be a bit harder to grasp. The land we are discussing tonight is a preserve, not a park, nor was it ever meant to be a park. Real estate developers tried to convince Tenniferly that it would be well served if the land was developed. Don't fooled
for those same arguments that are continually used. More parks will raise property values. Our kids and dogs need more parks and activities. Tennifly has many parks, excuse
me, and so do all the surrounding towns. What Tennifly has that other towns don't have is 400 acres of unspoiled woods treasured by every environmental group that visits it. How many of you have actually taken a tour of the preserve?
Let one of the stewards explain what their mission is and what it means to them and what it means to our community. Please don't be the governing body that fails to recognize that treasure. Our kids and families have plenty of parks to utilize. They have only one
preserve. Once it's gone, you'll remember it as I do when I think of the new nature center building we could have had. This is your chance and your responsibility to keep this unique land, not only for your children, but for your grandchildren. Thank you.
Thank you. Who else would like to speak from inside the chambers here? Anyone? Andrew, come up to the microphone. There's people online. Yeah, there's people online. We'll get to that next. Just tell us your name, Andrew. Andrew
Mcash. Yes, I'm also the board of the Nature Center. I'm going to try to pull this together completely out of memory and based on what I've heard so far. Uh I'm also a dog lover and I some of you have met my
uh my yellow lab. He's amazing, friendly and it took me a long time to realize the challenges and I don't want to hype on that. Uh just that the concept of dogs being
around naturally marking everything as their territory lingers for a long time after they leave and animals try to avoid areas where natural predator
scent exist. that is apparently I'm called and again I'm not a biologist a natural phenomena and once it happens they're not going to come back. So that's part of it. The I I
think that we we're trying to listen to you guys. I I understand that there is a lot of interest. You guys are trying to help us. Uh we need to adapt. We need to move forward. A number of us on the board I
think are very much interested in working moving forward. Um to be fair I I think we dog dog thing seems to be a recurring theme. I think the workforce has been is now under control
with a boardman. We're engaged. You guys are engaged. So hopefully that is shows you that we are trying to listen and we are getting engaged and moving forward. this dog thing keeps popping up and I really so first of all I
think we did come up with a solution it may not be the exact solution that some people envision but it was an opening to open a dialogue you know there is a pos there was something that I believe de mentioned is a potential is that the
exact answer or not who knows but I would also ask that you don't hold identifies by one item out of a long list of potential new ideas, recreational
opportunities we are working on. Don't have one specific item kind of impact your overall judgment of the long-term relationship. It is a
municipal treasure that was originally founded with some very specific direction that's well documented. We are trying to balance that with tradition versus new needs. The societies evolve
in community but you also need to maintain because once it's changed it's almost impossible to put it back. So that's why you may find us a little bit hesitant at times or trying to really consider everything but we are
interested in we hear you and hopefully we can move forward like we've not done others. Thank you. Thank you Andrew. Does anyone else from the chambers want to make a comment on this before we go online? Okay. Uh Omar, is there anyone
online with their hand up? So, I don't know who was first. Dalia Sabari was first. Dalia. Yes. Hello. My name is Dalia Sabari. I'm a resident of Tennifly and a new member of the board at the Nature Center. I
moved here with my family in 2020 from New York City. The nature center was a major pull for us. It brought us to this neighborhood and even led us to buy a home just a few blocks away. My family and I are members of the nature center and avid users of the nature center. My
children have attended the camps. We've held birthday parties there and I feel very lucky to now be on the board. Um I'm here really today to speak um to uh the amazing connection the
nature center provides us in increasing our wellness both physically and mentally. Um, as a member of the development committee, I have been working on guided hikes, bringing members of our community up to the nature center to learn about
it. And um, most importantly, just to keep it short, I have watched the board, Deb, and the employees of the nature center over the last few months, and I have deep and incredible trust in them. They
um want to keep the nature center valid and moving forward, but also maintaining the preserve and its beauty and all that it really offers our residents. Uh they've done an incredible job at preserving and maintaining this very special place. And I just wanted to really speak in support of them. Thank
you. Thank you very much. Okay. Well, Mark, who's next? Can I just say something? Pardon me. Can I just say one thing before we move on about something that Mr. Barry said? Um, you know, we talk a lot about mental
health and I've been talking a lot about mental health on this table and I will tell you, um, our nature center and actually Los Preserve, they're actually bringing in people for mental health reasons doing guided walks with psychiatrists and therapists and
something that we're looking into. Um the YMCA is actually spearheading some of these programs and they have been enormously successful and they do find walking in nature has an enormous impact on mental health. So I can't stress
enough and and these guided walks are just an incredible thing that we're adding but to preserve that that diet would be very disturbed by dogs say that. Okay. Thank you Omar. Who's next? So young. So young pack. So young, how
you doing this evening? Hi there. How are you? Good. Uh uh do I have to give my address or anything like that? No address. Okay. All right. Um my name is So Young
Pac and I live at 10 Laurel Avenue in 105 and I just and uh I'm sorry I'm having trouble hearing you. Can you hear me? Yes. Yes. Everyone in here is going to uh lower their voice so we can hear
you. Okay. Um so I just called in to say uh that I uh think that the town should continue to support nature the Tennifly Nature Center and support it uh with an open heart and with full enthusiasm.
Like Dalia who called in before me. Uh the Tennifly Nature Center is one of the reasons why we decided to move in here. And in the 12 years that we've been in Tennifly, we have enjoyed it um individually as adults. My children have
enjoyed it um across all ages from the time that they were uh preschoolers in the camp to teens just taking walks there with their friends. It is the closest thing to a community center that Tennifly has. It's
a place where my whole family can go go to after lunch and take a walk and enjoy each other away from digital screens. And it is just a calming place, a beautiful place, a place that invites togetherness. It is also an active
space. It houses a a camp that is not only open during the summer, but it is open during school break, which is so important to working parents. And it is a camp that encourages interaction with uh nature, with animals as a resident of
Tennifly. The uh the animal life that it brings to Tennifly, I think is amazing. It's because of the nature center that we get to enjoy, you know, uh, you know, I know some people don't like it, but the, uh, the turkeys, the vultures, the
coyotes, occasional skullk, the richness of the animal life is such a joy for our children to experience. the um the ability to have some place for teenagers to go where they can just chat and be with their friends and be away from
their screens and be themselves. It is so important. The value and the richness I think it brings to the community, the people who live here, it it is immeasurable. Again, it is a space for the community. It is an active space
that children can enjoy, that adults can enjoy, that families can enjoy, unlike unlike some of the other places in Tennifly like David Johnson's David Johnson's park which is beautiful and lovely and it's a nice addition to the
community. It's a beautiful park, but it is not the same thing. It is very very passive. You might have some events there. This is something that really brings people. Friends walk there together. It's a place that draws potential home buyers. It adds value to
our properties because we know that this is here for our families to enjoy. And I think it would be such a loss if the uh Tennfly Nature Center had to cut resources, cut activities um or you know
just depend on volunteer work only because we know that it is already hard to get volunteers to work there. It is something that we should celebrate and and continue continue to support
wholeheartedly with uh with our budgets because we pay with our taxes for you know city hall and we are city hall and the tennifly nature center is something that benefits everybody who lives
here. That's all I have to say. Thank you. So young. Okay. Is there anyone anyone else online on Zoom who would like to speak? Okay. Is there anyone else in the chamber who hasn't spoken that would like to
speak? Okay. So, we'll uh we'll close the public comment on this. So, uh the process is uh this will go through two readings. We're going to have our first reading at the next council meeting on May 20th. Okay. Um and then the public hearing will be subsequently what's the
council meeting after May 20th? June 3rd. So, whoever would like to um uh come on May 20th, you're certainly uh welcome to uh to join in, but that's when we'll do the first reading. Mayor pull the council.
I think we'd rather wait till the first meeting. I'd like to pull the council today. So, I'm not sure if we want to do that tonight. Well, I'm That's a council decision. Actually, it's a council power. The council members want to do that or not.
What? That's an official vote. But so that the nature center board can Doesn't sound like you have the support for it though. Yes. So the nature center board can see right where their efforts need to go maybe for education visits up to the nature
center. I think it would be a useful exercise to know who will be supporting and funding the nature center and who might need more information. So, I'm just going to jump in here. I apologize, but this is kind of my role now. So, I'm going to jump in and say that while polling to see whether it should be
added to an agenda would be appropriate, voting in advance of voting would not be appropriate. I'm not looking for voting. It's the same difference. It should be an ordinance. If you I would say that the call would be whether to add this on for the next having
ordinance for the next meeting. That's perfectly reasonable. So, so a poll goes at the end of the table or we take a roll. It doesn't. So, J. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Again, of course, I'm a yes. Are you a yes or a yes? I will support my major center and hold my questions. We know that they make themselves very available that I I feel like I know where to go.
[Music] question. [Music] Thank you guys. Okay, we're all set, Deborah, for the 20th. Thank you for being here tonight. Thank you for your presentation and everyone for coming. Hey, there's lots of good
stuff. You're all welcome to stay to it for the rest of the council meeting if you'd like. Next item on the agenda to be considered New Jersey Climate Super Fund Act. Councilman Park. This is um I'm putting this up. It's a
Oh, sure. It wasn't John. request break two minutes. No, I'm I'm going to get one, too. Thanks. Jersey, New Jersey climate super fun. So, think open space except it's funded
by fossil fuel companies like the Exxons of the world. Um, it's projected to be and then you do an uh climate super fund trust fund. It's controlled by the NJ. It's estimated to collect 50 billion a
year and it would fund uh green infrastructure projects throughout the state. So is this for our information and we're doing a resolution support to go to the state senate and assembly. So can we is there a process now like
let's say we do this this is just creating the fund. Got it. I will say that there were some people that came to our last environmental commission that were talking about it. There's other towns that are already sending these resolutions, right,
council? Yep. Lots of support for this from uh the bottom of the attachment wrong attachment. The other one, Food and Water Watch, League of Municipalities, most of the
assembly and Senate. Just a resolution of support. That's fine. 50 years from now, we're going to have one of these Bolivia mines, but that's for another day, right? Just way worse. Way, way worse. Thank you. Thank you,
council. Okay, cool. All right. Um, next on the agenda is the river. This is going to be on next meeting. Yeah. Right. Council, you I'm getting it. Yes. On the next agenda. Yes. Next.
Okay. Next item. River edge road median concept. Uh, David. Yes. So, mayor and council, uh, we did put funding in the 2025 capital ordinance uh to, uh, fund the downtown improvements and pedestrian safety. And one of those goals has been
the improvements to River Edge Road. Uh, our traffic engineer is here tonight to explain some of the concepts that emailed to you under separate cover earlier. So, John, good evening, Mayor and Council. John
Jar from engineering. So, such a pleasure to be back to see you all again. My my humble assistant, Allison. Uh, we prepared a couple of to make things a little visual, look easy to see. We put the content plans on display boards so we all can look at the same
music at the same time. I think you all have these plans on your computer but I thought so um at request manager uh and you know in furtherance of other work that's been done by um BFJ associates
previously with council president Michaels um there's been a number of discussions and ideas about what we can do with retro um I'd like to pretty much kind of walk you guys through what we and why because there are some challenges here and there's going to be
positive and negatives. All right, I think I good place to start right when I work my way back and the reason why I'm starting here because this is a example where the positives and negative okay the positive is this is a great location
for us to improve across uh circulation from one side to the other. Um my proposal would be to do some access limit. All right. The the crossovers between the CVS and the grocery store parking lot at this
location. This would eliminate that, but that elimination should cause any any giant traffic problems. Obviously, you're a traffic guy, right? So, it's good idea to look at this. I honestly feel this is going to be such a nice safety improvement to limit that cross
traffic and improve it green space is hard to maintain positives and negatives everything okay you know from circul are so many ways to get around this that are so safer than making that
three and a half, four lane crossover between the two. Okay. The other thing is is, you know, it's also going to limit people walking across here. One of the things I've seen a lot when I've been in town is I'm not really sure where everybody's coming from. Okay. I still haven't gotten my my feet in the
ground where where children or young people are coming. I see a lot of teenage or younger people across this area. So, this is a busy area for folks to come. This will limit that. will force them to come down to the crosswalk. And I think that's a good idea. This is a this is a tough location
because drivers are driving their car. They're not really expecting people to walk across the street here. We really expect to see them here or here. So this really nice green improvement. So that's the fun part. As we move further back,
we're going to roll right down. Question. You said it was three and a half to four lanes. Is that the whole width of of corner to corner and yeah was a was it ever explored to make it one
and one two lanes and parking street parking we have a combination here we've done that's already there liquor store right there you're right there that's a
liquor store accomodate them by keeping parking there. So, which actually there's a lot of challenges in this, right? Because it could really be detrimental to their business. They lose all the street parking. So, we're trying to, you know, try to really be context sensitive. So I just I I ap I don't want
to cut you off. I just wanted to ask like motivation wise. So you had said you're not sure like where kids are coming from like yes there's a ton of kids that are coming from there because beyond that is our high school right and and also when our middle school spills out they come across that and they go
I'm not well they they do and then they come over to our center of town. What's the what's the what's the motive? What what's the motivation to do this exactly? Like what why like have you where is this one coming from? I just
wanted to know. Oh. Oh, okay. It's your years ago we had pedestrian death on the road. We had some issues where people were hit
in intersections or not intersections trying to cross. We saw a lot of safety and I sat with our traffic division actually on our police and I said, you know, we walked the road. I actually walked it with Mayor Senate years ago and we said, "How can we improve this?" You know, people are playing chicken at
a stop and shop and CVS lots. They're crossing four lanes in their cars and the kids were all there. There's a bus stop over there. people were worried the bus and so a lot of this we met with the county and this is part you know county roads and we said what we do here and
this sort of got drawn up you know out of little pencils um and that is okay I just didn't know like where like where in addition to Lauren doing everything that's not what I'm saying she asked and excuse me I wasn't done I
don't know if this the other thing is there was a push for beautifification. Okay. And so it's a very industrial part of our thing. So the idea of the medians was to light them up and to put you know some lights there because it's very dark
in the night. The bus uh the bus um terminal there. There was complaints that it was too dark seeing us and you know at dusk especially in the winter and then of course we beautify with with trees flowers whatever else we want that would be intermediate or just straight
red now I will turn it to council president Michael who has spearheaded this and I'm not saying I'm the only person working on this she asked where the concept came from you mentioned about that the media be
lit up too. I originally concept or you know we had talked you and I had looked at um options for street well it was it was in the medium but I looked at along the stream.
So let's let John continue on. Let's make sure you see there's also a bike as well. Yeah. Okay. I think that that's another important element that that occurs in this
section. Um and I think one of the goals that we were trying was not only trying to accommodate parking uh put a green med and have l perspective. There's a lot of work to figure this out. This is the broad that
came out of you know, the larger downtown work. This was one of the 20 ideas that had multiple vettings from the community when we had these. So, this is this is what came out of that. I I think is it possible? This goes back
as much as 10 years. No, this was the original. So, so this is why I'm check one thing about you know 10 years ago, 15 to 20 years ago. Um, and I was on the council then. They actually been on the council too before.
There were a bunch of iterations changing the downtown in terms of the parks and this and you know and and the estimated budgets at that time were you know 15 to20 million to get it started and the view at that time
was do everything or do nothing. So no one was writing a check for 20 million. So therefore nothing got done. Whereas kind of now our view is to make some improvements as we go which where you may have seen some of those plans from the past and that sort of nothing ever
went anywhere until there seem to be a lot of interest in in in making improvements and go back to I had a question actually about one of the wonderful things that you guys did at EFJ um with our downtown
committee was shorten the distance have been closed on the intersection. Yeah. Except that here um they're still rather large and they're not parallel. So I know that the one on West
Rail Road and River Edge right on the right side your drawing that's closest to you. That one is a very hard one to see pedestrians. Um, it's a wide turn for the car. Yes, exactly. It's a wide turn for the cars. Cars are coming from all four
directions. And so that was a safety thing that we were looking at on how to improve. Is there anything here that we can do to maybe move that crosswalk to the left? Straighten it out, shorten it so that it's not within.
So this is an wherever you want something like that, you have to move something else. So for example, we and I really very much like corner bump outs. Yeah. But in this case in this very
rare this section of road will work better than giving you space for that green if you want to move out here which I love. All right then you pretty much are not going to be able or you have to move the bike lanes
for this entire block. So you have to so I try to you know it's really hard guys. We had a lot of iterations. That's a really good question because in the office you know all us engineers get together on plans like this we try to figure out what works best. So we go through a number of iterations through
these things to come up with these plans and the the challenge for us is that there are so many things happening here and be context sensitive and keep in mind things like the liquor store pedestrians you have to give up some things to get others. We felt that it
was better to have in this area because it was really the downtown is like reunification area or opportunity to do something you know pretty grand that the larger green space made the most sense over the bump house. All right. So, you know, it's a challenge. Uh but we could
do that. We could we could retool the plan and you know put a bump out in and and come up. We could do that. But understand it could have been mentioned the entire train island papers you know paper length and requirements you know we still have to meet you know standard
national guidelines and design can't throw them out the door. What about um uh a potential traffic light at that intersection with don't walk sign right there that's in our longterm that's actually
in our other study. Uh that's phase three of the um that I don't talk about this night the interim project. That's phase three of that. We're we're finishing just the first part of that. No, I'm saying what what I'm saying
is answering it. It's in phase three traffic. Without a doubt, we agree with you, mayor. The traffic light should go there would significantly improve both pedestrian access and circulation. This is a very busy intersection. Great improvement. What is the traffic like close there?
It won't be as much as over East Clinton. Okay. It will be less than Clinton like um Riveridge Road is all right. And that's something [Music] the old the old license in place. Yeah.
They're so old. So I I love our chief by the way and and he is the most frugal guy ever. Yes. And he knows how to att This is right downtown. This is the key intersection. We should invest in a new traffic or something. Okay. Maybe we
can find this is rather important because I mean you don't you don't live here but I I need to just um explain something to you. Um many people and I know it's illegal but do it almost every day. We
make lefts into it's not but see the chief said it was illegal. I'm pretty sure it's not illegal. So we go we are on River Edge Road and we take a left into into the stop and
shop. Okay. So come here we go into many many many people do that hopefully traffic. Would that be much safer? Did you go down? We are going in that and in that and you're going in. What I just
want you to consider as the traffic engineer is I'm not sure you understand just how much traffic is being diverted because every day at every hour people are making lefts into there. So, I just
want you to consider I don't I don't know if pushing everybody to a place that's currently doesn't have a light that's a four-way area is the safest plan. All right. So, I have Lauren and I have a question. Julie, that was part of
the point actually because everyone is making these turns all over the place in those intersections. Yes. to stop the child crossing lanes. It is a safe and that's how this is exactly why we were actually initiated the project because
everyone's just like chickens through those intersections, those roads. But I wanted to ask John on the traffic light because it's a county vote. Is there a process in which the county would fund this? Um because because we've made such
a great impression on the county, not been working with B County for a very long time. They very are very much like you guys which is great. We actually feel good about that. I'm not so sure they feel about the most wonderful work with us. Every
question we ask Nancy Dargas and Joe come in and step up to the plate every minute. There is a process the county has where um they they will fund but they want you to have skin in the game. So you're going to have to pay for part depending on the nature of the
intersection and and what we do give them evidence-wise for the need for improvement which won't be very hard here. Okay. They do have a process where they can fun. It's totally at the county engineers direction and because we've
gone that extra mile and you know they see what we're doing. We have all of our skin in the game there. um they've actually brought up to me their willingness to to participate work on our part. So I would say that you know um once you guys decide where we want to put that
bullet you you've given me a direction and then I I can bring it up to them and say hey we found a location we really like to have your help and what can you do for us here let we will get significantly more benefit by telling them what we want being clear about it
and letting them tell us what they'd be willing to do as opposed to hey can we have you get your quarter they they process. I think we should work with their process, but we have to be very clear on what we want. Our objective is
the objective is was going to be about the next question I was going to ask. My question is does the council generally, we're not talking about the shade of green or exactly the trees we put there or don't put there. Does the
council generally like this idea? Number one. And number two, this annexa about this traffic light we're talking about now, even though it's in episode three, that if he can get help us with some economics from
the county, is that an option? Do we want to put have John give us a sense outside this meeting of what this would cost and what bidding documents would look like. you know just you know we can
spend four hours talking about it right but we but do you generally like the idea and then he can drill down into details and get back to David on that subject what is what is the estimate we want to find out what is the estimate we
don't generally we're going to focus here just the and local where we're at bridge the engineering is going to be somewhere between 45 and 75,000 depending on the
comp if we go forward with getting rid of the railroad we get rid of the railroad then engineering lower right all right the actual construction of signal at this location probably about 350 to $400,000 that milling and taking the road new signing and within a
reasonable envelope whatever we want to do here I I Again, you said it right. The first time when this first started, which is what is we try to do everything all at once and that slow everything down. The original plan was without the traffic light. We all know it's g us a
year. Yeah. I would start with this. Don't let this slow down. John's amazing. If in parallel without hindering, we can start investigating the traffic light. I'm all good with that. But I don't want the traffic light to slow this.
One question. I think makes a lot of sense is suggest flat curving curving. Those those things we can talk about. I my my curb would have
a curve around the whole thing and raise it up a little bit. with iron fence or [Music] something would really be the nature of saying you guys could could kind of
narrow it down to maybe a small committee of council members. What I what I think we'd like to have is to get an engineers estimate to do the striping and the green area. So, and to get that into a biddable document. Sure.
To see whether or not that can be a go for 2025 since we do have some uh budget dollars appropriated for it. That is one of the things that this
this special again to try not to affect the existing signal road because that would be extremely expensive. That would be probably more than the budget of the rest of the parts of the project. I have not done what would be what would
be expensive if we had to replace the identified roads probably over half million. No, we're not interested in that. But that's the reason why the plan is the way it is because I couldn't do more with this without having to cause that
leg. You look at things like putting a B. You can see where I put the strike. That's where I That's where I put a concrete bump out. But I can't do a concrete bump out because it affects the traffic light. And now I got to replace the light. This is the same the same here. I really don't like the way the crosswalks laid out. But if I change the
much more than this, you're buying a new light. Gotcha. But I do I do just want to point out I agree with Adam in the sense of, you know, we can't assume that there's going to be a traffic light at the other place in question. And that's just why I go back to my concern to you
as a traffic engineer is I just want you to understand how much traffic makes a left into stop and shop that is now going to the what's going to be the equivalent of a four-way stop because we're not having traffic light
there anytime soon. It's a fourway stop now. But no, it's yellow one when people fly through it. It's yellow but okay. But but most half of those people and that's up there won't um are pulling directly into
stop and shop. I'm saying that the island is stopping them from doing it. I just want him to be aware and vice versa. And vice versa. You're just putting a lot more cars. Well, you know, from where we live, we we turn onto River Edge Road. Then we make a left AC,
you know, across the other lane into stop and shop. And I'm just, you know, you're the engineer. I just want you to understand like now we're we're kicking a lot of cars into a different to a different area. I think it's going to be fine. Well, I think I think ultimately
from a safety perspective, this is better, but I I have concerns. So, what I'll do is part of our project is we we'll go out and we'll do a fresh traffic count. We'll make sure we have the cars that are going in here and we'll do a new
Can I Can I Can I Can I suggest Can I suggest barricading that entrance? Yeah, like a pilot run almost. I would I would see how bad it gets. I I would I think her concern is pretty legitimate. I if you've got police
barricades and did this where the greens the green is with barricades I think you would see it in real time. I think you would the chief of police has the power to do that. I think
it's one time. No, if you make that he'll he'll see it immediately. You're talking about putting some barriers. So, right. Yeah. just to see how bad it gets. Okay. So, that's part of the whole
No, as a pilot, just to do the traffic count. My concern about know what it's going to look like when they can't go in that way. Okay. So, John's going to have to have a conversation with the police chief and work out the details. It's funny. Again, if the entire town is
super angry at that, I'm just doubly excited because every single person that's upset is illegally making turns hurting my children and and and residents and car crashes. I'm actually trying to make it that his
consideration is the traffic flow real her traffic her thing is wrong, right? Her thing is you're moving the danger from that illegal left turn into stopping shop in down the block to the corner of railroad. Moving it to there where where
it's a four-way two-way stop. No, no, no, no. It's a safety it's a safety concern. I don't I don't think I don't know that you're I'm with her on this considering what what I'm saying. Well, that's the engineer's job to figure that out. Yeah,
but this suggestion solves that. else is going to do it for a traffic. No, this is my suggestion solves that. Right. I just want to be I'm not against any plan. I just I just want to be of it. You're moving two left turns into
one denser left turn. So that's so if you if the pilot if the if you study it first, you'll see it real time. Well, he's got to come back to us. He's got to study it, figure it out. Yeah, we're on the same page. change the stuff in J Street. It was hard. People get used to things and they
get accustomed to things and they figure, you know, figure it out. A very good example. How do you feel about how J It's hit or miss. It's still hit or miss. It's hit or miss. Yeah, I agree. And I stop at the stop sign.
You're a rare breed. Go ahead. One of the ways that that um that John's team did a fantastic job. If you take a look at it, one of the things we are adding is actually the left and right turning lanes on the
left. No, I I don't know how I just wanted it to be a real study. That's the only thing. One of the things that Chief Chamberlain and I did when we walked this project is he said, you know, that that is an extra wide length. So people are actually going around each other.
We're talking about stop. People going around on the right side very unsafe people are cutting off on the left. Same thing by making and if you look even beyond that intersection towards the left side you are now actually dividing traffic into turning lanes. You are
actually reducing the amount of traffic and now has to fight to get to the intersection and I understand there's still going to be an enormous amount of traffic turning on West Railroad but the rest of the traffic can smoothly move through which will alleviate the issue.
I just think it's it's all solved if he's able to barricade that entrance and then we just get a real count. That's all right. I don't think that's the same. So, can I ask a question to you? I love
the plan. Thank you for working on it. How do we engage the county so that we are actually um what this group needs to do is actually engaging or do you want us to step back and let your team do all of those conversations? Not not the
grand thing. My recommendation be I need your permission to bring something like this to the county and let's let's shoot an initial and let's get the reaction off the record. Okay. Let me let me here's where they're concerned and
then we can see here's the thing is I'd love to fix everything and bring everything up to we don't stay focused and stay pinpoint we're going to get Right. By doing these things and working with them and following their process and not
doing what other towns do. By actually going to them and asking permission and following their process, we will make significantly more progress than say other folks who just go do whatever they want and then ask for forgiveness. Right. And you have all the data on pedestrian
deaths and safety and accidents. Obviously, we we have access to to a state database, but it's number usually handle has significantly better information. I know I know the traffic can keep that and I just think that that would be you know the idea of this
initially was pedestrian safety, bike safety, you know, flow of traffic. So this is a lot more we could do but you know I think that your guys you know the direction I got from David I think it makes the most sense because a lot more get the price tag goes right now we're talking let's just this is limitless
right now I'm not going to change anything at this traffic keep it the same now we will have to do a new plan for the county all right so there's a little engineering nonsense involved because of the laws right all right but we're able to keep all the lights exactly where they are all right um the remainder of this I don't have as much
green space as light. They wanted to cover that because I want you guys to understand that I there's room to do it. They said, "Well, why didn't you?" I have to get the fire truck in and out. I have to get the ambulances in and out. So, I need to keep a lot of this in the
score area in order to incorporate the bike. Now, if you want to lose the bike, that gives me room to do different, but again, we're all working together on this. This is my best plan for balance to accommodate everyone. We've got some green. We've got the case that that
emergency services need a get a little bit more greed at the end. So it's not, you know, it's every little piece I could get in, but I try to get Can I just ask one question? I just want to make sure school traffic was something that was considered buses. I mean, not
buses. 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. How bad like are you because you are taking I can help you with that. Every every town I work in has that problem. You want to know what the answer is? I really wish I could school and I work for some of them just
consider doing some because of teachers they would you don't think about this stuff because of the teachers contracts and the janitors and there it's so complicated for them to make that kind of change. I feel so bad for them because they would like to because they also feel the strain at
five minutes to school let in. Oh my god. And it's every day, five days a week. That's a giant challenge for all of us. All right. So, is everyone good with Trump going? Thank you. And just for your time, just a small
wish, extend the bike path toward Piermont and go. We have you have a question for the engineer. John, could you just ask gentleman's question? Go ahead. All right. John, what's your
comment? Okay, first of all, the advice from Pont Road last few years, I'm especially interested in the walkways and the handicap facilities and there are a number of problems on Pont Road and I'm not sure that these
sol is that the first crosswalk is right next to the corner and cars go down river from one direction and a J speed I think from the other and they turn into uh Piermont and a slow person crossing
Piermont and I know about slow people have no chance to respond to the people turning. They don't know they're turning and the people turning don't know that there's a slow person in the crosswalk. So I think the crosswalk location there
is really dangerous. Secondly, there are also at least three restaurants, well, three restaurants, that's more around the corner that are on Permont that therefore would use the handicap spaces and the crosswalk for all three of them is down by the corner.
And unfortunately, that's that's a long walk to walk and as I said, the crosswalk itself is fairly dangerous. What I would prefer is that the handicap space is located located more in the central part of the block and that crosswalk be located near that to
service those handicap location. You're talking about the the triangle parking lot, right? The brand new parking lot. Are you talking about the brand new parking lot? He's talking about the corner of Mr. Walk and Sushi where the bumpouts are and and he's saying that if he wants the crosswalk to be further
down like closer to Axia or So that's we're talking about a different we're talking about a whole different plan now. We're just talking about river edge right now. Yeah. That is river edge but it turns all right crosswalk right there. Right. Crosswalk right there but
not okay. All right. Thanks John. Okay. I have another comment on another part. If you move up to River Edge, you have a beautiful streetscape. You have the burrow buildings on one side and the common on the other side. That's really
a relatively nice street uh street view that I would prefer personally prefer not to cease doing with disturbed street parking. But a few years ago, the police
steed River Edge Road to channelize the car traffic down near the middle of the road. And as far as I know, that's been fairly effective. And one of the effects of that is that it reduces the effective
width of river edge road. I propose river actually be reduced to those to those dimensions because that way instead of having a media strip which is a separate uh maintenance issue, you can enlarge the common on either one side or
both sides and just enlarge the park facilities to cover that new added space and that would serve to reduce the width of river road. When I was on the council, we had a proposal at the time I got on the
council to put a median a median strip on river road. Oh. And the fire department strongly objected to that. They said anywhere along river road a median strip is going to interfere with their trucks. No. And we just abandoned the whole discussion about a median
strip. I don't know. Perhaps that is no longer an objection, but that wasn't the time. Well, he's considered it, right? He he said that that wasn't a problem this time. Well, it was it was a number of years ago. Yeah, we took that into consideration. Everything's but in any
event, I think that if you and in fact reclaim reclaim part of Riveridge Road Park on one side and part of the Riveridge Road on the other side for the police station fire or just move it over to the park. I think that would be a big
enhancement there. It would it would serve the advantage of reducing the width of the road and increasing our park. All right, John. Okay, we got it. Thank you. We appreciate it. Thanks, John. All right, John, you have clarity. Okay, John. The
other John. Too many John. All right, guys. Good job. Thank you. Let's move on next ordinance. David, you're excused. Yes, you're all good. Thank you very much. All right, David, why don't you go tree
ordinance change here? Sure. David, just super quick. I see that Annie Annie Lee is on there. That was the correspondence of this. So, I was just I was just going to ask the mayor. It's
a letter from her. Oh, okay. I have not before the tree ordinance. I think that's fine. Okay, Annie. Annie, can you hear us? Yes. Okay, go ahead. You wanted to make some
comments? Where where should I start? So, start email that you sent to me. Um um so recently my from at my parents house they had to remove the tree two
trees and then um they were told that it's required to replant eight major trees or 16 minor trees and then um at the time they didn't uh they didn't realize that it's
going to cost so much money But they already took off the trees. So, um after they took off the trees, they went out for shopping at a nursery. And then they figured out that one of the
one major tree is going to cost about 700 uh $750 each because current city uh ordinance says that it has to be more than three inch on the trunk of trees.
three inch or three and a half inches or bigger. Um, which turns out to be including the labor fees and everything, it's going to come out closer to $10,000. Uh, but they the bond that they
put down was 3,600, right? Yeah. 3,600. So at the point when they're doing it, they they thought they gonna get the money back because they thought there was a down payment for uh removing a tree their property. Remind you the tr the property we had my
parents has there's a 60 trees and then there's only two trees they tooken down and then one of them was actually d one of them was actually dying and and another one was causing a damage to the house. So my parents are kind of upset right now because the you know they
didn't know first of all this whole um the process was doing during the winter time. So was open at the time and they feel like the information should be provided at the time of removing requiring you know permit for the trees that how much
trees going to cost. But when they uh requiring for the permits, we're just told that you know, oh yeah, you just have to simply have to plant replant more trees and then you should be fine and then you get the money back maybe, you know, whatever whole amount. But
then comes to subspring when they're going out and shopping, one tree cost around $750 and then they have to plant eight of them. And then now because it's three inch uh three inch on the trunk, it's about uh I went out and shopping for
them. The trees are usually uh the on the bottom. I mean the roots of a trees are about four foots. So and then they're recommending uh digging it 1.5 to two you know about two uh two times more bigger holes for the the the roots
grow. So if you times that like you know my father actually when he find out the tree is going to cost that much he went back to the the bureau of a tree or whatever and they don't they just told him well you have a big enough backyard to plant all this who want to plant their trees you know whole backyard I I
don't understand that either you know so so basically they were telling them that they have big enough space for 16 m minor trees or eight major trees. But if you think about it, who wants to fill
their backyard with the trees, then they're losing like half of the space of the backyard. And again, it's there's there's 60 trees there already taken care of, you know, and bringing all your
Yeah, I think I think we we heard heard your input and I did uh send the email that you sent around some accounts. So, um Omar, I think we're done with with that for right now on the speaker phone or on the Zoom. Um, so basically what
was explaining to me is they went and and took a tree permit uh take down two trees. Cost to take down the two trees was $4,500. They were required to put $3,600 up for performance bond. And in order to
get the $3,600 back, they have to spend $10,000 to get that $3,600 back. So their their appeal is or their their question about true is is that it wasn't explained up front that the 3600
essentially become free unless they were more than that. I think they're also saying this is the same thing that happened with the Pyister that it's impossible and I actually went to the Pyister so I could confirm that to put the amount of trees that they were required to plant that their property
does not fit that kind of planting of that many trees is just impossible. So I think it's the money and the it's not just the money, it's the money and the requirements that have to be supplementation. Yeah. That have to be reconsidered.
Why aren't we doing the exact same process comes before us? I understand. I don't think we need to but I don't I don't think that we can do this on the fly. I haven't seen this property. I don't know this property. I
don't have anything. I don't know what the details are. I don't like doing this on the fly. So, if we have a procedure in place and follow procedure, but then we should discuss the ordinance. [Music] Yes. part of a show and tell so to speak as
to let the council know that perhaps there needs of some of the aspects of the ordinance. They weren't coming seeking their [Music] so I was anyway. Yeah. So, I I've spent a
while on this since we got the correspondence and then um I have a lot of comments regarding the feedback on the tree code, but we'll talk about that in a minute. For the purpose of these people, she mentions in her letter that
there one of the trees, one of the two trees is dying. In the tree code, if there is a dead tree or dying tree, you do not need to mitigate. So, they bonded
$3600 for two full trees. I want to say that in my opinion and I'm certainly very passionate about trees but they just didn't understand the process that if in advance of removing
the tree that was dying if they had a letter from the arborist the tree company that said hey this is a dying tree that doesn't require the mitigation they would have gotten that part of the bond back so I'm just throwing it out here to everybody this is what I emailed
you earlier. Um, with the purpose of this particular case, this if it becomes a hardship appeal, I'm comfortable with if they got proof from whoever removed it, say, "Yes, in fact, that second tree was not a healthy 40-year-old tree, but
it actually was a dying tree." But, you know, then I'm okay with they're getting half of that performance bond back because they only removed one healthy tree. So that's what I wanted to throw out there because that is in the code.
They just have to to the code requires that you prove that it was a dime. Are we talking about that's not this particular case? No, no, wait. We are talking about this case
first because keep coming up. I have I have plenty to say about the ordinance, but I just wanted to put that. So, the other thing that I I sent out is the the tree ordinance or chapter 26
of our code. Um I literally just uh copied and pasted and borrowed this section that I'm suggesting under 26 1.7 D. U that language is is uh basically in the tree that's under a
landmark tree and if they got a landmark tree they would only have to pay $500 as it is in the code right now. So that probably no talking about that
no on the agenda is the is the tree. So you're so that it's now is the time and that we're talking about question. It's tonight. You guys want to talk about this particular topic tonight?
It's on the agenda. Yes. That's not I didn't finish my question. You want to have a committee that goes over the details of this tree or needs to get worked out. I disagree with that question. Mayor was having this constitution. I would
say no. because I think that determining if it needs to be revisited is going to require some discussion. Now, okay.
[Music] So, so the so the mayor is saying that should we revisit this code, right? Exactly. Yes. And I'm saying I don't think you need to
to revisit the code. It depends at the end of this discussion if you feel the code needs to get Yes. I clearly this discussion specific you mean this property. Oh. Yes.
We're already there right now. All right. So, so David made David made this recommendation. What does everybody think? I have just a financial but I think it's more than just a financial thing. I think we have to
there are there's a problem with the mitigation. I went to the py store. I went to the py store and I said there is absolutely no way they could put the required retreat amount that was being asked back on that property. No way.
This is the same thing here. This is going to keep happening. There's something wrong. So this is this is one aspect. This recommendation is one aspect of the tree ordinance. It's not changing the whole
ordinance. one topic and it essentially gives the council I really do want the ability to let someone can I can I really speak to this because I I've spent like an enormous amount of
sure hours you know from previous Thank you. Okay. So the suggested paragraph is basically saying with the exception of that other place of the landmark tree basically what is recommended and I I
don't support these recommendations this paragraph recommendation is what's proposed is two things. One is lowering the fees of removing the tree $150 lower for each major from a
$450 to $300. So, so basically you take out a 40-year-old tree, you have to according to the code in this chart right here, you have to replace it with four new majors. And that bond that you
pay is $450 for the four major trees that you have to replace it with. And we're saying to lower it to 300. And then also lowering it by $100 for each minor one. So instead of
$250 performance bonds, we're saying lower it to uh 150. So So it's talking about lowering the the fees. And if anything, uh, I hear from people all time this should be raised because it doesn't represent the interest of the
burough to make it easier financially to remove the trees. It's always a top concern of a majority of residents and the loss of trees in our community and our overall master plan speaks to the continued need of the integration of the green spaces throughout town. uh the
larger the footprint of the home, the less integration of this green space. But a relatively strong tree code disincentivizes the removal of trees in some of the cases. Not unfortunately enough of them. But but I want to talk about these fees. The amount of money in
the tree fund can be and should be easily spent every year. Uh when speaking to the previous DPW director, he said that the time to choose the planting sites and the labor of the DPW workers to plant the trees,
it's quite labor intensive and that the tree planting DPW crew was unable to work on other projects. So he said to me he didn't have the time or the manpower to plant as many as one. And as we're they're perpetually short
staffed, this was I'm sure it was a hard act and it will be in the future. So, uh, the year prior to DPW director Cassie coming, the prior DPW director had cleaned out the tree fund by hiring
a company that planted the trees throughout the town and it can be spent frequently. And I don't have an issue with using the tree p funds to pay for our company as we're about to do to handle our mitigation reviews and
hopefully future plantings. I think that's a wise use of the money and that easily spends our tree funds. And the amount of money in the fund is not as robust as you might think because the DPW director Mike Cassidy would always
say to Susan that we don't know how much money would need to be returned to residents who mitigated. Now we should have that number. We should know that. But it was always very fuzzy because he didn't have a clear view of what money
was attributable to the forfeited funds as opposed to money that needs to be returned either because the resident had mitigated or that Mike Cassidy hadn't had the chance to go and confirm that
the resident was within that window of time and the mitigation might still occur. That's why we're now hiring this company to get a clearer sense of what we'll need to go back. So, I am not for lowering these these
fees. I do believe people should, you know, read the trade co code before they're removing and then know what can come back to them and what can't because yes, very clear. If you know you are not going to have the room on your property to replant the amount of trees required,
you're going to know that some of that bond you're not going to get back, it's going to go to our shade tree trust. But I I wanted to just take this opportunity also to say something else you had put in your email to us, David, which interests me as much, which is um this
idea of our shade tree trust period and because I think it's a very important point. You mentioned that the division of local government services has questioned our practice of forfeiting tree bonds becoming donations to the tra shade tree trust during our budget
review. And this this is important because it's not clear to me whether the trust could be modified to include not just donations but in fact forfeite money. Uh you know I believe we need to work on an explaining it as an earmark
as opposed to a donation. And I think this is very important because if there's a problem in our wording, then we need to fix it within the shade tree trust because I can't support it going these
collected mitigated fees going to a general fund to then be appropriated to the shade tree trust because I think that that solution weakens the important role of this trust. Um if the council says right now shade chief trust should
receive money for every tree like a onetoone ratio. I take it from the general fund plant a new tree then future governing bodies they can very easily appropriate less and they could
say less shade tree trust funds are going to go they'll spend the remainder on other things like roads. And in addition, it's clearer to residents that the forfeit of their money that's going to replant trees rather than go to some
general fund, they'll know it's going to the shade tree trust. This is what they're forfeiting to. So, it seems like it's better uh if it's used in a general fund, that might make residents more angry. They'll say, "Why is it going to
general fund?" So, um, again, uh, I don't support lowering these fees. Uh, so that's why I don't believe this needs to be revisited. I'd be open to a survey of the public, but I highly doubt you're going to find a majority of the residents would want any weakening of
the code. Um, so that's why I don't support uh this amendment. I I just feel like we have to look at this part, not the the money. I don't lower the the money, but we have to
revisit whether these this these numbers the amount of that you have to require that they make sense because right now I'm hearing they don't and I'd like to revisit this because what's going to happen is people are going to say it's going to be too expensive and it's not going to work. So, I'm gonna do nothing.
Keep mine, keep my $3,500. I'm not gonna cut that one tree and then go, but still not seem like I agree. I think there also needs to be a differentiation between a
homeowner. There are two and I think that I hate to say this but I think if it's a new home rules have to apply you know the whole point is we want to avoid clear cutting you know we want to make sure that
there's landscaping education and privacy back and flood control and all that good stuff shade trees as far as a homeowner who exists and is having issues with trees that's they are initial recommend
Can I just finish with my suggestion? But there are two different sections, but the same process applies to both. And so we're not differentiating here. We are holding the residents up to a very high standard that contractors have to come to. And this is becoming a
difficult process for residents. However, I do agree with Julie. I have no interest in lowering these funs. I don't want to get extension, but thank you for drafting. I do think it should stay in the high amount, but maybe our mitigation aspect would be more
realistic. The mitigation in the process is if I could just jump in. So, you guys were ahead of the game by having a pre-ordance. As of last year, DP requires everybody to have a tree ordinance as part of the storm mar. However, the as Jamie was noting, the
mitigation requirement that is set by town that those the number of trees per tree is not something that D is is putting out there. Um, I can tell you when I first moved to town, at least the first time we ever had an issue with a tree, there was the ability for a homeowner to put in a permit to remove
one tree at no cost and no mitigation. Um, and then you just had like three years or something that you couldn't remove another. That might be something that you may want to consider to take the onus off the homeowners who may need to remove one to two trees or something like that. If it's dead, it's a freebie.
If it's one or two within a three to five year period, it can be a freebie. and then you're you're not dealing with people you're not giving a pass to people who are doing the clear cutting. Um and then separately you may also want to to go back and see whether it's
really you know extremely ownorous for five trees just because one tree was older. Um the other thing I do want to say is I I would not recommend lowering the fees because at the time that that Julie was looking at the ordinance with my cats
being former councilman. Um they asked Mike, "What does it cost DPW to plant one if we go and source it, which is at a reduced rate obviously because you can buy in bulk or whatnot?" Those were close to the cost plus the administrative overhead of the labor. Um
and as you're hearing from the residents, part of why they can't plant it is because the cost is two times as much for them to do so. So it's still a savings on that. Part of it is the diameter. Well, that's why we're looking
at the mitigation paper. Okay. So, how do we address this whole thing on recommendation? What's the best way to do one more thing? [Music] The major trees, the landmark trees are
what the goal was to preserve. those super old 200 year old trees that are keeping our soil intact that are in making you know huge shade areas and habitats all that good wildlife stuff environmental conservation those major trees we ask is it a very high on
purpose it's on purpose on the smaller trees I think we have a lot of wiggle room just to give our residents some relief on those major trees we are the goal of that tree or was to maintain those land those huge landmark or 50 old trees.
So, full circle. This ordinance is designed correctly. Full circle. We're back. No. I don't. No. No. No. Ready. Full circle. So, we started this ordinances to this.
So, I want to remove trees. We don't want that, right? So, we made this ordinance. I want to remove. So, you don't want that. Great. If you're going to remove it, here's the fee. Here's the mitigation rules. There's going to be a
problem if you're removing these giant trees. We're trying to discourage that. And here's a good ordinance for that. It discourages it. If you're going to do it, just know this is what it's going to cost you. And here we are full circle with a decent ordinance. I disagree because somebody wanted to put up a
fence and they can't. They have to take that to their this isn't what they want to do for their family and they can't they can't do you're saying don't you either it's going to be too ownorous or don't do it it's not fair people's property and it's their property tax on
a lot of money and we have to make it a little more reasonable so trust me not everybody is tearing down trees but if they want to for good reason they should be able to without being so ownorous perspective and a land perspective and
plan ahead okay all right So what's the recommendation? Well, I would I I mean if you're going to really be looking at the clear cutting situation and not the one to two trees, I would recommend looking at at putting in a pass for a
certain number of limited number of trees over three to five year period. I can certainly make a recommendation um and and then go back and look for you know non home improvement project replacement values here of simplifying
this really complicated order and it keeps getting more complicated with patchwork fixes quite frankly um I would go with a repeal and replace even even if you're you're still doing the mitigation something that is simpler because you have residents that don't
understand what's happening. All right. So, let's make a recommendation. So, David and Wendy, make a recommendation offline and back to council with here's what we are, here's what you're suggesting, and then everyone's just going to be beautiful, right? When will that be?
Because I don't think it's like super urgent. I'm just, you know, as soon as we can get it done, but it doesn't have to be the next meeting. That's what I'm saying. This is this is separate from these people want to do an appeal. This
is not and I I just want to say hey yeah because I just want to say something mayor and this I feel that is councilman Rogier and councilwoman Corsera under impression that we get lots of these appeals because we don't
before before this the last appeal we got was before you came on board David was a woman who wanted to cut solar panels and it was a hardship No, she you was here for that. Oh, yeah. You were here for Yes. to get
Yeah. Oh, yeah. But that was after like six months of her, you know, working toward it. And we granted it. So, the hardship appeal, I think I could count on one hand the amount of times these come. Most residents do
understand what the code is. They plan it and they either can mitigate or they have to forfeit, which funds are trade funds. So again, you know, I don't want it to be like, oh, all the time you have this like revolving door of people who say not the rules are not. No, but I I
personally saw what was being required by by a property and I said this just does not and that's why she would pay for the guys. We're going in circles now. So one
last one last thing. Can I step in? I'm sorry. And I just point that why there's that hardship and we usually in the couple cases that have come I think we all Yeah. So in the one that's on the what happened to that?
I thought it was on for tonight and did that's supposed to be before us there is there is no I think that we have to simplify both for our DPW staff and for their communication to the residents. I don't think that that
understands process. So if we're taking a look at this ordinance, I would like to look in the new DPW director and figure out how much actual resources can go to see if the tree is dead, see if all this stuff that our tree for have to
do. I do think it is ownorous on the DPW. We need to figure out a different solution. I think we're hiring that company. Okay. We'll go back to the council. Include that. Include that. And it won't be this.
[Music] That was And you want to say something? No. All right. Let's go on to the next item. I I'd like to make a comment. Yeah. Go ahead. So, I want to clarify a couple things. Your father
who's property owner at the tank fly and then he feels like uh the whole thing was a kind of old deal. It was explained like a little better in the beginning if it just fee was a completely hey just telling them hey fee is gonna be how much this is how much is going to uh the
cost not like uh fine you're going to get the money back where they was explained to him granted that he has limited English you know the way it was explained to him he's going to get the money back as long as I follow the ordinance but like I said follow the
ordinance the trees cost and then the space the amount of space and then plus the you know um that's kind of not fair for my father way he sees it because the you know the newer homes maybe he could plant one or two trees whatever my father bought the house this house is 70
years old this ordinance wasn't there when he bought it and then the house came with the more than 70 trees over time there's a trees he's still keeping up with the trees every year he spend thousands of dollars to keep up all these trees trim it you know every time there's there's
something issue with it. You know, he had to go through this, you know. So, we council members are saying like, you know, this is a, you know, deal for some people, not you know, whatever. This is for him. This is a everyday issue. Every year he has an issue with the trees, you
know. So, I just want to make point that, you know, I think the law should reflected a house older than whatever is on mount or the newer homes. I think there should be a difference between because the summer house I see you know newer built houses they don't have a
trees at all you know our house they have like 60 trees and he have to maintain all those six trees I don't know how long as long as he lives in a tenny you know thanks for hearing us out you know okay
I appreciate that but and you and David Vansaw the administrator need to follow up together to move this process forward. I will email you tomorrow. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is this or this recommendation
this ordinance uh recommendation from the planning board regarding mixed use buildings. What? Yeah. Let me just finish on the bottom of page one. What
does anyone here like to make any public comments? Since we're uh there's a lot of people, audience members wishing to speak, we'll have a threeminut time limit to address the governing body items on or off the agenda. Large groups are asked to have the spokesperson represent. Anyone in
the chambers want to make a public comment? Omar, is there anyone here? still there. How about anyone online that would like to make a public comment? Would you like to do that? Anyone just start speaking or raise your hand?
Omar, is there anyone who looks like they want to speak? No answer. All right, we're going to close public comment time. So on the administrative report, um obviously we talked about the tree ordinance. The Grove Street park basically is is complete with the contractor's part of it. Um we are
putting some additional pieces to that in place hopefully before Memorial Day. Municipal Field beautifification network is complete. That contract is being closed out. Uh Little League Field bid is out for redid. Um the Tennifly
Municipal Swimming Pool, a lot is going on. Uh we have just a little over two weeks to get everything else done. I'm optimistic that uh we're going to be in decent shape and it's a riding herd on on contractors every day to get that
done. Um we do have our auditor here today when they get to the portion meeting budget. Uh Roosevelt common tennis court construction. I talk about that for a second. So we have the east the east bank 10
schools which are four and then the west bank which are three. We're going to split this because of a environmental issue that we're going to need a permit for because the set of three tries. So the
uh engineer is working on building specifications for the set of four that we hopefully award June and that will be constructed some early fall. Uh the set of three uh will require an IP permit
from D which will take a few months to get. I anticipate that we can do that over winter and have that constructed next spring. Um uh on that same note, I had a conversation uh with the school board
president and the uh business administrator looking to see further a conversation on sharing the cost of our tennis courts and adding tennis courts. Oh yeah.
So basically there's no place to add comics as the current. One suggestion was that we take the set of three tennis courts and turn it perpendicular and then add two
courts essentially property to that set of three. And as it was explained to me, they need a set of five tennis courts in order to have regulation competition. And I guess one referee
does five courts, which is why the school is going to build five tennis courts of the road not far from this. So it may there may be some cost benefit cost reduction overall in the community
if we were able to add those two. So we're going to I can superimpose that on map to council to show what that would look like. Yeah. And we have the engineers talk about what what that would be wise to do. But before getting
into the bank just I guess there's a general consensus exploring question. Yes. First of all it was a joint meeting. No but again if the if the board of president was there
not it should again rep there two joint youth people here. The second the idea of sharing the tennis courts with the high school when we went back to look at scheduling was not successful on our end. We essentially helped them pay for courts
we would not get court time for because schools required only the schools to use them during all of the tennis seasons in spring and fall boys and and girls tennis until the late evening hour until all their tournaments were done. So we
were they were essentially asking for funding without allowing us the opportunity to utilize freely for all of our residents. So when we left the last joint youth meeting there wasn't um an overwhelming support for this idea. So again unless the schedule name
our department can schedule on boards it wasn't didn't make financial sense for us to be investing on school property. The community would have it up until at least have the whole entire day. Start in August. They start in
August. No. No. I mean, again, we appreciate when the person didn't work. They didn't want even during the day. Kids were in school. They didn't want us. That's why it didn't work. But
yeah, we need that first one. So we don't it's not going to cost us a lot of money but not bring it back to the council as long as we use it our res.
So and I don't think it would take much time for the engineer sort of do that superimposed. So then to point So do you want to do the drawing first? I say go bigger. David David, don't let and also get a
get creative. I mean we have the we just did the uh pickle ball courts there. Get creative. It's a lot of space. Go bigger. Don't just think tennis courts. See if you can expand. Okay. Yeah. So, so just to say so this just
[Music] superosing is probably not even as long as that's what it I mean I I can take the dimensions and do it myself get the crayons and then I think the details of the school you know
details work all that superintendent in a separate conversation I had indicated the school would be potentially agreeable paying half So how that works out and scheduling and
all that considered I think the the outcome of this is that we don't want whatever conversations with the school to take off of our target discussions progress away we're still going to move forward with the
three out grateful question. I know we had discussed this on project about possibly shifting where the courts work and is that not possible because of the environment that's on that side and you've got river
park on the other side of the parking lot I don't know you can't close right and there was we wanted to look question. Next item on the agenda is a recommendation from the planning
board. His that's a question about his report. I just had a question about his report. Yeah. Can I ask you question? Go ahead. Okay. Oh, I'm sorry. Are you are you still on the report to talk about the next Yeah. Oh, go ahead. I'll ask
what I'm saying. I'm I'm pretty much done unless Okay. So, um the just a quick question for you from the nature center was was applying for a grant for pollinator garden over at
um across from Sunnyside Park which is a the area that's like there's a burrow on property that's that by the compost bin there's a spot that's good for a pollinator garden and they needed to know if this was considered preserved
face so so that they could use that that site for the project to to put in the grant. Do you by any chance know if that's what we call preserve space or that's borrow land? I don't know my head one.
It is in the inventory. I've seen it. They needed to be preserved space to to apply for this grant. send me the confirm that. Okay. So, that's an offline topic it is.
[Music] It is though. I know that. Yes. Okay. Question. I know there's a list, but are we still collecting? Sorry. Are we still enforcing?
Usually when put together, he'll indicate whether it qualifies for not. So he's along this Yeah, that's something that was asked for previously. So, I'll get this to be much
more detail, right? Okay. So, this item ordinance recommendation from the planning board bottom of page two kind of summarizes it. What's happening is I give you the instance of Ben the last line here which says uh mixeduse
buildings including up is residential housing combined with nonresidential space as opposed to previously in general that was retail space because what's happened like brothers development couple of spots um the
building owners developers have put you know 500 ft 700 square ft because the code requires them to have commercial space there. Okay. and they can't really they want to be able to use it for amenity space as opposed to space
which is just going to be left open because realistically no one's going to rent and there's no requirements on our road whatsoever for the size of what retail space should be because in the old days 50 years ago when you built the building the whole first floor was
retail space and they're not building retail space anymore. So, we're changing it such that it makes it easier for them, makes it easier for them to use it to like an amenity, uh, the gym, whatever it might be, pool,
whatever they might put in their building as opposed to using it, you know, putting a novel space in. So there was a a longer conversation at the planning board on this and I I had a
lot of issues removing our definition of mixed use. So the goal of our SRB zone which is where we're considering changing this definition. Yeah, this is the one zone. Yes, it's the zone near Ben Rose which happens to have a lot of commercial and the zone is to
make I would say a more robust area where shoppers can can go and people can live. Obviously, what's happening is that the Benjamin Brothers has what 200 apartments? No, 100 sorry very large thing coming in and they're going to put in like this tiny
little corner one store and say, "Oh, we're mixed." And so the conversation at the planning board table was, is that our intention? Are we going to force this developer to put in this timing? My take on it was I think we're
going in the wrong direction. I think we should say we want commercial space in a square foot in relation to the residential square foot space and have a more balanced use of the mixed use definition. So that if you have a
hundred apartments, maybe you're required to have the five stores of commercial and not zero stores of commercial. The way the definition is changing. Sorry, mayor. I know we may I don't see changing. The world's changing. I understand that. But the definition is very basic room. They can
say that's an amenity and now we have nothing. Everything else in the apartments. It does also increase the density of the building. So it is increasing the density, the people, the traffic, all of that stuff. However, my my question for the council is as we
plan our city, as we plan our development, do we want mixed use to really be a mixed use where we require commercial space and more commercial area or do we? Yes.
Why can't you get you think Starbucks not doing is not being successful? You think John would juice not be successful? We have no land, right? So the question becomes then if you don't want to do this that's fine. Then we'll just continue what's happening.
[Music] Negative. No, I understand what they are saying. If you can't get just putting a store doesn't mean John is going to go. John doesn't want to be
there. We have not states. So So I mean you're in the real estate business so you tell me if I'm wrong or not. of my Browns Park town center. They're tearing down their They're tearing down retail stores apartment complexes. They're not tearing
down apartment complexes and putting retail stores. But there's a balance there. It's also a bad That's a bad comparison. You're talking retail versus a service that local. Let's go the opposite way. go to develop on your way to sensaris about four years
ago that on the left okay so you can't discount all the examples and say none of this true but it wouldn't but but what you're saying is you know what I just give up completely not only do I not want to do anything I want to actually help them
not do it ensure there is no telling under so that's not what I'm saying this right So, but what I'm what I'm saying is is that in this one zone, right, we're re do you want the big question? Do you want another downtown with
downtown? [Music] I know. Why is the competition if the need rises? I know it's hard to build these spaces. I am not realistic about that. The biggest Yeah. The biggest industry
is the service industry right now. We don't own that land. We don't own that land. Retails have to come. But I will say we can't get like a big box store. Everyone wants Trader Joe's or Target, whatever it is. We can't get a big uh fancy supermarket. We
can get a you know driver because they have this mixeduse space. They have this big brother exist now space for big stores. Yeah. the bottom of the ven building could be an entire or even just
a restaurant that is great for the 110 res. Oh my goodness, we'll let this one slide. Can I just make one you built this recommendation you'll note that in the table section and section two on
accessory uses it also adds for signage the reference to chapter 35 the ordinance to incorporate signs in two different places that I really do recommend regardless of what you think of anything else that that needs to move so that you
have the references in your [Music] consequences. Actually, I'm glad this was brought forward. The flip side of it, which is obviously you're not going to use my
language, but mixed use is by definition 10% of the a minimum of 10% of the space has to be for whatever the So that's not you don't have that. That's not your
I'm saying this is brought to us as let's get rid of it. And I'm saying let's go back to the planning board whoever and have them define it with the minimum 10% of whatever the minority seems like smart planning.
[Music] I don't care if it's a nail salon. Exactly. You want to put a pool there that everyone gets to go to. you know, but don't compete against our new municipal right there. Who does
that go back to the planning board? So, I would say that you could [Music] ask you, sir. All right. Good luck. [Music] We will have empty stores and I
fully know that we can actually build our people. Five minutes ago, we had a whole conversation of where are we with with the vac stores that were charging fees to being vacant businesses. We make the argument
frequently put in downtown. Therefore, businesses in the first floor of 110 place should survive. This is ridiculous. Try cleaning. Convenience store.
I have something. I have something to add. Let's move on. All right. All right, guys. Um, we're going with 2025 local municipal budget
25-287. Can I get a motion, please, Dan? One sec. I got signed out. You got signed up. Give me one sec. Where am I? I was gonna say I move to pass and adopt on second and final reading ordinance 2515 and that
notice of [Applause] the sorry for you. Julie, do you have it? I move to adopt R25-287 read
budget only second one more please call the roller yes Michael Yes, okay. I'm gonna open the floor for any public comments on the adoption of the 2025 local municipal budget. Anyone in
the chambers who would like to speak? Is there anyone on Zoom who would like to speak? Omar, is there anyone in the chambers or on Zoom that you're seeing would like to speak? No hands, ma'am. I'm going to close public comment. Um, now Resolution
25-288 to adopt the 2025 local municipal budget. Councilwoman Dayton would like to make a motion. I move to adopt R25-288 which is adopt 2025 local municipal budget. I have a second
please. Please call the rosair. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. [Music] Why' you sing that?
Why' you sing that? I'm trying to keep read. Dan's ready for this one. Ordinance number 25-15 is an ordinance published in the Sunday, April 27th edition of the record. It's an ordinance entitled establishment of municipal pool
utility of the revised general ordinances for the referral 10 apply 2004. I would like to open the floor for public comment on 2515 please. Is there anyone in the chambers who would like to discuss this? Make public comments. Is
there anyone online who would like to make comments? Omar, do you see any hands raised? either online or in the chambers. No hands there. All right, we're going to close public comment. Uh, councelor Rogieri, would you like to make a motion, please? Who was going to be like to make a
motion, please? I move to pass and adopt on second and final reading ordinance 2515 and that notice of same shall be published according to law. Could I have a second, please? Omar, please call the role. Council member Corsair, yes. Council member David, yes. Council
member Michaels. Yes. Council member Okconor. Yes. Council. Yes. Council member. Okay. Next is uh Okay. So, just reading it out, right? Okay.
Can I get a motion to approve R25-289 to establish the 2025 membership fees associated with the 10 municipal pool? I get a second. Second. Councilman Rolier, would you like to make a motion, please?
Oh, sorry. Can I have a roll call, please? Council member Corsair. Yes. Council member D. Council member Michaels. Yes. Council member D Conor. Yes. Council member Clark. Yes. Council member. Yes. Okay.
Introduction of ordinance 25-16 amend garbage collection. Councilwoman Dave. Would you like to make a motion? Yes. I move to adopt. I move to introduce on first reading ordinance 25-16 and set the hearing from May 20th,
2025 at 7:30. Could I have a second, please? Okay. Omar, please read the title of the ordinance and conduct a roll call. Ordinance number 25-16, an ordinance of the burough tennifly county of Bergen, state of New Jersey, amending chapter
19, solid waste management of the revised general ordinances of the burough tennifly 2004 to revise the regulation of residential trash and recycling collection. Councer, yes. Council member Dayton, yes. C Michaels, yes.
[Music] Yes. Clark, yes. Okay. Ordinance 25-17, dust containment. Julie. Um, Julie, would you like to make a motion to introduce You teased me for
talking about Oh, no. Oh, I closed it. I closed it. Okay. Um, I move to introduce on first reading ordinance 27-25-17 and set the hearing for May
20th, 2025 at 7:30 at 7:30 or is soon thereafter. There's just a little second, please. Omar, please read the title of the ordinance. The roll call. Ordinance number 25-17 an ordinance of the burough
tennifly Kelly and Bergen state of New Jersey amending chapter 10 building and housing of the revised general ordinances of the burough 10y 2004 to establish chapter 10 section 13 containment of dust and plastics at construction sites. Council member
Corair. Yes. Council member. Yes. Council member Michaels. Yes. Council member D. Yes. Council member Park. Yes. Council member. Yes. [Music] Almost there.
Okay. Can I have a motion to approve resolution R25-290 through R25-312? question. I'm so sorry. Resolution 25-306, the the contact awarded to the
vending concession. This was supposed to also be for the the same person the pool and the the stat. That's correct. And it doesn't say anything about that. Yeah, I don't they did not I don't believe that they
submitted. We didn't receive any bids for the building. Oh, okay. receive two. So what we do probably something out and have it closed. I mean I wanted to go forward
more in the pool but I think we need to move forward but I just sub I guess I'll start with question is the hiring excuse me the promotion R2303 please the executive assistant yes what's the question Mike's question is
this during budget because I went back to another topic I did miss some of the budget warning for this during the budget it's in the budget that's fine of course everyone gets at least one
everyone gets at least one 25-37 includes two quotations for the acquisition of automobileing this basis for one but there are two quotes from Honda I would go as well we have we have
satisfied Okay. All right. Where did the audit go? Okay. Could I get a Could I get a motion to approve resolution R25-290 through R25-312? Can I have a second? Second. Omar,
please call the role. Corsair. Yeah. Dayton. Yes. Michaels. Yes. Council member Dana. Yes. Council member Clark. Yes. Council member Roer. Yes. Okay. Could I get a motion to approve the minutes of April 22nd, 2025
mayor and council? Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? I'm going to recommend we do the committee board reports at the May 20th meeting. Agreed. We're at the same time the mayor's report at the May 20th meeting. Mayor, but never come to last
day. [Music] Mayor, I'm not sure if you got a chance to mention in last week's mayor's message though the the statistics out of the trashon and I just wanted I did. It was in a written version and a hotel version. Oh, okay. Because I didn't hear
it on Okay. I was listening. You want me to try to put it in? Yeah. I think it'd be exciting for people to hear. It went so well. Thank you to Jane Jackson for Oh, yeah. Hundreds of
people get better and better. Thank you, Johnny. And the trash flowers. Um, I also just want to remind everyone, thank you for the support of the nature center tonight. Please join us at the spring house on May 17th. Friends,
cocktails with food. Hopefully a beautiful day and this is a way to fund raise that's not asking for money. Please come on out. Mor have a motion to adjurnn. So move a second. All in favor?
[Music]