Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning.

Welcome to the pre-meeting of the Newark Municipal Council on Tuesday, June 16th. Council President, Council Members, we are on page three of the agenda, item five, reports and recommendations of city officers, boards, and commissions. ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING. 6FA IS AN ORDINANCE RATIFYING AND AUTHORIZING A 10-YEAR TAX EXTENSION TO THE TAX ABATEMENT GRANTED TO CLARIMONT NORTH URBAN RENEWAL LLC FOR A PROJECT TO UNDERTAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FBI BUILDING.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL?

is an ordinance amending the special improvement districts to amend various sections, increasing the administrative fee retained, I'm sorry, retained by the city tax collector from 1% to 2%.

Any questions? Seeing none, Councilman Gonzalez.

If I can go back to a, we have a list of the improvements that are contemplated. Do we have a list of the improvements that are contemplated on the FBI building?

Would you, Council Members, Eric Pennington, Business Administrator, we do have a list of improvements that have been submitted as the requisite amount of approval necessary for an extended tax abatement. Would you like us to submit that to you?

Will you please? Sure, we can get that to you. Thank you. You're welcome. As noted, continue.

public hearing second reading and final passage 6p sfa is an ordinance authorizing the mayor and or his designee to authorize the sale and transfer of city property to essex reservoir urban renewal llc sponsored by councilman kelly second by councilwoman scott roundtree any questions B, is amending an ordinance and authorizing the mayor and or his designee to enter into and execute an amended lease agreement, amending the name of the landlord from Urban Renewal LLC to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Newark for the lease of residential homeless shelter.

Any questions? Seeing none, please.

C is an ordinance amending and supplementing the housing code to establish additional requirements for certificates of habitability and strengthen the enforcement through revocation. Sponsored by Councilman Council. Second by Councilwoman Scott-Rountree.

Any questions? Yeah, none.

D is an ordinance amending and supplementing the housing code security to add a provision establishing alternative security compliance for certain redevelopment projects. Sponsored by Councilman Council. Second by Councilwoman Scott-Roundtree. Any questions?

Yeah. Yeah. Chair, just wanted to talk briefly around the issue since we got through both these ordinances and ultimately vote on them. But I know that we are still having an issue with some of the buildings that are over 100 units that are still not meeting the requirement of having a security guard. One of them specifically is 103 Chancellor Avenue that has been having major incidents with individuals entering their apartments, sleeping in hallways, defecating in the hallways. And I know as we continue to move and advance this, that in all of these facilities that are over 100 units, we have to be able to put our hand down uh and to ensure that all of these spaces are meeting the mandates of what our city ordinances are saying and that they have to get uh security in these buildings immediately or uh we need to continue to enact these fines that are attached uh to these ordinances thank you any other questions and none continue

is an ordinance granting a 35 year tax abatement to 10 Park Place, Newark LLC for the adaptive reuse of the property located at 10 Park Place into a 10 story high rise elevated building with 196 unit fully affordable residential rental project with units consisting of 54 studio units, 116 one bedroom units, 16 two-bedroom units, and 10 three-bedroom units.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue. Mr. President.

Yes, Council Member Ramirez. I apologize. I just want to go back to the security ordinance and revisions. And if I can, through your chair, at some point, can we have a conversation and maybe one of the subcommittees of the council regarding the city's overall security ordinance. I really believed in some years ago, I made the attempt but was unsuccessful. They're similar to what we do with alcohol beverage control licensees that the police division based on the number of complaints and other concerns should be in a position along with maybe some kind of ad hoc committee to impose conditions on those very problematic property owners that have security complaints. Because in some buildings, having a security guard is not enough. We should be looking at surveillance equipment, properties that are problematic, maybe multiple guards. And then we have senior buildings, and Councilman Quintana and I have a conversation in the past along Mount Prospect Avenue where they do not want an armed guard in the front. They prefer to just have a security guard. So I don't think one approach effectively addresses all the different concerns, and I think we need to have some flexibility in the ordinance where we can go after those problematic property owners and impose additional requirements besides them just having a one security guard and an eight hour armed guard for a 24 hour shift. So if I can, through your chair, maybe defer this to the, not defer what's on the agenda, but refer the conversation to our subcommittee so that we can come up later on with a more comprehensive approach.

Madam Clerk, as noted by Councilor Ramos, to the administration, especially to the administration, to follow up and law and the business administrator.

Absolutely. Resolutions, 7R1A through E are all temporary emergency appropriations. A is for the Traffic Calming Project. B is for the Hypertensive Quality Project. C is for Data Management Support. D is for the Sun Up Summer Food Program. And E is for the Plan for Health New Jersey Grant. Any questions?

Yeah, Mr.

Chair. Sorry, Councilwoman Bay was first. Just one around these traffic measures. And I know we talk about, I'm not sure if the engineer director isn't here, but we constantly talk about trying to be innovative with some of these common measures that we put in place. And it's very important that we do it. I know a lot of times we continue to have these kind of, you know 1950 and 1920 solutions with the red stop sign with no motion uh and no activity uh when we're in the junction of trying to have flashing lights or other kind of reading mechanisms in place that i think is important there was a accident up on madison and 17th street uh around greater h greater oak schools i know prior we have put in a resolution asking for four-way stops in that area. And there was some that was done from 18th Street all the way down to Madison Avenue. But if we can look at that again with some innovative tools like high flashing lights or signals that are saying slow down, I think we need to be able to push our engineering department, our traffic and signals department into the 21st century as we begin to look at some of these common measures as well as some of the signages and things that we have around these areas is becoming critically important that we begin to do this.

Thank you, Councilman. 7R1D

the meals for Newark children for the summer school program. Is this for just youth who are in summer work or in school program? I just want to know who's eligible to receive these meals.

As noted, can we get an answer by tomorrow by Madam Clerk for the Councilwoman? You see it now. Director Redman. Oh, yes, you see it. Director's here. Okay.

Great morning, Council President, distinguished council members, Donnell Redding, Director of Recreation, Culture, Affairs, and Senior Services. These meals are for all the children within the city of Newark that are in part of programs that's at the schools, at the recreation center. So all the children that want to eat these meals are available for

All of them. So no matter where they are in the city.

Yes. As long as they signed up at a location. Yes.

Thank you. Thank you, sir. Councilman Kelly wants to be known.

Yeah, I want to be noted as a sponsor for that.

Second.

Second, Mr. Chair.

Yes.

I just wanted to point out, as Director Red and talked about, it's important for any site or any provider that wants to be a host site for SUNUP to serve breakfast and lunch throughout the city. The more site representatives we have, the more opportunities young people have during the summer to get breakfast and lunch and a nutritious meal. And I know many of them wake up in the morning and just run out the house and begin to run around and start their day. And the best possible way to do that is find a site or a location that is feasible to be a host site. And so they should all sign up with us, sign up or work through Director Redden's office to do so, so that this summer can be not just one of the best summers in terms of activities or programs, but also making sure that our young people get nutritious meals from the age of zero to 18. So thank you.

And also noted that there should be some cooling centers. If you get temperatures that are really in the high 90s, you know, with food and stuff like that, it could go real bad. And it would be good if there's some sites that are air conditioned. Our youth and young people and parents can go while it's 90 degrees outside. You know, we'd appreciate that.

Yes, Council President, distinguished council members, once again, Donnell Redding, Director of Recreation, Cultural Affairs, and Senior Services. All of our recreation facilities and our Centers of Hope and also our senior services facilities, except for Bethany Baptist, you can always come in and we have a cooling site all day. And also you can utilize the pool and the ice skate rink as well.

Well, thank you. Is no one in?

F through J are purchasing contracts. F is a co-op agreement for document management for records retention. G is a bid contract for fire equipment installation. H is a bid contract for lead and healthy homes hazardous inspections. I is a bid contract for blood test kits and lead analyzer. And J is career exploration for the summer youth employment program.

Any questions? Councilwoman Bay.

I wanted to sponsor 7R1J. Is there a second?

Second.

Second, Councilman Kelly. I would love that.

Council President, I would love to sponsor 7R1G.

Second. Second by Councilwoman Bay. Kay, Virginia.

Kay is acceptance of grant funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Newark YMCA.

Sponsored by Councilwoman Bay. Second. Second by Councilman Kelly. It's about time, by the way. Yes.

L is a fringe benefit agreement for an elected employee.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue. Mr. President. Yes, Councilman Ramos.

With this, prior to tomorrow's meeting, are there any living council members that may have achieved or elected officials the 20 years of service that we know of that I'd like to, if we're gonna do this, we should just memorialize it as opposed to just doing it individually. So just a thought.

We'll definitely do some digging. Seminar two A through L, our private sale and redevelopment agreements. A is construction of a new two family residential dwelling to be sold at market rate in the South ward.

Any questions?

Yeah, I'm going to ask for this item to be deferred.

Second. Second. Second by Kelly.

B, is new construction of three two-family homes to be sold at market rate in the South Ward?

Mr. Chair, I'm going to support this item. Okay. For, yes, sponsors.

Second. Second. Second by Councilman Scott Roundtree. Thank you.

C is construction of a new two-family residential dwelling to be sold at market rate in the West Ward.

I want to ask for this item to be deferred. Is there a second? I'll second.

Jane, you?

D is construction of a new three-family residential dwelling with each unit to be rented at market rate in the North Ward.

Any questions?

Is new construction of two three-family dwellings consisting of one ADA-compliant apartment unit and two standard units in each dwelling to be sold at market rate in the South Ford?

Mr. Chairman, item B deferred.

Is there a second? Second. Second by Kelly. Council Kelly. Virginia.

F is construction of two new three-family or two-family homes to sell at market rate in the West Ward.

I ask for this to be deferred as well. Is there a second? A second.

To defer. Virginia.

G is construction of a residential development with a minimum of 16 units in the South Ward.

Master assignment be deferred.

Is there a second? Second. Second by Colley. Continue.

H is the first amendment to the private sale redevelopment to Creative Development Real Estate LLC to correct the sale amount and appraisal amount in the North, South, and East Ward properties.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue.

I is the First Amendment to the Agreement for the Sale and Redevelopment of Land to MTA and Associates LLC to correct the property description in the South Ward.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue.

J is the First Amendment to Agreement for the Sale and Redevelopment of Land to Creative Development Real Estate LLC to change the project description in the South Ward.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue, Madam Clerk.

K is the first amendment to the agreement for the sale and redevelopment of land to DCF Developers LLC to change the property description in the West and South wards.

Any questions? Is there none? Continue, Madam Clerk.

L is a First Amendment assignment and assumption to the agreement for the sale and redevelopment of land to Summit Street Development Group, LLC, and the Central Ward.

Any questions? If none, continue.

M, to authorize the execution of a- Mr. President.

Yes, Councilor Reynolds. With these property sales, I just have a concern. There's a property on Verona Avenue next to the city, DPW's little community hub where you can go and take your garbage in bulk. that some years ago was sold to an adjacent property owner. Besides the fact that they're parking junk cars on the property, basically the combined properties are now for sale. And I'd like to know what kind of monitoring does the department have in place in order to prevent something like that from happening? Because if the intention was for the person that bought the property to put it up for sale and they were asking upwards of a million dollars for the combined lot, then the city should have just sold it themselves as opposed to selling it to the adjacent property owner at a discount price. And that's happening more and more often. And I drive to the ward and I identify properties that have been sold in the last four or five years. And those lots, many of them still remain vacant and no development going on. And some of them Some of the owners are trying to sell property that they bought from the city at a discount price, and that's very concerning to me. So through the chairman and your office, if we can conduct an investigation on that property on Verona Avenue, I think I was there with Director Adeem a few weeks ago. when we had a community cleanup and some of his folks who work in the department basically said, well, we could have used this property as opposed to having this owner who's dumping illegally on the property, who has junk cars parked there and has now combined his property and the lot that they bought from the city and are asking for a crazy amount of money in order for a private developer to come in and put up a project.

DEPUTY MAYOR AND MADAM CLERK, AS NOTED BY COUNCILMAN RAMOS TO RESPOND TO THE ADMINISTRATION. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. AS NOTED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALLISON LADD, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THE MAYOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION ARE ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN SOLD TO THIRD PARTIES WHO HAVE NOT DEVELOPED AND WHO ARE SECOND at times selling it to another third party we have so that's first second a few years ago some may recall we have a compliance office that does regular inspections and also reviews of projects to ensure that they are meeting the compliance and we are sending out default letters as needed Third, in order for a property to be relieved of its right of reverter, there is a certificate of completion that has to be signed by me and then the department once a review is done. The next item is really that the title should typically find the right of reverter and not allow the sale. Sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn't. So it becomes even more important to the administration to be more proactive to Council Member Ramos's point. In closing, I will say some of the amendments that you see on even today's agenda are partly due to the work of going through compliance and ensuring that the developers are doing what they should. um and again i'll just close by saying i know mayor baraka has talked to me and others about looking at another way to strengthen the city's ability to limit this action and by that i mean having redevelopment agreements be more strong and saying that if you do sell the property that then there's a different action also known as the proceeds would have to come back to the city

Mr. President, so in the example I gave you, what kind of recourse does the city have with that property owner? Let's say he sold it for whatever, $800,000 to a private developer. Does the city have the authority to go in and stop the sale? Do we recoup money? What happens?

Yes, in the case that Council President, that Council Ramos is speaking of, I will have my attorneys look into it right away. We have outside counsel that handles these more egregious situations. And yes, once we have been able to get the property back, more than once, but once in the case of my description to you today. And then second, we have been able to recover the sale price when it's been sold a second and a third time. It is not always 100% of the sales price. Sometimes there has to be a negotiation if they paid some value to the city and then whatever the sale is, the differential is what we negotiate. But I will immediately talk to our outside counsel to have that handled.

Yes, Councilman Gonzalez.

In addition to the revert clause, we should have a restriction on the deed that the property cannot be transferred without THE PROPERTY BEING DEVELOPED. LET'S SAY THE PROPERTY IS DEVELOPED, THEN IT'S DIFFERENT. BUT IF THE PROPERTY IS NOT DEVELOPED, WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING THERE ON THE DEED BECAUSE THE DEED IS SOMETHING THAT THE TITLE COMPANY IS GOING TO EXAMINE. AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE FIRST DOCUMENT THAT THEY EXAMINE. THE RESTRICTION ON THE, LET'S SAY THE the covenant of recovery or whatever we wanna call it, that's something that might be a document that they don't look at. And that's why we are having, let's say, the problems that we're having. I believe it's important that we put specifically in bold language on the deed that the property cannot be transferred without completing, let's say, the project.

Council President to Council Member Gonzalez's point, I understand and I'll look to make sure that happens.

You know, Madam Deputy Mayor, you know, around the country, you know, with my colleagues around the country, I've talked to about empty and property empty, properties that are vacant, right? And it's sold. When they come before a sale, they have to bring a plan. What is it? They're going to buy this property, but what is the plan? Do you have an architect or somebody who's putting something? If they don't meet that standard, then they're not going to be sold that property. We have the same scenario of 15, it's been a long time, a city property on the corner of Summer Avenue and 4th Avenue and 3rd Avenue. That property was a beautiful house. not torn down, whatever. Now it's a workshop. It's a body shop, a garage. They put trucks. And it's just kids walk through that neighborhood. And it's in the Central Ward. And it's just a very bad situation. And, you know, these folks, there was a beautiful house because I lived in that neighborhood 37 years back. And I remember that there was a beautiful house there. Then there was a fire. That house was vacant and abandoned and the city took. And these individuals who bought that lot next door decided to build a garage for mechanic and other things. And then now they have covered it so you don't see any of these things. There's a lot of people buying properties for recreational things that don't have nothing to do with recreation. And in certain places like in the Forest Hills, you got people who are taking, going up 12 feet or 13 feet up and cover and it's, and I'm not against people playing sports, but you know, you can't cover up and then trucks that are in the back. Councilor Ramos talked about that a while back. You see it all over the place. As a matter of fact, since we're here at Nesbitt Street, there's a big mess with a dumpster that's overfloating. We need to get there today and get that resolved.

Mr. President, to Councilman Quintana's point, that property on Summer and 3rd Avenue was sold by the city some time ago. It was a redevelopment. commercial parking lot like councilman said and they're parking school buses there may be a mechanic on site you know that should be an easy one for the city to go after that that property owner that's been probably i don't know at least 10 years councilman that that property was sold so i i don't know the exact corner of third third avenue and uh summer avenue it's across from the uh it's no problem council president it's right on the corner there you can't miss

Mr. President, there is another project there that I would like to get an update. It's the one that the Catholic Church is making.

We had the groundbreaking two weeks ago. So that project, Mary was there. It is happening finally. Veterans.

Yeah.

The councilman knows that project well.

YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WILL FOLLOW THE REQUESTS GIVEN AND FOLLOW UP IN WRITING AS WELL AS ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AROUND COMPLIANCE. IF THERE ARE, I WOULD JUST ASK ANY OTHER SITES THAT ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SEE, I'D BE HAPPY TO GET THAT INFORMATION AND WE'LL SEND PEOPLE OUT. WE DO THE BEST WE CAN AND SOMETIMES WE WILL NEED SOME ASSISTANCE. SO WE LOOK FOR ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE. YES, COUNCIL IS HONORED.

If somebody is going to speculate, I believe the city should be the one doing the speculation and not, let's say, allowing people to become, let's say, wealthy because they're buying stuff. Before it was at $6. Now I see that we have gone all the way to $20, $23, and I do appreciate what you have been doing. in in that regard because before i believe we were given the land away now we are giving a portion of the land away only i believe it's important that we preclude individual from speculating on behalf of the city yes i know the mayor baraka agrees with you so okay thank you thank you continue

M is to authorize the execution of an assignment and assumption agreement for property in the South Ward.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue.

N is approving amended reinstated assignment and assumption of financial agreement for property in the Central Ward.

Any questions as a woman? Are they all right? No. Continue.

O is approving the HMFA financial agreement for a project to construct a new 100% affordable multifamily apartment community with 43 apartments and a five-story elevator building.

Any questions? If none, continue.

P is to determine whether a proposed project will meet an existing housing need in the Central Ward.

Any concerns? No concerns, continue. My mic.

Q is a resolution.

Excuse me, Mr. Chair. I'm sorry, my mic wasn't on. 7R20, I want to sponsor.

Okay. Noted as a sponsor. Second. Second by Kelly. Continue.

Q is to provide municipal council support for the submission of an application for tax credits sought by developer for property in the South Ward.

Any questions?

I would like to sponsor this item.

Second. Second by Councilman Louise Roundtree. Continue.

R is a resolution of support to provide municipal council support for the submission of an application for tax credits sought by developer for property in the Central Ward.

Any questions for CNN? Continue.

7R3A is to request an extension of time from New Jersey Department of Transportation to allow the city to award a contract for construction of the municipal aid program for street resurfacing.

Mr. President.

That's Council Ramis. Just a question on this. This originally got approved back in 2023. We've received an extension once already. This is the second time we grant an extension, and I look at the list of streets that are associated with this application, and a number of them in the North Florida are in really, really bad shape. and they've been in bad shape for a while. And I'm just trying to understand why does it take so long? And why can't we get these bids out timely so that we can put these contractors in place to do street paving? And the second question is, what other streets have been part of different applications from previous years that still haven't been paved due to delays? So if we can get a response on, you know, this is three years later and we're still toying around with extensions.

Madam Clerk, the Director, Director Adams is coming before us. Can we also get some correspondence too in writing? Yes, Councilwoman Day.

My apologies. Chairman, I just needed to go back to 7R2P to determine whether or not the proposed project will meet the existing housing need. It doesn't say exactly what the project is.

Okay, so we go here and then we'll come back to with Deputy Mayor of Economic Development. Let's go listen first to that question from the councilwoman and then we'll do the engineering. So that way you know.

Yes, Council President Allison Ladd, Director of Economic and Housing Development. If I could ask Council Member May just to repeat her question. I apologize.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor. No, the 7R2P to determine whether or not the proposed project will meet existing housing needs within the city of Newark It doesn't say what the actual project is. but Stella Gardens Preservation LLC on Springfield Avenue.

Yes, Councilwoman, thank you for the question. Council President and Council Members to Council Member Bay's question. This project, as you may know, was previously part of the Roisman portfolio in which they were working with the Newark Housing Authority to actually have the Newark Housing Authority exercise its first right to purchase them. Because several years ago at that point, the Roisman agreement had expired. And so in an effort to have the property stay affordable, The mayor and BA agreed to work with the city and the housing authority to issue $20 million in bonds so that the housing authority could purchase those three sites, including the Stella Garden site. Next, the housing authority selected a party to actually do the development on this site and also to help repay some of the debt that they owe the city through those bonds the party that's going to be the developer is uh fairstead fairstead has been doing work in our city i know council member bay and i spoke about them they're doing the work are in lincoln park around essex plaza THE PROJECTS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR CITY. OR SOUTHERN PART ABROAD, I'M SORRY, KENNETH GIBSON BOULEVARD. LAST I'D SAY IN CLOSING, THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE 100% AFFORDABLE. IT WILL BE BONDS AND TAX CREDITS FROM HMFA AND THEY'RE ALSO SEEKING ASPIRE FROM NEW JERSEY EDA WHICH IS WHY YOU HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE AND NOT JUST ONE.

they're going to have multiple state funding sources as they make this project renovated and into more affordable housing okay thank you thank you yes let's see assume that that there is no need for housing for this housing project and we have approved let's say the The application to expire tax benefits. Why are we approving, let's say, the application for expire at the same time that we are sending this to the planning board to determine if the project is needed? Suppose that they say it's not needed.

Council President, if I could ask Councilman Gonzalez to help me understand the question. So is the question that we have two resolutions, one to New Jersey EDA.

One you're sending the project to determine if there's a need for the project.

Right, to the HMFA, which is a term of art that we have to send to the HMFA, correct?

So they determine if there's a need for that.

Correct. We are supporting it because it'll be 100% affordable. That will allow them to then apply for bonds and tax credits.

Assuming that they say there is no need for that project, why are we sending the other applications?

Understood. So in the Council President to Council Member Gonzalez's question, with funding sources that come from the state, both the EDA and the HMFA by law require a local jurisdiction to support a project so they can apply. It does not authorize them to actually receive the dollars until the state agencies individually agree. If that is the case, then it'll come back to this body for us to talk more about a community benefits agreement and the other benefits associated with the project. So this is the council and the administration's request to support the application to the state agencies.

Thank you.

You're welcome. Thank you.

And council president, if I could, I apologize. I know council member Bay asked what exactly the project was. It is, It is going to be a $38.2 million renovation, $225,000 investment per unit. They're also going to improve internal HVAC systems and ensure that there's upgrades to floors, hardware, kitchens and baths and other things that we'd look to have in that property so it's more beneficial for our residents.

Very good.

Thank you.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Thank you.

Dr. Adams.

Morning. Good morning. James Adams, acting director of engineering. Let me see if I remember the question. This had to do with MA 2024 and why we're requesting another extension. Let me take a step back. Recently, the council members in the wars have received a request for picking streets for the 2027 program. That paving program will not commence for at least until 2029, which is two to three years. That is the normal cycle from when the DOT issues funding to when we actually have paving on the streets. And it's due in part to we do in-house design. It's due in part to utility coordination. It's also due in part to the DOT having the right to review our plans and to review the specifications that we put out. I know that's probably not what the council wants to hear, but it is the normal cycle from request to actually paving going down is two to three years. And this project MA 2024 is no different. Now, I think you asked the question about streets.

Oh, this is 2023. So if your theory is correct, then it should have been the paving should have been done last year, 25. So I'm trying to figure out, you know, what are the delays? Is it I know you just recently took over. So maybe you inherited some challenges, but, you know. The issue here is that what we've heard in the past is that there've been delays in our ability to get bids out timely in order for us to execute some of these contracts. Is that still the case? Have you guys gotten your hands a good handle on that? Do you feel confident that based on the available grant money that the city has to do street paving, that your department is now able to issue these bids timely and execute these contracts timely in order for us to get some of these streets that desperately need paving paved?

Well, as far as getting the bids out, we have a handle on that, but the Traffic and Signals Division in specific and engineering in general is having a challenge with staffing. I mean, it's no mystery that at least in Traffic and Signals, we're down two engineers who have left the city for various reasons. So our acting manager of traffic and signals is probably working six, seven days a week, and he's juggling multiple, multiple requests, multiple initiatives, whether it's from the NJTPA, whether it's from the DOT local aid, whether it's signs, whether it's paving, whether it's FIFA World Cup. So we are facing those challenges. But as far as the bidding, we do have a handle on getting a project out once it's approved by the local aid DOT, getting it out, bid, and awarded. But it still does not change that there is a certain amount of time that it's taken. I understand that.

I know that once we submit the application, it takes a while to review. But if you're, first time I'm hearing that you're expressing some challenges because of staffing, that's something through your chair and the clerk. that at the budget hearings we need to do a deeper dive in because if it's impacting our ability to execute some of these contracts and programs and things like that, then it's something that we need to address or make sure that you have the tools that you need to recruit staff to fill some of those important responsibilities.

yeah director good morning uh just so you know prior to you coming here uh when you started they've been asking for a list for the last three years and we've been giving them lists for the last three years and none of the streets have been paved they're never paved every year i get an email like you had just sent me we give the streets that are in most need to be fixed and none of those streets have been done yet. And here we are four years later. So I just wanna make you aware of that. It's not your fault, you just came on. So I'm not holding you responsible or accountable, but I'm just letting you know, prior to you, every year when you get that same email, what five streets are most need of repair. We submit the email, they never get done. And this is four years later. So I just want to bring that to your attention that it's a three-year process, but we're already in the fourth year here and none of the streets have been done. So just want to touch on that.

Understood, council.

That's president.

Yes, council.

Director Adams, can you tell me what it looks like if we were to rent or hire out a seasoned union where to be able to get a large trough of streets paved at a certain time? Can we get a specific number of what that looks like during the season? So during the paving season, what would it look like if we as a municipality rented out equipment and utilized the wherewithal of other seasoned workers during this time to get a larger throth of folks together? I don't know if that's a question for the B. A. As well in terms of dollars and cents. What would that look like in a one time occurrence to make that happen?

Council President, Council Members, Eric Pennington, Business Administrator. A couple of things. One, with respect to the notion that streets never get paved, that's not true. Streets do get paved. They may not be these specific streets that you councilmen or you councilmen want to be paved. We actually did a community walk yesterday in the West Ward along Littleton Avenue and 9th and 12th. And there were streets that were just freshly paved and striped. It happens. It takes significantly longer than we would like. It costs about generally $1 million per mile to pave streets. So it is a budgetary concern more than it is anything else. We get some money from the state through the municipal aid programs, but it is insufficient. We have to supplement it when we can. When we did the lead line replacement program a few years back, along with public service and the county and the city, we paved about five times as many streets in terms of mileage that we do in a particular year. I don't know if that has skewed the perception of what we can do or what we should do, but that was an unusual circumstance and we took full advantage of it. we don't have that opportunity right now but i think to councilman ramos's point when the budget hearings occur there should be a deeper dive into where those funds should be spent and if we have additional resources to pave streets i would gladly have engineering get those streets paved but we'll have to take away from one area to pay for another area and i'm Happy to engage in that discussion.

So the question at hand is it's about a $1 million per mile.

About a million dollars per mile. It's a general discussion and streets, depending on where the streets are down in the industrial area in the East ward, the streets don't last as long, but generally it's a seven to nine years lifespan for a street. So we should be repaving our streets about one-seventh of the streets yearly. We don't have the resources to do that. Because we lack those resources, financial resources, some streets go 10, 15 years. And I think last year, actually, Councilman Ramos pointed out a street that hadn't been paved in over 25 years in certain ports of the North Warden. It was showing cobblestones. That might have been a couple of years ago we brought that up. It happens. The lists that all council members receive are lists where you want to prioritize the streets to be paved and their recommendations. They are not. a dictation it's a recommendation when it comes back to engineering engineering will look at it and talk with the administration we have to make some adjustments as to what streets will be paved based on the severity of the streets uh in point of fact you know the south street the lansing street situation has gotten it became untenable so we had to get help from the state that took it to the top of the list and we're getting those done now we would rather not have to wait for that but we're just constrained uh by the budget more than anything else and i'm again happy to engage in discussions during the budget hearings or otherwise to address those emergencies i don't want to prolong the meeting but i do think

that when we talk about that, the paving aspect of it, we have to begin to look at other kind of partnerships, private public partnerships, especially with a lot of these companies that are in the city of Newark that cause environmental hazards, the amount of trucking companies that come through that are stationed in other places and really begin to look at how we create and work on legislation around it. I don't mind taking the lead with it, but I think it's a further kind of conversation we should have that these entities pay into some kind of fund that will allow spaces around all of these major heavy trucking places to help pay for those paving areas and then we can be able to pull those resources back and put them in the neighborhoods where we can create this kind of long exhaustive list of major areas that have not been paid that we can attack with paving because everyone has to contribute to the life and breath of what is happening in this city overall especially in these areas where there is heavy trucking in a lot of companies who are pouring in here with warehouses and doing all of these different kind of things. It's just a mechanism of discussion that I think we need to have along with our council colleagues and administration on how we really need to sort that out and look at it and talk about real investment in the totality of the city overall.

Councilman, you bring up a great point, another great point with respect to where the trucks are. There's several aspects of it, but two critically important ones are one trucks are only allowed to drive along truck routes in the city of Newark unless they are delivering, and they do not. I saw a truck turning down a residential street, a big 18-wheeler yesterday, and he wasn't dropping off anything. It was an easier way for that trucker to get there. So we need better enforcement. The second thing is, We know that there are overweight trucks, particularly that go along Doremus Avenue, Lancy Street, South Street, and they're overweight. We have one scale and we have one weights and measures person who's authorized to utilize it. But we need the state police from the state of New Jersey to work with us to have a sort of a weighing station. So we are looking into and have requested assistance to have weighing stations on Doremus Avenue. And with your support, I'd be happy to work with you to see how we can get the state to assist us in regard to weighing those trucks. And we can literally get tens of thousands of dollars per truck per day who are overweight and over axled and who are damaging our streets to help address some of those concerns. I'm happy to work with you on that.

yeah um mr ba another thing i was reading uh here the state allocates 162 million dollars for street paving the city of newark only gets 3 million i think this is a larger conversation with the dlt because there is no city that has more truck traffic more traffic than the city of newark And I don't think that the money is being distributed fairly, let's say. And I think we need to have our state delegation have a conversation along with us with the DOT because $3 million, as you say, is not a lot of street paving. And like I said, we have the most truck traffic by far. It's not even close that are in our city. And I believe that a larger amount of that pot would help us greatly.

We absolutely agree with you. I'm happy to work with you and our delegation. We have sought additional funding every year and seek additional funding for the streets. But perhaps we need to have a better concerted effort, um, in a collaborative effort to get that done. Definitely. Mr President,

In addition to the city of Newark getting the $3.6 million, do we spend any city funds on paving?

There are years when we do not. As I said, in the recent past, we have. But as a general rule, we rely almost exclusively on the municipal aid for street payment.

My question goes because it was suggested before that we bond, but if we are getting the money from the state, I don't think the state is going to allow us to use that money to pay for bonds.

um i'm not sure if that's the case it certainly is worth exploring and we have looked at that i mean our finance department is looking at a capital bonding plan now which could include street paving as i said it's a seven to ten year lifespan that is qualifies uh typically uh for pursuant to the bonding protocols and it's certainly something that we're looking at it is a question of um you know where do we want to uh put our resources the limited resource and again as a fair conversation for the budget discussion and i think we should engage in that

thank you yep um mr ba uh the the other thing i want to mention is that years ago when we did the lead service line replacement project you know part of the the money that was borrowed to to replace the lead lines was to uh also assist in paving some of those areas that were torn up as a result of the process you know that happened for the most part but there were some some areas that for whatever reason you know the lead lines were replaced but the paving never happened Fast forward now, we're in the process of PSE&G doing a major gas line replacement project. So even if James Adams was able to get some of these streets on this list paid last year, they probably would have been torn up by PSE&G right now. Because they're doing the gas line replacement. So, you know, let's service line project done. Now we're in the midst of the citywide gas line replacement. Are these streets that are being torn up by PSE&G, is the understanding or the agreement with them that they have to pave the entire street?

That is a great question, and one that Director Adams and I intend to have a detailed discussion with PSC&G about. I think next week we have a meeting coming up. We believe that they have not complied with our ordinance, particularly where there's a moratorium in place to pave curb to curb on streets that have been dug up due to a gas line replacement or otherwise. I've spoken with our representative at PSE&G, Sarah Pena. Rick Thigpen is also aware of some of our concerns with respect to what we believe is a lack of paving on the part of PSE&G, so we are addressing that. Again, we would invite you, our council representative.

I think I'm scheduled to meet with them Thursday. But in most neighborhoods, they're cutting up both sides of the street. So I don't know how they can reasonably not pave the entire street. Because you have houses, except where I'm at, because the park is across the street from my house. But on most streets, they are tearing up both sides of the street. So for them to avoid paving the entire street, unless they have some new technology that they're using, I don't know how they avoid that.

No, we've had that discussion. We are 100 percent in the same direction.

corner is you and we'll bring that but what is the contract call like when they come in and and and get permits from the city to do this kind of replacement work like what stipulations are there to make sure that they they uh they pave the street there's an ordinance that requires certain curb to curb paving and they have to comply with that with the ordinance i don't believe they're in compliance we're going to have a discussion and i think that'll help that'll help knock out a lot of residential streets in the city no question i mean they they do you know curb to curb paving yes sir thank you you're welcome any other questions um mr b yes councilman i have been asking this for for a long time uh

Coordination, let's say we pay the streets a year ago. Now PSCNG comes and destroys our streets. That happens almost continuously. Why is it that we cannot coordinate or they can coordinate with us and determine once and for all, we are going to do this, don't pay the street because we're wasting the city funds. I believe it's imperative that some long-term discussions take place. I suppose we need to plan for 10 years, seven years or whatever the term is, but more than one year because I believe we're wasting a lot of money.

Your points are well taken. There are coordination meetings between the county water and sewer public service and traffic and signals. But to your point, they may not be out long enough. They may not be far enough in advance. I suppose to your point, you know, let's look five years down the road and see what we're doing to schedule this much better.

You're welcome. Mr. Mayor, in terms of years ago, about 20 years ago, there was a program with ways and means where the county and the city would engage the law enforcement, meaning Newark Police and the county. And what at the time was that they would, on Route 21, with all the trucks, they would stop and make stops. And the city generated a lot of money, you know, we shared with the county and with the city. And we need to probably explore that idea of working together with the county, the Sheriff's Department, and see what we could do. Because in terms of these trucks, they just come in. We don't know how much weight they're carrying. And back then, I remember the former sheriff, Councilman Carino, who was head of that division, he brought in money at the time. He was telling the money that was coming into the city. So I'm very concerned if we can do something in terms of that.

Absolutely.

Madam Clerk, also to those questions to Councilman Ramos, talked about in terms of budget and the BA talked about. So those are the questions for the, there should be no questions for the budget hearings. So if we could start plotting all those budget hearings.

Yes, sir.

Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Payette. Continue.

B and C are both bid contracts. B is for the installation of pavement markings on various streets and C is for the paving project.

Okay. Okay. Continue. Any questions?

7R4A will be returned to the administration. B is stipulation for settlement of tax appeals and C is also stipulation of settlements for tax appeals.

Okay. Any questions? None. Continue.

D is alternate method of calculating the reserve for uncollected taxes to request the consent of the division of local government services to adjust the amount of reserves for uncollected taxes required to be included in the city budget.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue.

E is to authorize the tax collector to issue estimated tax bills for the third quarter of 2026.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue.

7R5A through D are all contracts with grant recipients for emergency housing program. A is for the Circle of Life Treatment Center, B is for the Emergency Housing Services, C is for Jay's House, and D is for Turning Point.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue.

E through Q are all contracts with subrecipients to provide Ryan White HIV services. E is for Apostles House. D is AIDS Resource Foundation for Children. G is EDGE New Jersey. is Hyacinth Foundation. I is Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. J is North Jersey Community Research Initiative. K is Rutgers Infectious Disease Practice. L is St. James Social Service Corporation. M is Urban Renewal Corporation. N is Newark Community Health Centers. O is Zufall Health Center. P is Future Bridge Business Solutions. And Q is Public Strategies.

Any questions? No questions. Continue.

R and S are acceptance of grant funds. R is for the data management support for the Hypertensive Quality Project. And S is for advocacy support for the Hypertensive Quality Project.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue.

T is professional service contract for a certified lead evaluation contractor.

Any questions?

U is an open-ended contract to provide animal empowerment and sheltering.

Any questions?

V is to provide a psychiatric nurse practitioner and medical director that will provide field-based services to homeless Newark residents.

Any questions? And then continue.

seminar six, a through G are all settlements for executive session. H and I are professional service contracts for litigation defense matters.

Any questions? Continue.

seminar 8a is waiving the special event application permit fees for restoring love on schuyler avenue block party sponsored by councilman council is there a second second councilman voucher continue b is reappointing the city clerk okay any questions

Do you have any questions?

Not at all. All right. You're sponsoring it? Yeah. I'll sponsor it. I'll second.

Okay. All right. Continue.

C is a resolution urging Governor Mikey Sherrill to close Delaney Hall, sponsored by Councilwoman Scott Roundtree.

Second. Second by Kelly.

D is recognizing and commending resolutions. And E is expressing profound sorrow and regret. And Virginia. 7R9A is to establish shared services among its municipal and county partners should the need arise to appropriately respond to a large scale incident or multiple simultaneous incidents throughout Essex County.

Any questions? None. Continue.

B is authorization for the City of Newark to process an involuntary disability retirement application.

Any questions?

None. Continue. 7R11A is an application acceptance of grant funds to provide meals to Newark children through the SUNUP Summer Food Program.

Any questions? Sponsored by Kelly. Seconded by Councilwoman Bay.

B is accepting a gift connect plus create community lunch program. The purpose of the gift is to provide a free monthly lunch program and workshops for women, teen girls, and gender expansive youth ages 12 and older at Hayes Park West Center of Hope.

Any questions? Ms. Foster. Ms. Foster. Councilwoman Bay, sponsors. Second. Councilwoman Scott. Continue.

C is accepting a gift of $10,000. The purpose of the gift is a thank you from Netflix for arranging the use of properties in the city for a project currently called the 99ers.

Any questions? Anyone? Continue. Thank you.

Communications, item 8A is an ordinance granting a 20-year tax abatement to 452 South Orange Avenue Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the West Ward to construct a five-story mixed-use building consisting of 34 residential units, inclusive of 27 market rate, Units 13 will be two bedrooms, 14 will be one bedroom, and seven affordable units.

Sponsored by Councilman Kelly. Do you want to advance and adopt? Advance and adopt. Advance and adopt. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Kelly.

B is an ordinance granting a 20 year tax abatement to 518 South 16th Street Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the West Ward to construct a new low rise multifamily building with 20 residential units, 16 market rate and four affordable.

Council Member Kelly is sponsoring and advancing. Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Councillor Brown. Continue.

C is an ordinance granting a 25-year tax abatement to Conciejo Homes Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the North Ward to construct a new five-story residential building with 65 residential units consisting of 52 market rate rental units and 13 affordable housing rental units.

Any questions? Okay.

continue d is an ordinance amending stopping standing and parking by adding a new section entitled limitation on parking of motor vehicles by certain commercial establishments mr president yes council ramus

I'd like to thank the clerk's office and the police division for working with our office on this ordinance. This ordinance is intended to assist the city in protecting the rights of our residents in those communities that have previously approved you know mechanic shops auto body dealerships auto body shops and residential areas in many instances these establishments park their vehicles on the street for long periods of time limiting access to parking for for those residents that live in those communities in some instances they double park vehicles they park cars on the sidewalk and and Unfortunately, some of the fines associated with those kind of practices are very minimal. This stiffens the penalties. This prioritizes some of those neighborhoods that have been victimized as a result of these practices as possible areas for residential parking. permits, if warranted, and will hopefully give the police division some tools that they need in order to effectively deal with these quality of life complaints. We have a lot of bad actors. We have mechanic shops now in the city that sublet their mechanic shop to various mechanics, and they could have upwards of 20 to 30 vehicles that they work on at any given time. They don't have the capacity to park those vehicles on site. So in many instances, those vehicles are on city streets for weeks at a time. And unfortunately, the police division, because those vehicles may be legally registered in the state of New Jersey, does not have the recourse that they need in order to summons and address those complaints. So hopefully this gives them a little bit more teeth that they can work with to enforce the laws.

As noted by Councilman Ramos. Madam Clerk, continue.

Council President, Council Members, in my haste, I forgot to mention that this item was sponsored by Councilman Ramos. Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you. I'm assuming, Councilman Ramos, you want to advance and adopt on first?

Yeah, I mean, I'll let my colleagues take a look at it in case they have any suggestions, but I prefer to advance and adopt because we want to get this signed quickly.

Duly noted. Yeah, yeah.

All right. Any other questions? Can none continue?

E is an ordinance authorizing amendments to the bylaws of InvestNORC.

Do we know what the amendments are?

We hear.

The amendments.

uh good morning council president council members marcus randolph president of invest north uh yes our bylaws are now 11 years old uh there have been some changes from the state level that uh all non-profits are putting into their bylaws to make them more efficient uh particularly after after covet uh so we're seeking to modernize ours to make us more able to get to our clients and requests quicker to give us more flexibility uh to update those bylaws i think would be good for invest newark and for the city and for all the people that we serve and we have a a red line version of the bylaws Yes, we can get that to you. Thank you.

It's noted. Through the clerk, please. Certainly. Because of all the members of the council.

Quickly, because tomorrow is my last meeting.

Yes, sir.

Item 10 is miscellaneous. It's the approval of the raffle license.

Any questions? No. Now we got late starters, right? I'm an eight stars. Corporation Council said they're very urgent.

Good morning, Kenyatta store, City of North Corporation Council. So since that we have quite a few added starters, I'll start off with the one from law. It's a settlement with a young man named Raheem Bryant. I'll go into the details later on today when we get to executive session. The next one is from workforce. I'll ask Ms. Gaylor to come on up and speak to that. And then we have, I think, five or six from EHD, which the deputy mayor will come up and speak to those.

Okay.

One less add a starter. It's no longer needed. So I'll ask the deputy- Now what is seven now?

Seven, right?

Whoa, six, seven. Six, seven.

Thank you, Corporation Council. And again, good morning, Council President, Council Members, Alison Ladd, Director of Economic and Housing Development. We also have one less, but we are looking at four projects, five items. The first is Lincoln Park. We are going to be selling the land adjacent to the Lincoln Park just completed project on Sherman. There is a city owned property next to it and also a lot next to that. And what had occurred in the last week is that the Lincoln Park brand new house was broken into, vandalized and has damage that now needs to be repaired. So we have been working with the principal of Lincoln Park to work on the sale to them as both an adjacent property owner, a community leader, and from a pricing standpoint, we are using the non-profit pricing, which is One, nonprofits get first right. And then two, we are using a 50% of the assessed value. So it'll be approximately $107,000. The assessed value is approximately $214,000. That is one of our added starters that we are requesting. And that is so we can remove this negative activity that's happening.

And also with the second. I want to sponsor that item.

I want to second it.

We'll run a second.

SECOND, WE HAVE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. SOME MIGHT BE AWARE THAT THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IS SEEKING ASPIRE FUNDS FROM THE NEW JERSEY EDA. SIMILAR TO PROJECTS THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A CITY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT RESOLUTION FOR THE PROJECT TO BE ABLE TO APPLY. Second, this is an added starter because it came to the mayor very late, meaning within the last five days. And so we are working to do everything we can to have the item before you tomorrow. And the reason is the EDA needs the application before July 1st. And as we do not have any more council meetings before July 1st, we are asking for your consideration. In closing though, there will be, if there is selected by the EDA, then there will be a community benefits agreement in which this council will be able to discuss with the administration. Councilor Roundtree.

I would like to sponsor this based on us receiving all of the information that you just said that we need to have provided for us prior to the vote. if you can get that to us for us to review all of the information.

Move on a seconder.

Yes, thank you. The next item is an ordinance for accessory dwelling units. As you remember a few years back through the Newark zoning and land use regulations, we authorized accessory dwelling units in R1 zones only, which includes the north, the west, and the south wards only. There are no R1 zones in central or east. The reason why we're asking you to consider it is that we received funds, as you may recall, from HUD a few years ago, and we'd like to move a program to actually create legal ADUs. Just a quick sidebar, as the BA noted, we were on a walk yesterday. We actually noted two illegal ADUs, which we will be going out with both engineering and our office to help remedy. But beyond that, the ado program would allow us to do several things one it allows us to use federal funds to create accessory dwelling units it'll still have to follow the same rules that this council adopted it'll need to require to meet the 20 or so requirements and also central planning board approval but what we're trying to do is provide a little bit of capital to ensure that those units are also affordable and they will have a affordable housing covenant on those units that are funded by the program. In closing, the reason why we're asking for it is because it's an ordinance and we would like to be able to have community meetings next week to talk with the community about the program and how they can apply, and then also to give them awareness that it would be considered, hopefully, by the council in the July meeting and a public hearing would be held.

You know, this was a kind of a bone of contention for me with the last zoning changes. Have any ADUs been built since the city allowed it as part of the last zoning changes? At least legally?

No.

No, okay.

No ADU has been built legally. Every ADU that exists in the city is illegal.

And the provision has been there for years with the new zoning ordinance, at least in the North Ward, for them to go ahead and get approvals. But I don't know of one in the neighborhood that's been built legally. Yes.

I checked, to your point, Councilmember and Council President, I checked yesterday when we were on the walk with the mayor. There are no approvals for a new ADU based upon that regulation. What we do have is, unfortunately, illegal construction of them.

I could give you 20 different addresses where we have illegal ADUs. The other thing I want to mention, and it's not connected to your added starter, but I read an article in a i believe was tap into um that there was a controversy over a project over at university heights and some of the planning board members made statements blaming the city council for the fact that there are no parking requirements as part of these new uh development projects and and i would just ask you through through your office to send a reminder to them that this was a zoning ordinance that was presented to this body by the administration. The council did not make up the zoning ordinance and the zoning, the new zoning changes clearly stipulate what the parking requirements are for various areas throughout the city. So the fact that fielded planning board members pointed the blame at the council, I didn't support the ordinance, so I didn't vote for it. But for those members that did support it, that was a presentation from the council. There were hearings that were held. AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL DELIBERATED ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES AND APPROVED THEM. BUT IT DID NOT EMANATE FROM THIS BODY.

NEW SPEAKER Yes, AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMOS'S POINT AND COMMENT, THERE WERE NO CHANGES TO THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE. THAT WAS A DECISION MAYOR BARRACA MADE. AND SO THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS ARE EXACTLY AS same as they have been for about 10 to 15 years.

So that makes their statement even more inconsistent. So as planning board members, they should be well-versed on the land use regulations as the city has.

Yes, we will follow up on that matter.

Madam Clerk, can you also send some correspondence to the planning board with Councilman Ramos indicated and state what Councilman Ramos put on record?

Yes, sir.

and we would like them to give us some correspondence as soon as they can, because councilor Ramos has raised the question. We like that question to be answered. I mean, you know, when you talk about this body and you utilize this body, then we have to protect and councilor Ramos is right. We have to protect this council and what the function of the city council is.

yeah mr chair yes so two questions real fast deputy mayor one the uh extension of this the item of the adus it will remain in r1 zones that adus only allow in r1 areas that's the first part is that

Yes, there are no, Council President, there are no changes to the zoning ordinance. What we're asking for is the ability to create the program that we could fund the creation of affordable accessory dwelling units.

And so putting the system instruction in place to allow folks to be able to Create ad use and r1 zones. I don't see a problem with it from my standpoint I still believe it is is a good thing even based on zone and what I do have a problem with is the lack of Wherewithal that we have to stumble upon illegal things and not make people pay consequences for doing illegal things and and so and us creating a program to try to get folks to do illegal things, to do legal things, we should go back and make sure that those folks that have done things illegally hold the consequences for the things that they've done. We've been having issues with that the last three and a half years, and I know it doesn't fall on your purview. I've been on top of that with our UCC folks as well, with the amount of all of these illegal conversions that we've stumbled upon and They happen to go to court. We don't know what the findings are, if they're right, if they're wrong. But yet still in some of these entities, those places still exist and they have not been any kind of financial wherewithal that allows the city to recapture things that people are doing illegally in the city. And it seems as though that if you do something illegal, we will reward you by creating a legal system for you. which kind of, you know, is kind of oxymoron that we need to put a stop to like moving forward and be kind of advantageous of making people responsible in this city, regardless of who they are. That's just my point.

yes and council president to councilman council's point would somebody have the opportunity to grandfather in an illegal edu is that what you're asking us or would they have to go to the planning board as is now submit plans make sure they have proper water sewer connections

Yes, I do understand the question. So Council President and to both Council Member Council and Council Member Ramos's point, I will restate the request because perhaps I confused it. ADUs are authorized to be built already through the land use and zoning ordinance. Second, no ADU has been built legally. Third, it is the engineering's department responsibility to shut down, close, give violations to any owner who has built something illegally. Second, for what I'm asking you for is to create a program to allow for funding to help those good owners, those good actors create affordable accessory dwelling units in our city that'll help create more affordable housing in the city. It's a funding mechanism only, not a change in process for how someone can be able to build an ADU. in closing no one is grandfathered in so if there's something that exists we are happy to share information with the engineering department and that can be handled when we see it we are able to go out there with often council members guidance but at the same time it is this is meant to do only for good actors not for bad actors Thank you for the question and the ability to clarify. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. The last project that has two items is regarding the support of BRIC to be able to apply for Aspire and for HMFA financing. They have been working with the city. However, we needed to get some more documents to be able to submit it to council, which we received very late last night. But we are asking for your indulgence so that they could also submit to EDA before July 1st.

Mr. Chair, I would like to sponsor that item. Second.

Second by Brown, Tree, and Council. Any more?

Thank you, sir. No, that concludes EHDs. Thank you.

Now, public comment. Comments.

Council President, council members, we are now in a 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 members?

Hi, good afternoon. How are you guys doing? My name is Carla Thomas. I am the Assistant District Leader and Director for Security for 32BJ. I'm here on behalf of our security workers in the state of New Jersey, but also to highlight some concerns that we have. 32BJ is a union that consists of 190,000 building cleaners, security officers, and other service workers across the East Coast, including more than 15,000 members in New Jersey. Of those, 2,500 are security officers. We currently represent officers at major public facilities across Newark, such as Newark Penn Station and University Hospital. SEIU Local 32BJ is deeply committed to raising standards across Newark for security officers. Today, I come to you to share 32BJ's position that Pro Cop Security, the current security service provider across city of North Scythe, is not a responsible contractor as demonstrated by its pattern of alleged violations of local, state, and federal law. additionally it is our understanding that pro cops has likely failed to follow the terms of its contract with the city failing abide by the city prevailing wage and local um higher ordinance for months now 32 vj has spoken with dozens of contracted employees of pro cop security across city sites and has over 100 pay stubs from guards 20 signed affidavits in which all guards testify only earning $25 per hour and receiving no healthcare benefits, and a text message from Pro Cops in April in which they admit to underpaying guards under the local prevailing wage ordinance. Further, under city code, the city service contractors are required to take steps to hire Newark residents for at least 40% of hours work. TO SHOW COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, CONTRACTORS MUST SUBMIT PROGRESS REPORTS TO THE CITY CLERKS. BUT A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST SHOW THAT THE CITY CLERK IS NOT IN ONE POSSESSION OF A SINGLE PROGRESS REPORT FROM PROCOP DESPITE BEING A CONTRACTOR FOR YEARS. There are countless examples of pro-cop securities behavior around the city and county. When Pro Cop Cops was awarded a new service contract for Newark Housing Authority in 2023, it allegedly refused to offer jobs to a group of union security guards working in Newark housing sites, which would be a violation of the city's workers retention ordinance. Several officers filed a lawsuit and Pro Cops, while it denies these allegations, did end up settling with several workers in june of this year um at undisclosed uh terms further pro cops is under investigation by the national labor relations board for the alleged law unlawful firing of security officer brian tucker in january of this year shortly after tucker sent a message to co-workers encouraging them to unionize across the time is up thank you thank you time is up thank you no no we the time is

Thank you. Madam Clerk. Next speaker. We need to extract what that's a legal matter, so we're not going to engage in it, but we need to to send that to through the through the law department and through the other departments in terms of what the of the legal matters are. We as a city, as a council, we cannot engage in in these legal matters.

Absolutely.

Thank you. Good morning.

It's on. No, it's not on. Hold on. Now it's on. Go ahead. I don't know.

Go ahead.

It's on.

Go ahead.

Testing one, two.

There we go. They waited for you. You see that, right? You see that? Uh-huh. Great day, Newark. Deborah Salters. So I didn't really come to speak about the thing I'm going to talk about, but first let me say thank you, Councilwoman Bay, because I had questions about that 7R2P as well. And it turns out that there was a whole lot said that is not written. So I would hope that you all get this written. I mean, $20 million bonds were mentioned. I mean, a whole bunch of things were put in that. Like, where's the information? We need to see that. She said a whole lot. So my concern would be that you get all of that information before you all vote on this. And I know you all are like, oh, we'll just vote on it. No, y'all got to stop that. You're coming up here with six, seven added starters. Everything's a rush. Come on, y'all. So anyway, I wasn't going to talk about this, but let me talk about it. So I saw the resolution for Mikey Sherrill to shut down Delaney Hall, right? So let me ask you, where do these people go? Because she put up $20 million to fight deporting them. So if they're not sent back home, are they coming to live with y'all? Like, where are they going? And where was this energy when our Black men were in Delaney Hall? being murdered, being almost murdered, eye sockets being broken, food was trashed. There was not an uproar about this. There's not even an uproar about Green Monster and the thing that are going on down there. What are we doing, right? Because it's not political enough. It's not national news enough because it's black on black. Nobody really cares. I mean, honestly, y'all look at this. Where was this energy when our people were in there being mistreated, abused, were given garbage for food like they are in the Green Monster right now? And again, if Mikey putting up 20 million to fight deportation, that means sending people home. Where are they going to live with each of you who are fighting to shut down Delaney Hall? Which one of you can go to any country right now and stay past the time you're supposed to be there without being locked up or deported? When you get there, they're asking you, who are you here to see? Is this business a pleasure? How many days are you going to be here? Literally, if you do not have an address, they're putting you back on the plane right then. So let's be realistic about this and not emotional. Because a lot of our resources, and let me tell you personally, that the rioters that were down there were attacking police and attacking people who were not standing with them, getting in our faces. Are you with us or against us? I witnessed it myself. Was down there in the midst of it. Cops were chilling, minding their business, people coming in and out for work, and they're being attacked. This could have been stopped a long time ago, Ras Baraka, if y'all get down there and tell these people to get lost.

Thank you, your time is up. Thanks, Speaker.

I'd like to respond because I did sponsor that. So Ms. Salters, there are many, and as you did say, the green monster that they call it. If I could have wrote a resolution because I have been to these facilities, it just so happened that Newark should have something on record for every place that is mistreating or doing injustice to residents. Just so happened with this one, it came up. We know what Governor Sherrill is doing. We know that it probably will not even though we want it to happen we want these places investigated such as the county jails we really do need to see i mean we're not there to reward them and put them in the palace but but treatment my mother would say no matter who you are respect is due no matter what or whoever you are what you've done so no i don't want the mistreatment of those even they're incarcerated that doesn't mean that we treat them like dogs or beat them or overlook them. So I really wanted to address and make that statement when it was read. But since you spoke to it, I feel the same way that our residents do. We have residents that were with me, not just at Delaney Hall, that are calling my office constantly about what's going on in the county facilities and what's going on in these institutions, about how their loved ones are being treated. I had a cousin that at one time was going before Trenton to talk about how people in solitary confinement are treated. So there's a whole list that the city of Newark could probably put on his resolutions. This just was at the forefront. But at the same time I was dealing with this, I was dealing with three family members, one who's gonna probably come to this mic tomorrow and talk about the correctional facility down right next door to Delaney Hall. So while we're talking about what's going on in Delaney Hall, the people next door are going through as well. So I'm putting that on record to say, this is just an isolated resolution today, but I feel the same way about this resolution for the other institutions that are mistreating those who are incarcerated. Listen, that's somebody's child too. And I'm not saying they should have steak and potatoes, but they should not be fed molded food. They should not be mistreated. And it's enough probably that the price that they're paying for the wrongdoings they've done is being dealt with. But I don't believe anyone in any institution I don't care what it is, should be treated the way those individuals in Delaney Hall are treated as well as those who are in Essence County or those who might be in Northern State. And when the halfway house was there, as a matter of fact, there were people that we have visited for years, not in the past three, but before I was elected, we visited, women visited where the women were, and we did some visits on a county level because the county allowed us to come into these facilities to visit and see the conditions of those individuals, report letters, paper. We bought pencils. We bought things for the women in the halfway houses. Have not done any visits lately, but what I've witnessed and what people are telling me that's going on inside, I believe them. And I feel the same way. I've got to put that on record about the next door facility as I do about Delaney Hall. Thank you so much for your comments. Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Speaker.

Thanks. Good morning, members of the City Council, Mayor Rajay Baraka, city officials, and residents of Newark. My name is Fakira Bradley, founder of Restoring Hope Newark, Inc. And today, I stand before you with a heart filled with gratitude and appreciation. First, I want to sincerely thank the City of Newark, the Mayor's Office, the City Council, and everyone involved in granting me permission for our community event on June 27th, 2026, on Schuyler Avenue in the South Ward. Your support means Your support means more than you know. This event is not a block party. It's a celebration of community, unity, healing, and hope. For many years, Scholar Avenue has not had the opportunity to come together in this way. On June 27th, we will restore hope, restore love, and restore the spirit of neighborhood connection. We want our children to laugh, our seniors to smile, our families to gather, and our neighbors to remember that we are stronger when we stand together. As the founder of Restoring Hope North Inc., my mission has always been to serve the community, especially those who may feel forgotten, overlooked. This event is an opportunity to bring people together in peace, fellowship, and positivity. We want to create memories that our children will carry with them for years to come. Today, I'm asking for community support. We are seeking donations for the ones who are helping me, who already donated and is going to donate. Thank you, and I definitely appreciate you. games, activities including basketballs, footballs, jump ropes, sidewalk chalkboard games, jacks, water toys, and other recreational items. We are also welcoming donations of snacks, bottled water, gift items, and resources that can help make this event successful for the families of our neighborhood. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help bring joy to the child and the seniors in my community and our community. Together, we can create a day filled with fun, safety, and positive engagement. I would like to also personally invite the mayor, city council members, the city employees, community leaders, and residents from throughout Newark to join us on June 27th. Come celebrate with me in my community, the community that I live in. Meet our neighbors. Come help us show love that's still alive. beloved studio on Scholar Avenue. Thank you to the city of Newark for believing in me and letting me lead the community in my area the right way. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to bring the people together. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Janet Ward. I'm currently living in Newark, New Jersey. By way of background, I want to inform you that in the 1960s, I marched with Martin Luther King in Alabama. In the 1970s, I marched in New Jersey. with Amama Baraka in the 1980s. I marched with Jesse Jackson in Chicago, Illinois. In the 1990s, I walked and sang with Al Sharpton in New York. Today, as I stand, I walk with Jesus Christ, the son of the living God. As on Christ, the solid rock I stand for all other ground is sinking sand. For the next few minutes, I want to talk to you about where I live now. 220 Jelliffe Avenue. It is listed as Jelliffe Estates. But in truth, it is a 21st century Jelliffe plantation. Here, Black people are forced to come in the back door. A curfew is set at 8 PM. And if you are not in the building at that time, you must enter the back door. because the front door is locked and no key is given this lockdown lockout occurs seven days a week regardless of weather or temperature for 12 hours a day the door is locked if you're sick the back door emergency back door wanna late night back door Time does not permit me to tell you what happens at the back door. I can't talk fast because I'm a preacher and I used to preach on the street. However, the female manager, the disgruntled, the most ridiculous human being I've ever met, I'm from Alabama, We had a governor named George Wallace. I'm not ashamed to say today I have more respect for George Wallace than I do for Lisa Garcia because George Wallace never pretended to like black people. You always knew where he stood. Not only are we on lockdown from 8 p.m. to 8 p.m., but we are told that we're responsible for security. of the building. In other words, come in that back door and take care of this building. Security has not been hired in this building. This responsibility has been passed on to the seniors. We are not allowed to walk the steps. Notice is telling us how we unauthorized person are not permitted in the building. If we see suspicious buildings, if we see unauthorized people, how am I supposed to do this? This arrogant, racist, dishonest, disrespectful of Black people, Latina, doesn't understand who seniors are. We are not old children. We are old adults. Thank you very much.

Thanks, Speaker.

Good morning, everybody. I want to talk about, I heard the lady say security when I was about to leave out, so I came back. I've been doing security since I was 17 and a half. I started out with Joe D'Agostino and Haynes. Prime security. Next month, I make it a year. I was assaulted by armed security. I brought it to the attention of the manager. Since then, what made me get along, last Thursday, I videoed the problem. I reached out to the companies. They've been leaving 45 minutes early, 25 minutes early. I videoed, there's a security from 4 to 12 at arm, you're supposed to stay to 12. So you got these two, I'm not going to call their name because I speak to Mars, so I'd be more, I want to speak with the VA. This thing that happened Tuesday down Dayton Street, I took the picture of them, videoed them leaving that Thursday before that Tuesday. And this Thursday after that Tuesday, they had to leave after that Tuesday. My concern is it's a senior building. We got cameras. Cameras work when they want to work. If, why my concern of them leaving is, our doors are locked. I was concerned about that, the garbage rooms are locked. The fire extinguishers in the garbage rooms, I've been trying to tell everybody. So when they leave, if it's a fire, The seniors are going to panic. You can't get on the elevator, the main level on the back, because when they first started, they didn't have the lock. This lady put it on the side, so I tell everybody, the garbage rooms, it was being told to be open at 7.30, they don't come. So people with the pens, they got to put it. The moral to the story, the security company is out of order. I've been reaching out. I just found out who I was complaining to is not the person. But I want to know, what are the protocols when you be assaulted? You report it. Because I know had I did it, I would probably be locked up and lost my job. My lease came Thursday, and I got out an order where I hear them and I don't hear them. My niece was there. She said, is they talking to you? I said, no. It got so out of order. I'm talking and the lady said, I don't care who work with it. And my niece, and they were going back and forth. It's getting ready to get out of this before get out of order. Next month will be a year. The same guard that the one that's the arm that pushed me five years ago, they had to remove with my same knee. She was working with motivation. We went down to Tracy Burton. Tracy had to remove five years back. She's under here and crying. The moral to the story, the other one leaves, she knows somebody at SOC. So SOC watches it. I got videos. You see the person pull out, pull up in the Uber, they left. But they did it this Thursday after the stabbing. I got a concern about that. Thank you. Thank you.

Any other speakers? Any other speakers? Seeing none. Executive session. Motion.

Okay. Second.

We're going to the second session.

Oh, I'm sorry.

No, no, we're going to the second, are we? Yeah, this is a roll call.

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.