Council - Regular Meeting

March 17th. Council President, council members, I request to go out of order to address on page 35, items 8A through D are appointments to the Affirmative Action Review Council. A is Missy O'Shea Bansu. Are you in the audience? Please step to the microphone. Thank you. Good morning, Miss O Bonsu. Yes. Good morning.

Morning. You have been sub your name has been submitted by the mayor to an appointment of the Affirmative Action Review Council. Do you have an opening statement you want to make? Um, I will be fully honest. I was brought in this morning or told about it and was given full information. Can you hear me? if you hold it up a little bit. Thank you. Okay. Can you hear me? That's much better. Okay. Now, saying that I wasn't given as much information um about this meeting, unfortunately. Um I was told to show up here um after my name was given to the superintendent. Um I do not have an opening statement, but I do look forward to being part of the council um representing the board of education.

Well, thank you. Any questions from the council? All right. Hearing none. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. B is Rock Leapore.

Good morning, Mr. Leaport. You have your name has been submitted by the mayor for an appointment to the Affirmative Action Review Council. Do you have an opening statement you'd like to make? Um, I wasn't prepared. I just want to say thank you very much for giving me this opportunity as a uh a union representative for the Eastern Land States Regional Council carpenters with our apprenticeships. Um this is a great opportunity to be part of this. Um the president of the Essex County Building Trades. Um we're on C I'm on a CTE board for Newark Behringer High School, West Orange, Belleville. I just think there's a lot of things that I could add to the board. I'm very appreciative and thank you.

Well, thank you. Any question, Councilman? Yeah, I was just uh I I'm the one who brought Roco on board uh to the committee. So, I'm glad that you know he's still here representing the unions. So, congratulations. Thank you, council. All right. Thank you. Anything? Thank you. Thank you. All right. C is Assado Bay. Good morning. And I'll say it again. And I keep saying you you your name has been submitted by the mayor for an appointment to the uh affirmative action review council. Uh you have an opening statement or remarks you'd like to make.

My name's Isato Bay. Thank you very much for um um inviting me to address this body. Um I have been working for the past 20 years as the um director of uh workforce strategies and initiatives with the McKisik organization. And in that, I've learned a lot about our communities and I like what I see in uh in Newark and look forward to learning more and being able to impart whatever information I have around workforce and um local hiring specifically.

Thank you. Any any questions, comments from the council? Hearing none. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. And D is Amariss Alivo Makabe. Good morning. Good morning. Uh you have been selected by uh recommended by the mayor for an appointment to the affirmative action review council. Do you have anything you'd like to say? Yes. Good morning. Um you can pull the mic down so we can There you go.

My name is Emilisa Olivo Makabe. I work with the as an educator at the Essis County Schools of Technology as the cooperative education coordinator. I also serve as the co-chair for the youth investment council for the city of Newark. And so I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve and uh work with some of my colleagues like Mr. Laapour and Mrs. Satu um on this council. Thank you. Is there anything from the council hearing? None. Thank you and congratulations. Thank you, Council President. Council members, we are on page four of the agenda. Item five is reports and recommendations of city officers, boards, and commissions.

Questions from the council. Next item, ordinances on public hearing, second reading, and final passage. 6P SFA is an ordinance amending multi-way stop intersections by designating 18th Avenue and South 13th Street as a multi-way stop sign intersection in the South Ward sponsored by Councilman Council. Second by Councilman Kelly. Any questions from the council? Next item.

Resolutions. Seminar 1A through C are temporary emergency appropriations. A is to purchase body armor for the Newark Department of Public Safety citywide. B is to obtain funding for the Newark tree canopy initiative. And C is a sustainable Jersey PSC partnership program staffing and community engagement grant program offers funding to make progress toward reducing the community's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Any questions from the council on those? Councilman Silva, I'd like to be known as a sponsor for 1A, please. I'll second.

1A sponsored by Councilman Silva. Second by Councilwoman Scott Roundry. Duly noted. Anything else from the council? All right. Next item. D is external transfer reserve funds to pay outstanding obligations.

Questions from the council. Next item. E through G are state contracts. E is to purchase office furniture for various city departments. F is radio communications equipment and accessories. And G is to purchase police sirens, mounts, brackets, speakers, additional accessories, and ancillary installation services.

Um any questions from the council? I I just have one question um on 7R1F. If we could just get an uh explanation of the increase um as long as we get it uh before tomorrow's meeting, I'd appreciate it. Anything else from the council? Next item. H is RFP competitive contracting to provide operation of a restaurant concession at Military Park.

Questions from the council. Well, I will say I like the food. So, pound cake is great. If you if you all don't stop by, you better get some. Next item. I is an extension of emergency contract to extend the emergency contract for the reconstruction of the bay floor fire engine five. Questions from the council. Yeah. Uh just a question on when when this job is uh planned to be completed. Somebody's here from engineering and the firehouse to be open. All right. Director Adams has come out.

Good morning. James Adams, interim director of engineering for the city of Newark. Um, the delay had to do with the concrete slab that was poured. We had to wait for the 28 day strength so it would it would obtain its structural capacity. We anticipate that all this work is going to be done by the end of this month. Thank you, director. Thank you. Thank you. Next item.

Next item. J and K are contracts with grant recipients to provide community-based violence intervention and prevention in youth mentoring and or safe passage. J is for the Ironbound Community Corporation and K is for Leaders for Life Incorporated. Any questions from the council? And Mr. Sponsor K.

Sponsored by Councilman uh let's try this again. Sponsored by Councilman Council, second by Councilman Kelly. Any other questions? Sorry. Next item. L is application and acceptance for grant funds to prepare a historical preservation plan for the rehabilitation and restoration of the interior of city hall. Questions from the council. Definitely appreciate this being done. Next item.

Seminar 2 A through F are private sales and redevelopment. A is new construction of a three and a half story residential building. All units designated to households earning 60 to 80% of area medium income. Questions from the council is uh Mr. Pardo here. All right. Next item

B is to rehabilitate the property into a tailoring shop offering customized tailor services and a training space for youth to learn tailoring design and entrepreneurship skills in the south. The chair like to sponsor that item. Sponsored by councilman. Second by councilwoman Scott Roundry. Next item C is rehabilitate single family home to be owner occupied in the south ward. Chair want to sponsor this item. All right. I'll second that. I'll second this one. He said he I'll second got that one.

Council Crump. Next item. D is new construction of a two family home to be rented to section 8 housing choice voucher participant I'm sorry participants in the south ward you want defer that item please all right motion to defer to defer it as a whole is that okay councilman defer it as a whole fine okay duly noting next

is new construction of two residential homes consisting of one four family home and one three family home both to be sold at market rate in the south and west wards we're going to defer this yes okay defer as a whole next item I'm sorry defer I'm sorry defer this whole thank you F is new construction of three two three two family and three family homes to rent at or below market rate in the south and west wards

defer as well. So we defer this one to as a whole duly noted. G is approving assignment of an agreement to the assignment of the financial agreement from the cottage place to cottage place apartments for an affordable housing project.

Can we get the uh someone from economic housing development to just give a brief explanation on this? Good morning, council. Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator, economic and housing development. Um, this particular item is uh the current owner of this development is um actually selling ownership to another uh entity. They also have HMA act, excuse me, HMFA funding. And in order for the HMFA funding to be uh considered to be switched over, they need to have this approved first. And they do have a deadline of March the 20th to get this done um due to the state deadline.

And nothing is changing in terms of the affordable housing. No sir, it will still be an affordable building. Okay. Any questions from the council? Thank you, Mr. Daniel. You're welcome. Next item 7R3A is a bid contract to award Broad Street phase 2 pedestrian safety improvements. Questions from the council? Hearing none. Next item.

7R5A is amending application acceptance of additional grant funds amending public health preparedness links 2026 grant. Can we ask Director Osbbor to come up and give a brief explanation on Thank you. And also what is just for the public, what is the public health emergency preparedness? That may have been too big, but

Good morning. Kellen Osbbor, director for the Department of Health. Uh this links grant will strengthen the health department's ability to prepare for, mitigate, and respond to public health emergencies throughout the year. Um it supports staff training, CPR certification, functional exercises, and emergency drills to enhance readiness and rapid response. Um the grant also enables timely distribution of public health alerts and notifications to health care providers, hospitals, and other health professionals throughout the city. and it supports uh purchases of PPE and distribution of PPE to necessary entities across the city. Thank you. Any questions from the council?

Hearing none. Thank you very much, director. Next item. B is contract with subreient to provide housing assistance and supportive services to persons with HIV AIDS, the YMCA. Questions from the council. Next item. Seminar 6 A through E are settlements for executive session. Next. F is a professional service contract to provide legal services concerning bond council services. Anything from the council. Next item.

7R8A is a reappointment to the central planning board as a council representative. Councilwoman Scott Roundtree. You sure you want it? Next item. B is a ceremonial street designation for Marshall E. Cooper sponsored by Councilman Kentana. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilwoman Scott Roundry. Duly noted. C is recognizing and commending resolutions. And D is expressing profound sorrow and regret. Next

7R9A is an appointment of a special police officer, a New York resident. Any questions? Next item. B and C are acceptance of grant funds. B is for the drunk driving enforcement and C is for body armor for police officers. Any questions? Next item. Seminar 12A through C are intergovernmental agreements to provide a temporary construction easement agreement for the state construction project on Route 23. Questions from the council. Next item.

Communications A through D were dealt with earlier. We are on page 36. Item 8E is a reappointment to the affirmative action review council. Dou Kamuso. Questions from the council. Next item.

F is an ordinance amending special improvement districts to revise terminology and clarify collection and administration of the tourism improvement district license fee. Can we get an explanation for that one? AF as in Frank. Okay, there he is.

Good morning, council president, council members. Benjamin Guzman, acting finance director. Um, with this ordinance, we're doing is uh amending and updating the language in the ordinance itself. Historically, this tourism fee has been collected and managed by the Department of E economic and housing development, but the ordinance was reading that it was the tax collector that was collecting and billing it. Uh due to the fact that this is not strictly a tax or a special improvement tax, more of a fee based on the hotel stay, it is more applicable to be collected and managed by the Department of Alcohol Economic Housing Development, which it has in the past. We're just updating the language in the ordinance that way it reflects it. All right. Thank you, director. Uh, Councilman Silva.

So, Ben, just uh, director, just a quick question. So, who's going to pay this uh, fee? It's the improvement districts that No, no, this is when an individual stays at a hotel, there's an additional fee added onto the hotel fee as a tourism tax. Oh, okay. Okay. The hotel collects that, we will then bill the hotels based on their occupancy. We will then collect that and then that those fees are then used and then forwarded to the tourism district. Obviously, an administration fee will be, you know, deducted from what is collected in order for the the city to manage that. Uh, and then the remaining balance will be then be uh transferred over to the tourism district. Thank you. Any other questions?

Thank you. Uh, director, next item. G is an ordinance amending business and occupations records to include persons exempt from toll fees and releases of motor vehicles to include notice requirements for certain vehicles involved in a criminal investigation.

Cor uh Kenya store city of North Corporation Council. So essentially uh what we're doing here is making an amendment to our toll ordinance. Essentially there's a number of things that have been happening. Uh we get a number of calls on a regular basis to my office uh for folks who have unfortunately have they've had their cars towed because of you know things that they is unrelated to them. Uh some of them may have been uh victims of violence. Uh some have may have had to have their car towed because the car was involved in an investigation unrelated to them. So for example, unfortunately there's a shooting or there's an incident that took place. And when that happens, a car has to be towed. Uh folks are calling back to the office saying, "Well, I had nothing to do with the Ryan. Do I have to pay for my car being towed?" And it's been towed for a number of days or what have you. So what this does here is uh exempts them from paying as well. It also makes the requirement that the uh that we have to notify them within 48 hours of what's going on with the car. So if the car is a part of an investigation, we have to notify the off the the owner to say, "Hey, listen, your car is involved in investigation. You cannot have your car because it's still taking pictures or DNA or things of that nature." Uh or if the car is just towed, your car has been towed and it's at this specific location because, as I said, for whatever reason, uh folks have been having a hard time Um there is a uh there's also a requirement that if if the car is under investigation every 15 days they have to notify the person um of where the car that of the status of investigation. So you know we're going to continue to hold your car. we contact you in 15 more days because the car is still under investigation because sometimes, you know, the police have to do whatever they have to do when it comes to investigations and we just don't want people to be just laying in

the wind trying to figure out what's the status of their car. Well, I I can tell you I do appreciate this ordinance amendment because it's through no fault of somebody having to pay fees for a car that was stolen, towed, or something not part of an investigation. Um, this is something that's important and I think I'm I'm glad to see that. I believe Councilman Kano, did you want to say something? Yeah. In terms of how about the prosecutor when the car is taken for the prosecutor's office, that car is is somewhere uh for a month or so or two. Uh, is there some cooperation between both?

Yeah. So, so essentially it also makes sure that in in terms of an investigation, I can't really hear you. In terms of an investigation by the attorney general or that car is a pro becomes uh an evidence to the prosecutor, Essex County prosecutor, and a car goes there and stays a month, does the people get the same to be informed of when is their car going to be released? So, we're going to make sure our public safety our public safety folks have a contact with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, the AG's office, etc. Uh, I do want to make sure that we're clear though, if you are involved in the investigation and your car is towed, you don't get that same treatment. That's right.

Right. So, unfortunately, if your car is towed because you're a defendant or you're subject to what's going on with the with the investigation, you don't get a freebie. You have to get your car out through the regular process. Right? This is for people who are victims of violence, victims of crimes, or people who have no association with the investigation. Yes.

Um I do think it's important I I noticed at least in my copy uh we failed to add uh the the language that says the location of the vehicle. So if uh through council president and through madam clerk if we can just add a line um it's in the section two madam clerk I'll show you exactly where it is but it's uh uh for the tow or the location of the vehicle. Yeah counselor if you can send that to us and show us that all the council members prior to the meeting so we can make that amendment. Sure. Appreciate it. That's true. Councilman Council,

I'm I'm glad you you pointed that out because I was going to bring that up because it is very um important for us to realize that this is only in Newark matters. And so if there's a New York resident that happens to get their vehicle towed in Urban or Maplewood or something that we're not engaged in that part, but if it is something that happens in this municipality uh unbano to them uh on some incidental level that they should not bear the burden or the the fees that are associated with their car uh being put into uh an investigation and should be able to have the respect enough to be uh updated on where their vehicle is uh and uh at what point will the investigation be over that they can go and obtain their vehicle? So, I I think this is good. I I would like to sponsor this because I've been talking a lot about this uh issue uh for a period of time uh with you as well, Corporation Council.

For sure. And I mean, you know, to give you some of the dialogue, I mean, some folks have literally called us when they come outside and they have to bring their kids to school. Some people have to go get their kids. some people are on their way to work and they didn't know that the car had been involved in investigation or you know things have happened the night before or what have you. So, I mean it it it has been a traumatic uh story that has, you know, passed over and over and over again. And again, you know, police have to do their job. And I don't want anyone to think that we want the police to be stopped or be prohibited from doing their job. But unfortunately, uh, you know, folks wake up to, you know, not knowing anything and trying to figure out how to get the process, uh, started. And, you know, most of that comes to my office.

Thank you. Uh, council coun no councilman Kelly first. Um, he's it's already been answered. Would you I'm sorry I didn't hear you, counselor. No, it's already been answered. Oh, I just want to ditto counseling counsel because I've dealt with um on some of the incidents and situations I've had to deal with with victims of of violence with their cars being just trying to be helpful using their car to transport someone gets their car confiscated and then the county has to sweep it and there's a process. That's right.

Um and then the person has to wonder, well, I have a disabled child or I have to get to work. you're gonna take my card for five days and then I got to pay for it. So, I'm really supporting this. Not like the second um council and council sponsorship. Thank you. Uh anything else from the council? Oh, while we're talking about public safety, I do recognize that we did not notice that the member of public safety representative is actually in the front row. I mean, they're right here. So, kind of tucked away a little bit. I know there were some questions about public safety earlier. So if if the council still has the questions, someone is here to answer.

Uh let's finish and go back. Okay. Next item. Yeah, Mr. Chair, can we advance and adopt this on first? So I couldn't advance and adopt on first. And adopt. Okay. I think it was moved by council council and seconded by councilwoman Scott Roundry.

Duly noted. H is an ordinance to amend solid waste management by amending the time to abate waste sponsored by Councilman Silva.

Yeah, Mr. Chair. I I I would like to second this, but there there's some some things in the in the reading that I want us to go back and look at. One, I think it should not specify engineering department. It should say the code office because it gives specivity uh to who takes ownership uh of making sure that this information is given and sometimes different places are housed in different entities. And so code should be directly uh related in this or even our sanitation uh inspectors. Uh also there should be a fine structure assessed uh and not of the small scale. And so you know ultimately um we have been fighting over this process of how long we should wait to give people time to abate their properties when there is large amounts of illegal dumping, large amounts of trash and garbage all around the facilities. individuals who are taking garbage cans and filling them up to the top, leave them in front of their front gates, not uh abating and dealing with these issues. um trying to give them 10 days to abate and now want to bring it down to two days. uh which which I believe is important uh because of the egregious amount of garbage and debris that uh not not only uh some of our residents and and tenants help to uh incur but also some of the ownership of these facilities uh do not monitor and and and and help to uh ambass uh vacasillate the situation. And so I think it's important um that we look at leveling down the time of abatement and stop allowing folks to get to the courtroom and make sure that our courts are aware uh of how important it is to take care of our communities because

many of these people that own some of these facilities don't live in the city. Uh and if you're trying to give them time to uh abate, they'll never uh get that time to abate because they don't even follow up with their tenants to make sure that their tenants are keeping the property clean. uh and respectful and and there is going to be some time and pressure even in this ordinance that the tenants have to start being responsible for keeping in front of these properties clean and clear. And so if the if the pressure is going to be on the administration uh to make sure that they're stripping the sweets, they're picking up trash, they're picking up the the bulk, everyone has to be accountable for making sure that we provide a great quality of life, a clean city, uh across the board and and and making sure that we do these things. So, you know, I'm definitely encouraged by, you know, the piece that Councilman Silva put out. We've talked about it a lot. Uh and at first we wrestled around it and came back. We had a piece in there where we tried to be liberal and give people 10 days to uh abate. But the the fundamental issue is people are not abating these issues in 10 days. And it's putting a lot of pressure on us uh because we have large amounts of garbage that are out on the street. I mean dumping not just garbage in front of houses in back of houses on the sides of streets that's remaining there because uh we are waiting for a 10-day abatement period until we do something but in the meantime the resident has to drive by this. They has to continue to see this and they're not getting the action that they believe they deserve. And in their mind, they're thinking that the city is dirty and not dealing with it while we're waiting on a a legal process of 10 days for someone who did this or someone who could have come in to dump it to abate the issue. And so I think it it's paramount that we really look at this and and have discussion around how this goes. I see the director snuck up to the to the microphone. So

So wait, let let's hear from the sponsor. Yes. uh you speak.

Uh good morning. Uh I agree with Councilman Council. Uh I think that um even though director Redeem and his team are out there working very hard, I know code enforcement's out there. This is just another tool in the toolbox because I think that today 10 days was a bit ridiculous to have garbage sit out there. the perception again what council and counsel was saying how dirty it made the city look. Uh and so after speaking to the BA, thank you and uh our clerk um we decided on two days would be appropriate to allow uh owners enough time to abate it or uh code enforcement making notifications. They would have 48 hours to abate. Uh and what happened and what led to this was a week two weeks later after um uh two weeks two weeks later 3 weeks later after we had bulk pickup bulk was still sitting out there. it wasn't going to be picked up because obviously they put out too many pieces or they put out construction material or electronics and our DPW is not going to take that

and so it would be just sitting out there for 2 3 weeks and to me that it it would hold code enforcement powerless for 10 days. They really couldn't do anything. And so this gives us again another tool in our toolbox to hold landlords and tenants more accountable. Thank you. Anything else from the council? Councilman uh Kentana,

while you're here, I'd like to The potholes. No, there there is a lot of potholes that need to be I mean the car I almost had a flat I got a flat tire last week and on I got a flat tire this morning. I almost I'm on prospect coming to the meeting. between M Prospect and Boomfield and Second Avenue, there's a pothole that is just so if we could start looking at these potholes because these are these are very serious matters. I mean for some I mean the car is I mean the flat tire is a problem. the tear on the car. And again, uh if we could look into this and uh fill those potholes as soon as we can and identify them all in the different wards. In terms of the construction, over the weekend, I was walking in the central ward and and and the piles of of construction material uh where these folks and I've called you before on Clifton Avenue with the same scenario that people were building and they just throw everything on the weekend and they were working on a Saturday putting things on. So, we have to be out there on Saturdays, too, making sure that we cite these folks.

Thank you, Councilman. Anything else from the council? Yes, I um council

to just also mention and thank you for uh for that uh Councilman Canana. Um because also in addition to that, the garbage that lays out there once the rain came washed a lot of it into the street. And so then it plugs up the sewers. And so when we were walking around and and meeting with residents in the central war and there are so many different sewers that are now clogged with the trash and so we were taking pictures and wanted to make sure that we send that um to you. So you have one, it starts as one thing is illegal dumping, then the rain comes, then it washes into the street, and then we have all the other piles. And so it's one thing that turns into another and to another and to another. Um, so we want to make sure that we send that information over to your office so we can make sure that we take care of that for the residents. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Anything else from the council? All right, director, there's a lot on your plate you just asked. So, Councilman, Council President, Kareem Dean, director, interim director, DPW. I'm up here for the ordinance first and then I'll address that. On the ordinance, we just think it was some added language that needs to be in there if it's deemed immediate hazard by the Department of Public Works that we can pick it up that day and it will be hauled away, which the cost will be charged to the residential property owner or commercial property owner. We're saying if we deem it as immediate hazard, it needs to be picked up that day and the cost should be immediately charged to the residential property or commercial property owner, right? You don't want to wait two days for something that's immediate hazard. Far as the potholes, we have three pothole crews out, right? Um every day um except Sunday because the the plant's not open. Saturday, they out for part of the day. and we're faithfully going through the the wards and if you call in 4311 reporting the pothole then we're responding as quick and rapidly as we can. Um the catch basins we got 13 street sweepers out. So after the rain events the street sweepers mainly pick up that stuff that's on top of the catch basin. A couple couple of those street sweepers got laborers and if it's too much heavy stuff they get out and remove the stuff and bag it up. So, as we look to work with you and the residents work with us, we'll uh do the potholes and continue to do what we normally do after the rain events with the street sweeper and the water and sewer crews. Revisit the hot spots, remove that debris that washes on top of the catch, not always in top of the catch. That's it. Thank you.

All right. Thank you, director, council president, council members, we have four added starters. First one is legisar number 26-0353 which is a redevelopment agreement and a companion ordinance which is 26 26 I'm sorry-0354 I'm sorry beat that that one 26-0353 is the resolution and the ordinance is 26-03 3 I4.

Okay. Deputy mayor.

Uh good morning, council president, council members. Allison Lad, director of economic and housing development. Um the two items before you are for one project. Uh the project is the re-imagine Kawa Towers project on Holly and Central. as uh the well the good news is is we have a new development team. They are present um in chambers and I'll reference them in a moment but I did want to give you some background on what happened from the last time we approved this project and what happened today. It'll be brief. Um many years ago probably about five uh we worked on this project and we went through a competitive process to find a developer. Um once we selected that developer shortly after COVID um unfortunately that development team Omni was bought by a New York company. We had worked with that New York company for um at least a year uh to see if we could resolve the issues associated with the project now that a bought company was responsible. Unfortunately we were not able to get to an agreement. Therefore, we terminated our agreement and it was a mutual termination that was done and there was no litigation that was needed. So, that's the positive side as far as no litigation. The second positive side is is today as we reimagine it, we have um a new development team that is not only going to bring 100% affordable housing, they will also bring rental and home ownership. That is a new element and we're very excited. The total project will be 32 units, 20 will be rental and 12 will be condos and that'll be a really exciting piece for us within our city. In addition, there will also be a

ground floor retail space that we are looking for a community grosser to be able to be the party that will be occupying that space. No one has been identified, but that is our goal for the space is to provide a very lowcost ger um option um in our downtown area. Um at this time, uh the project again is about uh $26 million total development costs. What we're asking for you to do today and tomorrow is to review the project and also approve the development team um that um again is present and it's uh Heritage Company and POMA and um they're just they're here. So do you want to stand?

Uh so as you can see they are all here present in chambers. We're excited to be able to bring this to you. Um, and I would say, um, last, uh, in closing, uh, we'll just let you know that the reason why we're asking for an added starter is that there is a Federal Home Loan Bank, uh, of New York deadline, Friday. And one of the key elements is for the development team to have site control so that they can score high enough to be able to get several million dollars from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. and that is the reason why we are asking for it as an added starter today. Um happy to answer any questions um and we're happy to provide more information um between today and tomorrow um as needed.

So let me ask first question um the two that one is are they're both resolutions. One is a resolution, one is an ordinance. Yes. Uh one is a resolution, one is an ordinance. One is the redevelopment agreement and the other one is the ordinance allowing us to sell, but they're both necessary. Okay? That's why they're companions

and there won't be an issue even though the deadline is Friday. There won't be we won't have completed the ordinance. Um we will be able to provide a letter as we've um as uh the development team has requested saying that the site control is um granted at the same time though it hasn't been closed on. We have done that in the past for other developers who are applying for funding where they need to demonstrate site control. Um and it has been successful. All right. Thank you. Any questions from the council? Yeah, Mr. Chair, Councilman, councel

one. I'm I'm uh you know excited that it got to this point. Uh we come out of all of that confusion to you know really sit down and do something that's meaningful uh on that corner and a vision that is supposed to be management. But the the 100% uh affordable the 20 rentals is that going to be between 30 to 50% AMI or uh what number does that look like? And I don't know if you cost out what the 12 condos uh may be. I know is probably some long-term financial thing once they figure out what the financial package looks like based on what it is. They'll be able to uh you know possibly sell the 12 condos for. But I think that uh is exciting. It brings a fixture of home ownership uh into that area with dual rental ship possibilities. But just to find out what the um AMIs would be for the 20 apartments.

Uh yes, the AMI for the whole project will be between 30% of AMI and 80% of AMI.

Also like to note that um we do have two people within um economic and housing development that were instrumental in moving it to this space. Uh one is Aman Clark. She's present in chambers. She has been the lead project manager. And the second is Nana Juma, our chief of staff. Um and so you will continue to see us um as we move forward and we review the financing request as well. Thank you, Councilwoman Scott Brown.

Thank you, Council President. Thank you, Deputy Mayor, for that explanation and that presentation. Um I like Councilman Council. I'm very excited. You've answered all the questions that I was going to answer, but I'm really more excited about a vision that didn't just start this year, last year, or even five years ago, and that it's going to benefit the community with the 100% affordable. That is a blessing. And then to look out in the audience when people are always talking about different other individuals that we have people in the audience that, and I'm going to be very transparent, that really look like the community that are part of this project. And I think that's the nicest way I can put it. I'm excited. I support it. And wherever it's moving, as long as we do it decent in order, I cannot wait to see the finished project and cut the ribbon if the Lord allows me. God bless you. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman uh uh Bay.

Thank you, Council President. Um I'm especially excited that this is happening in the Central Ward. I'm even more excited that this is a project that um is coming from people who are already in community who understand the needs of the community and making sure that the people of the Central War in the city of Norc um get what we've been waiting for and asking for and needed. And so this is something that is really exciting. I'm I'm looking forward to supporting and providing whatever type of support that we need to make sure that this comes to fruition. as uh Councilwoman Scott Roundtree says that this is not something new, that this is something that's been in the works for a very long time. Um and so we are very happy that we've gotten to this point and we support it definitely 10,000%.

Yes. Thank you very much. Thank you, Councilwoman Bay. Anything else from the council? She said, she said she wanted to sponsor. Oh, I didn't hear that. I'm sorry. I want to second. Okay. Okay. The two fragrances got it. sponsored by Councilwoman Bay, second by Councilwoman Scott Roundtree. And I'm assuming on on both both pieces of legislation. Yes, Councilwoman Bay on both pieces of legislation, right? Yes, sir. All right. And may I ask Council President on the ordinance, could you advance and adopt on first? Advance and adopt. Okay. Thank you. Anything else from the council on that one? All right. Next

third added starter is file number 26-360 which is a resolution of support for the Christy Riverfront project expire tax credit issue.

Council President Allison Lad, director of economic and housing development. This item is a resolution of need. The project is located at 596-610 Raymond Boulevard. It will be a fivestory multifamily residential development. 56 units um and 40 of them will be market and 10 will be affordable at 50% of AMI. There will be 56 parking spaces as well. So that's one for one parking um based on units and parking spaces. Um, in closing, the reason for it to be an added starter is is that the development team is looking to seek Aspire funding and they have a Friday deadline, March 20th as well.

All right. Thank you. Anything else from the C councilman? Yeah, if we can advance and adopt this and just it's a resolution, right? It's a resolution. So, it's one reading. Good. All right. Thanks. Uh, next item. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you deputy mayor. The fourth file is file number 26-0358 which is acceptance of a gift for the state of the city address corporate council.

Sure. uh Kenya store city of New York corporation council. So essentially as you know uh the mayor's saying the city addresses uh March 31st uh in between now and then there's no uh meetings other than on the week of uh we don't necessarily want to do it that fast. We want to make sure that we uh you know have our ducks in a row. um the uh the NJP pack will make sure that we have a given us essentially a gift of $24,000 that covers the expenses when it comes to inside and then the city is responsible for any additional expenses. We do not expect there to be an exorbitant amount of money at all. Uh it may be double the amount if that and this is no different than we do every year,

every single year for years and years and years. Thank you. Anything from the council? All right, next item. public comment. We are in the 30 minute public comment portion of this meeting where each Oh, I'm sorry. Before we go back, we had a question on one item. Let's Let's do that first. Um, with public safety here, the question was 7R1F page 10. The what was the the reason for the increase? Uh good morning, Mr. Council President, council members. Morning,

Deputy Chief Jose Gonzalez, uh Office of Accountability, Engagement, and Oversight.

The Newark Police uh embarked on a very ambitious project. It was started about three years ago. We uh completely changed our radio systems. We went from an analog system to a digital system. That is an expensive was a big ticket item. All the radios were purchased. Uh radios per each unit for each officer. It's upwards of $10,000 which significant expenditure. However, our needs continue to grow. And as the city continues to grow with all the development in downtown area, we need additional repeaters so that the communications could be cleared un uh uninhibited. So that is one of the reasons for that expenditure uh increase as I as it was explained to me. here.

All right. Well, thank you. Any questions from the council? All right. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you all. All right. Let's go to public speak.

We are in the 30 minute public comment portion of this meeting where each speaker will have three minutes to speak. Please state your name for our records. Is there anyone wishing to address the council? I don't know about addressing the council. I'm addressing the people of North. So, Manor Bummani, is this a lot to say in three minutes? So you said you look into the audience and you see people look like what's from here, right? You just said that about the but you you didn't look into the audience and see that all those people that stood up, they all your supporters. They all ras rocka supporters and cheerleaders. Every last one of them. And that's exactly who's been getting the developments, the projects. You ask any ordinary New Yorker who ain't cow down and bow down to you. You all, it ain't it ain't happening like that. So knock it off. Then you got Kaden. He come up here every council meeting AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES. Y'ALL JUST IS THIS A ceremonial type of thing that's going on about the filth, the potholes, the water, the this, the that? IS THIS THE SAME OLD

RHETORIC OR IT'S insanity that y'all Y'ALL DON'T EVEN HEAR YOURSELF WITH THE SAME issues every year since you've been in office. The same issues have gotten even worse under your administration. THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAY FAILED LEADERSHIP. NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE YOU. I KNOW YOU'RE NOT RUNNING AGAIN FOR ELECTION. YOU GOT TO BE OUT OF YOUR MIND. 12 MORE YEARS, FOUR MORE YEARS OF YOUTH. It's just insanity, people. Insanity. YOU GOT A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AND NOTHING'S IN IT FORCERS. NOTHING. All that's IN IT IS FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND PEOPLE WHO who who COME UP WITH THE HIGH SKIRTS LIKE DONNA SAID, SHAKING THEIR BOOM BOOMS. That's it. YOU HAD THE AUDACITY, RAZ, TO COME TO A CONFERENCE AND THAT DIDN'T UH COME WITH A LIST OF THE WORST slum lords. AND WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH SLUM LORDS SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE 12 YEARS AND THEY GOTTEN WORSE. THEY UNHINGED. THE SLUM LORDS IN THIS CITY, THE DEVELOPERS IN THIS CITY, EVERYBODY'S UN UNHINGED. EVEN THE POLICE, you all are unhinged. IS THIS A ABOMINATION? IS THIS A A TRAVESTY IF YOU ELECT THESE PEOPLE BACK INTO OFFICE? NORCERS,

thank you for your comments. Next speaker. And as the next speaker comes up, I I'm I'm reminded just to say that, you know, we always talk about the negative, but I want to say that I actually think the sanitation did a good job yesterday, overnight, and this morning in terms of picking up recycling and the trash. Um, so we're we're moving in the right direction and I think we're going to continue to do that. Miss Bmani, please do not call out. Go ahead.

Let me just state my name once again because I know y'all all know who I am. It's Danny Clyburn and they call me Queen and that's for Ramos. I thought it was very embarrassing for you to come and take a photo op at the McDonald's and ask my boss if I really worked there because I come to the council meeting when you've seen me before. A lot of these people were sitting in the seats. Y'all didn't buy a water or anything to support those babies. I find it really funny that y'all are hijacking a lot of different events because it's election time. Second, Villa Victoria and GKV, Georgia King Village. There's no way that you guys are being contacted. And now this has to hit the news and this young lady is still living in that same condition with rats and roaches. And I understand how she feel cuz I went through the same thing in new community. It's all over the city of Newark. How do you keep approving budgets to build on properties and build more buildings and you not rehabbing the ones that we have to put the community in? I find that very strange. Right? If you took a deal to get back in office and you owe somebody something, that has nothing to do with the other 65% of the residents that live in this city. Again, we have a crisis with the homelessness. It's a crisis. I'm tired. When I get home, I can barely look at myself in the mirror because I'm putting constantly people out of the stores of McDonald's and I'm sure they in other restaurants, but somehow they just seem to keep falling inside the McDonald's. Yesterday, we had another gentleman that was butt naked. You can ask the seven precent cuz I had to call them to remove him out of our bathroom. We have children that come there, seniors that

come there. Everybody come there besides you guys. I dare you to come there and just have a cup of coffee and see what we see and feel feel how we feel. It's embarrassing. Our people are not PPE certified to be cleaning behind these conditions of homeless people that have mental illnesses and we could barely remove them out of the stores. This is an outcry for your help. It's an outcry. I used to wonder why Donna Jackson and the rest of them came up here yelling and screaming and y'all didn't pay them no attention. I really had to tell myself every time I sign up, Queen, don't go up there. I need you to listen. I need you to go let them hear what you saying. So, I'm hoping you hear again. My name is so you don't ask again, Ramos, about the young lady is Danny D A N I S H A Clyurn. C L Y B U R N. So the next time you address for me, you'll know my name. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments. Next speaker, may I council woman uh no other speakers appearing. Public speaking is now closed. Councilwoman uh Bay.

Thank you, Council President. Um I need to address Miss Clyburn and what you just stated. Um, we have on multiple occasions reached out to you from the first time that you came here to talk to you and try to set up meetings regarding the issues that you have put forth um, at the McDonald's. We met with you once uh, Council Councilman Kelly and I in his office and since then I have multiple messages. I have called you. My staff has called you. We have multiple text messages trying to help you and provide the assistance that you said that you wanted. And most of all of my messages to you have gone unanswered. Every last one, every text message, every voicemail. And we're still trying to help and abate the situation because it's important and we understand that. But what I'm saying is to you is you need to be fair because we have reached out and we have tried to and we have addressed it. So to say that that hasn't happened is not true and it's unfair. And also we can talk about the situation that Bill of Victoria because the young woman that you're referring to, we have put in countless hours, days, weeks to address the situation. I personally paid for to put her family up in the hotel to help her. So when I saw that piece on News12, I was taken aback because there's always accusing this this administration and us here on the council about not being honest, about not being trustworthy and not being people of integrity and not being accountable and not being responsible. And there was none of that. None of that in that piece on the news. Okay. All of the We had the big meeting at the North Symphony Hall at the Terrace Ballroom.

We met with this young woman. I'm not going to call her name because she didn't um put present herself out there. So, I'm not going to do that. But we had code enforcement and the building owners in her apartment. Right after that, she was offered new apartments that she denied and turned down. And we offered assistance to her and her family. Okay. We have countless text messages, voicemail messages, all of the receipts for all of the assistance. We didn't do a press conference or any of that because helping and serving is what we're supposed to do. That's what we get paid for. But you need to be fair if you want to report and it needs to be honest and needs to be true. And if you're going to tell the story, tell all of it.

Thank you. Thank Thank you, Councilwoman. Uh now, we're not going to call out. Come on. We don't know. Everybody knows the rules that are here. Council, first of all, Councilman Kelly first and then Councilwoman um and then Councilman Rh.

Uh thank you to uh Councilwoman Bay for that. Um I just want to address, you know, um just like they yell from the from the audience and it's campaign time, a lot of these things are done by people who are running a campaign. Um, and I'm speaking on the GKV incident. Even though it didn't make News 12, it was put all over social media. And the person that it was put whose apartment it was, myself and my staff have gave this lady countless services. So, we called her. We called her because we were like, "Why are you doing this when we when we served you?" And she said that she was set up. These are her words. She was crying. She was set up that uh a person who does not work there but claims he works there brought um a candidate at that time to her apartment, this gentleman to her apartment and he recorded without her knowing it. Now a lot of times I don't really say too much about these things but you know when it just goes over and over and over you know that these are not true you know influence is very powerful but it shape and it shapes perspective right so we have to let them know a lot of times that what they're seeing in the audience is not true and and just like they say we're running for campaign these people are are running a campaign So they're trying to, you know, discredit the services and the work that ourselves, our offices, and this administration is providing.

Thank you, Councilman. Councilwoman Scott Routtree.

Um to council, Thank you, Council President, Councilman Kelly. So, you know, we've been doing this for a minute now. I think um some of us have been in government for quite a few years. I've only been elected uh since 2022. Um, but I think here lately we face more and more uh pieces of stories that are not accurate. And I've sat here for many meetings in the last two years knowing that there are people out there as Councilman Kelly has stated that we have assisted. We didn't go on fa we paid nobody's rent. We didn't go on Facebook and said we kept somebody from being evicted. We didn't go on Facebook and social media and tell people. I don't I don't know whether it's a great idea to highlight the living conditions of an individual without first having the receipt that they were assisted. If Councilwoman Bay paid for the hotel, the next step would probably be, which is what I know corporation council, uh the VA, the mayor, and the council president are doing their best to hold people accountable. Homelessness didn't just meet us this year. The conditions that people are living in didn't just come about when we got in office. Homelessness has been with us since the beginning of time as well as the conditions. Our assignment, yes, is to hold people accountable for the landlords that they are. And then we have some tenants, God help them that might have never lived in clean conditions. So they it becomes a normal for people to step over homeless people. it becomes normal for people to live in squalor or to and it's not it's not a normal thing for us. So, we've got to start speaking truth to the people and for the people so it does not look lopsided as if though we're sitting here. We're not allowed to address you while you're speaking. But each of us have an office and I believe I don't

know I know my office has been open. My staff is open. I know I can say that for my colleagues and there are some individuals I won't call their name that I've met in the hallway and say come in my office. Let's talk about it. and they like later later. So if we offer and you don't come and there's been not one time as Councilman Bay has stated and Councilman Kelly that someone has not called our office but we can't continue while something is being televised about our public service to have people lie. You can tell your story. That's your story. You can tell your truth but there's three sides every story. The truth, your side, my side and the truth. And we have to be very careful of what we project about other people's lives and what they're going through without making sure that you giving individuals the opportunity. I'm not getting into the campaign conversation because I've been in office all my life without the people electing me. So my appointment came from God as soon as I was able to say, "Can I help you?" Matt started at a very early age. So it's not this seat because my service is not predicated on being elected. My service is predicated and I believe all of us I trust God being appointed to serve all of you who are responsible for us having an assignment in the first place. So when you are addressing us, please make sure that the facts are there and before you start pointing fingers at us saying what we're not doing, make sure you have our receipts too. And God help those who are living in conditions that the landlords are not doing what they're supposed to do. And yes, we probably should have had a list 50 years ago, but we got one now and we're going to start acting on it. Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Ramos.

Uh, thank you, Mr. President. I I I just want to um follow up on some of the comments that were made. I know we heard a lot of concerns about uh various McDonald's over the last few council meetings. In particular, some concerns came up regarding the McDonald's that's located on Broadway. Uh for a number of years since I was a kid, that McDonald's was owned by the Matan family, uh which owned a number of McDonald's around the city. you know, I reached out to see if that family still owned that location because we did have a very good relationship with the owner who passed away and his daughter who took over the um businesses after he passed and he would reach out to us on occasion regarding different concerns. Um we found out that that store was now owned by somebody else. Uh I wanted to meet that owner because we've always had a good relationship uh with the owner of that establishment. uh through a third party, we were able to connect with the new owner. She actually reached out to me and invited me to an event that she hosted to benefit the school, which we heard was uh creating some issues with some of the kids that were going there. I brought the captain of the precinct on site, and I explained to her that I wanted to make sure that we were being responsive to some of the concerns that we heard at the council meetings. And she asked me where those concerns came from. and I explained to her uh that we did hear from one of the employees uh from the corporation and I always like to have a direct relationship with ownership. So if they have any issues and concerns, they can reach out to me directly and as I do with other um business owners and residents and constituents, we try to be as helpful as possible. And and as far as our support of uh Luis Munos Maring School is is a school that we do a lot of stuff for that school directly. Uh the principal there is one of our best

principles and um we try to be as supportive as possible. That's it. Mr. President, thank thank you councilman. Anything else from the council? Uh uh very short court counsel. Is Mr. Waldro here? Yes, he was. He's in the back.

He's here. Okay. Sure. Um, uh, council president, uh, Kenya store, city of North Corporation Council, I just want to address two issues. Uh, the first one in in reference to Georgia King Village uh, two weeks ago um on a Friday, I think it was about six o'clock. Um, Council M Kelly invited us to a um to a community meeting. Myself, the mayor, number of people from my office, number of people from code and different people throughout the administration went to the meeting. I will say that I was surprised the meeting was packed on a Friday evening uh with a number of people who live there. Uh there were a number of concerns that they wanted us to address. The management was there and we were able to at least start a dialogue with the new management. Uh the new ownership was there. Uh one of the the the main issues of course started off with was the heat issues which you know we we have in court now. Um, I actually will tell you today that as late as yesterday, um, Ham from uh the code enforcement uh department has been sending me pictures of him being in the location making sure that the heating uh is is appropriate. Uh, one of the reasons why the case has been going on so long is because they were claiming that the heat was 100% good. And while I was there, I literally asked the folks, "Is your heat if there's still issues with your heat?" and folks raised their hands. We took their information and you know inspected him has been going there ever since. We're expected to go back to court I believe this Friday. The other issue that they had there was there was an issue with towing some inconsistency when it comes to towing. Uh there was some questions as to if it was like you know predatorial towing and things of that nature. Uh some folks are talking about the towing of of um uh ride share or or um like food delivery folks. Some folks are talking about towing when it comes to uh their own vehicles. So we

are in the process of dealing with uh tow issues. As you as you see now we are already dealing with a number of tow issues when it comes to uh police involved issues. Now we're going to deal with property owned towing uh issues. Uh the other issue we had was there was an issue with communication. Um we we recognized that the management had not been communicating properly with the the residents there. So as a result the management to their credit they had a a magnet if I may with new information, new phone numbers, new emails, new contact people. I called it at that point. Nobody answered. I will tell you that on my way home that night, somebody called me back. So I'm going to give him a little credit for that. Um the other thing was there was a question as to who works here. There was, you know, a number of individuals that were in question as to if those people work and the people were actually in the in the in the crowd and they the management confirmed and the ownership confirmed this person doesn't work here, this person does. But the the recommendation that we made was that they uh create uh laminated badges and uniforms for their employees. I will follow up with them this Friday. They said they were going to work on it. Hopefully, it's happening before I get I get to it. So my point is I know there has been a long history of Georgia King with this council with the the tax baitment uh unit and and a bunch of other things but it looks like things are at least moving in the right direction. Uh we are not there now. We're not there yet but like I said we are moving in the right direction. Maybe small small steps in the right direction. Um I I I also want to just um just address this comment that was made in reference to the folks that's going to be involved with the project that we have here. um you know it to to hear that folks are saying that you know the reason why these folks had an opportunity because they bowed down to the administration. Now you know what how you want to reference it you want to reference it but I I I will I will say that the the reason why I am addressing this is because you know one of one of our issues that is that

she's leaving it's fine. Thank thank you for leaving.

Yeah. Uh, one of the reasons why I thought it was important is because uh, over and over and over again, I've heard people say people who are getting opportunity are not from the city. These folks are from the city. These folks have credibility of doing this work in the city. They're going to add a fresh ger with reduced prices. We've been talking about food issues. They're going to add that as an opportunity as well. Right. So, you know, some of the issues that we talk about on a regular basis are happening here and now we're saying that the folks who are getting opportunity because they bow down. It sounds like the folks who are getting the opportunity are folks who say, "Listen, I have an idea. I spoke to EHD. I want to be a part of the project. This is what I can do for the city, right?" And I just think that like, you know, when we when we characterize it as like folks who are bowing down to the city council or to the administration, it tries to destroy or more importantly takes away the credit of those people want to do what's right for the city. So, like I said, I just I couldn't sit there and just hear it because I don't think it's fair to us, but more importantly, I don't think it's fair to them. Thank you.

Thank Thank you. Um, court council, two two quick things. One, um, Mr. Waldrop is going to come up and speak very briefly uh give us a briefing on World Cup activities. World Cup. Yeah. Um, and as he comes up, I just want to mention um, and and this has been discussed in the council meeting by Councilman Ramos, and I think a number of us have received complaints about the handicap parking issue uh, where signs have been um, removed or there have been issues in terms of renewal. Um and and let me say in the conversation with the council members and the administration, the any uh handicap parking uh individuals who are uh requiring handicap parking for renewals, those signs will remain or u and if the letter if they have been taken down, they will be put back up. And that's specifically dealing with the renewals uh right now, not not with any new applications. But so I want to thank the the administration and the council members for all working together and the mayor and to help make that happen and thank the business administrator because that's been a concern for a number of us and we've expressed that and we want to make sure that our residents that are have um that are handicapped or are uh provided with safe and secure access to their homes.

Mr. President, Councilman Ramos, I I just want to say thank you to the BA for his leadership on this. And um if we can get a letter attesting to this right now, we have a bunch of cases that we got to follow up. U my office, I just got a call this morning. There's a a young lady. She's an adult already. have known her since she was a child. And she has a specialty van that they park in front of her house cuz she's severely um you know disabled and has been from birth and they denied actually they're looking to take away her her handicap parking sign. So she lives on Clifton Avenue. Her mother calls me every day because obviously you know she can't move around without access to that vehicle. So

and thank you uh Councilman Kelly.

Thank you Council President. real quick. Um, yeah, I just want to thank the BA2. I know I have called his office and um, we have a a bunch of cases, but one in particularly that hit me, uh, that hit us yesterday was a blind woman in the West Ward who called me hysterical that they just took her her handicap permit from her and she's blind, you know. So, I I'm making I made sure that my office has made a list of all of those um those people who handicap signs and handicap permits have been taken from them so that we can address them and and hopefully they fall in under the the grandfather in and um we definitely need to go case by case with it. Thank you.

Thank you. And I think we should continue Mr. behave if if we get a new new uh uh uh go ahead. So,

while while you're getting up there, Councilwoman Scott Roundry. So, so I heard what Councilman Kelly stated and I do know that the BA has something prayerfully he's going to share with us and I pray it's good news because I also have a list of individuals and um what's happening is uh there's an individual that has a severe heart condition that's a paraplegic and uh that individual called me yesterday saying that they took his sign down. So, can you just explain about how the signs will whatever's going on with this process, please?

Uh, sure. Eric Pennington, business administrator. Uh, with respect to the handicap parking, u, this decision actually came from the mayor's office. The, uh, mayor spoke to me directly and said that he's gotten uh, complaints from individuals. I think I've gotten a request from every council member about handicap parking in the last few months, as has the mayor's office, and he directed me to look into this. I will tell I just want to give 30 seconds as to how this came about. The federal government imposed a new restriction on handicap parking spaces that said they can't be an obstruction. That includes trees and other items, signs and things that may be in where the space was. We are now, and I've spoken to the engineering director, Mr. Adams about this and we are looking into uh whether or not there are exceptions for existing spaces. It's going to take us a a little while to do some research. While we do this research and while it's pending, we are uh I've instructed engineering to put the signs back to not disallow any of these handicapped spaces until we get this resolved. It is my expectation that these these um qualified otherwise qualified handicap parking spaces will remain and they'll be grandfathered. That is not finalized yet, but I expect that that'll be what will happen. While we're looking at this, all signs will be put back. We're not going to deny existing handicap spaces that have been changed because of this reason. Right

now, we're going to get a plethora of requests for handicap spaces that don't fall into this category. We're going to get a whole bunch of requests that say, you know, my neighbor had a space. I used to have a space. I want my space back. Those spaces we are not going to grandfather and we're not going to approve those. Uh unless, of course, it's warranted. I am not opposed to looking at these applications on a case-byase basis on an appeal and we'll do so. That has been my practice and policy for the last five years. I will continue that. But this is a blanket reversal of those spaces that have been removed because of this new legislation. We're going to change that immediately. That's great. Thank Thank you. Let me say something.

Great news. Okay. Thank you, uh, Mr. B. All right, Mr. Waldrop. And we're going to I I hate to rush you, but you know, we do have to go upstairs. You got a lot of papers in your hand. uh Melvin uh and maybe and I'll say this maybe you know give us a brief one and we'll come back at a at a later date and do a more uh thorough discussion. Uh yes uh Melvin Walro chief of staff office of the uh business administrator

as you are aware we will be hosting the World Cup starting in uh June. There are a total of 104 matches. Eight of those matches will be played uh in Metife uh stadium. Uh the first match will be on the 13th uh which is the Saturday of the uh Portuguese festival and the last match will be the championship match will be played on the 19th of uh July. Uh tremendous opportunity uh for the city. Uh they're are estimating that there will be a $ 1.7 billion dollar spend associated uh with this event uh throughout the uh you know New Jersey our metropolitan area. Our objective is to get as many of those dollars in the city of Newark as possible through our hotel years through our restaurants and through our local businesses and uh uh vendors. Uh a major event that will be uh coming up on the 24th is what is referred to as a uh major fanfest. Newark has been designated as a flag uh city and we have a major fanfest associated with that on the 24th of uh June. It will be held in Malberry Park. Right now the estimate is anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 uh you know people. Don't know whether or not that will be realized but if it does it's a major major uh event that we'll be holding uh in our city. So we are planning for that and again it will bring a lot of uh people into the city bring a lot of vendors into the city and again our Newark vendors will be given priority uh you know for uh you know that event. There are a lot of other uh you know activities that are being uh you know planned uh ironbound uh of course uh a lot of uh you know activity will going on there uh uh with the uh you know

restaurants and throughout other areas of our uh you know city. I've heard from uh organizers in the uh in the west uh ward. Uh we're also uh looking at uh you know putting together skills and drills for our youth to get them uh more uh involved in soccer uh you know doing uh you know this event uh uh see director uh reading there he's leading that and I believe that we have an opportunity or meeting on uh tomorrow bringing together the different organizations in order to uh you know to pull uh you know that off.

So let me ask you a question Mr. Just a quick question. If if somebody one of our local businesses wants to participate or find a way to participate in whatever World Cup activities, is is there a in the city of Newark, is there a contact name number that they could reach out to to?

Uh yes, uh there is. And I'll I'll give you it's it's a website that they can go to. Uh and again, uh I don't want to be, you know, derelic in terms of mentioning our partners. uh Newark Alliance and Invest uh Newark are heavily involved uh with this as well as our uh departments in terms of helping to resource a lot of these events. But the uh contact or or the website that they can go to is www.nor happening.com fifa f i fa 2026 www.neark new york happening.comfIFA 2026. On there they will find a toolkit uh that will explain to them how they can get involved with the activities associated with the uh with the World Cup

and and is this I'm going to come to you. Is this information being disseminated in the community so that they're aware of or how is this being broadcast

well sent out? you know, the mayor kicked off uh the planning for this on uh you know, February 10th uh with uh you know, stakeholders from throughout the city, organizations, hotel years, restaurant tours, and uh we've I've been, you know, feeling you know, calls uh I guess daily almost from uh you know, various uh organizations that are interested in being part of this. I've met with uh you know different uh organizations that are interested in being uh you know part of this and again uh Newark Alliance Invest uh Newark will be pushing out uh you know more uh information over the next uh you know couple of weeks probably within uh you know 10 to 15 day time frame.

All right thank you uh Councilman Canana like to meet with you so after maybe after the meeting. I know Benini is the largest company in terms of when it comes to FIFA.

They're going to be going with their mobile unit around different locations. I like to include them. Uh coming to Newark. Uh I will give you the reps number who is the person who represents the Northeast Carter. Benini is a company that does the books, the stickers. It is a large company which is a a sponsor of the FIFA's World Cup. But the fir my friend happens to be involved with it and he would like to be with someone uh and and representatives from uh Panini. Panini is the largest uh of the unobilas come through Panini. Pan uh things are not sold without Panini that they have the rights and they're a company here in the United States. They're the largest producer of cards of soccer and and basketball and other sports and baseball. Mhm.

So again, we need to include them because what happens is you can have vendors that can really put tables and New Yorkers who could take advantage of putting tables with cards and memorabilas and make give them an opportunity to make some money too. So I would like to us to meet you to meet with the panini representatives. I would be uh happy to do that. Uh I will give you the number once we meet. I'll be happy to happy to do that. Again, we want to uh promote this uh aggressively and uh ensure that our people are involved in terms of taking advantage of the economy that this would represent, you know, for our area

and they also they have a portable uh I mean they're they're bringing a a mobile unit that is huge. Uh also we should engage with one of the other sponsors of of of uh the World Cup which is happens to be Goya Foods, right? They're sponsoring just by the way. They're they're sponsoring uh you know us as a flagship city. Well, I their government rep he's going to be we're going to be honoring Goya uh in April here at the council chambers. It'll be 90 years of the company. Mhm. A company started out in Puerto Rico and it's out. It's the company's in Caucus now in Jersey City. Right.

So again, we will need we need to take advantage of that because what they're doing with Midlife Stadium is that they're making sure that there's participation on vendors selling foods out in the in the uh in the the area around the stadium. So if we can also invite them to I will give you their personal numbers. Okay. Be happy to uh consult with them. I mean New Yorkers need an opportunity. It's a terrific territory. It's great to bring people to Newark. When the people of the city don't benefit matter, you know, to me what matters is the people of the city. Yeah. That benefit.

Could not agree more. Just let just let me say very very briefly again. uh you know Newark is welcoming welcoming uh the world because because of our diversity we see ourselves as the world and again this will be bringing people from around the globe uh to the city of New York. Mr. President, thank you Councilman Ramos.

Yeah, just one quick thing. I I know it's a it's exciting for the region and we're hosting a World Cup here in New Jersey. My concern is like some of the potential quality of life issues that emerge. I know Airbnb is making a huge push to even give property owners bonuses so that they can um put properties online because there seems to be a shortage. NORC is in close proximity to Metife Stadium. Have we, you know, as it is right now, there's a lot of Airbnb abuses in Newark. You know, last week we had a fire on Prospect Avenue in a building that I believe like a year ago was probably condemned because of code enforcement issues and that apartment that had uh was the source of the fire was being rented through Airbnb and I don't even know if they were legally registered with the city. So, so how how do we plan on keeping tabs of that and making sure that these kinds of um rentals don't create nuisances in the neighborhoods, right? Because you you could imagine how many thousands of people are going to be looking to rent Airbnb in Newark, rent one family houses, especially houses with pools and backyards and, you know, some of this stuff can get a little bit crazy and we want to make sure we're we're keeping a handle on that.

That's a very good question. uh Councilman Ramos and uh it was one that I started thinking about after uh you know thinking about you know the you know the reservations in in our hotels because again I realized there's going to be some overflow into the Air R&Bs and so we have uh in the in the department of engineering uh we have a registration of all of the uh Airbnbs in the city so I'll be working with uh I believe it's deputy director uh conception to uh look at where we have uh Airbnbs and to the extent that we can to to determine where that activity is going to be taking place so that we can monitor it. And secondly, uh to the extent inspections and things of that nature are needed to make sure that those uh Airbnbs are uh in uh the conditions that they need to be in in order to welcome uh the people here for the World Cup. How about like like um is is the police division going to have more manpower on those days? Like how's that going to work? Is are they going to you could essentially end up with additional costs for service, right? If if you allow bars and taverns to extend their hour of operation, like there's going to be thousands of visitors that are going to be in the city of New York staying at hotels, Airbnbs. Like how do we handle that from a public safety standpoint? Well, first and foremost, we have to know where that population is going to be and we have to have a plan uh to resource that and again am in discussion with uh you know the department of public safety to look at those kinds of uh you know kinds of uh you know issues.

Are there any resources? I know the state had planned to spend millions of dollars out of the governor's office to kind of organize this. You know, I'm glad the new governor decided to decentralize it, right? And NORC was picked as one of the the like staging areas for Flag City. Yeah. Yeah. Is there any money coming to us to offset some of the the municipal costs potentially?

We hope there will be. uh based on what I've read uh uh NJ uh EDA is supposed to have I think a budget of around $5 million that are supposed to get distributed to the different uh you know flag uh you know cities I don't know what the process is for that right now I've been in discussions with uh Newark Alliance they are not aware of what that process is right now but hopefully given that we are a flag city and kind of at the epicenter of uh the World Cup that uh you know some of those resources will be coming to the city of Newark in order for us to defay the cost that we will incur inter uh in supporting uh you know this event. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, real quick, uh Mr. wall drop. Who who is going to uh have the discussion or meetings uh with all of our hotel proprietors to monitor uh the intake of the amount of folks that may be coming uh in here and also uh monitoring uh the uh the dollar that drops as it relates to uh hotel taxes that's been just got up and talked about which is a very important thing uh because we have to have something in place to know that we will get our fair share from it.

Well, you know, that will be the responsibility of uh you know, Newark Alliance. Uh and again, like I said, it's a very good uh you know, question because we expect that our hotels will be, you know, booked uh to capacity. In fact, the other day I had an opportunity to talk to one of the hotel years and they told me that uh right now they only have a few uh reservations left uh you know for the month of June and uh and July. uh but in terms of tracking uh what goes into the hotels with respect to uh dollars that will be the responsibility of uh a finance and we will also through Newark Alliance have certain metric metrics that we'll be looking at to determine what kind of impact this had on the uh on the city of Newark. I mean one of the things we'll be looking at is okay what was it before let's say for example we compare last year okay during this period June July to 2026 June and July then that will give us some indication of you know what uh this what this event meant to the uh city of Newark particularly our hotel years

thank you councilwoman Bay

thank you council president um one more question regarding the businesses um is there a plan already in place? And if so, we can get information on it to incorporate the uh local restaurants and everything to make sure that they get information that they're incorporated um into whatever plan comes about as far as to be able to serve all of these visitors that we hope uh will be coming through our our city and so they can plan accordingly and maximize on this opportunity. Uh yes uh Councilwoman Bay there there is again that will be that that's that will be a twofold effort uh on the one hand that will be uh Newark Alliance which uh has that as part of their uh you know charter so to speak and also that will be part of uh of uh invest uh Newark. uh invest Newark will be I think sending out within the next 10 days a website that uh people or an invite that uh people will be getting to go and uh look at what they can do in order to prepare themselves to uh service you know you know the thousands of people you know that will be coming in but again we'll be working very very closely with the uh you know restaurant tours to make sure that they are prepared to take advantage of this of this business and and just let me uh say this I too. I'm I'm sorry. Go ahead.

Oh, no. He has to tell me to speak. You go ahead. Okay. Just just just just let me ju just just let me uh you know say this again. We we have events that come to the city of Newark and they just come to the city of New York and they go okay. We don't want this to be a oneoff event. Mean like the Super Bowl? You mean like the Super Bowl?

Well, Super Bowl NCAA. Okay. But again, we don't want this to be an off a one-off event. We want to use this event in order to sell Newark for future investments, a future tourism opportunities. Okay? So, it's important that our restaurants uh be involved, that they be prepared to provide good service to the people that are coming in here. The same thing with our hotels. It's important how the city looks. We're working on that as well. Uh we have a infrastructure beautifification uh committee that's uh looking at how we can better prepare our downtown to welcome these uh you know uh uh visitors so that you know someone may look at what we have going on downtown and see this as an investment opportunity uh you know for them. So we want to leverage all of that Scott R.

Thank you council president. So there are many components what's getting ready to happen in June. Um even the things that are already regularly happening in the city, different festivals between June, the date this begins and July 19th. Yes, there's so many components and we as council members um should be aware of all of the components and making sure everybody's at the table. I just heard you saying invest NORC. I do know is involved. I do know the NORC Alliance is involved, but there's been a couple of meetings that Invest NORC I don't think has sent a representative to yet. So, just to make sure that these me the messaging is going out correctly to those are involved or that need to be involved and aware of what's going on throughout the city or bringing people in from their different wards to be a part. Um, I know my councilman Silva has something to add, so I'm going to step back, but everybody needs to be aware of how we're moving forward with June is like yesterday. It is already knocking at the door and we don't want to come running to the table um at the last minute with the other wards um knowing that whatever happens downtown is going to spill over into other parts, especially the central ward. Again, I'm I'm available to attend uh you know, any meetings that may be held.

We just need to know they're happening. Any ward, I need to know that they're they're happening. Again, I've attended meetings uh you know, down in the east ward. I've had discussions with uh a representative in the west uh ward, but I just I need to know that they're happening and I will make myself available. Thank you, Councilman Silvin.

Yeah. Um every Monday I host the meeting. Councilwoman came yesterday to the meeting. Um it started out with about a dozen people and now it's up to like 40 and I anticipate it to grow from there. Uh these meetings are going to continue every Monday uh regarding the World Cup in the east ward but um we are here to make sure shines not just the east ward. uh we bring a different uh approach because obviously the east ward has Brazilians and Spain and Portugal and Ecuador and all these uh cultures that exist there and um uh I had a meeting this morning with World Cup officials just before I came to this uh meeting and I believe New York has a tremendous opportunity here. the entire city has a tremendous opportunity. Uh I believe like councilwoman says we're uh behind a little bit. We need to start catching up because June 8th will be here before you know it the first game and we need to start uh coordinating at these meetings that I have. I have Newark Alliance Melvin, you attended one of the meetings as well. I had University Hospital yesterday, NORC police. So, I have different entities that will be part of uh these events. I'll get DPW out there as well uh eventually and uh Invest NORC. Uh but again, I think we have an opportunity here. you have a big soccer fan sitting right there. Uh, who's your boss and my boss? And we have an opportunity to to put NORC on the map regarding people are going to see things here that I don't believe the other fan fests or the other events are going to be able to compete with us. So again, I hope to work closely with you, the business administrator, the mayor, and the rest of my council colleagues to

make sure that for those 35, 39 days, we put on a great show.

Right. And just let me uh say uh Councilman, uh what's important for us uh in order to resource this event is to know everything that's going on in the city. Okay? We're not, you know, just going to try to resource what's going on in East Ward or the West Ward or the North Ward. What we want to do is to look at everything is going that's going to be going on and determine how we can uh support that with the resources uh you know that we uh have in conjunction with that. Uh and I know your people are probably aware of this because I made it known at the meeting that I attended. If you're doing uh something particularly around the event, I would like to have your applications in to my office no later than March 31st so that we can begin to plan the resourcing of those events. That uh is is critical. We need to know what we're going to be looking at uh for this event.

Thank you, Councilman Ramos. Yeah. real quick, council president, and as far as like the youth soccer organizations, can your office just make sure that I know Ironbound um they they've been very involved. You know, I got just one soccer in the North. They got over a thousand kids who play in that league. You know, they there needs to be some equity in all the youth soccer groups having access to the benefits of of the World Cup. So, can you reach out to like the folks who are in just one? Make sure that they're involved in this, too. already had a discussion with uh Jess one and uh referred uh Jess one to uh director uh reading and again we'll be having that discussion on tomorrow.

All right. Thank you. All right council members motion motion for executive session.

What? Roll call. I'm sorry. Councilwoman Bay. Yes. Council Gonzalez absent. Kelly, yes. Pintana Ramos, Scott Roundtree, yes. Silva, yes. President, yes. Real quick. Okay, never mind. Eric, Eric,