Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning. Welcome to the premeating of the Newark Municipal Council on Tuesday, March 31st. Council President, council members, before we get started, just want to let you know we were contacted by council members Scott Roundtree and Silva. They are out regarding um death. Yes. Thank you.

We are on page three of the agenda. Ordinances, public hearing, second reading and final passage. 6PFA is an ordinance amending the special improvement districts to revise terminology and clarify collection and administration of the tourism improvement district license fee. Any questions from the council?

Hearing none. Next item. B is an ordinance amending records to amend rules and regulations to include persons exempt from tow fees and releases of motor vehicles to include notice requirements for certain vehicles involved in a criminal investigation sponsored by Councilman Council and Councilwoman Scott Roundtree. Mr. President, Councilman uh Ramos. Yeah, I had asked for um some kind of uh statement or analysis by the police division regarding the ordinance and I don't think I received that. So, okay. So, can we get that prior to tomorrow?

Good morning, council president, council members. Good morning, Captain James George from the department of public safety um police department. I did provide some additional information to the public safety director's office and I believe they're in preparation of uh satisfying the request. Okay. So hopefully we'll get something back. Thanks for the meeting. Thank you. Next item.

C is an ordinance to amend solid waste management by amending the time to abate waste. Sponsored by Councilman Silva, second by Councilman Counsel. Um, I think we're going to need somebody else to sponsor it. I believe Councilman Silva won't be here tomorrow. I would like to say a sponsored by Councilman Ramos. Duly noted. D is an ordinance authorizing the sale and transfer of city property. Sponsored by Councilwoman Bay, second by Councilwoman Scott Roundtree. Questions from the council.

President, if I may. Councilman Gonzalez. Yes, I I would love to see a a a an appraisal of this property. This property when it was originally transferred was valued at $1.2 million. I would like to know what's the value now and who are the principles of the entity buying the property. Uh yeah, I'm I thought Shiron was walking to the microphone. C uh uh uh deputy mayor. I know the principles were here last meeting. They stood they they came. Go ahead.

Yes, council president, council members, Allison Lad, director of economic and housing development. Um and this site, the city has owned it for some time, as you might remember. Um it was sold more than probably 15 years ago. and then the city had to go to court actually get the property back. Um so we did win that case about six years ago and so um at that time we did not get an appraisal and we did not get an updated appraisal for this sale either. Um the reason for the discounted price is because of the affordable housing that will be um in the site. It is going to be 100% affordable and so and there'll also be condominiums that will be built there. So that is why the price is lower than the assessed value.

At the time, uh, Mr. President, at the time that we transferred the property before, they had been an appraisal like a year before for $1.2 million. That was the price that was offered to be paid by someone that wanted the property, $1.2 million. Six years had gone by. Erh the propert the value of that property hopefully has increased substantially and we are selling it for probably less than half the price.

Yes sir we are selling it for about 50% of the assessed value which is not unusual compared to others uh projects that we sold for similar purposes. Um, I know you recently approved Covenant House and that pro project is in the central ward as well and that was also sold at about 50% of the assessed value and then there are others I know it today on the agenda that have a similar treatment and it's so we can advance the development. Um second I would say that the are there other let's say erh grants that are going to be given to to this entity to construct the the or to finish constructing the affordable housing.

Yes, council president. Um there is and it was advertised that way. Uh the late Congressman Payne uh dedicated um $8 million to the city of Newark and those funds will be used to offset the cost of the affordable housing development for families between I believe it's 30 and 80% of AMI. Is is the $8 million going to be applied to that property? Yes, sir. And that item will come before the council. It just has not come before you yet. How much is how much is the total cost of the project? Uh the total cost of the project is about 24 million. Mr. President, Councilman Ramos,

um the the money that was appropriated by by the congressman, was that for the purposes of housing? Because I know he he was a big supporter of the daycare child care center that was there. Was that connected to the grant or is it for any development of that site? Yes. Uh, Council President, to Council Member Ramos's question, uh, yes, the funding from the late congressman was dedicated just for affordable housing within the city of Newark. So, no daycare development there connected to that.

Uh, not in this case. Um, for the project that is before you, there will be a community grocery store as well as again the condos that will be for affordable families and also the affordable housing. explain to me how the units are going to be sold affordably. Like what's what's how how does that work? Because I know we have the um AMIs connected to rental properties. So, so how how does the city now this is the first time we see this in a while that we have units that are for sale that are going to be quote unquote affordable. So, so how does this how is that going to look?

Uh, sure, Council President. It's um to the question. So for the rental and for sale, there are parameters on both sides. So it's you have to have um incomes that are at the um HUD median income for Newark and it's for both uh people who want to buy property and people who want to rent property. So, it's the same income bands and then there's actually um a schedule that shows you what the maximum amount of um mortgage we can support and that would be how we work with the families is both on price and then the mortgage.

So, is the city going to help navigate through the process where they borrow money from the banks? Is the city going to somehow be a conduit like like how do we help in that in that space?

Uh sure. Um so council president I think that so in our city we do have many programs that already support um individuals who want to buy a property and so we do that today. We have programs within Invest Newark where they do section 8 home ownership and there's actually marketing and sale and selection process through a lottery at Invest Newark. And there are sessions that are held by Invest Newark that help educate and give information to the um residents who want to be part of that process and buy a house through section 8 home ownership. Uh second, we have live. Live Newark is our down payment assistance and also the employee assistance program whereby we assist residents who are um needing down payment assistance or also employees who need down payment assistance. Um then there are also other programs that are run by nonprofit organizations that do financial literacy, uh do credit cleanup, and who also have a way to support the residents who want to go from renting to owning. And I'd say in closing for this specifically, we do plan to work through our office of affordable housing through inclusionary zoning to ensure that we are also providing um assistance today so that people can be ready for when the project is built in the next 18 months. Councilman Gonzalez,

the average salary in the city is like $30,000. 80% of the AMI is a hundred something thousand. So how many units are going to be let's say sold at 40% and how many units are going to be sold at 60% so that people from the city might have a chance of qualifying for for a property.

Uh yes sir. Um I unfortunately don't have it in front of me so forgive me. Um I will tell you though that it the program was designed when we released the solicitation. So, let me just back up for a minute. Is the city released a public solicitation to request people to purchase the property. We received about a half a dozen um applications that came in for individuals and development groups that wanted to purchase the site for the purpose in which we explained. The first was is that it had to be 100% affordable, had to have rental and home ownership. The second was it did have to have a comm community grosser space on the ground floor and the third part was is that we had to work to ensure that the New York residents have access to the property first which is what we do during inclusionary zoning. It was a higher bar for this project because of the way we are selling it where in other cases it's more of a marketing effort as well as um coordination on selection of um tenants. In this case, it was something the city was going to take on um in a more uh detailed way to make sure that all units were really focused for Newark residents. So um the uh second thing that you asked is is the number. I believe it's um like 2/3 rental, one-third home ownership. And um I'm happy to provide that to you. Um I apologize it's just not in front of And yes, if you would uh let us know how many units are 40%, how many units are 60, and how many units are 80%.

Uh yes, of course. I'd be happy to do that, council president. Thank you. Yes. All right. Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Uh thanks, Council President. Resolutions 7R1A through E are temporary emergency appropriations. A is for the drinking driving enforcement fund. B is for the Newark pedestrian safety grant. C is for the public health emergency preparedness grant. D is to support the education of nurse practitioners and E is to provide funds for the operating expenses. Any questions from the council? I do have

Councilman Gonzalez. Yes. related to E and the BA knows what my question is is where are we Mr. BA with the budget. Mhm.

Good morning, uh, Council President, council members. Eric Pennington, business administrator. Uh we're moving forward with the budgeting process uh consistent with the directives that uh are established by the state and uh we hope to have something to the council again within uh next month. My hope was that it will be to you in March. That was ambitious. Uh it's now looking like it won't happen until sometime in April. We're moving forward as uh judiciously as we can to make sure that we present an appropriate budget to the council. I would I would love to to be able to approve the budget before I leave this August brother in June 30th so that uh let's say the city for the first time submits a budget that is more or less on time. I know that you're working on it but I would hope that you would press people so that we have it in April and not in May.

Yeah. Yes, sir. Councilman Gonzalez, my my hope is that I will uh allow you to leave here with a clear head and a balanced budget. Mr. President, Councilman Ramos, I know in the past the the the I don't want to call it an excuse, but the um state aid number was always bought up as a reason why the budget was delayed. Is that going to be a problem this year or has that been worked out? Can you present a budget anticipating what you received last year and then make adjustments um based on the actual number?

Yeah, Council President, to Councilman Ramos, the comment you just made about anticipating what we expect to get uh is exactly what we're going to do. I mean, that's the plan is to use the numbers that we've had in the past historically to make a determination, an estimate essentially of what we anticipate receiving and calculate that into the budget. It of course could change but but that's the uh that's the hope. Thank you be. You're welcome. Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you. Thank you. Be next. F is the use of a state contract for IT equipment and there's a request for executive session. Yes.

G is a contract with recipients. G through Q or contract with recipients to provide community- based violence prevention and youth mentoring andor safe passage. G is for Aisha Harper. Aisha and Harper Domestic Awareness Foundation. H is for complex vision. I is for push peers understanding strategies to heal. J is the high school academic support and mentoring program of New Jersey. K is Voices International Publications Incorporated. L is Hope, Love, Kindness, Crisis Intervention. M is FP Youth Outcry Foundation. N is United Community Corporation. O is Rise to Grind Fitness. P is love. I'm sorry. Hope, love, kindness, crisis, intervention. And Q is brothers building a better nation.

All right. So, let's go through the process what we normally have gone through. Can we get is there someone here from Aisha and Harper Domestic Awareness Foundation? Good morning. I'm Kelly Nelson and I'm the founder of Asian Harper Domestic Awareness Foundation.

And can for for the record, can you just um two things or maybe more than two things? Um just state what your organization does currently and what this money will be used to for. What my organization does right now is we help um youth and women as well as with going through trauma um crisis. Um we do a lot of intervention. Um with the ages that we'll be going through is between the ages of 13 and 26. Um we will have mentors that will I have already have mentors that come out. We deal with young ladies and young boys, but we're leaning a little bit more towards the young ladies giving them more of a secure and a safe place to um to come and receive services. The funding will go towards um excuse me the funding will go towards the the mentors also with um giving providing services for the youth um doing outdoor trips um also with financial literacy um it's several other activities that we have. We want to do them outings, take them to museums also any and they're going to have one-on-one mentorship as well. Uh they will have counseling by a certified um counselor, social worker, I'm sorry. Um and what else? I'm sorry.

It's all right. And the objective is for the 26-week program that's going to serve 50 youth between again between the ages of 13 and 26 twice a week uh dealing with trauma and mentor focusing on um mental health, self-awareness, communication, conflict resolution, life skills, and again the service includes one-on-one mentorship, group sessions, counseling referrals, leadership development, and progress tracking. So we'll be able to give an outcome on how many participants that are receiving services, what is the outcome from them and keep track on it and just not let this just be for right now. I want it to be continuing and going within the community.

Thank you very much. A question Councilman Gonzalez. Yes. Do you keep records and submit those records to the city as to who have you seen what kind of let's say services you have provided? Uh and do you get the money up front or do you get the money based on the people that you serve uh going forward? Well, I get the money um up some of it upfront to to start off and then it comes in quarterly um after I send in the invoices for it and how I keep track of them. Say that again. I'm sorry. I I skipped that question. I'm sorry. Can you go back to that please?

Yeah. The question is, do you submit reports to the city indicating the kind of services that you have provided and to whom you have provided the services? Oh yes yes I do. I keep track of who I'm providing, how many uh participants I'm you know and then service. Yes, I do. I send all of that in along with uh how much the budget is, how much everything cost as well to it. Is that a computerized form or does something that you manually do? It's computer. I actually have it on computer. Well, let's let's let her finish in mids sentence and then come up. Yeah. Okay.

So, it's it's a form that the city provides you so that you can submit the the report indicating what kind of services and and you do that quarterly. You said I believe that it is um from the last one that I got. This is the first time that honestly that I'm ever receiving the RFP. So, I'm kind of new to the structure of this, but I have received funding through the city before and I know when I had to do it, I had to submit in the amount that was um sent that I was using, what it was done for, um who was the participants, and all of the information that went along with it.

Thank you, Mr. B. And can we get a a sample of those reports that they submit so that we can more or less see what the say the services that are being provided by these entities are. I believe we can get a response from uh either. Good morning, council president, um governing body. Uh Kylisha Winkfield Hill, director of the office of violence prevention and trauma recovery. Just to answer Councilman uh Gonzalez's question, um every organization that receives an RFP from the city of Newark is required to submit a programmatic report and an expenditure report monthly in order to receive funds from the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery.

And they get reimbured based on the on those reports. Excuse me. They get reimbured based on those based on their reports. In order for them to receive funding from the office, they are required to submit a fiscal exp uh you know a programmatic report and an expenditure report in order to receive funds from our office. Maybe you are the person that that can provide us with a sample of those reports. Absolutely. I'll be more than happy to provide them to the business administrator and he can give it to the municipal council. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Council, Councilman, Council, and uh director, you know, some some of the some of the individuals organizations that are coming up may be new organizations.

Um we have uh two new organizations. Um I believe that all of the other organizations or organizations that have been funded by the city of Newark previously. Um I will say that the organizations are not two uh new organizations. They have been doing work here in the city for quite some time, but this is their first time applying for an RFP and being funded by the city. So they they should be able to have the data that Absolutely. Um Aisha Harper has been doing work uh for several years at the Shaunie Baraka Center. However, this is her first time submitting um the RFP and being funded for the RFP. That's good. And the second organization as well. Mr. Chair, I I'll sponsor. All right. sponsored by Councilman Council.

Is there a second on that? Yes. Second. Second by Councilwoman Bay. I'm going to get in trouble, but I'm going to go to Councilwoman Bay and then I'm coming back to you, Councilman. Thank you, Council President. Director, um just just wanted to to make sure I believe I know the answer to this question, but I just wanted to ask it out loud. um all the respondents, everyone who responds to the RFP part of the um their application and response, they have to provide information on their um their metrics as far as what success um how success is measured um for their program. Correct. Absolutely. All of those uh things are listed in their scopes of services and the proposal that's submitted to the city of Newark. Thank you.

Councilman uh Kelly, don't say that. Don't say that. My questions have been answered. I have another question. My questions have been answered. It's to the organization. Oh, my questions have been answered. Oh, it's been answered. All right. Sorry about that, Councilman M Kelly. All right. Um, thank you then. Thank you, Council President. Governor B. All right. Next matter. Uh, is someone here from Complex Vision NORC LLC? Okay, we're familiar with you. Go, go, go ahead. just tell us. Uh,

hey, how you doing? Um, my name is Chris Williams. I'm the CEO of Complex Vision North, as well as Complex Vision, Inc., nonprofit organization. Um, as you know, we service youth ages 5 to 24 right here in North, New Jersey, primarily through a wide range of services. Um, some are primarily done by us and other organizations. They collaborate with us. Uh some of those programs are uh as you know every summer we got the eightweek basketball league kabooi round ball classic uh we coming up on our fourth year we increased that program um participation by I think 175% from 72 to around 225. Also in the summertime we have less trash less crime. That's an initiative that's an environmental and a public safety initiative that um we launched uh last year with King University and the Institute for Re the Institute for Research for Social Justice and Action as well too. Um we launched that in uh we looking to launch that nationally uh this year as well fostering different collaborations on the largest scale with Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore and California. Um we do civic engagement as well too. Civic engagement as well too. Um we advocate for the youth to uh be able to express their voice. Um vote 16 campaign. Of course you guys familiar with some of the partners that we um share with that initiative. Um workforce development as well too. So we create pathways for workforce opportunity.

I don't mean to cut you off but I I will say I know you can go on and on with all the good works. A lot of us are familiar with the good work that you do. Um are there any questions from the council?

Mr. Chair, well uh two things. one would like to sponsor this but second just want to give kudos to uh complex visions for the work they have been doing uh in the south ward uh around their uh you know cleanups and more importantly there's some initiatives uh to c keep help keep youth organized and focused uh in their mentorship uh that that is helping uh in the schools and helping uh to be a voice to young people about changing the direction uh of their lives and so um thankful uh for the work that they're doing and and would love to sponsor this. Great. Thank you. Second by Councilman Kelly. All right. Thank you. All right.

Next item. Uh Push. Anyone here from Push? Miss Williamson. Yes, I am Denisa Williamson. Hello. How are you? Good. How are you? I am Denisa Williamson. I am the executive director and founder of Peers Understanding Strategies to Healing, better known to everyone as Push. So, just just briefly just tell us about your organization and then uh what you plan to do with the funding.

Okay. Um on my organization we specialize in Westwood most importantly and we specialize in youth that are justice impacted, trauma infor um and violence impacted. That's good. And what are you and what we're going to do with the funds is that we're going to um increase and partic and continue to maintain our programming that we're doing as far as youth mentorship inside of the West W.

Great. Thank you. Any questions from the council? Councilman Kelly. Um, so I just want to um say thank you to Denisa. Um, I've had problems in schools. She's come with me just um dealing with different people um in and out of the West who are our youth movers and shakers that we needed to talk to. I would call Denisa and she would put me right in front of these young gentlemen. Um we've diffused situations from guns in people's homes to I just want to say thank you. Um thank you.

I one question too. Uh this money will it help you the operation of the the brick and mortar that you have in the west.

I'm I'm glad that you asked that and yes um because you know I teeter on the fine line. you know, I'm looking at um Miss Bay because we are on the very finest of lines of Central Ward and Westport, right? And yes, um, with us being able to receive additional funding, we are, um, one of the few organizations that do maintain a brick and mortar where we do open our doors on a continuous basis to our young people. And we are open six days a week, but it does become a challenge being able to keep our doors open when we do not receive consistent funding because we are a safe place for our young people to be able to be within the West most importantly, but we do open our doors to Central War youth as well. Um, the reason why I'm asking too because I know I've went in my pockets and

and reached out to nonprofits to help with keeping those doors uh not keeping the doors open, but keeping it a safe place by providing food and yes, hopefully I can partner with uh Councilwoman Bay and and um just to help continue that. But I council president, I would like to sponsor this. I think she does um great work with the little that she has because I actually think the people that she has there, she probably could even use more or or more just assistance and and help. I think she does a great job with what she has. So, I definitely want to sponsor this. I like second.

Absolutely. We join you on that. Who second? Oh, Councilwoman uh Bay seconds. Yes, sir. Thank you so much, Miss Williamson. Thank you. Thank you very much Mr. President. I want to a question not specifically for her but let's say how do we measure success

uh with this entities let's say how do we know that the monies are producing the right results. Erh we we spend we spend quite a big amount of of monies uh trying to steer the youth out of trouble and I would love to see or to hear how do we measure uh that they say how that money is producing the right results. Well, I could answer from my perspective, but I'd say Miss Williamson, this is a general question. I think you want to Yes. I I I prefer the director would I think that's the best person to ask. Yes.

Yeah. I know there's there are a number of reports that you generate and so you can expound upon

Kylisha Winkfield Hill um director office of violence prevention and trauma recovery. Um as stated before, we do um receive programmatic reports uh that captures all of the data. Um but also I want to be clear that this work is measured um when we talk about it being measured, we talk about it being measured both quantitatively um like when we talk about the numbers but also not just quantitative data but qualitative data as well because when we look at violence um and we look at the reduction in violence across the city when we look at the uh amount of juvenile arrest and how we've been able um to get that number down none of that work happens by OBP alone. um this work happens in collaboration with the organizations you see here that make up the Brick City Peace Collective ecosystem. And so we don't take credit for everything that's happened, but when you look at violent crime being down across the city, citywide, um we don't just say thank you to the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery, but we say thank you to the organization. If you can let's say again if you can produce a let's say for us a report that they say crime was this crime now is this so that we can more or less measure the say the the effectiveness of where this money is going.

Absolutely. We actually uh work with uh Ruckers uh North Public Safety Collaborative, their research team. Um we have anou with them and they provide a monthly data report to the office of violence prevention and trauma recovery and the brick city peace collective. I am happy um to distribute that uh data report to all of the council members. I also want to uh keep in mind that we also have a compliance team um and so organizations are just not receiving funding without being in compliance uh with the city of North. But all of that information again um as stated before can be distributed to the BA and then distributed to the council. Thank thank you. Appreciate it.

Thank thank you. Next item is the the high school academic support and mentoring program of New Jersey. Is anyone here? All right. Not appearing. Ne next next item. Uh, Voices International Publications Incorporated. If you could just briefly just tell what you're doing now, what your organization is doing and then what this uh the funding would be used for.

Okay. Correct. So, my name is Khalil T. I work with New Direction and partners uplifting our sons and daughter. No, Voices International is our um physical sponsor for this grant that's being released. We do a lot of community work with the youth out there, the atrift youth culture, the ones that's getting into a lot of things, getting caught up in the criminal justice system. We partner with the courts, get them out the youth house and try to get them in some programs and some of the community centers know throughout the city. Safe zone north, we work in the west side community with UCCC and any community centers that you know service kids. We try to go out in the community, recruit the kids to come in there, put them in safe spaces so they can learn and grow. We give them stipens based off of their behavior towards the end of the program. If they not getting rearrested or in trouble, we get them back in school. We give them a stipen at the end of it. Then we'll take care some of our facilitators who help us, you know, with safe passage and bringing that information to the kids to make sure they get in and out of there safe, make sure they get home safe. So, we'll use those resources to make sure we can do that. We've been working for the last three months without no resources, waiting for some things to come from city council and from the city to help us out. So hopefully we can um continue to get some things going and be able to get some type of recompensation for some of the new resources we put out out our own personal pockets to make this stuff go because we know it's nonprofit. It's some time to make things go. You might have to, you know, spend your own money to keep it going. But we hoping that the city can re compensate us for some of the things that we spent these last three months. I know know councilman dupri I work with him a lot out here and um Pat counsel so they kind of know some of the stuff that we doing we push a lot of stuff out social media so people can see it and it could be proof of concept of what we doing so we just hoping that things could get right we know we posted been getting some resources early in the year it didn't happen but we still programmed because we know issues are going on in our community we based off what happened last year we had a rough year ending I lost my niece to violence domestic violence she young dating, young atrisisk kids. So, this mission is

personal to me and um we going to keep working and we just pray that we get the support. We know it's a lot of, you know, with new direction. It be a lot of controversy. A lot of people don't like, you know, dealing with us because of, you know, our credibility in the streets. We can't control who we are. We can't control the influence we got, but we can use that influence the best direction possible. I've been home for seven years. Do it all know. I've been pushing forward, haven't backslided, never got arrested, never caught no charges, been pushing kids forward. So, we just hoping and praying that we can get some support from the council. All right. Thank Thank you, Councilman Kelly. And then

um yeah, I just want to I guess just for the record too, um how many youth would you say like you work with at one time specifically when it comes to the stipens that you give out for the kids who don't don't backslide, who don't go get rearrested? How many youth do you work with in that program during that duration of time? So I say about we serviced over about 150 but we wasn't able to you know stipen that many kids because we ain't had that type of capacity but we was a still able to make sure those half of those kids was good you know thanks to our mayor he stepped in and made sure some things went right so we can make sure that those kids been compensated but we serve over hundreds of them. You know, we can't provide everybody resource, but some kids just come just to be a part of safe space and they seeing what's going on and hopefully down the line we could get something for them. We keep them locked in because they know it's possible that they can receive something if their behavior is doing good and they're improving in the community. So the ones that are doing good, you do give them u who are available for an incentive. How many would you say out of out of your program if you have a hundred kids, how many are really um available to receive that that incentive even if you have it or not.

Right? I said out of a 100 you probably going to get maybe 30 that's going to compete the court. know some know if we if we say 30 out of 100 I flash a good you know number but all 100 ain't going to be able to pro provide through because we're not going to compensate you if you got suspended or if you got rearrested or if you you know having issues at home with your family because you know we service the kid all around you know we we get to know the kid we want to know everything that they got going on so we start a cohort with 50 kids and 20 of them might not graduate the core only you know 20 might graduate they going to push forward to the other ones they get in the next cohort and maybe they can you know apply to the rules. So, we put stipulations in place for you to be able to get compensated towards the end. So, we start with a program with 30, we might finish with 15, we might finish with 20, but we ain't finishing with none. We finishing with some. Some of the ones that don't do what they need to do, they out of the program, they just have to find other resources to provide for them to help them, you know, moving forward.

So, you would say probably it's about a 30%, right? I would give it to you. That would that would be a good uh baseball average. Um, but I I just want to commend you too. I I actually see the work. Um, I've called you on you several times and you have been there. I'm talking about serious situations, you know. Um, so I definitely see the work. I think that if we say one child, one youth,

that is very important. So, um I know you got people that talk about everything, but I think 30% in our city for our youth going through the real traumatic things that they're going through, I think that's amazing. I think um also working without the resources is amazing, you know. Um I don't think some people in this building will work without resources, you know. Um, so for you to be outside of this building and working with our youth who are going through those situations, I commend you. I commend you because I I actually see it. I'm still close enough outside that I can I can tell who's being fixed and who's not being fixed and and we can't fix everything.

Right. So, um, council president, I I would love to, you know, sponsor sponsor this and um All right. Sponsored by Council Kelly. Is there a second? Second. Councilman, uh, council, did you want to say anything else, council? No, that just just keep up the good work, man. And I know it gets tough, you know. Um, the people that you have with you, make sure that they stay on their dean, too. Stay stay on point

because, um, if something happens within and inside the team, they always look at the head and they try to take the whole team down. But I know the people that you've helped. I've done there's been murder situations that I've I've done uh safe um what is it? Safe return. Um what you say? Safe surrender. Yes. I couldn't think of surrender. For some reason I've done safe surrender, you know, because of this this organization and like this I know, you know what I mean? So I know the work that they're doing. I just want to say thank you. Keep doing the work, man. Appreciate. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman.

Yeah, council president. I just wanted to know if if they had a a physical office location uh in the city and other organizations that come up to be prepared to answer this the same question. Do they have physical office locations in the city? Oh, you asking me that?

Yeah. Oh, no. We we don't have no physical office, but we just, you know, our service is to make sure the physical offices is getting the kids that they need. So some of these physical officers may not have to the ability to, you know, reach kids in the community. They might can't go in Bradley Court and pull all them kids. They might can't go down bottom or any of these areas to pull these kids in. We can do that. So our relationship is to build some of these community centers up some of the office spaces, the professionals, the ones that's know how to do the work. We're not going to pretend that we're just these professional people, but we know we work with the professionals in the city. And I feel like our relationship has been working as far as us being able to, you know, be able to be in safe spaces or bring these kids to safe spaces or even having a meeting in place. We can use the office of violent prevention safe zone. They got spaces in there where they let organizations utilize them if they don't have their own personal um space.

I just want to um council Kelly just in the I know in the west and maybe this something for the director. I know uh I believe I don't know if it was you guys but I know that the space at the Ron Rice Right. Right. is made available. Is that a space director that the people who do not have brick and mortars who do not have offices in the west ward is the is the west ward uh on South Avenue of office of violence prevention. Is that available? Is the Ron Rice available for or anywhere whether it's in the south for do we have spaces for the people who do not have offices that they can utilize?

Um good afternoon again. Um well morning uh yes we do. Uh we allow for community organizations to use our Ron Rice Center um in the West Ward. In fact we have three organizations community organizations that are programming out of the Ron Rice Center currently. um urban care um the village and community solutions all uh have programs currently in our Ron Rice Center. Um, additionally the office of violence prevention central office uh located in the central ward is available for organizations to program um through our office and additionally 695 Bergen Street the new training um academy facility. We also allow through OBP we have an office uh at that center and we allow organizations to use uh 695 as well if they do not have brick and mortar.

Yeah. I and I think that's important. Uh people need to have space to provide administrative capacity work. I know the levels of work that may be done on the street and making sure that you're intentional and specific about how you go out and touch people. That's important, but also being able to add an administrative component uh to what it is that you're doing so that the documentation can be done properly. The assistance that you may be needed is is held there. So I know 695 William Mobile Ashby Community Care Center Week Family uh success center on Chancellor Avenue as well uh can be able to provide that space uh in terms of of working with these organizations so that they're going to be able to sit down administratively and have discussions about next steps uh plans of of of of movement and how all of those things are being facilitated with the work that they're doing in the

No, absolutely. And I invite all of the council members to stop by 690 uh not just 695 but also uh 1017th Avenue um in the central war uh the office of violence prevention and trauma recovery office. If you go to the third floor you'll see that we have a full library and also a full computer lab uh for children and organizations here in the city of Newark.

Thank you Councilman Gonzalez. Uh yes I say econ housing and economic development we have a let's say the a policy that or an ordinance that requires buildings uh to have commercial space on the first floor. I believe that there would be a great opportunity for entities like yours to be allowed to use some of those that space let's say at a reduced rent or something a concession that the builder should make to the city in exchange for the tax aments that we're giving them. I I believe that is important that we get some some benefit that can help the say the youth in the city and we are providing valuable contributions to these entities in terms of the tax abatements that they receive. I believe it's imperative that we do a better negotiation with the with the developers so that they can provide that space to us.

So absolutely Mr. BA I I believe that we need to uh reinforce the negotiations that we do with the builders so that some of that space uh can be used for entities like this that provide great services to the youth in the city. Yeah, I think we have voted on some in the past. Happy to do that. I know I I have those conversations with with uh devel people who are building in the west. So we definitely have those conversations. I believe it's necessary that those empty those buildings that space is empty most of it. Understood. Yeah. Thank Thank you, director.

Thank you. Uh thank you. Uh yeah, thank No, thank you. Uh next, hold up. We just want to acknowledge UCC. I'm Aaliyah Clark and I just want to acknowledge UCCC um community center because we do work out of the UCCC community center and they were able to collaborate with us for these last few months to be able to harbor all of the kids help us and we're also with food everything that we need. We have of course came out of pocket but UCCC has been a great entity to be able to open their doors and allow our children to be a part of there. So we were able to work out of there and use them as a safe haven to be able to work with our kids. So UCCC is also a great center that we are able to use. Yeah. Well, thank you very much.

Thank you to UCCC too.

Uh next item. Uh Hope, Love, Kindness, Crisis Intervention LLC. I did not see Hassan Kirby. Oh, is he in there? Oh, he's hiding in the corner. Okay. Mr. Kirby, I'm going to ask you to be brief. Three questions. One, what is your organization? And we know you well, but but one, what is your organization doing now? What are the funds going to be used for? And the third question is from Councilman Council about whether you have a brick and mortar. Yes, we have had my name is Hassan Minister Hassans Kirby and we do have a brick and mortar located at 500 Springfield Avenue where we allow all organizations without a brick and mortar to come and utilize the facility. That's one. The other question was

what did your organization do? I mean it's organization we know you do a lot of love and kindness crisis intervention. We was formed on dealing with the inner underlying traumatic disorders of the community with the hope love money that we're going to be getting again. We'll continue to put it to the youth to give them stipens. We'll continue to pay our staff and we continue to do the work whether we had the money or not because one of our primary things is our grief counseling sessions that we have now for the individuals who suffer things at the hospital. So, we do have a grief counseling session component now. Yeah. Thank you. You're welcome. Hey, any questions for Yeah, Mr. Chair, I'd like to sponsor this.

Yeah, I'm No, I'm going to second this one. I'm sorry. I'm cut that off. sponsored by Councilman Council, second by me, Councilman Crop. Want to say uh thank you council. Just want to say thank you because sometimes I I go to the hospital for things that happen and I'm the councilman and I got to call you to get in. So, I just want to say thank you for always showing up for the city, man. Thank you. Thank Thank you, Mr. Kirby. Appreciate what you do. Next item. Next, uh, FP Youth Cry, Youth Outcry Foundation, Inc.

Hi, good afternoon. Good afternoon. Good morning. Still,

good morning. Apologies. Um, Marielle Huffagel, chief operating officer of FP outcry foundation, better known as the Hub Arts and Trauma Center. Um, Altariq sends his his greetings. Um, so we have brick and mortar. We're at 135 Prince Street. Um and um what we're currently doing, we are trauma-informed violence prevention and intervention with a artsbased focus. Really looking at how do we identify at risk and high-risisk youth? How do we support them holistically with wraparound services? Um interest- based mentorship, um wellness support, referrals to social determinants of health because we recognize that issues cannot be dealt with unless we're looking at the whole child. Um and then doing case management throughout arts electives, counseling, mentorship, and life skills um to ensure that youth are able to thrive, not just survive. Um, and so currently none of that is being funded by the city of Newark. This funding will allow us to reintroduce safe passages, which we've done previously. Um, and um, and is what's really cool about the hub being able to do safe passages, is it allows for daily interaction with at risk and high-risisk youth that may or may not know about the hub or come to the hub. And so it becomes this funnel not just into day-to-day safe passage and not just into um sort of what that safe adult contact looks like. It then becomes a funnel for them to access programming with safe trusted adults that they've seen every morning and every afternoon as they're doing safe passages.

Thank you. Uh Councilwoman Bay. Thank you, Council President. Um, I just wanted to say that I've had the the honor and the pleasure of working with this organization in my, you know, other capacity through North Emergency Services for Families and and um being a support system for the participants in this program um years before I became a council person with um so different social service uh um supports as well as food and different things like that, housing supports. Um and so I definitely want to commend you on the work that you've been doing. and I see it firsthand. Um, definitely would love to uh sponsor. I second that.

Sponsored by Councilwoman Fay, second by Councilman Kelly. Anything else from the council? Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Hope, love, kindness, crisis, intervention. Anybody here from somebody in the corner again? Oh, did we do you? Wait, this is the second one. We skip UC. Did we skip UC? I'm skipping. Did I skip something? UCC? Yeah. Oh, I'm on the wrong page. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mr. Kirby. I I skipped over. Uh, youth mentoring and safe passage. Anybody? Youth mentoring and safe passage of

United Community Corporation. You know, I'mma get it right. I'm sorry. UCC. Good morning. Good morning. I am here today with my deputy director, Miss Yolanda Deloney, and my name is Charles Amanda from the United Community Corporation. Um, I believe I'm trying to remember the three questions that you asked. I think it was uh what do we do? I can't repeat it. What What do What are you What are you current What are you currently doing? Okay. Uh what would the funds be used for? And the third is we have a brick and mortar.

Okay. Yes. Well, um United Community Corporation has been in North for over 50 years. And right now what we do is we service the residents of North along with the other residents of Essex County. Right now in my capacity as a director of youth and family services which is located at uh Westside Park, we have a variety of programs. Um so we do have brick and mortar and what we're going to use the money for is we would like to take this money and bring about exposure to our children. We want to challenge our children to show them different career paths and different things that have not have been done. Uh we do not have a program where it's cookie cut. Our programs will be designed for each and every one of the kids. We have a preervey, a post survey and then we follow them up. Our uh mentors and or counselors will give weekly reports and then provide monthly reports to the city. We want to be in a position to give these children a little bit more and challenge them a whole lot more. Since we have been there, Westside Park has changed. It has truly became a safe haven. We understand that we cannot service all the kids because we're not experts in everything. So, we open our doors to different organizations to help us move our kids in a positive direction.

Thank you. Uh any questions from the council? I mean, Councilman Kelly, I know you, sir. um more of a uh I just want to say thank you. You know, I grew up in the West Ward and and a lot of the programs that I was involved in as a youth came from Bellsburg Park, right? And the David Wright Association. I'm probably telling my age by saying that, but and Ron Rice and and and Roffus, you know, Johnson, but I have to say since I have been in office, UCCC and Westside Park has been my home when it comes to doing things for the youth, doing things for seniors, doing things for the people of the West Ward. You guys have been there. as other organizations came before you, they stated how you have been there for them. Is this your first RFP with the city?

Like, no. No, this is not right. But I just want to say thank you for the work that you're doing. You're doing a great job. Um, both of you, you know, I think you're a good good cop and bad cop, you know. Um, but just thank you. Please continue to to change what Westside Park was when I was coming up. We know what that park was. It is it is totally transformed because of your leadership, because of the programming, because of the way you care for our families, our children, and our city. And I'm so glad that you guys are in the West Board. Thank you. All right. Thank you very much. I want to sponsor this.

Uh sponsored by Councilman Kelly. A second. Second by Councilman Gonzalez. Thank you very much. Thank you. Rise to grind fitness. Love it.

Good morning. Uh my name is Jimmy Cooper.

I'm a current um one hood member. Uh rise the grind fitness is basically for the youth between ages of 14 and 21. Uh I'm a long resident of north and I understand that you know physical fitness is very important for the youth. I talked to the mayor about it. I talked to many people about it and part of my fitness part of it is taking the youth to different communities. Not only allowing them to be in like one of the brothers said a lot of the youth can't go to certain neighborhoods. So we want to be able to come to them and show them his different ways, allow them to learn how to deal with their triggers. Um, one of my ways of growing up, I used to think about is rise the grind for many different reasons. One of the reasons for rise of grind is when you wake up, God gave you another day, you got a chance to do it differently. Um, and with the youth, they have to understand that, you know, for me growing up, one of my biggest like contributions to engaging in criminal activity was my environment. So when I grew up, I seen people and I seen dudes come home from prison and they just did 10 years and the community embraced them. Oh my god, man. This guy just came home. They got so much glory from doing prison time. But when the kid graduated from high school, he got a pat on his back saying or gave him a rent suit, a rented car, and he never got a chance to see what Rise the Grind was really about. So for Rise the Grind is to show the youth a different way. show him that you know what you don't have to go to prison to get glorified or be accepted.

You know when you come up it's not about uh and that one I was coming home a lady said I said I'm have a big party. She said why would you do that? You're showing people that look up to you something negative to be accepted. So I had to understand what I was doing is about changing the mentality of the youth. So why roster the grind we using our funding like we have a a dwelling right now it's not fully operating yet 359 Avon but like brother Kirby said he invited us winfield here she invited us always for all the partners here that show any of our organization love definitely it was 100% respected and loved um rise the ground is definitely for for the youth and to just show them a different way give my opportunity to grow

thank you Mr. Cooper, anything from the C council minute uh council?

Well, I do think wellness is is a very important factor especially with uh our young people uh faced with you know national rates of obesity. It lends to uh character development also uh presumes and pushes pride uh in the young people and get them to to recognize uh the importance of not just being well mentally uh but also physically. And so, um, you know, the work that you've been doing on the side prior, uh, to getting this, helping those young people build those confidence levels. I've seen it with, you know, young people who are participating in athletics now in other areas, uh, even outside of athletics just to use workout and, um, you know, fitness as a way of, you know, staying out of, you know, incidents and and occurrences, but more importantly realizing now that they can adjust and and and deal with their bodies in a different way. I think that's that's important to building a healthier community. uh not just building uh uh you know institutions of young people to deter them from going the wrong path but also building people who are thinking about the the mind, the body and and wellness and can be able to relate that over to young people too so that they can take care of themselves right uh healthy and so that's important. So I I I would like to sponsor this.

Is there a second? Second by Councilman uh Canana. Thank you so much.

Thank I am uh I'm not going to ask Mr. Kirby to come back up. Let's move on to seminar one Q brothers building a better nation. Now, as Mr. Porter comes up, he has given us come to our council meeting several times and has provided information on what he's doing. So, uh I think we're we're fully aware. I think most of us, if not all, the council knows what you're doing and appreciate it. So, I think I'm I'm not even going to ask you to make a statement because we really all. Is there anything that the council wants to ask other than that I'm going to sponsor it and who's going to say it?

Just I just want to congratulate him on the on the new office uh space that they have and uh they provide great services. We have been to I believe two summer uh block parties that they have thrown for the people in the community. erh they're really involved in the in that central area central word area in the city and uh I congratulate you for what you're doing. Thank you so much. Thank you. I think that Oh, Councilwoman Bay wants

Thank you, Council President. I um I also wanted just to congratulate Mr. Porter on the work that he's been doing um in, you know, different wards all over and it's really had a great impact on our youth and our community at large. And so of course, you know, we definitely support your continuence. I'm glad that you're getting this grant so it can help uh sustain your program and help move your mission forward. So congratulations and thank you. Thank you. Uh I'm sorry, Council Kelly.

Just want to add the same thing, Mr. Porter. man, I I've I've seen you uh catch Ubers to places and um just showing up always making sure that that your brand and and your business is represented because it represents for our youth and uh anything that that we can do here, man, that to to help with the youth and build those those uh brothers to make a better nation, as you say, we we want to do that, man. And just keep fighting for our young people. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Good. Next item.

R is application for grant funds to apply for the sustainable Jersey grant funded by PSCG. Questions from the council. Hearing none. Next item. S is an exception to public bidding to support the maintenance of proprietary computer software and hardware. Questions from the council. Do I hear Councilman Gonzalez?

We we have one extension of the contract for $7.5 million I believe 76 $6 million extension and uh this I know that is for specific uh program but uh can we do we centralize let's say the purchasing of this softwares and so Mr. Be. Uh,

sure. Good morning, Eric Pennington, business administrator. Uh, to Councilman Gonzalez through Councilman Crump. Two things. One, this might be the appropriate time for me to introduce our new purchasing director. Uh, is she here? Yeah. Second, we could take 30 seconds and she could introduce herself. two, uh, the IT director, Tuana Johnson, has recommended that we coordinate all IT purchases across the disciplines in the city, public safety, health, and the court system in addition to hers, uh, to make sure that the equipment that we're purchasing is not only centralized, but that it is compatible. Compatible. Yes.

Right. So, that that is a issue that literally she brought up to me a couple of days ago. So, you and she must be having some communication because she agrees with you 100%. Um, did you want to follow up on that at all? That's it. Thank you. Can I take 30 seconds to introduce the director? Sure, please.

Good morning. Good morning. So, my name is Ana Tier. I'm the new city purchase agent. I hate to say that. I'm having trouble. You can pull the lower lower the microphone. There you go. Can you hear me now? You got to speak up, though. Project. Oh, okay. I'll use my teacher voice. There you go. All right. So, my name is Ana Atier. I'm the new city purchasing agent. Um, so good morning to you all. Uh, thank you to the the mayor and the administration for this opportunity. I'm very excited. I am a product of the North Public Schools. I was born and raised in Newark. Um, very happy to be here in this capacity.

Questions? Anybody? We're gonna ask you questions later, but I guess for now you're safe. I'm okay for now. All right. Okay. Thank you. And congratulations and welcome. Next item. Seminar 2A through E are private sales or redevelopment agreements. A is new construction of a 3 and a half story residential building. All units designated to be households earning 60 to 80% of AMI in the north ward. Mr. President Ramos.

Yeah, I'd like to um be noted as a sponsor of this. I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Pardo and you know I just want to note that here we have an example of you know young man minority owned contractor who's buying a piece of property from the city paying more than the assessed value yet he's giving the city uh a project that's 100% affordable. And often times we're selling property at, you know, bargain discounts and we're not getting that same level of affordability back. And these are sometimes from developers that have a lot more bandwidth um than this young man has. So I'm hopeful that his example can be followed by economic development when they give us projects moving forward that are offering to sell city owned property, which is very valuable right now. Doesn't matter what ward of the city you're settling a piece of land. Uh the price of of land in the city has gone up in every ward that we are getting more uh concessions back from these developers as far as affordability.

Thank you, Councilman. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Kintana. Next item. D is new construction of a two family home to be rented to section 8 housing choice voucher participants in the south ward. Any questions from the council? Yeah, Mr. Chair, I'd like to defer this item. Defer. I second it. All right. Deferred by council and council. Second by council Gonzalez. Next item.

C is request to return to the administration. D is new construction of three, two, or three family homes to rent at or below market rate in the south and west wards. Uh I believe we're going to defer this matter. Yeah, we're going to defer this matter. Council as a whole? Yes, it's to the council as a whole.

Duly noted. And E is construction of six new two family homes with two homes being I'm sorry this is going to be amended on the floor to be sold at 80% AMI and below and four homes being sold at market rate in the south ward. Mr. Chair like to defer this item. A second. Uh uh motion to defer by councilman councel, second by councilman Gonzalez. Noted.

All right. And we have to change the language to May. This is a an example of what Councilman Ramos was talking before. The assessed value on these properties is $1.7 million and we're selling it for $525,000. uh again they're doing housing affordable housing uh 80% affordable let's say of the AMI it's not that they are building at 40%. It's 80% you have to make a hundred something thousand a year to qualify. So I believe that we have to we have to provide the same the intention here is to provide more housing for the residents of the city of Newark and we I don't think we are doing a great job at doing on on that.

Thank you council president uh council Ramos. Yeah just just for a point of clarity too before this comes up again like isn't there isn't NAN currently operating out of this site where this is a new site that they're looking at because they they have a workforce development center. Is that the same location or is this a a different location they're looking to build? And if it's the existing location, so do do they lease that property from the city right now? Just just as a point of clarity. Okay. I I see the deputy mayor just walked in, I believe. I don't know if she heard the question. If not, you can come up. We can he can restate the question for you.

This is regard they they just left. Uh, hello deputy mayor. I know you just walked in. I don't know if you'd like, Mr. Yeah, deputy. I I just wanted to clarify because I know Nan runs a like a nonprofit training center. Yes.

Do they operate that center out of this facility or these properties that are listed here? Um, if so, are they leasing that site from the city right now and looking to buy and renovate the location? Just just for clarity, because I know they're looking to build some homes here as well as part of the footprint of the overall property, but the training center is what I'm concerned with because I know that's a 501c3. They do um, you know, some some training and other activities. Is that the same location?

Yes. Uh, council president, council members, Allison Lad, director of economic and housing development. Uh the answer is yes. Uh the Nantech um corporation nonprofit actually occupies the space. Uh they do run training programs as well as other types of community services and yes they have been leasing it from the city and so we are looking to sell it as we have with other properties that have um been using uh city-owned property. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. You're welcome. Next item

F is referral of proposed third amendment to the West Ward model neighborhood initiative redevelopment plan that changes permitted uses in commercial districts to allow two three and four family in neighborhood commercial C1 and community commercial C2 districts and additionally allow town houses in the community commercial C1. one. So, I will ask with this matter. It it seems like everything is laid out in the uh what what the what the amendments are. Are there any additional amendments that we should be concerned about or have knowledge of?

Good morning, Council President, council members. Um, no. This is uh not uh any additional um amendments besides those that are listed um on the uh resolution. Would you like me to read them? No, I think we can we can we we have them, but is are there any questions from the council?

Just one question here. Um, just for for the record, if someone was trying to build maybe a three or four family home in this C1 area, they are now allowed to. uh council president to answer council member Kelly's question this is a referral to the central planning board whereby analysis will be done and then the central planning board will consider the amendment and then this um item would come back to the council uh for your consideration under an ordinance. So, what we're doing is we are proposing the idea. Um, it's not effective at this time, but we're proposing the idea. And part of the reason is is that, as you may remember, when we modified the Newark zoning and land use regulations, redevelopment plans are excluded. So when we did that, that means that some redevelopment plans have to be amended so that they are consistent with our thoughts around how to create community uh commercial corridors. So at this point the answer is is not today. But if the matter gets approved by the council, gets approved by the central planning board, and then gets approved again by the municipal council, then the answer would be yes. But at this point, no.

Not yet. I'd like to sponsor this. All right. SP Councilman Kelly wants Thank you, uh, Deputy Mayor. Sponsored by Councilman Kelly. You're welcome. Second. I'll second it. Second by Councilman Gonzalez. Next item. G is to execute an affordable housing agreement for home funds to develop and construct a new three family home in the southboard.

Any questions, concerns? Next item. H is a grant agreement to provide gap financing for the construction of a three family residential dwelling consisting of three deed restricted affordable housing units pursuant to the city's affordable housing trust fund questions from the council. Yeah, Mr. Chair, councilman council. Just to go back to 7R2G as property is in the central ward, not the south ward. Say it again. Make an amendment. The property is in the central ward, not the south ward. 43 Jacob Street is not in the south. Okay. Central ward.

So we'll make an amendment to that. What do we do? Scrier. Yes. All right. Scrivener's error. Any questions on 7R2H? Thank you, Councilman. I do have a question.

Councilman Gonzalez. Normally uh when people submit the application for tax abayments they list the cost of constructing a three family like 400,000 500,000 600,000. Here we have one that is projecting a cost for a three family home of a million a million12,828. Is that because the city is contributing 300,000? Uh because I I don't understand how constructing a house, a three family home is going to cost a million dollars.

Deputy mayor. Good morning, Council President, council members. Um Allison Lad, director of economic housing development. Uh, so just to make sure I'm clear, you're talking about SE 26-0267. Yes. Yes. Uh, thank you. So in this case, it's actually three um three family houses. It's not one. So the cost is for three, not three units. Three family home. Yeah. So perhaps the information is uh not warded very clearly, but they're actually building three houses. So it's family.

Sorry. Then we have to modify this because this is a three family home. No problem. We'll be happy to fix that. That's not not a problem. Any other questions? Okay. Um, once we modify, council president, I want to sponsor this. Sponsored by Council M Kelly. Second. Second by Councilwoman Bay. Thank you. The next item,

I and J are both introducing budgets for SIDS andor bids. I is the 2026 annual budget for the Bergen Lines Clinton Special Improvement District and J is the 2026 annual budget for Partnership West incorporated. Any questions from the council? Like to sponsor a J. Councilman Gonzalez wants to sponsor J. I'll second. Who said that? Councilman Kelly. Who said that?

Yeah. I want to thank them for sponsoring this this uh this bid. in um West Ward. Um you can sponsor seg it up. Sponsored by council, second by Councilman Gonzalez. No, but but I do want to um All right.

I just want to state something um about the bid. Uh I know that we have reports of a lot of garbage on our corridors like South Orange Avenue and along these corridors. um they come to my office, they come to the mayor's office, and you know, a a a lot of things have transpired since I've received those those um those issues and those concerns. I reached out to the bid, to PWI, just to make sure that we're doing what we supposed to do. I ride down these corridors after I drop my children off in the morning and and just to see what's happening and I have to say that they have been very um they have been been aware of what's going on and and just making them themselves available. So I I found out through those conversations that the this the building, excuse me, the company that was cleaning our corridors, we've changed those cor we've changed that company. So now there is a new company cleaning those corridors. Um, and one thing that I that I wanted to do, uh, when it comes to cleaning those corridors, I just wanted to make sure that we check the Treyway permits of those those businesses. I think that we're we're not doing enough enforcement of these businesses. Um, so I want to make sure that we check the Treyway permits of these businesses so that that enforcement happens. I know a lot of times garbages are put along these corridors in front of businesses or buildings that are unoccupied or vacant. And I want to ask the people to stop

dumping in front of buildings that are v that are um unoccupied and and vacant because that that's adding to what's going on in the corridor. Uh, I want to ask that our enforcement from code enforcement, I want them to, if we have to pressure the the business owners along the corridor to check their cameras because a lot of times when we go there, they say, "We didn't put the bags out there." Well, then we should be allowed to check their cameras to see who put the bags out there, who who is actually adding to the dumping. Um, you know, I think a lot of this stuff will help keep the corridors clean because the

I know that the uh the bid gets a lot of hits because they actually hire the cleaning company and sometimes it's not fair because the people the business owners we've caught I've had residents send me video of someone dumping and then come to find out the people who were dumping was a store that we go to every day that people go to every day. So, I think that in order to to help the bids actually maintain and manage those corridors, we need to do a little more enforcement with cold checking cameras. I think that construction companies when we do affirmative action, if there's black bags by those construction companies, I think that we need to check those bags because the bags that we have been checking in front of these construction companies are actually filled with debris from the from the construction companies. Um, so I think if everybody unite from the construction companies, the business owners, and the residents stop putting trash in front of unoccupied buildings, I think that it'll help our corridor along with our bids and says keep the corridors clean.

Duly noted. We'll work with the administration councilman to make sure that happens. Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. Yeah. Uh, Mr. Uh chair, I believe we need to go back council.

Yeah. Yeah. Seminar 2. I wanted to be noted uh as uh sponsor for that. And on Councilman Kelly's note, uh would uh like to encourage the uh administration to utilize the tools that this council has put in place uh to help along these corridor areas. Um and and not to just, you know, necessarily uh be up here to, you know, demean uh the bids or the work of the bids, but also to help uh to get assistance along these corridors with the tools and resources that we have put in place by by way of ordinance. I think that would help out tremendously. I'll second it. Thank you. Next item.

My apologies. K is the issuance of a stoppple certificate certifying the status of the financial agreement. Any questions from the council? Hearing none. Next item. Council president, council members, I'm alerted to page 12, the um high school academic support and mentoring program of New Jersey. Representatives are in the chamber. I need to know. Lyndon, you were here the whole time. What happened? How y'all doing? So, there's three things we want to ask of you. Okay. Uh what your organization is doing now, which I mean, we pretty much know. Yeah.

Um what you're going to use the funds for. Okay. And then, uh whether you have a brick and mortar.

Well, I'll start with the last question first. Since uh 1999, we've been operating out of the Newark Public Library branches, particularly Springfield Branch Library. Uh we service all the kids in Newark. Um we have u a focus on uh mentoring, community service. Um and then college and career readiness. So, um, next week we plan to take a bus load down to, uh, UNCC Chapel Hill and to North Carolina Central and Hampton and Northolk State and other colleges to visit, uh, these campuses. Um, we will be having a law enforcement fair on May 27th at 699 Burkus Street to get more teens into law enforcement. So, we're going to have the FBI there, Port Authority in New York, New Jersey, Sheriff's Department, New PD, trying to get more minority young men and women involved in law enforcement. Um, we also will be uh visiting uh the new community nursing home this Saturday and we'll be going to St. Rockos's uh children's shelter on Friday to give our Easter baskets. Um, we're going to be taking students to uh the Yankees game on the 15th to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day. We want to give our kids exposure to academics. We provide free SAT preparation courses uh for our students at no cost because a lot of organizations uh charge students for SAT preparation. We we provide financial aid workshops. We've help students with scholarships. We started in 1991 just helping students get into uh college and military. We track our students. Um we send care packages to them while they're on campus. We have our pen pal group. They write their students when they're in the military. Um we have a lot of professional networking going on. So a lot of the students who've come up through our program, Shar Jeff, and others um reached back and help out our students. We thank you for your support.

Thank you, uh Mr. Brown, Councilman Kelly. Um I just first I just want to say, man, um thank you. Thank you for the work that you're doing in the community. I I see it. I know a few youth that are actually going on your trip, right?

Um, secondly, I just want to say when I was at 13th Avenue Elementary School, man, your mom was like a a figurehead for me and and a mentor. Um, and it's it's an honor to see you carry on the tradition that she was doing in our city. So, I appreciate that. I appreciate the way that you help our youth by sticking with them through and through. Not just doing something to do it and then forgetting about them on the on the second part or the third part, but sending care packages after you actually helped them get into the school, right?

Cuz I know I needed those care packages when I was in college and uh sometime my mom couldn't afford to send me that care package. So, I just thank you for for all of the the work that you're doing around the entire Newark. Um, especially in the West Ward, the things that you do. I know you're a West Water. So, um, I just thank you, man. And and I would like to sponsor this too, Council. All right. Sponsored by Councilman Kelly. Is there a second? A second. Second by Councilman Gonzalez. Thank you, Mr. Brown. Thank you. And thank you, Councilman Gonzalez, for mentioning the um opportunity for use of commercial spaces for some our organizations that would help our community tremendously. Have a good day. Thank you,

Council President. Council members, we are on page 30 of the agenda. Okay. Items 73A and B are refunds. A is a refund monies as a result of an overpayment of a of a payment error, I'm sorry. and B is refund monies paid toward construction permit fees for work that was never commenced. Questions from the council

hearing none. Next item C and D are resolution requests additional time from the New Jersey Department of Transportation local aid. C is the safe streets to Newark's transit hub and D is the transit village pedestrian safety improvement extension. Questions from the council. Yeah, Mr. Chair Council, while we on these uh Department of Transportation issues, when when is paving starting? Say that again. I could When is paving starting? We have the director, Mr. Adams. Director Adams.

Good morning. James Adams, acting director of the engineering department, council president. We uh anticipate the paving is going to start at the end of April, beginning of May. Um, as we've stated before, we have two paving contracts, MA22 and MA23. Um, MA23 is actively they're doing the concrete, the handicap ramps, um, which is the first activity of work before paving can start. And the second active paving contract is now being um, worked on with the DOT. They had some comments on our plans and specifications. We had to correct their comments. We will be sending back the corrections um shortly. So to answer your question directly end of April, beginning of May.

Yeah. M Mr. President, Councilman, will we be able director to get like a ongoing list ahead of time of what streets in each ward are going to get paved? Absolutely. Council Yeah. Some of these applications are so old that I forgot what streets were supposed to get paved in my word. No, absolutely. As a matter of fact, I think the city clerk sent us a letter or a memo last week requesting requesting that information. Absolutely. We'll provide

list second avenue I believe it is a disaster. You have to do something there before cars start breaking down because let's say the section that belongs to is orange is paved. No problem. But the section that belongs to the city of Newark, if you take a a a car there is going to break down. Believe me, I take that route every day and I have to drive on the other side of the road because all all the holes in that in that street. Please do something on an emergency basis because I believe some cars are going to be suing the city for breaking.

Understood, Councilman. Anything else? Thank you, director. Next item. Seminar 4A and B are both stipulation of settlements for tax appeals. Questions from the council. Next item. C is requesting approval to establish a dedication by writer trust for a $3 per stay search charge on hotel occupancies to fund fire services. Council Ramos.

Yeah, Mr. President. I I just want to say um for us to send a note thanking Senator Ruiz, Assemblywoman Pinto Marin, and also the fire union. they collaborated on um putting together this initiative which is going to enable the city to collect say a pretty good amount of revenue every year that is supposed to be earmarked for fire safety equipment and I read the um backup to the um resolution or the the trust request and it doesn't necessarily specify that it's for equipment only. It says for fire operation services. So I just want to get clarity from the BA that this money once it's collected annually is going to be invested in purchasing you know safety equipment as opposed to it potentially and I'm not saying this administration would do it but to protect it in the future from being used to pay for operational costs as opposed to safety equipment which is what the department desperately needs. Sure. Council President Eric Pennington, business administrator. Uh to Councilman Ramos's question, the $3 per night fee that is assessed against hotels is specifically designated for equipment apparatus u to use for fire safety. Uh it is not intended to be used for operational expenses and uh that's what we plan to do. If we need to adjust the language, we can we can do.

Yeah, just take a look at it. I just glanced at it quickly. We just want to make sure like you know I know you guys are committed to using it for equipment just protect it in the future in case future administrations decide to use it for something else. Sure. We're actually and I'd like to be not as a sponsor. We we did provide a little bit of feedback um when they were originally trying to get the state to allow the city to approve this. So sponsored by council members. I'll second that. Duly noted. Thank you. Next item

75A through I are contracts with grant subreipients to provide emergency shelter services, homelessness prevention andor rapid rehousing assistance in the city. A is access family services. B is Apostles House. C is the YMCA. D is the Urban League of Essis County. E is Joyy's Angels. F is Fairmont Health Services. G is United Community Corporation. H is Newark Best Israel Medical Center. And I is St. James Social Service Corporation.

Any questions from the council? Yeah, Mr. Chair. Uh Councilman Council. Yeah. So, so again in terms of data orientation and the collection of data on the success margins of what is happening here uh with the assistance that that we're providing to these different entities uh is there reportage that we can get and and obtain that uh for some of these uh facilities. Director.

Good morning. Kellenberg, director for the Department of Health. Yes, we can provide a sample of the monthly and aggregate annual report that these subreients have to submit. Yeah. Would would that would that help us with with intake individuals that that come in, the number of bed spaces that each um entity houses, and then also what uh are they all their their responsibilities as it relates to rehousing. Is is some of it um resourcebased or information given or all of them responsible for providing uh adequate space for uh our friends without addresses?

So the emergency solution grant um provides funding for three primary areas. Homeless prevention, rapid rehousing, and a small portion goes to shelter operations. That's about 20% of the grant. The majority of the dollars are for preventing homelessness, people who are facing eviction, etc. And also uh providing housing support for those who are either literally homeless or at risk of being homeless. Um and providing rental uh subsidies, security deposit assistance, that sort of thing. So the information I'll provide you is a number of individuals who receive services in those three categories. and what information that they are providing to the public about those um services that need to be provided

in terms of how they advertise to the public. Okay, I can do that as well. Thank you, D. You're welcome. Councilman, Councilman Kelly. Yes, Council President. I I want to sponsor um 7R5 C um 7R5D and uh 7R5G. Can we get a second for all those? Second. Second by Councilwoman Bay on all three. President Anything else? Councilwoman, did you have

Yes. I actually wanted to um sponsor a seminar five I sorry I couldn't hear five what I I I'll second them all talking too fast I sponsored by Councilwoman Bay second by Councilman Ramos. All right, next item. J is the application acceptance of grant funds to support the education of a diverse nurse practitioner population and underserved communities. Any questions from the council? Yeah, I would like to sponsor that. That's all. Sponsored by Councilman Kelly. Is there a second?

Second. Second by Councilman Bay. Next item. Duly noted 7R6A is a professional service contract to provide legal services concerning bond council services. Questions from the council. Next item. 7R8A is recognizing and commending resolutions and B is expressing profound sorrow and regret.

Mr. Chair. So yeah, if we can uh add uh Albert Cino. Absolutely. And of Councilman Silvin to all council colleagues who serve up here for the loss of former Assemblyman Alcatino.

Yes, Council President. If I Councilwoman Bay, um I also wanted to um add a profound sorrow and regret for the passing of Pette Hall who was uh the mother of Marco Hall who is a prominent designer and business owner here in the city of Newark on Hollyy Street and also um offer profound song and regret for the passing of Minister Abdul Akbar Muhammad um prominent member of the Muslim community and a a global minister um within um the Nation of Islam and the Muslim community um worldwide.

Thank you. Anything else? Next item. 79A is an exception to public bidding to provide support and maintenance of proprietary software. Any questions from the council? Next item. 7R12A is a bid contract for roof replacement at the archive building, the Chidaden Road pumping station, city hall, JFK recreation recreation and aquatic center and the SWAT building.

Questions from the actually I'll sponsor this. I'm glad to see uh the roof replacements particularly I know at JFK I've mentioned a number of times but also the other buildings too. So, I'm going to sponsor this one. I'd like to second. Second by Councilwoman Bay. Noted. Next item.

Communications. Item 8A is an ordinance granting a 20-year tax abatement to Nimore 763 South Orange Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the West Ward to construct a new fivestory mixeduse building with 32 residential rental units on the second through fifth floors consisting of 25 market rate residential rental units and seven affordable housing. rental units. Can we get an explanation of this one?

Quick quick question too. Council President, there was uh I don't know if this is the same one that was returned to administration and is this is this that one in its back? Oh, I mean what was a resolution? You know what? This might not be that one. Yeah. Any explanation. Thank you. Good morning. Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator for economic and housing development. Um to answer your question first, Councilman Kelly. Um I don't believe this is the one that was returned to administration um prior. Mhm.

Um, in regards to your question, Council President, um, I can get information on the background of this if you like and get it to you before tomorrow. My my question was actually what what Councilman Kelly was asking. I was trying to get there a different route, but uh, so I I'm pretty much comfortable with this, the project cost and the 39,000 going to affordable housing trust fund. And so I I don't have any additional questions unless the council has any questions. No, I don't have All right. Next item.

B is an ordinance that ratifies and authorizes the second amendment to the original tax abatement granted to Spruce Park Associates under the limited dividend law extending the term of the financial agreement until March 31st, 2036. All right, Miss Daniel, why don't you come up and talk about this one today?

Good morning. Again, Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator, economic and housing development. Um, in regards to this particular file, as a note of a background, this is a 98 unit affordable um, housing complex. It is 100% affordable. All the residents are receiving section 8 benefits. Um they also have a housing uh housing assistant payment contract with the state with the government. Um the current contract that they have expires actually today. They were able to get their contract renewed. The new contract will be from April 1st of 2026 and will expire on March 31st of 2036. Um, with that being said, as part of their agreement with uh the HAP contract, they have to maintain their tax abatement with the city of Newark. As long as they're in compliance and by state statute, as long as their HAP contract is in effect, we are allowed to extend our tax abatement with the city. And this is what we're asking for right now.

And that so the tax abatement is extended to meet the dates for the HAP contract. Correct. It will be extended to March 31st of 2036. Thank you, Councilman Gonzalez. And then councilwoman. Yes. Are they up to date with the taxes, water, and all the services that the city provides? I will get that information for you and get it to you before tomorrow. Thank you. You're welcome. Uh, Counciloman Bay.

Thank you, Council President. Um, so what was the original tax abatement? What is it that we are extending? And then also my understanding is is that there's different um um work and improvements that are supposed to be done in the different units in order to for them to um be approved or allowed to get an extension. Can we get a list of what is going to be done and where? Yes. Uh to answer your first question, councilwoman, the original tax abatement was for 50 years. And if I remember correctly, but I'll get you that information on the original expiration date. I'll get you that as well.

Um but again, this allows us to extend it to match the hat contract. And I will also get I'll see if I can get a list for you of the improvements that were supposed to be done in the building. Thank you. And you did say that all units section 8. Yes, ma'am. And what's the occupancy rate? Do we know? I can get that for you as well. I appreciate it. Thank you. You're welcome. All right. You got a lot of homework, Miss Daniel. Any anybody else in here? Thank you. You're welcome.

C is an ordinance authorizing the mayor and or his designate to enter into and execute an agreement with Burton Street Partners LLC for the sale and redevelopment of city-owned property. question. Um, uh, Miss Daniel, why don't you come up and explain this one to?

Hello again.

Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator, economic and housing development. Um, this is in regards to properties on Bergen Street between Madison and Weekway Avenues. Um, that was city-owned that has been sitting for a while. Um, and so the city put out a solicitation for letters of interest on July 28th, 2025 for any redevelopers that were interested in helping us to develop this property. Um, we did receive two letters of of interest. Um, they were interviewed. Uh, their projects were reviewed by a uh a panel. Um, and this is the uh LLC that was chosen that best fit what the city was looking for. Um they are going to uh develop a mixeduse development with 51 units of workforce and affordable housing and they're also going to include uh 12,500 square ft of ground for commercial space that they're vision visioning for medical health and fitness uh programs to take up that space.

And just you said 51 units of affordable housing. Yes. I know Councilman Gonzalez has a question. I don't even see him. Yes, I do have actually two questions. How big is a lot? And uh the other one is do we have an appraisal for the property? I can get that information for you and get it to you. At least we I would like to see the the assessed value of this property. I will get that to you before tomorrow's meeting. Thank you. All right. Yeah,

Mr. Chairman, and the lot sit between Shephard and and Shear just for uh the record purposes and there there was um information that went out uh as she stated that uh was scored uh and there was a panel of folks that scored for uh the development of this property. So, um once she provides the information that uh Councilman Gonzalez, you know, requires, I would like to sponsor this item. All right. Councilman Council wants to sponsor. Is there a second? Second by council Kelly. I don't die up here.

Thank you, Miss Daniel. You're welcome. D is an ordinance ratifying and authorizing the mayor and/or his designate to enter into and execute a lease agreement with South Orange, New Jersey LLC for property in the West Ward to be used as office space. Questions from the council. I'd like to sponsor this. Sponsored by Councilman Kelly. Is there a second? I'll I'll second that. Council second. Next item. Item 10 is miscellaneous, the approval of the raffle license. Any questions? None.

Council President, council members, we have just a few added starters. The first one is legisar number 26-0460 which is a resolution of support for April being designated as fraud prevention month sponsored by Councilwoman Scott Roundtree.

Okay. Number two is legisar number 26-0420 which is a resolution of support for tax credits sought by developer under the Aspire tax credit program or EHD and again that was 0420 I'm sorry 26-0420

and the third is legisar file number 26-0463 for the gun range. I don't have any other Okay. Um, can we have someone come up and talk about uh 260420 and then again the 24-0460? Talk about the tax credits. Deputy mayor know you hiding back there.

Council President, as the deputy mayor is approaching with 260460. This is a resolution of support that was submitted to councilwoman Scott Roundtree from AARP to just alert senior citizens who are being taken advantage of by certain scam. I'm sorry. What's the third one? Maybe I I wrote it down incorrectly. Sorry. The third one is 26-0463. 63. 63. Okay, that's I had zero. Okay. Deputy Mayor.

Uh good morning, Council President, council members. Uh regarding the added starter request from economic and housing development. Um what we are asking for is to have your consideration um for an estoppel. Uh this uh stoppple is for um the developer who is Daybreak Express and they are selling the property. And so the request is is that we are able to sign an esto stoppple agreement saying that they are current on their taxes water and sewer and also current with the project and um yes in closing the gun range was completed about a year several couple years ago. Sorry I don't have the exact date but it was approve it was completed a couple years ago.

I'm sorry. So you're talking about this is the second one the gun range one to you're mentioning. Did I hear that correctly or did I not? Uh, council president, I only have one. Okay. I thought I could have sworn I said you said gun rage. I may be hearing things. Okay. The Elsid is the LLC. The gun rage is the property. They're the same. It's the same item. It's the same. Okay. M. Go ahead, Councilman. They're selling the property where Daybreak is located and the the gun range. They're selling the site where the gun range is. Yes. All right. Thank Thank you, Deputy May. Any other questions?

All right. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Thanks. Public comment. Yep. 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 the record. Is there anyone wishing to address the council?

Yes. Latoya Jackson. I'm running for North Public School Board. Uninspired term. My ballot position is B1. I had to say that cuz this election do not get publicized and it is just as important as running for mayor. It is a citywide campaign and a lot of our people don't even know about it. Um, I know many of y'all are on social media. So I did a little skit talking about DPW because these particular young men that I seen in the west during election time I usually see them in the north if I'm out canvasing wherever. So we talked about pockets and the moral to the message and all of that is how serious we take things that are not very serious but we don't take I announced I'm running for school board. people jumped on there and basically said they wouldn't vote because I was talking about pockets. The council people or the people that's running for election to say he or should be talking about that stuff. So, I came to talk about something more serious with DPW. Like, they are essential workers and they do not get paid as essential workers. So, I definitely think that y'all should put more focus on making sure that these brothers want to show up every day. We also have a problem with different DPW workers not being able to go into certain areas and they want to everybody want to feed their family, but we have a lot of things going on in our city that our focus is not there. It's on a lot of different other stuff. So the I I received over 40,000 almost 50,000 views. Now people are seeing this particular video and they on there taking up for me. I vote for her and

telling why. But I didn't need to basically like come back for myself because it's evident that we don't focus on the things that matter like our children. So my today I just wanted everybody like I I got more coverage on that video than the city and the school board do all season long. So now 40,000 people are informed that there is a school board race. I also um Councilman Ramos last year we spent a lot of money on getting the youth to vote. I don't hear people, nobody basically even saying if the youth can actually vote this year, but I know we spent, mayor Baraka and Governor Murphy spent thousands of thousands of dollars for these children to be able to vote. So, I do want the council to put more focus on this election because y'all sitting here basically trying to figure out things that was already put in place before you even got here. They're putting things in place for our children, our eight-year-old boys, like jails, rehab facilities, stuff like that. So, I think y'all should focus a little more on this schoolboard election than y'all elections because it's important. It's our future.

Thank Thank you, Miss Tucker. Uh, next speaker. No other speaker appearing. Closed. Go executive session real quick. Motion for executive session. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. We're down to five. I need everybody to come to executive session.